Books Read in 2014

I have officially read 17 books this year.  I doubt I will ever devour that many books in one year until I have retired.

There is no point in delivering a "Best Books of 2014" listicle since none of them were released this year.  Instead, I will share the books I have read and you can evaluate whether or not each publication fits your literary preference.

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
For lovers of: books about books

Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
For lovers of: books evaluating unlikely success stories

Mrs. Dalloway - Virginia Woofe
For lovers of: experimental prose

The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck
For lovers of: literature that shatters the very notion of the American Dream

How Music Works - David Byrne
For lovers of:  books that try to make "sense" of the music business and music theory

The Fortress of Solitude - Jonathan Lethem
For lovers of: epic gentrification novels with a funky soundtrack

Consider the Lobster - David Foster Wallace
For lovers of: clever but eye-opening essays...and lobster...lots of lobster

The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell
For lovers of: books analyzing hair-raising ideas and trends within popular society

A Room With a View - E.M. Forster
For lovers of: novels featuring love triangles, stuffy relatives and enchanting Italian scenery

Hooking Up - Tom Wolfe
For lovers of: observational essays penned from journalists sporting white suits

The Problem With Pain - C.S. Lewis
For lovers of: books that philosophize suffering and the meaning of life

Amsterdam - Ian McEwan
For lovers of: British morality tales with love triangles

More Baths Less Talking - Nick Hornby
For lovers of: essays on books written by novelists

Season of Migration to the North - Tayeb Salih
For lovers of: Sudanese tragedies

This is How You Lose Her - Junot Diaz
For lovers of: Diaz's bestselling novel "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao"

A Man Without a Country - Kurt Vonnegut
For lovers of: protest songs

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me - Mindy Kaling
For lovers of: cupcakes, witty "girl talk"


What books have you read this year.  Any recommendations?

Top 5 Films of 2014

I generally shy away from posting each year's top films.  There are simply too many films to consume theatrically each year, and not enough money in the bank.  To my dismay, I am not an academy member, therefore, I am not sent copious amount of DVDs in the mail to review. It's a lot easier to generate 'End of the Year' music lists plainly because it is more attainable to acquire music online these days between album previews, generous free downloads from your favorite artists and YouTube.

I have seen a "whooping" fifteen films released in 2014.  I can guarantee you by next summer, my 'Top 5 Films of 2014' will look very different as I will have seen a dozen more films from 2014 as they are readily available as streaming rentals.

Still, I am eager to exchange personal favorites with other film lovers.  I want to know what has affected you cinematically and narratively.  I want to know which movies kept your mind reeling late at night.  Here are mine:


1.  Boyhood

I've been waiting several years for this film to see the light of day.  I can't think of anything more 'epic' than a coming of age film that chronicles the daily life of an ordinary boy throughout the course of twelve years (shot in real time).  Granted, nothing about this boy is all that heroic and nothing about his life may be considered universally important.  However, the ordinary is more extraordinary when seen through the lens of a boy as he reaches transformation.




 2.  Birdman

Just saw this blistering beautiful mess last Friday.  I'm not entirely sure what I witnessed, but I know I love it.





3.  Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson + Hitchcock approach = Must see




4.  Muppets Most Wanted

This may be the first Muppet feature film worthy of your time and affection since Muppet Treasure Island.  As much as I adore Jason Segel, I'm relieved the studio ditched him and his Muppet fanboy screenwriting approach.  This time around, we are gifted with the charming but also irreverent Muppets we dearly missed and a plot that keeps the film moving and soaring.






5.  3 Way Tie:
Interstellar, Gone Girl, The One I Love

All three of these films have kept me on the edge of my seat but also left me scratching my head.  I felt it was necessary to group these films together because of their hybrid genres.  Each film takes either a sci-fi or thriller approach to familiar romantic or family relationship tropes.  Although none of these films are perfect for they have left viewers with a number of intellectual plot gaps, they have still put a lease on my noggin.




