What I've Been Reading/Watching/Listening To

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts and while I should be studying for my chem test on Monday, I just can't bring myself to pull my head out of fiction-mode. It's so much more interesting than thinking about the molecular geometry of reaction mechanisms. But, yeah. I've been reading a lot lately and have been extremely inspired and touched by people's ideas and it's nice to read something that sticks. I feel like I read so many things in a month and not a lot of them stick--I'll remember the plot and a character or a vague outline of what happened but no feeling that lingers or no idea that haunts me to the point of not being able to sleep. 

I've also come across a lot of good music and have been re-watching some of my favorite slam poetry performances and a couple of my favorite movies. And the thing I've realized about these things is that surprise really is overrated. If something is good, it will surprise you everytime you watch or read it--even if you've done that before. So yeah, here are a couple of discoveries and rediscoveries:

1. Wicked by Gregory Maguire 
As I mentioned in my book haul last week, I got this at the Powerbooks Sale (which is still ongoing, if I'm not mistaken). And while initially, I thought it'd be a amusing but not emotionally moving re-telling (much like Neil Gaiman's Snow. Glass. Apples. which I like as well although for different reasons), I didn't expect this book to affect me so much. The protagonist, Elphaba is one of the most endearing characters I've ever met. And I love that from the beginning, you know Dorothy is going to defeat her and so the more you get to know her, the more it hurts you. She's such a well-written character: equal parts flawed and beautiful--Elphaba is kind, idealistic, and so vulnerable it just kills me. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for something to read. I'm hoping to stop by the bookstore again this weekend and get a copy of Son of a Witch, the sequel.

2. Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This was also part of my bookhaul and I absolutely love it--I'm down to the last few pages and just don't want to finish it. The narrator, Charlie just has such a great voice--both innocent and manipulative; he is trying to be good and wanting to be bad which is something we can all relate to I suppose. This book is so easy to read--the language is simple but incredibly smart. Incredibly, incredibly smart.

3. Before Sunset (2004)
For those of you who haven't seen this, I'd definitely go recommend you go see it. I don't want to say a lot about it because it might spoil the experience and I'd hate for anyone to just take my word for it and not go and see it. Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) are two of the most endearing characters ever. This has one of the best dialogue in the world. I would recommend you see this before the first film Before Sunrise (1995) actually--because it just puts the whole thing that happens in the first film into a much sadder context. I dunno about you but I'm a fan of knowing how things end, more or less. :) Anyway, yeah. Wonderful.

4. Repetition by Phil Kaye
This is one of my favorite spoken word poems, ever. I really like Phil Kaye's style and the images that he incorporates into his poetry. :) It doesn't hurt that he's terribly good looking too.