Here are a few of the entertainments I've been enjoying:
Books:
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
By far the best book I've read all year. Oskar Schell, 9 years old, made me laugh, broke my heart and ultimately gave me hope. Learn more here.
Broken for YouI really enjoyed the quirky characters and the relationships. The plot is a little far-fetched, but makes you wish it really could happen. More here.
Movies:
OK, I haven't been sitting in air-conditioned theaters. We've been getting movies from Netflix and sweating through them. Here are a couple of my favorites.
Stranger than FictionYes, it's Will Ferrall, but it's not what you think. This is a good movie—really good, in my opinion. I'm not the only one who thought so.
PrincesasIf you are one of those people who just won't watch a movie with subtitles—well you miss out on a lot of good movies. Princesas is from Spain. It is a story about the friendship between two prostitutes, each very different from the other. Sad and beautiful.
TV
All I can say is thank goodness for HBO.
Big LoveI can't get enough of this bizarre, messed up polygamous family.
EntourageI know I'm not the demographic for this show, but I find these bad boys pretty entertaining, and most entertaining of all is Jeremy Piven.
Flight of the ConchordsThis is probably one of those shows that you either love or hate. It is deeply weird and the music is so bad it is almost good. It makes me laugh.
I'm watching "John From Cinncinnati" too, but don't know if I can stick with it. It is really weird!
We ust be channeling each other I have those books on order from the library and Big Love is my favorite. I haven't seen Entourage but my son says it, and John from Cinncinnati are very good. He lovesFlight of the Chonchords-but I'm not thrilled with it. Enjoy your peaceful summer. Have you seen Volver by Almodovar? I love his movies. My son took a film class where I watched All About My Mother and was hooked from there.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Elin got me hooked on Extremely Loud. Jonathan Safran Foer's use of language is breathtaking. It is possibly the best book I've ever read - and I'm picky, err, discerning. His other book, Everything is Illuminated, is also excellent and he organized an anthology when he was in college inspired by the work of Joseph Cornell called Convergence of Birds.
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing that Frazen book at the bookstore -- I haven't read it, but I lovelovelove the cover! I also loved Stranger Than Fiction. So good.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite summer find are podcasts of PRI's Fair Game.
I find Big Love to be deliciously bizarre - can't wait for Monday night and a new episode.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you about Big Love -- delightfully dysfunctional is the way I like to think of them. As for John from Cincinnati -- THANK YOU -- my dh had it on the other night and I couldn't help asking him what the HECK he was watching. I was quilting so I wasn't paying very close attention, but I just kept thinking that what I was seeing/cathcing was too weird. Even for me.
ReplyDeleteI had to give up on John from Cincinnati about three episodes in. We still say "I don't know, Butchie, instead," but I found myself wandering out of the room to find other things to do. Flight of the Conchords is just plain silly fun.
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