Honorable Mentions: Chef, Guardians of the Galaxy, Only Lovers Left Alive, Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton

Films I Still Need to See: Theory of Everything, Whiplash, The Imitation Game, Inherent Vice, American Sniper

California Dreamin' As Rent Prices Soar

There has always been something mythical about heading out west to California.  However, with rent rising as quickly as I change my own laundry, it makes me wonder how many impressionable folks will make the trek to California unless they score a coveted tech job in Silicon Valley.  California may be brimming with opportunities, however, those opportunities may not necessarily pay the rent for the (almost extinct) middle class.

For those of us that have grown up in California, it is difficult to imagine a life outside of our fantastical state.  Don't get me wrong, I have lived outside of California, therefore, I am not completely out of touch with reality.  Also, a number of the California towns I have dwelled in are anything but desirable.  Still, there is something magical about living a stone's throw away from the ocean, mountains, desert, and some of the greatest cities known to man.

Yet, with astronomical rent prices, are we to leave home in order to sustain a comfortable life?  I look at myself and many of my California homegrown pals, and realize that we may not be able to purchase a modest house regardless of our professions.

Regardless of whether or not we would like to purchase a house someday, rent alone is troublesome. I am currently a newly wed, however, if I had been single in my mid-thirties or forties, I can't imagine I would want to share a pad with roommates I discovered via Craigslist.  It makes me wonder if my career could support a studio in most any sought-out California city.

Last January, NPR provided a rising rent price analysis, yet they couldn't provide a groundbreaking solution for "there is very little you can do about it."  I would definitely prefer to stay in California, but only time will tell how pragmatic that decision may be.  Making this choice is almost like deciding whether or not to linger at a festive all-night party or to turn in early.

I can't imagine that I am the only Californian feeling torn, for I realize that this is something most of my peers have grappled with one time or another.  If any Californian readers stumble upon this page and are considering an out-of-state move, there are a few things you may need to consider.  Should you choose to leave, prepare to say goodbye to the following:

The treeman at Venice Beach who now has his own documentary:

Free in-store performances (i.e. Aimee Mann) at the largest independent record store (Amoeba):

The greatest (growing) burger chain: Umami burger.  It even has its own stamp of approval!

Sharing an intimate moment with Ryan Gosling: 

....and ending the perfect day with a perfect sunset:

Top Albums and Singles of 2014

2014 has proven that the traditional music business model is officially doomed.  Taylor Swift is the only artist that has reached platinum this year.  What does the future hold for the other thousands of musicians barely surviving?

I appreciate the fact that we now live in a DIY age where nearly anyone can produce, release and distribute their albums independently.  The only problem is that there is almost too much talent lurking about, and not an easy solution to filter all of the noteworthy acts flying just below the radar. 

That is why I believe that it is crucial for all music enthusiasts to contribute their favorite musical discoveries via the Internet or through word of mouth.  I don’t believe every artist that has “made it” is necessarily talented.  Sometimes fame is coincidental or based purely on luck. This year, I want to give a shout-out to my favorite albums and singles that may or may not have had the exposure it rightly deserves. With that said, here are my favorite albums and singles of 2014:

Top Albums of 2014

1.  Morning Phase - Beck

2.  St. Vincent - St. Vincent

3.  Give the People What They Want - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

4.  My Favorite Faded Fantasy - Damien Rice

 5.  Phonovisions Symphonic Orchestra -Wax Tailor

 

