Books Read in 2015

It pains my heart when I read statistics claiming that a quarter of American adults haven't read a single book this year.  Why would someone choose not to enrich their lives?  By reading books, you are more capable of building a robust perspective of the world and your fellow complex earthly beings who also reside here.

Whether you are reading a novel for the first time or re-reading your favorite book, there is never a better day, month or year to crack open a good read.  Listed below are all 33 of the books I've consumed in 2015:

1.  Yes Please - Amy Poehler

For lovers of: Female comedian memoirs 

2.  As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride - Cary Elwes

For lovers of: Behind the scenes tales of giants, sword fighting, and Rob Reiner as told by Westley himself

3.  Night - Elie Wiesel

For lovers of: 1st rate holocaust memoirs

4.  Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy - Donald Miller

For lovers of: Spiritual memoirs that appeal to the millennial/generation X persuasion.

5.  The Awakening - Kate Chopin

For lovers of: 19th century controversial literature

6.  David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants - Malcolm Gladwell

For lovers of: Books that teach you how your personal disadvantages can function as your ultimate advantage

7.  Bel Canto - Ann Patchett

For lovers of: Books that remind you of Breakfast Club but for held hostages 

8.  The Road - Cormac McCarthy

For lovers of: Grim, apocalyptic tales of survival

9.  The Giver - Lois Lowry

For lovers of: Children's dystopian literature

10.  The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan

For lovers of: Mother-daughter narratives that transcend generations

11.  Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

For lovers of: Alfred Hitchcockian marital page-turners

12.  Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless Love - Francis Chan

For lovers of: Spiritual devotionals trumpeting God's radical love

13.  Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

For lovers of: Gothical romanticism

14.  Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

For lovers of: Satirical (and often times foreseeable) dystopian literature

15.  To The Lighthouse - Virginia Wolfe

For lovers of: Novels featuring minimal storytelling but enriching character development

16.  Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding

For lovers of: Embarrassingly candid confessional diaries 

17.  To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

For lovers of: Beloved classics that nearly restore your faith in humanity (assuming you don't continue with Go Set a Watchman)

18.  About a Boy - Nick Hornby

For lovers of: British 'man-boy' fiction

19.  Emma - Jane Austen

For lovers of: Both Jane Austen and Clueless

20.  Plunder and Deceit - Mark R. Levin

For lovers of: Political non-fiction for millennials but marketed to baby boomers

21.  Midnight's Children - Salmon Rusdie

For lovers of: (Indian) magical realism

22.  Winesburg, Ohio - Sherwood Anderson

For lovers of: Stories chronicling small-town isolation

23.  The Stranger - Albert Camus

For lovers of: Fiction that ponders and grapples with existentialism and morality

24.  Beloved - Toni Morrison

For lovers of: Post-slavery tales that will give you the hibbie jibbies 

25.  The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

For lovers of: Young Adult weepies

26.  Cannery Row - John Steinbeck

For lovers of: 'Slice of life' novels that zero in on a community's townspeople 

27.  Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World- Bob Goff

For lovers of: Inspirational memoirs that will make you re-evaluate the way you live

28.  Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom

For lovers of: Books that make you want to call up your favorite professor or spiritual mentor  

29.  The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom

For lovers of: A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life

30.  Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

For lovers of: (Latin) magical realism

31.  1984 - George Orwell

For lovers of: Bleak and foreseeable dystopian novels that seem to always remain relevant


32.  Why Not Me? - Mindy Kaling
For lovers of: Memoirs that remind you of the conversations you share with your best friends


33.  A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickins
For lover of:  Classic Christmas tales that will lift your jaded spirits

Which books have you read (or re-read) this year?


See also: Books Read in 2014 
                How To Read Over 20 Novels a Year

Top 5 Films of 2015

Perhaps this year's slew of movies can't boast any sort of cinematic innovations similar to last year.  I recall being blown away by Birdman cinematographer's "one shot" magic show.  I also adored Linklater's patience in developing last year's Boyhood which fictionally documented a boy's life through the course of twelve years.  

Still, despite this year's mostly run-of-the-mill offerings, there have been a few movies that have dealt with the mysteries of the mind.

