1. I’m reading Atonement right now and I feel smarter. Maybe because I’m finally reading something that doesn’t deconstruct who-wore-what at the Emmys.

2. We rented Little Children because a lot of my friends were gushing over how good it was, but honestly? It was a little ehh…

3. Yeasayer’s album, after hearing their song “2080” that’s being distributed freely over the internet. Very good.

4. I bought myself my canon 30d. I don’t think I’m allowed to buy anything else for a looong time.

1) 8-Ball Chicks, by Gini Sykes
2) Sarah Silverman’s “Jesus is Magic”
3) Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Big Iron World”
4) a pedicure

1) Sigh. I have not read a very, very good book in a long time, mostly because I just don’t have the attention span after 4 years of college. But I “read” Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination via ibooks over the summer and while it’s no Bridget Jones, it did keep me mildly entertained.

2) Arrested Development. Please tell me you have enjoyed the awesomeness of Arrested Development before because that show is so. damn. funny.

3) Carbonleaf’s Indian Summer album that I got my fiance for his birthday. It is good.

4) Also underwear. Only this time from Fredericks, which may be trashy, but has the best underwear selection ever.

1) David Sedaris, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. I’ve just started reading Eamon Duffy’s The Stripping of the Altars, which only a nerd can love. Luckily I am one.

2) Keeping Mum! It has Maggie Smith! Rowan Atkinson! Murder! Mayhem! And Touching Family Drama. It’s brilliant.

3) Feist – The Reminder. I’m gonna steal a quote I got from overcompensating.com: “Feist places each note exactly where it is supposed to go and sings like an angel with a new puppy.” That is the truth.

4) The Stripping of the Altars book, along with a pocket German-English dictionary, The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess, and two tiny Sherlock Holmes books so I could get free shipping.

1) “The 13-Gun Salute” by Patrick O’Brian. It’s part of the Aubrey & Maturin series (begun with “Master and Commander,” a fantastic book from which they made a pretty mediocre-at-best film.) The series is just awesome, this is my third time through. It’s got 22 books in it (I think) and every book just gets better. O’Brian is a genius.

2) “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” I’d already seen it, but it’s just that fabulous.

3) “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” (give or take a few “Ga’s”) by Spoon. Spoon rules. I actually thought “Gimme Fiction” was better, but they’re both great.

4) A new Perlina purse. My old Perlina purse, which I’ve had since 2002 and used every single day, is finally completely kaput. Perlina purses are soft, buttery leather and they’re so well-made. They’re worth the expense.

I just read “The Bean Trees” by Barbara Kingsolver. I didn’t find it to be particularly spectacular, but it was a pretty easy read. It’s been a while since I read it, but I really liked “The Golden Compass” and the rest of the books in that series. And it’s coming out in the theater this December!

“Blades of Glory” was ridiculous…but pretty funny if you like Will Ferrell’s type of humor. I’m more entertained by my husband when we’re watching Will Ferrell, because he finds him to be hysterical. Not that I don’t, but Andy will just CRY watching him.

I haven’t purchased any music in at least ten years because I’m too fickle to like one thing for very long and much too lazy to mess with downloading things onto any listening devices…I tend to relentlessly scan thru the XM channels in the car.

And the last thing I bought myself was a cutting board…because I’m cool like that. Unless you count the tank of gas that costs $75 for my car.

1) ‘Round Ireland with a Fridge’ by Tony Hawks, random but charming, bit like the country itself!
2) Rented ‘Music & Lyrics’ to watch for the *cough* third time, what can I say, it’s Hugh Grant with a cute British accent and a background of 80s music, nice bit of escapism…
3) ‘Time on Earth’ the new cd from Crowded House, loving it :)
4) A new haircut and colour

1. The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin, or in terms of non-fiction, Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice for all Creation
2. I’ve been rewatching all the seasons of Arrested Development, probably the best show ever created.
3. The latest obsession is Murder By Death, I just bought the album Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?
4. My wonderful pair of new Citizen jeans.

