Reading List Round-Up 2012: Books 1-11

I've been keeping to my most ambitious New Year's resolution of reading 100 books by year's end, and have decided that instead of spending valuable reading time writing drawn-out reviews that few people will appreciate, I'll sum up my (brief) thoughts each month on what I've read, for anyone who might be interested in recommendations.  


The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
Perrotta's most recent work is one of my instant favorites.  It features his usual combination of dark humor and suburban tragedy in a fresh story that I wasn't expecting to engage me so much.

The Romantics by Pankaj Mishra
Quite honestly, this one was disappointing.  It's something of a coming-of-age tale, and maybe it's because I've read too many of those, but whatever the case I couldn't get on board with Samar's story, despite some great prose about India that sneaked in along the way.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
I don't remember the last time I read a book and felt like throwing up afterward.  And that's not a compliment, either.  Maybe I read it in the wrong mood or something, but this book for me was just not enjoyable.  I think the biggest reason for that is the detachment from the central characters, and the fact that no wisdom or catharsis seems to come from their untimely demises.  I mean, I was hardly expecting happily ever after, but this novel is pretty much just a 200-plus dwelling on misery.

The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I've already expressed my full thoughts on these three, but to sum up, they are terrific, as long as you keep in mind that they're written for teenagers.

Pawnee:  Greatest Town in America by Leslie Knope (but really by Mike Schur and the writers at Parks and Recreation)
It might seem silly to have included this one, but it's actually a really rich, expansive book.  It's every bit as quirky and funny as the show, and a must-read for nerdy fans like myself, who always want to know more about Pawnee and the mish-mash of crazy citizens who live there.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Whoa.  There's not much else that can be said about this book.  I've tried to articulate it, but there is so much going on in this story already (it's hard to believe there are still a handful of other, equally long books which succeed it) that I'm afraid I'll leave out the most important part through sheer oversight.  This is a perfect book for the lover of a story with huge scope and numerous fully-realized characters young and old and possessing varying degrees of evil.  It's part sweeping pseudo-historical tome, part medieval-esque adventure, part supernatural intrigue.  And yes, at nearly 700 pages it's a slow trek, but by the final pages you find yourself forgetting the more tedious chapters and excited for more.


The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
This book is great if you're interested in reading about how a wealthy white female writer who's happily married with 2 kids and lives on the Upper East Side in New York spent a year trying to explore and increase her happiness.  The tidbits of wisdom to eye-rolling ratio really isn't worth the effort.

Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres
This is a fast read and is absolutely hilarious.  It's Ellen doing what Ellen does best:  dispensing sincere advice as frequently as jokes and silly observations, about everything from health to relationships to using web-speak on the Internet.  

Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind
I've seen the musical based on this play (and of course, fell in love with the angsty yet rockin' tunes), but had never read the source material.  It's a pretty quick read, one that I finished during a single sitting, and while it has a couple of variations from the show, there wasn't much that I didn't see coming.  The play articulates its themes a bit better, and the characters have a bit more depth.  Definitely worth a read.

Best Book: 
Tie, A Game of Thrones and The Leftovers

Worst Book:
The Virgin Suicides

Easiest to Get Through/Fastest Read:
Tie, Seriously...I'm Kidding and The Hunger Games trilogy

Slowest Read:
A Game of Thrones

Book Review: Mockingjay

I have to say, this is probably my favorite of the three novels.  Sure, I went in with some very specific expectations (for instance, I was sure Peeta would be dead before the final pages), and though Mockingjay subverted almost all of the things I thought were coming, it more than compensated for the disappointment of being wrong.

I've heard a lot of grumblings from readers who feel that this book was a letdown, that it didn't end the way they hoped and expected, and from the first pages I was determined to figure out why.  The prose of Mockingjay is better than that of Catching Fire right off the bat-- it isn't bogged down by recapping what happened or by re-outlining the dynamics between characters.  Instead, it does what any final book in a series should do, jumping right into the action and expecting readers to be fully apprised of the situation.

What sets Mockingjay apart from its two predecessors is that it's much more of a war-time kind of novel.  By that I mean events have conspired and collapsed in such a way that the characters have no choice but to prepare for, and agonize over, the impending and unavoidable battle for Panem.   I think if you aren't the type to enjoy scene after scene of drawn out, tension-filled action, then you might not be able to stomach the majority of the book's middle, part of which has us literally following Katniss and company on a seemingly doomed trek across the capitol, but the payoff is every bit as dramatic and emotional as one could hope.


[SPOILER ALERT, if you hadn't figured it out already]

I have to say, I was shocked by the choice to kill off not Peeta, not even Gale, but Prim.  I was shocked for about ten seconds before realizing that not only had it been in the making since the first novel, it was necessary to nearly all the characters involved.  That's not to say her death, the sheer brutality of it and Katniss' almost catatonic grief, wasn't absolutely awful, but from a writing standpoint it amplifies Prim's significance and pushes the story to an end it might not have otherwise reached.

