- Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates
- Disturbing the Peace, Richard Yates
- Neuromancer, William Gibson
- Blade Runner, Philip K. Dick
- The Reader, Bernhard Schlink
Things I am reading:
- Young Hearts Crying, Richard Yates
Yates has been wonderful. I've always liked 'real stories' of people, leading unglorified lives, in heartbreaking situations not entirely their fault. Yates' male characters have distinct commonalities on the surface -- young ambitious men who (at least at the onset) think they are capable of achieving much, of succeeding at life - some version of the American Dream. They find girls, relatively young, and marry even though they imagine they can do better. Each resents, to some degree, his wife and his children. His job offers little to no joy or satisfaction. He's an alcoholic.
Revolutionary Road's male ends up alone after a (not too unexpected) twist at the end of the story. Disturbing the Peace's ends up in an institution. Not yet sure what happens to Young Hearts Crying's.
It's all mildly depressing. And the pattern that's beginning to arise between these plots suggest something vaguely sexist. But the prose is gorgeous, and genuine, and it's a story from the viewpoint of a man who really, honestly looks like he has no way out.
And that's the most painful and beautiful part.
A Feature... Ten More Uses for the Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard
It may only be compatible with one video game, but look at all the other things the $120 peripheral can do!
A Preview... The Beatles: Rock Band Story Mode Unlocks Rare Beatles Photos, Clips
Candid shots of the Fab Four will include anecdotes and trivia fact-checked by Paul McCartney himself.
A Post... Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, Un-Boxed!
We unboxed our most puzzling box yet!
It's been exactly 65 days since Michael Jackson died. I wrote a retrospective of his role in video games almost as soon as the news hit. Classless, sure. But that's what you do when there's pressure to be timely and relevant for the exposure and potential pick-up from other sites.
I dropped off my first month's rent and security deposit at my new place this afternoon. As I walked from the 2nd Ave stop to the apartment, I heard 'Thriller' blasting out onto the streets. It's strange how differently you hear a song when there's context to it. Nostalgia? I never particularly liked his music -- didn't hate it, but wasn't a fan either.
I wondered if whoever was playing the song was thinking about it too. Over two months, and it's still... I don't know. Something you think about. I think that's all I wanted to say.
PREVIEWS
Guitar Hero 5 Compatible with World Tour DLC and On-Disc Tracks
Backwards song compatibility and interface improvements are great, yet we can't help but think... didn't Rock Band 2 do this last year?
Five Things You Need to Know About Avatar for Wii
The game debuts alongside James Cameron's return to feature films this December - here's what you need to know about the Wii version.
Booyah Society Gives You Real-Life Achievements
It's like being back in kindergarten and getting gold stars for doing chores.
FEATURES
Meet the New Games, Same as the Old Games
Originality? What's that? A look back at the games you were playing last year and their 2009 counterparts.
Ten Video Game Summer Flings
Our video game picks will keep you entertained for a few months without demanding a serious commitment.
Celebs and Tourists Mingle at Wii Sports Resort Showcase
Nintendo pulled out all the stops by bringing Wuhu Island to the middle of New York City's Times Square.
REVIEWS
Battlefield 1943 Review
A solid WWII downloadable shooter keeps us entertained while we wait for fall's big releases.
POSTS
Stylish New Borderlands Trailer Touts '87 Bazillion Guns'
Wii MotionPlus How-To Video Seems Slightly Pervy
Sony's EyePet and Microsoft's Milo -- Separated at Birth?
First Modern Warfare 2 MP Footage Shows off AC130 Killstreak Reward
An Inside Look at The Beatles: Rock Band
REVIEWS
DroplitZ Review
The Pipe Mania-like puzzle game is psychedelic, seriously addictive (like any good casual game) and beats a "won't go away" soundtrack into your head.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Review
The surprise M-rated title on Nintendo's household-friendly handheld becomes one of our favorite portable games of the year.
FEATURES
Fifteen New Beatles: Rock Band Tracks Revealed!
Plus, scope the new cinematic trailer, and find out how the game's new Vocal Training mode works.
Confirmed! Fourteen Games You'll See on Shelves in 2009
We get on-the-record confirmations for 14 games that you'll be able to play by year's end.
20 Totally Overused Words in Game Names
Did you play Super Age of War: Eternal Legend? We hear it's the best!
10 Coolest Moments in Halo & Bungie History
In celebration of Bungie Day, we reminisce on the times that made us Halo fans go nuts.
Video Game Yearbook Awards
At the end of another great year of getting schooled in video games, we name the most athletic, flirtatious, most likely to be president and more.
Ripped from the Tabloids: Celebs in Sims 3
Sims 3 fans have been busy crafting celebrity characters, downloadable to your game for free. See our must-have list.
POSTS
Why Three Upcoming Video Game Movies Will Tank
Mini Coopers Get Pimped Out with Pac-Man, Space Invaders Graphics
Michael Jackson: A Video Game Retrospective
Could Classic Adventure Game Grim Fandango Get Remade?
Gaming's Greatest Freakouts: Fake or Real?