1.) Hmm. Great book? maybe Lalita Tademy’s Red River? I’m in the middle of Bourdain’s Nasty Bits right now, which is fine. I feel like there was something better, but I can’t remember what. Oh! Fluke, by Christopher Moore (anything by him is hilarious–try Lamb), and Boomsday by Christopher Buckley (ditto).
2.) Have you seen Blades of Glory? We borrowed it from a friend last week, and it was funny.
3.) Norah Jones, Feels Like Home–just bought it today, haven’t listened to all of it yet, but it’s good so far. A lot more country than her first CD, but not in a bad way.
4.) A v-neck argyle sweater from Target. Now if it would just be fall already!

1 – Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky. Eh, so so.
2 – The last DVD of Deadwood Season 3. Wah!
3 & 4 – Boxer, The National; Our Love to Admire, Interpol; An End Has a Start, Editors; Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon; Because of the Times, Kings of Leon; The Stage Names, Okkervil River; We Can Create, Maps; Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend.
4B – A $3000 custom-made bicycle. But since it hasn’t been delivered yet I figured I could sneak the music in still. :)

1. I just finished The Bronx is Burning and now I’ve started Heat. I liked TBIB but I’m really enjoying Heat, it’s super interesting.

2. We watched Weeds and now we’re watching Without a Trace. I can never pay attention to a whole movie anymore. :(

3. Spring Awakening, the soundtrack. We saw it on Broadway in August, the music is really great.

4. Some maternity clothes from Old Navy. I ordered them online so I’m not sure if I’ll like them.

1. Real Food by Nina Planck – A must must must read. Yes, I’m a big hippy, but it is interesting and eye opening to read about recent food trends and why to avoid them.

2. Knocked Up should be in my mailbox right now! Can’t wait!

3. “Breathe Me” Sia – I’m a sucker for female vocalists

4. hmm… buy something for myself? Don’t understand.

Embarrassing… I am a bit “hippy” but I meant to say I’m a big hippie.

1. I’m reading a book by P.D. James at the moment, one of her murder mysteries. I also just got a couple of books by Terry Pratchett – always amusing! In terms of nonfiction, I’m working through “An Anthropologist Looks at History” by A. L. Kroeber.

2. I have to suggest a series instead of a movie for this one – Briscoe County Junior. Truly wonderful and seriously funny. We also recently watched the original Wicker Man (1973) which was worlds better than the recent one with Nicholas Cage. Go figure. The Prestige and The Illusionist were also good.

3. Haydn’s Missa in Tempore Belli (Mass in Time of War). Before that, CDs from the Ditty Bops. http://www.thedittybops.com/

4. Khakis to wear on the weekends, since my current 2 pairs are not in good shape any longer.

Have you watched much of Nip/Tuck? I rented the first season and am obsessed by the self-obsessed. Try it – you just might like it – if you like sex, beauty, death, sex, adultery, graphic surgery scenes, sex and Joely Fisher. I’m fond of it all, at least the televised, glammed-up versions. And I hate to say it but the womanizing, sex-addicted arrogant doctor is HOT. I’d hit that in a heartbeat (in TV-fantasyland, mind you – and I go there A LOT). Mmm hmm.

1. In the middle of reading “Eclipse” by Stephenie Meyer. It’s the third book in the series though, so if you’re going to read it, start with “Twilight”. I was kind of wary about reading her books because they’re in the “young adult” section, but there’s nothing young about it. It’s about vampires, love, and werewolves. No zombies though.

2. Last movie rented was “Ghost Rider”. It sucked.

3. Last cd’s purchased were Tori Amos “American Doll Posse” and Lori McKenna “Unglamorous”. I highly recommend both.

4. I think the last thing I bought myself was In Touch magazine, but I’m about to buy this sweater from Old Navy. Cute, right?

1) 4 Women, E.B. Alston (my FIL-so I was obligated) It was a very quick read, but I enjoyed it very much!

2) Perfect Stranger with Hale Berry-such a good flick

3) Third Day – great band! I love the sound of the guy’s voice!

4) Ice cream, Mint chocolate chip-Breyers to be exact. I left my husband and children to make a quick run to the grocery store. For the first time in two years I did not buy DIAPERS! I was in it only for the ice cream. Had to make sure I could get through the night! (hubby works late) But before that it was two shirts and a pair of slacks at Avenue on Sunday.

1) The Kushiel books by Jacqueline Carey. Jim Butcher (Dresden Files) Simon Green (Nightside series). Dies the Fire trilogy by S. M. Stirling.

2) I recently saw The Prophecy for the first time. I always have to reccomend The Specials. Bullets Over Broadway. Red Dwarf. Mrs. Henderson Presents.

