Spider-man is one of the most iconic characters around and if you want to know why check out my The Franchise entry on him here. But today I’m not here to break down what makes him tick, I’m just here to recommend some good wall-crawler reads. Remember this is not a top ten list. I’m mostly aiming for longer stories or starting points that will give you something to due during your lockdown. So I’ve left out some classic one or two issue stories. But I think you’ll enjoy what’s left. Ultimate Spider-Man- I could have named just about any…
Category: The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Mystery Novels
Nothing keeps the mind occupied and the pages turning quite like a good mystery novel. Here are some of my personal favorites that I hope you’ll enjoy: Alias Grace- You are most likely familiar with Margaret Atwood’s more famous work The Handmaid’s Tale, hopefully, you are not surprised to find that Atwood has had a robust career with many other successes including this novel about a grizzly set of murders and the woman convicted of committing them despite having no recollection of the events in question. An intense mystery that will have you reassessing what you think you know with…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Samurai Films
Longtime followers of the blog know that we here at The Eclectic Eccentric are huge fans of the samurai genre of film in all its variations. And while the long run times and subtitles might make them hard to watch during your regular, rather hectic normal life, what better time than a shelter-in-place order to give these Japanese epics a shot? Here are some of my personal favorite ways to spend a lazy afternoon. Seven Samurai– Western fans might recognize this as the inspiration for the American classic The Magnificent Seven, but great as it is that film is…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s Guide to Binging Through the Apocalypse: Chill Covers Playlist
Today’s playlist is made up of some of the more interesting cover songs I’ve come across over the years. I tried to focus on covers from more obscure bands, but in certain cases I couldn’t help myself. As always you can find this playlist on Spotify here. Enjoy. Jolene- Mindy Smith Seven Nation Army- Zella Day Eye of the Tiger- The Rural Alberta Advantages Don’t You Want Me- Bahamas, The Weather Station The Sound of Silence- Disturbed Eleanor Rigby- Joan Baez Rock El Casbah- Rachid Taha You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)- Blaqk Audio Billie Jean- The Civil…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s Guide to Binging Through the Apocalypse: Workplace Comedy Series
We’ve been a little heavy-handed on the Drama of late so let’s get you some good old-fashioned laughs that will remind you why you’re happy you’re not at work right now. These workplace comedies are perfect for wasting a day or two away. Some parameters for these recommendations, the primary setting must be the workplace and the majority of the characters must work at said workplace. So a sitcom like Cheers doesn’t count since half the cast are just customers. Parks and Recreation– Let’s be real, the first season of this show sucks, and the second season isn’t exactly…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse: Batman Story Arcs
Batman is one of the most well-known characters in the world and has earned a place in any doctoral student’s thesis about “Modern Myths”. With a history that spans more than eighty years it can be hard to know where to jump in. Below is a list of some of my favorite Batman stories that will get you well on your way to beefing up your Batman knowledge during this quarantine. Hush– I’ll start with what is the most controversial entry into this list. And while it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, Hush still stands as one of the most…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Afternoon Jazz
It’s tough being stuck at home for this long. Eventually, you lose even the minimal mental focus to enjoy tv shows or a movie, let alone a book. Sometimes you need a little motivation to get moving, maybe to do some chores or to cook dinner. This is one of my favorite playlists to get my self moving without ramping up my adrenaline. You can listen to it on Spotify here. Enjoy “St. Thomas”- Sonny Rollins “Blue Skies”- Art Tatum “Cool Strutting’”- Sonny Clark “Milestones”- Miles Davis “The Sidewinder”- Lee Morgan “Comin’ Home Baby”- Herbie Mann “Better Git it…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Film Noir
It’s a little overcast and gloomy this morning which put me in the mood to recommend some classic Film Noir. You’ll notice I’m sticking to the golden era of the genre. I know there are some great modern noir tales, but I felt like going old school. And believe me, even sixty, seventy years later these films still hold up. Double Indemnity- One of the all-time classics in this or any other genre. Barbara Stanwyck may not have invented the Femme Fatale, but she certainly perfected it. The plot is twisty, the romance steamy, and the characters compelling. Billy…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse: Biographical Books.
So far, my binging guide has been throwing a lot of fiction at you all. So today I thought I’d recommend some non-fiction for those of you who prefer the real world to made-up ones. Here are ten interesting biographies to read while you are stuck sitting at home. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings- Maya Angelou’s 1969 autobiography is a breathtaking work of literature. And I know of no other work that comes close to replicating its amalgamation of truth and fiction. And I don’t mean that anything that is shared in this raw look at Ms. Angelou’s…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse: Science Fiction Television Series
For today’s recommendations list, I’m giving you some of the best Science Fiction shows ever to air on television. You’ll notice some notable absences (X-files, Fringe), I plan on making a whole other list about sci-fi procedurals. So cool your jets. Anyway here are the binging recs. Babylon 5: Hands down one of the greatest science-fiction shows ever written and decades ahead of its time. The whole series plays out like a five-act play and every plot thread, every detail is carefully nurtured. Yes, seasons one and five can be a bit rocky as a result of network interference and…