Sunday, January 22, 2012

[TSS] In which I don't talk much about books

Hello Friends!

So generally, on my blog, I do not talk about my Real Life because so much of my life is not book-related and, well, the title of this blog is BookLust.  But today I shall give you a glimpse behind the magic (iron?) curtain because there are many non-literary things I'd like to share.

First:  I saw the movie The Ides of March this week.  Wow.  It's quite an eye-opening experience, and when I say "eye-opening," I mean, "eye-gouging."  (Well, except that Ryan Gosling and George Clooney are both quite easy on the eyes.)  When watching political movies, I often get very cynical about the entire election process and spend about 45 minutes mulling conspiracy theories and the high probability that they are correct because, for real, people can get manipulative and devious.  I thought this movie was very well done, except that I am not a fan of the main female character at all.  So stereotypical!  I can't really say anything else in here because I'm sure some of you guys are spoiler fanatics and would be very unhappy if I were to say much else.  I will almost certainly spend one Sunday Salon in the future talking about spoilers and how, IMHO, people have become out of control about them on the web, but today is not that day.  But if you do not mind spoilers, or if you have seen this movie and would like to discuss the objectification of women with me, PLEASE DO.  I have opinions.

The Ides of March movie poster


Second:  Book blogosphere, I am disappointed with you.  You've given me so many books to put on my wish list.  You introduced me to the glory that is Dr. Who.  Actually, on Thursday night, I had a longer-than-necessary and fairly useless conversation with the head of campus recruiting, who just happens to wear bow ties.  But, I found out very quickly, but not quickly enough to evade the morass of unfruitful conversation, he does not wear a bow tie because of Matt Smith.  Have you ever tried describing Dr. Who to a non-science fiction/fantasy person?!  You end up sounding a little unbalanced, which is unfair because if you watch the show it all makes complete sense.  "Oh, well there's this guy.  Actually, he's not a guy, he's a time lord.  And he doesn't have a name.  Well, he has a name but he doesn't tell anyone what it is.  He calls himself the Doctor.  No, he's not really a doctor.  Anyway, the point is that he wears a bow tie.  Just like you!  Do you ever wear a fez?  You should consider it."

Dr. Who with Fez

Anyway, I bring this up because I only found out about the glory of Dr. Who through blogosphere and so made the logical conclusion that I would learn about everything glorious through blogosphere.

BUT I do not remember anyone in blogosphere telling me about The Wire.  HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?  The show is completely addicting.  You have no idea the trauma I have gone through over the past week trying to choose between watching Dr. Who and watching The Wire (I admit:  The Wire wins pretty much every time, but it's always quite close.)  In fact, I actually went through and did a search for "the wire" on my Google Reader and none of you has ever mentioned it, as far as the accuracy of Google search can tell me.  You are missing out.  The show is fantastic.  At least ten of my friends (I do not exaggerate) have told me that it is "the best show on television.  Ever."  I have only seen seven episodes of the first season, but I believe it.  It's set in Baltimore and is about a gang in the projects and the cops that are trying to crack down on the drug trade and murders and it is is so intense and so good that I urge all of you to go out and watch it right now.  There are five seasons, as far as I'm aware, so don't watch all of it right now, but make a commitment.  I mean, it's winter (for most of us), so there's no better time to be a couch potato.  Below is the DVD cover - does it not just ooze gritty intensity?!

The Wire

Third:  Contrary to what the above might lead you to believe, I do other things with my time besides look at screens.  One of the most important things I did this week was help put on this conference.  It was so much work, but so successful at changing people's perceptions of Detroit that I feel quite accomplished about my part in it.  But whew, my inbox needs a break from frantic emails!  Isn't the below logo so cool?  It's the actual Detroit skyline.  Anyway, so here is my plug:  There are amazing people working in and amazing things happening in Detroit.  Go to there.


Revitalization & Business Initiative:  Detroit SHIFT

Fourth:  I am going to Ireland at the end of February!  I will be spending some time on a school project, but will have at least four days to frolic.  I am hoping to meet some friends, and will be over there with friends, too.  I'm spending most of my time in Limerick.  Any suggestions on what I should do or see or eat?  Please let me know!

Clovers

Fifth:  BEA, anyone?  I want to go this year!  But...I am utterly befuddled by the registration process.  Too many options!  I gave up.

bookexpo america

64 comments:

  1. Aarti! I loved that you tried to explain what a time lord is to someone who has never watched Dr. Who! That is a conversation I would have paid money to see! I also watched the first season of The Wire, but the second season just didn't float my boat because it took such a different angle and I didn't like it. I will be interested in hearing what you think, and if you think I should go on. I am thrilled that your conference went smoothly, and am wondering about media coverage? Did all the big papers show up? Ok. I am going to have to stop babbling and write you an email. Have a great week!

