Alone and Unobserved

Remember the Monty Python sketch about the joke that was so deadly hilarious it won World War II? Well, that was just make-believe. THIS is for real, folks.

I know you’ve all just been dying to know what books I’ve been reading, what movies I’ve been watching, what music I’ve been listening to, and what homework I haven’t been doing over the past week, so here’s my exhaustively compiled list.

Reading:

Shane, by Jack Schaefer
Grade: 5 out of 5
By turns haunting, funny, wistful and nostalgic, Shane is a wonderful, if brief, look at the relationships that develop between a sharpshooting gunslinger and the family that takes him in, as seen through the eyes of the young son, Bob.

To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Wills
Grade: 5 out of 5
One word: hilarious. This book has convinced me to try all of Wills’ other novels (even though I understand that they vary widely in tone).

New Moon, by Stephanie Meyers
Grade: 4 out of 5
I haven’t made up my mind about New Moon yet. The first third is a fantastic, emotional rollercoaster ride that left me breathless and wrung-out, and made me believe in the main character very strongly. The second third was less vivid but still very enjoyable and engaging. Unfortunately, the book’s climax felt disconnected from the rest of the book, and the last third in general felt pale, melodramatic, artificial and confusing.

Averaged out, I liked the whole more than I didn’t like it, and I’m definitely going to continue reading the series. But I thought this installment could have used quite a bit more tightening/rewriting, especially towards the end.

Movies:

Shane
I remember really liking this film when I was a kid, but now it just seems like a pale imitation of the book. I started watching it three days ago, and I’m only an hour into it. I have to make it to the shoot-out! I can’t quit before the shoot-out!

Yojimbo
One of Akira Kurosawa’s highly acclaimed films, this one the comic precursor to A Fistful of Dollars. Unfortunately, I only made it a third of the way into the story before I got fed up with the muddy, grey-on-grey color scheme (can’t really call it black and white) and switched it off.

Transporter 2
More Jason-Statham-induced palpitations and drooling; more car chases, inventive fighting in close quarters, and explosions. In other words: switch your brain off and prepare for a fun ride.

Under the Tuscan Sun
I enjoyed this movie pretty well. It was fun, occasionally funny, occasionally touching, always gorgeously filmed, and full of engaging performances. Not great, but fun.

Music:

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture
This album is currently on non-stop rotation on my iPod, on my computer, and in my head. First, if you haven’t seen the movie, and aren’t offended by relentless profanity and trenchant social satire, go see it, then report back and listen to this CD. Featuring such side-splitting hits as

• “Kyle’s Mom is a B****”
• “Blame Canada,” performed by Kyle’s mom and other concerned parents
  
• “It’s Easy, Mmmmkay,” a profanity- and vulgarity-laden lesson on how to stop swearing
• “What Would Brian Boitano Do?”
• “Up There,” performed by Satan

and “I Can Change,” performed by Saddam Hussein.

Jerilyn’s Mix CDs:

• Songs I’m Embarrassed to Own, and Now You Can Be Embarrassed, Because You Own Them, Too!, and
• Trying to Regain My Street Cred.

Everyone should have a friend like Jerilyn–someone who has good taste in music and is willing to share.