In which our narrator tries to read his way through the endless stacks of books that are slowly overtaking both his bookshelves and his life.
Between the winter blues, the kids keeping me busy, and work just kicking my arse lately, I've had very little time—or attention span—to read as much as I'd like. Still, somehow, I've managed to read several books in the last few months, but I've spent more of my (rare) downtime watching movies. My book nerdery is only equaled by my film nerdery—and both are nearly equaled by my art and music nerdery. In other words, I have more than enough nerdery to spare, at all times.
Anyway, I recently rewatched one of my favorite comfort food films, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. When I'm tired, or down, or just in need of some cinema therapy, this film never fails to deliver. It also happens to be one of my very favorite Christmas films. Robert Downey Jr., and Val Kilmer, and Michelle Monaghan are simply magnificent together in Shane Black's underrated 2005 hardboiled black comedy. It's the kind of film I quote often, sometimes even to people who have no idea what I'm talking about, because I'm that guy.
As you might expect, pulp novels play a significant role in the film's plot. In keeping with this series' propensity for photos of (sometimes famous) people reading, that's Monaghan, who plays Harmony in the film, up top reading a pulp novel. This flick always makes me want to read some good old fashioned hardboiled detective novels. It's a genre I love but don't get around to reading nearly enough lately. I've had a couple novels from Hard Case Crime lying around for about a year now; might have to move them closer to the top of the pile.
Sigh. I'll get to them. Someday. In the meantime, I'll muddle through, reading bits and pieces of books here and there, willy nilly, as life will allow it. Reading in bed used to be a favorite pastime, but since having kids I'm lucky if my eyes stay open long enough to get two or three pages read. Yep, I'm a walking cliche now.
Recently read
Giving Up the Ghost: A Story About Friendship, 80s Rock, a Lost Scrap of Paper, and What It Means to Be Haunted, by Eric Nuzum. To say that this book deeply affected me would be an understatement. Nuzum's story of a particular time in his life (his late teen years) resonates with me because, in several ways, it parallels my own experiences from that time in my own life. Like Nuzum at that age, I too spent a concentrated amount of time with someone who left a giant impact on me, and on the person I am now. I wrote about that time recently, in fact. Unlike Nuzum's friend, mine is still alive, but I have no idea where she is, or how she's doing, so it feels almost like a loss. I also have another friend from that time who did die, last year. In each case, I feel regret. The things we don't say at the time can later seem so very necessary to express, and can haunt us for a lifetime. Nuzum's story is incredibly personal, yet one that many of us can easily relate to because we've lived similar experiences. I can't recommend this book enough.
Ms. 45 (Cultographies), by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. An insightful critical analysis of Abel Ferrara's 1981 cult classic, Ms. 45. Heller-Nicholas rightly posits that much of the film's greatness comes from it's jaw-dropping lead performance from Zoe Tamerlis-Lund. Her portrayal of avenging angel Thana ranks high in my personal pantheon of best film performances. She's simply astonishing, both in the film and in her all-too short life and artistic career. This is a wonderful little book—it's small and fits right in your back pocket, and I love when books fit in your back pocket—written for both academics and cinephiles alike. Now that I'm aware of Wallflower Press's Cultographies series, I can see myself snagging a few more titles in the series. A quick glance at the site shows they're publishing one on Stanley Kubrick's The Shining this spring. Yes, please!
We, by Yevgeny Zamyatin. A twentieth-century classic of dystopian science fiction, which came highly recommended from a friend. There were several haunting passages that took my breath away. A challenging and uncompromising work.
Kathryn Bigelow: Interviews, edited by Peter Keough. I like Kathryn Bigelow's films. A lot. For a while now, I've had designs on doing a series of posts on different aspects of her work. So far I've only managed to write one. I'll get around to more, hopefully. This book, collecting all of her interviews (up to 2012), is a goldmine for any fan of her work. She's extremely intelligent, and provides fascinating insights into her uniquely cerebral/artistic creative process.
Currently reading
House of Psychotic Women, by Kier-La Jannise. Only a few dozen pages in and already it's clear this is going to be a devastatingly beautiful read, combining heartbreaking personal reflection with eloquently written film criticism. This project had to be an enormous undertaking—the sheer number of films she covers in the book is incredibly impressive, let alone integrating it with the memoir aspect as well. True fans know that women have always been the true heroes of horror and exploitation cinema, so it's a pleasure to read Jannise's account of finding herself through these onscreen portrayals of fierce Final Girls and steadfast survivors. I expect to have a lot to process after reading this book, and hope to put it into words somewhere down the line.
Nightwing, by Chuck Dixon. Working my way through Chuck Dixon's neo-noir (there's that word again) superhero comic from the late 1990s—starring the original Robin, Dick Grayson—I've come to appreciate Dixon as one of the best writers of that era. Four trade paperbacks into the run, I can see why his Nightwing is often thought of as the best in the character's history. Also, kudos to Scott McDaniel on art duty—surely his exaggerated style isn't for everyone, but I love it. It's hilarious too, in only the way the best, most over the top comic book art of the '90s can be—just look at those emphatically thrusting chests on Nightwing and Huntress in this image! It's so gloriously ridiculous that I have to love it.
