# Here are seven of my favorite things. What does that tell you?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 27, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787 "2006-01-27T00:28:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/1 "2006-01-27T00:28:46Z")
Here’s the rules, if anyone wants to play:
One poster lists seven of his favorite works of art–novel, short story, film, television show, play, musical, painting, whatever. The next poster draws what inferences she may about that poster from the previous poster’s list, then provides her own list for the benefit of a third poster, and so on.
If you wish to change the media you list–omitting “favorite novel” in favor of “favorite biography,” for instance–that’s fine, but try to keep the list to no more than seven. Likewise, if you’re stuck between two items in any one category, you can note that you have a tie; and if you wish you can make the whole thing “LEAST favorite novel, etc.” One request: If you’re going to list “favorite comic book,” try to specify a run–since someone could clearly love the 80s Giffen-Levitz Legion of Super-Heroes, and hate the current book, or vice versa.
Silliness is encouraged.
I’ll begin:
Favorite novel: C. S. Lewis’ _Till We Have Faces._
" short story: Valerie Martin’s “The Consolation of Nature”
" film: _The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind_
" television show (currently on air): _Gilmore Girls_
" musical: _Sunday in the Park with George_
" painting: [Théodore Géricault’s _Raft of the Medusa_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raft_of_the_Medusa)
" comic book run: the 80s Baxter edition of Legion of Super-Heroes, issues 1-50.
Next?
---
### Author:  [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/2 "2006-01-27T00:58:42Z")
Favorite novel: Frank Herbert’s _Dune_
" short story: _Carcinoma Angels_ by Norman Spinrad
" film: _Aliens_
" television show (currently on air): don’t watch TV
" musical: _Les Miserables_
" painting: don’t have a favorite
" comic book run: Preacher, the entire series, but if I had to pick one, I think maybe “Saint of Killers”
---
### Author:  [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/3 "2006-01-27T01:08:25Z")
Favorite novel: Jack Kerouac’s On the Road
" film: Casablanca (followed closely by Fight Club)
" television show (currently on air): Arrested Development if it counts (since it’s as good as cancelled)
" musical: tie between Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors, and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical “Once More With Feeling”
" musician/band: Tom Waits
" painting: Edward Hopper’s “The Nighthawks”
" comic book run: James Robinson’s Starman (the entire run)
---
### Author:  [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/4 "2006-01-27T01:16:59Z")
> [@Fabulous Creature](#):
>
> **The next poster draws what inferences she may about that poster from the previous poster’s list, then provides her own list for the benefit of a third poster, and so on.**
>
> Favorite novel: C. S. Lewis’ _Till We Have Faces._
> " short story: Valerie Martin’s “The Consolation of Nature”
> " film: _The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind_
> " television show (currently on air): _Gilmore Girls_
> " musical: _Sunday in the Park with George_
> " painting: [Théodore Géricault’s _Raft of the Medusa_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raft_of_the_Medusa)
> " comic book run: the 80s Baxter edition of Legion of Super-Heroes, issues 1-50.
>
> Next?
Er…you’re a romantic who tends to feel a bit isolated, and can tend to be a little emotionally turbulent, but genuinely likes people.
For mine, I will pick from the pool of ‘favorites’ whatever first pops into my mind.
novel: _Borderliners_ by Peter Hoeg.
short story: “Breaking the Game” by Orson Scott Card
film: _Double Indemnity_
TV show, currently on the air: This made me realize that I’m not watching a single fiction-based series at the moment. So, “Project Runway” it is.
painting: _The Empire of Light II_ by Magritte
graphic novel: _Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth_ by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean
musical: _Assassins_
---
### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/5 "2006-01-27T02:19:34Z")
novel: _Tigana_ by Guy Gavriel Kay
short story: “Pinch” by Sarah Ellis
film: _Lord of the Rings_
TV show, currently on the air: Can’t decide between _Lost_, _24_, _House_, or _CSI_
painting: “Desert Rose” by Salvador Dali
graphic novel: Either one of the “Watchmen” or “Sandman” TPBs
musical: _Rent_
What does that say about me, then?
---
### Author:  [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/6 "2006-01-27T02:29:30Z")
> [@cthiax](#):
>
> Er…you’re a romantic who tends to feel a bit isolated, and can tend to be a little emotionally turbulent, but genuinely likes people.
>
> For mine, I will pick from the pool of ‘favorites’ whatever first pops into my mind.
>
> novel: _Borderliners_ by Peter Hoeg.