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    1. Oh, bummer! I hear the third season of The Wire is really good and revolves around the education system, which may be of interest to you.

      And yes, write me an email :-)

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  2. I have The Ides of March sitting here from Netlix! I'm looking forward to seeing it but I can totally see it making me more cynical about the political process! I would like to try to make it to BEA this year, but I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to afford it!

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    1. Yes, I realized that it's really expensive to attend, plus cover room and board for yourself for several days. Eek!

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  3. I frequently mention needing a TARDIS at work and I always get blank looks. It makes me sad because this seems to be like basic cultural literacy, but oh well.

    I've never seen The Wire, but it's been in my Netflix queue for ages. I *will* get to it one day because I've heard over and over that it's great. And so you can't accuse the book blogosphere of not telling you, I'll share my current TV addiction--MI-5 (aka Spooks). It is almost unbelievably intense, and the writers are ruthless with the characters.

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    1. Yes, having a TARDIS would be so awesome! And I can see how it makes you sad, but I bet there are a lot of references people make that I don't get, either. Actually, my sister (who hates fantasy/sci fi) wants to watch LOTR SOLELY so that she can understand all the cultural references to it.

      And MI-5 is available on demand on Netflix so I will look into it after I finish Dr. Who! Thanks for the rec.

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  4. My new TV infatuation is the BBC Sherlock. Why their "season" is only three shows long I don't know, unless it's that the writers need that long to complete such detailed masterpieces.

    My daughter's flight connected in Detroit yesterday, and she was a little afraid. "It's one of the sketchiest cities in the country" she told me. But she got through the airport okay, and that's the beginning of an improved relationship with the city. (!)

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    1. Yes, I don't get BBC seasons, either- they seem to be completely arbitrary. I am looking forward to the next three episodes of Sherlock coming through Masterpiece.

      That makes me sad that your daughter was scared to be in Detroit AIRPORT, not even the city itself :-( I actually think the airport is way nicer than O'Hare in Chicago.

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  5. I've never seen Dr. Who, but Jason has been wearing bowties since long before I met him. :D I've never even HEARD of The Wire, but then again, you know I'm not really a TV person. We don't even subscribe to TV at all anymore...

    Yay for Ireland! Can't wait to hear all about your experiences!

    And BEA - I wish I could go, but with my honeymoon in March/April and my sister's wedding in late May, it's simply not going to happen.

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    1. I totally didn't know you were going on a honeymoon or that your sister is getting married. How is this possible?!

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  6. Thanks for sharing! It was great to take a peek behind the curtain. Congrats on you work on the conference as it sounds like a really rewarding experience. And Ireland? Soooo supportively envious. :D

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    1. Yes, it was a great conference- I think a lot of good things will come of it :-) And YES, IRELAND. I will take pictures, most of which won't make it to the blog, but will probably at least make it to Facebook, so you can see them there!

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  7. Yay for Dr. Who!!!!! And I am so jealous you are going to Ireland. I've always wanted to go but it's never worked out! I'm sure you will have a blast.

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    1. I hope so! I am going during the off-season which is both good and bad. I can't help but think that ruins look even better in the cold winter than in lavish green summer :-)

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  8. I'm actually planning to see The Ides of March today...from On Demand.

    I'll be eager to see your "spoiler" thoughts later.

    Here's MY SUNDAY SALON POST and here’s
    MY WEBSITE

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    1. Oh, let me know your thoughts!

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  9. Doctor Who is pretty good (was brought up on the original series way back in the sixties), but wait until you see Sherlock by Steve Moffatt and Mark Gatiss - now there's a programme to drool over!
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws

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    1. Yes, Jeanne and I were talking about that above- it's great! Haven't seen season 2 at all yet, though. And Steve Moffat writes for Dr. Who, too :-)

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    2. Season 2 is excellent, Aarti - Scandal in Bohemia, The Hounds of Baskerville and The Reichenbach Fall - I've yet to see season 1! (it just wasn't on my radar originally)

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  10. ah, so that is what The Wire is. When you mentioned it in your email recently I meant to look it up but then forgot. I don't think I have heard of it before... Maybe an HBO show? I have also not watched Dr. Who in any great detail, but one day I will!

    Oh, Ireland, I have always wanted to go. Have lots of fun and maybe, possibly send me a postcard? :)

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    1. I am not very great at keeping promises like "I'll send you a postcard for sure!" But I'll at least *buy* a postcard and try to send it to you from home, even if not from Ireland :-)

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  11. I love THE WIRE. Love, love, love. The 2nd season was a bit weaker than the rest, but when the show is taken as a whole, it is a masterpiece--the social issues brought out, the different angles, the acting, the setting, the comment on society as a whole...I actually watched the show when it first aired, but when I mentioned it on my blog, there wasn't much interest so I didn't really run with it.

