(no subject)

[danuv]

Trying to do the little survey she posted.

Name, in your opinion, the top 5/10 books ever written. You can choose them for literary/etc. significance, or simply because they were good reads, but do tell me why you picked them and why they're important to you.

Jeeze, I can't say the top five ever written. I haven't read enough. I can however say the top five I've ever read but then again that changes depending on my temperament. Let's see (and I'm quite sure this would change quickly)... (and in no order)

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson - Just really fun to read.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - All of the good parts of being a child wrapped up into one set of books. I'll always love them.
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery - Such a very little book with so very much to say.
The Sandman Comic Series by Neil Gaiman - So engaging and the man is a wonderful storyteller.
And well dangit I can't think of another book I feel the same way about so those will have to do. Yes, there is a complete lack of "serious literature" there. Oh well.

If you knew you'd be stranded on an island and could only take 5/10 cds, what would you take?

Assuming cd-rs are not allowed:
Boys For Pele by Tori Amos
The Best Of by Leonard Cohen
To Bring You My Love by P.J. Harvey
Blue by Joni Mitchell
Martinis & Bikinis by Sam Phillips

What movies, no matter how many times you've seen them, never seem to lose their magic?

These are just the movies that I have an emotional attatchment to. There are many many others that I love and think are wonderful and amazing.

Breaking the Waves
Secret of Roan Inish
Cold Comfort Farm
Wings of Desire
Dangerous Liasons
Elizabeth
The Bandit Queen
Baby Doll
Gigi
All About Eve

Comments

[weetanya.livejournal.com]

oo. i'd agree with all of your book choices except for cryptonomicon. i've been totally daunted by it -- for a long time, it was my doorstop.

maybe i should go back...

[danuv.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, you should try it again. It took a little bit for me to get into and there were some sections I had to read very slowly or reread due to my complete lack of sense of logic but it was an amazing tale. His other books are grand too... The Diamond Age is probably my next favorite of his.

Re:

[weetanya.livejournal.com]

i liked The Diamond Age, and (of course) Snowcrash.

have you read Matt Ruff? his Sewer, Gas and Electric reminded me a bit of Snowcrash.

[danuv.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't. I'll have to look into that. Thanks.

[denmarkadonis.livejournal.com]

that's tori's worst album! by FAR!!! i thought you were my twin.

[danuv.livejournal.com]

Which of course explains why in poll after poll, Ears With Feet name it as her best. It's actually her least friendly one. Most men I know hate it. Once listened to enough the brilliance of it comes out.

Re:

[denmarkadonis.livejournal.com]

i didn't say i don't like it, just that it's her worst. and please don't attribute it to my being a man. because frankly i find that offensive. i am aaron. my opinions are my own. it is her least euphonic album. i'm not lyric bashing. the music lacks the strength of her other albums. and i should actually aplogize, the new one is a piece of crap which falls far below boys for pele. even after deciding i wasn't as fond of it i left it in my player for a long time, removing it for no other album. i am fair when it comes to music. and i expect to be treated fairly when it comes to music.

[danuv.livejournal.com]

No no, what I said (which is what I meant) was that most men I know don't like it. I wasn't implying that you didn't like it or that you didn't like it because you are a man. It was just a statement of people I know who don't like it and how they usually are men. Of course most of the people I know who listen to Tori are of the rabid variety and would praise her if she put out an album of her reading the phone book in monotone.
I stand by my opinion that it is her best work. The songs work well with or without her band (which you can't really say of some of the songs on FTCH) and have a depth and maturity to them. Lyrically I think she has become more and more obscure but not impossible to follow (mostly). . . and means some of her songs to be interpreted in a more abstract emotional way than literally. I've just enjoyed BFP more than any of her other cds.
I agree that the latest cd was awfully weak. The only song I feel a really strong connection to is Real Men, but having said that I would still rather listen to Bad Tori than 99.9% of the dribble out there.
Please don't take my earlier comments as an attack. If everyone in the world liked the same music what a dull place this would be.