It's summertime, which means the time when I actually get to read for fun (you know, besides watching TV). Sometimes I forget that I like to read, but since my job is so boring this summer, I've gotten to back into the swing of it. Here are the books I've actually managed to finish so far this summer:

1. Hottentot Venus by Barbara Chase-Riboud -- This is about Sarah Baartman, otherwise known as the Hottentot Venus. Kind of in the vein of Roots, this book follows Saartjie from her home in South Africa, where much of her family is killed and she is enslaved and set free by a kind Dutch preacher, to Europe, where she becomes a sensation in the 19th Century thanks to her exotic body, and eventually to Musée de l'Homme where her skeleton, brain, and genitals (adjusted in typical Khoisan custom) were on display for over a century. It was more of a dramatized history as opposed to a compelling story. I think it's an important story, but it took a lot of effort to finish toward the end, when alcoholism and the horrors of being on display in freak shows catches up with Sarah. Overall, fairly interesting book, but hard to get through.


2. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill. After my epic miniseries day, I decided I wanted to read North and South, and I was not disappointed. Filled with delicious inner thoughts of both Margaret and Mr. Thornton, it was also filled with the right amount of 19th Century cheese and a heavy streak of social awareness. The only negative thing I can say about it is that I hate reading "accents." My copy luckily had a small dictionary in the back that helped with some of the words and phrases, but the rampant use of apostrophes to show the northern accents was impossible to understand and I ended up skimming sections heavy with them. But seriously, it's like a less frivolous Pride and Prejudice, meaning it was pretty awesome.


3. My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'Homme. The only way I can describe this book is delightful. It covers all of Julia Child's life, but spends most of the time of the first several years of her marriage to Paul Child when they lived in France. Everything from her growing passion for cooking, her tenacity in studying French cuisine, and her frustrations with certain people she had to deal with has an air of youth even though this was written in the last years of Julia's very long life. I'm convinced I would love to friends with Julia Child. Endlessly positive, she found something she loved to do and had a long marriage to what seems to be her best friend. But possibly my favorite moments in this memoir are when she describes her tenuous relationship with her dad. I guess I just found it amusing that even as an adult, she still struggled with her parents. It was kind of refreshing to read about someone so positive, who loved life, and was willing to share how she still had a lot to figure out about life even as she got older.

4. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Obviously, I was on a "books that are soon going to be movies" kick (My Life in France is incorporated into Julie & Julia), but I loved this book as well. And yet again, it was a book that involves a loving long term relationship/marriage. This book could have been overwhelmingly gimmicky, but it focused on genuinely developing a relationship. Each section gives the year and how old Henry and Clare are as a heading, making what could have become convoluted easy to catch onto. The narrative is told in the first person from Henry or Clare, which is also clearly labeled. This is just to say, I really like the structure of the book, as it skips around time, although mostly chronological from Clare's lifeline since Henry's is all over the place thanks to his involuntary time travel. I grew to really become invested in these characters. They're full of life, and getting a first-person perspective from these two characters gave a well-rounded view the relationship. At the end of the the book, I was as close as I've ever been to crying at a novel (the count so far is zero--I'm not a book crier). It's an experience. Read it.

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I just finished this book today after a day and a half of marathon reading. It's a young adult book, so it's a quick read, but it's also really interesting. Set in a future dystopic world where North America becomes a 12 district state run by a ruthless and decadent Capitol, the government sets up annual Hunger Games that reminds the population of the dark time before it took control and also reminds the population of who's in control. The Hunger Games involve lottery chosen Tributes, one boy and one girl ages 12-18, from each district to participate in in the Games. The Games don't end until there is one Tribute alive. Our protagonist is Katniss, a 16-year-old girl who acts as head of her family by hunting on the sly. The story is told from her perspective as she replaces her sister in the Games by volunteering, goes through training, and tries to survive in the deadly Hunger Games. The biggest challenge for her, however, seems to be how to relate to the male Tribute from her district, Peeta. The most intriguing thing for me about the book was how it was entirely feasible. The Games are required viewing for the whole state, so it's like a really sick reality show. The more compelling Tributes are given more screentime, therefore they get more sponsorships, and that gives them more help during the Games. The Tributes can either be actually compelling, or by device, much like most reality shows today. And each detail of the world, which could have been heavy-handed exposition, I found to be really interesting, which r(eminded me of how absorbed I was in the futuristic Ender's Game world. I would by far give a teenage girl a copy of this book over any in the Twilight series. The characters actually have personality/redeemable qualities/actually do something/develop relationships, and Katniss kind of rocks. I only wish that the next two books in the series were already out.

I'll be celebrating my Fourth of July by covering 2 shifts! What's a better way to express my patriotism by working retail which every day proves the economic downturn?

At least I bought some sparklers to express myself the true American way: with pyrotechnics.

So, for the awesome in your holiday, here's Johnny Cash reciting "I Am the Nation":



And here's my personal favorite song that includes the word "America" a lot as performed by the lovely and talented Hugh Laurie on A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Also, Stephen Fry makes an appearance:



Go barbecue or blow something up tomorrow.

