A long overdue entry, with apologies.

Before I begin, let me just mention that we've activated the Guest Writer feature at The Lingual Nerve. Click on the link to find out who our first contributor is.


Recommended

Books:

1. Learning To Sing – Clay Aiken

I initially planned to write extensively on this, but am repeatedly limited for various reasons, so this is the truncated version.

As you know, I really enjoyed reading Clay’s autobiography. Wish I could say it’s toppled Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil from its top spot on my personal list, but the two novels are so different, it just wouldn’t be a fair comparison.

If you’re a fan, LTS is a definite must-have. But even if you’re not, I urge you to get it anyway. Of course, if you detest all things associated with Clay, then don’t bother, because the book contains deeply personal stories, which will either inspire or nauseate, depending on your own proclivities.

Personally speaking, I was extremely moved by his words from beginning to end – remember a comment about the Kleenexes? :) I don’t think I’ve shed tears over any novel since, let’s see, maybe Schindler’s List. ( TV and movies don’t count. I bawl over everything whether it’s on the big or small screen *bows head in shame* )

Clay starts off with a rundown of life events, from his early childhood to his current stardom. There’re things we’ve heard before, but also a significant number of new revelations, most shockingly those concerning his stepfather. ( If you want to know what exactly, go read the book! )

The second half dwells on his work with children with special needs and his religious convictions – immensely uplifting, especially for new or struggling Christians. But let’s not forget his large following of young, impressionable fans. Over the years, I’ve read numerous posts from those belonging to this subgroup, describing how Clay’s fine example propels them in the right direction, and brings a refreshingly moral touch to the otherwise degenerating media industry.

LTS has so many valuable lessons to convey. I couldn’t find copies of this book the last time I was in town, so I’m hanging onto mine for now. Maybe I’ll pick up a few paperback versions to give away in the future. :)

2. Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain

I actually brought this with me to Tasmania. I usually end up hating all the books I read overseas, so it’s interesting that I really loved this one. Especially considering that fact that the whole thing revolves around food.

Bourdain, to put it very mildly, is a colourful character. Self-confessed ex-drug addict, previously alternating between stylish gigs in 5-star restaurants and periods of doped-out unemployment, he’s managed a comeback of astounding proportions, and penned an autobiography that easily rivals those written by our generation’s literary giants.

Boasting an edgy, almost gleefully egotistical style, he effortlessly leaps from dingy diners to posh patisseries, unloading truckloads of information about ingredients, dishes, fellow chefs and his many bosses.

Much has been said about his “pearls of wisdom”, namely why you should never eat seafood on a Monday, and how a restaurant’s toilets act as red flags.

I, for one, love his character pieces. Some of the cooks are portrayed as veritable sociopaths. One in particular, a guy named Adam, is a genius with bread, but otherwise drives his colleagues raving mad with his erratic behaviour. There’s a whole chapter on this guy. I strongly suggest that you read it, even if you decide to give the rest of the book a miss. ( And if you’ve seen Northern Exposure in the past, you may draw parallels between Bourdain’s Adam and the show’s own chef extraordinaire of the same name. Coincidence? )

Another funny thing about KC is the innate similarites ( at least that’s my opinion ) between cooks and – get this – doctors. Something about boys’ clubs, the wielding of sharp objects, the glamour of the profession, even vigourous training through “college” ( with its own share of quirky teachers ).

The last bit falters a little, but the first 3/4 more than make up for it. A chapter on Bourdain’s rampage through Japan is worth mentioning as well. His gorge fest at a certain tiny eatery is a masterpiece! :D


3. Searching Issues – Nicky Gumbel

This was given to me by my church vicar, but for the main purpose of passing it over to a friend whom I’m witnessing to. However, I still consider myself a very young Christian, and often grapple with tough questions posed by non-believers, so I read through this in order to educate myself a little more.

For a thin volume, the book sure packs in a lot. From God’s role in suffering, to the issues of premarital and homosexual relations, Gumbel offers clear explanations, yet leaves the reader space to ponder further.

The eventual conclusion? The Bible does provide some answers, but in the end, there’s no way any of us can fully understand the Lord’s intentions. The big question is: Can and will you still trust in Him in spite of this?



Films:

[ No current ones to review. Will probably avoid cinemas until I’m back in the ER, or when Harry Potter 4 arrives. ]


1. The Day After Tomorrow

I realize this didn’t do very well at the box office, but if it’s somehow re released, it may make pots of money this time round, due to its significant relevance post-Asian-tsunami.

I was surprised to find myself perched on the edge of my seat throughout the movie, which offers everything from hurricanes to tornadoes to tidal waves. The last disaster is particularly frightening. Who needs Godzilla when towering bodies of water decimate New York City to much better effect?

Like Independence Day’s immensely likeable cast, Day After Tomorrow also has its share of admirable characters. Jake Gyllenhaal shines in an understated yet poignant performance, both as stranded son to Dennis Quaid’s frantic father, and as courageous saviour to Emmy Rossum, for whom he carries ten gigantic torches.

2. Fahrenheit 9/11

Heard of the dramedy ( e.g. Ally McBeal )? Now meet the docu-comedy. Michael Moore’s painful jab at the Bush administration has more laughs than some of Jim Carrey’s films. Boy does it pack a wallop! Tonnes of footage weaved seamlessly into a tapestry of gaffes make for compelling viewing. Add Moore’s sarcastically humourous voiceovers, interviews with parents who lost children in the Iraq war, and a few priceless stunts ( reading a bill Congress passed over the loudspeaker of an ice-cream truck, asking a Congressman point-blank if he’d like to enlist his son for army service in Iraq ), and you’ve got quite a piece of work.

