December 2018 Update

It's the final day of the year, and time for an end-of -the-year update! Here's what I've been watching this month, and a little bit about what's going on with me.

Started Watching:

radiotimes.com

My Mother and Other Strangers - season 1 - started and finished

Wow. I almost want to do an entire review post on this show, because I was blown away. It absolutely isn't for everyone, but I couldn't get enough. Only 5 episodes, it watches more like a mini-series than a television show. Centered around the Coyne family in the small parish of Moybeg during WWII, it looks at childhood, growing up, family tensions, fidelity, and all manner of things. How can they handle this all in 5 episodes? Hah, just watch! Not only that, but the pacing actually feels slow (something that I particularly like, but many might find boring). I started watching this when it first aired, but was unable to continue it at the time and only got around to it again now. Okay, stop babbling, Shayna.

variety.com

Frontier - season 2 - started and finished
What a great month for me - this season of Frontier was just as fantastic as the first. Actually, I think it might have been even better. A bunch of dramatic situations reach a climax during this season, so there is quite a bit going on. And if the cliffhanger doesn't get you...well, I have no idea what will.

28 Movies That Leave You Screaming at the Screen

If you are the self-proclaimed super fan of the happy ending, turn away now. Either that, or pay careful attention to this post as things to avoid. Today I'm going to talk about movies where things don't turn out with the ideal fairytale ending. That doesn't exactly mean that the endings are devastating (although in some cases they are), as many times the ending is bittersweet and closes with the main characters doing what is best for them even if it isn't satisfying romantically. So, since the following will essentially give large hints as to the endings of these films, here is your GIGANTIC SPOILER WARNING. Continue at your own risk (haha).

Under the Greenwood Tree (Thomas Hardy)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the final one for my 2018 TBR Challenge! I'm so incredibly happy I've made it through - I didn't think I was going to, and I nearly gave up because I was feeling so discouraged. Here's to perseverance!

biblio.com

What it's about:

The arrival of the newest schoolmistress, Fancy Day, turns the village of Mellstock on its head. First, her lovely organ playing skills cause her to replace the choir as the music for the Sunday church service. Then, her handsome features and sweet demeanor catch the attention of not one, not two, but three Mellstock residents - one of whom is none other than the choir's Dick Dewy. Under the Greenwood Tree, or The Mellstock Quire (A Rural Painting of the Dutch School), is a novel of love, of adjusting to change, and ultimately of social and moral divides.

YA in Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty (Libba Bray)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the eleventh one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge. One more to go!

libbabray.com

What it's about:

After the mysterious death of her mother, Gemma Doyle is whisked away from her home in India to the one place she has always desired to go - London, England. Immediately enrolled in Spence Academy boarding school, Gemma starts having strange and terrifying visions that she can't control. As Gemma learns more about what is happening to her, she discovers that her world is not exactly as she thought it was - that evil is lurking...and wants to find her desperately.

Lady Susan (Jane Austen)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the tenth one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge. I was thinking of giving up on this challenge in favour of getting through a few things that I was more interested in, but I'm still hoping I can make it!

barnesandnoble.com

What it's about:

Lady Susan is a widow, a mother, a beauty, a liar, and a shameless flirt. Told entirely through letters, this story centers on Lady Susan's scheming to make a good match for herself and her daughter, while everyone else tries desperately to thwart her efforts. Around every corner lies deceit, persuasion, and endless familial frustration.

YA in Review: Red Queen (Victoria Aveyard)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the ninth one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge. Only three left!

harpercollins.com

What it's about:

The world is divided into two - those with red blood, the commoners, and the elite members of society who have silver blood and possess unique special abilities. Mare Barrow, a red-blooded girl is about to be sent to war, as is the law for those without skilled jobs when they reach eighteen. But Mare's skill is thievery - trying to feed her family, she steals to provide their basic necessities since her brothers are already at war. Yet one day she tries to steal from a stranger, who offers her a job in the palace instead. The stranger is the crown prince, and immersed in his world, Mare soon discovers that although she bleeds red, that she has more in common with the silvers than she ever could have predicted.