3)Snow Patrol (Eyes Open). Violent Femmes (Violent Femmes). Van Halen (Balance)

and bonus question,

4) A T-shirt that says, “Legend of Zelda” And tickets to Disneyland.

1) Um, I don’t read much. Its an OCD thing. I’ve ordered 3 books at the moment which I’m waiting to arrive. I know you’ve already read Jenna Jameson’s book, so I have to recommend Motley Crue – the Dirt. Even if you don’t care about the band, the book is so exciting!

2) We’re behind in NZ, so I have no idea if Superbad is in theatres or on DVD over there? Its still in theatres here, and I DESPERATELY want to see it, and we were going to go last night, but I’m sick. Damnit. Sexy hamburger! Anyway, I haven’t really seen anything good in ages. I’m addicted to the Girls Next Door series about Playboy but I don’t think thats for everyone.

3) I can’t remember. Gah. I mostly just listen to 80s stuff so I don’t know.

4) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=117848226 – that painting of Jerrica aka Jem and the Holograms…it is AWESOME!

#3 The National — Boxer.
Fan-tas-tic!
#4 Bare Esecentuals (or however they spell it), “glow”–very nice all over color–like “warmth” but pinker

1) . . . book you read?
The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Vampire love, baby.

2) . . . movie you rented (has to be a DVD, don’t go teasing me with suggestions for first-run flicks unless you’re also going to babysit)?
We’ve been working our way through Freaks & Geeks. Before that was The Painted Veil.

3) . . . music you purchased?
Toni Collette’s Beautiful Awkward Pictures, Mika, The Brunettes, The Damnwells

and bonus question,

4) . . . thing you bought yourself?
Most likely a book. That’s where my money tends to go!

1. Cast Off by Stephanie Pearl McPhee (Knitting related) – for a totally hilarious, dysfunctional, beach-read I’d recommend Sick Puppy or Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen

2. I just saw Water. It’s a beautiful Indian film. Sad but absolutely touching. Also in terms of TV I’d recommend Weeds with Mary Louise Parker – it’s a riot! Also – if you want to see my queue on Netflix I’ll add you as a friend!

3. Brandi Carlisle, A Fine Frenzy (opened for Brandi – really cool music)

4. Yarn (yes I’m addicted!), local concert tickets, books!

1) “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” by Joanne Greenberg. I am the last teenaged girl in America to read this book.

2) Uh, I haven’t. I just keep watching the ones I already own, like Keira Knightley’s “Pride and Prejudice and Wow, Were All English Girls That Skinny In the Olden Days?”

3) Roisin Murphy, “Ruby Blue”. DO IT.

4) That would be new foundation and lip gloss from MAC, as well as the new Lush massage bar and a thick chunk of Honey, I Washed The Kids.

Last good book : Haven’t finished it yet but finally a professor picked something good “Convicted in the Womb:One Man’s Journey from Prisoner to Peacemaker” by Carl Upchurch. I’m a grad student in school counseling. Definitely an eye opener.

Movie we rented: we actually picked up the first disk of season one of Dexter after reading it on your blog. Other than that…I’m also catching up on season 4 of NipTuck. Love it!

Music: Robert Randolf and the Family Band “ColorBlind” So so so so amazing. I think on his website he says he is trying to show that you can grow up in the inner city of New Jersey and not just be confined to rap music.

Bought for myself? Nothing other than the Robert Randolf CD. I’m a poor grad student. I haven’t even been to the grocery store in weeks.

1. “The Space Between Us” by Thrity Umrigar. Set in contemporary India. Plot follows the relationship of two women in different castes, one of which is the maid for the other for many many years.
2. “Rome”on DVD. Awesome. We get it from Netfliz when we’re patient enough to wait, and Blockbuster when we’re not.
3. Mika and Arcade Fire albums.
4. A really nice gym bag from target. On clearance! $5!

1. winter’s tale by mark helprin. (beautiful)
2. blades of glory. (holy shit i laughed my ass off)
3. coco – colbie caillat. (if you like folky music and you can skip over “bubbly” if you want to poke your eye with a pencil every time you hear it)
4. a really cute dress from old navy that was on sale for $10. (can’t beat it)

1. Just today I finished Drusilla Campbell’s Blood Orange, which turned out to be good despite being a little tough for me to get into at the beginning.