> short story: “Breaking the Game” by Orson Scott Card
> film: _Double Indemnity_
> TV show, currently on the air: This made me realize that I’m not watching a single fiction-based series at the moment. So, “Project Runway” it is.
> painting: _The Empire of Light II_ by Magritte
> graphic novel: _Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth_ by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean
> musical: _Assassins_
I must have lost my mind. Of course I watch a couple-three fictional shows - _Boston Legal_ and _House_ and I’ve just started checking out the NBC Thursday night comedies.
---
### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/7 "2006-01-27T03:08:32Z")
novel: The Tailsman by Peter Straub and Stephen King hated Black House, though
short story: Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin
film: Empire Records
television show (currently on air): Invasion
play: All My Sons by Arthur Miller
painting: tie between Maxfield Parrish’s “Winter On Hilltop Farm” & Edward Hopper’s “The Nighthawks” only ones I like enough to own prints
comic book run: X-Men ~1989-95 (I don’t know who wrote them, sorry)
---
### Author:  [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/8 "2006-01-27T03:25:56Z")
Short Story: The Man Who Walked Home (Tiptree)
Novel: Lord of Light (Zelazney)
Movie: Man for All Seasons
TV: (tie) Boston Legal, MythBusters
Musician: Carlos Santana
Artist: VeryCoolSpouse (hmm…need to update [the Web site](http://www.edgegallery.org/), these are some very old pieces)
**Ghanima** , you’re a romantic with a science-fiction jones. I think we could have a lovely discussion over a couple of beers some night.
**Big Bad Voodoo Lou** , you’re an eclectic artistic type with a particular interest in high energy music. and sillier-than-usual musicals.
Most of the rest, I’m sorry to say, I don’t recognise enough of your favs to make any sort of guess.
---
### Author:  [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/9 "2006-01-27T03:53:22Z")
Nuts. Little of what you folks have picked clicks. I’m deprived, or is it depraved?
Musician: Mozart (Serenade in G, K525)
Comic artist: Walt Kelly (Pogo)
Painting: Dream (M.C. Escher)
Movie: (tie) 12 Angry Men (original) & The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Non-fiction: Young Men and Fire (Norman Maclean)
Fiction: Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov)
TV: Sopranos
---
### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/10 "2006-01-27T04:10:33Z")
> [@Ghanima](#):
>
> …
> [@Elfkin477](#):
>
> …
> [@Kytheria](#):
>
> …
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#):
>
> …
None of you read instructions.
😉
---
### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/11 "2006-01-27T04:28:34Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#):
>
> Nuts. Little of what you folks have picked clicks. I’m deprived, or is it depraved?
>
> Musician: Mozart (Serenade in G, K525)
> Comic artist: Walt Kelly (Pogo)
> Painting: Dream (M.C. Escher)
> Movie: (tie) 12 Angry Men (original) & The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
> Non-fiction: Young Men and Fire (Norman Maclean)
> Fiction: Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov)
> TV: Sopranos
Like many cynics, you are really a romantic who has been dissillousioned by life. You enjoy wallowing in cynicism but deep down you’de like to be naive again. Your outlook is summed up in the famous lyric from Bob Seger: _Wish I didn’t know now, what I didn’t know then._
Musician: Leonard Cohen
Painting: [2 Cats Fighting](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol9no11/about_cover.htm) (Rena de los gatos, I think) by Goya. Seen here, oddly enough, on the cover of a CDC report.
Movie: Still _Office Space_ after all these years
Musical: Les Miserables
Novel: a tie between _The Unbearable Lightness of Being_ by Kundera, and _The Lord of the Rings_
Non-Fiction: _South_ by Shackleton
TV that’s on now: Lost
---
### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/12 "2006-01-27T04:59:30Z")
**danceswithcats** , you’re intrigued by the darkest parts of human nature. You see the appeal of trying to understand things that are supposed to repulse you.
**Me**
Novel: The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
Movie: Duck Soup (Marx Brothers)
Painting: The Scream (Munch)
Song: jeez… um… “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” (orig. by Dr. John) or “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
Classical piece: Clair de Lune (Debussy)
Play: The Tempest or Macbeth (Shakespeare)
Talk show host: Jon Stewart
---
### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/13 "2006-01-27T05:00:03Z")
**danceswithcats** , you’re intrigued by the darkest parts of human nature. You see the appeal of trying to understand things that are supposed to repulse you.