November 2018 Update

We're nearing the end of the year, which means I am nearing the end of my TBR challenge, A Queen of Air and Darkness will be out soon, and my school semester is coming to a close. Television hasn't been a major priority, but I do have a few things I have been watching. As a heads-up, it's 1:30 in the morning when I'm writing a good chunk of this post, so...sorry in advance?

Started Watching:

radiotimes.com

Outlander - season 4

I'm back to a similar position as I was with the first season - I haven't read this. If you follow me on Goodreads, you'll see that I haven't made any progress on book four, Drums of Autumn, in over a year. I do know some plot points further on in the book, but I've technically only read a bit under half of it. Considering the series is zooming along, they will definitely surpass me soon. Yes, watching the season makes me want to pick the book back up, but I have much more pressing reads right now. I'm annoyed at one big deviation from the book (it seems like a minor detail, but it is in fact not), but otherwise liking how they are handling it for the most part (asides from my normal issues with their pacing). I should stop rambling now. Can you tell I'm blogging when I'm tired?

TTT: Platonic Relationships in Books

Thanks to Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl for this week's topic! I haven't done one in a bit because things have been rather crazy, but I wanted to take the time for this one.

1) Aelin and Aedion > Cousins - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

2) Tibby, Lena, Bridget, and Carmen > Best Friends - The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares

3) Charlie and Patrick > Friends - The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

4) The Pilot and The Little Prince > Friends - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

YA in Review: The Maze Runner (James Dashner)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the eighth one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge. I'm getting there!

chapters.indigo.ca

What it's about:

Thomas wakes up suddenly in a box, being transported underground, and has absolutely no memory of how he got there or his life before that very moment. The only thing he remembers is his name. When he finally sees the surface, an area know as the Glade, he meets a group of boys who all have a similar story. He learns that each has their own role to contribute, from farmers to cooks, and the elite group of maze runners who explore the labyrinth surrounding the Glade - trying to discover the secrets to help them get free. But Thomas is different - he gets the feeling that he's been here before, and unlike the others, knows he needs to explore the maze, no matter the dangers. And when only days later the first and only girl arrives, they know that nothing they have come to rely on will ever be the same again.

The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the seventh one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge. I only have five left - can I do it?

cbc.ca

What it's about:

In the not so distant future, fertility rates are at an all-time low, making modesty and the ability to bear children of paramount importance. The government has been overthrown, and the Bible is law - including its determination of sin. Inspired by the story of Jacob and Rachel, women able to bear children are delegated as Handmaids and assigned to a household for the sole purpose of providing the family with a baby. One of these women, known only as Offred from her assignment to the household of Commander Fred, tells her bleak story with raw honesty.

Fireworks Book Tag!

As Clare from The Regal Critiques reminded me, it's Bonfire Night (or as many of us in Canada know it as, Guy Fawkes Day). So, I'm grabbing this tag from her, which she originally found here.

Screamers: A book that made you want to scream (in a good or bad way)

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. I legitimately screamed when I read the ending, and proceeded to start back at the beginning instantly. This is one of those book where the beginning occurs after the end, and the whole thing is a memory. Anyway, if you haven't read this one, the ending is divine.

Bombers: A book that you read before it "exploded" in the book community

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I read this maybe two years after it came out? Regardless, it wasn't one I had really heard that much about at the time. But now there's a show, and everyone and their dog knows about it.

Banger: A banned book you've read

So many. I feel like a lot of my favourite books can be determined by looking at a banned book list. Let me see...The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I love the "banned" content of this book so much that when I realized that they had released the original, uncensored version, I instantly sought after a copy.

October 2018 Update

 Television and movies have took a real backseat in the last half of the month, but the beginning of October had be watching non-stop. Here's what I've been sinking my teeth into this October:

Started Watching:

rottentomatoes.com

The Innocents - started and finished
I knew instantly that I would like this one. It has that creepy sci-fi fantasy tilt set in the current world, which I tend to be really into. It's just freaky enough that it's fun, but not so bad that I couldn't watch it at night or that it kept me up. It's only 8 episodes, so if you need a shorter series to get invested in, this is a good bet. I also love that the entire season wrapped up well as a contained package (so I'm not sitting there horrified if it doesn't get picked up for season 2), but there are still enough unsolved things that I would love to see the story progress and for everything to resolve.

variety.com

Frontier - season 1
I've meant to watch this one for a while, but part of me was sort of worried it would be too gory for me. I watch Game of Thrones though, so I have no idea why I was concerned. Anyway, I've only just started this one, and although it starts a bit slow, it seems promising so far. Best part? It's Canadian history come to life...with a twist, of course.