Recently acquired
Danse Macabre, by Stephen King. These last few years, I've really gotten back into King, and with a vengeance. I read some of a friend's tattered copy of this one as a kid, probably in the late '80s. Found another old, tattered copy (the best kind) on eBay recently. Fun fact: last year I acquired a t-shirt (for five bucks!) featuring the silhouette of King from the cover of this book on it.
Foxy: My Life in Three Acts, by Pam Grier, with Andrea Cagan. It's Pam Grier. In her own words. Do I really need to say more?? Pam Grier! I just rewatched Friday Foster recently, too, which reminded me of one simple fact: simply by her very existence, Pam Grier makes the world a better place.
Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland. A beautiful coffee table book, this jacketed hardcover features Bolland's gorgeous work from his several decades of illustrating comics for the publisher DC—both interiors and covers. He is, hands down, one of my favorite artists. No surprise, this is a stunning book.
Starman Omnibus editions, by James Robinson and various artists. Quite possibly the finest American comic book produced in the 1990s. A finite story that ran for seven years, Starman is cinematic and deeply personal in scope and style. I have five of the six omnibus editions—and have read volumes one and two, several years back. Unfortunately, most of the collected editions are out of print, with the one I'm missing, volume three, commanding outrageous sums in the online aftermarket. Until the price drops, I'll have to wait, impatiently, to complete the set. Or, maybe the publisher will finally reprint these collections. Are you listening, DC??
Anyway, I recently rewatched one of my favorite comfort food films, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. When I'm tired, or down, or just in need of some cinema therapy, this film never fails to deliver. It also happens to be one of my very favorite Christmas films. Robert Downey Jr., and Val Kilmer, and Michelle Monaghan are simply magnificent together in Shane Black's underrated 2005 hardboiled black comedy. It's the kind of film I quote often, sometimes even to people who have no idea what I'm talking about, because I'm that guy.
As you might expect, pulp novels play a significant role in the film's plot. In keeping with this series' propensity for photos of (sometimes famous) people reading, that's Monaghan, who plays Harmony in the film, up top reading a pulp novel. This flick always makes me want to read some good old fashioned hardboiled detective novels. It's a genre I love but don't get around to reading nearly enough lately. I've had a couple novels from Hard Case Crime lying around for about a year now; might have to move them closer to the top of the pile.
Sigh. I'll get to them. Someday. In the meantime, I'll muddle through, reading bits and pieces of books here and there, willy nilly, as life will allow it. Reading in bed used to be a favorite pastime, but since having kids I'm lucky if my eyes stay open long enough to get two or three pages read. Yep, I'm a walking cliche now.
Recently read
We, by Yevgeny Zamyatin. A twentieth-century classic of dystopian science fiction, which came highly recommended from a friend. There were several haunting passages that took my breath away. A challenging and uncompromising work.
Kathryn Bigelow: Interviews, edited by Peter Keough. I like Kathryn Bigelow's films. A lot. For a while now, I've had designs on doing a series of posts on different aspects of her work. So far I've only managed to write one. I'll get around to more, hopefully. This book, collecting all of her interviews (up to 2012), is a goldmine for any fan of her work. She's extremely intelligent, and provides fascinating insights into her uniquely cerebral/artistic creative process.
Currently reading
House of Psychotic Women, by Kier-La Jannise. Only a few dozen pages in and already it's clear this is going to be a devastatingly beautiful read, combining heartbreaking personal reflection with eloquently written film criticism. This project had to be an enormous undertaking—the sheer number of films she covers in the book is incredibly impressive, let alone integrating it with the memoir aspect as well. True fans know that women have always been the true heroes of horror and exploitation cinema, so it's a pleasure to read Jannise's account of finding herself through these onscreen portrayals of fierce Final Girls and steadfast survivors. I expect to have a lot to process after reading this book, and hope to put it into words somewhere down the line.
Nightwing, by Chuck Dixon. Working my way through Chuck Dixon's neo-noir (there's that word again) superhero comic from the late 1990s—starring the original Robin, Dick Grayson—I've come to appreciate Dixon as one of the best writers of that era. Four trade paperbacks into the run, I can see why his Nightwing is often thought of as the best in the character's history. Also, kudos to Scott McDaniel on art duty—surely his exaggerated style isn't for everyone, but I love it. It's hilarious too, in only the way the best, most over the top comic book art of the '90s can be—just look at those emphatically thrusting chests on Nightwing and Huntress in this image! It's so gloriously ridiculous that I have to love it.Recently acquired
Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland. A beautiful coffee table book, this jacketed hardcover features Bolland's gorgeous work from his several decades of illustrating comics for the publisher DC—both interiors and covers. He is, hands down, one of my favorite artists. No surprise, this is a stunning book.
Starman Omnibus editions, by James Robinson and various artists. Quite possibly the finest American comic book produced in the 1990s. A finite story that ran for seven years, Starman is cinematic and deeply personal in scope and style. I have five of the six omnibus editions—and have read volumes one and two, several years back. Unfortunately, most of the collected editions are out of print, with the one I'm missing, volume three, commanding outrageous sums in the online aftermarket. Until the price drops, I'll have to wait, impatiently, to complete the set. Or, maybe the publisher will finally reprint these collections. Are you listening, DC??
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