It’s that time.
That time where I want you to dig deep, grit your teeth, and pick your absolute FAVORITE THINGS OF THE YEAR. In each, you will pick one favorite thing — not three, not two. I want you to imagine that someone is dangling you over a pit, and in the pit is this goose. This goose will hurt you if you do not play by the rules. He’ll hurt you, your family, your friends. This is not a nice goose.
So: play by the rules.
Here, then, are the questions. Answer ’em in the comments as you see fit.
1) Favorite novel of the year?
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
3) Favorite short story of the year?
4) Favorite movie of the year?
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
6) Favorite song of the year?
7) Favorite album?
8) Favorite video game?
9) Favorite app?
10) Favorite [something else] of the year?
(Number ten is deliberately vague. Favorite toy? YouTube video? Movie trailer? Favorite meal? Friend? Sexual experience? Favorite planet, dog, tree, serial killer, time-traveling robot — ?! Your choice.)
Jamie Wyman says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? New to me: “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? “Two Hundred Years of the American Circus” By Tom Ogden.
3) Favorite short story of the year? “The Lantern Men” by Kaaron Warren (featured in Abbadon Books’ anthology Two Hundred Twenty-One Baker Streets)
4) Favorite movie of the year? Guardians of the Galaxy
5) Favorite TV show of the year? Agents of SHIELD (because of the tie-in work with Captain America 2:Winter Soldier)
6) Favorite song of the year? New to me: “Black Sheep” by Gin Wigmore
7) Favorite album? New to me: Gin Wigmore’s “Gravel and Wine”
8) Favorite video game? Marvel Avengers Alliance (because I play the hell out of it and don’t have a decent console to play new games)
9) Favorite app? Square
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? Hot Soy Salted Caramel Chai Latte.
December 15, 2014 — 1:38 PM
Anna Lewis says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? Blightborn, by some hack named Wendig
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? My research hasn’t involved new books this year, so I’m saying The Darkest Jungle: The True Story of the Darién Expedition and America’s Ill-fated Race to Connect the Seas, by Todd Balf
3) Favorite short story of the year? So many…
4) Favorite movie of the year? Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
5) Favorite TV show of the year? Constantine, Constantine, Constantine
6) Favorite song of the year? Walpurgisnacht, by Faun
7) Favorite album? Haven’t bought anything new this year, currently looping Clutch in my car stereo
8) Favorite video game? Assassin’s Creed: Unity, because despite the epic Ubi-Fail at its release, it’s easily the most beautiful game I’ve ever played (and Black Flag set the bar pretty high). Plummeting off the facade of Notre Dame into a hay-wagon you can barely see is ridiculously gut-chilling, it has even MORE things to do than Black Flag, and the fight mechanics seem to be improved.
9) Favorite app? Tri-Met’s (local public transit) ticket app, which allows me to buy tickets online and never fight with their station machines again.
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? Favorite nonprofit organization: the North American Falconers Association, which I’ve been a member of for about 20 years. I became the editor of their 3x-yearly magazine this fall, and the wash of support I’ve gotten from total strangers has been overwhelming (then again, getting up to speed on the job was overwhelming too). A great organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and the preservation of a sport/art/passion recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
December 15, 2014 — 1:57 PM
Sara Amundson (@saraterror) says:
My favorite book this year was The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco. It’s one of the greatest (and scariest) horror novels I’ve read in years. Its protagonist is endlessly fascinating. I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL BURN THIS WHOLE PLACE TO THE GROUND IF EVERYONE DOESN’T IMMEDIATELY STOP WHAT THEY’RE DOING AND READ THIS BOOK.
December 15, 2014 — 2:25 PM
Kevin Dillon says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? Three way tie: The Circle (Dave Eggers), The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt) & The Bone Clocks (David Mitchell)
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? Didn’t ready any this year 🙁
3) Favorite short story of the year? Upon the Sweeping Flood by Joyce Carol Oates
4) Favorite movie of the year? not released this year but I finally watched Soderburgh’s (sp?) Side Effects. Very Good.
5) Favorite TV show of the year? Hannibal (The Leftovers a close second)
6) Favorite song of the year? Great Lake Derelict by The Appleseed Cast
7) Favorite album? Chvrch’s album!
