New Voices

Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.

What You Should Be Reading (And Watching) Over Break

H. B. Rubin • December 25, 2012 •
Winter break can induce phases of utter boredom. It's not pretty.
Winter break can induce phases of utter boredom. It’s not pretty. [CC CollegeCandy.com]
It is finally that time that you’ve waited for all semester: winter break. Wooo PaRtAy. My first day home is usually a delicate balance between the T.V. room and the kitchen. Oh, the joys of coming home to a well-stocked fridge. The minor drawbacks of a house that goes to bed four hours before me and the shitty selection of real-time T.V. shows can’t even get me down. I feel on top of the world. Then day 2 rolls around. And day 3. Suddenly, even my refrigerator doesn’t look so fun anymore. I’m getting bored. Day 4. I’ve already seen all the friends I don’t really know anymore. Waking up at noon three days in a row begins to gnaw at my self-esteem. Day 5. I walk around my neighborhood, call people I haven’t talked to in three years, attempt to read the newspaper– anything ANYTHING to give me something to do. I start thinking of projects: maybe I’ll finally learn how to paint, make something for my mom’s birthday, clean out the shed in the back of the house, buy a sewing machine and make clothes. Day 6. 7. 8. I still haven’t bought the sewing machine, learned how to paint, or cleaned the shed. Waking up at noon continues to gnaw at my self-esteem. I think to myself, if only I had a really good book to read.
And that’s where we come in:

New Voice’s Editorial Picks for What You Should Be Reading and Watching Over Winter Break (Because Lord Knows You Have The Time):

A book or movie that we loved as kids and suggest revisiting:

A book or movie that taught us something about ourselves

A book or movie that really made us laugh

  • Hannah: Read anything by Augusten Burroughs and you will never be sad again. Also, watch Zoolander.
  • Simi: Read This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (I’ve been known to read this and laugh/snort in public because of it.) and watch The Invention of Lying. (I can’t resist: other funny movies: Ted, Office Space or Kickass)
  • John: Watch Ishtar
  • Gabriel: Read A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace and watch Monty Python’s The Life of Brian

A movie that we enjoyed watching with our families

  • Hannah: Castaway (First movie that me and my family were able to watch un-awkwardly)
  • Simi: How To Train Your Dragon
  • John: Left Behind 2: Tribulation Force
  • Gabriel: Full Metal Jacket or Death To Smoochy

A Book or movie to read/watch on the plane

  • Hannah: Read  Girl With A Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. It will enthrall and disturb you, all at once. If you have a laptop with you, then watch The Life Aquatic
  • Simi: 1. Read 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James. I DON’T CARE IF YOU JUDGE ME IT WAS ADDICTIVE. And, don’t watch anything, no movie is good on a plane. Period.
  • John: Read When I Fell From the Sky by Juliane Koepcke
  • Gabriel: Watch Loose Change or read Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

A movie to watch on Christmas Eve, when you feel lame about not caring at all that it is Christmas Eve

  • Hannah: Watch anything James Bond
  • Simi: Watch It’s a Wonderful Life and Love Actually (it’s going to be a long night)
  • John: The Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver
  • Gabriel: Brazil (the Terry Gilliam one)

A book we read in Starbucks and didn’t feel about (but still enjoyed)

H. B. Rubin

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