  Top Singles of 2014

1.  Strange Weather - Anna Calvi and David Byrne

2. Almost Like The Blues - Leonard Cohen

3. It Will End in Tears - Phillip Selway

4. Algiers - Afghan Whigs

5. Duvan - Amason

6. Careful You - TV On The Radio

7. Stay Awhile - She and Him

8. Coconut Sofa - Jaded Incorporated

9. Do You - Spoon

10. Am I Safe - Ryan Adams

11. Late Bloomer - Jenny Lewis

12. Digital Witness - St. Vincent

13. Low Key - Tweedy

14. Lucky Guy - Sondre Lerche

15. The Bend - Real Estate

16. Alone In My Home - Jack White

17. Silver Lining - First Aid Kit

18. Brill Bruisers - New Pornographers

19. Everyday Robots - Damon Albarn

20. No Sir - The Both

21. Someone New - Hozier

22. Pools - Glass Animals

23. Rainy Day Woman - Kat Edmonson

24. It Takes a Lot to Know a Man - Damien Rice

25. Stranger To My Happiness - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

26. Going Out - Hospitality

27. Wave - Beck

28. Me at the Museum, You in the Wintergardens - Tiny Ruins

29. Wolf - Lily & Madeleine

30. 1999 - Hollie Cook

31. Artifact #1 - Conor Oberest

32. Avant Gardener - Courtney Barnett

33. You Will Return - Quantic ft. Alice Russell

34. If I'm Unworthy - Blake Mills

35. Passing Out the Pieces - Mac DeMarco

36. Ojai - Ray LaMontagne

37. How Can You Really? - Foxygen

38. Turnaround - Dru Chen

39. Ben's My Friend - Sun Kil Moon

40. Sometimes - Wax Tailor

What are some of your favorite picks from this year?

Female Comedians “Getting Real” in Their Memoirs

After reading something heavy, I desperately need a hearty guffaw.  Occasionally, I love checking out the humor section at the local bookstore.  I generally don’t pay attention to the gender of any given novel, but the more I have read books by female comedians in recent years, I have realized that an unspoken sub-genre exists: the female comedian memoir.

Unlike their male counterparts, female comedians are “getting real” and sharing their life struggles and advice all the while using a witty voice.   As comical as these writers are, they bear a more sincere presence in their publication.  (Take for example Tina Fey's passion towards raising children in Bossy Pants.)  

Sometimes they will offer unsolicited advice to their female readers.  Regardless of whether or not I would ever consider taking their advice, I do enjoy their witty and self-deprecating take on childhood, rise to success/stardom, and how they choose to balance it all.  (It makes them appear somewhat relatable.) 

Quite a few male comedians, on the other hand, generally hide behind a satirical persona a la Stephen Colbert. If a male author is playing himself, he will most likely use a sarcastic or droll tone.  Either way, the content of most male comedian authors focuses more on current news than on the personal details of their lives.  I absolutely adore both approaches and writing styles, therefore, I do not have a personal preference. 

I do, however, hold a bias when it comes to celebrity memoirs.  I do prefer female comedian memoirs to female celebrity memoirs in which these celebrities hold very little writing credit or talent.  Most successful television female comedians hold writing experience on TV or during their sketch comedy salad days.  I appreciate nothing more than a memoir written by someone who is witty, intelligent and has a way with words. 

Otherwise, we have to read poetry by celebrities like Suzanne Somers:

Organic girl dropped last night
For nothing in particular

Except to tell me again how beautiful and serene she feels

On uncooked vegetables and wheat germ fortified by bean sprouts

Mixed with yeast and egg whites on really big days
She not only meditates regularly, but looks at me like I should

And lectures me about meat and ice cream

And other aggressive foods I shouldn’t eat.

            Touch Me: The Poems of Suzanne Somers

The Best Movies on Netflix Instant You Aren’t Watching

Are you in between TV shows on Netflix?  Tired of Netflix Instant recommending campy straight-to-DVD sequels?  Does it take you 30 minutes to select a movie?  Sometimes it is difficult to stumble upon a film on Netflix that possesses watchable merit.  Don’t fret, for I have selected a slew of worthy picks you may have overlooked.   All of these film selections are tomato-certified on Rotten Tomatoes, therefore, you know that these options are exceptional....or at least better than Sharknado. What are some of your favorite Netflix gems?

