Summary Judgments: Books n' Jeans

I thought I just did one of these posts, but I looked and it was over a month ago. I'll try to keep them to once a month or so, because I could wear you out with all the opinions I have--around here it's opinions all night long. Just like Lionel Richie said.

At Hank's bedtime, he likes for one of us to lie down on the couch in his room for a few minutes. I've gotten into the habit of reading in there as he falls asleep. It's a peaceful time. We chat a little bit, then he says, "Okay, that's enough. Good night," and he turns over and goes to sleep. Sometimes if I'm caught up in my book, I stay there a while longer. In that venue, I like to read things that are absorbing but not demanding.

Right now it's that Andrew Young tell-all, The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down. I know, I feel kind of gross even admitting this. But I thought there might be some nuance to John Edwards's scuzzbucketness that I was missing. So lemme tell you, it is a disturbing book. Disturbing because I think there are lots of powerful people like John Edwards was, just doing whatever the hell they want, living in a bubble-world created and maintained for them by people like Andrew Young. This guy's sycophancy is profound. Profound and revolting. If you're not up on this gossip, he's the guy who was JE's closest aide for years, he facilitated JE's long affair with Rielle Hunter and helped him keep it secret, and he finally claimed paternity of Rielle Hunter's baby when JE asked him to. Young seems to have very little sense of himself as an independent moral agent. He repeatedly says that he found Edwards's behavior wrong and "repulsive," yet nowhere does he recount any time where he confronted him or expressed disapproval. And as for John Edwards, good grief. That shit is bananas. Just like Gwen Stefani said.

In my own bedroom I'm still reading The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. It's good. Not as good as The Historian, her first novel, but I'm very into it. I'm halfway through, and I cannot figure out what on earth is going to happen. Part of the reason I'm so mystified is that I can't decide what genre of novel this is. You know how, the genre governs the range of possible directions the plot can go in? Like, if you are reading a fluffy mom lit novel, like Slummy Mummy (hilarious), the heroine is not going to deal with her animosity towards her fellow room mom by having the woman whacked. Likewise, a magical dome is not going to descend over her town, stranding her antagonist on the outside. So, with Swan Thieves, I can't figure out what might happen because I can't figure out what genre this is.

And is it weird that one of my favorite writers right now writes for Gawker? If you're not reading Richard Lawson's essays and recaps of popular television shows, they will make your life more fun. I no longer watch those "Real Housewives" shows, but I read his recaps and they make me laugh my face off. He is like a frackin' virtuoso of tone. Much more fun than watching the actual stuff he's talking about. Read any of the Real Housewives recaps, though the Orange County and New Jersey ones are especially choice.

New Vampire Weekend album, Contra: I like them, and I kind of like a few songs on this, except it turns me off the way, in that one song "Horchata," they rhyme "horchata" with "aranciata." I mean, not that those words don't rhyme, but they just seem so pleased with themselves for thinking of it.

Gap jeans in "Perfect Boot." I think these are awesome jeans. Reader, would you like to see a picture of my butt? What's that you say? Oh, I have one right here.

These were the Perfect Boot jeans right out of the package, in all their unstretched-out goodness. I am telling you, it's all about the pocket placement, and these people are geniuses of it. The other thing about these is that they're what Gap calls mid-rise, which means they are a few fingers below my belly button but still above the love handles. Or side muffins or whatever you call them.

Yes, I asked Matt to take some pictures of my new jeans so I could show my sister on Myfitnesspal.com (if you're on there, lemme know and I'll friend you!), I wasn't thinking I would post them on my blog. But since I'm giving you the summary judgments and all. Reader, I feel so much closer to you now! The white jeans are cute, even though they're "distressed," grrr, but I don't have pics of those yet. Anyhoo, I do recommend the Perfect Boot. The Curvy is too low for me, but the Long 'n Leans are also good.

Ooh, the new Masterpiece Theatre of Emma. I'm late to this party, since the third part ran on February 7, but I had it dvr'd. Some of the recent Masterpiece Austens have been a little limp (that Mansfield Park last year, snore), but this one is delightful. Johnnie Lee Miller plays Mr. Knightly and he is adorable. I like that it's a longer film and doesn't cram the whole story into two hours. Watch it if they rerun it near you.

I think there was more but I'm sure we're all sick of me by now. Have a good night y'all! Laura is so excited that women's figure skating is coming on tonight.