8) Favorite video game? Farcry 3
9) Favorite app? QuizUp
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? Editing, writing, sleeping, long books, hot tea (newcomer)
December 15, 2014 — 2:42 PM
Lani says:
1) favorite novel of the year? ‘Severed Souls’ by Terry
2) favorite nonfiction book? Until Tuesday (Didn’t come out this year, but I just read it)
3)Favorite short story of the year? Sad to say I don’t have one, unfortunately
4)Favorite Movie of the year? Ouija
5)Favorite TV show of the year? Dexter all the way! (Again, not from this year,
But I’m not very on top of the latest trends :))
6) Favorite song of the year? Cherry Wine by Hozier
7)favorite album of the year? Abbey Road by the Beatles (I have my grandparents music tastes haha)
8)Favorite video game? Diablo
9)Favorite app? Uh…not too sure…my google docs app? :p
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? My best friend Riley, don’t know how I would get along without her 🙂
December 15, 2014 — 3:01 PM
Lani says:
Oops, the author of ‘Severed Souls’ in the first question is supposed to be Terry Goodkind, sorry
December 15, 2014 — 3:02 PM
Kyra Dune says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?: Hardest. Question. Ever. LOL. I guess I’d have to pick Raven (The Legends Saga #2) by Stacey Rourke.
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?: Do magazines count? Because the only nonfiction thing I read (with the exclusion of the occasional educational website for research purposes) is Game Informer.
3) Favorite short story of the year?: I guess it would have to be Red Of The Woods by Lana Axe. I think that’s the only short story I’ve read this year
4) Favorite movie of the year?: It came out last year, but I only just got to see it this year. The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug.
5) Favorite TV show of the year?: Supernatural
6) Favorite song of the year?: Painkiller – Three Days Grace
7) Favorite album?: Shatter Me – Lindsey Stirling
8) Favorite video game?: I don’t get to buy games when they’re newly released, but my favorite game I’ve played this year is Dragon Age. And I’ve got my fingers crossed to get the new one for Christmas. It’s all I’ve talked about all year so surely somebody got the hint.
9) Favorite app?: musictube
10) Favorite pumpkin flavored food of the year?: Blue Diamond Pumpkin Spice Almonds.
December 15, 2014 — 3:51 PM
Heather says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?
Far too many to choose from. Probably “Shiver of Light” by Laurell K. Hamilton. (Cut me some slack I haven’t read all the Wendig books yet)
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
“Choose Your Own Autobiography” by Neil Patrick Harris.
3) Favorite short story of the year?
I haven’t read many short stories this year. Or ever. I need to change that…
4) Favorite movie of the year?
Guardians of the Galaxy!!!!!
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
American Horror Story.
6) Favorite song of the year?
Never ask an audiophile this question. I have FAR too many songs I love. “Shut up and dance” by Walk the Moon.
7) Favorite album?
Either Solitary by Deathmole http://deathmole.bandcamp.com/album/solitary or No Fixed Address by Nickelback
8) Favorite video game?
Wolf Among Us. Or Pokemon Alpha Sapphire.
9) Favorite app?
Goodreads. Only fault is you can’t partake in the giveaways on the app. (If someone knows a way around this please let me know)
10) Favorite [something else] of the year?
Technology. Specifically, my phone. Samsung Galaxy S5. I adore the thing. Not as much as I adore different things or people, but probably more than I should admit I adore my phone.
Wendig! What are YOUR answers?!
December 15, 2014 — 3:57 PM
Traci D. Haley says:
1) I have three: Lock In by John Scalzi, The Martian by Andy Weir, and Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
2) Not published this year, but I read it this year: Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges
3) I confess, I don’t read a lot of short stories, but of the ones I did, I really enjoyed Unlocked by John Scalzi and The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne.
4) The Stag/Bachelor Weekend and About Time
5) Absolutely, hands down, the third series of Sherlock.
6) All of Me by John Legend
7) Hozier’s first album
8) I’m mostly a casual gamer, so I will embarrassingly and ashamedly say that I loved the heck out of the latest Delicious game, Emily’s New Beginning.
9) Spotify, Receipt Hog, Instagram, and Jetpack Joyride.
10) Favorite podcast of the year: The Morning Stream. Also The Thrilling Adventure Hour, which I just discovered.