Classics

- The Conversation

- Metropolis

- 12 Angry Men

Foreign

- Cinema Paradiso

- The Triplets of Belleville

- The Intouchables

Documentaries

- The Act of Killing

-Who is Harry Nilsson

- Hoop Dreams

Independent 

- Nebraska

- Bernie

- Happy-Go-Lucky

Dramas

- The Fisher King

- Glengary Glen Ross

- City of God

Comedies

- New in Town (John Mulaney)

- In the Loop

- The Purple Rose of Cairo

Romantic

- Submarine

- Beautiful Girls

- Much Ado About Nothing (Joss Whedon)

Crime/Thrillers

- In Bruges

- Jackie Brown

- Usual Suspects

30 Signs You Are Reaching 30

In nearly eight months, I will be turning thirty years old.  I don’t expect to go through a life-altering metamorphosis.  Although, I will confess that I find it rather comforting when I Google search: “30 signs you are turning 30.”  I appreciate knowing that there are other twenty-nine year olds who can no longer pull all-nighters.  With that said, here is my "thirty-something" listicle.  Although they mostly pertain to my life, I hope my list can reaffirm that you too, are not alone in this strange quest for adulthood.    

1. At first, you are flattered when a waiter cards you and claims you look sixteen years old....until you recall how sixteen-year olds present themselves. 
2. You look more well rested because you get at least seven hours of sleep each night....unless you have kids.  
3. You have accepted the fact that you will never know everything; therefore, you are not too proud to ask questions.
4. You have invested in comfortable quality flats with a good sole.  (Begone flats from Payless.)
5. Your metabolism has officially slowed down.  Now you have to watch what you eat like "normal people."  Seriously normal people, how do you do it?
6. You wouldn't be caught dead wearing 70% of what H&M has to offer.
   
7. You have strong opinions, but you are still respectful of others when their convictions differ from your own.
8. Mid to late 90s Radiohead has held up quite well.  (You will still feel this way as you enter your 40s and 50s.)
9. Budweiser or sugary cocktails have now been replaced with craft beer or wine.                          
10. Vacation hours are reserved for destination weddings.
11. You have trustworthy friends that are able to provide you with honest advice.
12. You are most-likely either in a satisfying relationship, happily single, or single and searching for someone who is actually worth your time.
13. Concerts without seating are no longer permissible to you.

     14.  You have the courage to try something new.  (Food, career/life paths, travel destinations, art projects, etc.)

     15.  You can recall a time ten years ago, when hipsters actually roamed this Earth.

     16.  You start to exercise because you want to expand your life expiration date.  (Although losing weight couldn't hurt either.)

     17.  Even though you have been using Itunes for ten years, you still occasionally listen to to CDs and vinyl records because you know the sound quality can't be beat.

     18.  You voluntarily watch the news.  (Although you would prefer to dodge "news" commentators and their assessments.)

     19.  You can no longer relate to assumptions made about millennials. (Especially since most of these assumptions are more in line with Generation Z.)  

     20.  For example, you love reading the newspaper, because the news app just isn't enough.

     21.  In fact, reading the newspaper is one of your favorite Sunday pastimes.

      

        22.  You spend more money on home decor than on clothes.

        23.  You may belong to the "selfie" generation, but you acknowledge that the world does not revolve around you.

        24.  You have decided to read great literature on your own time; not because it was assigned in class.

        25.  You read novels that are intended for adults.

        26.  You are working towards a fulfilling career, (or you already have one) yet, you still realize  that your job won't stand beside you while you you are lying on your death bed.

        27.  You cook more than you ever have before, and your wallet thanks you for it.

        28.  You know whether or not you believe in God.  In fact, you also know why you believe what you believe.  If you haven't considered your existence or purpose in life within the first thirty years of your life, what have you been doing?

          29.  You may not always have everything together, but that's ok.  You have been humbled and you have learned how to persevere.  As a result, you have learned how to sympathize with others.

          30.  You google "30 signs you are almost 30."