My Favorite Books of 2010

I've been meaning to post about the best books I read this year (not necessarily books that were released this year, since I rarely read books right away). Here they are, in no particular order:

Snow Angels by Stewart O'Nan:

This book almost made me cry at work. I maintain that the last paragraph is one of the most perfect examples of prose I've ever read. If you haven't read Snow Angels yet, what are you waiting for? I can't recommend this enough. This book, to me, was about how painful it can be to realize how much sadness exists all around us, and how sometimes we can love each other with everything we have but it still won't be enough. Also it's about high school, which I always love.

Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel:


Lauren loaned me this book when H. and I visited her in Brooklyn. I read almost the entirety of it at the airport and on the plane, so the book is kind of this wonderful, light-headed, hazy memory for me. I can't think of time I've ever read a book in so perfect a situation, because the story itself is kind of slippery and mysterious and very much suited for high-altitude reading.

Citrus County by John Brandon:

Holy Macaroni was this book good! Why haven't you read this yet? Don't give me excuses like, "I've been in class," or "I'm working on a sketch comedy show." Not acceptable. I still don't understand how this book was so funny when it really should have been upsetting. Don't get me wrong, I was plenty worried for a good portion of it, but somehow the tone really straddled the line between light and dark. I was going to say Mr. Hibma was my favorite character, but Shelby is also my favorite character. Everyone's my favorite character, you guys. Read this book. Sidenote: As I was google image searching Citrus County in order to find this picture, I came across SO MANY MUGSHOTS!

Socks

This post doesn't really have a "point." It's just something I love there. There's no video or audio, and it doesn't relate to any recent pop cultural happenings. I just feel the need to get the word out about something near and dear to my heart: fuzzy socks.
Fuzzy socks (also called slipper socks) are what I refer to as a "Grandma Gift." Last year, I'm pretty sure I got socks from both of my grandmothers and also Mom. The first time I got a pair of these (in college), I was all, "What am I going to do with these comedically fuzzy socks? They won't fit in a shoe." And they won't! I've tried to cram them into my flats and they look like Muppet feet. But once I slipped these babies on my feet I was sold.

The first pair I got were called "Socks to Stay Home In," and I remember Dan and I laughed so much at how pathetic that sounded. It's all very "Single-40-Year-Old-With-Cats," you know? Oh, you know. At first when I wore them, I was all, "Haha, you guys, these socks sure are silly!" But guess what? Those socks are comfortable. After a long winter day, nothing feels as good as slipping on your Socks to Stay Home In. Of course, this also entails admitting to yourself that you aren't leaving the house for the rest of the evening and you'll likely just be watching episodes of This American Life on Netflix, but let's face it. You were going to do that anyway.

Tig Notaro

We all love Tig Notaro, right? Of course we do. Who doesn't? She had a really nice interview on the WTF podcast a while back. I really just wanted to post these two bits. The first one is great, because it capitalizes on one of my favorite things: the word "titties". (Do you really need any more evidence?)



And this is just really solid.

Dupreenaissance

Robbie Dupree certainly has been in the news lately! Not that he's news to us; we've been jamming to Dupree's hit "Steal Away" for years, thanks to Papa Winfrey's smooth rock vinyl collection. You can see why we were attracted to this cover:

It just screams (or whispers) smooth! As you might remember, Alex has a notorious beef with Dupree over a little music licensing disagreement. Really, though, I think that the Robster was only the pawn in a WMG-orchestrated bad-business scheme.
The man's certainly been productive lately. Not only does he have a new album coming out, but Steal Away is featured on the MacGruber soundtrack, as well as the soundtrack of whatever that new artsy Jim Carrey movie is called. Jimmy Fallon, yacht-rock enthusiast, also took an interest in the greatness that is Steal Away, and Robbie Dupree performed on his show Friday night! It was really wonderful, not only because Jimmy's Michael-McDonald-inspired backing vocals seemed to be making the other backup singers laugh, but because Robbie Dupree was really great! It's such a disappointment to hear a singer once known for their falsetto strain to reach the notes that once came easily (Supertramp is a good example), but Robbie Dupree still sounded great, and he seemed like he was having a lot of fun. Also, duh, The Roots! Here's
the performance on Hulu. I can't stop watching it! Let the Dupreenaissance continue. Obviously I am really proud of that pun.

Powerful.

I've just been watching this all morning. You should probably do the same.

The Muppet Movie

I Netflixed The Muppet Movie because I hadn't seen it since I was a child, and because it is surprisingly hard to find. I had only fond memories, but it still managed to be far funnier than I remembered! The movie was ostensibly made for children, but it wasn't condescending in the least...there wasn't a single fart joke. Not that there's anything wrong with fart jokes, but...you know. Also, Muppets drank wine!
Winfreys enjoyed it, and we all had "Movin' Right Along" stuck in our heads all day. This song really comforts me, and I hope it does the same for you.

