The Cement Garden (Ian McEwan)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free (except where marked in the "Where it disappoints" section), however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk.

goodreads.com

What it's about:

After the long illness of their mother leaves them orphans, four siblings fear for their separation, and decide to hide her death. Yet, this also means hiding her body, which they choose to bury in cement in the cellar. Each of them deals with this drastic change in their lives in very different ways, and to varying degrees of success - Julie takes over the household, Jack stops bathing, Sue spends hours reading and writing in her diary, and Tom starts to wear dresses. But what happens when the precarious balance they have developed in disturbed once again?

August 2019 Update

August was largely a month of rewatching comfort movies, so although I have watched a few things, I definitely didn't get through as much as I did last month!

Started Watching:

cbc.ca

The Office (US) - season 4
I've watched two or three episodes of this season, and I'm not sure if I'm going to keep going. There is nothing wrong with it, but the episodes are longer, and a lot of the dynamics have shifted...so I'm not very motivated to keep going actively. If it's on, I'll enjoy watching it, but I think I'm done binging this show!

netflix.com

Dark - season 1
To put it bluntly, this show is...well, dark. It's in German, and I personally chose to watch it with in the original German with English subtitles. Only 10 episodes long, this is good if you are looking for a dark science fiction show that is full of mystery and intensity, but also doesn't stretch on forever. Specific, eh? I've watched four or five episodes, and although am enjoying it, I find it a bit heavy to blast through in a few days. Definitely looking forwards to seeing where it goes though. Oh, don't watch this alone at night - trust me.

Blog-Along: Pilgrimage

Blog-Alongs: my thoughts about a movie as they happen, with minimal editing. Yes, this is my opportunity to be snippy and sarcastic and tell you exactly what I think.
How Do I Read This Post?: However you'd like! You are more than welcome to just read it as is, or you can watch the movie and follow along. I've included rough timestamps so you can check back in when you're watching. There are usually a few mild spoilers in these, but honestly, I am super careful to not spoil anything crucial. Regardless, however you decide to participate in this post, I hope you enjoy it.

rogerebert.com

YA in Review: How I Live Now (Meg Rosoff)

This post contains mild Spoilers, although they occur not far into the book. Comments by other users may possibly contain information that further spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book was adapted into a movie in 2013 which stars Saoirse Ronan, and is an early role for Tom Holland.

penguin.com.au

What it's about:

Fifteen year old Daisy defines herself by everything she is not; She is not Elizabeth, not wanted at home, and definitely not going to eat. Sent from the United States to live on an English farm with her aunt and cousins, Daisy finds herself thrown into a very different world. Instead of her indifferent father and nasty stepmother, she is greeted by four quirky and connected cousins, and her mother's loving sister. Quickly fitting in, Daisy finds the family dynamic she didn't know she could have. Yet, just as suddenly as her idyllic farm life begins, it is shattered by the start of World War III. The enemy is as unknown as the future as everything gets thrown into chaos. But for Daisy, there is nothing more important than holding on to her newfound life.

Musicals: Into the Woods

This film, based on the Stephen Sondheim musical of the same name, was released in 2014 and is definitely a different sort of musical than you'd traditionally expect.

empireonline.com

What It's About:

Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), and more are living their fairytale lives...but life isn't all sunshine and roses, and things quickly start to go south. Cursed by a witch to be childless forever, a baker and his wife are given the chance to reverse the spell. But with very little time to accomplish this, they need the help of the fairytale heroes and heroines before disaster strikes them all.