YA in Review: A Monster Calls (Patrick Ness)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the sixth one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge. I'm finally getting through them at a decent pace, which is making me feel so much better. There's a chance in heck I could actually finish now.

booktopia.com.au

What it's about:

Conor is dealing with a problem - a really big problem. His mother is very ill and has to go in for treatment once again, he's being bullied at school, and, worst of all, he is having the nightmare of all nightmares. But all of those things Conor can face - he has to. Until one day the yew tree from behind his house lifts up its roots and comes walking. As time passes and Conor's problems get worse and worse, the tree shares with him three important tales of when he has come walking before. But for this, he demands one story from Conor in return - the story of truth that he cannot face.

TTT: Best Literary Villains

Quick post for me this week! Thanks to That Artsy Reader Girl for highlighting the evil fictional characters right before Hallowe'en! I chose to focus on literary classics, because there are some truly delightful villainous characters in those stories. Here is my list of...thirteen!

1) Mrs. Danvers - Rebecca, by Daphne DuMaurier
2) Alec D'Urberville - Tess of the D'Urbervilles, by Thomas Hardy
3) Mr. Brocklehurst - Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë
4) Morgan Le Fey - Arthurian Legend
5) Cathy Earnshaw - Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë
6) Henry Crawford - Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen
7) Lord Henry Wotton - The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

Blog-Along: Tin Man (Part 3 - Conclusion)

Are you ready for the third and final part of this mini-series? Well, here you go! Need to catch up on the other installments? See Part 1 and Part 2 here.

telfie.com

• 5:03 - My favourite part of this moment is how everyone looks surprised, but there's Raw looking like literally nothing just happened. Also, how did her mom know about the rock? Or would any rock do?
• 8:11 - What I find particularly interesting is what Azkadellia decided to destroy. The forest? Yep. The maze? Nope. Why not?
• 9:15 - Ah, so it was the rock! My question still stands. 
• 16:37 - You're still in there! Those teary eyes mean something.
• Did he find them?!
• I wish Glitch still had problems repeating himself once in a while. I don't see that anymore.
• 19:00 - Yes, let's descend into a hole that has high-pitched shrieking sounds coming out of it.
•  25:50 - How did the Seeker not notice the four other people? He evidently can't see things well enough to be of any help.
• Why haven't people on the run disguised themselves yet?
• Not that they have enough time to do this, but it would be interesting to look at the effects of the suit on Cain - like PTSD.

Blog-Along: Tin Man (Part 2)

On to part 2 of this science fiction retelling of The Wizard of Oz! We continue with our rag-tag bunch of  adventurers. What scrapes will they get out of this time? See Part 1 here.

telfie.com

Blog-Along: Tin Man (Part 1)

Welcome to my latest blog-along! For any new readers, this is the place where I informally review a movie moment by moment. Although I do mildly edit the content of these after to avoid large spoilers and to provide more clarity, these posts are essentially the purest version of quirky thoughts about the movie. For the best experience, watch the piece along with me and follow along with the time stamps, however you can also enjoy them just as is. Be warned, however, that some spoilers are inevitable because of this format, although I do my best to keep them to a minimum.
Now, on to this particular story!

telfie.com

Tin Man is a modern retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz with a science fiction twist. Released in 2007, this three-part mini-series stars big names such as Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming, and Richard Dreyfuss. Although I remember watching this not too long after it came out, I hardly remember a single detail about it now. So, this is sort of my first impression (but not really). Anyway, I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!:

"Unhaul" - Getting Rid of Books!

I just got rid of 18 books, and it feels great! Every year we have a big booksale in my region, and so there is a huge call for book donations. Now, 18 books might not sound like a lot, but for me, getting rid of books is borderline sacrilegious...so I'm listing it as a big accomplishment.

So, what didn't make the cut to keep?