Moore’s style hasn’t changed much since Bowling For Columbine ( the small-town visits, the deeply personal interviews, the stunts ), but the subject matter sure has. BFC addressed the breakdown of values in rural America, but Fahrenheit now goes straight for the American President’s jugular.

The biggest shock of all, however, isn’t the revelation that Osama Bin Laden’s relatives were flown out of the US just 2 days after 9/11, or that the Bush family has strong ties to the Saudi royal family, or that the administration so obviously LIED THROUGH ITS TEETH in order to justify a war. The biggest shock, my friends, is how, despite the allegations and the administration’s feeble defence, Bush still got re elected. SIGH.


3. The Bourne Supremacy

Somewhere in the middle of the film, I wondered if the sequel could possibly surpass its predecessor. It’s definitely terrific, with all the elements of the original that I love, but can I actually say that it’s BETTER? Shortly after the second car chase began ( the first took place in India ). Bourne, at the wheel of a taxi, shot through the streets of Berlin ( at least I think it’s Berlin, haha ) with a hired assassin hot at his heels. Traffic is heavy, the police are also in pursuit, then at an intersection, as Bourne turns his head to the right to reassess the situation, a patrol car slams into him from the left. That’s it! The moment I was waiting for! Yes, The Bourne Supremacy IS better than The Bourne Identity! ( cheesy, I know :))

Get a load of Joan Allen, who looks so much younger with longer hair, and generates great chemistry with Matt Damon even though they never appear together in any scene. The villain’s essentially the same ( Brian Cox ), while the assassin ( Karl Urban ) fails to live up to Clive Owen’s menacing coldness in the first installment.

Still, Damon’s excellent, and his biceps seem to have gotten bigger. What do you think? :P


Television:


1. The Apprentice 2

If the pilot is anything to go by, the second season is going to be a blast! I caught only the last episode in Tasmania, so I can’t possibly miss out on all the fun now, can I?

A priceless twist came early this time, with one member from each team ( men vs women again ) crossing over to the opposite side to act as project leader. The hilarious part? Bradford ( The Guy ), after puffing his chest out and promising to put the women in their place, is intimidated into quiet submission during a group discussion ( hahahahaha! ). Even his attempt to make an “executive decision” ( euphemism for “I’m the boss, you’re the cockroach under my shoe.” ) falls flat when his suggestion for a new toy receives a cool reception from Mattel representatives, and he has no choice but to accede to the suggestions made by the females instead ( surprise, surprise, their idea won in this first tussle, woohoo! ). On the men’s side, Pamela ( aka the Ice Queen ) had no problems with leadership, but failed to come up with a good idea of her own, preferring to let the guys derail the team with their moronic Crustacean Nation pitch. ( I’m no guy, but c’mon, who the heck wants to play with action figures depicting sea creatures?! )

Rob, the first casualty, would not have survived long in this motley crew. And let me insert one tiny spoiler now: Andy, the Harvard grad who’s also a nationally ranked debater, won’t either. ( In fact, he’ll be out-talked by a pair of gals, heh heh. )

Ah, how I’ve missed this show.

2. Manhunt

Available only on cable, this is essentially the male equivalent of Tyra Banks' The Next Top Model. Here, Baywatch slut ( I mean, Babe ) Carmen Electra plays hostess to a group of hunky hopefuls in their quest to secure a contract with a reputable agency.

Sounds tasty, yes? Funnily enough, I fell asleep during its pilot episode, which doesn't bode well, heh heh. Well, maybe I was just tired. :P

Best of all, Manhunt provides some prime examples of undesirable male traits, namely stupidity, vanity, promiscuity, and really dumb facial expressions ( in one hilarious scene, the contestants are asked to imitate Ben Stiller's Blue Steel impressions from Zoolander ). Absolutely classic! :D

3. American Idol 4

They're baaaaaack. If you have cable, you'll get to see it a full day before it's screened on local TV -- Jan 19 instead of 20. I watch only because I'm waiting for them to discover the next Clay Aiken, but deep down, I don't really want them to, so I'm content to shout "You're no Clay!" at the screen every week. :)

4. The Amazing Race 6

The 5th season sucked ( boooring ), but this new one rocks. Much more interesting tasks, lots of drama, and many good reasons to hate certain people. Watch out for intra-couple tension ( lots of it ), inter-couple tussles ( even more ), and ick factors ( one guy puked into his bowl of soup, then had to drink his own vomit, yuck!!! ). I've reached the point where I don't even like any of the remaining teams. Terrible, yet also fun. :P

5. The Bachelor 5

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm addicted, aargh! But let me just state, for the record, that Jesse what's-his-face isn't that cute, IMHO, so I'm tuning in for the Women, people! ( My favourite has always been Andrew Firestone. Pity about him and Jennifer Shreft breaking up, darn. )

Look out for Trish, the gold-digging, kid-hating, sex-hungry model. Even Jesse's best friend, who was planted within the group to act as a spy, couldn't convince him to drop her. A stunt to increase ratings perhaps? Hmmm...


This entry has gotten a little long, so more on Tasmania another time.