Prim's presence in the first two novels is almost exclusively in mentions and reminiscinces from Katniss, which relegates her to the role of supporting player.  Yes, she is the impetus that pushes Katniss into volunteering for the Hunger Games, but we don't get to know her as a person quite as well as we'd like.  Prim, in both her short life and her death, is a symbol of the lost innocence (because, you know, the pile of corpses racked up in the annual fight-to-the-death tournament isn't metaphor enough) of this post-post-modern world.  She's not just someone who becomes a casualty of the barbarians in charge of Panem; she's someone we know, someone who has and would never hurt a fly, and someone the main character loves with absolutely no conditions.  It is this third reason that illuminates why Prim has to be the one to die to push Katniss to the edge; if Peeta died she might have settled for finding solace in Gale or numbed her grief with the memory of his anger toward her in this book; if it had been Gale, something similar in the reverse might have happened.  Katniss loses the one person she has always loved more than anyone else, and it is this which allows her to emerge as the heroine she's been training to become.

Oh, and there's also an epilogue that rivals Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for cheesiness (though this one is mercifully shorter), which reveals that Katniss ends up with Peeta.  I predicted this all the way back in book one, but it's nice to be proven correct.  What makes the presence of this epilogue tolerable, though, is the fact that after all Katniss (and we, the readers who've followed her journey) has been through, it just doesn't matter that much which suitor she chooses.  Gale, who in my opinion was never really a contender, falls off her radar due to his possible hand in what happened to Prim, and Peeta happens to be there to try and pick up the pieces.  Though the epilogue might make fans who've been "shipping" this romance all along cheer, for me (and for Katniss, I think), it's a bit sad.  Yes, she's got a family and no, they aren't in the immediate danger she faced growing up, but the price paid was so high it's hard to really enjoy it.

I realize I've left out a considerable chunk of the plot from the book's middle in this review, and that's honestly because for me it doesn't race along in the same exciting, tightly paced way the previous two stories did.  In reading Mockingjay I was primarily interested in how Suzanne Collins would take this tale, with so many loose ends and moving parts at book two's end, and conclude the series in a way that was satisfactory.  I think for me it all hinges on what happens with Prim, and like Katniss I find that much of the rest of it grows hazy by story's end.

Ruined for Life: 5 Fictional Men I Fell in Love with and Never Forgot

Come on ladies, we've all done it.  Whatever the medium, whether it was during our giggly pre-teen days or as recently as last week's episode of our favorite show, we have fallen for that perfect imaginary guy, the one who seems to have been designed specifically for you to swoon over.  Some of them were chivalrous, a throw-back to some old idealized notion of what it is to be a gentleman; others made us laugh so hard our stomachs hurt; and some were just plain adorable.  The one sad factor they all had in common?  We'll never, ever get to meet them in real life.  Here's to five of my personal favorite men, the ones who have set the bar (in all likelihood) way too high.

1.  Jim Halpert


To this day I cannot fathom how Pam Beesly stayed engaged to Roy as long as she did, when this awkward yet charming male specimen was sitting ten feet from her desk every day.  For me, the term "adorkable" doesn't originate with Zooey Deschanel but with Jim, who had all the sincerity and none of the confidence, and who was the star of one of my all-time favorite unrequited love stories (never mind that it was later requited and they did, in fact, live happily ever after).  It doesn't hurt, either, that John Krasinski is a beautiful, hilarious man who seems every bit as down-to-earth as his character.

But it wasn't just his bumbling romantic ventures that made Jim so appealing to me.  He is a genuine optimist, even when things just seem downright crappy.  Even in his lowest moments, such as his decision to leave the Scranton office, he has resolved to make the best of it, confessing his feelings to Pam (not with ulterior motive, but just because "...I wanted you to know...once"), and later befriending his new co-workers.  And despite his insistence in season one that he didn't want his job at Dunder-Mifflin to become his career, he has grown and embraced his role at the office and has matured perhaps more than any other character on the show.

It also doesn't hurt that he's only gotten cuter every single season.

2.  Chandler Bing

I think I always liked Chandler the most because he reminded me the most of myself (that might seem like a weird thing to say, given that I also felt attracted to him, but whatever).  He is the self-appointed "funny guy" in any situation, and for a lot of the first episodes of the show the writers seemed to keep him in that box without really exploring what else there was to know about him.  But as we later saw, there was a lot more than just sarcasm and jokes under the surface. 

Chandler had some considerable baggage (most great characters do), and a lack of confidence that kept him from a committed relationship with anyone likeable.  Until season four, of course, when his friendship with Monica escalated into something almost nobody expected, including the two of them.  For me this pairing always made more sense than any other combination of people within the famous sextet, including Ross and Rachel.  Chandler in particular seemed to really need the strong foundation that he and Monica had as friends in order to let go of his almost innumerable intimacy issues, and what is great about this romance is that neither of their individual characters got lost in the shuffle of the relationship (something again that I think Ross and Rachel were guilty of).

