Monthly Archives: December 2012

A List of Lists: This Year’s “Best of” Lists

For all those looking to see what they missed this year in films, books, tv and music, we have compiled a few “best of” lists from around the internet, including thoughts from Time, io9, goodreads readers, kirkus review, Roger Ebert and more. These lists are especially helpful to me, because I’m perpetually a year behind on reading new releases and end of the year recaps allow me to compile a nice stack of books for January’s inevitable hibernation. If you have a stack of gift cards and are looking to spend them, certainly try some of these recommendations. We’ll be posting some “best of” lists come the New Year, but until then, enjoy these links and have a happy and safe New Years!

Links:

– Time’s Comprehensive Top Ten Lists For 2012 (time)

– Goodreads Readers Choice Awards (goodreads)

– Kirkus Reviews Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of the Year (kirkus)

– Books That Made The Most Best of 2012 Book Lists (flavorwire)

– 13 “Top 100 Books” Lists Combined and Condensed In To One Master List (alistofbooks)

– io9’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2012 (io9)

– Salon’s Ultimate Book Guide For 2012 (salon)

– Barnes and Noble Best of 2012 (barnesandnoble)

– Roger Ebert’s Top Movies of 2012 (suntimes)

– What To Read From 2012 (salon)

– The 10 Most Gloriously Frustrating Endings In Literature (flavorwire)

– Do Bookworms Mimic Their Literary Heroes? (unpopularscience)

– AV Club Reviews Brandon Sanderson’s The Emperors Soul (avclub)

Hobbit Week!

I had an enthusiastic post ready for Hobbit weekend, but needless to say, yesterday was a pretty heavy day, especially in Connecticut and China. So, I’d just like to take a moment to acknowledge both those events before moving on. Pretty terrible stuff. Some people might be taking the weekend off as a result, but if you are still journeying out to theaters this weekend for some escapism to see the Hobbit, this post is everything Hobbit.

Although I have not had a chance to see the movie yet (I have tickets for Tuesday), the site has compiled some great Hobbit links including what you need to know before seeing the movie, some Colbert interviews with the Hobbit cast, some nice collector Hobbit merchandise and the documented journey of two men simplifying trying to walk into Mordor, much to Sean Bean’s dismay. There is also a nice flow chart over at io9 that helps you differentiate the many dwarves of the Hobbit based on their facial hair.

I greatly enjoyed Hobbit week on the Colbert report, mostly because Stephen Colbert would break character from his conservative counterpart just to gush about how big of a Tolkien nerd he is (he’s quite the Tolkien scholar in fact). So much so that he was even answering Tolkien questions for Peter Jackson, who after making four LOTR/Hobbit movies, should know his way around a Tolkien trivia night. In addition, the really expensive Smaug stein and the girl featured on flavorwire’s “Not All That Wander Are Lost” tattoo are pretty cool too.

Links

– What You Need To Know Before Seeing The Hobbit (flavorwire)

– Colbert Interviews Peter Jackson for Hobbit Week On The Colbert Report (hulu)

– The Hobbit Collector Steins (taverncraft)

– Entertainment Weekly’s Review of The Hobbit (ew)

– Guide To Identifying The Dwarves of The Hobbit By Their Beards (io9)

– The Green Dragon Is A Real Operating Pub In Hobbiton (mymiddleearth)

– The Box Office Numbers For The Hobbit’s Opening Day (ew)

– 20 Amazing JRR Tolkien Inspired Tattoos (flavorwire)

– Two Guys Attempt To Simply Walk Into Mordor (io9)