In pursuit of understanding why Martin Scorsese is a great director, I rented one of his classics, Taxi Driver (1976), and I think I get his legacy now.

One of the beautiful things about Taxi Driver, and the thing that stuck with me after I finished watching it, was how subtle and ambiguous it was. We don't really know the main character Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) that well and are given scraps to piece together. Things we learn about him in the film: he went to Vietnam as a marine, he's having trouble sleeping, he watches hard core films in his spare time, he works long hours at nights in the trashiest neighborhoods of New York (despite his hatred for them), and his only friends--if you can call them that--are other Taxi Drivers. We also see his inability to not be off-putting to both women and men; he's hopelessly awkward in the creepiest way. He also writes down his thoughts in a well written and honest journal. Throughout this, the camera, not to mention De Niro's listless inattention, effectively isolates Travis from his surrounding environment. From this we can create our own character from what these actions imply: 1) Travis is probably screwed up from the war, 2) he's probably extremely lonely, and 3) he wants to do something good for the world/somebody.

Unfortunately, his attempts at doing something good end are unsolicited and somewhat terrifying.His journal entries, read effectively in a conversational sort of dictation by De Niro, hint at things deeply felt and unsatisfied. The narration is the eeriest part of the film, and I couldn't help thinking that Travis was the basis for Watchmen's Rorschach, the character also expressing through a journal a loathing for the rotting city and a capacity for violence.

And when that violence plays out, it's haunting. Like other Scorsese films I've seen, the violence is given full screen time, with no hiding. In this case, the violence is bloody and sloppy.By the end of it, we see a birds-eye-view of the scene that almost lovingly goes over each body, each bullet wound. I'm never sure how Scorsese feels about violence--whether or not he condones it, because he never seems to outright condemn it--and this film is no exception. Although for me, Taxi Driver is at least disturbing in idea, if not emotion toward the violence.

However, I was excited by a few of the roles. Cybill Shepherd as Betsy was able to play a professional campaigner who is self-assured which is refreshing seeing as how I haven't been too please with some of the female roles in Marty's movies. Betsy knows what she will and will not take. When she decides she doesn't want to see Travis anymore, she doesn't. Also, Albert Brooks as Tom also makes an appearance as a fellow campaigner with Betsy. It was one of those pleasing cinematic moments when a comedic actor does well within the context of a very dark and serious drama. And while I'd heard a lot about Jodi Foster in this film, she's more like a placeholder, another example of Travis' inability of really helping people. His solutions are in violence, and that, obviously, isn't always the answer.

By the end of the film, we see that Travis is lauded as a hero. It seems only the film's audience who was privy to his journals and private acts know that it probably wasn't just heroism that motivated his actions; something is terribly wrong with him, but we don't know what. We end up asking, what happens if he reaches that breaking point again?

Do not put that in a more comfortable key.

I'm not sure what the appeal of listening to people strain to hit notes is, but it apparently never gets old for some people. And I'm not talking about gritty straining, but barely and weakly hitting high notes. I can usually handle it for a while, but I love good vocals, and listening singing too high is just annoying after a while.

"Life During Wartime" by Talking Heads (1979/1983)

Oh, David Byrne. I want to love you, but I have to be in the mood to handle your vocals. Seriously. Here's "Life During Wartime" from Stop Making Sense live in all its out of range glory. Also, dancing.




"Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit (2008)

This is one of the more extreme examples I could think of, but I could have easily used Arcade Fire or some other recent indie band I haven't heard of because I probably wouldn't listen to more than two of their songs because their vocals grate on my nerves. However, the saving grace of "Sleepyhead" is the beat and harmonies. You can almost ignore the ridiculous wailing.

Questions to ponder:
1. Why don't they just buy a capo?

"My Maria" by BW Stevenson

I'm working under the assumption this is about a woman of Hispanic descent mostly off the pseudo-Spanish guitar work and the name Maria. However, the use of the phrase "gypsy lady" is somewhat confusing. Whatever. This is the original version which has a less ridiculous chorus than the Brooks & Dunn version (those mariIIIIIiiiiiaaa's get out of control). Please enjoy some traditional dancing (probably?) in addition to this great song.



"Rio Bravo" by Dean Martin

This is from the only John Wayne movie I've ever seen, Rio Bravo (1959). I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to see another one because they probably don't have Dean Martin crooning about some lost love.



"El Paso" by Marty Robbins

This is a great example of how country songs can reel you in--you've got to know what happens next! This topped the charts in 1960, and those scoopy vocals are most likely the reason why.

I own Sliding Doors (1998) mostly because it was in a $5 dollar bin. It's one of the better films you can get in one of those bins because, while it's no cinematic masterpiece, it's quite enjoyable. It's the perfect movie to put on when you're cleaning or packing or doing laundry. You don't have to pay very much attention except to the parts that are delightful.