What's up, new decade?

Since I'm planning on being indisposed for the next 36 hours, at least, and since making lists is my only natural talent, I decided I would make a list of all things good 2009.

I wish I had read more books this year, as I wish every year. And as I resolve every January 1st, I hope to read more in 2010. My newly discovered favorite things to read are short-shorts. Short fiction in general, but short-shorts of 1,000 words or less (usually 500 or less) are more concentrated compared to normal-length short stories, and I find the scenes, however mundane or typical, are teeming with restrained emotions, so that a scene about buying oranges is never about oranges. Some are uncomfortable vignettes that make you feel like you intruded on the wrong hotel room. They show you the faintest breath of life before definitively shutting the door.

My favorite short-short anthologies of 2009 (both put out by Rose Metal Press):


Brevity & Echo: An Anthology of Short Short Stories. All stories in this collection are 1500 words or less, most of which are less than 400.

Excerpt from "I Always Know It's Over When They Say" by Melissa McCracken:

You never met a man like me before. My wife has nothing to do with this. You remind me of my mother. I want seven children. I have three kids. I'll never get over her. My ex wouldn't swallow. Lemme buy you a drink. I only drink when I'm depressed. My British accent only comes out when I'm drunk, Love. Last time, I wrecked the El Camino. I only bet on college ball. I haven't finished a book since high school. I quit the hard drugs. I can't wait till deer season.



A Peculiar Feeling of Restlessness: Four chapbooks of short short fiction by four women (Amy L. Clark, Elizabeth Allen, Kathy Fish, and Claudia Smith)


Excerpt from "I Tell / I Don't Tell" by Claudia Smith (I chose this one because it's strikingly similar to my own life...especially the prom part):

My prom date was gay. He wore a beautifully fitted tux. We went bowling instead of doing it, afterward.
I didn't know he was gay. Not for sure. I had him pick me up at my best friend's house. My own house smelled of rotting.
I lost pregnancies.
I won't tell the details, but some are sloppy.


My favorite albums of the year:

It's Blitz by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Swoon by Silversun Pickups

To Be Still by Alela Diane

Crossing the Rubicon by The Sounds

Manners by Passion Pit

Best shows:

Alela Diane @ the First Unitarian Church, March 1st(my birfday present from Rachel. I got Alela Diane's new cd and her autograph, locked the keys in my dad's car, chatted with her drummer while waiting for AAA, and drove home in a blizzard...near white-out conditions. Truly a stupendous night.)

The Sounds + Foxy Shazaam @ the TLA (feel good show of the year)







Best movies:

Up

Brothers

Fantastic Mr. Fox (I haven't seen this one yet, but I'm adding it in anticipation.)







2009 was an odd year, no pun intended. Lots of ups and downs, as with any other year. It's strange to think that the first decade of the century is over. 10 years ago I was almost 15, adjusting to life without mom, and I was thinking how strange it felt to see a whole century end. It felt like being a part of history by default. Now I'm almost 25, and I cannot believe how far I've come. I'm very proud of myself. Way to be, me.

See you all next year!