1.  Inside Out 

After a few recent commonplace features, Pixar is once more back on the radar by delivering compelling and original content that speaks to both children and adults alike.  This time around, Pixar has decided to conquer the most complex and fascinating realm: the brain.  In Inside Out, we have the luxury of meeting pint-size characters portraying an eleven year old's primal feelings as they learn how to function in accord.   

2.  Steve Jobs

Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs plays like a three-act on-stage performance focusing on three crucial product demonstrations.  Though hardly any character is remotely likable,  screenplay superstar, Aaron Sorkin, knows how to build momentum with his heated wordplay.  Although Michael Fassbender doesn't share many physical traits with Steve Jobs, his performance is truly mesmerizing and deserves to be recognized this award season.

3.  Love and Mercy 

Love and Mercy chronicles Beach Boy genius Brian Wilson long after The Beach Boys' early successes.  This film knows how to defy rock bio-pic expectations by focusing, not solely on the 'rock n roll' lifestyle, but the mental illness he possessed and the love story that ultimately grounds and rescues him.  

4.  Mad Max

Remakes, reboots, sequels and other brand-based franchises have definitely frustrated me within the last decade or so.  However, with Miller's latest Mad Max upgrade, I was pleasantly surprised.  Perhaps I had little running on the film since I've never even seen the original trilogy.  However, Mad Max knew how to galvanize me with its beautifully electrifying cinematography and its apocalyptic and female-spirited wasteland chase.    

5.  Ex-Machina

Just because we may have the capability to perform technologically advanced innovations, doesn't mean that it's necessarily a good idea for the nature of mankind.   Nathan, a young scientist whom lives in an isolated home/research lab, has toyed with the notion of playing God.  By creating astronomical strides with his collection of artificial intelligence, he has nominated a well-meaning programmer, Caleb, to test his latest concoction's self-awareness.  This cerebral sci-thriller contemplates what happens when both man and machine become too smart for their own good.

Films I Still Need To See:  Brooklyn, Hateful Eight, Joy, Amy, The Revenant, Star Wars, Spotlight, etc. etc.

Honorable Mentions: Trainwreck, What Happened Nina Simone, The Wrecking Crew


Which movies did you enjoy this year?


See also:  Top 5 Films of 2014

Top Albums and Singles for 2015

I usually scoff at people who claim that they like "all kinds of music."  How is that possible?  There are simply too many genres and sub-genres imaginable.  More specifically, there is so much music outside the confines of Clear Channel radio stations for most Americans to make such a bold statement.

Have I captured "all kinds of music" on my top albums listicle this year?  Not exactly. I've included an eclectic mix, but certainly not "all kinds."  With so much music being released each year, I could have overlooked a musical genius lurking about somewhere.

Who decides which musicians are relevant these days?  I'd like to think that in the Internet age, we, mere digital consumers, have more of an influence than we may realize.  Let's swap our favorites and introduce one another more kinds of music.

Top 5 Albums of 2015

1.  Sound & Color - Alabama Shakes

2.  I Love You Honeybear - Father John Misty

3.  Currents - Tame Impala

4.  Yours Dreamily - The Arcs

5.  Goon - Tobias Jesso Jr.

Top 40 Singles of 2015

1. Snakeskin - Deerhunter

2.  Easy Way Out - Other Lives

3.  A Heart Like Hers - Mac Demarco

4.  PPP - Beach House

5.  Huararche Lights - Hot Chip

6. Reality in Motion - Tame Impala

7. Chateau Lobby #4 - Father John Misty

8. Gimme All Your Love  - Alabama Shakes

9.  Green and Gold - Lianne La Havas

10.  Everyday - Diane Coffee

11.  Young and Dumb - The Bird and the Bee

12.  Northern Highway - Martin Courtney (Real Estate)

13.  False Hope - Laura Marling

14.  An Illustration of Loneliness - Courtney Barrett

15.  California Nights - Best Coast

16.  Tomato Can - The Arcs

17.  Little Ballerina - Emile Haynie ft. Rufus Wainwright

18.  Lonesome Street - Blur

19.  To Die in L.A. - Lower Dens

20.  Silent Ivy Hotel - El Vy

21.  You're Wasting Out - Andy Shauf

22.  What Part of Me - Low

23.  Big Decisions  - My Morning Jacket

24.  Taste the Ceiling - Wilco

25.  Falling From the Sky - Calexico

26.  Went to War  - Amason

27.  Lisa Sawyer - Leon Bridges

28.  Apollyon of Blue Room  - Of Montreal

29.  Eugene - Sufjan Stevens

30.  Empty Me Out - Liz Vice

31.  Hot Coals - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Fields

32.  Tropic of Cancer - Panda Bear

33.  Teenage Talk - St. Vincent

34.  Leaving L.A. - Tobias Jesse Jr.

35.  Yes Man - Ben Folds

36.  I - Kendrick Lamar

37.  Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

38.  No No No - Beirut  

39.  Black Star - David Bowie
40.  Busy Earnin' - Jungle

Who have I left out?  What are your top albums (or singles) of 2015?  

