Stalking the catalogue: Inventory

"Why does a book of lists need an introduction?  Isn't this book specifically marketed to people who like lists because they hate reading?  And doesn't everyone hate reading?  Isn't that why Eli Whitney invented the internet?  Absolutely."
 - Chuck Klosterman (introduction)

Read this book on your own. That's about the only advice I can give, really. You will scream chortle, giggle until you choke, guffaw, wheeze until you expire, sigh, spray coke out of your nose, snicker, belly laugh until you cry, gasp, pee your pants, wince, hoot and holler. Not necessarily in that order. And you certainly won't want people around to see your reactions.

The very talented writers of the A.V. Club have compiled pop-culture lists that are so specific in some instances you'll wonder why the heck you never thought of them yourself, or perhaps wonder why some sicko would think of them in the first place. The oddball part of it is, I found myself agreeing with quite a bit of the content, and wow are there some obscure books/films I'd forgotten I'd ever read/seen and am sure I never want to read/see again. How can I resist a list such as 'Keanu Reeves movies somehow not ruined by Keanu Reeves'? He may look hot but whenever I watch his movies I feel like I'm watching a wooden puppet who delivers everything in the same deadpan monotone and I'm always looking for evidence of strings. That's not to take away from his movies, hell no, some of them are pure effing genius (look at The Matrix) but whether that's about the writing or the fact that he looks hawt in leather I can't tell.

In the interests of 'research' (aka timewasting) I spent much time in YouTube, IMDB, local videoshops and in our library catalogue putting together any list I found even remotely noteworthy.  Why?  Simple.  How else can I say I agree/disagree if I don't have the foggiest idea what they're on about?  Certainly caused quite heated discussions between family and friends (everyone had differing opinions that just had to be voiced loudly because obviously, right?).

My most favourite list is 'Play it again, only better: 14 cover songs that outdo the originals.'  I had such a blast looking up most of them on YouTube just to compare them (sometimes for the first time, sometimes for the umpteenth time).  I can't name my next favourite lists as most, if not all, have swearing in them.  In closing, I'm not a fan of movies, books, film or tv series that are considered totally 'high brow.' Seriously, classy is wasted on me. I definitely like to mix it all up and, sometimes, the trashier the better as far as I'm concerned, so I really enjoyed the fact that you'd find the classics (film, music, book etc) rubbing shoulders with the trashy. If you're a fan of pop culture mixed with lashings of tongue-in-cheek humour interspersed with tonnes of curse words - then come right ahead. This is your kinda book.  Which is probably just as well because I don't think we have another book of its kind in our branches.

Title: Inventory : 16 films featuring manic pixie dream girls, 10 great songs nearly ruined by saxophone, and 100 more obsessively specific pop-culture lists
Editor: Josh Modell
Published: Scribner, 2009

KAPOW! SHAZAM! Comics But Not As You Know Them

Surprising enough, I've never been much of a comic book fan.  I just never saw their appeal.  Recently though I have been making an effort to try out more of this much misunderstood, and sometimes maligned, way of reading.

And I'm so glad I did because comics have come along way from the ones I remember as a kid.  The art work alone in some of them is truly amazing, and beautiful.  And in many ways they have helped me appreciate stories that never held all that much of an allure for me.

Which is really the point, don't you think?

If something gets you to enjoy, even love a story, then I'm all for it.

Personally I can't wait to discover more great comic delights.  Of course knowing me it will probably just end up as yet another addiction...

Romeo and Juliet : the war / reimagined by Stan Lee and Terry Dougas.

A recommendation from my fellow blogger Tosca, this is Romeo and Juliet as you've never seen them before.

Combining beautiful illustrations with a classic story and giving it a sci-fi twist.  Just wonderful.

Batman. Volume 1, The court of owls / Scott Snyder, writer.

In the argument of who you prefer Batman versus Superman, Batman has always been the one for me.

Mysterious, broody with a touch of bad boy and unlike Superman he has to rely on his own 'very human' abilities.  There's no flying or x-ray vision with this superhero and that's just how I like it.

Pacific Rim. Tales from year zero / writer, Travis Beacham.

Aliens from outer space. Earth under attack.  War machines. Yeah I am so there.

Even better there's a film coming out.  So double yay.

Until then check out this comic to see what all the fuss is about.

Star Trek the next generation / Doctor Who. Assimilation / [written by Scott & David Tipton with Tony Lee.

The moment I found out that someone had done a Doctor Who/Star Trek The Next Generation crossover I just had to check it out.

Because seriously this is so awesome and for a fanfic lover like me the ultimate kind of story..

If you've never read a crossover's before then you're in for a treat and if you're anything like me will probably want to hunt down every kind of crossover you can find.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer : the long way home / script, Joss Whedon.

I'm a Buffy fan so it will come as no surprise that I've read all the Buffy comics.

Because why not? Or better yet, why haven't you?  Especially if you a Buffy fan and wanted to know what happened after Season seven.

This series of comics carries on from where the TV show ended and will give you all the answers you've been craving and even better it's written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon.

Spike: the complete series / written by Brian Lynch

Buffy. Vampires. Bad boys...

