Mini-Reviews: Daisy Jones and the Six, Bewilderment

Working through my huge backlog of books, movies, and TV shows from the past year or so, so I'm focusing on some mini-reviews. If you've read any of these, I'd love to chat more about them!

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Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins-Reid

I listened to this one on audiobook and thought that was the perfect format for it! Switching between multiple characters, the audio version had different actors for each voice. This made it easy to follow and engaging, allowing me to connect with it in a way that I don't think I would have in print. I haven't read any other books by Taylor Jenkins-Reid, or watched the series that was based on this book, but this was an enjoyable introduction to her work. I'd recommend it if you're a fan of the era, but I don't think the interview format this book is written in is going to work for everyone.

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Bewilderment by Richard Powers

This book was a ride. At first I had very little idea of what was going on (and honestly, even after finishing it, I know I didn't get everything), but I was instantly intrigued. The relationship between Theo and his son Robin was both sweet and heartbreaking at different moments, and Robin's experiences with neurofeedback training constantly made me wish I could be inside his head to learn more. That is the brilliance of the book though. Even if you know where it's going, the journey was still such an important one.

The Boy and The Heron (2023)

 

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Hayao Miyazaki just doesn't want to truly retire...and honestly, I am so glad. What would I have done without this movie? Being all at once dark, cute, quirky, and beautiful, t's not going to be for everyone (something I feel like I've been saying a lot about my movie choices lately), but if you are a fan of Studio Ghibli films, I really think this one is an amazing addition to their collection.

What's this film about? I almost don't want to tell you! In some ways, I don't know if I even could do it justice. I walked into it after seeing a trailer for it, but didn't really know much, honestly. And I really feel like that was a perfect way to experience it. Twist after twist, laugh after laugh, and constantly waffling between awe and bewilderment, it was an incredibly fun cinema experience. There are some dark moments (particularly at the beginning), so be aware that this isn't a young child-friendly film.

I watched this one in Japanese with English subtitles. I was happy to watch it either way, and would love to watch it again in the future with the English dubbing. I feel like both methods have their merits, and often different experiences, so I would say to watch it in whichever way works best for you. I know that for some it can be difficult to focus on anything other than the subtitles in a piece, and this movie is so visually stunning that I would make sure you watch whichever method allows you to see that to its full extent.

Here's what I feel I can say about it:
It's fantastical
The animation is beautiful
There are multiple twists that I don't think you'll see coming
The music is gorgeous
You might honestly question what kind of fever dream you walked into multiple times

So, without telling you too much other than this, I would absolutely recommend it!

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Do you enjoy animation? Have you seen any Studio Ghibli films before? If so, what are your favourites?

Copenhagen (2014)

This post contains some information that may, although mildly, spoil portions of the plot. If you would like to avoid any chance of spoilers, please come back to this post after watching the film!

imdb.com

Copenhagen is a 2014 film by Mark Raso, starring Gethin Anthony and Frederikke Dahl Hansen. 

The tagline for this one really says is all - "When the girl of your dreams is half your age, it's time to grow up". William, travelling to Copenhagen to deliver a letter to his unknown grandfather, meets Effy who is interning at his hotel. Upon asking for help, William and Effy are now tied together (for better or for worse) through William's journey to learn about his family.

This movie is absolutely not for everyone. Based on today's sensibilities, there are a lot of people who are going to feel highly bothered, offended, or creeped out by this movie, and I completely get it - but it didn't feel that way to me while watching it. Perhaps its all of the French movies I used to watch, or how I separate things in my head, but I was both fine with it as well as recognizing its problematic nature.

At its core, it's a film about a man with some serious emotional parent-related trauma, and a girl he meets, who is in that phase between girl and woman and learning what that means. These two form a relationship, all at once necessary and healing, yet unhealthy and rash. Their age difference is significant - Effy, is 14, just on the cusp of turning 15 - the age of consent in Denmark, and William is 28. Although Effy doesn't know William's exact age at the start, she has a better idea of the difference than he does - William is fully ignorant of it. And when he does know, he is both horrified and cautious.

