For those of you “in the know,” ALA just released its slew of awards for this year, including the Newbery, Printz, Caldecott and such. Big news in YA/Children’s publishing–and a very good day for fantasy, as Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book won the Newbery, and Terry Pratchett got a Printz honor for Nation. There are probably some other notable fantasy books among the winners, but those are the two that stood out to me. I know a lot of people aren’t that into awards, but I am, and I enjoy hearing about these things. I’d love to go to a ceremony sometime. Big fun. Anyone read any of these books already? I’ve seen Carmen Agra Deedy read The Cockroach story, and I can see why she would have won an honor for it–fantastic stuff. But I haven’t read any of the others. I’d love to hear some thoughts from those who have.
And speaking of awards, DKC and I DVRed Miss America over the weekend and watched about a half hour of it–just to see if there were any good talents, and who the winner was. Talent-wise, it was a bit of a disappointment. True, there was a hula dancer dressed sort of like a white peacock, and a ballerina in a tutu, but other than that, just boring singing and dancing. Snore. Plus, I think there’s an unwritten law somewhere that if I’m ever watching a Miss Whatever Competition, and I think that one of the contestants looks like a kind of animal, then that contestant will win. A few years ago, I thought one looked like a rat. She won. This year–same kind of thing. Except I’ll be nice and not publicly say what sort of animal she looked like. Nice girl, and the resemblance wasn’t that close–but I watch these things to make fun of the contestants. Sorry, but that’s the truth.
Other than that, I watched a few more movies over the weekend. There Will Be Blood (brutally good–great acting. Three and a half stars, but not exactly a pick me up movie), Burn After Reading (not my favorite Coen Bros. movie, but still three stars. They do an excellent job of establishing characters and then throwing those characters together and seeing what happens.) and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (three and a half stars–great movie, especially from an adaptation standpoint. Bizarre, but I really enjoyed it).
I watched R&G on the same night as I watched Mars Attacks for the first time.
That was a…strange evening.
No doubt. 🙂 It would be cool to see a fusion of those two movies. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Attack!
With Tim Burton directing, R&G being played by CGI aliens with exposed brains, and Jack Nicholson playing Hamlet. Who gets killed by Claudius’s disembodied hand.
As long as Claudius’s disembodied hand is played by Johnny Depp, I think you’re spot on.
Miss Hawaii
The one who did the Hula’ish dance was one of D’s former students. Nice girl.
Didn’t do amazing… but oh well. I’m shocked you watched it though. I can’t get D to watch it. Except this year, he kind of peeked out it from under his blanket while 1/2 asleep.
Re: Miss Hawaii
Well–remember: I DVRed it. Fast forwarded through a whole lot of crap. Couldn’t stand Mario hosting. Still, I watched it every year as a kid–I remember Gretel and Susie used to get out notebooks and score each contestant as they went through. They really got into it. I watch it for the mocking factor. Because it’s so easy.