The Holiday Chill List
by Latoya Peterson
*Yawn*
Hello readers. I’m surprised to see how many people still frequent the site over the holidays. I was going to chill on posting, but it appears that most of you are raring for good conversation. So, we’re back on something resembling regular content. I’m still technically on staycation though.
It also occurs to me we haven’t had a reading/watching/listening/doing thread in a while. One of my favorite things about holiday breaks is that I get to catch up on my reading.
I just finished Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, and it reminded me why I love Haruki Murakami in the first place. I’ve got some back issues of various magazines to catch up on (most notabley Edge, a UK based gaming magazine and Shojo Beat, the Viz manga magazine) and I hope to dive into Kenji Yoshino’s Covering, and Drifting Towards Love: Black, Brown, Gay, and Coming of Age on the Streets of New York by Kai Wright.
However, I haven’t been reading as much as I’d like. I’ve been spending entirely too much time in Ivalice (aka the World of Final Fantasy XII – yes, fellow gamers, I am *that* behind on my playing). It appears that my trip is soon coming to an end – and after 102 hours in game it isn’t a moment too soon. I should have that done by the New Year, which will go along way toward assuaging my gamer guilt.
There are a lot of tempting things to watch as well. I just saw Cadillac Records, Talk to Me, and I hope to catch both La Dolce Vita and Slumdog Millionaire before vacation ends. The Dramabeans blog just posted about a new site to catch streaming legal K-dramas called Drama Fever. It’s still in beta, so it may be a while before I can finally watch, but I’m looking forward to indulging my drama habit. It also reminds me that I never finished the last episode of Hotaru no Hikari.
I’ve also been getting a jump start on my New Year’s fitness resolutions. Being behind a computer at all hours during the day and night is wreaking havoc on my body. I plan to take a couple yoga workshops and hit up a bhangra class and a hip-hop class between now and January 3.
Finally, I got my Itunes Japan account working again and treated myself to a bunch of new music, including Namie Amuro, DSBK, and Ayumi Hamasaki.
So that’s been it with me, readers. I am coasting toward 2009, and I am about ready to get the New Year started.
What are y’all reading, watching, and listening to?
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
deb wrote:
I’m currently reading Studs Terkel’s “Working.” Prior to that I read “Dark Bargain: Slavery, Profits, and the Struggle for the Constitution” by Lawrence Goldstone. When I finish “Working” I’ll probably read Chandra Manning’s “What This Cruel War Was Over: Soldiers, Slavery, and The Civil War.”
I rarely read fiction. However, I should give science fiction a chance.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 1:36 pm ¶
bradski wrote:
Latoya,
Since you are a fan of manga, I was wondering if you ever watched “The Last Airbender”? It’s a Nickolodean anime that features an Asian and Inuit cast of characters. There is going to be a live action film by M. Night I-Can’t-Direct but the film is now mired in controversy since the studio is white-washing the film by casting an all white cast:
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=63052&type=0
Have you heard about this controversy?
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 1:39 pm ¶
goc wrote:
Just finished reading “Covering” recently … interesting read (well for me at least since I am hopefully going to law school next year).
Wright is on my list next!
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 1:53 pm ¶
Aris wrote:
I LOVE DBSK OMG!!!!!!
I REALLY need start watching Asian dramas again…..I haven’t been to Crunchyroll in a while.
Now I feel hungry for Japanese music xD *Waltzes to Youtube*
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 2:35 pm ¶
UGLY PUNK GURL! wrote:
I’m surprised that Racialicious hasn’t touched on the Islamic punk rock movement called ‘Taqwacores,” which has been discussed and covered by papers like NYT, The Guardian, BBC, and even Rolling Stone.
so, for starters, I highly recommend people to read Michael Muhammad Knight’s book, TAQWACORES, which first came out in 2003 or so.
it’s an eye-opening book… and will introduce you to the world of Muslim punk rockers
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 2:54 pm ¶
Jamerican Muslimah wrote:
Just finished reading Sista Souljah’s Midnight. (LOVED IT!) Am now reading Cornel West’s Hope on a Tightrope. Hoping to get Dr. Jamillah Karim’s American Muslim Women: Negotiating Race, Class, and Gender Within the Ummah.