1) The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom
Why?: Although it was a book I had been curious to read for a while, I had never purchased a copy. When someone I knew was getting rid of a copy, I decided to grab it from them and give it a go. I read it, I reviewed it, and don't really feel any desire to keep it.

2) Ever - Gail Carson Levine
Ella Enchanted and The Two Princesses of Bamarre are two of my favourite books of all time, and I also really enjoyed Fairest and The Wish...but Ever just didn't add up for me. No particular reason, it just didn't click for me in the same way the others did. So, out it goes.

3) Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
I just don't care. No offense to this book, but it has never held any interest for me. It was given to me when someone I knew was giving away books and I hung onto it until I could donate it.

4) Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
It's okay! You can stop screaming! For any of you who don't know, Jane Eyre is my default answer when asked what my favourite book of all time is. I own several copies. This is one I got for I believe...a quarter, and isn't one of the copies that means a lot to me. In order to conserve some space (...to buy nicer copies of Jane Eyre), this one went into the donation bin.

5) One Day - David Nicholls
Read and reviewed, but similar to number 1 on this list I didn't feel the need to reread it or keep it for the future.

6) T*Witches : Split Decision - H.B. Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld
Alright, I feel like I need to explain this one a bit. I really loved this series when I was younger (identical twin witches who meet for the first time as teenagers). This is actually book number 9. Why on earth did I only keep book 9? There was information in the back about the healing properties of herbs, crystals, zodiacs, etc. and I thought it was really interesting. Yeah...it was time to get rid.

7) Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this one for a while, but I eventually determined that I didn't care about it at this time, and that I could always easily get a copy in the future. It was given to me by the same person who gave me 1 and 4 on this list.

8) Double Indemnity - James M. Cain
Given to me by the same person as mentioned above, and had no interest in it.

9) The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
This book was a huge disappointment for me. If I ever feel the need to give it a second chance, I'm sure my library will have a copy.

September 2018 Update

Sorry this post is a bit late! It's been a really wild few weeks for me. First of all, I got a new job that I am trying to get used to, and I started a new semester of school. So I've been watching episodes of TV a lot during breaks. Here's what I've been watching:

Started Watching:

delightfullyamazing.com

A Love So Beautiful - started and finished
My first Chinese drama, and what a way to start things off! I finished all 24 episodes in about 3 days...because I am insane. It's a sweet story about a long unrequited love that follows its characters through high school and college. Relationships change and grow, people go in different directions, and life isn't perfect. But, it's cute and happy overall, with just enough to give you all the feelings and get you totally addicted.

cbc.ca

The Great Canadian Baking Show - season 2

What a quirky bunch this season! I have a feeling this is going to be a funny group. We're not far into this season, but I like it just the same. I don't care one way or another about the two judges, but the hosts are fun (which is lacking in the new British version).

YA in Review: The Kiss of Deception (Mary E. Pearson)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the fifth one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge.

chapters.indigo.ca

What it's about:

When Princess Arabella Celestine Idris Jezelia of Morrighan (known affectionately as Lia) is forcefully betrothed to the Prince of Dalbreck, she demands to at least meet him before their wedding day. When this request is denied, Lia, afraid to be trapped in a loveless marriage like her parents, flees with the help of her maid and friend Pauline. But this event has offended Dalbreck and is treason against her father, the King of Morrighan, so Lia must stay hidden to protect both herself and her maid. Working as a tavern maid, Lia learns to enjoy her new life...until it all gets turned upside down by the appearance of two strangers - a disguised prince, and a careful assassin.

TMST: Fall Reading

Just a quick post from me this week for Rainy Day Rambling's Tell Me Something Tuesday. I'm talking this time about what I love about fall reading.

My favourite times to read are without a doubt in the summer and fall. The summer is good because the light is great, the days are long, and you have this extra motivation to do things...but reading is the one thing that doesn't make you sweat.

Blog-Along: Begin Again

I love doing blog-alongs. I don't know if anyone actually likes reading them, but they are super fun, and essentially my pure snarky, sarcastic, and silly thoughts about a movie. For the best experience, watch the film with me and read along! However if you don't have a chance to watch it while you read, please be aware that there may be a few mild spoilers. Although I try to edit them, and I avoid anything too massive, unfortunately there are some from time to time. Today's movie, Begin Again, is one that I've wanted to watch for a while and finally got around to. Enjoy!

elizabethtai.com

Book Blogger Memory Challenge Tag

The

Book Blogger

Memory Challenge

Tag

This tag was created by Laura @ Laura’s Book Reviews (which doesn't seem to be around anymore?), however I found it through The Book Nut.