Bestie by Bestie

Jenny Slate is at the top of my list of personal heroes (heroines, I guess), along with Carrie Brownstein and Amy Sedaris. You've probably all seen this video already, but it's always worth a rewatch, right?
Bestie by Bestie

Following Kerry's Lead

Kerry made a post about one of her all time favorite songs. Not to be outdone, I want to share with you one of my favorites. The song is The Mending of the Gown by Sunset Rubdown. I never get tired of this song. This is a live version where you can't see anything, but it sounds great.

Oh yeah, I might get to see them perform in a few weeks. Boner alert!

Last Christmas

It's starting to get cold, the leaves are beginning to fall, and you know what that means. It's that time of year again. Not for pumpkins or apple cider or whatever BS you're into...it's time for Last Christmas.
Somehow, I've never mentioned my love of Last Christmas on the blog. Love doesn't even cover it. I have around 45 versions of Last Christmas on my computer, and that is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how many versions are out there. But nothing even comes close to the original by Wham! When it starts to get cold outside, I begin listening to Last Christmas and watching the video a couple times a day. Not that I don't feel like doing this in the summer, but it just seems more acceptable when it's cold.
Last Christmas is my favorite song in the world, but I don't normally tell people that because I don't think they believe me. But listen, it's perfect. It's a Christmas song, but there's nothing in the music that signifies Christmas, aside from some bells. And it's sad, which is definitely a must for any great Christmas song. And the video is just ridiculous and confusing and beautiful. See for yourself!

This is obviously the best non-traditional Christmas song ever written. Much better than that awful Mariah Carey jam the girls in my freshman year dorm always used to blast. I love Mariah as much as the next girl, but come on. That song is awful.

SNL!

So SNL started its new season last night, and no one was more excited than this girl. Probably not even the cast members or their immediate family members were more excited than me. I can't help it--I've always loved SNL, ever since I used to watch it in elementary school at my best friend's house (because obviously there was no way Mama Winfrey was going to let me stay up late enough). Back then, I thought every single joke was laugh out loud hilarious, because I was ten and they were adults. Also the cast then included Cheri O'Teri, Will Ferrell, and Chris Kattan, so the jokes were kind of right up a ten year old's alley anyway.
For some reason I keep making the mistake of reading internet comments about SNL. Like on Jezebel, for example. I don't know why I keep doing this. These are people who don't like sketch comedy in the first place, like to bitch about how nothing is funny, and just complain all the time. Ugh, the internet. For the record, I loved last night's episode! I love almost all the episodes because I still feel like I'm ten years old, staying up way too late. I am still really excited about the new cast members, mostly Jenny Slate. She's so awesome, right? And hopefully her life story will not be as depressing as Charles Rocket's (it won't be). And I don't think Lorne Michaels will fire her, insane internet commenters, mostly because Lorne Michaels didn't fire Charles Rocket, because he wasn't even working on the show at the time.
As usual, I've spent two paragraphs rambling about something that doesn't matter at all to my main point. This is why I was so bad at writing papers. The point is...remember how, after Casey Wilson was fired from SNL, people said it was because she was too fat? Talk about adding insult to injury/job loss. You just lost your job, and everyone thinks you're fat. This is what Casey Wilson said about it:

“I had an amazing time on SNL, and these rumors are completely untrue. And to clarify, the issue isn't that I'm too fat, it's that I'm too phat. Can I get a WHAT-WHAT!”

She is the best.

Carrie Brownstein, Y'all

It certainly has been a day, today, hasn't it? So let's focus on something to make us all happy. You probably saw this trailer on Videogum, or maybe you just read the post and didn't watch the trailer. Well, you should watch it!
Some Days Are Better Than Others
Obviously, that's Carrie Brownstein. Okay, that's enough for me! The movie will be great. I've mentioned my love of Carrie Brownstein before, but I don't know if I've emphasized how MUCH I love her. She does it all. She acts in comedy sketches with Fred Armisen. She writes a blog about music for NPR and appears on All Songs Considered sometimes. She was in a great band (Sleater-Kinney, duh!) that I got to see on their very last tour ever (before you start thinking I'm way cooler than I am, I really just went because my friends did. I enjoyed myself immensely, but I'm not going to front and act like it was my idea to see them. The first rule of The Talented Winfrey Family is no frontin'), she's writing a book of non-fiction, and she always manages to look super great and have amazing clothes. I want to be her so badly.
I have a feeling people are going to bitch about this trailer. Sure, there are some surface similarities to Miranda July's Me and You and Everyone We Know, but who cares? Also, we haven't seen this movie yet. Who knows what it's like? I have enough faith in Carrie Brownstein to assume that this movie will be great.
Also, I'm pretty sure at least one of the dogs in the trailer is her actual dog.
Oh yeah, and if you still don't believe me that this movie will be awesome, just take a look at thispicture. Sweet room, yellow sweatervest, and possibly crafting (what is that giant stuffed thing?). I'm gonna drive all the way to Cleveland (or Columbus, or Athens!) to see this movie.

