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Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas
With a Muppet resurgence upon us, it’s an excellent time to revisit this 1977 Jim Henson Christmas classic. With its hilarious Muppet villains, great songs, and a heartwarming Gift of the Magi premise, this is bound to become a new family favorite.
Citrus County
by John Brandon
This lived up to the promise of the amazing short story by Brandon in a recent issue of The Oxford American. I’m surprised it didn’t garner more attention when it came out, especially since it got a rave review by Daniel Handler in The New York Times. The main premise of the plot (a fantastically low-key kidnapping) is wildly unbelievable, but I loved the writing so much that I just didn’t care. It’s worth reading for the depiction of Mr. Hibma alone.
The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick
by Philip K. Dick
Iconic science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, PKD to non-noobs, had a series of religious, or psychotic, or neuro-farting episodes during months of February and March of 1974. You know: visitation from angels, pink beams, gnosis from the Lord and / or aliens. The kind of stuff you find on other side of the rainbow. Dick referred to these events as “2-3-74.” “2-3-74” informed all his novels thereafter. The theological bent of these novels divided fans, but I think they are some of his best. Those novels are only a gleaming of the thousands of pages he wrote trying to make sense of “2-3-74.” Dick called this unending (unendable?) nonfiction work as his “exegesis.” Fans called it the holy grail. Locked away for years, it has been unearthed and edited to a somewhat manageable size (800+ pages) by Jonathan Lethem and Pamela Jackson. So now we can dig into the raw stuff. Dick’s real reactions to his mystical experiences.
This probably isn’t the best place for noobs to start but who knows maybe it is best to just dive right in the deep end. For those not interested in SF novels, I would recommend this book for the seekers, the wanderers, those that still haven’t found what they are looking for (though this text might be a cruel joke) or anyone whose knowledge of Christianity is sufficient enough to be familiar with the word Parakletos. For years critics have been saying Dick is our Dostoyevsky, our Borges, and now he can also be our Jung, our Swedenborg, our Meister Eckhart. Go non-noob yourself.
- Bryan
Gringos
by Charles Portis
Thank you, Wells Tower, for recommending this in GQ. Gringos is my first Charles Portis, so I can’t compare it to his recently revived True Grit, but I would guess that it has the same main attraction: his Southern deadpan writing style. The plot is almost incidental, although it’s very funny in an absurdist sort of way. I can see why Portis has a cult following.
Edward S. Curtis: The Women
By Christopher Cardozo
Between 1900 and 1930, American photographer Edward S. Curtis traveled from the Northwest coast, through the Rocky Mountains and down to Mexico recording and photographing more than eighty Native American tribes still “practicing the old ways.” What Curtis created was the most comprehensive record of traditional Native Americans. Edward S. Curtis: The Women is a hauntingly beautiful collection of one hundred sepia images of Native American women going about their daily lives. Curtis’ photographs are stunningly elegant portraits of a different time and place.
-Karen
I Knew You’d Be Lovely: Stories
by Alethea Black
I’m starting to pull together my personal “Best of 2011″ lists, and this is my nominee for best short stories (the only other contender being You Know When the Men Are Gone). This collection movingly depicts the quest to become your true self, despite missteps, and to find someone who understands you.
I’ve noticed there are a lot of you out there; letting your facial hair grow past the stubble stage to create a new look and perhaps even a new perspective on life. I’d like to draw your attention to some famous men with beards or mustaches, as well as library materials that might be of interest…
Joseph Palmer. Mustaches and beards have gone in and out of style during the last 50 years, but can you imagine a time in America when you would be imprisoned for refusing to shave? Joseph Palmer was a nineteenth century American who refused to conform to society and even went to jail for what he thought was his right - to grow a beard that would make those dudes in ZZ Top look like facial hair amateurs. Read about Palmer in The Quite Contrary Man written by Patricia Rusch Hyatt, illustrated by Kathryn Brown.
Zach Galifinakis. Zach is one of the funniest bearded stand-up comics & actors of our time, and a southern boy to boot. You’ve probably seen The Hangover, so I recommend you watch him in the quirky HBO series Bored to Death. And if you haven’t seen any of the online episodes of Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifinakis, get ready to laugh yourself silly!
Hercule Poirot. Agatha’s Christie’s famous Belgian detective sports a finely groomed mustache while cleverly solving the most complicated mysteries. The widely respected English actor David Suchet has portrayed Poirot (and that mustache!) since 1989.
Justin Vernon. For those not in the know, Justin is behind the thoughtful and melodic music of Bon Iver, and he is arguably at the forefront of the recent sensitive guys with beards movement. If you’ve never listened to Bon Iver, start with For Emma, Forever Ago, which was recorded mostly in a remote cabin in the wilds of Wisconsin.
Joe Hill. Joe Hill is now known as the son of Stephen King, but don’t jump to discount his skills at crafting a good tale! Hill’s stories are as entertaining and macabe as his famous father’s (read Horns for starters.) In 2010, Joe grew one heck of a mustache while raising money for the charity Movember, an organization that raises funds and brings awareness to men’s health issues, in particular prostate cancer.
I’ll leave you with one final quote from Marc Maron, a comic who wears what he refers to as a facial hair configuration. The quote is taken from his latest album This Has to Be Funny – “I’m not a hipster… I’m more of a middle-aged man who has made a facial hair decision.” -crystal
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