Funny guys have always been my type; generally, if you can make me laugh, it's very hard for me to write you off.  But what I loved most about this character was that he had the best maturation of the characters over the course of ten seasons.  Chandler always wanted to be the good guy and for the most part he was, the only one who couldn't see it was him.

3.  Floyd

First of all, was it ever established whether Floyd has a last name?  If it has, I have not been able to track it down. Anyway, for me Floyd will always be Liz Lemon's "one that got away," no matter who she meets or whether she ultimately realizes she's better off alone.  The man wanted her to move to Cleveland with him, for goodness' sake! 

It might seem strange that this character has managed to stick on my radar despite only appearing in a minor arc in season one and assorted later episodes, in one of which Liz attended his wedding to another woman, but to this day Floyd remains one of my favorite characters in the history of 30 Rock.
For a show that thrives on caricatures for a lot of its humor (Kenneth the page and Jenna Maroney come immediately to mind), it was refreshing to see a love interest for Liz emerge who was so realistically drawn.  Floyd was not a heartthrob but instead was dorky-cute and kind of awkward, which of course made him perfect for Liz.  He also had some flaws.  He was a recovering alcoholic and he definitely had some douche-y moments, particularly after his breakup with Liz, but just like any of us, he was trying to be better.  It never felt like there was a balance of power to be shifted in his relationship with Liz; they seemed to be on a level with each other and happy to keep it that way.

Also, Floyd's idea of an awesome date included watching movies at home, eating pizza, and playing card games.  He definitely earned a few points in my book for that.

4.  Shawn Hunter

Yes, if we're going to pick eligible men from the wonder that was Boy Meets World, Cory probably would've been the safest choice.  Heck, even dim-witted Eric or Jack, who came along later, might have been more solid options.  But no girl can really resist a charming bad-boy, and as a pre-teen I was no exception.  Shawn had it all:  he was broody-cute with that hair and those lips, a little bit edgy and damaged, and most importantly, he was one half of one of the greatest bromances to ever grace our television sets.

Shawn might also seem a surprising choice because of his reputation in the early seasons of the show as somewhat promiscuous.  While Cory and Topanga seemed destined for forever from the start, Shawn broke his fair share of hearts, and for a long time didn't really seem to care.  We got a glimpse at the possibility of a new, deep and sensitive Shawn at the beginning of his romance with Angela (who, by the way, seemed to fall from the sky into their school, despite Shawn's claim that they were friends before), when he decided that he wanted a relationship more like that of his two best friends.  Was this a realistic plot line for a high school kid who'd been getting around since hitting puberty?  Probably not.  But did it make those of us who'd had our doubts about Shawn finally cave and admit we loved him?  You bet it did.  We liked the idea that we could essentially have the best of both worlds:  the vaguely dangerous boy in need of repair and the thinking dude who listened to Vivaldi and loved the same poetry as us.  Looking back, this was probably the height of impossibility, but if there was any show that specialized in heightened expectations for life, it was Boy Meets World.

*Also, it should be noted that there is a large community of devoted Boy Meets World appreciation blogs still kicking around the Internet today, almost 12 years after it left the air.  It's really kind of impressive.

5.  Neville Longbottom

First, it should be stated that I'm not one of those girls who jumped on the bandwagon because Matthew Lewis "got hot."  Neville has been on my radar since the first time I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, when he proved that just because you're not tight with the popular kids, you're not completely useless (especially when there's a sinister plot unraveling inside your school), which was a lesson my ten year old self needed to learn. My heart still smiles when he earns those last ten points for Gryffindor and secures the championship. 

I always thought Neville was one of the most compelling characters, maybe because for the first few books we knew so little about him.  Harry wrote him off as the nerdy kid, and though he was never really unkind to Neville, he didn't make an effort to get to know him, and as a consequence, neither did we.  But a storm of information about Neville began emerging in books four and five, revealing that this awkward, insecure kid was that way for a reason.  Neville has parents, but he'd almost be better off if they were dead like Harry's:  tortured into insanity, they function almost like small children, unable to speak or recognize their own son.  On top of that, Neville grew up with his grandmother, who apparently spent every available opportunity telling him he wasn't good enough.  By the time Neville joined Dumbledore's army and showed his determination to fight back against Voldemort despite his limitations, it was clear that Neville might be unimpressive at first sight, but he was not to be underestimated.

Needless to say, I was already pretty enamored with Neville before the explosion of badassery that takes place in the final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Not only is Neville one of the key leaders of the rebellion at Hogwarts in Harry's absence, he is among the first willing to put his life on the line during battle, and does Harry the not insignificant favor of destroying Voldemort's last horcrux.  Neville's bravery in the face of certain doom at the moment when everyone thinks Harry is dead and all hope has been lost cemented him forever in my heart as a hero.

Also, it should be noted that I always thought Matthew Lewis was a cutie, and his was one of the franchise's most spot-on castings.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation 4.13-- Bowling for Votes

I think my first favorite thing in this episode is the idea that not only is Leslie watching her own focus group meeting, but in typical fashion she obsesses literally nonstop over individual remarks from random Pawneeans.  My second favorite thing is that this segues smoothly into probably my favorite bowling outing I've ever watched on TV.

