If you come to this blog regularly, chances are you’re killing a few minutes from what may or may not be a dreary day. So sorry if Biblioklept hasn’t been posting regularly enough to satisfy your cubicle boredom. Early 2007 has been very busy around here, what with bathroom renovations (books, even Time-Life books, will not lay new tile or replumb your corroded pipes), a new school year, and a baby on the way. Between philosophical treatises in graduate school, AP essays to grade, and the self-induced Ontology 101 reading list (“Week 4” begins…uhm…later this week?), I’ve had little time to read anything, let alone get anything decent written.
So well and hence, before January is officially over, The Biblioklept will attempt an assessment of 2007 so far. With one-twelfth of the year already gone, where do we stand?
Books: Okay, I still haven’t made it through David Foster Wallace’s Oblivion, which was published waaaaay back in 2004. Actually, in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve been attempting the same story repeatedly. My mistake is that I start reading right before I go to sleep–and then I go to sleep immediately. At this rate, I will probably finish anything published in 2007 in late 2011.
Magazines: TodayI got the February issue of The Believer. I still haven’t finished the Dec/Jan issue. A sorry state of affairs for someone who claims to love to read.
Movies: Why have you still not gone to see Children of Men? Go see it in the theater while you still have the chance. This weekend, if time permits, Pan’s Labyrinth. Has anyone seen this one yet?
Music: Lots of great stuff has dropped in 2007. Current favorites–Panda Bear’s Person Pitch, Bobby Conn’s King for a Day, Apostle of Hustle’s National Anthem of Nowhere, Menomena’s Friend or Foe. All of these are great listening and deserve more in-depth reviews, possibly at a later time. Also, Deerhoof’s Friend Opportunity dropped legal style.
TV: I must admit that I love the American Idol auditions (after the schadenfreude of watching losers have their illusions painfully revoked in front of millions, the show turns into pure drivel of course). It was also nice to see Jewel join the judges (do you remember when Jewel was like, alternative?)
Politics: My rage-fatigue has mellowed into a nice warm apathy. Does it matter that the Democrats are “in control”?
Furniture: I regret passing up an ottoman offered by my uncle.
Wine: I still advocate boxed wines, screwtops will be all the rage in 07.
Pets: As of now, our cat is still alive.
Biblioklept 
I saw Pan’s Labyrinth over the weekend…I enjoyed it, although it made me cringe and whimper quite a few times. It’s a pretty brutal movie, but a great story. Probably not for those with weak stomachs or an aversion to seeing people get their face beaten in with a bottle. It wasn’t really what I expected it to be, and I mean that in a good way.
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Face beaten in w/ a bottle? I’m there!
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Pan’s Lab was very good. i wouldn’t say it was as great as advertised (see the 98 on metacritic), but certainly well worth the watch and a very good film. Person Pitch is beautimous. loves it. the first track off the Avey Tare/Kria Brekken collab is lovely as well. As far as books go, I finished Keith Olbermann’s book, and started that new(est) Dave Eggers book, but truth be told my tolerance for modern lit is waning…i needs me some good ole Beckett or Faulkner to really stomp a mudhole in my brain. any recommendations?
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Are you talking about What is the What? I need to read that, but it won’t happen until the summer, I’m sure.
Hmmm…something often overlooked in the Faulknerish vein is Florida’s own Lillian Smith. Her novel Strange Fruit deals with the fall out of an interracial relationship…in the South…in the 1920s! I read most of it, and the end of it (I am “one of those” as a friend would say). The first chapter of her memoir Killers of the Dream is even better. Also, Carson McCullers is good stuff in the Faulknerish vein. See: The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and Other Stories (c/f Flannery O’Connor).
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