Friday, October 23, 2009

Summary Judgments

I have opinions to share.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson: I'm only half-way through this book, but I love it. Love. It's a detective story, the plot unfolds in both the past and present, and it's set in Sweden. These are a few of my favorite things.


I saw Zombieland: Funny, but no Shaun of the Dead.


The new season of "30 Rock:" Thank God it's back. "It's tennis night in America!" And Will Arnett is a scene-stealer.


The new Mika album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much: I think he's a genius and I love several songs on this. I don't know why Mika is not bigger in the US. My sister says he is huge in Oz. Maybe this record will really do it for him here.


Those Dr. Scholl's gel inserts for high-heeled shoes: They don't really work.


The Errol Morris multi-part article series, "The Case of the Inappropriate Alarm Clock," that's running in the New York Times right now: Fascinating. I think part 5 of 7 is running today. The stuff about how Walker Evans staged some of the photos in Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, or more particularly, the methods of scholarship and analysis on display here, are impressive. Errol Morris is the guy who made all those great documentaries, like Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control. This series really sucked me in, a must-read.


The new Dan Brown book, The Lost Symbol: One of the dopier things I have ever read.


Honeycrisp apples: Are the best apples.


The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood: I just started this (I'm not monogamous when it comes to books). I don't know why I'm reading this, since it concerns the death of a child and this is total self-torment. But it is making me want to get back into knitting. "Back into" meaning that I think the world needs to see more things like those two potholders I made that time.


Glamour Magazine: When Domino died, my subscription got converted to Glamour. It is terrible and I don't like to leave it lying around. Its whole depressing vision of femininity and of male-female relations is not something I want to inculcate in my daughter. I am just not the Glamour demographic anymore.


That new online magazine by the Domino people, Lonny: Have you seen this? Very appealing and fun to look at. Also I squee'd because in the photo spread of Eddie Ross's house in the premiere issue, I saw that he has spray-painted white the exact tacky, plastic, Federal-style mirror that I did. He totally copied that from me! RIGHT?


Wine: I've always been more of a cocktail person, but I'm beginning to reconsider.


Beer: Still a highly situational beverage for me. This past weekend, I found myself about to drink a beer out of a can in public. I could hear my father's voice in my head, telling me that he didn't like to see a lady drinking beer from a can. Not ladylike. Then Matt appeared at my side with a plastic cup for me to pour it into. We are one flesh.


"Mad Men:" Oh sweet jeebus, you ARE watching this, aren't you?

Ah, that was very cleansing. I recommend that you think about doing a blog post just airing your feelings about the things you're reading, eating, and viewing. I for one would like to know. Share!

15 comments:

InTheFastLane said...

I just posted about Honeycrisp apples. They are by far, the best. Ever. I am going to have one now, with caramel sauce. yum.

Anonymous said...

loved the judgments!
mine, abbreviated:
honeycrisp: the best
glamour is up there with cosmo: waste of money
real simple: a real pain in my ass magazine that makes me feel real inferior
mad men: my favorite show show on tv
halloween: i hate this holiday

that's all i got right now--not enough for a post

Bren said...

Becky, if we drew a Venn diagram of your life and my life, they would overlap only at Honeycrisp apples and snagging the right man. And I'm checking out the Errol Morris articles.

Camp Papa said...

One of the things you couldn't know about Becky is that she has a nearly superhuman ability to recall every word of fatherly "wisdom" I've ever imparted to her. Fortunately, for her benefit and yours, she has not heeded it all. She, like her sister, has a sometimes disconcerting propensity to think for herself.

Michele said...

This is the second blog that has panned the new Dan Brown book. Honeycrisp apples:are to die for. I plan to bake a couple then top with sugar/spiced pecan maple syrup. I'm drooling now. What can I say about wine. I love it. My husband agrees with Benjamin Franklin who said; “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

Cassie said...

I love Mika! So glad to hear you're also a fan.

I just told Phil that orchard space should not be wasted on any other type of apple. It should be all Honeycrisp, all the time.

Also, I miss wine. And beer. But this, too, shall pass.

Becky said...

It shall pass, Cassie. It shall pass. I'm so glad you like Mika!

Michele, the Dan Brown book is so bad. And this is from someone who liked Da Vinci Code. I mean, I thought it was very effective. I may write a longer review of Lost Symbol if I can muster it.

Bren, I want our Venn diagram to overlap more! Actually I think it does, in ways that aren't captured by this post.

Amy said...

I think I am a little bit dumb today, cause I didn't really get what you were saying about the Errol Morris thing. I will blame the 4 month old who is keeping me up nights.

And, I enjoyed DaVinci Code too, but then I read one of his other books. Dan Brown is a one-trick pony, I think.

Veronica said...

I love wine. I miss wine. I even miss beer, which I generally don't like all that much.

Seriously one of the first things Patrick said to me this morning was: "Tomorrow's Mad Men is going to be awesome." And I was all "OMIGOD I know." When you're having conversations about a TV show a full day in advance, you know you've got a problem.

Michele R said...

I feel like I just dropped in from another planet as I have no idea what a Honeycrisp apple is. No idea. Red or yellow or green or combo skin? Where do I find these? I have obviously been neglecting myself and not shopping well for the family.

Becky said...

Combo red and yellow skin, Michele. You do owe it to yourself to check 'em out! I've been getting them at super Target, but they seem to have a short season. Best hurry!

Lawyer Mom said...

Well this is an awfully handy list.

Mad Men. Mad Men. I've definitely heard of it. Doggone it. I need to tune into it.

Ginny Marie said...

I tried the Dr. Scholl's gel inserts for my sister's wedding...didn't really work for me, either! I hated Dan Brown's Angels & Demons, but read the whole darn thing. I never got to the Da Vinci Code. Keep giving wine a try...although there's nothing like a good Cosmo!

Anonymous said...

You know, I read an article in Grazia that you can get restalyne shots for the balls of your foot to sustain wearing high heels. The surgeon they interviewed works in a clinic not 2km from my house. But $3000 so you can wear Louboutins for 3 months? I don't think so...

Sara said...

Good to know info on Dr. Scholl's.

I really need to be reading more.

Honeycrisp is an excellent apple, but I still love my Granny Smiths. (I just wanted to rock the boat a litte ;-) )

And the beer & plastic cup story is yet another romantic tale of your marriage. And I mean that.
"We are one flesh." lol!
Is that like Mark opening and wiping the top of my beer bottle with his shirt tail?