Over the last few months I rewatched the television series Alias. For those who haven't watched before Alias, it's the story of Sydney Bristow, double agent for the CIA and SD-6. Or at least that's what it is on the surface. Underneath it is a gripping family drama about the dynamics of a strained father-daughter relationship trying to find it's feet once again and even more strained mother-daughter relationship.
AND NOW FOR THE SPOILERS....
Season one and two remain the high points of the series. In seasons one and two, when JJ Abrams was always at the helm, the show did it's best to give Sydney a fascinating work life and an interesting personal life too. I really think that
For me, it's season three where things go off the rails. In season three Sydney s stripped of all her friends, except work pals. Not only do we have to deal with a completely retarded Vaughn, who I dislike most of the season, and the stupid Lauren and her eyeliner of doom. Also, I never like the lack of explanation of Lauren's evilness, however, I have to respect her choice of making the best with Sark. Rowr! I think what would have made season three really great was to have Will stick around and possibly delve into a Syd/Will romance. Because by keeping Syd single you sort of knew at some point she and Vaughn would get back together. And honestly, I am not sure he deserved to get her back. One thing I do love about this season is that Marshall gets a love story. Aww! Geek love!
Season four is by far my least favorite season to watch. One reason, Nadia. Ugh. There is just something about Mia Maestro that I never learned to like. Maybe it was her delivery or maybe it was her utter stupidity as a spy. I don't know. I am grateful though that Weiss finally got some in season four, eve if it was short lived.
Season five, oh season five. I get what they were going for here. I really do but you final season is not the time to go looking for an audience, mm'kay? I mean, they should have just gotten their asses back on track. Although, I have to admit that the final four episodes of the show are pretty amazing. I did get sucked back in there with the whole Ana/Syd combo, the Syd/Sark team up, and the final comeuppance of Sloane. However, and this is a big however, I do not know what Lena Olin did to these people to warrant such a totally awful character assassination of Irina Derevko. Irina may have been many things but I never once thought that her end game meant trying to actually murder her daughter. I mean, come on people. It does not gel with the story you have been telling for the previous four years. In my mind, that storyline just sort of doesn't exist in the finale. But for me the best scene, the scene that makes me cry every single time I watch it is the final Sydney and Jack (Spydaddy) scene. It's just amazing that interplay of these two characters. It was so moving and it felt so real.
Alas, I conclude by saying that Alias is a pretty fine show that really paved the way for more ass kicking females on television. I think if JJ hadn't abandoned the show to go make movies that Alias could have been amazing the whole way through and not had so many peaks and valleys. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you watch Alias. If you have seen it, well, watch that shit again. It's pretty good.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Hey, it's book time again!
I read a couple of books these past few weeks. I am sure that totally shocks you. I will say this, I am going to try to read a few more non-fiction works this year. I want to get back to reading about the Middle East again and I wan to start reading some books about the founders of America. So, if you've read any good biographies lately, comment away.
White Oleander by Janet Finch: This was the January book club pick. I have to say that this book made me totally appreciate my mother. The story was haunting and touching and ended in not the greatest way for me but it was completely unsatisfying. I am saddened by the fact that I won't get to attend book club (I will be in B'ton that weekend, WOOT!) because I think it would ne interesting to hear what the other ladies have to say. I am renting the movie this week to see how that turned out.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: The first written but last read by me book in the Austen oeuvre. I really enjoyed the book and thought it was really one of the best of Austen's works. I think that the character of Elinor is quite lovely and amazing. She's one of Austen's most realistic characters and I was quite charmed by her on the page. Also, I've now read all of Jane Austen's works so yeah. I've totally earned my librarian credentials.
Of course, all of this makes me want to compare the movie versions I've seen. I know that most folks love the Emma Thompson version of this story but really, Emma was WAY TOO OLD to be playing a nineteen year old girl. It's kind of ridiculous if you think about it. I highly recommend watching the newest PBS version that was released last year. I thought the actress playing Elinor was perfect.
Books read in 2009:
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
White Oleander by Janet Finch
White Oleander by Janet Finch: This was the January book club pick. I have to say that this book made me totally appreciate my mother. The story was haunting and touching and ended in not the greatest way for me but it was completely unsatisfying. I am saddened by the fact that I won't get to attend book club (I will be in B'ton that weekend, WOOT!) because I think it would ne interesting to hear what the other ladies have to say. I am renting the movie this week to see how that turned out.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: The first written but last read by me book in the Austen oeuvre. I really enjoyed the book and thought it was really one of the best of Austen's works. I think that the character of Elinor is quite lovely and amazing. She's one of Austen's most realistic characters and I was quite charmed by her on the page. Also, I've now read all of Jane Austen's works so yeah. I've totally earned my librarian credentials.