I'm sensing a theme here but really can you blame me when the bad boy in question is none other than Spike.  He was (and is) the ultimate bad boy with a British accent (God aren't they the best), dressed all in black who underneath it all was really a hero.

Personally I would chosen him over Angel any day.  Buffy was a fool.

Winter Soldier / writer, Ed Brubaker

Men in tights?

Sorry doesn't really do it for me.

Men in black. With guns no less.  Well that's a whole different story.

Move over Captain America and hello Winter soldier.  Now this is my kind of superhero.

Now all I need to find is western comic with guns and cowboy hats and bad boys - who look super hot - because why the hell not.  So if you have any recommendations let me know.

What I'm listening to

Some pretty amazing new music has come out recently so here's a little of what I've been listening to. It's a pretty eclectic bunch so hopefully there a little something for everyone.

Will Heard ft Cara Delevingne - 'Sonnentanz' (Sun Don't Shine) Acoustic

The original of this song is one of those dance/pop songs that are all of the rage at the moment but this acoustic version is much better; it features supermodel Cara Delevigne who has a surprisingly good voice.

Brett Eldredge - Don't Ya

Okay so I know that country music fans are few and far between in New Zealand BUT this song is super catchy and fun and I would consider it more country/pop than anything. If you're a fan of Hunter Hayes or my girl Taylor Swift then just try it, you might be pleasantly surprised. 

Katy Perry - Roar

I'm not a huge Katy Perry  fan but this song has been on repeat every since is came out. I know that pretty soon I will get sick of it and never want to hear it again but until then expect to see me dancing to it in car at traffic lights. 

The 1975 - Chocolate

I only heard this song last night but I must have listened to it about 20 times since then. Such a great song. Defiantly getting their album. 

Jay Z ft Justin Timberlake - Holy Grail

It's Jay Z and Justin Timberlake. Do I really need to say more? 

Stalking the catalogue: The girl in the song

"Wake up Maggie
I think I've got something to say to you
It's late September and I really should be back in school..."
- Maggie May by Rod Stewart

This book! OH. This book. I'm not sure it adds any great meaning to anybody's life but my own, but it fills one of those feel-good boxes (that I do so enjoy ticking) with its quirk factor and trivia.

If I had to nail it down (by all means, let's), it'd be the fact that it appeals to my not-so-inner-quiz night-attending geek. My three favouritest ever, ever, ever songs inspired by women are, in order, Maggie May by Rod Stewart, Lola by The Kinks and My Sharona by The Knack.

I always knew why Stewart penned the lyrics to Maggie May: he lost his virginity (many, many, many years ago) with an unknown girl at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival in 1961.  As songs of regret go, it's a classic (in my mind).  Lola, by The Kinks, is a song my very open-minded dad liked to sing to me as a kid which, going by the rather oppressive environment he grew up in, is rather surprising.  The song itself is about a sexual experience with a transvestite.  I'm not sure who the song is really about - Rolling Stone had their own idea that it was Candy Darling - whether or it not it was isn't categorically stated in the book, but it makes for interesting reading, anyway.  And My Sharona, gosh as rock tracks go it is awesomeness personified.  As rock tracks inspired by dirty lustful intentions towards young girls not even out of their teens go, oh dear *pulls a face*  Did it put me off the book?  No way!  But I listen to My Sharona with a prejudiced ear, now.

If you're into music trivia this is well worth the read. I'd also recommend The boy in the song: the true stories behind 50 classic pop songs.

Title: The girl in the song : the true stories behind 50 rock classics
Authors: Michael Heatley & Frank Hopkinson
Published: Chicago Review Press, 2011

You're too annoying, I can't read you

After reading Scriven's amazing blog about what she loves to hate, I couldn't help but think about all of the things that I can't stand and genuinely do not understand why people like them, here a just a few examples:

Scaremongering non-fiction 

Sugar is killing your baby! Bread is going to make your heart explode! Anything not organic makes your lower intestine depressed! Your children are going to be homeless unless you teach them to grow their own vegetables!

This drives me craaaazy! I have no problem with self help books but don't try and get me to buy this by using your bullshit scary titles. Shut up and hand me the loaf.

Time travel romance anything

Never interesting ever.

Glee

I intended to post this a little while ago but then Corey Monteith from Glee died and I thought it might be bad taste to talk about how much I hate his show. So just to clarify: I hate Glee not Corey or anyone else in it.

The thing about Glee is that the songs are awesome but the characters aren't actually people. They're just stereotypes; the jock, the gay guy, the sassy black girl. And they talk about their feelings way too much. Bored.

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers

I will never understand the appeal of this band. His voice is so irritating.

Jodi Picoult - all titles

I have only read 19 Minutes and My Sister's Keeper but that was enough to put me off of her books for good. The main problem I have with her books was that I do not give a crap what happens to the characters. I find it quite hard to enjoy books that are written from multiple perspectives anyway and I don't think she does it that well.

Children's books with gross/bad covers/titles

If you cant draw then you hire an illustrator or you don't publish. End of story.

Two and a half men. 

Can someone explain to me the appeal of this show? It's so lost on me. Your'e too good for this mess Duckie!