Saw Cadillac Records twice and want to go see “7 Pounds.”
Jamming to Anthony Hamilton’s new CD.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 3:22 pm ¶
The Cruel Secretary wrote:
I just finished reading Tim Wise’s White Like Me and am starting Barbara Ehrenreich’s Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy. And I thought I’d check out the hype and watch Mad Men online.
BTW, Happy staycation, Latoya. You deserve it!
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 3:25 pm ¶
wendi muse wrote:
i know i am kinda late, but i can’t help it. i was out of the country!
the brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz
a m a z i n g
and for those of you who have not already read his first work, Drown, a collection of short stories, pick that up too
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 3:27 pm ¶
Madame Zenobia wrote:
Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been doing a lot of writing, but when I’m not writing, I’ve been catching up on my marathon of Akira Kurosawa. Just finished Kagemusha; I have in queue a couple of others that I don’t recall at this point, but will be arriving via snail mail soon.
In addition to my foray into good film, I’ve been hypnotized by The Food Network, Bravo, The Learning Channel, The History Channel and American Movie Classics Channel….that’s right, I am a total couch potato.
As for reading, I’ve got a list…the list has dust on it; so much I want to get back into reading, older classics. I will say this, I have my volume of Edgar Allan Poe sitting up top on the coffee table… Right now, it houses the spot for my remote, so, when I can pull myself away from the telly, I’ll look to some good ole’ American fiction to ease my poor, bored soul.
Listening wise, I was given Adele’s album for Christmas. It is currently on ‘repeat’ as is Paolo Nutini and an old Morcheeba album. My player only holds three at a time. That’s right, player, kicking it old school…haven’t succumbed to MP3-dom and Itunes-a-mania quite yet.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 3:59 pm ¶
Gothic Guera wrote:
I wasn’t able to do a lot this season since I had my wisdom teeth removed and I have been lying in bed with ice packs watching a
Dvds-Forgetting Sarah Marshall, becoming Jane , My big fat Greek Wedding, About a boy, Simpson Movie.
T.V- lot of food network stuff and married with children and Vh1’s I love —–(Why don’t they show the older ones ?) and reading Age of Innocence I’m listing to my mother’s CD of the Beatles right now.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 4:01 pm ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Deb, I read Gig which was inspired by Working and everyone tells me the original is better. Let me know how it goes.
@bradski –
I’ve heard of the controversy around Airbender, but I’ve never watched the show. (I’m getting old, so I only watch dark anime like Hellgirl or really cute Shojo stuff. Not much action these days.) However, I am learning some interesting stuff about how a script becomes a movie, and if I can find anything on the rationale behind the choices, I’ll post on it.
@goc – If you beat me through the book, let me know how it is.
@Aris –
*singing* I got yo-o-o-u under my skin! Get a copy of Mirotic, you’ll be happy you did.
@UPG –
Now, you know I love you, but how many times do I have to say this – Racialicious is 100% volunteer. We all work around our day jobs, we have no funding, we aren’t a news organization that is just waiting for something to cover. I get tips every single day about great stuff that we just cannot cover. We just can’t – not enough hours in the day. The book sounds awesome, and if you want to do a write up for the site, I’d be happy to post it.
@Jamerican Muslimah –
What did you like about Midnight? I have vague memories of the Coldest Winter Ever and Midnight only stands out in a couple of scenes.
@TCS –
Thanks. I was enjoying sleeping but whatever.
Mad Men is worth the hype, though lacking on racial analysis. (The episode where they “deal” with race is going to be disappointing to you, I warn you now.) I’m behind on my seasons, but it is well worth the $40 I spent on Itunes to access them.