Here are the rules:

You must answer these questions without looking anything up on the internet and without looking at your bookshelves!!

Once you’ve completed this tag, tag 5 other book bloggers to answer the questions next.



1. Name a book written by an author called Michael. - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Alright, I sort of cheated on this one. I had the previous poster's answer for this so stuck in my head that I couldn't think of another Michael whom I knew a book they had written. So, I asked someone else to tell me an author's name, and hoped I would know a book by them. When they said Crichton, Jurassic Park immediately came to mind. So...a half cheat?


2. Name a book with a dragon on the cover. - Talon by Joy(?) Kagawa

(edit: Julie Kagawa) I mean, it's dragon scales, so that counts...right?


3. Name a book about a character called George. - George and Martha by James Marshall


4. Name a book written by an author with the surname Smith. -Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Although I've never read this book, I always thought it had a beautiful cover.

One Day (David Nicholls)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the fourth one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge.

isbnsearch.org

What it's about:

Emma Mayhew and Dexter Morley, although schoolmates who have seen each other around, meet properly one day - graduation day, July 15th, and everything changes. For some inexplicable reason the two connect and become fast friends, but they couldn't be more different. Over the next twenty years, through good and bad, they are Em and Dex, Dex and Em - no matter what their futures hold. This novel looks at their journey once a year on the anniversary of their meeting.

August 2018 Update

This August I have mostly been focusing on my reading, and haven't really been watching much in the way of television. So because of this, I'm including movies in here as well that I won't be reviewing in depth.

Started Watching:

cdn.pastemagazine.com

Medici : Masters of Florence - gave up on
I didn't give up on this series because it was bad. I simply just forgot about it. I got through the first episode (or was it two?), and intended to keep going, but I didn't remember I had even been watching it after about two days. The volume quality was poor, and the plot was rather slow to begin with. I don't necessarily recommend it or discourage watching it, but I don't plan on continuing it so far. If you've seen it and think I should give it a second chance, let me know.

TMST: Covers That Don't Work

This week's Tell Me Something Tuesday topic from the lovely Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings is "does is bother you when a book cover doesn't fit the characters in the book?" I am so excited to share my thoughts on this one, you have no idea!

Does it bother me? 100%, absolutely, no doubt about it, it drives me nuts! I've talked about the accuracy of cover art a bit in the past, where I evaluated covers of The Picture of Dorian Gray, but I get very bothered if simple details are not kept in mind when designing a cover. If the main character has blond, curly hair, and the cover has a person on it, the person should have blond, curly hair (unless they are evidently depicting a different character of course).

Back to School

This week's Top Ten Tuesday from That Artsy Reader Girl is a Back to School/Learning Freebie, so I decided to focus on books where a large portion (or the entire portion) takes place in a school setting and is of importance to the plot.

1) P.S. Your Not Listening - Eleanor Craig
2) Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli
3) The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
4) Matilda - Roald Dahl

Haul-lelujah

A couple of months back I thought about doing a book haul post. I started making a list of all of the books I had bought over the past 6 months or so...and then promptly forgot about it. Stumbling back upon it last week, I decided now was the time! So, every year my city has a large booksale, during which I go on the best shopping spree of my life. By this point (it's nearing the next one), I don't remember everything that I got there and after, but here's at least some of my "recent" purchases, as well as a few gifts I've been given!