December 15, 2014 — 4:41 PM
Traci D. Haley says:
Oh. Whoops. I didn’t read the rules. I guess I get dropped into the pit now, don’t I? Dammit…
December 15, 2014 — 4:42 PM
Jana Denardo says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? Skin Game by Jim Butcher
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? The Killer of Little Shepherds by Douglas Starr
3) Favorite short story of the year? Broken Phoenix by Edmond Manning
4) Favorite movie of the year? Guardians of the Galaxy
5) Favorite TV show of the year? Gotham
6) Favorite song of the year? All of Me by John Legend (yes I know it’s from 2013, but I live in BFE and it didn’t start playing til this spring here)
7) Favorite album? The Circus At The End Of The World by Abney Park (ditto what I said for song)
8) Favorite video game? Criminal Case, yeah, it’s just a hidden object game on Facebook but I’m trying not to play games because I get too sucked into them.
9) Favorite app? Mlife, a slot machine simulator that lets you earn points towards things in Vegas owned by the Mlife group (the Mirage etc). Okay technically this is one I think I’d like. I have a dumb phone…
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? I’m going with favorite moment. Holding my very first published novel, Kept Tears, in my hands (couldn’t get the box from the publisher opened fast enough). A little self-centered? Yes, but it’s my favorites list so…
December 15, 2014 — 5:24 PM
Elizabeth Poole says:
) Favorite novel of the year?
All of my favorite authors released something this year, so uh…*picks book at random*
MAPLECROFT by Cherie Priest. Because the world needs more Gothic Cthultu fiction.
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
I’m reading “The Drunken Botanist” by Amy Stewart and it’s delightful.
3) Favorite short story of the year?
“The Three Lives of Lydia” by Delilah Dawson. One of the best short stories I’ve ever read…that ending, man. And it’s on sale for .99 right now. /shameless plug
4) Favorite movie of the year?
The Hobbit, because nostalgia.
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
Constantine! Because gritty exorcists are FTW!
6) Favorite song of the year?
Celldweller’s “Against the Tide”
7) Favorite album?
The Gutter Twins “Saturnalia”
8) Favorite video game?
Final Fantasy X.
9) Favorite app?
Couch to 5k with Zombies. Because running is better motivated when you pretend the zombies are after you.
10) Favorite new food of the year?
All of the Puerto Rican food I’ve been eating…mofongo, chuletas, tres leche cake, pasteles…it all needs to be in my mouth.
December 15, 2014 — 5:46 PM
Nicole says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? It’s not new by any means, but I really loved Hatching Magic by Ann Downer. I picked it up in an old second-hand bookstore, and it’s motivated me to keep working on my writing.
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam. It’s really changed how I allocate time to various pursuits (work, writing, pleasure, general bullshitting, etc.)
3) Favorite short story of the year? Dude, anything by Raymond Carver.
4) Favorite movie of the year? Gone Girl was pretty good. I haven’t really watched any movies this year, so that one wins by default.
5) Favorite TV show of the year? PRETTY LITTLE LIARS.
6) Favorite song of the year? Honey Bear by Father John Misty
7) Favorite album? Benji by Sun Kil Moon (If you do anything today, listen to ‘Carissa’)
8) Favorite video game? Neopets, as always.
9) Favorite app? Evernote’s been really great. And mobile banking. Depositing checks from my phone still blows my pants off every. single. time.
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? I moved to Washington this year, and graduated college, so I feel like those definitely belong in a 2014 roundup. Otherwise, strawberry poptarts.
December 15, 2014 — 6:10 PM
Jesse Parkinson says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?
Hard choice but I’ll take Architects of Emortality by Brian Stableford
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
Buh…. Drawing Down the Moon by Margret Adler? I can’t remember any other non fiction books I’ve read this year
3) Favorite short story of the year?
All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein
4) Favorite movie of the year?
Predestination. (this one and the last one are completely related). Guardians of the Galaxy was pretty spiffy too
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Some incredibly high brow stuff
6) Favorite song of the year?
Claire’s Ninth by Ben Folds
7) Favorite album?
uh… Lonely Avenue by Ben Folds and Nick Hornby
8) Favorite video game?
FTL: Faster than Light if Binding of Isaac: Rebirth came out sooner that would have been it
9) Favorite app?
Pocket Frogs. I don’t use apps much but this is always my favourite.
10) Favorite [something else] of the year?