@Wendi -
I have been avoiding that book intentionally, because I know once I crack the pages, I will be sucked in and unable to do anything else until I’ve finished it. Perhaps NYE weekend…(my boyfriend bought a copy and keeps sneaking it into my bag).
@MZ – I also love AMC – that channel loves me, I swear. Everytime I turn it on, something awesome is playing.
@GG –
Feel beter!
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 5:11 pm ¶
jen* wrote:
Got Rahsaan Patterson, Kanye, Bey, and the Across the Universe sndtrk for Chri’muh – the soundtrack was on repeat all the way home from ATL last night.
Watched This Christmas [bad], Perfect Holiday [not great, but funny], and the original (1939) The Women [pretty good, considering the time. my sis says it was better than the remake].
Just finished reading This is Your Brain on Music (Daniel J Levitin) – fascinating read, though a bit technical. Currently reading: Auntie Mame, Memo to the President Elect, Caroling Dusk, and If the World Were a Village (which is really interesting – found from a post on Anti-Racist Parent). Oh, and The BAP Handbook, cuz I have to be well-rounded, right?
Kinda glad that TV’s taking a break right now – lets me catch up.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 5:24 pm ¶
coco wrote:
reading: Ishmael Reed’s “The Last Days of Louisiana Red,” a 1970s satirical take on oppression and being black at UC Berkley … and also something about Minnie the Moocher, voo-doo, and Antigone.
I have difficulty with his books, but it’s because I don’t get satire well.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 5:26 pm ¶
wendi muse wrote:
i agree re: madmen
the race issue was…disappointing and they kind of left it open…
anyway, the costumes are to die for…though i find season 1 is better than the sophomore season
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 5:38 pm ¶
Aris wrote:
@Latoya: I love that song! I’ve definately gotta get my paws on that CD!!!
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 5:38 pm ¶
UGLY PUNK GURL! wrote:
@ LaToya:
oh. alright, maybe I’ll write up something for Racialicious, that would be cool so maybe I’ll take up on your offer.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 5:40 pm ¶
pookapooka wrote:
Just finished the stunning, marathon novel trilogy by Saudi Arabia native Abdelrahman Munif: Cities Of Salt, The Trench, and Variations on Night and Day. Anyone interested in diving into a deep explication of Arab culture and the explosive/exploitative disruption of it caused by the oil industry will find these novels edifying. I was unable to put them down to the final page.
I came to these books via another artist’s enlightening takes on Islamic culture, from a more western perspective: the Paul Bowles novel The Sheltering Sky. After reading the book, I Netflixed the movie, which followed the novel more faithfully than the typical movie rework.
All in all I received a quick, profound, sympathetic education about a part of humanity that cries out for explication in this unsympathetic and blindered west.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 5:43 pm ¶
JenniferRuth wrote:
I’ve been replaying FFXII – have spent entirely much time getting the Tournesol and gearing myself up to take down Yizmat. Am worried that I have entirely too much free time.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 5:50 pm ¶
Mammith wrote:
Yizmat is annoying, it takes waaaaaay too long to kill. I’m personally playing Persona 3: Fes and re-watching Buffy when I’m not writing. I think my nerd is showing.
I’m currently reading ‘Angry Black White Boy or
The Miscegenation of Macon Detornay’ by Adam Mansbach. It’s some pretty heavy stuff and I am enjoying it, but part of me wants to finish it so I can read my new David Mitchell novel, Black Swan Green. I kinda went on a book-buying splurge.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 6:38 pm ¶
cbella wrote:
I LOVE Haruki Murakami! Kafka on the Shore is by far my favorite of his so far and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running inspired me to start training for my first half marathon (see link).