Crome Yellow - Aldous Huxley

The Hammer of God - Arthur C. Clarke

Sabriel - Garth Nix

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare

Jamaica Inn/Frenchman's Creek/Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

Vampire Knight volumes 1-19

Claylord vol. 1

Clover (CLAMP)

Mini-Reviews: The Spectacular Now, Joy, Pompeii, The Edge of Seventeen

I've watched several films over the past few months that I just haven't felt motivated to review in depth. I don't have tons to say about any of these, but at the same time I wanted to let you all know what I thought about them! That being said, here are some mini-reviews so that you get the gist. If anyone wants to know more about any of these movies, please leave me a comment!

slashfilm.com

The Spectacular Now

Based on the novel by Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now is a slice of teenage awkwardness. It's fairly likely you've met both an Aimee and a Sutter at some point in your life (whether in high school or college), so these characters feel fairly realistic. The question is, do you like Sutter or do you want to punch him in the face? Well, you'll probably feel both things at some point but that's sort of a good thing. My one major complaint about this one was that the volume was very inconsistent throughout. Overall a decent movie.

wsj.com

Joy

The beginning is rage-inducing and frustrating, and anyone who has family troubles will relate to this horrible dynamic, and want to punch something. The movie picks up quite well and ends up being surprisingly interesting (yes it is about a mop, but it is really about so much more than that). It was overall enjoyable, and Jennifer Lawrence does a good job with this one.

RFID Poetry

For many of those working in today's libraries, RFID is a term you are more than familiar with - radio-frequency identification. Tags are placed inside books, movies, and other library materials which act as both a security feature and a quick and easy way to sign out items. This allows these materials to be checked out without using the barcode, and for users to borrow and return items without the help of library staff.
RFID poetry is a form of book spine poetry (placing spines of books next to each other and reading the titles in order to create a poem). Created by checking out or returning items with the use of RFID scanners, the resulting receipt can create some deep, hilarious, or downright weird poetic creations depending on the order the items are scanned.

Books You'd Mash Together

This week's Top Ten Tuesday by That Artsy Reader Girl is Books That You'd Mash Together. I absolutely love this one, and have been working on it for a few weeks now. I'm super excited to share these ones with you!:

1) Robin Hood and The Hunger Games
Outside of the arena, Robin steals from the Capital. Inside, Katniss kicks butt and takes names. Later, they share tips on taking down a deer by bow and arrow.

2) The Secret Garden and Frankenstein
You know why they keep the garden a secret?  Corpse reanimation.

3) The Thorn Birds and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
One day the roles will be reversed. What then? Also, what would a baby do with that kind of money?

4) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Yes, Willy Wonka is the Wizard, Oompa Loompas are the Munchkins, and The Wicked Witch is trying to steal factory secrets.

5) Anne of Green Gables and The Girl Who Owned a City
Can Anne uphold her romantic ideals amidst the apocalypse?

July 2018 Update

July, oh July...what a weird month. In one sense it took absolutely forever, and in another it completely flew by! My classes are now officially done for the semester, and I get a chance to relax for a little while. Work is insane, but it is also slowing down now (well, after next week). I didn't watch tons this month, but overall the things that I watched were great.

Started Watching:

hellomagazine.com

Great British Bake-Off season 8

Although I have avidly watched past seasons of this, three of the main four cast members have been replaced this time, and I don't know how much I'll be watching. The new hosts just don't have the same flair, and the newest judge seems fine, but I haven't had any chance to feel connected to her. Paul is still the same though - good ol' Paul. Well, we'll see.

storyenthusiast.com

This is My Love (My Love Eun Dong) - started and finished
This was AMAZING. Full disclosure though: if you are not into obsessive guys or pining, then just stay away. Yes, it got a little bit much at some points, and I totally would have yelled at the male lead...but I loved it. This goes through three different ages of the characters, and the middle age of the female lead is played by the same person that was in the last K-Drama I watched, One Last Time. Yet, it was wonderful and heartbreaking, and I wanted to cry almost right away. So worth a watch if you are into intense love stories.

TMST: Change in Reading/Watching Habits

Things have been so busy that I unfortunately haven't been able to participate in a few weeks, but here I am back again with another Tell Me Something Tuesday.

This week's topic from Rainy Day Ramblings is "how have you reading habits changed since you started blogging?" I definitely think this is an interesting one, because although I knew things had changed for me a little, I could really only identify it in terms of the movies and shows I was watching. So, I'm going to look at both.

Summer 2018 Comment Challenge

You know those things that you keep meaning to get around to, and then just never end up doing? That's sort of been me the past few months. Now, if you don't know anything about my job, I work with children and teenagers. This means that during the summer school is out, and it is essentially non-stop chaos for me at work (which also makes it my favourite time). So while for most people the summer is a time to relax and catch up on all of their projects...that is definitely not the case for me. Anyway, I digress.