Freaks and Geeks!

You may or may not have known this, but I love Freaks and Geeks. I had it on DVD, and then I didn't have it on DVD anymore. Somehow, someway, I'd lost it, a fact that came to light at a remarkably inconvenient time (20 minutes before going to a Freaks and Geeks viewing party). For about two years I drove myself crazy looking for it, but after going through two moves and packing/repacking all of my material possessions, I had to face facts. It wasn't just misplaced, it was gone. Alex swore that his friends didn't have it, and I knew that none of my friends had it. H. and I were convinced that a certain friend of his had stolen it.
And then, this weekend, it came back into my life.
It turns out one of Lexie's friends had it! Unbeknownst to me, Alex spent the past few months trying to get it back. Apparently getting someone to return a DVD is akin to hostage negotiations. You can't just barge in there and make demands, you've got to smooth talk 'em. Or so I assume. Either way! Let's not dwell on the anger or bitterness. Instead, let's celebrate.
Here's a clip of Bill Haverchuck dancing. Incidentally, this is exactly how I dance. Come on, shake it! You won't break it!

Martin Starr is such a good actor, it blows my mind away. He is truly a mindfreak. How can he act like he does in Adventureland and act like this here? So good! Anyway, if you like Freaks and Geeks (you do, right? If not, who are you and why are you reading our blog?), do yourself a favor and read Paul Feig's Superstud. You'll be pleased and horrified to discover that Freaks and Geeks was almost entirely based on his real life.

Presented without Comment

Love in This Club

This is just a song we love. I listened to this three times in a row this morning in the car.

The Heartbreak Kid

This weekend, Alex and I unintentionally had an Anti-Marriage Movie Marathon by watching The Heartbreak Kid and Hannah and Her Sisters. Wait, The Heartbreak Kid with Ben Stiller, you're asking yourself? NO. The original 1972 film starring the (always) superb Winfrey Family fave Charles Grodin.

We learned a lot of things from this movie. Like, don't marry someone until you've:
1. Had sex with them.
2. Gone to the beach with them.
3. Watched them eat egg salad.
4. Heard them sing.
Just make sure you know what you're getting into, I guess. Do yourself a favor and don't watch this movie if you're about to get married. Oof, seriously. This movie will make you feel so much discomfort, misery, and despair that you won't even know what to do with yourself. But I mean that in a good way. Add in some wonderful tunes, a young Cybil Shepard, and Charles Grodin's ability to pull off clashing patterns and you've got a winner.
So why the hell would anyone feel the need to remake this movie? We don't know. This movie needed no remaking, since it's already perfect the way it is. But maybe you watched it and thought, "Instead of going to Miami for their honeymoon and being surrounded by old people, why don't we take them somewhere a little more fancy and less sad? Like Mexico? And can we make everyone, like, five times hotter? And how about instead of making the audience feel depressed and confused, we try to make them laugh by making disgusting jokes?" NO, FARRELLY BROTHERS. YOU JUST RUINED THE MOVIE. Roeper and Some Guy agree:

If you, like us, enjoy Charles Grodin, movies from the 70s, and laughing and feeling sad at the same time, you should probably watch The Heartbreak Kid. And if you don't, then you probably shouldn't be reading this blog.

You Bring Me Joy

It took me forever to find this video! It's nowhere to be seen on youtube (okay, I didn't look very hard). I blame WMG, whether or not they own this song. Anywhoozle! I'd kind of forgotten about this video, but there was a period in my life where I watched it multiple times daily. It helps me deal with stress. Also, I LOVE it.

You Bring Me Joy from Zach Galifianakis

Old

I mean, yeah, you've probably seen this before, but who doesn't want to see it again?

Me Likey

I got the Jack Handey book.  It's awshum.  Kerry and I both agree that it's strange that he's not more famous.  Anyway, here is an audio recording of a very funny essay from the book.  Stay cool ya bunch of nerds!  (That's my new, kind of long catch-phrase

An old fav

This is a classic.  In the Winfrey household this is something that makes us all like, "Why don't more people love this?"  But we're also secretly like, "I'm glad more people don't know about this."  

I like this.

The internet has two rules:

1. You use it for porn. 

2. You use it to find random sex partners.  

But guess what.  Rules were made to be broken.  Some people start blogs (What's the point, right?) and other's post recut trailers for Mary Poppins on the youtube.  The Talented Winfrey Family gives this five stars.