See also: Top Albums and Singles of 2014

The Funniest Tweets Using the I Still Facebook Because Hashtag

                                                                         Photo Credit: lovintrends.com


Even though only 14% of U.S. teenagers claim that Facebook is the most important social media network, Facebook still boasts 1 million daily users.  Clearly more teens, (and adults alike) are using Facebook more than they would like to admit.  Despite the numerous Facebook annoyances that users claim, Facebook consumers aren't going anywhere.

Today's trending Twitter hashtag (I Still Facebook Because) allows users to mockingly evaluate why they are still Facebook prisoners.  Enjoy.

1.  

2.  

3.  

4.  

5.  

6.  

7.  

8.  

9.  

Why are you still using Facebook?

Golden Age TV Drama Anti-Hero Analysis

Photo Credit: ET Online

As of this month, I can officially boast that I have watched all four of the greatest golden age dramas: The Sopranos, Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Wire.  Coincidentally, all four of the greatest television dramas feature 'anti heroes' as their protagonists.

I don't necessarily pooh-pooh on amoral protagonists, otherwise, why read literature like Wuthering Heights?  As long as we dismiss imitating and glamorizing these troubled characters, we can further contemplate and probe mankind with all of its deficiencies.

Instead of ranking each show, (because that would be much too difficult and cliche), I will instead examine each of the four proverbial anti-heroes:

Tony Soprano - The Sopranos 

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Deadly Weapon: Sociopathic tendencies

Weakness: Animals (particularly ducks), and classic movies

Villain Ranking: 10

Don Draper - Mad Men

Photo Credit: Sundance TV

Deadly Weapon: Ladykiller looks

Weakness: Work and an Old Fashioned

Villain Ranking: 7.4

Walter White - Breaking Bad

Photo Credit: Spirit of Contradiction 

Deadly Weapon: Book smarts and a borderline personality disorder

Weakness: Living dangerously

Villain Ranking: 9.8

Jimmy McNulty - The Wire

Photo Credit: Quotes Gram

Deadly Weapon: Undeniable charm
Weakness: Flogging Molly and booze
Villain Ranking: 6.8



Which of the four shows are your favorite?  And why?

The Best Movies on Netflix Instant You Aren't Watching - Volume 5

A new month; a new slew of movies that have arrived and departed on Netflix Instant.  It's easy to overlook great films on Netflix Instant when they keep recommending 'Christmas with the Kranks' to you. Let's take a gander at which movies are currently worth your (valuable) time:

Dramas

Philomena

After the Wedding

Rain Man 

Comedies

Trading Places 

Hot Fuzz

Zach Galifianakis - Live at the Purple Onion

Classics

2001: A Space Odyssey 

Laura

Rocky

Cult Classics

Labyrinth 

Trainspotting

Clerks 

Independent

2 Days In New York

Somewhere

Reservoir Dogs

Romantic

Jerry Macguire 

Moonrise Kingdom

Muriel's Wedding 

Crime/Thrillers

Pi

American Psycho 

Fatal Attraction

Don't forget to check out former volumes: 1, 2, 3 and 4.  

Photo Credit: IFC Center

You're Invited To My One Year Blogiversary

Photo Credit: Onc Year Blogiversary - Dazzlegloss

As of today, my blog has officially turned a year old!  Hopefully my blog will live to see many more analog birthdays.  Of course, (my blog) couldn't continue to live another year without readers to help sustain its internal growth.  

Generally when parents celebrate their baby's first birthday, they throw a sizable party as an excuse to see their beloved friends and family.  This is my excuse to celebrate my baby blog with my treasured readers.  It is also an excuse to say: 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Hopefully one of my posts have resonated with you at one point or another.  Or at the very least, perhaps you were able to get turned on to a new song or a television-inspired recipe.  

