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2010 in Review: Yay Pop Culture! Edition
Friday, December 31st, 2010 10:39 amAs usual this year, I was terribly late to the party in some things, and very punctual on others.
In Books:
What I've been reading this year is a mix of book group books, nonfiction/memoir, and random fiction that I chose myself based on recommendations of others or general 'what the hell' sentiment. (I will also admit that the covers of the random books played a role in my choosing of them.) The books for book group, as always, were a fairly mixed bag, ranging from excellent to awful; the best of them was Time After Time, by Karl Alexander, which was made even better by an appearance from the author himself. Other books that stood out were: ( The full list follows... )
Most Interrupted Book of the Year: The Unnamed, by Joshua Ferris. I've been reading this since Little Squeak was born, and it's a testament to Ferris' writing skills that I still remember who each of the characters are and what the central conflict is every time I read a few pages. It's like opening up a photo album while being distracted at a family get-together; every few pages, I stop to hear other things, but when I look down again, there are the same faces and stories that I remember.
Books Most Talked Back To: The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins. If the success of a work is how often I start advising the characters on what they *should* be doing while I'm reading about it, then Collins succeeds 110%. By the final book, I was muttering back at the characters about once every page or so, much to Yebisu's annoyance. Of course, my advice made no difference, but I was sure invested in it.
In Comics/Manga:
Best Ongoing Series, Trade Paperback: Locke & Key, by Joe Hill/Gabriel Rodriguez. I love my horror when it's tinged with strong storytelling, artwork, and meaningful character development. The hardcover trades are well worth the money.
Best Ongoing Series, Serialized: The Unwritten, by Mike Carey/Peter Gross (Special mention for the gorgeous covers by Yuko Shimizu). Where this is going, I'm uncertain, but wherever it is, I want to be there. I want to be there so much that I think it's well worth it to buy in serialized format.
Special Mention, Late to the Party Edition: Demo, by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan. Cloonan's accomplished and stylish black and white artwork was what got me in, but the short stories were so good that I stuck around for the rest, and I was glad I did.
Best Manga, Serious: Kingyo Used Books, by Seimu Yoshizaki
Best Manga, Silly/Guilty Pleasure: Rinne, by Rumiko Takahashi
At the Movies: ( Best/Worst List Follows: )
On TV:
This has been the year of BBC programming. Yebisu and I have rediscovered classics like Blackadder and A Bit of Fry and Laurie, as well as modern series like the new Doctor Who (loving Matt Smith, who I wish had appeared down our non-existent chimney on Xmas), and the riveting Survivors. Can't wait to check out more in the New Year.
Top 25 Most Listened To Songs: ( Read more! )
Wow... looking back, 2010 was a great year for entertainment. I hope 2011 continues the trend! :)
In Books:
What I've been reading this year is a mix of book group books, nonfiction/memoir, and random fiction that I chose myself based on recommendations of others or general 'what the hell' sentiment. (I will also admit that the covers of the random books played a role in my choosing of them.) The books for book group, as always, were a fairly mixed bag, ranging from excellent to awful; the best of them was Time After Time, by Karl Alexander, which was made even better by an appearance from the author himself. Other books that stood out were: ( The full list follows... )
Most Interrupted Book of the Year: The Unnamed, by Joshua Ferris. I've been reading this since Little Squeak was born, and it's a testament to Ferris' writing skills that I still remember who each of the characters are and what the central conflict is every time I read a few pages. It's like opening up a photo album while being distracted at a family get-together; every few pages, I stop to hear other things, but when I look down again, there are the same faces and stories that I remember.
Books Most Talked Back To: The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins. If the success of a work is how often I start advising the characters on what they *should* be doing while I'm reading about it, then Collins succeeds 110%. By the final book, I was muttering back at the characters about once every page or so, much to Yebisu's annoyance. Of course, my advice made no difference, but I was sure invested in it.
In Comics/Manga:
Best Ongoing Series, Trade Paperback: Locke & Key, by Joe Hill/Gabriel Rodriguez. I love my horror when it's tinged with strong storytelling, artwork, and meaningful character development. The hardcover trades are well worth the money.
Best Ongoing Series, Serialized: The Unwritten, by Mike Carey/Peter Gross (Special mention for the gorgeous covers by Yuko Shimizu). Where this is going, I'm uncertain, but wherever it is, I want to be there. I want to be there so much that I think it's well worth it to buy in serialized format.
Special Mention, Late to the Party Edition: Demo, by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan. Cloonan's accomplished and stylish black and white artwork was what got me in, but the short stories were so good that I stuck around for the rest, and I was glad I did.
Best Manga, Serious: Kingyo Used Books, by Seimu Yoshizaki
Best Manga, Silly/Guilty Pleasure: Rinne, by Rumiko Takahashi
At the Movies: ( Best/Worst List Follows: )
On TV:
This has been the year of BBC programming. Yebisu and I have rediscovered classics like Blackadder and A Bit of Fry and Laurie, as well as modern series like the new Doctor Who (loving Matt Smith, who I wish had appeared down our non-existent chimney on Xmas), and the riveting Survivors. Can't wait to check out more in the New Year.
Top 25 Most Listened To Songs: ( Read more! )
Wow... looking back, 2010 was a great year for entertainment. I hope 2011 continues the trend! :)