Shoot. This has been a good year for a lot of things. Uh lessee… I’ll go with my favourite moment of the year which is after I watched the musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, got the cast to sign the booklet and sat in man in chair’s chair. It was glorious, I have pictures
December 15, 2014 — 6:18 PM
John says:
Novel: James SA Corey – Cibola Burn
Movie: X-men DOFP
TV Show: The Walking Dead season 4
Video game: Telltale’s The Walking Dead season 2
App: Reddit Sync Pro
Something else: Games journalist – Jim Sterling
December 15, 2014 — 6:39 PM
Lena Coakley says:
1) My Real Children by Jo Walton
2) Didn’t read much non-fic this year.
3) To Whatever by Shaenon Garrity (on Drabblecast)
4) Birdman
5) I re-watched Deadwood. Still great.
6) Chandelier by Sia. Not embarrassed. It’s a great song.
7) Beck, Morning Phase
8) Limbo (not sure I played any games that came out in ’14)
9) Nothing new
10) Author Erin Bow’s talk on “Details” at Toronto’s Packaging Your Imagination conference (but seeing Chuck Wendig at RWA comes a close second!)
December 15, 2014 — 6:46 PM
Sam says:
Whooohoo I love these things:
Novel — The Magician’s Land – Lev Grossman
Nonfiction — Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art – Scott McCloud (Way old, but my friend and I are working on a comic book together and I need to KNOW THINGS.)
Short — Pretty Monsters – Kelly Link (also old, finally started reading her stuff!)
Movie — How To Train Your Dragon 2
TV — I watched all four (five?) seasons of Parks and Rec on Netflix this summer. So good.
Song — Tin Foiled – Andrew Bird (cover of The Handsome Family)
Album — Shoebox – Epik High (Korean hip-hop group, they’re pretty amazing)
Video Game — Bioshock Infinite! (Played it in January!)
App — ehhh… I’m not really an app person? I use my phone for super basic things.
Favorite ____ — (Comic Book!!) I’m obsessed with Lumberjanes!
December 15, 2014 — 7:18 PM
Sam says:
Ugh, damn. I totally lied. My favorite show of 2014 was BBC 4’s In The Flesh. So good. Too good to let it pass.
December 15, 2014 — 7:29 PM
Tracy says:
1) Novel: Soulless by Gail Carriger
3) Short Story: A Kiss with Teeth by Max Gladstone (http://www.tor.com/stories/2014/10/a-kiss-with-teeth-max-gladstone)
4) Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy
6) Song: If I Had a Heart by Fever Ray
7) Album: Fear & Delight by The Correspondents
10) Graphic novel: Trillium by Jeff Lemire
December 15, 2014 — 8:26 PM
adamvenezia says:
Novel – Otherworlders by Angela Cavanaugh (She writes flash fiction here sometimes)
Nonfic – This Will Make You Smarter by John Brockman
Movie – Gravity
TV Show – Cosmos
Song – Word Crimes by Weird Al
Video Game – Hearthstone (It’s the death of all productivity.)
Youtube Sensation – Everything Wrong With _________
December 15, 2014 — 8:26 PM
John Baur says:
Just finished reading my favorite book of the year – it’s not a novel, non-fiction. Rick Bragg’s “Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story,” is just amazing. Not just because Lewis is a – shall we say? – colorful character, and one of the four or five people who could legitimately be said to have invented rock ‘n’ roll, with all the high living and low deeds that implies. Bragg’s writing is so good. He doesn’t need me to say that, the Pulitzer on his shelf is enough. Jerry Lee Lewis was not an altogether admirable person, or even admirable at all, but he was unapologetic, and imbued with that tragic Southern nobility that borders on the comic. Bragg spent two years interviewing the Killer, and while he lets Lewis have his say, he doesn’t excuse anything or let him get away with anything. It’s an altogether fascinating book and Bragg writes the most beautiful prose I’ve ever read in a non-fiction book. If you care about rock ‘n’ roll or the America in the middle of the last century, you’ve got to read this one.
December 15, 2014 — 10:08 PM
Rio says:
1) Favorite novel? Half Bad by Sally Green
2) Favorite nonfiction? The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan
3) Favorite short story? “What to Buy the Shadowhunter who Has Everything” by Cassandra Clare. Funniest thing I’ve read in a looong time.