My specific gratitude extends to the following groups:

• Friends and family who have been supportive of my digital ramblings.
• The Blog Catalog community which is made up of other inspiring and compelling bloggers.  Be sure to visit www.blogcatalog.com whether you are a blogger or a blog peeper.   
• ....and readers like you  

Top 10 Popular Blog Posts 

1.  Top 9 Deep Thoughts By Jack Handy

2.  Music Discovery Mondays - Brit Pop Edition

3.  5 Ways To Decorate Your Modest Rented Apartment

4.  The Best Movies You Aren't Watching on Netflix - Volume 4

5.  First 65 Days Logged Into My Fitness Pal

6.  Music Discovery Mondays - Summer Edition

7.  How to Celebrate Treat Yo Self Day on a Budget

8.  Music Discovery Mondays - Indie Edition

9.  How to Keep Your New Years Resolutions

10.  Mad Men Cocktail Recipes for Your Final Season Premiere

Reception

Finally, I want to hear your feedback.  Are there any specific blog post topics you'd like to see represented on my blog in the future?  

.....thanks for visiting and don't forget to pick up a dessert on your way out.  

Music Discovery Mondays - French Pop Edition

The French have always had a sophisticated air about themselves.  Their pop music truly resembles their au courant attitude.  I've included a few (modern-ish) French pop artists that are worth checking out even if you aren't planning a lavish trip to Paris anytime soon.


1.  Garra - Tahiti 80

Founded in 1999, this French pop band from Rouen knows how to pen irresistibly catchy tunes.  With six consistently solid albums under their belt, Tahiti 80 has no signs of waning.  Check out the single Garra, and then backtrack their entire catalog.




2.  Time of the Assassins - Charlotte Gainsbourg

Film star and singer/songwriter Charlotte Gainsbourg has won the French pop genetic lottery.  Her dad was Serge Gainsbourg, one of the most important French pop figures.  Having worked with the musical likes of Air and Beck, Gainsbourg knows how to use her breathy voice to evoke soul-searching contemplation.





3.  Too Young - Phoenix

By now, most Americans are familiar with the Versailles band Phoenix.  Perhaps the fact that the group is named after an American city certainly doesn't hurt.  (It also doesn't hurt when your lifetime partner is Sofia Coppola).  Listen to their 2000 single 'Too Young' which would later become featured on the 'Lost in Translation' soundtrack.





Go ahead and create your very own French pop playlist while you munch on some macarons.  :::Bon appetite:::

See also: Music Discovery Mondays - Brit Pop Edition


Photo credit: Rock Made in France
Macarons French Made

The Best Irreverent Donald Trump Tweets

Although Donald Trump's official tweets are ignorantly hilarious, it is (almost) as fun watching other Twitter users roast Trump and his infamous comb over.  I have assembled a number of irreverent Trump tweets for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy.

Photo Credit: Science Blogs

5 Ways To Decorate Your Modest Rented Apartment

So you're making a home out of a rented apartment, huh?  For those of you who have painting and/or restructuring limitations, you have come to the right place.  

Do you have carpeting that looks like the 80's never ended?  Do you have unappealing blinds that you're not allowed to replace?  Use the following tips to upgrade your apartment's appearance without irritating your landlord.

1.  Wall Art

Wall art may be incredibly pertinent if you are restricted from painting your (very) humble abode.  If you are feeling particularly inspired, create a collage of wall art.   To decorate on a budget, you can find dozens of affordable prints from Etsy.  

2.  Curtains

Hide those generic rental blinds with ornate curtains that fit your style.  Often times, adding curtains may be the extra step to make your rental feel like home.  For renters on a budget, check out Apartment Therapy's directory for affordable shopping resources.   

3.  Add Greenery 

For those of you that don't have a lusciously green backyard to exhibit, transfer the greenery inside.  Whether you should choose fake plants or freshly cut flowers, make your home feel as though you are visiting your favorite arboretum.   For inexpensive fake flowers, refer to Michaels, your local neighborly craft store. 

4.  Add a Rug

As The Big Lebowski can assure you, a rug can really tie the room together.   (A rug will come in especially handy if you aren't satisfied with your apartment's carpeting or tiles).  Go ahead and search for the perfect rug that will complement your style and room.    Not sure where to find the perfect rug?  Refer to Apartment Therapy's rug resource directory.  

