All bloggers are mandated to post some kind of end-of-the-year list. Bloggers who don’t comply risk ostracism and snarky, veiled put-downs from their peers. Since my need for approval can politely be described as “all-consuming”, here’s my obligatory list:
Best Movie I Saw in A Theater: The Lives of Others At a time when Americans are becoming ever more complacent about daily intrusions into our privacy, this brilliant film is a devastating study of a total surveillance society and its effects on both the watchers and the watched.
Best Movie I Watched at Home: Pan’s Labyrinth This fairy tale for adults is a powerful reminder that fantasy doesn’t have to be about boy wizards or talking lions with messiah complexes.
Best Book I Read: Spin by Robert Charles Wilson Anyone who says that science fiction can’t rival the artfulness of mainstream literature needs to have this book shoved into their faces. I’m anxious to see if Wilson can deliver another bravura performance in his sequel Axis.
Best Album I Heard: Untrue by Burial I didn’t know this artist until a few weeks ago, but his ghostly electronica is enthralling.
Most Disappointing Political Trend: The Democratic Congressional Majority that Wasn’t Yes, they raised the minimum wage, but that doesn’t excuse all the other times they allowed the Republicans to bend them over the table.
Biggest Thrill for Me (Not Involving Fishnet Stockings): Blogging for the BBC Any other media outlets interested in my services?
Happy New Year, Constant Readers. Here’s hoping 2008 brings me lots more fuel to feed the blogging fires.