    Love Dr. Who too. David Tennent is still my favorite. Someone else mentioned the BBC Sherlock. Another great show.

    Have a fun time in Ireland!

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    1. Yes, it's fantastic! In fact, I am off to watch another episode very shortly.

      I love David Tennant, but I also loved Christoper Eccleston and I am a fan of the hilarious Matt Smith, too. I think the show has done so well in giving the doctors their own personalities and letting them shine in the way they do best. It's fabulous!

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  12. Explaining a Time Lord to the uninitiated sounds difficult, well, impossible really. Sort of like trying to explain why it's bigger on the inside! And your conference sound like a great success.

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    1. Haha, oh, the TARDIS. How I want one.

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  13. Explaining Dr Who is a bit lot trying to explain Pratchett or Jasper Fforde. In the end you just end up saying just read it.

    There was a bit of talk about The Wire a couple of years ago but not recently! I haven't seen any of it, but I have trouble keeping up with TV series.

    Yay for Ireland and BEA!

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    1. You're right. I have told many people to watch it, but I don't know how many converts I've actually created. Not many, I suspect. Oh, well- you win some, you lose some!

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  14. Love your post - too, too fun about all of it. I haven't watched The Wire, but I'll check into it!! ENJOY IRELAND!!!!!!!

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    1. Thanks for visiting :-) I'll ABSOLUTELY enjoy Ireland, I'm sure. So excited!

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  15. I've watched the first season of The Wire and indeed it was awesome. I keep meaning to get around to watching the rest of the series, especially to get to Season 4 which is the one that focuses on the school system, because that was supposedly really fantastic. I think the main reason I haven't continued watching the Wire is because I tend to watch TV series with my roommate and I think the Wire would be too gritty for her tastes.

    We do watch Doctor Who together but we're behind. We just finished watching the End of Time two-parter (a.k.a. Tennant's last episode) and I was really underwhelmed by it. It was roll-my-eyes bad for some of it. Fortunately, Moffat apparently does most of the writing for the fifth season, so I look forward to that.

    I sympathize with trying to tell people about Doctor Who who don't have sci-fi leanings at all. Also, trying to explain Mystery Science Theater 3000 to the uninitiated is hard.

    The show that I don't hear many talk about but that I love and carry on about is the three season long Slings & Arrows. It's about a Canadian Shakespearan theater troupe. Hilarious but also poignant. Rachel McAdams played a character in the first season (it's before she hit it big.)

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    1. Ooh, I've never heard of that show! Is it a CBC one? I will look into it!

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    2. I had to look this up because I wasn't sure and found that it wasn't CBC. The show aired on "The Movie Network", which is a Canadian premium channel sort of like HBO, from what I skimmed looking through the internet. Then the Sundance Channel aired it in the U.S. I watched it originally on Netflix Instant Watch. The first episode was interesting but if you are unsure at first, press on, because the episodes get better from there.

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  16. Such exciting news about the trip to Ireland! I know there's still a long time to go, but I hope you'll post lots of pictures when you come back :D

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    1. I shall :-) Probably not here, but will send you a link!

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  17. I just started watching Dr. Who last night!! Seriously!! Some of the teens at the library teen time keep talking about it so I gave it a try. I started with the 2005 series starring Christopher Eccleston. I watched the first three episodes in a row and now I've got the kids hooked as well.

    I also keep hearing great things about The Wire but I have to hold off until I get caught up with Dr. Who. I have about five seasons with 13 episodes each so that'll take awhile!

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    1. Yes, it starts with a bang! The Wire can wait- I don't recommend trying both at the same time :-)

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  18. I have known about The Wire for a while, but I've never actually watched it. I should! Especially after that glowing recommendation! I just can't get in to Dr. Who though. I've tried! Oh well, maybe it wasn't meant to be. I'm going to BEA! I think! If not, I'll at least BE in NYC, so I really want to meet everyone!

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    1. Well, the Wire is totally different from Dr. Who, so I urge you to give it a whirl.

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  19. I can't stop giggling over your bow tie conversation!

    I've been meaning to watch The Wire because Jenny from Jenny's Books is so into it. Sounds like I need to get on that, stat.

    Regarding BEA, I'm hoping to make it there this year! It's just a matter of budgeting and coordinating with a friend who'd also like to attend. We've found a good hotel in our price range, but we need to work something out with transportation. If it's at all feasible, though, I'll be there!

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    1. Yes, The Wire is so good! I think you'd like it a lot, based on authors we both enjoy.

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  20. ooooh I just watched The Ides of March! I had the same issues re: the female lead, but I liked the film in general?

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    1. Also sorry I tried to watch The Wire but it was not for me :(

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    2. Yes, I liked the movie in general but didn't like how the woman was basically just there for the story to move forward and not really for anything related to herself. I have a disturbing feeling that for many in politics, that's probably realistic.