Of course, all of this makes me want to compare the movie versions I've seen. I know that most folks love the Emma Thompson version of this story but really, Emma was WAY TOO OLD to be playing a nineteen year old girl. It's kind of ridiculous if you think about it. I highly recommend watching the newest PBS version that was released last year. I thought the actress playing Elinor was perfect.
Books read in 2009:
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
White Oleander by Janet Finch
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Belated Christmas Interview
It may be late but I am at least meeting the demands of my readers.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? According to GMYH, I am "a sixty-eight-year-old woman named Agnes who smokes a pack of Vantage 100s a day and gives her grandkids bottles of Evan Williams eggnog for Christmas even though the oldest, Amber, is only seventeen?" Nevertheless, I use a mixture of wrapping paper and gift bags.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Currently, a fake fiber optic tree that is about 3 feet tall because my apartment has no room for a real tree.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas.
5. Do you like eggnog? Nope.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My cabbage patch kid, Seth (not Cohen).
7. Hardest person to buy for? Myself. I mean, a gift for you; a gift for me. It's hard to not buy myself the things I put on my Amazon list.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself. Who else knows what I want?
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, not until my mom gives me the one we had from my childhood. Until then, my Christmas remains entirely secular and about presents alone.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? You bitches are not worth the 42 cents.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Anything pink my mother shoved on me as a child.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A tie between Christmas Vacation and Love, Actually.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This question assumes I stop.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope. I just give the ugly stuff to the homeless.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint bark.
16. Lights on the tree? Duh.
17. Favorite Christmas song? "What Child Is This?"
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Why? What's it to you?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. I don't put actual ornaments on my fiber optic tree.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Depends on when my family gets together.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Those people who try to take the Christ out of Christmas. Who are these people? And, how can we get them to cut out Ann Coulter's tongue?
23. What theme or color are you using? I don't understand this question.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? If I don't have to cook it then it all tastes good.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A free trip to Europe. P.S. My dreams were dashed.
26. Favorite Christmas memory? I don't know that I have one of these. Hmmm.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? According to GMYH, I am "a sixty-eight-year-old woman named Agnes who smokes a pack of Vantage 100s a day and gives her grandkids bottles of Evan Williams eggnog for Christmas even though the oldest, Amber, is only seventeen?" Nevertheless, I use a mixture of wrapping paper and gift bags.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Currently, a fake fiber optic tree that is about 3 feet tall because my apartment has no room for a real tree.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas.
5. Do you like eggnog? Nope.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My cabbage patch kid, Seth (not Cohen).
7. Hardest person to buy for? Myself. I mean, a gift for you; a gift for me. It's hard to not buy myself the things I put on my Amazon list.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself. Who else knows what I want?
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, not until my mom gives me the one we had from my childhood. Until then, my Christmas remains entirely secular and about presents alone.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? You bitches are not worth the 42 cents.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Anything pink my mother shoved on me as a child.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A tie between Christmas Vacation and Love, Actually.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This question assumes I stop.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope. I just give the ugly stuff to the homeless.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint bark.
16. Lights on the tree? Duh.
17. Favorite Christmas song? "What Child Is This?"
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Why? What's it to you?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. I don't put actual ornaments on my fiber optic tree.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Depends on when my family gets together.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Those people who try to take the Christ out of Christmas. Who are these people? And, how can we get them to cut out Ann Coulter's tongue?
23. What theme or color are you using? I don't understand this question.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? If I don't have to cook it then it all tastes good.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A free trip to Europe. P.S. My dreams were dashed.
26. Favorite Christmas memory? I don't know that I have one of these. Hmmm.
Even more ch-ch-ch-changes
Yeah, so I changed the layout. There is just something I like about my navigation on the right side. I can't really explain it.
Posts to come:
*My thoughts on the great Alias rewatch
*Posts about loving my Wii
*Thoughts on the great Buffy rewatch of 2008/2009 (Beth will be pleased by my new found appreciation of Faith)
*Posts about books
*A post about my failure to relisten to all my music
I bet you all can't wait.
Posts to come:
*My thoughts on the great Alias rewatch
*Posts about loving my Wii
*Thoughts on the great Buffy rewatch of 2008/2009 (Beth will be pleased by my new found appreciation of Faith)
*Posts about books
*A post about my failure to relisten to all my music
I bet you all can't wait.
Books Read in 2008
Stats (stolen from Marissa):
Books read: 54
Book read in 2007 (for comparison): 36
Average books read per month: 4.5
Average books read per week: 1.03
Daily average: .147 books
Percentage of fiction books: 98%
Percentage of non-fiction books: 2%
Books Read in 2008:
My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare by Jess Winfield
Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Paper Towns by John Green
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Emma by Jane Austen
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
Thumbsucker: A Novel by Walter Kirn
The Off Season by Catherine Murdock
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Love Walked In by Marisa de Los Santos
Belong to Me by Marisa de Los Santos
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Queen of Swords by Sara Donati
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Airhead by Meg Cabot
Meridon by Philippa Gregory
The Favored Child by Philippa Gregory
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
Into the Wild by John Krakauer
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
River Secrets by Shannon Hale
The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot
Dramarama by E. Lockhart
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.
