Sean’s List of General Recommendations for Today
A movie you should not see this week, or ever: Curse of the Golden Flower. It really doesn’t have any redeeming qualities: the story is like an extravagant, impossibly complex opera; there isn’t really any fighting, or rather, there isn’t any good fighting; it’s depressing, slow, and doesn’t seem to have any real message or point.
What you should see instead: Flushed Away. Lots of fun! Takes place in a sewer! Rats dance, slugs sing, toads mime . . . it’s like heaven!
Hilarious mystery/adventure series you should read: Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books. Start with Crocodile on the Sandbank—it’s an oldie, but a goodie.
Hilarious teen confessional series you should be reading: The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by Louise Rennison. Imported from Britain, where things are funnier, and where “fanny” is a naughty word.
Grunge/steampunk author you should definitely investigate: China Miéville. The Scar is his best so far, but read Perdido Street Station first, and don’t miss Iron Council and King Rat. He has a new book coming out next month, Un Lun Dun, and yours truly will read it as soon as he can get his grubby mitts on a copy.
Indie band you should be listening to: The Blow, i.e. Khaela Maricich and Jona Bechtolt. Go to their Myspace page to hear some sample tracks.
Indie soloist you should be listening to: David Ford. He also has a Myspace page.
Folk/rock/unclassifiable artist whom you will love, or I’ll know the reason why: Jonathan Coulton.
[Via Fabulist, naturally.]
YouTube video you should definitely watch, unless you are upset by vulgarity, innuendo, and/or foul language: Love Letters, by Liam Sullivan.
YouTube music video you should see, regardless of the above considerations: Mushaboom, by (Leslie) Feist.
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January 16th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I will be looking up some of those books. Also, a trip to the library was made today and I now have a copy of Refuse to Choose in my hot little hands. I’m so glad you’re my friend! I wouldn’t have all these great recommendations otherwise.
January 16th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I’m just glad I have friends who are so happy to get book recommendations, because recommending books is one of my favorite pastimes. I’m so lucky to have a job where I get to do it all day long!
I hope Refuse to Choose helps you. I specifically remember that it has tips for people who do craftwork and the like, and that’s right up your alley. The main thing the book did for me was to help me realize that my interests run in cycles, and not to be embarrassed when I’m tired of writing for a while (for instance), because I’ll always be interested again in a month or so—and that’s okay!
January 16th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Hee. Love Amelia Peabody. Have you ever read the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries?
Glad to hear Flushed Away is good, I’ve been wanting to see it!
January 16th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Nemesis, I’ve read a few of the Wimsey novels/stories, and I remember loving them. I’ll have to pick them up again.
Oh, and everybody, I forgot to mention the latter two of Elizabeth Peters’ Jacqueline Kirby mysteries, Die for Love and Naked Once More, which are both an utter riot. They each feature a different aspect of the romance novel industry, so if you’ve never read a romance, some of the funnier bits might go over your heads. Which of course means that you need to go read several of the pulpiest romance novels you can find, and then read the Jacqueline Kirby books.
I wouldn’t ask it of you if it weren’t worth it.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:25 am
I’d add Will Smith’s “The Pursuit of Happyness” to the list of must-see movies – it could so easily have been schmaltz, but it manages to be truly moving instead; no mean feat.
January 17th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Thanks for the tip, Pete. I admit I watched the trailer a few months ago and immediately dismissed the film as Life-Lesson-Preaching Oscar-bait. But I am man enough to throttle my prejudice and go and see it anyway, especially when so many people have given it shining recommendations.