I just finished reading Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance by Atul Gawande and just picked up Paulo Coelho’s Life: Selected Quotations per a friend’s recommendation and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude because I really enjoyed his novel Love in the Time of Cholera
I’ve been watching a lot of Korean movies lately (if anyone’s interested — mysoju.com) and watched Slumdog Mill last week
Music wise I’m getting back into my love of house and lounge music <3
I’ll have to add some of the books posted here to my to-read list
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 6:55 pm ¶
NancyP wrote:
I picked up a book on the 1917 East St. Louis race riots (Ohio State Univ, Charles Lumpkins, his 2006 Ph.D. thesis buffed up for 2008 publication). It’s local history here. No pertinent cheerful stuff of interest.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 10:14 pm ¶
Rob Schmidt wrote:
In my Netflix queue at the moment are “Mad Men” Season 1, “Sex and the City” Season 3, “The 4400″ Season 4, “The Tudors,” “30 Days” Season 1, and the “John Adams” mini-series. Meanwhile, I’m reading “Bright Lights Dark Shadows–The Real Story Of ABBA.” Only the highest quality literature for me…!
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 10:50 pm ¶
elle wrote:
Hello, longtime lurker and first time poster, I looooooooooove your site. Finally, I feel that I’m not alone in my thoughts and its nice to know there are a group of like minded intelligent people who see the bullshit.
I’m also stuck on Final Fantasy XII ever since I scratched my disk and am far to lazy to bye a new one. I’m kind of moving away from console RPGs in favor of computer ones like Bioshock and Mass Effect.
Books I’m reading include two classics, Freedomland and Lush Life by Richard Price. Richard Price is one of the most introspective novelist when it comes to issues of race,poverty, violence, and drugs interwoven into the lives of his often quirky and memorble characters. I became hooked on him after watching the Spike Lee movie Clockers, which is one of Spike’s underrated works, and hunting down the book that inspired said movie. Another writer who explores similar subject matter,and is just as good as Price, is George Pelecanoes, who I learned about from watching the Wire on HBO, were he wrote a few episodes(as well as Richard Price unsurprisingly) of that great series.
In terms of TV, have you ever heard of Battlestar Galactica? Not the cheesy 70s series, I’m talking about a remake that started in 2003 on the Sci-Fi and is about to finish its fourth and final season in 2009. Its not like what you expect from a science-fiction show, its very complex with morally grey characters and touches on many issues relevant to our world, such as the current Iraqi conflict, religion and society, gender equality,racism(the history of the Cylons and humans echoes that of many oppressed ethnic groups and their oppressors). Its tens times better than Heroes and has at least two important people of color that play an important role, as well as having the most complex portrayal of femal characters to boot.
I’ve also been reading more graphic novels lately,mostly Batman(The Long Halloween,Dark Victory,Goin Sane etc.), I’m having a good break. Merry christmas too ye all.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 11:15 pm ¶
onely wrote:
I was bedazzled to once meet someone who had had an intimate brunch (imagine! brunch!!) with Haruki Murakami, and this person said that H.M. was very quiet and intense. He could have been just having a quiet and intense day, though, who knows, right? But I think he is brilliant and you’ve reminded me that I really want to read Running. I am not anything near a runner, but I know I will love it anyway. –CC
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 11:16 pm ¶
laurynx wrote:
I’ve wanted to read this book for the last few months, but kept putting it on the back-burner–Third Coast: OutKast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing. I finally bought it and am glad I did.
Posted 29 Dec 2008 at 11:31 pm ¶
Antonio wrote:
I loved Final Fantasy XII. It and FFX easily rank in the top 5 Final Fantasies IMO. I only logged 70 hours though, I’ve never had much patience for the more tedious sidequests.
In other games, I just borrowed GTA4 and Devil May Cry 4 from my brother. I didn’t like the PS2 GTA games but I hear 4 improved the series quite a bit. I’m also playing Final Fantasy IV on the DS, which will be the LAST time I play that game in any form whatsoever. Nothing against it, it’s just been remade and rereleased on PS1, GBA, and DS. Enough already.
