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Best of 2009: Books, Albums, and Movies
As December brings 2009 to a close, I was thinking I wanted to dedicate some of my blogging time this month to summing up the highlights of 2009 in the various areas this blog discusses. So, there’ll be a bit about writing, a bit about politics and a bit about popular culture.
For December’s Absolute Write Blog Chain, I thought I’d sum up my best books, albums and movies for 2009 to go under ‘popular culture.’ Note that this is my best of 2009, the stuff I’ve read, listened to or watched, and they might not necessarily have been made in 2009.
Book: The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga
At the start of the year, I ripped through this book really quickly, hooked by the strong and unique voice; I really couldn’t put it down.
The White Tiger, a story about life as a servant in India, is also exceptional for its blatant class politics. Whilst gritty and imperfect at times, Adiga illustrates class society so well, the rich and the poor, the haves and the have nots.
Honourable mentions to King Rat by China Miéville, and possibly if I finish it, The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
Album: The Majority – Mammal
This was really hard to pick and I basically had to write a short list of all the albums I played to death this year.
I discovered Mammal this year at Big Day Out, a left-wing Melbourne hard rock band, with awesome political lyrics against capitalism and oppression coupled with heavy, energizing music and a mean live act.
Their debut album The Majority was the soundtrack of my 2009, playing songs like Smash the Piñata on the way to protests this year, psyching me up.
It’s a real shame they broke up a few months ago, but I know anything front man, Ezekiel Ox produces next will be just as awesome.
Special mentions go to Crash Love from AFI, The Poison from Bullet for my Valentine, Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair from La Dispute and Sound Awake from Karnivool.
Movie: [REC]
![[REC]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31Xg3FJenoL._SL160_.jpg)
[REC], the Spanish original of which Quarantine was based on, is easily the scariest movie I’ve seen ever.
A zombie movie shown through the camera of a documentary filmmaker, it feels so real as it follows a reporter quarantined inside an apartment block where strange attacks have happened.
The violence and suspense kept me on edge the whole time as people were picked off one by one leading to a terrifying ending as the mystery unfolds when it’s too late.
Special mention goes to Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story, District 9 and Frontier(s)
They’re my top book, album and movie of 2009. Feel free to add your own in the comments section
December Blog Chain Participants
Lost Wanderer – http://www.lostwanderer5.blogspot.com
Claire Crossdale – http://theromanticqueryletter.blogspot.com/
coryleslie – http://corrinejackson.wordpress.com/
bsolah – http://benjaminsolah.com/blog
DavidZahir – http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/
RavenCorinnCarluk – http://ravencorinncarluk.blogspot.com
Ralph Pines – http://ralfast.wordpress.com/
shethinkstoomuch – http://shethinkstoomuch.wordpress.com
Lady Cat – http://www.randomwriterlythoughts.blogspot.com
truelyana – http://expressiveworld.com
misaditas – http://misaditas-novels.blogspot.com/
collectonian – http://collectonian.livejournal.com
laharrison – http://lesleyharrison.wordpress.com/
beawhiz – http://beawrites.wordpress.com
razibahmed – http://www.blogging37.com
FreshHell – http://freshhell.wordpress.com
AlissaC – http://alissacarleton.blogspot.com
Aimee – http://writing.aimeelaine.com
There are 18 Comments to "Best of 2009: Books, Albums, and Movies"
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[REC] was good, but I felt that I had already seen a lot of what it had to offer considering Romero’s shakycam zombie flick Diary Of The Dead, Blair Witch and The Last Broadcast all got there earlier. It didn’t help that I had just seen Cloverfield either…
Haven’t read The White Tiger (yet), but I do have King Rat sitting on top of my bookshelf. I’m a bit behind in my reading material.
BigWords88´s last blog ..Preparing For The Inevitable
[...] is the latest blogger to do a meme on their book of the year (Ben did a good one too), but I can’t say that anything I have picked up in the last year has [...]
I can hope REC is better than Quarantine. I now have to check it out.
White Tiger sounds interesting — thanks for the recommendation. I’ll have to pick it up!
That’s a beautiful way to end a Wrap up by sharing with us things that you enjoyed during the year, and introduce new information to new people.
Thanks for an insightful read.
Ana´s last blog ..Steadiness of Mind
What an excellent idea! It has me thinking of what my “best of” list is…
Beth´s last blog ..Where am I? In the Village…
This was a great idea Ben, and a great post!
Have a good December!
Nice wrap-up to your year, Ben!
I always love to see what other people have been watching/reading/listening to. You’ve got a very interesting list there.
Carol´s last blog ..Tritina Verse Form
Thanks for all your comments guys!
Thanks for the recommendations. I did see Capitalism: A Love Story and enjoyed it, if “enjoy” is the right word. I’ll have to find The White Tiger.
FreshHell´s last blog ..The Virginia Complaint Choir
The White Tiger sounds very interesting to me. I hope to read it in 2010. Thanks for the list.
Razib Ahmed ´s last blog ..I am out of Obesity after 50 Days of Trying
I have heard quite a bit about The White Tiger. I will have to read that in the new year.
Lost Wanderer´s last blog ..2010 Reading Challenge
I like your wrap up. It was very unsentimental but nonetheless charming. As for ‘King Rat,’ that book about life in a Japanese prison camp, I know that because my dad kept going on and on about how brilliant it was and both my mom and sister fell for it and then read it. Now, I think I’ll take a look at it too and I’ll read ‘The White Tiger’ in 2010 also the year of the White Tiger.
Good health and great joy to you in 2010 Benjamin.
Claire´s last blog ..The Effects of the Sexual Revolution on Men of a Certain Age
I don’t even think I can name my favorites from this year — and to boil it down to 1 each — kudos to you!
Nice wrap up! I lilke the inclusion of all the things that inspired you this year.
CoryLeslie´s last blog ..FUN Day: Or Fricking UNcomfortable Day
I haven’t read/heard/watched any of the media you mentioned. They all sound really interesting! I wondered what kind of music the album might be categorized under? Now I’ve got a start on a list of things to read/listen to/watch for the new year!
Beatrice´s last blog ..The Airport
Beatrice, Mammal would go under Heavy Rock. They kind of sound like Rage Against the Machine, but more rocky and smoother vocals.
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