So sorry for being a tad bid absent from the whole blogging thing, but I was bogged down by schoolwork, sickness, and laziness, all of which are probably interconnected. As usual, I'm just going to rant about books I've read (Daily Double), movies, sports, etc.
Double book review! Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is undoubtedly the best book I've read - ever. It feels strange to say that about a novel that was 500+ pages of depression, insanity, and loathing. All of these things can describe the main character, Rodion Raskolkinov, a self-hating ex-student living in the slums of St. Petersburg. So as not to ruin any of the plot, that is as far as I will describe (plot-wise) Raskolkinov. On a personal level, he is a dark character who not only hates himself, but really just despises everyone and everything around him. He fashions himself a new-age, progress-loving intellectual, but time and time again proves that he is nothing but an absolute lunatic. Herein lies Dostoevsky's genius. His depiction of Raskolkinov is at the same time enthralling fiction as well as a scarily accurate comment on humanity and the insane. Reader be warned: if you plan on reading this (unfortunately I didn't really heed this advice), be prepared to spend many a day dressed in all black, curled up underneath a blanket or two, contemplating life and death. Not your prototypical beach read.
The other story I read was The Overcoat, a short story by Russian literature giant Nikolai Gogol. The story, which follows Average Joe government clerk Akaky Akakievich, is both humorous and a parable which (semi-spoiler) warns the reader of the vices of greed and envy. No more plot details shall be spared. Over all, it was a pretty good story that actually resembled Dostoevsky's writing "style," although not nearly as dark or introspective. Maybe the same translator? I don't know. A recommended quick read.
In the sports world, among the notable events since I last posted are the election of two new members to baseball's Hall of Fame, the continuing saga of the NFL playoffs...and that's pretty much it. Rickey Henderson (with like 95% of the vote) easily paved the way for what has got to be one of the more anticipated HoF induction speeches ever ("Rickey would like to thank..."). Also, legendary Red Sock Jim Rice finally made it on his 15th and final ballot. In other words, the voters who hadn't previously seen his 8 All-Star appearances, 5 top-5 MVP finishes (including a #1 finish) and general dominance of the game of baseball tried on glasses for the first time. However, this nomination gives hope to Astros fans everywhere, who now have a little more hope that Jeff Bagwell, slugging first baseman of the '90s, will make it, considering his stats (in one fewer season) are superior to Rice's. In the NFL, the Conference championships have been determined, and the Steelers are pitted against the Ravens, while the Cardinals and Eagles will square off. Yes, the Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers (my Super Bowl prediction from the day the regular season ended) must be licking their chops. After they dispatch the Ravens (I hope), neither the Cardinals nor the Eagles have what it takes to shut them down - or more accurately, score points against their ridiculous defense. Should be fun.
Yesterday, the Golden Globes, Hollywood's #2 awards show, happened. Among the major awards were 30 Rock winning everything TV related in sight, Mickey Rourke stumbling through an acceptance speech, Heath Ledger posthumously winning for his super-creepy role as the Joker, and Kate Winslet faking humility as she received her 2nd Golden Globe of the night. Good stuff. I haven't seen any of the nominees for the Best Picture, but I've heard that Slumdog Millionaire, the winner, is a really unbelievable movie and so I'll probably see it...eventually.
Anyways, that was a long post so now I'm going to say g'night mates.