I’m not much of a reader, but I’ve gotten into David Sedaris’ writings lately. I’m reading Naked right now.
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 1:58 am ¶
Seattle Slim wrote:
You gotta love the web. It’s good to find other readers. Well Santa aka Mr. Slim was very good to me this year. He got me (books) Fahrenheit 451, 1984, How Proust Can Change Your Life and The Given Day by Dennis Lehane who wrote Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone. I am reading three at a time. I feel like Hugh Hefner lol. I’m saving Proust for the new year. I am intrigued at 451. It frightens me because at points in the book it seems like we are already there. If it comes down to it, I am letting you know I’m leading a resistance against the “firemen.” Love books…
I’ve been writing at my blogs, started a hip hop blog with my own female perspective. Hip hop has me bitter right now so there aren’t a lot of rainbows and lollipops on that blog. I did kind of get tired of the menfolk having hip hop blogging on lock. They tend to let rappers get away with a lot more.
I’ve been trying to find Simple and Clean by Utada Hikaru, the original and the PlanitB remix without having to download Limewire but have been unsuccessful. I may have to buy the whole album, but I like her voice, so it’s all good.
Latoya, you have reminded me why I used to wake up at like 5 am to watch Japanese soaps. I need to see what’s good with Hotaru no Hikari because it sounds like it would be fun to watch. Good times…
We watched The Good Shepherd and Infernal Affairs this weekend. I liked Infernal Affairs a lot, so we’ve got the other two in the Netflix queue. We’ve also got Oldboy in there. I saw it but Mr. Slim hasn’t so I am stoked to welcome him into it. I envy you guys for being able to relax. The holidays were so busy, I got sick.
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 2:03 am ¶
Seattle Slim wrote:
@Elle: Mr. Slim LOVES Battlestar. I can’t quite get into it. I guess I took issue with the one guy, sorry I don’t know his name, cheating on his wife with Starbuck. They lost me after that. Well I like to say that. I find that I sit there and watch with him lol. I can’t make up my mind.
Any AMC fans ever watch Hustle? I love that show. Got into it late, so I’ve seen a few episodes on OnDemand and cant wait for them to start the new season. Don’t know of Mad Men fans might like it, but it’s pretty good!
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 2:10 am ¶
Paz wrote:
Finished: Oscar Wao (met Junot Diaz. Awesome guy and the book did not disappoint).
Also recently read: Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, A Urban New World (the author lives in shantytowns in Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Mumbai and Nairobi. I recommend it.)
Now reading: To Live to Tell It by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Want to read: Uh…everything! But particularly Laughing Without an Accent. (Has anyone read it or Funny in Farsi? Is one better than the other?)
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 2:22 am ¶
Paz wrote:
Sorry for the multiple posts. Has anyone looked at Ego Trip’s Big Book of Racism? What did you think? I’m skimming that right now.
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 2:23 am ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@jen* -
I think I scored a 21 on that BAP test if memory serves. That book gave me hours of amusement and quoteables.
@Coco –
The bit about Minnie the Moocher sounds intriguing. Would love to know more – the history of thta song has been interesting to read about.
@Wendi –
Agreed, re clothes, though that area wasn’t really my style. They were artfully redone. I also feel like the race thing is woefully underutilized – think of the plot lines that could evolve.
@UPG – Please do.
@PookaPooka –
I’ve put it on my “to hunt for” list. I liked big historical epics like “England” and “The Princes of Ireland” so I would probably enjoy that as well.
@Jennifer Ruth –
No Tournesol for me -I’m rolling with what I got. And after fucking around in Pharos (I got lost in the back rooms, got jumped by a bunch of reavers, fought the Pheonix and on the way back to the gate crystal got Ixion all in my face) I am kind of wary of dealing with anymore stuff.
@Mammith – Tell me more about Persona 3.