2. I have to second the recommendations of “Knocked Up” and “Freaks and Geeks”.

3. In the last couple of weeks I’ve only purchased two singles from iTunes: Dave Matthews Band’s “Eh Hee” and Wisely’s “Through Any Window”. LOVE LOVE LOVE Both!

4. We’re splurging on a week in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. The countdown to departure currently stands at 13 days!

Ooh, I’m going to second someone else’s suggestion about the “Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman. Also try “Uglies”, “Pretties”, and “Specials”, a three book series by Scott Westerfield. You’ll find them in the “teen” section, but they’re three of the best books I read this year.

1) Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. We have a produce farm and I purchased it for “research”. It’s a good read if you want to change how you obtain your food or just for her descriptions of her garden and the food that they produce.

2) TV? movies? My rotten kids/husband usually have control of the TV. We did rent Blades of Glory, which is hilarious.

3) Hey there Deliah by the Plain White Ts. Love.

4) Kitchen cabinets and countertop today.

Book: “The Arsonist’s Guide to Writer’s Homes in New England” by Brock Clarke. Hilariously funny. Go forth and READ!

Movie: Coffee and Cigarettes. That or, Starter for Ten.

Tunes: “Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat. I can’t stop singing it.

Special present: The Make-up Optional skincare set from Philosophy. LOVE!

1) The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Be aware that The Road may cause you to shoot yourself in the head in despair.

2) The TV series Extras. OMFG so hilarious.

3) My iPod needs to be charged and my car stereo is broken. I mostly sing Bingo or Old McDonald.

4) I haven’t bought myself anything but a video game lately, but I think I’m going to get that Old Navy sweater. Cute!

1) Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen

2) The Prestige with that hottie Christian Bale and some other female hotties that JB might like

3) Not too interesting for you probably, but I re-bought a Foo Fighters CD, The Color and the Shape

4) A very awesome nail buffer “system” from one of those kiosks in the mall, with a buffer, cuticle oil, and hand cream

1. I’m currently listening to Terry Pratchett’s “Men at Arms” – which is wonderful, but I’m a Pratchett fan, and I like walking along and giggling at his stories. If you’ve never read any Pratchett, “Men at Arms” is a decent introduction. And the audio version is good. I recently read Paul Campos’ “The Obesity Myth” was which fantastic – fascinating stuff.

2. “Hot Fuzz” (hilarious.)

3. I’m re-listening to Gwen Stefani and No Doubt

4. I just bought a digital video camera off Ebay, which I got a bit carried away over and spent way more than I planned. Oops. I’m excited though – we’re about to move house, and I want to be able to send my Mum a DVD tour of the new place.

Another vote for Extras starring the always inappropriately hilarious Ricky Gervais. I think there are 2 seasons out on Netflix.

Talladega Nights is funny if you like Will Ferrell.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer gets my vote for a truly original book worth reading.

I’m in a music rut. I do loves me some Franz Ferdinand lately, though.

Things I bought recently that I like: Kiss My Face handwash in Pear scent and Method dishsoap in cucumber.

1. I am currently reading Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende and loving it.

2. We like to Netflix Monty Python’s Flying Circus episodes.

3. Girlyman’s newest CD, Joyful Sign.

4. Well, there was the Girlyman CD. And a cute skirt from Ann Taylor Loft.

1) The Memory Keeper’s Daughter – I finally got around to reading it and it was good, but depressing. I second the rec for Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series though.

2) Um, I can’t remember? I think it’s been years since I rented a movie. I did watch Barbershop on cable the other day. I think that’s the most non-sports TV I’ve watched in ages. Oh, except for Scrubs.

3) Let’s see: Matisyahu, Lily Allen, Pete Yorn, Liz Phair, Remy Zero, Guster, and Beth Orton are all in heavy rotation right now. Oh, and Portishead, and Wild Colonials.

4) My new camera – the new digital elph. love it.

1) Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides. A family and personal saga with uncomfortable subject matter, told in a humorous and sympathetic way. I couldn’t put it down.

2) Haven’t rented a really great movie lately, but I think the last one we did like was Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (yay for weird Robert Downey!) Oh, and also Beerfest.

3) Probably a tie between Dixie Chicks/Taking the Long Way, and The Best of Elvis Costello: the First 10 Years. I also love the new Maroon 5. Music I want to download but haven’t gotten around to: the latest Ben Harper and James Morrison albums.