4) Favorite movie? Haven’t watched many, but it would have to be between Interstellar and Big Hero Six
5) Favorite TV show? Again, don’t really watch much unless you count anime. But I guess Constantine is pretty cool. I like Stalker too.
6) Favorite song? “Run” by Hozier
7) Favorite album? Kveikur by Sigur Ros
8) Favorite video game? The Evil Within
9) Favorite app? Uuuhhhhh…the only app I use regularly is the tumblr app, so, that one, I guess.
10) Favorite something else? I’m gonna do favorite movie trailer because HOLY FUCK THERE’S A MOVIE ADAPTATION OF LE PETIT PRINCE COMING OUT IN FRANCE AND THE TRAILER BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.
December 15, 2014 — 10:44 PM
percykerry923 says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?: One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabo Marquez
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell
3) Favorite short story of the year? Turn of The Screw, Henry James
4) Favorite movie of the year? A Time to Kill
5) Favorite TV show of the year? True Detective
6) Favorite song of the year? There are too many.
7) Favorite album? Too many.
8) Favorite video game? Don’t play’em.
9) Favorite app? Instagram
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? I love burritos- my new fav food.
December 16, 2014 — 5:42 AM
maratio says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?- Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale I read it this year ok
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?- Bird by bird Anne Lammott
3) Favorite short story of the year?- Wild Girls Ursula K.Leguin
4) Favorite movie of the year?-I don’t know not that impressed with movies this year
5) Favorite TV show of the year?-Hannibal
6) Favorite song of the year?- 27 Passenger
7) Favorite album?- Passenger’s new album
8) Favorite video game?- nope nothing this year
9) Favorite app?- still and forever angrybirds
10) Favorite [something else] of the year?- this blog yey for this blog
December 16, 2014 — 7:31 AM
David Wilson says:
1) Favorite books – Published this year, The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. Not published this year, Ender’s Game series, espically Speaker for the dead, Xenocide and Children of the Mind.
2)Non fiction – Living with a Wild God by Barbara Ehrenreich.
3)Short Story – Thing are Bad all around by Joe Abercrombie.
4)Movies – I don’t really do movies.
5)TV show – Miss Fisher’s Murder mysteries, Its on Netflix and is set in Australia between the world wars.
6)Song – Happy by Pharell Williams, although there is not much competition
7)Album – Nothing comes to mind
8)Favorite Video Game – Final Fantasy XIV was pretty good as was Diablo III
9)Favorite App – Terra Battle, the masters of Lost Odyssey(and the early Final Fantasies) turn there hand at making a mobile game and it is glorious.
December 16, 2014 — 9:12 AM
Michael Patrick Hicks says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? ELEANOR by Jason Gurley
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation by Bill Nye
3) Favorite short story of the year? BLACKOUT by Tim Curran
4) Favorite movie of the year? Didn’t see many, so I’ll go with X-Men: Days Of Future Past
5) Favorite TV show of the year? Hannibal
6) Favorite song of the year? Don’t have one…
7) Favorite album? See above.
8) Favorite video game? Really wish I had more time and a bigger budget, but Dragon Age: Inquisition
wins for me.
9) Favorite app? Godus
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? I jumped on the Funko Pop! bandwagon, and will thus vote
for my Funko Batman figure/statuette
December 16, 2014 — 9:26 AM
Evolet Yvaine says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? Melissa Foster’s STROKE OF LOVE
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? Alison Kent’s THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO WRITING EROTIC FICTION
3) Favorite short story of the year? Don’t read short stories
4) Favorite movie of the year? GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
5) Favorite TV show of the year? SLEEPY HOLLOW
6) Favorite song of the year? Hozier’s “Take Me To Church”
7) Favorite album? GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY soundtrack
8) Favorite video game? Not a gamer
9) Favorite app? Pic Stitch
December 16, 2014 — 1:02 PM
Ender0284 says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? I just started reading the Dresden Files books so I’ll say Grave Peril since it’s the last one I finished.
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong
3) Favorite short story of the year? This is the first year that I can remember not reading any short stories.
4) Favorite movie of the year? Guardians of the Galaxy
5) Favorite TV show of the year? The Flash
6) Favorite song of the year? All I Do is Win by DJ Khaled
7) Favorite album? Marshall Mathers II by Eminem
8) Favorite video game? Just picked up Farcry 3 and been playing the hell out of it.