@cbella –
I heart all his stuff, but sadly, two beat out Kafka for me.
Dance Dance Dance is my favorite, followed by Windup Bird, followed by Kafka. But, if we count non fiction as well, Underground shifts into the top spot. (And thanks for the reminder about mysoju)
@NancyP –
No worries, it sounds good.
@Rob Schmidt –
No one will judge you for the Abba. And why aren’t you doing TV reviews?
@Elle –
I may fuck with MassEffect, heard too much about it not to, but I am loathe to play on a PC (don’t own a desktop) and I object to Xbox for moral reasons. We’ll see.
Clockers was greatness, really painful to read. I hear a lot about BSG, but got no volunteers to cover it *cough cough Arturo cough* so if I can ever get my Netflix down to 200 items I may start watching it.
@Onely –
I expect writers to be weird, as is fitting for folks that are in their head all day. I think reading Running will provide some insight into that intenseness (as he actually discusses it).
@laurynx – Going on my list!
@Antonio-
I know, I feel you. After 70 hours, I started “cheating” – just called up the clan hunt walkthrough and been killing marks that way. At any moment I can head to the final fights of the game, but something is forcing me to be obsessive about this damn clan rank. I like GTA, but mainly for the sandbox capabilities – I am rarely motivated to beat the game.
I can only attest to FFs 8 – 12 but I have highly enjoyed the franchise. I also like DragonQuest, though I didn’t play it myself. (Long story, it’s on Cerise).
If you like Sedaris, you may want to check out Augusten Burroughs. Same mix of wit and dysfunction, though slightly less believable than Sedaris.
@SeattleSlim –
I have the Japanese version of Simple & Clean, and at one point had the PlanetB & English versions – email me and I will send you the download site I use.
Deep River is worth the cash, and Hikki has a couple of best albums that should suit you if you wanted to drop $40 on import fees. Be My Last is currently my favorite song by her, but i like her a lot as an artist – I even liked Exodus.
Infernal Affairs is the shit, did you watch the Departed? It’s like a study in different approaches to film. The Good Shepard was also quite dope. Oldboy is great – have you checked out Kim Ki-Duk’s work?
@
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 2:34 am ¶
ansel wrote:
Man, now I feel bad about selling FFXII back to the store today. I played about eight hours into it over the holiday break but it didn’t grab me the same way FFX did. Didn’t like the combat system much either. Maybe I should have stuck with it.
Very cool to know there are other folks loving Jpop out there. @SeattleSlim, I uploaded the Simple and Clean Plantib remix you’re looking for: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nxro2jtmued
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 4:36 am ¶
elle wrote:
To Seattle Slim: I’m afraid I don’t know what your talking about, I’m currently only halfway through season 2
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 4:36 am ¶
Mammith wrote:
@Latoya, Persona 3 is great! It’s an RPG for the PS2 that centers around a group of high school kids in japan, that summon ‘Persona’ to fight shadows, which are these monsters that only come out during ‘the dark hour’.
The Persona designs themselves are really interesting as for once they haven’t just obsessed over Norse mythology (what IS it with JRPG’s and Norse mythology?) and have persona designs from pretty much worldwide religions/myths/cultures.
The battle system is really innovative too, you’re powered up by your social links, during the day you go to school, make friends, build up relationships. the stronger your relationships the stronger your persona. It sounds weird but it works really well.
The anime cut scenes are great too. If you get it I suggest getting the Fes edition as it comes with extra content (including a 30 hour long epilogue).
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 7:05 am ¶
summer wrote:
I’m reading _the_namesake_ by jhumpa lahiri.
so far so good.
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 11:33 am ¶
Kavita wrote:
I just read Sista Souljah’s Midnight and loved it too! She is absolutely brutal. And has fresh eyes. And I could not put it down–she totally draws you in. I also appreciated the respect with which she deals with the interracial relationship–that surprised me coming from her. I did think she could have challenged some of the ideas of the main character more, and the ending was unsatisfying, but all in all a great read, and I can’t wait for the next one.