I like that this episode divided the cast's storylines into a kind of A-team (with the more major players) vs. B-team (the rest of the gang, gathered back at April and Andy's house) setup.  It gave us a pretty fantastic interaction between Ann, Tom, and Ron, who haven't had a whole lot to do together this season, and on the other side gave April and Andy a chance to shine while neutralizing Chris' often grating personality.



But let's talk about probably the most important part of this episode:  that awesome moment in which Ben defended Leslie's honor after her bowling partner called her "my second-least favorite word for a woman". I think we can all agree that the fact that Ben throws the punch of a nine year old girl (seriously, who punches upward like that?!) makes it that much more fantastic.  And Leslie's reaction, while somewhat surprising, was icing on the cake.  We also got a new campaign slogan out of all this:  "If you don't vote for me, my boyfriend might beat you up."

One thing I thought about during this episode was why, exactly, we saw Ann, Tom, and Ron grouped together (and Ann and Tom being, dare I say, just a little bit flirty?).  I've been reading speculation about future episodes, and it's been revealed that some time around Valentine's Day, we're going to get an episode in which Ann has a romantic encounter with someone very unexpected.  I've wondered since reading this tidbit if it wouldn't be one of these two gentlemen, and I think the interactions in "Bowling for Votes" confirm my suspicion.  My money is tentatively on Tom, for the moment, but then again, Ann is a brunette who enjoys breakfast food, and therefore exactly Ron's type. 

Oh, and also, April might be a wizard. 

Oscar Nominations 2012: Surprises and Snubs

This morning's nominations were a mixed bag of the absolutely predictable (my jaw would've hit the floor if The Artist and Hugo weren't swimming in nods) and some pleasant surprises (Rooney Mara, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, to name a few).  I think on the whole, though, and based on the films I've seen this year, I'm a little more satisfied with these nominations than I was with the Golden Globes.  Even with fewer slots for nominations, it feels like the spectrum of films being included has widened, and a few dark horses sneaked into the race.

Surprises

*Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids:  This performance has never screamed "Oscars" to me, but you know what?  It should.  These awards are supposed to be about rewarding people who perform at the very top of their game, and McCarthy did exactly that.  Just because her game happens to be outrageous, gross-out comedy rather than heavy drama doesn't mean she didn't give a hell of a performance.  I don't think she has the momentum behind her to take this award from Octavia Spencer, but I would love to see a shocker in this category come Oscar night.

*Jonah Hill in Moneyball:  Not necessarily surprising given the critical acclaim that has followed him since the film's release, but I'd like to assert my agreement with this nod.  Hill was, for me, one of the few compelling features of Moneyball, a film that on the whole was boring and a little too sure of itself.  If we must award this Brad Pitt vehicle, I'd like to see it in the form of an award for Jonah Hill as Supporting Actor.

*Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:  This is the nomination that shocked me probably most of all.  Yes, Mara gives an absolutely amazing performance, but it's in a gritty David Fincher film that barely squeaks by with an R-rating, and just doesn't seem to fit with the other nominees.  I love that she'll be going up against heavyweights like Meryl Streep and Viola Davis (the two women currently leading the flock) and the long-overdue Michelle Williams, but I don't think she'll win this one.  That said, I think it really says something about the Academy and what they're trying to do this year by branching out--and hey, I bet Rooney Mara isn't complaining.

*Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo, Best Original Screenplay for Bridesmaids:  Another nomination where I'll make the case for not discounting comedy simply because it's comedy.  This one was a little more predictable given the significantly smaller number of original scripts in the race compared with the overcrowded Adapted Screenplay race, but it's a fun addition nonetheless.

*Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Best Picture:  This film has risen and fallen in terms of buzz all year long.  It was an early contender with a lot of festival attention, then the chatter faded as the release was delayed again and again, and now it seems to be back on the map, despite a shutout at the Golden Globes.  I haven't seen this one yet, but it is an adaptation of one of my all-time favorite novels, so my hopes are very high. 

Snubs

*Ryan Gosling:  I was really pulling for Gosling to get a nod for any one of the excellent performances he gave in 2011, but given his dual loss at the Golden Globes, my hopes weren't high.  Sure enough, he missed out on both acting categories.  The upside, though, is that this will push him to keep striving for better, and hopefully we'll see him in the Oscars race again soon.

*Leonardo DiCaprio:  This is one dude who has got to be pissed he got up early to check the nominations.  The Best Actor award was supposed to finally be his this year, and he was thwarted again.  Can we all just agree that he gets a nomination next year for Great Gatsby, no matter how good or bad it is?

*The Ides of March:  Yes, this film slipped into the one category it unquestionably belongs: Best Original Screenplay.  But it should have been in the running for Direction and Best Picture as well.  I've been championing this film since it's release, and so it was a disappointment to see the Oscar voters leave it out.

*David Fincher:  I find it amazing this man doesn't yet have an Academy Award.  Maybe he and DiCaprio need to make a movie together to overcome their respective dry spells.  Make it happen, Hollywood.