Perhaps this is where all of their knowledge of each other should have ended, but it doesn't. If it progressed any further than it does in the movie, I would be highly bothered by it. However the director and writer, Mark Raso, handles it in a way that I think is tasteful, beautiful, and an experience of growth for both characters, rather than a terrifying cautionary tale.

It's a movie that ends peacefully, even if not exactly happily. You wonder what the future holds, but also don't feel like you need to know that in order to sit with it.

There are a lot of things to dislike in this movie, not just limited to inappropriate relationships: underage drinking, bad friendships, creepy interactions with a parent's partner, theft, breaking and entering. I would advise most watchers to be aware of their own feelings about viewing these things before they start. Although so many movies and shows portray these things now, and many may be numb to them, they can be jarring to others, especially when you realize how young the characters are.

Overall this is one that I enjoyed and would be happy watching again in the future.

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Have you seen this movie before? What did you think? How do you feel about problematic themes in film - do you find them fascinating? - do you avoid them?

Spencer (2021)

I watched Spencer a few months back, and am just getting around to cleaning up my review now - whoops!

imdb.com

I'm going to start this off by saying right away that I have conflicting feelings regarding this movie. When I was asked if it "was good" I found that I couldn't answer it properly. However, did I like it? I would have to say no. It absolutely had some strong merits though, so I want to go over both sides. This is mildly spoiler-y, but considering it's based on the life of a real person...it's more just spoiling aspects of the filmmaking style.

Things I didn't enjoy:

The dinner soup scene. Honestly, I get that this was supposed to be artsy and a depiction of her feelings rather than accurate, but I disliked watching it, and don't think it added anything to the movie. It felt out of place and absurdist to me.

Rather than feel compassion or understanding for Diana, in general I just found that she seemed, well, unreasonable and overwhelming. That isn't to say that I felt this way through the whole movie (as there were "unreasonable" moments that made 100% sense as a viewer), but there were a lot of things where I just found her to be incredibly unlikeable because of her actions.

The self-destruction. And I don't mean specifically the emotional frustration or anything, but the self-inflicted injuries and such that happened. I couldn't tell because of how it was shot if these things were supposed to be taken as "real" or as artsy moments like the dinner scene.

What I liked:

Kristen Stewart did a great job. I think she got the look and essence right of Diana and absolutely think she deserves praise for it. Several of her mannerisms felt really right, and I was so impressed and surprised. I've liked Stewart in the past for several roles, so I knew she was a solid actress, but usually I find biopics (especially involving figures like Princess Diana) are more like caricatures than strong acting.

The costumes were fantastic, and they brought the whole thing to life perfectly. Every person was dressed in just the right way, from their more simplistic attire (like Diana's pink top and jeans) to their dinner finery.

I like that we didn't get a regurgitation of the exact same story. We got a snippet of a few days, and this allowed the story to focus on different aspects than we usually get on Diana's life. Because this shows a really emotionally tormenting portion of her life, we get to see both the good and the bad. Many depictions of Diana show her as entirely lovely and just insecure, but this allowed the audience to see a more multidimensional person.

I appreciated that the movie starts by saying that it is a "fable". It's always been a pet peeve of mine that biopics act as though they are completely factually accurate, when we don't know what most closed-door conversations were - we can only imagine.

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Have you seen Spencer? How did you feel about the more artistic take on this period in Diana's life? Do you tend to watch biopics, or avoid them?

Red Sister (Mark Lawrence)

 

penguinrandomhouse.com

What It's About

The first book in the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, this series follows young Nona taken from her village and sold as a ring fighter. Accused of the murder of a noble, the nine year old girl is set to be hanged when she is rescued by Abbess Glass who brings her to the convent of Sweet Mercy. Here, for the first time, she is given a warm bed, food to eat, an education...and training in the arts of death. But an entire convent of girls training as killers is not without its tension, and noble families do not forget when justice hasn't been served.

What I Thought

A few years back, I picked up one of Mark Lawrence's earlier books, Prince of Thorns, to see if it might be of interest to a loved one. It was really easy to get through, but I felt the writing style was a bit juvenile, even if the subject matter was gruesome. Because I didn't have any real investment in the matter, beyond the brief analysis of it for another, I read several chapters and then put it down. 

