June: in review

I recently resurrected my old blog, savage desire.  My post was about the movies I had watched in June (until that point).  I have watched 17 movies and will likely watch a couple more before the month ends.  

I came here to write that The Intern, of these 17, is the best movie I saw.  I don't know if that's true, but the sheer impossibility of it crossing my mind is profound in itself.  

I suppose I should lay out the contenders for MONTH'S BEST:

Hot Pursuit - (not a contender) I watched this engulfed in self-hatred for being able to endure.

Her - (not a contender)

Chef - (not a contender)

Amélie - It shows its audience a beautiful human being.  

Synecdoche, New York - I cannot speak well of this movie's brilliance.  I can only say that it masters a certain tonal aesthetic.  Though, being my fourth viewing, the sparkle was not nearly as present.

Enemy - My favorite of Denis Villeneuve's.  I didn't enjoy a movie more this month.

on the page

when reading novels I mainly consider two things when deciding whether I should continue:

the quality of writing (loosely coincides with an objective judgement, it is an intuitive, aesthetic evaluation)

the substance

some books i've been reading recently:

a storm of swords - george rr martin

full access to substance because the quality of writing maintains consistency, and does not overextend into literary dimension

lonesome dove - larry mcmurtry

in many respects, very similar to point on martin.  I adore certain aspects of this setting, but want concentration; perhaps a smaller scope...

standard western tropes are uninteresting to me

the elementary particles - michel houellebecq

i am grateful I found this author, though I'm unsure I'll continue reading him.  His prose, translated, has proper directness and seems more profound than martin and mcmurtry.  His societal standing as "pop-literary" is unsurprising.  His use of explicit scientific explanation is very effective; however, his consistent descriptions of the sexual exploits of certain characters becomes depressingly mundane

not that kind of girl - lena dunham

I stopped reading this after 30 pages.  Not at all difficult to read; unsurprising content considering her tv show.  substance-wise entirely unrewarding

the power of the dog - don winslow

I stopped after several pages.  reading < Art thinks,"..." > is like getting poked in the eye

the moviegoer - walker percy

I put this on my toilet; the first few pages are absolute excellence

go tell it on the mountain - james baldwin

the best book here, by several lengths.  wonderful prose combined with a genuine, human exploration