Book It!

Fewer finished books this month since I've taken to reading things that are at least 500 pages.

Just Read:

The Corrections- Jonathan Franzen

Had a hard time getting into this one because the characters weren't all that likeable at first, but by the end I understood them more. If you liked Six Feet Under, you'd probably like this.

The Snowman- Jo Nesbo

This is the first of the Harry Hole series I've read. I decided not to read them in order because this one sounded interesting and I didn't want to read 4 books before I got to it. I think it was worth it.

1Q84- Haruki Murakami

Enjoyed this one, reminded me of those movies that you don't fully understand the depth and complexity of until you watch them a second time.

Currently Reading:

I Want My MTV- Craig Marks & Rob Tannenbaum


Up Next (probably):

The Leopard- Jo Nesbo

Friday Five

Right now I'm reading I Want My MTV, which is an oral history of MTV from 1981-1992. This book is so relevant to my interests it's insane. In some of the chapters they talk about specific videos, and despite my ridiculous memory for videos, I find myself wanting to watch them anyway. So here's a few that are mentioned in the book, from the parts I've read so far (I'm only to 1985):

Eurythmics- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)



Eurthymics- Love is a Stranger (I'd never seen this one before but it's one of my favorite Eurhymics songs)



Tears For Fears- Pale Shelter



Duran Duran- Hungry Like the Wolf



Billy Squier- Rock Me Tonight (I hate Billy Squier, but there's a whole chapter on this one because it's so special)

Friday Five

Happy New Year!

5 things I hope to be doing more of in 2012

  1. Working
  2. Moving
  3. Stitching
  4. Blogging
  5. Etsy-ing

2012: Music Resolutions

Typically at the beginning of the year I'm so burnt out on albums from the previous year from all my list making activities, I take a break from all those albums and listen to older stuff. Last year, I made a list of albums I wanted to spend more time with, which ended up being pretty nice (I never did get around to listening to the Bright Eyes ones though). So here's what I'm planning to listen to more in 2012.

R.E.M.: once the Bowie journey is over, the plan is to listen to all the R.E.M. albums from the beginning.

Destroyer- Trouble in Dreams: never got into this album when it first came out

Okkervil River- Black Sheep Boy

Pearl Jam- Vitalogy

Sonic Youth

2012: Crafty Resolutions

I don't usually make resolutions of any kind, but I like the idea of having some crafty goals for the year. These are definitely subject to change depending on my employment status this year.

1. Make those Christmas cards I flaked out on last year.

2. Try knitting again. It was a frustrating, borderline disaster that really made me question wanting to knit in the first place. I'll try again in the fall.

3. Open an Etsy store. this is going to be my big project of the year (like my site redesign was last year). I've gone back and forth on the whole Etsy thing for a few years, but I think I'm ready to do it and see what happens.

4. Finish (and stitch) at least one pattern that I've put on hold.

5. Stitch something I'm really proud of. It's been awhile since I've done that. Still taking my stitchy break though.

Best of 2011: Albums

This year, I listened to more new-to-me music than I probably have in a decade. Between new releases, going through David Bowie’s discography and discovering the awesomeness that is The Church, my ears have been busy. Not to mention starting the year by listening to every song on my mp3 player.

For new releases, this was the year of the grower for me. Out of all the albums I heard, only two I actually liked the first time I listened to them (21 and Kaputt). There were a number of albums I was ready to write off before giving them one final listen and having the songs click for me. I think overall this was a good but not great (or particularly deep) year for music. My top album is hands down the best album of the year for me, although I really love all the albums in my top 5

10. Bright Eyes: The People's Key
Favorite songs: Haile Salassie, Shell Games

9. Okkervil River- I Am Very Far

Favorite songs: The Valley, Show Yourself

8. Emm Gryner- Northern Gospel
Favorite songs: Heartsleeves, Fast Exit

7. Sondre Lerche: Sondre Lerche

Favorite songs: Ricochet, Domino

6. Adele- 21
Favorite songs: Rumour Has It, I'll Be Waiting

5. Destroyer- Kaputt
Favorite songs: A Savage Night at the Opera, Kaputt

4. St. Vincent- Strange Mercy

Favorite songs: Dilettante, Chloe in the Afternoon

3. Beirut- The Rip Tide

Favorite songs: Port of Call, The Rip Tide

2. EMA- Past Life Martyred Saints

Favorite songs: Red Star, Butterfly Knife

1. PJ Harvey- Let England Shake

Favorite songs: The Colour of the Earth, In the Dark Places


Dishonorable mention:

Tune-yards: First, the alternating capitalization is just stupid, second, they're just a worse version of Vampire Weekend with a female singer.

James Blake: Boring with borderline awful singing


2010 album that should've made last year's list:

Twin Shadow- Forget


Looking forward to in 2012:

Isidore, Janelle Monae, Twin Shadow, David Usher

Best of 2011: Books

It’s been awhile since I’ve done an end of year book list, but with getting a Kindle and a library card this year, I’ve been doing a lot of reading. I've split the list in 2 parts, one for books released this year and the other for other books I read for the first time this year.

2011 Favorites:
  1. The Art of Fielding- Chad Harbach
  2. Poke the Box- Seth Godin
  3. 1Q84- Haruki Murakami
  4. The Marriage Plot- Jeffery Eugenides
  5. Headhunters- Jo Nesbo

Other Favorites:

  1. The Likeness- Tana French
  2. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest- Stieg Larsson
  3. After Dark- Haruki Murakami
  4. In the Woods- Tana French
  5. Middlemarch- George Eliot

Best of 2011: Things

Time to wrap the year up with a neat little bow. What better way to do that than with lots of lists? Today's list is all the random things I enjoyed this year.

Nail polish: best cheap diversion

Tumblr: best way to keep my sanity

A month in Texas: best trip

Blue Bell Southern Blackberry Cobbler: best ice cream

The Church: best new old band

PJ Harvey's first 2 albums: best albums I should've listened to sooner

"A Month of Sundays": best new favorite song

Homeland: best new show

Misfits: best streaming show

Portal 2: best game to play

Skyrim: best game to watch

Unfocused: best thing I made

Glitter berries: best cross stitch I wish I'd come up with

Friday Five

I'll be posting my favorite albums list next week. PJ Harvey released an album that may or may not be my favorite of the year. In honor of that uncertainty, here's 5 of my favorite PJ Harvey songs.

  1. Shame
  2. Dry
  3. Cat on the Wall
  4. Catherine
  5. The Piano

Happy Holidays!

Book It!

Been spending a lot of my time reading in the last month, partially because I can't get motivated to do much else at the moment. Luckily there are always books to read.

Just Read:

Faithful Place- Tana French

I enjoyed this one, although not as much as her first 2 books. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

The Art of Fielding- Chad Harbach

I've seen this book everywhere for the last few months. Finally decided to read it and it was definitely worth it, one of the best books I've read this year.

After Dark- Haruki Murakami

I really enjoyed this one. Liked it more than Norweigan Wood.

Currently Reading:


1Q84- Haruki Murakami


Up Next (probably):


The Snowman- Jo Nesbo

The Corrections- Jonathan Franzen