When I heard the synopsis of Red Sister, I was instantly intrigued. I mean, warrior nuns? It sounds both a little too weird, and also really cool at the same time. I picked it up - and thank goodness I did! I can thankfully credit this book as getting me out of the horrible reading slump that I've been in. Now, I'm still not going to say I'm reading a lot, or quickly, but I sure did read this one faithfully!

The writing style was still a bit juvenile at times, and at other moments it seemed like Lawrence tried a bit too hard and therefore lost some of the meaning from words altogether, but overall it flowed decently. The concept and storyline though, were wonderful and what kept me engaged the entire time enough to happily keep at it.

The violence can get pretty graphic, so if you're squeamish at all, I would stay away. Now, I don't know if I wasn't paying the best of attention, but there are some plot points that felt very unclear while I was reading. Some things were over explained, and other things...well, I either didn't get answers, or got them so late in the book that I had truly thought I was never going to get them. There wasn't much of a reminder that these things were mysteries, and instead it just felt like Lawrence forgot to explain them. I'm currently on the second book, and finally have some answers, so I am hoping this was intentional and not just the work of a strong editing team giving him a reminder.

If you need a diverting piece of fantasy with a cool new concept that isn't too tricky of a read, then I would absolutely recommend this one. It was very enjoyable and I am hoping to finish the trilogy.

Period Drama: Gunpowder

nytimes.com

What It's About:

Remember, remember the fifth of November...

Guy Fawkes might be the name you think of when talking about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, but its story starts with Robert Catesby. This three part mini-series details the circumstances, plotting and planning from lead architect Catesby, and how he puts together perhaps the most famous royal assassination attempt in British history. 

Crome Yellow (Aldous Huxley)

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.

anzlitlovers.com

What It's About

Denis, a writer in search of literary success, heads off for an extended stay at Crome - the country house of his friends, the Wimbushs. However, right when Denis arrives his visit hits a sour note, with his intended visit being forgotten about, and everyone talking over him. To add insult to injury, other visitors occupy the interests of his friends and his long time love interest - one being a writer themselves.

Blog-Along: Little Women (2019)

There couldn't possibly be more spoilers in one of my posts than there are in this one! I've done this blog-along with a lot more detail than past ones. No, unfortunately it doesn't have time stamps (I watched it on my television DVD player rather than my computer), but as this is a story that many people are familiar with by now, I figured that would be okay.

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Now, if you know anything about me, my opinions on Little Women are, well...pretty strong. I have watched so many adaptations of it, and it has always been a part of my life. So when a new version of it comes out, I am going to go over it with a fine tooth comb. Want to know my thoughts about the most recent adaptation (2019 - Saorise Ronan, Timothée Chalamet)? Read on! Don't want spoilers? Maybe wait until you've seen it.

Enjoy!

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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?

Graphic Novels: The Girl From the Other Side - Book 1

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 is my first review of a graphic novel! I don't feel like you can talk about them in quite the same way as a standard print novel, so I'm going to change things up a bit.

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What it's about:

A little girl and a dark monster are companions - but how did they become this way? The girl, Shiva, is sweet and curious - interested in the world, and waiting for her grandmother to come and take her home. "Teacher," a beast with a curse, watches over her - but the two can never touch, lest Shiva become cursed as well. How do these two coexist, separated by this affliction?

YA in Review: Catalyst (Laurie Halse Anderson)

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. Catalyst is a companion novel to Speak, occurring in the same environment, but with an entirely different set of characters.

tpl.ca

What it's about:

Kate Malone is a straight-A student, preacher's daughter, member of the track team, and has a gorgeous, brainiac boyfriend. Yet, more than all of that, there is one thing that defines her - she belongs at MIT - she just has to wait for her acceptance letter. Yet, even though Kate might be waiting, life is still zooming forwards. After her classmate's house burns down Kate is forced to share her room with bully Teri Litch and her young brother while they rebuild. Now, Kate is dealing with classes, relationships, waiting to get into school, sharing her home, taking care of her own brother, getting noticed at cross-country meets, and helping kleptomaniac Teri. But she can handle it for a few more months...can't she?

