TTT: How About "Sea" You Never?

Thankfully for me, I'm pretty picky about what I read. And by that, I mean, I don't tend to pick up things that I am unlikely to enjoy or at least find okay. It's very rare that I actually hate a book. That brings me to the subject of this week's fun topic from That Artsy Reader Girl's Top Ten Tuesday, which is:

April 6: Books I’d Gladly Throw Into the Ocean (submitted by Beauty & Her Books)

So, that being said, even on this list there are only a handful that I actually hate. Here's what I came up with this week!

1) The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
No, I didn't have to read this for school, I read it voluntarily and still hate it with a passion. Top five most hated books I have read, and I legitimately couldn't find a single redeeming quality in it when I read it. I have heard some people say that it depends at what life stage you read it...but I don't think I ever hit the right one that would have let me appreciate this book.

2) Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
I'm sorry, but when you take out the woman's tampon for her to then have sex...I am so out. No, I have not made it the whole way through this one, but I've read enough of it to want to purge it from my memory.

3) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Perhaps one day I will try this book again, but I highly suspect that I will move on instead to other things that at least inspire some feelings other than extreme boredom and irritation. So frustrating, since some of her poems highly impacted me.

4) Losing Joe's Place by Gordon Korman
Perhaps I hate this book (and I do), or perhaps I just hate that it was read out loud to our class in eighth grade by a teacher I despised when I had a university reading level. Your call on that one ;)

5) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Do I hate this book? Yes and no. I love the idea of it so much, but I seriously despise Atwood's writing. And not just from this book - I have read some of her essays as well.

January 2020 Update

I'm getting my groove back! I'm feeling a lot better in general now, and getting back into watching television and movies, and reading. Not to say that some days I don't want to do anything...but I'm definitely on the right track to being in a better place mentally and emotionally. So...what did I watch?

Started Watching:

pbs.org

Sanditon - season 1
This started airing in Canada a few weeks ago, and I started watching it right away. I had already been watching clips of it on YouTube because it had been out in the UK (so yes, I know spoilers). It's based on an unfinished Jane Austen story, and although I haven't read it yet, I knew I wanted to watch it. Apparently her writing only covers the first episode or two of the series, but I'm interested to see where the showrunners take it. I'm definitely enjoying it so far, and will probably read the original sooner than otherwise planned. If you need a selling point other than a period drama by PBS based on an Austen work, it also has Theo James in it (Four in Divergent, Mr. Pamuk in Downton Abbey).

ca.ign.com

Howard's End
Some people may be very shocked to hear I am watching this. Others will be confused why I wouldn't want to, considering I love period dramas and Hayley Atwell. Well, I remember watching the 1992 film with Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins...and I despised the ending so much that it ruined the whole thing for me (we can chat about this in the comments if you'd like, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers!). Seeing this fresh adaptation, I thought it might be worth giving it another try - perhaps I just found that version didn't work for me. I'm a good chunk of the way through it now - there's only an episode or two left - and although I am really enjoying parts of it, other aspects seem to be a bit, well, all over the place. Except, I don't get the feeling that that is any fault of the actors or director, and simply a fault of the original work (I haven't read it though). A few of the characters (especially Ms. Schlegel's brother) are absolutely insufferable, and I can't stand their scenes. Hayley is wonderful though, and I am enjoying Matthew McFadyen and Philippa Coulthard in their roles as well. We'll see how I react to the ending this time...

screenertv.com

Outlander - season 1 (rewatch)
I needed something swoon-worthy. Honestly, one day I just didn't feel overly motivated and wanted to watch something that would just make me happy, and I went for Outlander. I've watched about 3/4 of the first season, and I might finish it, or I might not. I'm not worried - I've seen it more than once, and read the book. But it is just as good this time around.

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?

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.

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.

Maudie

If you don't know anything about Maud Lewis, know this: she had a heck of a life.

nytimes.com

What It's About:

Maud Lewis, when she is simply Maud Dowley, is considered a burden to her family. Plagued by juvenile arthritis, she is unable to do much to be self-sufficient and is not given a say in her own affairs. Upon seeing Everett Lewis, a fish peddler and odd job man, place an advertisement for a live-in housekeeper, Maud sees this as her chance to make her independence. However Everett is ill-mannered, sometimes cruel, and has little patience for Maud's eccentricities. Yet somehow these two find how well two misfits can coexist. Amidst doing her daily duties, Maud paints every surface she can find - the walls, shelves, postcards, etc. and when one day a customer of Everett's wishes to buy one of Maud's paintings, her life is changed forever.