*50/50:  Will Reiser's screenplay deserved a nomination, at the very least.  I also would have happily accepted a surprise nod for JGL.

Book Review: Catching Fire

This is probably my least favorite of the three Hunger Games novels, but even so it weaves a pretty good tale.  Catching Fire picks up a few weeks after the first book left off, on the brink of Katniss and Peeta's victory tour.  They must go into all 12 districts and play the hero and heroine, while also continuing to pretend they are in love, while also walking a fine line between caution and defiance.  After all, they wouldn't want to start a revolution, would they?

My problem with this book, and it's really only an issue for the first third or so of the narrative, is that Suzanne Collins spends way too much time reminding us exactly what happened in the previous book.  Katniss' reminiscing doesn't feel organic to the plot, it feels forced, with the information dropped in awkwardly, telling us about events that, so long as we actually read the first book, I don't think any of us have forgotten during the intervening time.  She also re-outlines the supposed love triangle with Peeta, Gale, and Katniss, clearly intending to beat it into our skulls as a significant plot point.  However, I just don't feel that Gale was ever present enough (physically or emotionally for Katniss) in the first novel to really feel like a contender when Catching Fire begins.  And yes, Katniss continues to insist that she doesn't really love Peeta, that it's all for show, but I think it's clear to the reader that parts of it are real, even if it isn't clear to the characters yet.  I think this book (and the series as a whole) could have easily done without the love triangle plot, because for me I never considered it a triangle at all.  Katniss loves Gale, certainly, but not in the way she thinks, the way she maybe thinks she should, given that they've known each other so long and have always had each other's backs.  Even in her most torn moments, her supposed desire for Gale feels like something she's forcing herself to believe in, rather than something she actually, ultimately feels.  And I think this book could have been every bit as intriguing and impactful if this plot line simply consisted of Katniss trying to sift through her feelings toward Peeta, with Gale firmly cemented as the friend and compatriot that he is.

Just in case you've gotten lost in perhaps too much analysis of a love story between teenagers, there is an actual plot taking place amid all the feelings, and a complex one at that.  President Snow, the current ruler of Panem, believes that Katniss' actions at the end of the Hunger Games tournament were intended as a rebellion, intended to spark a revolution.  And indeed murmurings of revolution follow Katniss and company wherever they go, almost regardless of what she does to try and suppress them.  What's more is the rebels are using Katniss as a representative, a symbol of their building revolution.  The government struggles to keep Katniss from fueling the flames, and eventually come up with a solution:  another Hunger Games, this one consisting solely of previous competitors.  Given that Katniss and Peeta are 2 of the 3 victors from District 12, they face the inevitable horror of reliving their experience all over again.

Katniss has one objective in the arena this time around, and it isn't her survival, it's Peeta's.  She knows that she will be killed, that she is not the right person to give a voice to the growing rebellion in the districts, but Peeta has a quality about him, a sense of what to do and say, that will make him an impressive leader.  The second tournament is deliberately more terrifying than the first, and the stakes are steeply increased by Katniss' need to preserve Peeta's life.  In the midst of peril coming literally from all sides, thing are turned upside down by a series of unexpected twists that result in Peeta's capture by the government and the beginnings of all-out revolution in the districts.

This book, especially compared with its predecessor and successor, definitely takes time to find its bearings, but when it does, really gives the reader a sense of the urgency and the danger of what is and what might be happening.  There are few characters who can be trusted beyond the shadow of a doubt, and neither Katniss nor the reader can discern which ones they might be, if there are any at all.  If the first Hunger Games book wasn't enough to persuade you that this is story is hardly kids' stuff, Catching Fire surely will.  With all the lives at stake and all the potential for disaster at every turn, it can be nearly impossible at times to believe that the outcome rests almost entirely on the shoulders of a few teenagers.  The second installment in the series provides a strong hinge between the build of the first novel and the impending conclusion of the third, leaving you ready to see how it all will end.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation 4.11-- The Comeback Kid

I probably could have written this review on Thursday evening, but I was too busy watching this episode multiple times in order to appreciate all the hilarity.  This episode marks a very promising return for Parks, setting us up for the rest of this season's arc and of course supplying us with countless laughs.

We find our campaign team (aka the Parks Department goofballs) struggling to decide how best to re-launch Leslie's campaign for City Council.  Leslie hires Ann as her campaign manager, despite the fact that Ann has no experience or inclination to do the job.  Together they plan a rally for Leslie's supporters at the local sports arena.  There's no way this won't end in disaster, right?

For the B plot, we pay a visit to Ben, who is on something of a downward spiral.  He's lounging and cooking and (in one of my favorite recent subplots) teaching himself to make claymation videos.  It seems that losing his job has unhinged him just a little bit, and Chris naturally becomes concerned that his friend has fallen into something of a depression, although he might just be jealous that he didn't dream up the "Low-Cal Calzone Zone" first.

I should probably mention at this point that April and Andy have adopted a dog.  Named Champion.  Who has three legs.  And who apparently must attend all campaign-related events with his new owners. 