Devoted Nintendo Fan Gets NES Controller Etched Into His Skin
Sims 3 Mania Takes Hold, Shattering EA Sales Records
NEWS
Bungie Day Brings Exclusive Recon Armor to Halo 3
Valve Working on Cross-Game Play Between Left 4 Dead 1 and 2
Gears of War 2 Gets Updates, EXP for Horde Mode
Confirmed: Left 4 Dead 2 Multiplayer Demo Coming
More Left 4 Dead Content to be Announced by End of Summer
New Mass Effect DLC Details Coming This Week
BioShock/Oblivion Bundle Arrives July 7 for $29.99 on the PC, $39.99 on the Xbox 360
'Halo 3 Killer' Gets 23 Years to Life in Prison
Epic Denies Plans for Gears of War 2 on PC
Hands-On: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
A new Phantom companion freshens up the dungeons in the DS's second Zelda game, even if we're still unsatisfied with the controls.
Hands-On: Joker Challenges Maps in Batman: Arkham Asylum
We got our hands on the PS3-exclusive Challenge Maps for the game featuring one of Arkham's crazier residents, the Joker.
We Play New Super Mario Bros. on Wii
We had so much fun with this game they had to pry the controller from our hands.
Impressions: Bioshock 2 Multiplayer
The series' long awaited multiplayer mode puts us smack in the middle of the civil war that destroyed Rapture before the events of the original Bioshock.
Feet-On: Tony Hawk Ride
We get our skate on with Activision's new motion-sensing controller (and manage not to fall off!)
Impressions: Guitar Hero 5
Activision's second entry in the full band music game shows promise and growth in the series.
Hands and Feet-On: Wii Fit Plus
We checked out three minigames designed to test our coordination and balance in Nintendo's fitness sequel.
Rock-On: LEGO Rock Band
The family-friendly LEGO series brings bricks and humor to the familiar beat-matching music series.
Lord of the Rings MMO for 360 to Potentially Debut at $12.99/month
An online survey reveals subscription fees, downloadable content and features for the upcoming (still unconfirmed) game.
Jay-Z and Eminem to Collaborate on DJ Hero
Songs from both artists will be featured in the game as well as a special edition bundle.
Video Games Rating PSA Creeps Us Out
Boston's mayor spearheads a new ratings education campaign.
BioShock Movie: Not Dead Yet!
'Prison Break' star Wentworth Miller hints at involvement in the movie.
How-To: Speed Up Loading Times on the Wii
A step-by-step guide to backing up your (legally purchased!) games to an external USB hard drive.
Microsoft Zune HD: the iPhone Killer?
Microsoft announces Zune HD, Xbox Live Integration and hints that more's coming soon
Guitar Hero 5 Rocks Out on September 1
New modes, songs and bands mean music fans will be rocking hard come this fall.
Watch Now: Full 2-Minute Modern Warfare 2 Trailer
Helis, stabbing, explosives and an evil European mastermind? This certainly ain't your father's Call of Duty.
Batman: Arkham Asylum Free-Flow Combat Mode Detailed
The dark knight doing what he does best: close-quarters combat against nameless thugs!
See BioShock 2's Big (and Little!) Sister in Action
Book our return tickets back to Rapture, please.
UFC 2009 Undisputed Recreates Classic Fights
UFC matchmaker Joe Silva teams up with publisher THQ to bring fan-favorite fights to the new mixed martial arts game.
More Pearl Jam Coming to Rock Band With Fan Favorites
Live tracks from the band's discography will be featured in a new project with Harmonix and MTV Games.
More Modern Warfare 2 Footage Surfaces
A short 15-second clip reveals helis, jets, subs and snowmobiles -- looks like Infinity Ward's anticipated shooter will be attacking on all fronts.
Peach, Chun-Li and Friends Get Naughty
Los Angeles burlesque show hosts Video Game Girls night. Barely safe for work photos follow!
Preview: Rock Band Unplugged
Can Harmonix's peripheral-less portable game live up to the popularity of its console brothers?
Pokemon Gold/Silver Remakes Confirmed
Expect to catch them all over again on the DS in North America soon.
Gears of War Movie "Looking Incredibly Good"
A new interview with the film's screenwriter confirms Marcus and Dom's big-screen debut is definitely still in the works.
Guess Which '30 Rock' Character Plays the Sims?
NBC's hit sitcom name-dropped EA's bestselling life simulation game during last night's episode. Who's the mystery gamer?
Rumor: Pokemon Gold/Silver REmake Coming to DS
A Japanese variety show hints at the announcement of new Pokemon games next week.
TIME Honors Rockstar's Houser Brothers for GTA
Annual TIME 100 lists the VPs as two of the world's most influential people.
Dead Rising Trailer Introduce New Hero, Chuck Greene
Unsurprisingly, the trailer also introduces a wealth of zombies.
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Hits XBLA, PSN This Summer
PlayStation 3 owners get an exclusive demo of the fighting game starting tomorrow.
Sims Creator Will Wright and Mr. T Fight Nazis
A new adventure game pits the mohawked celeb and the well-known game designer against Nazis.
Playable Joker Villain Gives PS3 Gamers Something to Smile About
Batman's maniacal archnemesis will be available as a free download for owners of the PlayStation 3 version of Arkham Asylum.
Get Featured in the Sims 3
Follow Ashton Kutcher's Twitter for a place in The Sims 3 and a copy of every game EA makes in 2009.
Bane Gets Juiced Up in New Batman: Arkham Asylum Trailer
Gotham's resident roid-head joins the cast of classic villains lining up to take a shot at the Dark Knight.
Six Sims Games We Don't Want (and Six We Do)
Because some expansion packs just hit way too close to home.
Batman Collector's Edition Includes Real Batarang
Plus, see how the enemies in Arkham Asylum don't stand a chance against the stealth-tastic Batman.