**Me**
Novel: The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
Movie: Duck Soup (Marx Brothers)
Painting: The Scream (Munch)
Song: jeez… um… “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” (orig. by Dr. John) or “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
Classical piece: Clair de Lune (Debussy)
Play: The Tempest or Macbeth (Shakespeare)
Talk show host: Jon Stewart
---
### Author:  [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/14 "2006-01-27T05:34:13Z")
Hell, I’ll give it a whirl.
Novel: _Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World_ by Haruki Murakami
Film: _The Third Man_
Musician: Jimi Hendrix
Classical composer: J.S. Bach
Comic book artist: Jack Kirby (the real King!)
Favorite actress: Emmanuelle Beart
And…er…um…
Animal: doggies
---
### Author:  [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/15 "2006-01-27T05:51:24Z")
**Marley23** , I think you love stuff that’s “Classic”. Bit of a dark/depressed streak but it’s balanced by an appreciation for the surrealy absurd.
Okay, mine.
Novel - _The Razor’s Edge_, Somerset Maughm
Movie - Jeez, pick one?! Okay, _Casablanca_.
Painting - _Starry Night_, Van Gogh
TV - _Crossing Jordan_
Song - _Six Hours_, Alice Cooper
Favorite Performer - Alice, of course.
Comic book - the _Dark Shadows_ series that came out with the TV show, '66-'72. (Mine got swiped. Whole set except #3. ☹ )
---
### Author:  [@Dervish\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervish_Jones)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/16 "2006-01-27T06:59:40Z")
**zoogirl** , you’re full of empathy. You have a keen awareness of beauty and justice.
My favorites at the moment,
Non-fiction: _Black Lamb and Grey Falcon_ by Rebecca West
Fiction: _To Kill a Mockingbird_ or _The Remains of the Day_
Film: _Gosford Park_
Music: Prokofiev’s _Flute Sonata in D_
Television show (on air): _Gilmore Girls_
Television show (off air): _Firefly_
Comic: _Bloom County_
---
### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/17 "2006-01-27T07:27:02Z")
**Dervish** , you like soup. Your socialist tendencies clash with your desire for fashionable clothing and a fast car. You secretly wish that hippies would kidnap you so you wouldn’t have to take responsibilty for what happened last week at work.
Here’s my faves:
Favorite novel: **The Man In The High Castle** by Phil Dick
Favorite short story: _[Meihem In Ce Klasrum](http://members.aol.com/VoxVideus/meihem.html)_ by Dolton Edwards
Favorite film: changes often, currently [Undercover Brother](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279493/)
Favorite television show (currently on air): I don’t have a television, but I think my DVDs of **Aqua Teen Hunger Force** are the greatest thing that has prolly ever aired on television.
Favorite musical: there’s no such thing as a good musical
Favorite painting: White Flag by Jasper Johns (1955)
Favorite comic book run: **Normalman** by Valentino
---
### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/18 "2006-01-27T15:11:41Z")
**Snowboarder Bo** , you are willing to overlook massive unevenness and pacing issues in your media. You like to think of yourself as a modernist.
I have an awfully terrible time picking a favorite anything. It’s a little like picking a favorite child!
Favorite novel: **A Canticle for Leibowitz** , Walter Miller
Favorite short story: “Radio Waves”, Michael Swanwick; or “Flowers for Algernon”, Daniel Keyes
Favorite film: **The Hustler** , or **The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly**
Favorite current TV show: **Deadwood**
Favorite musical: **Les Miserables** , if I have to pick one, but to be honest I’m not crazy about the genre
Favorite painting: **The Prophetess Anna** , Rembrandt, or **The Milkmaid** , Vermeer, or **Flaming June** , Leighton
Favorite comic book: **Watchmen** , Alan Moore, or **Lone Wolf and Cub** , Kazuo Koike
---
### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/19 "2006-01-27T16:08:43Z")
**Zsofia** , you are a conservationist, librarian or curator of some sort, and you like older men. And older, simpler times.
---
### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/20 "2006-01-27T16:14:27Z")
> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> **Zsofia** , you are a conservationist, librarian or curator of some sort, and you like older men. And older, simpler times.
Whoops, forgot my list:
**Favorite novel** : _Player of Games_, Iain M. Banks
**Favorite short story** : _Shoggoth’s Old Peculiar_, Neil Gaiman
**Favorite film** : _The Nightmare Before Christmas_
**Favorite current TV show** : _Gilmore Girls_
**Favorite musical** : _Cats_
**Favorite painting** : _The Kiss_, Klimt
**Favorite comic book** : _The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen_, Alan Moore, or _2000AD_
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