Best Writing
Nonfiction: Zeitoun - Dave Eggers
A harrowing story of one Muslim family's experiences during and, most shockingly, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this is a story of the brutality in New Orleans that followed one of the most devastating natural disasters in our country's history. Contrary to what the media and the government would have you believe, the brutality of this time was enacted not by the people of New Orleans, but by the very agencies who were supposed to be there to help. Of all of the terrifying stories from this time of which even now very little is known, Abdulrahman Zeitoun's is perhaps the most stunning. This is the story of a man who stayed behind during the storm to help people, rowing around in an old canoe, who was kidnapped by the government and imprisoned in a makeshift Guantanamo-esque facility where he was repeatedly humiliated, mistreated, and given no reason for his internment aside from the baseless claim that he was "Al-Queda." In the book Eggers strips down some of his more adventurous tendencies as a prose stylist in favor of simple prose that admirably allows the story, rather than the famous author who wrote it, to be the star here. A++
Fiction: Netherland - Joseph O'Neill
A re-imagining of sorts of The Great Gatsby, this book synthesizes the modern immigrant experience in New York, the ruthlessness of the American dream, and surreal atmosphere of post 9/11 New York in a way many novelists have attempted but few have succeeded. And he does this in only 256 pages. It was officially released last year, but has been winning tons of awards this year so I think it still counts. Also, Obama loves it, so yeah.
Best Film
I don't know, this year sucked for movies. Particularly independent movies. What happened there? I guess there are still some coming out that might be good, but so far this year it's been a pretty shitty lot to pick from. So, I guess, maybe Up or The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Those were good.
EDIT: After seeing Billings post I realized I totally forgot about Drag Me To Hell, which was fucking incredible. So yeah, Drag Me To Hell.
Best TV
LOST and 30 Rock, as always. But you knew that. As a side-note; I don't get the whole Mad Men thing. Can somebody explain it to me? Why is watching a bunch of racist, misogynistic drunks fuck around and be horrible people appealing? Why don't you people just watch It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia?
Best Albums
To preface this list right quick: In the interest of keeping things not weird, I decided to exclude from consideration any albums made by friends and/or contributors to this blog...but I loved them all. Also, this list was very tuff to make, mostly because there was so much music I really loved this year. Finally, three of the bands in my top 10 are new to the world this year, including my #1, which is a good sign for music in general I think. All hail 2009!
10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
9. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
8. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
7. Rain Machine - Rain Machine
6. Future of the Left - Travels With Myself and Another
5. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
4. Girls - Album
3. Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem
2. Dan Deacon - Bromst
1. Antlers - Hospice
curb had its moments this season!
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