But back to the brewing catastrophe.  Ron, Tom, and the Dwyers get sidetracked on their way to the rally by the police, and need Leslie to come to their rescue.  She manages to get them to the arena, where a sufficient crowd has gathered for the rally. 

And then we are treated to one of the most hilarious physical comedy sequences in recent television history (and there is no way I'm overstating here).  Leslie and company enter the arena triumphantly for about ten steps before the red carpet (supplied by Tom to increase the event's class factor), and then slip and slide across the ice to the tiny stage Ron has managed to erect.  Oh yeah, and Gloria Estefan's "Get On Your Feet" is playing on an awkwardly repeating loop.  There's really just no way my describing this scene is going to do it justice, you just have to see it for yourself.

The team gathers back and Casa Ludgate-Dwyer-Wyatt once the rally is over, and Leslie finally makes the logical decision of hiring Ben as her campaign manager.  He accepts, naturally, and while part of me is very excited to see where this new thread takes them, a bigger part of me is disappointed that this means Ben will most likely never complete production on "Requiem for a Tuesday".

Judging by some of the other shows that have made returns this week, I think there has been kind of a trend of laziness, assuming viewers will be excited for anything new, even if it isn't particularly good or interesting.  Not so with Parks-- "The Comeback Kid" is yet another flawless episode in a fantastic season of the best show currently on TV.

Golden Globes 2012: Predictions

 The Golden Globe Awards are almost upon us, and this year's field is a pretty competitive one.  I've seen about half of the major contenders, and so feel I have the authority to pass judgment on who ought to win.  I've marked the person or film I think WILL win with a single asterisk, and the one that SHOULD (in my opinion) win with two asterisks.  I've also omitted the categories I don't care about.  


Enjoy!

Best Picture (Drama):
The Descendants
The Ides of March**
The Help*
Hugo
Moneyball
War Horse

I can't say I really understand the hype around The Help, but it's undeniable that it's been on a roll this awards season.  It will probably take the trophy on Sunday, but I am still keeping my fingers crossed for an Ides of March victory, because even after seeing several of the contenders, I'm counting it as my favorite film of the year.

Best Picture (Comedy):
The Artist*
My Week with Marilyn
50/50**
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris

Another clear winner here with The Artist, which has been picking up awards left and right.  I'd even be happy with a long shot victory from Marilyn (sidenote: how is this film in the 'Comedy' category?) or Bridesmaids, but I adored 50/50, and I would love to see it pull off a surprise win.

Best Actress (Drama):
Meryl Streep
Glenn Close
Viola Davis*
Rooney Mara
Tilda Swinton

The only performance I've seen yet of these five is Mara's and I know she won't beat Viola Davis.

Best Actor (Drama):
Ryan Gosling**
George Clooney*
Leonardo DiCaprio
Michael Fassbender
Brad Pitt

Not only did Ryan Gosling absolutely blow my mind in Ides of March, him getting a serious award for his ever-growing talent is long overdue.  George Clooney will probably emerge as the victor, but a girl can still hope.

 Best Actress (Comedy):
Michelle Williams**, *
Jodie Foster
Kate Winslet
Charlize Theron
Kristen Wiig

Michelle Williams is another actress who is long overdue for a prestigious award, and lumped strangely into this category, it seems this is her chance.  She was genuinely compelling in My Week with Marilyn, and I'm fully rooting for her.  The only acceptable substitute would be a Kristen Wiig victory, because I'd love to live in a world where Kristen Wiig has a Golden Globe award.


Best Actor (Comedy):
Jean Dujardin*
Brendan Gleeson
Joseph Gordon-Levitt**
Ryan Gosling**
Owen Wilson

Again, rooting for 50/50 even though I'm well aware it won't steal this award from The Artist.  Although, if we're not going to give Ryan Gosling the award for drama, I'd love to see him sneak in and win this category instead.


Best Supporting Actress:
Bernice Bejo
Janet McTeer
Jessica Chastain
Octavia Spencer*
Shailene Woodley**

Shailene Woodley is amazing in The Descendants, and for all I know, she might actually have a chance here.  But in terms of who I think will actually win, The Help has a whole lot of buzz on its side, so I'm guessing one of its two nominees will get this one.


Best Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh*
Albert Brooks 
Jonah Hill**
Viggo Mortenson
Christopher Plummer

I'm 100% guessing that Branagh will get this one, and I'll be happy if he does.  He is great in My week with Marilyn.  But in a similar way to my rooting for Kristen Wiig, I'd also love to live in a world where Jonah Hill has a Golden Globe award.


Best Director
George Clooney**
Woody Allen
Alexander Payne
Martin Scorcese
Michel Hazanavicius*

Another no-brainer:  The Artist will get it, Ides of March deserves to.


Best Screenplay
Ides of March**
Moneyball*
The Descendants
The Artist
Midnight in Paris

I think the HFPA will go with safe bet Aaron Sorkin (Moneyball) on this one, but again, I'd love to see an Ides of March win, because the writing was perhaps its very best feature.


