Each week, the staff here at The Anchor give their recommendations on an album, book and movie to enjoy. Here are our recommendations for the week of 1/27-2/2.
Album (May B.): Mm…Food by MF DOOM (2004)
MF DOOM is a rapper that has a very different style than most. He has a comic-book persona of a supervillain trying to take over the world. Mm..Food is a continuation of his debut album Operation: Doomsday. This album has amazing sample use that is a great combination with MF DOOM’s unique rapping. This album has popular songs such as “Rapp Snitch Knishes”, “One Beer”, and “Hoe Cakes”. These songs showcase peaks of MF DOOM’s career and are in no way undeserving of that title. Mm..Food is a perfect album for those who listen to hip-hop.
Book (Castalia L.): Lovely War by Julie Berry
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I thought there was no way it could accomplish what it outlined successfully: a retelling of World War II through the eyes of the mythical Greek Gods? Still, I decided to give the book a try, and it quickly exceeded my expectations. The story rotates between the perspectives of the four main characters — Hazel (a London pianist), James (a British architect-turned-solider), Aubrey (a ragtime prodigy from Harlem), and Colette (a Belgium orphan with a beautiful voice). As their lives intersect in the midst of war, all under the watchful eyes of Aphrodite from Mount Olympus, they fall in love, suffer loss, and fight against the injustices ever-present during one of history’s darkest times. I read this book the year it came out, 2019, and six years later, I still regularly think of and relay this one quote: “Grief is not a contest.” Much of the writing follows this philosophically-minded, full of depth style that leaves this book not only a stunning romance, but something that stays with the reader long after the final page, as it has with me.
Movie (May B.): Fight Club directed by David Fincher
Fight Club shows us the perspective of someone who has multiple personality disorder. This means that he has another persona whose actions he doesn’t remember. Tyler Durden is this persona. He doesn’t care about consumerism and thinks that everyone’s debts should be removed to give everyone a fresh start. Tyler proves that anyone can be whatever they want if they have enough motivation. Tyler’s main persona is the complete opposite and throughout the movie he becomes more and more like Tyler. Together, the two start a fight club for men that are unsatisfied with their lives and want to feel satisfaction. This movie is amazing for those who enjoy thriller movies.