I’m reading about 10 other books right now, including A Mercy by Toni Morrison, Race, Sex, and Hair by Lisa Jones, No Telephone to Heaven by Michelle Cliff, and an anthology of short stories called Words Without Borders. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri and The Heavens May Fall by Unity Dow are next on the list.
I love to read.
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 11:42 am ¶
Aiyana wrote:
I love seeing a book shelf that looks like it could be mine. I just finished After Dark by Murakami, and loved it. It was a pretty refreshing break from the male protagonists he normally uses. Then I had to re-read Kafka on the Shore, which is my favorite, and the first book of his I read. Now I have Underground, and a book called My Revolutions by Hari Kunzru, and a collection of essays by E.B. White to read over the next few weeks.
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 11:57 am ¶
ripley wrote:
Huge Murakami fan here..
Reading Joe Schloss’ _Making Beats_ which I’m embarassed I hadn’t yet read
Reza Negarestani’s Cyclonopedia, which is just super super super weird.
and listening to K’Naan – a somali/toronto based rapper who’s got some interesting things to say
http://www.myspace.com/knaanmusic
and Jamaican rocksteady from the 1960s
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 1:37 pm ¶
bianca wrote:
I’ve added some great books to my list for 2009 by reading all of the comments. In the spirit of reciprocity here’s what I’ve been getting into. Not sure if others were/are like me: first can only read 1 book at a time, then as time passes, I can now read multiple books of different genres at the same time depending on my mood. I usually leave Literature for before bed.
Recently Finished
The Book of Chameleons: A Novel by Jose Eduardo Agualusa
Towelhead: A Novel by Alicia Erian (interesting conversations on the film’s website w/community activists, Erian, Ball, and actors. Click on “About this title” and scroll down http://wip.warnerbros.com/towelhead/home.html)
The Quiet Violence of Dreams by K. Sello Duiker
Woman At Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi (reread)
Can’t Wait To Read in 2009
2666: A Novel by Roberto Bolano
South by South Bronx by Jr., Abraham Rodriguez
The Hangman’s Game by Karen King-Aribisala
The Last Night I Spent With You: A Novel by Mayra Montero
None of the Above: Puerto Ricans in the Global Era (New Directions in Latino American Culture) by Frances Negron-Muntaner
Currently Reading
White Logic, White Methods: Racism and Methodology by Tukufu Zuberi and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (been reading for a few months, 1 chapter at a time)
Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others by Sara Ahmed (took me a while to get into it, now I’m at a steady pace)
The Brutal Language of Love: Stories by Alicia Erian
Music on constant rotation:
Seu Jorge, América Brasil o Disco
Orishas, Cosita Buena
Gnarls Barkley, The Odd Couple
Ely Guerra, Plug & Play
Omar Sosa, Afreecanos
Aterciopelados, Rîo
Concha Buika, Nina de Fuego
Anything by Yerba Buena
Fat Beats & Bra Straps (all 3 compilations)
My 80s British/Ukish Pop mix: Wham!, Tears For Fears, Bowie, etc.
Finally, Dancehall.
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 2:32 pm ¶
Kaonashi wrote:
I’ve tried playing FFXII, but for some reason it doesn’t “grab” me the way the others have in the past. No sidequests (except for Hunter Marks), too much of the uninteresting characters and not enough of the interesting ones. I might try it again someday, but right now the Lich King owns my soul.
Just finished Marian Keyes “Sushi for Beginners” and starting “Coin Locker Babes.”
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 2:56 pm ¶
Brandon wrote:
I just finished a pair of YA books, both of which I would recommend:
Home of the Brave, by Katherine Applegate
Witness, by Karen Hesse
Both are written in free verse and are exceptionally powerful.