Period Drama: Lady Bird

Set in Sacramento in 2002, this period drama was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two Golden Globes.

vulture.com

What It's About:

Christine McPherson has pink hair, goes to Catholic school, and gave herself the name Lady Bird. Trying to carve her mark amidst the craziness of her final year in high school, she joins the drama club along with her best friend Julie, where she meets Danny and the two fall for each other. While making her way through college applications, relationship troubles, her father losing his job, and a contentious relationship with her mother, Lady Bird discovers that sometimes you have to take a step back to see the things that are the closest to your heart.

The Illustrated Man (Ray Bradbury)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the third one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge.

simonandschuster.com

What it's about:

The Illustrated Man is a collection of short stories centered around the tales told by a man's tattoos. This illustrated man is an outcast, never staying in one place for long. His elaborate body art is his curse - each story shifts and changes every day, and he sees them depict the future of those involved, no matter how horrible. Each tale in the collection relates to a different tattoo.

TMST: Vacation Reading

This week's question from Rainy Day Ramblings is "Vacation Reading: What books would you pack for your vacation?" but instead of necessarily listing a bunch of specific books, I'm going to talk about the kinds of books I like to read over the summer.

For some reason, I always think Jane Austen is the perfect author over the warmer months. I like to curl up on the couch and pour through these. Maybe it's the romance, maybe it's the revisiting of old favourites, or maybe it's just about having the time and the focus to get into them, but I tend to crave these books in the summer.

I also love reading anything that's long, or takes a bit more effort to get through, like classics. I'm more likely to pick up Jane Eyre or War and Peace over the summer. Not only am I happier (and can therefore focus better without being stressed), but I also have more time on my hands...sort of. I tend to have more time to myself without being bothered by various people, and am usually out of school (or have a lighter course load), but I do end up working a lot more. For some reason, this combination means that when I am free, I read for hours on end. I don't tend to pick a lot of things that are too dark and depressing, but I am fine with reading something that is rather serious in nature.

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Oops! I forgot to post this on Tuesday!

June 2018 Update

I have been watching so many things that I barely know where to start (even though it won't look like it)! I started and finished a few series this month, so formatting this update is going to be a bit interesting - bear with me! (Grr, I'm a bear).

Started Watching:

hypable.com

The Shannara Chronicles season 2 - started and finished

I missed the first couple of episodes of season 2 when it aired, so I decided to wait until I could get it on DVD. I got it right when I was in the middle of several shows, but I still breezed through it in a few days. It definitely had a different feel to season 1, but I still enjoyed it (even though not as much as the first season). Unfortunately no one picked this show up for season 3, so it looks like it's done.

bustle.com

One More Time - started and finished
I was having some K-drama withdrawal (as you'll see why later), so I needed something as a quick distraction and picked this one. At only eight half-hour episodes, this is a quick one to whip through when you just need to get your drama fix. I finished this in two days, and liked it. It's a much simpler one than some of the others I've been watching lately, but that made it a nice change. As a heads-up, this is a Netflix original.

TMST: Worst Type of Ending

This week's Tell Me Something Tuesday question from Rainy Day Ramblings is "What is worse: cliffhanger, abrupt ending or open ending?"

This is a fun one that I can answer without too much difficulty. I can't stand abrupt endings! Protagonist wakes and it was all a dream? The end.
Big explosion ends the world. The end.
Main character dies and three seconds of mourning. The end.
I absolutely can't stand it, because it feels like a cop out. It feels like an excuse to not have to go into greater character development or to think through all the loose ends that need to be tied up. The only exception I have had to this so far has been the book The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham, because it actually felt like things were being tied up properly and that this ending was the only way to make things work. I have never felt even similarly with other abrupt endings.

