PoP, Edition 15

Music
Changing Horses by Ben Kweller
I listen to Ben Kweller because of his engaging indie-lite rock and for his moody voice, so I was taken aback when I realized his latest album is country. (Alt-county, but still.) Don't get me wrong, I love alt-country, but it was like biting into a candy and getting coconut instead of cherry. Ben is Texan, so he gets heartbreak and twang and clever lyrics. The verdict? Unexpectedly comforting.

Books
The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Advice For Women Who Think Outside Of The Cube by Michelle Goodwin
This was the perfect career advice book for me, because at our house, my mom is all, "You need a sensible job someday!" and I'm all, "Whatevs, TV writing is totally a career." Which is why I'm going to become a librarian so I don't have to be a TV writer who lives under a bridge. Anyhow, I appreciated this book because it laid out the harsh reality of being a freelancer or owning a business. At the same time, though, it was extremely upbeat and encouraging. I liked the action plans at the end of each chapter and the real-life examples were interesting. I'll definitely be returning to this book when I'm in a position to strike out on my own.

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
If you didn't know Carrie Fisher's history (Eddie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, Princess Leia, Paul Simon), you'd have a hard time believing these stories were fiction, much less non-fiction. This is her for-real story of growing up in Hollywood, struggling with addiction and bi-polar disorder, and yes, what it was like to be Leia. The stories are brief and disjointed, yet they're so bizarre and funny (and occasionally crass) that one can't help but consume it in one setting.

Movies
Coraline 3D
I saw this...a week and a half ago?...and I'm already wondering when I get to see it again. Coraline is delightful and creepy and absolutely gorgeous to watch. I can try and think of things I didn't like, but it's like, "Faults? What faults?" The heroine is plucky, the cat and his owner are hilarious, and the suspense is edge-of-your-seat. That's pretty much all I ask for in a movie. See it in 3D, because it makes the experience even more memorable.

He's Just Not That Into You
Flash-forward to three years from now: I'm sitting in my apartment, watching this movie, and weeping because I haven't found my Justin Long yet, but proud of the fact that I have not wasted my time by dating scumbags. Sure, the critics might have hated it. You know what, though? The critics aren't 20-something girls who have actually written out what they're going to say in a voicemail. So SUCK IT, critics. Even though there are so many characters that you can't keep them straight, it's frothy and there are good-looking men. This is also what I ask for in a movie.

Television
Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season One
(Even though I'm almost done with Season Two, I can't count it until I finish because I'm OCD like that.)
Much like kissing, starting Buffy was a unique experience because I knew everyone else loves it and I knew I'd love it, but those first few tries were questionable. Now I completely understand the fandom because the show is definitely something worth obsessing over. I'm astonished that it can be so riveting and skin-crawling and witty all at the same time. SO MUCH GOODNESS. The first season is short (12 episodes) and most of that time is spent finding its ground, which pays off handsomely the following season. Finally getting around to Buffy makes me feel like a real member of the Church of Joss Whedon.