Best TV Comedy:
Glee
Modern Family**, *
New Girl
Episodes
Enlightened

I'll be genuinely surprised if I'm not right about this one.


Best Actress (TV Comedy):
Zooey Deschanel
Amy Poehler**
Tina Fey*
Laura Dern
Laura Linney

I hate seeing two of my lady heroes up against each other in this category, but what I hate even more is the fact that Amy Poehler does not yet have a major award for her portrayal of Leslie Knope. 


Best Actor (TV Comedy):
Alec Baldwin**, *
David Duchovny
Johnny Galecki
Thomas Jane
Matt LeBlanc

Again, very surprised if I'm wrong.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

Yes, I'm late to jump on the bandwagon.  I concede that much.  In my defense, however, I've been burned in the past when it comes to YA book recommendations.  Back in 2008, several once-reliable sources directed me to a book series by one Ms. Stephanie Meyer, insisting that these books were "the next Harry Potter."  I shouldn't have believed them, but I was young and naive and, in due course, sorely disappointed by the trite and often misogynistic prose of the Twilight books.  I promised myself it wouldn't happen again; I wouldn't take it on faith that any adventure/fantasy series could even begin to compete with the likes of HP and LOTR.  So when many of the same sources began crowing about how fantastic the Hunger Games series was, I was reluctant.  I protested and ignored it for as long as I could, even after seeing a pretty epic trailer for the first film adaptation.  But alas, I was in need of books to fill my 2012 reading list (I'm currently 6 books deep on my quest to finish 100 before year's end), and these three novels seemed like they'd make for a pretty quick read.  I was hardly expecting to be impressed by their depth and excitement, or to have my heartstrings tugged the way they ultimately were.  I am happy to say I was proven wrong.

The Hunger Games, as most people probably realize, is the first novel of the series.  I went in with low expectations:  all this book needed to do was hook me, and maintain a pace that allowed me to forget that it was written for a target audience much younger than myself.  Fortunately, it does this and more, introducing us to Katniss Everdeen and a cast of the critical people in her life without feeling too introduction-y.  We meet her family as well as her best friend Gale, who from their first exchange exudes a kind of rebellious spirit that Katniss admires.  As we follow Katniss through her day we are given snapshots of Panem, the futuristic incarnation of America, which is war-torn and extremely oppressive.  We also learn that perhaps the state's cruelest tradition, the annual Hunger Games, is about to take place.  Two representatives, a boy and a girl, from each of the 12 districts, will be selected to fight to the death in a tournament designed solely for the entertainment of the prosperous masses.  We are told that the odds of someone getting picked for the games increase with age and several other factors, and thus it is a complete surprise when Katniss' sister, Prim, is selected for the games, despite supposedly having the lowest odds of selection.  It is, of course, no surprise, that Katniss immediately volunteers to replace her.

As the preparations for the Games revs up, we meet Peeta, Katniss' fellow representative.  He comes across as clean-cut and kind, if a little wimpy.  Oh, and by the way, he's apparently got a thing for Katniss.  That might complicate the whole "having to kill one another" thing just a little bit.

I won't give away the details of how the tournament goes, mostly because a secondhand narration of them couldn't possibly compete with the urgency and pacing of watching it unfold on the page.  Katniss definitely carves out a firm place as a kick-ass heroine, as well as furthering a streak of self-sacrifice and courage that will remain a crucial thread throughout all three books. 

I think this book could have easily succeeded solely as a character piece, investing us the way it does in the lives of Katniss and the various other citizens of Panem.  It would be enough to want to know how the tournament will end, how Katniss' psyche will be affected, and indeed, where her romantic entanglements will lead her.  What Suzanne Collins has managed to accomplish, however, is painting a fully-realized, three-dimensional world that is almost a character of its own.  It is a testament to her skill that it is not tedious to read about the districts of Panem or the way their politics have evolved since the "Dark Days", but both intriguing and necessary to raise the already high stakes.

The Hunger Games could easily stand on its own, as the story wraps up tidily enough, but so much detail and emotional investment has been poured into this installment that it is impossible to not want the remaining loose threads tied up.  Fortunately, we have two more books to see the fallout of an unexpected victory in the tournament, and its inevitable impact on the future of both the characters and the horror-state in which they live.

I recommend this book not only as a satisfying quick read, but as an intriguing concept that gives the reader a lot to think about, long after the last pages have been read.  I'm also intrigued to see how it translates to film this coming March-- it certainly reads with a certain cinematic feel that makes an adaptation for the screen seem like a very natural step. 

Movie Review: The Descendants

If the Oscars (or moviegoers) are looking to take the family tearjerker route this season, The Descendants is an obvious choice.  Not only does it star George Clooney who, let's face it, is wonderful in just about everything, but it tells a genuinely compelling and heartfelt story, tragic without veering into melodrama. 