Series I'd Still Like to Read

Have you ever wanted to read a series for so long that you've essentially forgotten what it was about, and why you wanted to read it in the first place? Or perhaps ones you've wanted to wait to start until the whole series (or most of it) is out? Well, I have built up quite the list of these by now, so here are some of the ones I've been waiting a long time to get into, but still plan on reading (thanks to That Artsy Reader Girl for today's TTT prompt):

1) Gemma Doyle Trilogy - Libba Bray
I'll be reading the first book, A Great and Terrible Beauty, for my TBR Challenge this year

2) The Remnant Chronicles - Mary E. Pearson
I'll be reading the first book, The Kiss of Deception, for my TBR Challenge this year

3) Inkheart Trilogy - Cornelia Funke
I absolutely adored Inkheart when it came out, and asked for the sequel Inkspell for Christmas one year, but it was a couple of years later and I couldn't get into it right away unfortunately. I really want to re-read Inkheart and then finish this series.

4) Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery
I tried getting into this more than once, and I usually don't make it beyond chapter two for some reason. I absolutely adore the 1985 mini-series (and its direct sequel), so it breaks my heart not automatically getting into the books. I know once I push myself to get through the first bit that it'll be much smoother sailing!

5) The Maze Runner - James Dashner
This book was so overly hyped that I just didn't want to pick it up. After watching the first movie though, I thought the concept was interesting and plan to at least give it a try. The first book, The Maze Runner, is part of my TBR Challenge this year.

6) The Ascendance Trilogy - Jennifer A. Nielsen
The plot for this middle grade series sounds great, but it just hasn't been high on my priority list unfortunately. It doesn't help that I try not to review MG fiction on my blog, which pushes it further down.

Period Dramas: Dark Angel

usatoday.com

What It's About:

Mary Ann Cotton is a wife and a mother - just like any other in the mid-1800s. She struggles with balancing the care of her children, the house, and putting food on the table while her husband William is away for work. When William stops bringing in enough money, Mary Ann decides that he's more trouble than he's worth, and takes things into her own hands.Well, maybe she's not quite like any other wife and mother. Dark Angel details the life and actions of the first female serial killer in Britain, from the events before her first crimes, until the brief months after her last.

Favourite Five: Childhood Movie Musicals

Since it's nearly impossible to narrow down my top five favourite musicals, I decided to limit these to ones that I loved the most when I was younger (and I am still fond of today!). I have taken Disney animated movies off of here otherwise I would never stand a chance of getting a list less than twenty. So, here are my favourite five in no particular order:

alchetron.com

1) Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997)

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2) Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

jaredmobarak.com

3) The King and I (1956)

TMST: Midyear Update

Thanks to the work of Rainy Day Ramblings again, this week's TMST topic is a Midyear Update.

So, I guess the first place to start is that I have now been running this blog for nearly a year and a half (I guess closer to a year and a third?), so I am looking forward to how things go over the next while. Life is general is getting busier, so I don't know what I will have time for, but I am trying to commit to at least one post a week, although lately I am generally doing more than that. My original date for posting was Tuesdays, but since I often like to do Top Ten Tuesday or Tell Me Something Tuesday, I have currently flipped it on over to Fridays. We'll see how that goes.

Alright, now onto the proper mid-year update. My two main goals for this year are my Goodreads Goal and my TBR Challenge, although there are a few other things I do hope to achieve by the end of the year. For Goodreads, I decided for this year to try and get through 35 books. I'm currently at 13, and not far away from finishing two more, so I'm on good track (even though according to where Goodreads thinks I should be I am two behind). Where my TBR Challenge is concerned, well, I'm not doing the greatest (aka failing miserably). I'm supposed to complete 12 books that I chose for this year, and I have completed 2. I am a good chunk of the way through the third one, and I have a few that I think I should be able to finish quickly, so I'm not officially worried, but I really need to pick up the pace. Unfortunately with my schooling at the moment I have weekly assignments, so that is really cutting into my reading and blogging time. My other goals for the year (although unofficial), are these:

Period Drama: Hidden Figures

Based on real events, and the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, this film was nominated for three academy awards.

hollywoodreporter.com

What It's About:

In 1961, before the public use of computers, men and women were employed at NASA to calculate by hand the delicate math required for space travel. Three of these "human computers", Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, struggle to be heard and treated fairly amongst their colleagues, as they are not only women in a men's world, but African American. Fighting gender inequality and racial prejudice, these three women pave the way for women in STEM, and are invaluable in NASA's success during the Space Race.