Spike: Asylum by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru
Books read: 54
Book read in 2007 (for comparison): 36
Average books read per month: 4.5
Average books read per week: 1.03
Daily average: .147 books
Percentage of fiction books: 98%
Percentage of non-fiction books: 2%
Books Read in 2008:
My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare by Jess Winfield
Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Paper Towns by John Green
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Emma by Jane Austen
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
Thumbsucker: A Novel by Walter Kirn
The Off Season by Catherine Murdock
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Love Walked In by Marisa de Los Santos
Belong to Me by Marisa de Los Santos
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Queen of Swords by Sara Donati
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Airhead by Meg Cabot
Meridon by Philippa Gregory
The Favored Child by Philippa Gregory
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
Into the Wild by John Krakauer
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
River Secrets by Shannon Hale
The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot
Dramarama by E. Lockhart
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.
Spike: Asylum by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru
Hey y'all
So, I took a little break there, didn't I? It wasn't really a planned thing but you know, it happens. I've been meaning to post something about all the books I've read for a while but then I got overwhelmed by life and such. You aren't getting the full blown deal like I normally do, mostly because I have a lot of books to tell you about. So, here goes.
My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare by Jess Winfield: Two guys named Will. One is Will Shakespeare pre-fame. The other is Willie Greenberg Ph.D. student. How do these two intersect? Read the book and find out.
Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling: Nice fables that I will read to my children someday, if I ever have them.
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle: Three interlocking stores; two of which are told by two of my fave YA writers. Fun and fast read.
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk: One of the most awesome things about my book club is that we read such a wide variety of things. I am still trying to figure out who was real and who was in the imagination of the unnamed narrator.
Paper Towns by John Green: Green's third book. Adored it but I still like Alaska better.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen: Has possibly the most wretched character ever written in Aunt Norris. I suggest watching the 1999 film.
Emma by Jane Austen: Loved the book but was often annoyed by Emma herself.
Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot: Final installment of the "Boy Series" that is loosely based on Meg's own elopement.
Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot: Meg gives the reader a fun, cute romance.
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot: First in the "Boy Series". These are stories told via email and memo. Adorable.
Books Read in 2008:
My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare by Jess Winfield
Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Paper Towns by John Green
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Emma by Jane Austen
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
Thumbsucker: A Novel by Walter Kirn
The Off Season by Catherine Murdock
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Love Walked In by Marisa de Los Santos
Belong to Me by Marisa de Los Santos
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Queen of Swords by Sara Donati
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Airhead by Meg Cabot
Meridon by Philippa Gregory
The Favored Child by Philippa Gregory
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
Into the Wild by John Krakauer
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
River Secrets by Shannon Hale
The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot
Dramarama by E. Lockhart
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.
Spike: Asylum by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru
My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare by Jess Winfield: Two guys named Will. One is Will Shakespeare pre-fame. The other is Willie Greenberg Ph.D. student. How do these two intersect? Read the book and find out.
Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling: Nice fables that I will read to my children someday, if I ever have them.
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle: Three interlocking stores; two of which are told by two of my fave YA writers. Fun and fast read.
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk: One of the most awesome things about my book club is that we read such a wide variety of things. I am still trying to figure out who was real and who was in the imagination of the unnamed narrator.
Paper Towns by John Green: Green's third book. Adored it but I still like Alaska better.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen: Has possibly the most wretched character ever written in Aunt Norris. I suggest watching the 1999 film.
Emma by Jane Austen: Loved the book but was often annoyed by Emma herself.
Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot: Final installment of the "Boy Series" that is loosely based on Meg's own elopement.
Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot: Meg gives the reader a fun, cute romance.
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot: First in the "Boy Series". These are stories told via email and memo. Adorable.
Books Read in 2008:
My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare by Jess Winfield
Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Paper Towns by John Green
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Emma by Jane Austen
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
Thumbsucker: A Novel by Walter Kirn
The Off Season by Catherine Murdock
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Love Walked In by Marisa de Los Santos
Belong to Me by Marisa de Los Santos
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Queen of Swords by Sara Donati
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Airhead by Meg Cabot
Meridon by Philippa Gregory
The Favored Child by Philippa Gregory
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
Into the Wild by John Krakauer
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
River Secrets by Shannon Hale
The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot
Dramarama by E. Lockhart
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.
Spike: Asylum by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru
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