Media Consumed: November 2010

Books Read
When a Nation Forgets God Erwin Lutzer
*Drinking at the Movies Julia Wertz
+Ice Cream and Sadness Kris Wilson, et al
*Atlas Black: Managing to Succeed Jeremy Short, Tayla Bauer, et al.
+The Deranged Stalker's Journal of Pop Culture Shock Therapy Doug Bratton

* = denotes graphic novel or TPB
+ = denotes a collection of comic strips

November was a kind of slow month for me reading-wise. I only finished five books, two of which were graphic novels and two that were comic strip collections. When a Nation Forgets has a message that needs to be heard, though it's a book that many would be prejudiced against before even attempting to read. Atlas Black: Managing to Succeed is actually a business text book, but told in the form of graphic novel. I have never had a business class, but the info in the book reminded me of the basic info in other subjects I read and was taught in various introduction classes. You might not learn everything you need to start a business, but the book does an excellent job of presenting basic business and economic philosophies, theories, and practices.

The Deranged Stalker's Journal of Pop Culture Shock Therapy was the best book I read in November. "Pop Culture Shock Therapy" is a one-panel comic strip I recently have been introduced to. If you've ever seen Robot Chicken, "Pop Culture Shock Therapy" is like that show, but condensed into one panel. The book is written as though there was a psychopath who was obsessed with the author and after he was arrested, this journal of his musing and newspaper cutouts was found. It's a very interesting concept that's also told in an amusing way.

Movies Watched For the First Time
The Groove Tube
Secretariat
Skyline
Megamind
True Grit (1969)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1
Kung Fu Panda
Tangled

Though dated, The Groove Tube was an interesting video to watch. Much of its humor would be lost on audiences of today, but it's a major parody on some staple tv items of the mid-1970s. I enjoyed Secretariat and found it inspiring. It's not as strong a film as Seabiscuit, but it's still a good movie. Skyline was a complete disappointment. Megamind was better than I expected to be and is a solid comedy.

John Wayne and Robert Duvall are the best things about the original True Grit. I had never seen the film until last month. I made it a point to see it because of the amazing previews I had seen about the new version by the Coen brothers. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1 is the best Harry Potter movie since Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It's also a fairly decent movie on it's own right. A six-year old kid piqued my interest in seeing Kung Fu Panda. It was a good movie and not uninspired as I had previously thought. Lastly, Tangled is the 50th Animated Walt Disney movie and one that harkens back to the old Disney animated movies, but with a touch of modern sensibility.