Dear Listmakers,
Meandering around blogdom, I find, everywhere, lists of favorites from 2006. I'm overwhelmed at all the books/movies/music et al. that you people have studied. I feel like Charlie Brown in the face of all the lists. (Note: I would point to an online cartoon of Charlie Brown and Linus looking at clouds, but the Schulz estate is pretty tight-lipped with their stuff. Think: Linus and Charlie lying on their backs in a field watching the clouds. Linus says, I see Moses leading the children of Israel across the Red Sea with Pharoah's chariots close behind. Charlie says, I was just going to say that I saw a ducky and a doggy.)
If I were to make a list of the top. . . 4 or 5 or7 things from 2006 (all genre) I'd include (in no particular order of importance):
1) A series of tapes by Robert Greenberg about Understanding the World's Great Music. (Robert, I do plan to post a blog-letter to you real soon!)
2) The blog Paterson Project. Very nice concept and because of it I've discovered the poetry of William Carlos Williams.
3) Toni Morrison's books. These are not easy books for me, but, I think they are honest and expansive for me.
4) The Requiem Mass. It has been a sad year in ways for me, but I have found great rest the way folks for centuries have done, through the requiem. Mozart, Verdi, Faure, Rutter.
5) I haven't seen many movies made this year, none that readily come to mind as meriting mention. One I should have seen before, but that I saw this year, is Crash. I know this movie has positive and negative following, but I did respect what it was saying, and, I do know that crash.
6) I heard bell hooks speak several times this year. She is certainly a worthy thinker.
7) Blogging. I began blogging as an experiment related to a presentation on technology at a conference. It has become important to me as a way to develop as a writer, but it's more than that, somehow.
OK. So that's it. I guess what I'll have to do is write a To Do List. Now, I could come up with an impressive one of those!
Meandering around blogdom, I find, everywhere, lists of favorites from 2006. I'm overwhelmed at all the books/movies/music et al. that you people have studied. I feel like Charlie Brown in the face of all the lists. (Note: I would point to an online cartoon of Charlie Brown and Linus looking at clouds, but the Schulz estate is pretty tight-lipped with their stuff. Think: Linus and Charlie lying on their backs in a field watching the clouds. Linus says, I see Moses leading the children of Israel across the Red Sea with Pharoah's chariots close behind. Charlie says, I was just going to say that I saw a ducky and a doggy.)
If I were to make a list of the top. . . 4 or 5 or7 things from 2006 (all genre) I'd include (in no particular order of importance):
1) A series of tapes by Robert Greenberg about Understanding the World's Great Music. (Robert, I do plan to post a blog-letter to you real soon!)
2) The blog Paterson Project. Very nice concept and because of it I've discovered the poetry of William Carlos Williams.
3) Toni Morrison's books. These are not easy books for me, but, I think they are honest and expansive for me.
4) The Requiem Mass. It has been a sad year in ways for me, but I have found great rest the way folks for centuries have done, through the requiem. Mozart, Verdi, Faure, Rutter.
5) I haven't seen many movies made this year, none that readily come to mind as meriting mention. One I should have seen before, but that I saw this year, is Crash. I know this movie has positive and negative following, but I did respect what it was saying, and, I do know that crash.
6) I heard bell hooks speak several times this year. She is certainly a worthy thinker.
7) Blogging. I began blogging as an experiment related to a presentation on technology at a conference. It has become important to me as a way to develop as a writer, but it's more than that, somehow.
OK. So that's it. I guess what I'll have to do is write a To Do List. Now, I could come up with an impressive one of those!
Posts
7 comments:
I posted on chavez today (on my blog), so feel free to take a gander. It's hardly an informed post, but I like the pictures (and I've got some links up).
For movies, I would recommend "The Motorcycle Diaries" and "The Illusionist". TMD is about how Che Guevara found his voice, and is also a great cinematographic shot of southern America. The Illusionist is another great piece with Edward Norton. Both are worth seeing.
Peace, and may the Advent of our Lord come quickly!
Between Chavez and Guevara, my readers are making some good recommendations here.
Josh, I will definitely look for the Motorcycle Diaries. Sounds like one that I need to see.
Anne GG, I read your stuff and got worked up about it. (See my post on your site.)
And yes, we surely do need the coming of Christ. Veni, Veni, Immanuel. I especially appreciate this verse of that song.
O come desire of nations, come. Bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid thou our sad divisions cease, and be thyself our King of Peace.
brd, thank you for supporting the pat. project - in all seriousness, conversely and i might have stopped by now if we didn't think you were reading everything (and carefully). we're both working on some things (including songs) right now, so i'm hoping for more regular posts as the new year begins - it's a resolution, at this point. your blog is easily as inspiring to me, and i always look forward to your careful, thoughtful and beautifully written posts.
thank you for a good year. if you're interested, i'll be putting up several reviews for movies to close out the calendar year over at OTAS; i usually wait until oscar time gets going (i still haven't seen several of the big-guns that have yet to make it here), but i'm antsy.
have a wonderful new year.
KMC (T. Az.)
from annie:
i too recommend the Motorcycle Diaries and the Illuionist--josh and i saw them together and they're great films.
about lists--my kids & i are reading an awesome juvy fiction book right now called Becoming Naomi Leon, by Pam Munoz Ryan. in it, Naomi, the main character, LOVES lists :)...anytime you're craving fiction for 12-year olds, it's a nice read. :)
i miss you both...josh and i want to come visit sometime...not sure when, but i miss the Farm...
I do have another movie to recommend. Pride and Prejudice. I just saw it over Christmas and I loved it. I really enjoyed Keira Knightley's strong characterization of Elizabeth. I liked the way it took artistic liberties. P&P has been done so many times that we don't necessarily want a close rendition, we want an interpretation and this one is great, I think. I am looking forward to renting your recommendations, Josh and Annie, in the near future.
Two books I am engaged in right now are: Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Both good ones.
OK, if this is your version of "doggy and ducky", then I guess I would be laying there saying "I see a big cotten ball". The best thing I got hooked on in 2006 was TV on DVD. No commercials and you can sit there and watch a whole season all together. It really does give you a whole new perspective on TV shows. and it is a dream of mine to live in a world with no commercials.
This actually started at the end of 2005, with watching about 8 years worth of Stargates within a 4-5 month period. But I really expanded is in 2006. My latest show to watch was To the Manor Born. It is a great series to have on while you clean house. It does not take all of your attention, but every now and again you will catch something really funny that gets you laughing.
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