The story centers on George Clooney's character Matt, whose wife has slipped into an irreversible coma after an accident, and who must also make a huge decision which will have a life-changing impact on both his career and his family.  This of course, is made no easier by his rebellious teenage daughter (played by the surprisingly fabulous Shailene Woodley, who I'll get to in a minute), his rebellious younger daughter, and the small revelation that his wife has been carrying on an affair behind his back.  Cue a family journey (both literal and metaphorical) that is at times wacky and a times truly heartbreaking, as Matt and his daughters set out to try and locate his wife's paramour while simultaneously trying to navigate the arrangements surrounding her impending death.

Cynical as it may sound to say, I find that many films or television shows involving someone in a coma (and most especially anything featuring scenes of characters talking to the person in a coma), has about a 95% chance of coming off completely cliche and ridiculous.  This film somehow manages to subvert that, and in spectacular fashion.  By the time Matt actually makes it to his wife's bedside,  there is a tension that has accumulated which can't be relieved in any other manner.  The film's final scenes provide an extremely powerful catharsis, which is all the more affecting thanks to a cast of characters who demand a genuine empathy from the very first minutes of the film.

Let's get to the acting, though, because that's what people are really buzzing about when it comes to this film.  Clooney is wonderful, multi-faceted and surprisingly convincing as a family man in emotional turmoil.  I still think Ryan Gosling gives a better performance in The Ides of March, but having to settle for Clooney as a close second really doesn't feel much like settling at all.  Shailene Woodley is the film's biggest surprise, though, not least because her biggest claim to fame prior to this was a starring role in ABCFamily's nonsensical Secret Life of the American Teenager.  It is easy to see where she could have defaulted to playing the stereotypical caricature of the wayward daughter, but instead she brings something deeper to the role, something that evokes sympathy and indeed (at least, in my opinion), paints her as the heroine of the film. 

On the whole,  this film tells a great story of one family, while also exploring the larger theme of what it means to be a descendant, to carry on a legacy and what that means.  I think for this reason it is not only likely to earn awards for its stellar individual performances, but for the story itself.  The combination of these elements makes it a top contender, in my opinion, for an award for screenwriting as well as a strong candidate for Best Picture of the Year.

Movie Review: My Week with Marilyn

So I might be disgracing lots of ladies my age (and older) by saying this, but I've never really seen Marilyn Monroe as a personal icon, as someone to emulate or even someone all that fantastic, really.  My interest in this movie was initially sparked out of a need to see Michelle Williams (whom I consider to be a much more fitting aspirational figure for myself) in her much raved about performance.  And I have to say that while Ms. Williams was indeed fantastic, the film did something I wasn't expecting, which was making a woman I've long considered overrated come across as both intriguing and sympathetic.

The thing that really jumps out at me about this movie is the phenomenal cast, full of British icons as well as new faces, all of whom absolutely excel in telling this story, and providing a snapshot of not only Marilyn's life, but the lives of those around her, and exposing the profound impact this one woman was capable of having on them.  Michelle Williams certainly adds new dimensions to Marilyn, including a strong awareness of the role playing demanded of her as a celebrity, but her admirer Colin (played by the charming and relative newcomer Eddie Redmayne) stands out as equally, if not more compelling.  Yes, his is a typical journey through the marshes of naivete and ensuing heartbreak, but he captures the spirit of it in a very honest, fresh way.  Of course, there are many supporting players who fill out the rest of the film, from Dominic Cooper and Emma Watson, whose respective presences are minimal but impactful, to Dame Judy Dench and Kenneth Branagh, who bring their usual level of skill and command of the screen.  Overall, this film needs its actors to carry the story, which covers only a brief portion of the tumultuous story of a very complicated woman, and the performers tasked with this have risen to the occasion.

My Week with Marilyn is not the film to watch if you're interested in Ms. Monroe's life story or an expose of the many scandals associated with her.  It isn't even, I would suggest, a film to watch if you don't have at least a minimal insight into the sort of person Marilyn Monroe was (or might have been).  The infamous instability of the woman at the center of this story is what drives it, and its nuances can be much more appreciated if you approach the film with this condition in mind.  And as far as awards season goes, I think this one is a contender, but a bit of a long shot.  Sure, I can easily see Michelle Williams winning the Golden Globe for this turn, especially separated as she is from some of the other heavily favored contenders, because this movie somehow got pushed into the 'Musical or Comedy' category.  However, I think there might be other better performances out there, and I certainly feel that Williams' performance in last year's Blue Valentine trumped this one by a hundred miles.  That said, there is every possibility she might earn a surprise "one year too late" Oscar nod (it's happened before: see Denzel Washington, among others), but for now it's anyone's guess.  And the film is not a likely favorite for Best Picture-- a nomination, maybe, even probably, but not a win.

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother-- Tailgate

Aaand we're back!  First episode of 2012, and it was... well, not the greatest.  But while it didn't drive plots forward in the same way as the last few installments, this episode was a goldmine of HIMYM call backs and minutiae for the longtime fans. 

I had a lot of mediocre thoughts on the mediocre developments of this episode, but then this was pointed out to me:
Puzzles the Bar Official Web Site

That's all we really need to take away from this episode.