« back to codio's userpage

The Search 
by John Battelle
Also check out his blog, which is an extension of the book. This reminds me that I'm looking forward to The Long Tail  by Wired Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson. His book also came out of a blog.  I'm sorry to lump these two together, since Battelle's book deserves a write-up of its own. Some other time I'll share my thoughts on Search (with a capital S).

Arrested Development Season One  & Two 
created by Mitchell Hurwitz
This is a near-perfect TV comedy. I can't watch any other show the same way. The writing, the brilliant acting (I couldn't single out one: Michael Cera as the awkward teenager trying to do good despite being desperately in love with his cousin, Tony Hale as mildly retarded mama's boy Buster, Jeffrey Tambor as both George Sr. and his hippie twin brother Oscar, Will Arnett as the indescribable GOB). You will be addicted. Season Three  is coming out soon.

Nights of Cabiria 
written and directed by Federico Fellini
It stars his wife, Giuletta Masina, who you have to love. This, 8 1/2 and La Dolce Vita, along with touches from Amarcord and La Strada, represent for me the highest ideals of film (or theater for that matter). The way people walk in Fellini is the only way anyone should ever walk on stage or in front of a camera.

Cuba: A Traveler's Literary Companion 
edited by Ann Louis Bardach
This is the book to check out if you want an introduction (in English) to Cuban literature. Some of the big boys are missing for ideological reasons (from both sides of the divide): Cabrera Infante, Sarduy, Guillen, Carpentier. Lydia Cabrera, I don't know why. Also check out The Voice of the Turtle. 

The Up and Up 
by Lee Irby
Fun, breezy crime tale set in Miami in the 1920s.  A friend is promoting this one over at Random House. Will be released in June. One of these days I'll write a guide to Miami Crime Fiction (Elmore Leonard, Edna Buchanan, et al).

The Language Instinct 
by Steven Pinker
This is one of those books that makes you rethink the way you think. And, though possibly the least of it, you'll start splitting infinitives and using "they" instead of "his or her" and not feel a hint of remorse about it. Respect the slang, folks.

Shadow of the Wind 
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
It reminds me of how I felt watching The Goonies or that movie where Fred Savage goes into space -- like a kid exploring news worlds. But this one's really all about books (as Borges would say, there's no greater labyrinth). You get a sense of wonder. Which is also what Michael Chabon is all about, so read Kavalier and Clay  while you're at it.

Foucalt's Pendulum 
by Umberto Eco
Speaking of Borges, books, new worlds, here's Eco with his more erudite effort at turning your world on its head (at one point, literally). A bibliography on this thing would be massive. The sheer quantity of names and dates (in multiple languages) is overwhelming, which just means it's not one to ingest in a single sitting. But if you liked Da Vinci Code and are up for something with more smarts, this is the one.

« back to codio's userpage