Consumed

First in an occasional series of what I've consumed.

Books:

She Got Off the Couch: For the first third of this memoirs about growing up in a tiny town in Indiana--I was amused but didn't think it was anything special as far as memoirs go. I read the last 100 pages on Wednesday evening and now I think it may be just as good as "the glass castle," the best memoir I've read in a year. The subtle shift in the book and the story that unfolds in the last half? I keep thinking about it and feel a little haunted by it.

East Of Eden by Steinbeck: My dad introduced me to Steinbeck when I was 10 or 11. My Aunt Brenda had gifted me a box of books of hers and her brother when they were kids. My dad was looking through them with me and he took out a copy of Of Mice and Men and said to me, “I hate this book, you have to read it.” (the first time he said this to me, but not the last—I’ve learned when my dad recommends a book or movie this way—it’s a must read or must see) I read Of Mice and Men, and fell in love. I then read it again, and again. I think I’ve read, “Of Mice and Men” at least 20 times in the past 20 or so years. I avoided East of Eden in AP English and college, and finally got around to it about a month ago. Those feelings of that 10 year old? Yeah, I fell back in love with Steinbeck. The monster chapter? His use of language makes me swoon. The monster chapter? I gulped a little thinking of how perfect that chapter was. The theme of the book is one I’m still thinking about. One I agree with and am still in awe of his perception of

Movies:
Patton: My dad is a war movie buff. There’s even a war movie rated r rule he’s had that everyone in my family and some friends joke about. In fact, I’d go as far to say that it’s a hobby of his. I don’t think he’s ever seen a movie like Rambo though—the war movies he watches and collects are the ones that show how brutal and horrible war is. In fact, I think he and I have talked about it. He doesn’t like movies that romanticize the battle. So, its really no surprise that I’m drawn to war movies—since I’ve been watching them since I was little. When I told my mom that I just watched Patton, she said my dad was just watching it on tv (which is even more of a coincidence that when I told her I had seen Lawrence of Arabia the month before—she said that my dad was just sitting down to watch it). Anyway, this movie was enthralling. Yes, Patton is crazy—George C Scott’s performance is one of those rare once in a decade performances that makes your jaw drop more than once. By the end, I was even a wee bit sympathetic to Patton—and wanted to study him more. Go check this out.

Battle of Algiers: Although I’ve heard quite a bit of this documentary—I didn’t realize it was a dramatic retelling based on real events and people. Seriously powerful.

My Date with Drew: The first 30 minutes are slow and lame. The last hour of the show? Not bad. The narrator, Brian Herzlinger, is kind of a moron but he grows on you. I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it again but by the end it works.

Television:
Basketball:
The BYU game wasn’t televised last night out here. This morning when I saw the score I was seriously bummed. I like the Y (I grew up in UT and even though I had no desire to go to school there—I was brainwashed from birth to root for the Cougs.) and would’ve like to watch a college football game or two (I’m not even a fan of football—and yes, I know the game —see the last remark made in parentheses) and catch a couple of basketball games. This was possible last year. This year between that LAME Mountain West Conference broadcast deal—and ABC showing this area the UNC game instead—I didn’t get to see any games.

Friday Night Lights: Best drama on TV. I finally got around to watching last months final episode—and wasn’t a mis-step to be had. Each episode I’ve watched of this show I’ve been seriously impressed and a little in awe with everything. If you grew up in a small, economically depressed town in rural America, lived in small, economically depressed town in rural America, wished you grew up or lived in a small economically depressed town in rural America. This is one show that gets it right. Not a teen soap opera.

Grey’s Anatomy: Katherine Heigl (“Izzy”) sucks. I’m not saying it because her character slept with a married man last night. The whole Denny plot sucked. The whole waiting for figuring out what to do with the check sucked. The lines she gave in February to George when Meredith was dead—sucked. I consider the show a bit of a guilty pleasure and think that the actors that play Sandra Oh rocks. The character of Dr Bailey rocks. I like Addison and thinks that actress is talented. I don’t think Patrick Dempsey will ever win an Oscar, but I could watch his hair all day. Ellen Pompeo bugs sometimes—but she isn’t annoying all the time. Izzy though? I thought she was the weakest link for a while—and she nearly killed a decent episode; especially coming back from a seriously weak February. Fire Katherine Heigl please.