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About This Author
I am SoCalScribe. This is my InkSpot.
Blogocentric Formulations
Logocentric (adj). Regarding words and language as a fundamental expression of an external reality (especially applied as a negative term to traditional Western thought by postmodernist critics).

Sometimes I just write whatever I feel like. Other times I respond to prompts, many taken from the following places:

         *Penw* "The Soundtrackers Group" Open in new Window.
         *Penw* "Blogging Circle of Friends " Open in new Window.
         *Penw* "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Open in new Window.
         *Penw* "JAFBG" Open in new Window.
         *Penw* "Take up Your Cross" Open in new Window.


Thanks for stopping by! *Smile*

December 31, 2018 at 2:27pm
December 31, 2018 at 2:27pm
#948540

It's the end of 2018, which means it's time to review all the reading and listening I've done over the past calendar year. Overall, it was a mixed bag... I listened to a massive number of podcasts, hit my book reading goal, and didn't get into too many screenplays or comics this year. Here's how 2018 breaks down:


*Star* = favorite
*ThumbsUp* = also really enjoyed


Books (click to expand full list) ▼

I read about a dozen fewer books than last year, but last year was a high-water mark with nearly 120 books read. Honestly, any time I surpass my goal of 100 books a year, I'm happy. *Smile*

For fiction, Collapsing Empire was probably my favorite book of the year thanks to its characterizations and unique worldbuilding, although there were a lot of books and authors old and new that I really enjoyed. I finished making my way through Chris Fox's backlist (fiction and nonfiction), read some more Mark Dawson, and found a new author (Pippa DaCosta) that I really loved.

For nonfiction, Jon Acuff and Chris Fox had my favorite books of the year, all related to writing or general work habits/inspiration that I can apply to my writing.

Overall, it was a satisfactory reading year. It felt like I discovered fewer amazing books that I've added to my all-time favorites, but I also had a lot fewer bombs that were a slog to get through. Most of the books I read this year were perfectly fine and enjoyable even if I don't plan on revisiting them.



Podcasts (click to expand full list) ▼

I listened to way more podcasts than I ever have before, almost 1,000 episodes more than my previous record, and I have to admit that I think I'm just about podcasted out for a while... especially when it comes to current events and writing. I love advice and I love keeping current on everything that's happening in the world, but I look back on this year and wonder if I couldn't have better spent that time reading more books or *gasp* writing more during that time I spent listening to six to eight different news podcasts reiterating the same current stories each week. I expect my podcast count to take a big dive next year because I'm going to try to be more discerning about what I listen to and will most likely cut out some of the daily podcasts and other advice podcasts that are starting to feel a little tedious to listen to.



Comics (click to expand full list) ▼

I didn't read a single comic book or graphic novel this year, so I've got a pretty low bar to clear next year. *Wink*



Scripts (click to expand full list) ▼

I'm not putting any favorites or highly recommended on the script section of my reading list because a lot of the writers on this list are my friends and/or colleagues and I don't want to play favorites with my friends and business associates. *Smile*



TOTALS: 107 books, 2,355 podcasts, 0 comics, 22 scripts


According to Goodreads, my book reading resulted in the following stats:

         Total Pages Read: 31,838
         Average Pages Per Book: 300
         Shortest Book: 77 pages
         Longest Book: 1,193 pages


That's it for my 2018 reading... time to see what 2019 has in store! *Bigsmile*
December 7, 2018 at 3:52pm
December 7, 2018 at 3:52pm
#947021

Written in response to "Note: 48-HOUR CHALLENGE : Media Prompt Deadl..."


*Vinyl*          *VinylB*          *VinylR*          *VinylY*


Oh goodness, I haven't thought about Evanescence in years. *Shock2*

Evanescence was one of those bands that really affected me way back in the early 2000s, probably in large part thanks to the fact that songs like "My Immortal" and their other hits were prominently featured in all kinds of emo-themed movies and television of that time period, including everything from an episode of Smallville to a dance routine soundtrack on So You Think You Can Dance to their real high bar, which was having not one, but two songs included in the Daredevil soundtrack... the Ben Affleck abomination, not the newer Netflix incarnation. That soundtrack blasted both "My Immortal" and "Bring Me to Life," just in case one wasn't enough. And on the topic of the Daredevil soundtrack, has there ever been a more goth/nu metal soundtrack than the one for that film? Seriously... Evanescence, Fuel, Saliva, Seether, Nickelback, Drowning Pool feat. Rob Zombie, Moby, Chevelle, Hoobastank, Paloalto... it's like a who's who of somber, whining vocals backed up with industrial beats and a few verses of rap-rock lyrics thrown in for good measure. *Laugh*

I actually really loved this band (and this song) for a long time. A lot of bands in this moody, angsty space tend to have raw, scratchy lyrics and all kind of sound the same after a while, but Amy Lee's haunting, melodic voice really made the band stand out from their contemporaries.

As I was doing research for this blog post, though, my new favorite story about this band and this song is related to the cover of it that Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins did for her 2009 album Believe. While I don't particularly prefer that cover of the song over the original, she apparently mentioned to her producer that she wanted to do it and he told her he didn't think she was able to perform the song. More determined than ever after being told she couldn't, she reworked the song as a more orchestral piece with stringed instruments substituting for the percussion section of the original, which was a better fit for her voice. You just have to respect someone who is told they can't do something and then goes, "You know what? I can and I will." *Bigsmile* Here's a link to that cover version if you want to listen to it:




Whichever version you personally prefer, there's no question that Evanescence was at the top of their songwriting and musical production game in the early 2000s when this nu metal crazy was sweeping radio stations and soundtracks nationwide. Listening to their discography again thanks to this challenge was a real blast from the past. *Smile*


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