YA in Review: The Scorch Trials (James Dashner)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however as it is part of a series, some comments may spoil portions of the plot of previous books by default. This book is the second book out of The Maze Runner series. My post about the first book can be seen here.

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What it's about:

After the Gladers escape from the Maze, they find themselves in the company of WICKED scientists. The Gladers learn that they are not only in another phase of an experiment, but that they have caught a horrible disease called The Flare, which causes those infected to lose their minds. Yet, WICKED offers them a cure - they just have to make it through the Scorch - the deadly desert that stretches for miles, by the end of two weeks. Except there's one big catch: the Gladers aren't the only ones vying for the cure.

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:

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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!

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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.

Era of Ignition (Amber Tamblyn)

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.

penguinrandomhouse.com

What it's about:

Era of Ignition: Coming of Age in a Time of Rage and Revolution is, in a sense, Amber Tamblyn's life work. Detailing her experiences acting from an early age through her teen years and young adulthood, to her years as a mother and producer, Tamblyn discusses being a strong female in a male-driven world. Told through essays, letters, and interviews, Tamblyn re-examines what it means to be a feminist, and why it's so important now to stand up for women everywhere.

YA in Review: Flipped (Wendelin Van Draanen)

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.

wendelinvand.com

What it's about:

Julianna Baker flipped for Bryce Loski instantly. Bryce? Not so much. He spends the next several years trying to get away. But when the eighth grade comes around with new challenges and influences, Juli starts to see Bryce for more than just what he is on the outside - and she's not sure she likes what she sees anymore. Yet Bryce, upon being prompted to take a closer look, starts getting a funny feeling every time Juli is near.

Drums of Autumn (Diana Gabaldon)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however as it is part of a series, some comments may spoil portions of the plot of previous books by default. This book is the fourth in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. A television series is also currently out. It recently finished its fourth season, which covers the contents of this book.

dianagabaldon.com

What it's about:

From Scotland to France to Jamaica, Claire and Jamie Fraser have travelled many miles on their journey together. Now in North Carolina, another chapter of their lives is beginning. Journeying to River Run, they meet Jamie's aunt Jocasta, and then move onward to make themselves a home on the newly named Fraser's Ridge. Yet the uncolonized land presents its own challenges - along the way both new and old friends and foe are encountered which will have lasting consequences. Back in the present, Claire and Jamie's daughter Brianna learns the history behind her parent's future - and knows she has to help them in any way she knows how.

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.

Period Drama: Colette

Keira Knightley stars in this biographical drama about french novelist and icon Colette during her burgeoning years as a writer.

chicagotribune.com

What It's About:

Before she was famed Parisian writer Colette, she was simply Sidonie-Gabrielle. Upon her marriage to famous author "Willy," she moves from her quiet country life to the big city, and helps her husband with his correspondence. Eventually, amidst financial troubles, in order to increase Willy's literary output, Colette becomes one of of his numerous ghost writers. Yet no one could have predicted the magnitude of her invisible success. But there comes a time when Colette is no longer content being invisible.

TTT: First Ten Books I Reviewed

A quick topic this week for That Artsy Reader Girl's Top Ten Tuesday, and that is about the first ten books that you reviewed. Although we could include Goodreads reviews, I decided to just focus directly on my blog this time. I knew some of these were my first reviews, but there were a couple I had forgotten were near the beginning! I've included links to them in case you want to check them out, but let's be honest, some aspects of my style have completely changed!

YA in Review: Kingdom of Ash (Sarah J. Maas)

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. As this is part of a series, this review may spoil portions of the plot from previous books in the series. Now, are you ready for a monster-sized review to go along with a monster-sized book?

amazon.com

What it's about:

It is the end. Aelin Galathynius must put everything on the line one final time to stand against Erawan and Maeve - saving not only her people in Terrasen, but all of the land of Erilea. With her loved ones by her side and Aelin's immensely powerful gifts, they could just stand a chance against all of Morath's evil forces. But, where is she? Captured by Maeve and separated from her husband, cousin, friends and allies, Aelin is unable to be found, let alone able to fight. With battles raging all around and all those she loves fighting constantly for their lives, how can they possibly be expected to win? And how will an army rally without a queen to lead them to victory?