media update: January

Every month, I keep a comprehensive list of every book I've read and every movie I've seen. Asterisks denote something I particularly enjoyed or found especially worthy of my time; your mileage may vary.


FICTION


1. The Kite Runner* by Khaled Hosseini: The powerful and moving story of an Afghani immigrant's return to his home country in an attempt to atone for the sins of his past. Thanks to Cruella the Nice for the great recommendation!

2. Twisted by Jonathan Kellerman: Better than The Conspiracy Club, but then again, the last crap I took was better than that waste of pulp. You can give this one a pass too unless you're exceptionally bored.

3. Life Expectancy* by Dean R. Koontz: I didn't have high hopes for this book after the crapfest that was The Taking, but he surprised me. It's about a man whose grandfather, before his birth, predicted that he would have five terrible days in his life...and he wasn't kidding. Sure, he occasionally uses florid metaphors at which Bulwer-Lytton would cringe, and the ending is a little too happy-crappy, but overall it's really entertaining. And yes, dammit, I cried.

4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: In preparation for the upcoming remake, which promises to be eighteen shades of awesome.


NON-FICTION


1. Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch* by Hollis Gillespie: First of all, this is the greatest title ever. Second, I am convinced this is either my friend Susan or David Sedaris writing under a pen name.

2. The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson: Who knew lobsters were so interesting?

3. He's Just Not That Into You* by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo: When I read the chapter saying that women should never ask guys out, I began thinking this book was an updated version of The Rules wrapped in feminist clothes, but for the most part, the advice in this is right on.

4. Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities* by Alexandra Robbins: An incisive and disturbing look at the sorority system that pretty much confirmed everything I'd ever thought about them...and then some.



MANGA/GRAPHIC NOVELS


1. Love's Zephyr vols. 1-3 by Motoi Yoshida

2. Addicted to Curry vols. 2-3 by Funatsu Kozuki

3. Bleach* vols. 5-16 by Tite Kubo

4. Love Monster* vol. 5 by Riko Miyagi

5. Instant Teen: Just Add Nuts! vols. 1-2 by Haruka Fukushima: I know this sounds like a Barely Legal spinoff, but I swear this isn't porn.

6. Kneel Down and Kiss My Boots by Tori Maia

7. Kill Me Kiss Me vol. 4 by Young Yuu Lee

8. The Virgin Mary Is Watching by Nagasawa Satoru


MOVIES


1. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle: Quite possibly the dumbest movie ever, but man, is it funny. I will never look at Neil Patrick Harris the same way again. "Llllllapdaaaance..."

2. Million Dollar Baby*: Not a lot I can say without ruining it, but holy crap. All I can say is that when Clint Eastwood finally defines that Gaelic phrase for Hilary Swank...oh, the bawling.

3. Open Water: Grim flick about a couple who get stranded in the middle of the ocean, and soon attract the attention of sharks. After it was over, G turned to me and said, "Let's not go diving." Me: "Let's not go diving twice!"