Year’s end: Books and Movies
Man. My movie-going and book-reading year was pathetic. Absolutely unacceptable. What did I think I was doing all year - expanding a business or something? Pshh.
As for movies, I only watched 48. This includes ones that were on TV, or movies I had seen before. My top picks from 2008 are:
- THE ORPHANAGE
- THE DIVING BELL & THE BUTTERFLY
- PERSEPOLIS
- MAN ON WIRE
- TROPIC THUNDER
Some of those were released in 2007, I think, but I’m slow and didn’t get a chance to watch them until 2008. Regardless, if you haven’t seen them, I highly recommend.
Movies I didn’t care all that much for this year included (much to everyone’s disagreement) THE DARK KNIGHT, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, ATONEMENT, and JUNO (again, some of these came out in 2007).
On the reading front, I’m mortified to say I only read 17 books. Of the best:
- THE DIVING BELL & THE BUTTERFLY by Jean-Domonique Bauby
- ANIMAL VEGETABLE MIRACLE by Barbara Kingsolver
- BLINDNESS by Jose Saramago
- WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED IN FLAMES by David Sedaris
- THE WHITE TIGER by Aravind Adiga
Books not worth bothering with:
- WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen
- PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Geraldine Brooks (which disappointed me, because I LOVE her)
- THE BEACH by Alex Garland
Please send me suggestions for 2009, so that I can have a much lengthier list to post!
December 31st, 2008 at 10:37 am
If you want to read something absolutely stupid but very entertaining the Twilight series isn’t too bad. Also, have you read anything by Ken Follet? I have been stuck on Pillars of the Earth for a while (its HUGE!) and really really like it.
December 31st, 2008 at 10:47 am
Movies: I saw Synecdoche NY at the Moxie. Great movie, great place to see a movie.
Books: Favorite of all time is Infinite Jest. Just read it, I know it’s big, but just read it.
If you want something small and hilarious and wonderful, Home Land by Sam Lipsyte was all those things.
December 31st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Doing student teaching severely impeded my ability to digest books and movies in the past six months, but I would highly recommend these few books:
The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
Sailing Alone Around the Room, by Billy Collins (poetry)
Good Omens, but Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman
Girl in Hyacinth Blue, by Susan Vreeland
One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
December 31st, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Ooh, good suggestions! THere are a few in those lists that I have on my to-read lists. Must bump them up.
Michelle - I’m actually reading PILLARS OF THE EARTH right now - it’s so corny, yet so hard to put down. That was the one I mentioned earlier about how it said, “her wonderful hot body.”
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Oooh - the Kingsolver book made my top as well. As for movies, have you seen Harold and Maude? Its old I know, but I’d never seen it til lately and I now adore it. More recent finds would be The Lives of Others or Mongol or The Lookout.
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Claire - I love Harold and Maude! As for the other movie suggestions - I actually own a movie theater, and we showed both LIVES OF OTHERS and MONGOL. Both excellent films! I haven’t seen the Lookout yet, though.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I read Good Grief yesterday. I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe during the first few chapters. It’s not a classic or an award winner but I liked it. I started volunteering at the library. If you want some cool kids books check out the “You Wouldn’t Want to Be” series. It includes professions including: crusader, roman gladiator, and viking explorer.