Best of 2012

What did I like in 2012?  

Even though I read more books in 2012 compared to 2011, I didn't read as many great ones.  Normally, I would have a difficult time narrowing my list to my favorite book of the year.  Now I am having a hard time coming up with a favorite one because they were all average.

Fiction: I will have to go with State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. The Fates will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard is a close second.

Non-fiction: I finally read Douglas Brinkley's book, The Great Deluge.  While the author bothers me on many levels, I thought this was a well-written book.  I also try to absorb as many different things related to New Orleans so this was a natural pick.

Movies:
Most of my movie watching is based on my quirky movie watching system of classics and top movies that I have missed over the years.  Since I usually do a recap after I finish an alphabet, I am going to focus on movies that did not fall within that system.

Beasts of the Southern Wild.  Lincoln is a close second.  Honestly, I loved the Hunger Games. I am currently making my way through other movies released in 2012 that are still in theaters so this throws off my list.  For example, on New Year's Day I saw Django Unchained and that could have bumped off Beasts.

Concerts:
This is a tie between Bruce Springsteen and the Gossip.  I have never considered myself a Bruce fan so it is somewhat odd that he made this list.  It is only in the last few years that I've started appreciating his music.  But, he turned me around based on this concert.  He played for two and a half hours.  I see performers half his age who play an hour and a half tops.  He played his heart out.  He was constantly bringing different people on stage.  He interacted a lot with the audience.  He mixed up the play list.  I had a blast.  Amazing show.  I loved the Gossip show because it was such a positive experience.  The crowd was diverse.  Beth Ditto sang her heart out.  Everything was just happy.  She also brought a fan on stage during her final encore because she heard this woman's voice coming from the crowd.  Watching Ditto hand over the microphone to this woman, the crowd's reaction to her voice and her reaction to the applause brought on some tears of joy for many people in the crowd.

Dum Dum Girls were great. Meshell Ndgeocello doesn't disappoint. Cat Power definitely disappointed me but I attribute that to her current health situation.  I will say that the crowd experience for that show was probably the worst one I've experienced in Portland.

I can't really pick my favorite music because I am all over the place.  I have to reflect on my favorite discoveries for this year...