4) My first pair of size 6 jeans ever (from the Gap).

1) . . . book you read?

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. The sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies, is better, but you’ve got to read the first one first.

2) . . . movie you rented (has to be a DVD, don’t go teasing me with suggestions for first-run flicks unless you’re also going to babysit)?

Batman Begins, though we’re probably the last people in the whole world to watch it.

3) . . . music you purchased?

Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor

and bonus question,

4) . . . thing you bought yourself?

books

Whoops, that last one was me. I am a dumbass today, apparently.

If you haven’t read Into The Wild, read it before the movie comes out. Also loved Never Let You Go. (I’m assuming you didn’t want to know about how reading “Teen-proofing” is helping or not helping the angst in our house)

2) Gotta love Strictly Ballroom – an aussie flick

3) Can’t get Amy Winehouse out of my head!

4) New underwear, but it has a bow on the front which my husband REALLY likes

Book:
I just finished re-reading Dogs of Babel (Carolyn Parkhurst) and still love it. Her second one is good, but easier to put down.

Movie:
Not so much with the entertainment factor but we just finished Ken Burn’s Civil War series in preparation for his “War” which isn’t nearly as good.

Music I purchased:
Grey’s Anatomy 2 soundtrack- I’m a bit behind the times but it’s a pretty good mix.

Thing I bought myself:
Sushi dinner as I really can’t seem to make myself cook tonight.

1) Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin or Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen. Both excellent reads. The former is a bit long and winding, but it’s fantastical and magical and everything a good book should be.

2) I think you already saw Hot Fuzz, but we also loved Danny Deckchair, which is a delightful little bright film with Miranda Otto.

3) I picked up The Cake Sale on Amazon for more of Lisa Hannigan’s voice, and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a great little compilation, with Gary Lightbody, Damien Rice, Lisa, Josh Ritter and more. Love.

4) Shoes. Flats. Nothing terribly exciting in the least. I’m contemplating a Superhero necklace, as I have been for MONTHS. I’m justifying it with a recent promotion this time, i think.

1) The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. I haven’t been so emotionally involved in a book since She’s Come Undone.
2) No attention span for movies, but I guess the most recent was Big Love (since we are too cheap for premium channels)
3) The new Girlyman CD, Joyful Sign, which has the power to calm my 8-month-old down (glad to see someone else listed it, too!! yay!!)
4) I bought a chicken and spinach pita on Monday and ate it down by the river, and I was pretty excited about that…

1. Jennifer Government. So good.

2. The Departed. So good. You will come out of it convinced that the Irish are out to get you. Also, do not overlook Alec Baldwin in this movie. “Hey, you want a cigarette? Nah, you don’t smoke. What are you, some kind of a health nut? Go fuck yourself!” Still funny.

3. The White Stripes, Icky Thump. Not as good as Elephant, but what is? Still recommended.

4. A ton of clothes from Blackbird. Call me weak, but I could not resist the siren song of the Nom de Guerre heavy wool standard blazer.

1) A Vision of Light, by Judith Merkle Riley. It’s a reread, and I passionately love just about every one of her books.

2) We just watched The Aristocrats, and guffawed through the whole thing

3) After picking up some Spoon, I ended up randomly downloading two songs from Fiona Apple’s When The Pawn… album

4) I just got some brand-spankin’ new interview clothes, including a very cute white and black ankle-length skirt.

Book – The Time Traveler’s Wife – wonderfully romantic and so well written.

Music – Feist’s new album rocks the casbah

Movie – Knocked Up. I already saw it in the theater, but I plan to rent it again tonight. Cute.

I’d highly recommend Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen. One of the best books I’ve read in a really long time.

I can second “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter”–very good. But the BEST book I’ve read this year has been “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini–same guy who wrote “The Kite Runner.” I believe it’s still #1 on the NYT best seller list–and for a good reason–it’s wonderful!

1. I’m reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Awesome.

2. The Painted Veil with Edward Norton. Loved it.

3. Music? Purchased? I do not know this of which you speak. I do love KT Tunstall and that new song by Pink “Who Knew.”

4. Just bought myself some new shoes at Payless. Kind of those urban/sneakerish/Champion brand mary jane looking things. Very cute!