Did you know I have this crazy fascination?

I've been noticing a trend in my preferences for movies and books over the last year or so. And I'd have to say the thing that excites me most is best described by the word "apocalyptic." Anything that has to do with the end of the world, or an apocalyptic scenario, or a post-apocalyptic society or future, and I'm on board! I love it. One of my favorite books from last year was "Life As We Knew It" - where an asteroid hits the moon, knocking it closer to earth and basically everything goes wrong. Earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, storms, and it's all told through the journal of one teenager trying to make it through the winter in her home in suburbia. I was mesmerized and started freaking Michael out with long conversations about what we'll do if there's an earthquake or a natural disaster and there's no phones or food and what if we're separated? whose house will we meet at? what if cars don't work? does he think we could walk to his parents house 20 miles north? how many days would that take?
He seemed a bit unsettled - what a weirdo.

Anytime there's a new movie coming out about any kind of world-ending situation, I'm allll over it. Pretty much every one I know hated War of the Worlds - and I bought it. Ok? Are you seeing the obsession here? Every once in awhile the history channel does a special on Nostradamus and all of his predictions that seem to be right and his many predictions of destruction (and all the ways they think it could happen) - and darn it, I keep watching those. They also have a fabulous series now called, "Life After People" that shows the breakdown of man-made cities and structures should humans suddenly disappear.

I'm trying to paint a picture for you. It's not that I think the world is going to end or that I'm expecting this stuff to happen. It's just a personal fascination. What I really love about these books and movies is seeing how it changes normal society, how it breaks down human reactions and behaviors and suddenly it's such a different world.

So can you imagine my reaction when Michael showed me this?:



Yes! Michael was even like, "I don't know if it looks very good..." and I was like, "it looks aaaawesoooooome! did you see that ground just dropping away beneath that plane? it could totally happennnnn!"
No, it couldn't. But I loved it anyway. Usually I don't bother with movies that look pretty crappy, but if it involves the end of the world, you can talk me into seeing it pretty easily.
Plus, I kind of have a thing for John Cusack.

If anyone has some good movie or book suggestions, lay it on me!

p.s. Speaking of apocalyptic, did you see that Norway is building a giant shelter for the end of the world? So if the end of the world happens and you're still alive, try to make your way to Norway.

p.p.s Here are some books and movies that are right up the apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic world/society alley for me:

Books:
Life As We Knew It
The Dead and the Gone
Uglies
The Hunger Games
Unwind
Ender's Game
The Host

Movies:
War of the Worlds
I Am Legend
The Matrix
Children of Men
Independence Day
V for Vendetta (ok, borderline, but I really like that movie)

I know Armageddon and Deep Impact should probably be on that list, but they're not. They just don't make the cut. Waterworld is also banned from the list. I almost put Cloverfield on there but I don't want you to completely lose respect for me. Jury's out on The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Any recommendations?