9) Favorite app? Simpsons: Tapped Out
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? Well, my first son was born this year so I’m going to have to go with that as my favorite event of the year.
December 16, 2014 — 4:04 PM
tylerresmith says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?
THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir. Science as practical, problem-solving survival tool. Plus Martian exploration!
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
READING BETWEEN THE WINES by Terry Thiese and MAKING MOVIES by Sidney Lumet. Neither were published this year, but both have had a big impact on my thinking about creativity, criticism, and passion. They’re about wine and film making, respectively, but feel almost universally applicable.
3) Favorite short story of the year?
Sadly, I don’t have one.
4) Favorite movie of the year?
JODOROWSKY’S DUNE. An 85 year-old whirlwind describing a dream project that would’ve included Dali, Mick Jagger, and H.R. Giger. What an artist. What passion. What a crazy man.
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
HIGH MAINTENANCE, showing on Vimeo. The best web series I’ve seen lately–it gets increasingly ambitious and sharper with each episode.
6) Favorite song of the year?
“Nara” by Alt-J. Although I am an unabashed fan of Jason Derulo’s ridiculous pop singles.
7) Favorite album?
THIS IS ALL YOURS by Alt-J. Possibly even more contemplative than the first album; also more disparate. Plus there’s a song about the ALIEN chest-burster scene called “The Gospel of John Hurt”!
8) Favorite video game?
I’m lax on my gaming, but I have been mindlessly replaying levels from GOLDENEYE I mastered 17 years ago. 2x throwing knives!
9) Favorite app?
80 DAYS. A steampunk interactive fiction version of the Jules Verne classic.
10) Favorite [something else] of the year?
Favorite movie-going experience of the year: Made a pilgrimage to the Alama Drafthouse in Kalamazoo, MI for a showing of THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, then an intermission at Bell’s Brewery, then a showing of 1983’s THE HUNGER (David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve as vampires), then a few hours of sleep, then back to the Drafthouse for a Saturday morning cartoon marathon complete with sugary cereal. What a magnificent birthday weekend.
December 16, 2014 — 8:05 PM
Elyse says:
I LOVED JODOROWSKY’S DUNE as well. Man would that ever have been cool to see…
December 19, 2014 — 12:04 AM
emmakosborne says:
This is mine!
http://emmakosborne.com/2014/12/17/favourite-_______-of-the-year/
December 16, 2014 — 10:34 PM
C.M. Simpson says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?
Elizabeth Moon – Command Decision
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan – The New Nobility:The Restoration of Russia’s Security State and the Enduring Legacy of the KGB
3) Favorite short story of the year?
Of the Land – one of mine
4) Favorite movie of the year?
Serenity – always
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
Dr Who
6) Favorite song of the year?
Eye of the Tiger
7) Favorite album?
The Last of the Mohicans soundtrack
8) Favorite video game?
Nil
9) Favorite app?
Klondike
10) Favorite [something else] of the year?
My son returning safely from hospital to recover from a successful operation to stop a recurring pneumothorax
December 17, 2014 — 1:31 AM
Christopher says:
1: Favorite Novel: ‘Dust of Dreams’ Steven Erikson. It’s the 9th book in the Malazan series. If you like EPIK fantasy, check it out.
2: Favorite Non-Fiction: ‘Story Engineering’ Larry Brooks.
3: Favorite Short Story: “Her Words Like Hunting Vixens Spring” Brook Bolander. I’m not a big short story guy, but holy shit, this was a helluva story! I couldn’t put it down! It’s not too long, go read it, here’s the link. Enjoy it. Love it. Reread it. http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/her-words-like-hunting-vixens-spring/
4: Favorite Movie: “Gone Girl.” I’m still scared of that woman!
5: Favorite Tv Show: “True Detective.”
6: Favorite Song: “Outro” M83
7: Favorite Album: “The Aeroplane Over the Sea” Neutral Milk Hotel. I just found this band. Wow. Awesome.
8: Favorite Game: “Borderlands”
9: Favorite App: “NFL App”
10: Favorite Random: “True Facts About Owls” is really runny. Youtube it.
December 17, 2014 — 8:11 AM
Ellen M. Gregg says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? ~ The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? ~ Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette
3) Favorite short story of the year? ~ n/a
4) Favorite movie of the year? ~ Interstellar
5) Favorite TV show of the year? ~ The Blacklist
6) Favorite song of the year? ~ “Glitter in the Air” by Pink (It was new to me.)