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  21. I was introduced to Dr. Who via book bloggers as well and absolutely love it! My husband and I watched all of the old episodes on Netflix a couple of years ago. We rationed the episodes - one a night and it was such a glorious series of evenings together! Like date night every night. And my husband now owns a set of burgundy suspenders because of the Doctor. :)

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    1. Oh, does that mean that the old episodes are good, too?! That opens up a WHOLE NEW WORLD.

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  22. I have now watched 1 1/2 episodes of Dr. Who because of all the buzz! I'll be watching more but I usually only watch while I'm eating lunch and it only takes me ten minutes so it takes a while...Now I think I need to throw The Wire into the mix.
    So jealous of the Ireland trip!

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    1. Haha, well if it takes you about 5 days to watch one episode of Dr. Who, it may take you a while to get around to The Wire. But it's good when you're ready for it!

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  23. Anonymous1/22/2012

    Ireland?? Sweet!! I have nothing to offer, though, since the only time I was in Ireland was 20 years ago and it was Easter week so it seemed like everything was closed. So I'll be wanting to hear about your trip!

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    1. Ooh, isn't it weird how stores/businesses in other countries actually CLOSE for special occasions? :-) I'll be sure to tell you all about the trip!

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  24. Haha that explanation of Dr. Who to the uninitiated tickled me - especially the fez part! Love it.

    I have never heard of Wire. I will check it out post-haste! I like gritty intensity. I also really want to see Ides of March, not sure if it is showing in Taiwan but will check for it.

    Hope you have a fabulous time in Ireland - no recommendations from me as I have never been there but I know it will be fabulous. Two of my friends went from New Zealand to live there and were loath to leave and come back to NZ, which says a lot I think.

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    1. I love that you used the phrase "post-haste." Great!

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  25. I miss tennant :/ I do not like the 11th Doctor.

    And can't say anything about Ides of M, since I found it so boring that I could not even watch

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    1. Oh, really? I really like Matt Smith! I like him in a completely different way than I liked David Tennant, though.

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  26. I've never watched Dr. Who but I've been meaning to give it a try because everyone on Twitter is always talking about it. Though there seem to be several versions of Dr. Who and I can't figure out which one I'm meant to watch so I keep giving up the effort. Perhaps I'll give The Wire a try instead.

    Have a great time in Ireland. It's one of the top destinations on my Must Visit When Kids Grow Up list.

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    1. As you're hugely into sci fi, I'm really surprised by this, Simcha! I think you'd really like it. Dr. Who is a long-running TV show and the main character, the Doctor, has different incarnations. So it's all one show, but the main character is played by different actors. If that makes sense, which it probably doesn't. I recommend starting with 2005's Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, though I'm only saying that because I have never seen the older versions.

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  27. Ha, I have the hardest time trying to describe Dr. Who to people. "Well he travels through time and has companions, no, they aren't always romantic interests, it's not about that. Well sometimes, but mainly it's about social issues, well yes there are aliens..." It goes badly.

    The Wire is so good! Enjoy it. I can't believe you get to go to Ireland too. It's so beautiful. I've been twice and would go back in a heart beat. Try some Irish stew at a little pub.

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    1. Ooh, will do! I've heard the food is great. Not sure how great the scenery will be in February, but I have hopes!

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  28. Ireland is fab. I've only been to Dublin, but I recommend thwe whisky whichever bit you're in ;)

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  29. I've never watched The Wire although I've heard good things about it, mostly because I think it was on HBO or Showtime. No more netflix for me right now.

    My brother loves Slings & Arrows and I actually have the boxed set......unwatched. So far.

    I HATE how crazy people are with spoilers nowadays! It's ludicrous. I didn't see Ides of March but wanted to! Spill what happens/happened that you didn't like.

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  30. Aha! If Memory knows I am into The Wire, I must have mentioned The Wire on my blog before.

    Okay, I just did a search and I basically mentioned The Wire once, in a post that was mainly about The Good Wife. But still! I mentioned it! I said nice things about it!

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  31. The Wire and Breaking Bad are both "best TV show(s) ever" in my household...except only in the opinion of my boyfriend. I haven't even tried to watch them because we both know they are way too intense for my wimpy, sappy tastes. Friday Night Lights I can get hooked to. Drug busts and drive-bys, I cannot. I just accept this fact about myself and tell people about these gritty dramas that, "I hear they are fabulous."

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  32. Anonymous7/09/2012

    The Wire is simply the greatest show in television history in my mind. Simply for the range of topics. I love lots of other shows, comedy and drama, Scifi, etc. But The Wire is on a different level topics wise, discussion wise, writing wise. No filler, no cookie cutter resolutions every espisode. It's all shades of grey. It's awesome.

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