2011 SE Asia Reading Marathon

The last two months consisted of lots of traveling. As we made our way through Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, we got to use several different modes of transportation. Though tuk-tuks and motorbikes were our favorites;  the long boat, bus, and train rides were the best for doing some serious reading. The Kindle is one of the most amazing inventions ever created!

Here’s what I read while backpacking:

Fat, Forty, and Fired by Nigel Marsh: * * * *

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson: * * *

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson: * * *

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest by Stieg Larsson: * * *

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung: * * * * (This book should be required for all to read!! It educated me on the horrendous genocides that took place in Cambodia during the 1970s.)

Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert: * * *

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris: * * * *

film: Catfish (2010)

Synopsis from Netflix.com

Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman document the strange series of events that unfolds when a gifted 8-year-old artist named Abby contacts Nev, a 24-year-old photographer (and Schulman’s brother), through Facebook. After Abby sends Nev a remarkable painting based on one of his photos, Nev begins corresponding with her family — including her seductive 19-year-old sister. Realizing that something’s not quite right, Nev sets out to uncover the truth.

No, this documentary isn’t about catfish, though it’s kinda about Facebook (not so much like The Social Network, by any means). But the thing is, I don’t want to give anything away because I don’t want to spoil it for you. When I watched it, I knew absolutely nothing about it. That’s the only way to view it. Check it out. Trust me.

Brit’s rating: * * * * *

film: Let Me In (2010)

Synopsis from Netflix.com:

When 12-year-old Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) befriends his mysterious next-door neighbor, Abby (Chloe Moretz), the two outcasts form a tight-knit bond that gives Owen the courage to stand up to school bullies. But he slowly begins to suspect his new friend has a secret. Matt Reeves directs this uncommon coming-of-age thriller based on the award-winning Swedish film Let the Right One In. Richard Jenkins co-stars.

I’m always intrigued when Hollywood decides to remake a movie. A rule of thumb, any new remake of an 2 decade or older film is ALWAYS a bad idea. (Best example: The Karate Kid) Now, remakes based on foriegn films have potential. The best successes come from scary movies (best example: The Ring, adapted from Japan’s Ringu) I thought Let Me In would be in the same category. Unfortunately, it was a play by play of the original, Let the Right One In (2008). Not only did the characters look exactly like the ones cast in the original, but the setting and cinematography was identical! Because it was identical, and the original was amazing,  I can’t really say that it was a bad movie. But, it loses major stars for being an imitation. Come on, be creative.

Brit’s Rating: * *

Instead, watch the original, Let the Right One In.

film: Black Swan (2010)

Synopsis from Netflix.com:

In director Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller, ambitious New York City ballet dancer Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) lands the lead in “Swan Lake” but soon thinks her dreams of stardom are threatened by a rival ballerina (Mila Kunis). As opening night approaches and the pressure to be perfect builds, Nina’s obsession descends into paranoia and delusion. Portman won a Golden Globe for the film, which also nabbed an Oscar nod for Best Picture.

Being in Korea, I don’t really hear much about new movies coming out. But, because of technology of the internet, I saw articles all over the place about possible Oscar nominations, and how much weight Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis lost while training for this film. I had to check it out.  Darren Aronofsky is maybe best known for Requiem for a Dream (2000) which is a psychological and a very intense thriller. I’d never say “I love that movie” but it definitely is something that makes you think long and hard about the life around you. Now, for Black Swan I expected something similar. Dark, check. Creepy, check. Terribly hard to understand, check!

Aronofsky usually includes a scene or two which I find inappropriate and unnecessary. This always makes me subtract a * from a rating. There was that scene. It didn’t kill it me, but I didn’t find the rest of the film to be compelling enough to put it in a *** “like” category.

It was bizarre and maybe too abstract. I want to give it another chance: to look for hidden symbolism that I may have missed upon first viewing. I do want to mention Portman’s performance. She indeed was a very convincing ballerina. I don’t know if it was Oscar worthy, but she did do a great job.

Brit’s rating: * *

book: Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

Meet Justin Halpern and his dad. Almost one million people follow Mr Halpern’s philosophical musings every day on Twitter, and in this book, his son weaves a brilliantly funny, touching coming-of-age memoir around the best of his sayings. What emerges is a chaotic, hilarious, true portrait of a father and son relationship from a major new comic voice.

You’d be wise to assume that by the title of this book, the contents are pretty raunchy. They are. But, if you can stand crass humor- it turns out to be a pretty hilarious package. Recommended by my classy husband, I read this book while vacationing in Japan. I caught myself laughing out loud which was a little awkward in the hostels with paper thin Japanese-style walls. Alas, it was a quick and fun read. SMDS is a memoir written in a style similar to David Sedaris. I think the best way to describe Halpern’s father is as an R-rated Red Foreman (from That 70s Show). He’s tough, but at the end of the day, you know he loves his kids more than anything in the world. If vulgarity doesn’t bother you, I’d recommend this book, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Brit’s Rating: * *

book: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell looks at why major changes in our society so often happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Ideas, behavior, messages, and products, he argues, often spread like outbreaks of infectious disease. These are social epidemics, and the moment when they take off, when they reach their critical mass, is the “Tipping Point.” Gladwell introduces us to the particular personality types who are natural pollinators of new ideas and trends, the people who create the phenomenon of word of mouth.

I really enjoyed The Tipping Point. It’s been a few years since I’ve been out of college, and the thing I miss most is the insightful lectures from my favorite professors. I felt this book was like reading a very interesting lecture by a very educated professor! Gladwell had done an incredible amount of research which he included in his book. Similar to a lecture, there were dull moments, but the information was so interesting that it kept me reading. I found the best part was about how trends are infectious. I don’t want to give anything away, just read The Tipping Point.

Brit’s Rating: * * * *

book: Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander

 

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

They love nothing better than sipping free-trade gourmet coffee, leafing through the Sunday New York Times, and listening to David Sedaris on NPR (ideally all at the same time).

You know who they are: They’re white people. And they’re here, and you’re gonna have to deal. Fortunately, here’s a book that investigates, explains, and offers advice for finding social success with the Caucasian persuasion.

This book was really silly. Lander would mention something that I identified with, and found myself blushing from fitting into the stereotype. Though some of the “stuff” were things white people actually like, most were things that mid-20s hipsters like…I know for a fact that my dad does not like Wes Anderson films or Belle and Sebastian. Oh, and then there was mention of  the “wrong kind of white people” basically meaning anyone who didn’t fit into the hipster subculture (ie. shopping at Wal-Mart and liking country music). SWPL was a good laugh, and would make a great coffee table book for a young, hip adult living in Seattle.

Brit’s Rating: * * *