7) Favorite album? ~ n/a
8) Favorite video game? ~ n/a
9) Favorite app? ~ Facebook Messenger
10) Favorite [something else] of the year? ~ The ability and capacity to be present with and for my best friend when her son passed unexpectedly.
December 17, 2014 — 2:02 PM
Stephanie says:
1. Favorite Novel of the Year: Year Zero – James Rollins
2. Favorite Non-Fiction of the Year: The Fire in Fiction – Donald Maass
3. Favorite Short Story: Annie Radcliffe, You Are Loved – Barrett Swanson
4. Favorite Movie: …comin’ up blank… oh, Jesus- no! NOT THE GOOSE.
5. Favorite TV Show: Supernatural
6. Favorite Song: Big Bad Wolf – In This Moment
7. Favorite Album: Coldplay – Ghost Stories
8. Favorite Video Game: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (for xBox 360)
9. Favorite App: Soundhound
10. Favorite [Accomplishment] of the Year: Nailing my job at a museum.
WHOA, HOLY SHIT. ANSWERS.
Much love,
Evie
December 17, 2014 — 7:35 PM
J. Fryer says:
1) Favorite novel of the year? Apocalypse Cow (Michael Logan)
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year? Alphabet Juice (Roy Blunt Jr)
3) Favorite short story of the year? Pernicious Romance (Robert Reed)
4) Favorite movie of the year? Wolf Children
5) Favorite TV show of the year? Banshee
6) Favorite song of the year? This Night (Black Lab)
7) Favorite album? The Last of Us Soundtrack (Gustavo Santaolalla)
8) Favorite video game? Dark Souls 2 (Hurts so gooood)
9) Favorite app? Free Books
10) Favorite [Podcaster] of the year? Kate Baker… my midnight goddess.
December 18, 2014 — 2:35 AM
Robert Niemann says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?
The Bluest Eye. Toni Morrison
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
The Power of Now. Eckhart Tolle
3) Favorite short story of the year?
None
4) Favorite movie of the year?
The 100 foot journey
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
The Big Bang Theory
6) Favorite song of the year?
Love runs Out. One Republic
7) Favorite album?
A Great Big World – Is there anybody out there?
8) Favorite video game?
Need for Speed World
9) Favorite app?
Fresh Paint
10) Favorite [something else] of the year?
Discovering Electric Sheep on Youtube (HD)
December 19, 2014 — 2:48 PM
Laura W. says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?
Probably CLARIEL, since I have to pick one…ahhhh, that’s hard.
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
WHAT IF? SERIOUS SCIENTIFIC ANSWERS TO ABSURD HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS by the author of xkcd. I actually got this for my brother for Christmas and then kidnapped and read it when he wasn’t looking.
3) Favorite short story of the year?
…I don’t think I read a single one… *shameface*
4) Favorite movie of the year?
Honestly, nothing stands out, but GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY wasn’t as “meh” as the rest of them because apparently that’s the only movie I can remember seeing this year…
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
THE LEGEND OF KORRA. I am sad that it’s over, but happy with how it ended.
6) Favorite song of the year?
“Papaouti” as covered by Pentatonix.
7) Favorite album?
“Beyond the Veil” by Lindsey Stirling
8) Favorite video game?
Dust
9) Favorite app?
n/a, in my case
10) Favorite [something else] of the year?
Being gainfully employed. I’ve struggled to get jobs, to get hours at jobs, to have something resembling financial security. So I’m in a job that I like pretty well right now.
January 1, 2015 — 4:21 PM
Jemma B says:
1) Favorite novel of the year?
‘The Night Circus’ by Erin Morgenstern
2) Favorite non-fiction book of the year?
@The Art of Being a Woman’ by Patricia Volk
3) Favorite short story of the year?
‘Like Water through Fingers’ by carly Holmes
4) Favorite movie of the year?
Frozen
5) Favorite TV show of the year?
The Originals
6) Favorite song of the year?
‘All of Me’ by John Legend
7) Favorite album?
‘1989’ by Taylor Swift
8) Favorite video game?
I don’t play them…
9) Favorite app?
Twitter
10) Favorite show of the year?
Alternative Routes
January 11, 2015 — 9:56 AM