New Newbery Medal! And an R. I. P.

Congratulations Neil Gaiman! I haven't read The Graveyard Book, but it's always nice when someone who lives (kind of) locally wins an award. I've only read Coraline and American Gods by Gaiman. I thought American Gods was really pretty amazing, but I had major trouble with Coraline: it was so terribly unsettling. It figures that it is now a Major Motion Picture, one that I probably will not see.

On another note, John Updike just died of lung cancer. It's like the passing of a national treasure. Dude wrote SIXTY-ONE books! I didn't always like his stuff, but he sure knew what he was doing. And, despite the fact that it was pretty fluffy, I did like The Witches of Eastwick, so there.

Thing Nineteen. Podcasts

I think podcasts are a great idea. I really, really do. I just can't seem to get myself to actually sit down and listen to anything (that needs my undivided attention) for any appreciable amount of time. I don't like listening to people read stories, I don't like audio books (sorry Kristen). There is a special place in my heart for all the public radio greats: Sarah Vowell, David Sedaris, This American Life, and A Prairie Home Companion, but I can't be bothered to seek them out. There are very few occasions that I feel comfortable sitting and listening, and even then I must be very entertained to be able to focus. Even lectures at school allowed me to look at the speaker. I must be one of those lame people who just can't learn through listening. I listen to the radio almost exclusively in the car, I've tried audio books and the format grates on my nerves. Why? I cannot tell.
The upshot is is that I've read about all kinds of good podcasts but put off listening to any until later. And it never happens. I like the MPR directory, I didn't listen to a podcast, I'm sure this format would be great for a library. Enough said.