I’m back!
Taking this off of hiatus.
I have Internet at home now and can give this site the care and attention I’ve wanted to. So the question is, what have I been doing for the last month? Reading, mostly. I’ve gotten some writing done, but for the most part I’ve been making use of the local library. This entry has the non-fiction and DVDs:
Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People by Helen Zia
I’m pretty much as WASP as they come. I grew up in places where it was rare to see a minority face. So perhaps because of that I’m always interested in learning about other cultures. This book is a fascinating look at what it is and has been to be an Asian in this country in the last fifty years. It talks about the troubles and triumphs both within and without the Asian American community. I felt like I got a glimpse of a world I knew very little about.
Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll by M.G. Lord
In case you couldn’t tell, I like to browse the non-fiction section. This book caught my eye. Like most girls in this country I grew up with a couple of abused Barbie Dolls. This book is a fascinating read, full of trivia about Mattel and Barbie (for instance, the original Barbie had her eyes downcast to appear more submissive) and also an examination of how Barbie has influenced the culture, or perhaps how the culture has used her.
The View from the Vysotka: A Portrait of Russia Today Through one of Moscow’s Most Famous Addresses by Anne Nivat
I’ve always been interested in Russia. This book is by an admitted Russophile, a French woman who now makes her home in this vysotka on Ironmongers Quay. The book is a series of interviews with both the people who work and live in the vysotka and their perspective on Russia. Three vysotka were built at the end of Stalin’s life, massive skyscrapers that were supposed to point to the future. This one overlooks the Kremlin.
Flicks
Moonlighting, Seasons 1&2
I was somewhere around 7 years old when this show debuted in 1986, so I’d never seen it. Despite laughing at some of the mid 80’s technology (rotary pay phones!) and clothing (shoulder pads!) this show is still funny and entertaining just on its own merits, especially the dialogue. Anyone who wants to study witty banter and sexual tension could do worse then this show. “The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice” is a noteworthy season 2 show that was done mostly in black and white, a daring thing the executives were sure would be terrible. Of course that episode was brilliant. The season two Christmas show was also great, especially an unexpected, touching, tribute to Christmas at the end.
Guns, Germs and Steel
I admit I never could finish this book. So when I saw the National Geographic channel special at the library we grabbed it. This three part series was interesting, but perhaps because I was already familiar with the theories of the book it wasn’t earth shattering.
Trekkies
Confession here: I used to be a HUGE Star Trek geek. I could probably write a whole entry about the influence of Star Trek on me. About the extent of my fandom these days is I’m a regular reader of Wil Wheaton.net. So, I’d heard about this documentary, but never seen it. The first thing I have to say, compared to some of these people, I am so not a geek. This show is a funny, sometimes freaky, sometimes strange look at the fans of Star Trek, focusing its attention, of course, on the ones that are perhaps a bit more out there. Still and all, one comes away from it feeling that for the most part Star Trek fans are an intelligent, caring bunch. And the cast interviews are great too.
The Human Face
This 4 part BBC miniseries was an excellent look at an intersting subject. Hosted by John Cleese with some help from Elizabeth Hurley this books explores it’s subject and unearths many interesting facts and people. For instance, the golden ratio, 1|1.618 applies to beauty. If you could find it, I’d recommend it.