And I have to say that I’m STUNNED that such an enlightened audience as the one here hasn’t mentioned TV on the Radio! Yes, their album came out months ago, but it has been getting heaps of recognition with the ubiquitous year-end lists. (And if you don’t know TV on the Radio… you should. You can listen to a few songs from their current album, Dear Science, on their website at http://www.tvontheradio.com )
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 4:19 pm ¶
sdg1844 wrote:
I finished Midnight by Sista Souljah and loved it and was disturbed by it as well. I loved the relationship btwn Midnight and Akemi and the birds-eye view of Islam (fascinating).
What got me was the depiction of Midnight’s views towards American Black Girls. It was pretty contemptuous and the view was that they were all lacking in morals, Godless and out for what they could get.
Beautifully written and a wonderful read, but heartbreaking as well.
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 6:24 pm ¶
Joseph wrote:
Popping my head up from my own staycation to admit I have been reading some weird books lately:
The Bewildered by Peter Rock
(Strange, amazing novel about people who are addicted to electrocuting themselves. Really.)
Under the Skin by Michael Faber
(Bizarre and unclassifiable, but good. Maybe the first feminist, vegan, sci-fi, fantasy thriller set in Scotland.)
Veronica by Nicholas Christopher
(Magical realist story about rival magician families, Tibet, angels, and Manhattan .)
And I’m listening to Sam Prekop’s “Who’s Your New Professor?” (He is the lead singer of Sea and Cake, which I also love, and his solo albums are perfect.)
Posted 30 Dec 2008 at 8:52 pm ¶
Seattle Slim wrote:
Thank you everyone for the links to Utada Hikaru!!!! Latoya, I will email you too for Hikari.
And I loved The Odd Couple. I think that album was underrated.
Posted 31 Dec 2008 at 4:03 am ¶
elledub wrote:
i’m reading “Blink” by malcolm gladwell. i’ve beenw anting to get into him for a while and now i have the chance.
i’m also really enjoying the new Foreign Exchange Album.
Posted 31 Dec 2008 at 12:10 pm ¶
C-lo wrote:
@pookapooka, Cities of Salt trilogy is GREAT! So epic and underrated. I’m so happy to see Abdelrahman Munif pop up here.
Posted 01 Jan 2009 at 8:23 pm ¶
alex wrote:
just finished the house at sugar beach, by helene cooper. amazing memoir about liberia before and after the civil war. truly beautiful and fascinating.
Posted 02 Jan 2009 at 2:48 am ¶
SarahSimone wrote:
I just finished reading Beloved, and started Bill Bryson’s “In A Sunburned Country” and Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road”. And I’ve seen more than my share of movies over the past few weeks – Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, Milk, and Benjamin Button.
Posted 02 Jan 2009 at 6:15 pm ¶
pixilated wrote:
i’ve been reading ursula k le guin’s earthsea series as well as a bunch of octavia butler and neil gaiman. i have to thank racialicious for introducing me to the first two writers — i had not heard of them before reading one of the posts about poc in sff until i discovered this site. their work is so stunning.
Posted 03 Jan 2009 at 2:16 pm ¶
Z wrote:
just to add i’ve been addictied lately to Skins on BBC america, its my alternative to gossip girl since i never really got into that show. they showed the first two seasons already and i think the third there is a different cast but its interesting lots of durgs and sex but also two characters of color (at least in the first two seasons), a black girl named Jal and a muslim pakistani guy named Anwar ( the main character in slumdog milionaire). Anyway you should check it out its really good.
Posted 04 Jan 2009 at 8:13 am ¶
pixilated wrote:
i’ve also been listening to colleen’s the golden morning breaks, benoît pioulard’s temper (basically since september but its starting to taper off in my playlist), madvillain’s madvillainy, john frusciante, destroyer, boduf songs, typical cats and cLOUDDEAD a lot.
Posted 06 Jan 2009 at 9:10 am ¶