5.  Add Shelving

Purchasing book shelves or other storage furniture is the perfect remedy to hide your white walls all the while showcasing your favorite artifacts.   The best part of displaying your beloved items?  You'll have additional storage space in your closet....or at least until you can afford a house.

What decorating tips do you suggest for other renters?  

Music Discovery Mondays - Indie Edition

In this day in age, what does it mean to be an 'indie' artist?  I recently witnessed a YouTube user categorize a Christina Aguilera music video as 'indie' and had a good laugh.

In order to embody the 'independent' essence, some people believe that an artist must sign unto an independent label, while others believe that your sound must strictly adhere to the 'indie' musical genre.

Growing up, I suppose I accepted both schools of thought.  Regardless of your definition of independent music, enjoy my latest serving of new singles by artists that rightfully own the title.


1.  Snakeskin - Deerhunter
Label: 4AD

Deerhunter's latest single "Snakeskin" will slither into your unconscious mind.  Invite this wry ditty to remain forevermore in your noggin.  You can anticipate the release of Deerhunter's latest album, Fading Frontier on October 16th.




2.  What Part of Me - Low
Label: Subpop

Formed in 1993, Low has remained true to their slow-core sound even throughout indie music's cultural metamorphosis.  Low's latest single "What Part of Me" instills a resilient though delicate arrangement. Their latest album Ones and Sixes is due out September 11th.





3.  Sparks - Beach House
Label: Subpop

This darling dream-pop duo is comprised of Baltimore, Maryland natives Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally.  With five noteworthy studio albums to swagger, Beach House's airy new single "Sparks" will keep you lost in thought and reverie.   Beach House's latest album, Depression Cherry was released earlier this month.   




Photo Credit - kaaybee.buzznet.com

The Best Movies on Netflix Instant You Aren't Watching - Volume 4

You still have nearly a month or so until new television programing returns for premiere season.  In the meantime, catch up on some hidden cinematic gems found on none-other than Netflix Instant.  Go ahead and magnify and diversify your already spectacular queue with the titles listed below.

Independent

Big Night

Tetro

Following

Comedies
Skeleton Twins
Jim Gaffigan - Beyond the Pale
Heathers

Dramas

Sophie's Choice

The Hours

Terms of Endearment

Documentaries

Wrecking Crew

Exit Through the Gift Shop

What Happened Miss Simone

Thrillers/Action

Nightcrawler

The Hurt Locker

Rosemary's Baby

Classics

To Kill A Mockingbird

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

From Here to Eternity

Romance

High Fidelity

Beyond the Lights

Bella

Foreign

A Trip To The Moon

Ida

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

For additional recommendations, be sure to check out my past editions: 1, 2 and 3

Which movies do you recommend on Netflix Instant?

Photo credit: Time For A Film

Top 9 Deep Thoughts By Jack Handy

For the sake of 90s' nostalgia, I'm presenting you with some of my favorite "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handy.  You remember "Deep Thoughts": the bit on Saturday Night Live with the Footprints-like backdrop and scrolling text of deep but really just droll thoughts.   Which "Deep Thoughts" are your favorite?

1.  "Children need encouragement.  If a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess.  That way, he develops a good lucky feeling.

2.  "If you're a young Mafia gangster on your first date, I bet it's real embarrassing if someone tries to kill you."

3.  "If you ever accidentally drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let 'em go, because man, they're gone."

4.  "If you're robbing a bank and your pants fall down, I think it's ok to laugh, and let your hostages laugh too, because come on - life is funny."

5.  "I bet a fun thing would be to go way back in time to where there was going to be eclipse and tell the cave men, "If I have come to destroy you, may the sun be blotted out from the sky."  Just then the eclipse would start, and they would probably try to kill you or something, but then you could explain about the rotation of the moon and all, and everyone would get a good laugh."

6.  "The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face."

7.  "I hope if dogs ever take over the world, and they choose a king, they don't just go by size, because I bet there are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas."

8.  "Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.  That way, when you criticize someone, you are a mile away and you have their shoes."

9. "One thing kids like is to be tricked.  For instance, I was going to take my nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old worn-out warehouse.  "Oh no," I said, "Disneyland burned down."  He cried and cried, but I think that deep down he thought it was a pretty good joke.  I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late."