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!

goodreads.com

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.

goodreads.com

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.

Longstanding TBR - 50 Books That I'm Still Excited About

Back in May, I read a really awesome post by Nessa Luna on her blog October Tune, all about the books she still wanted to read but hadn't gotten to yet. Please check out that fun post here:

 50 Books I Still Really Want to Read in My Life – october tune

I was inspired to do something similar here, and although I'm doing it a bit differently than her, I wanted to cover books that have been on my TBR for a long time that I do actually still intend to read (rather than those ones you eventually weed off every few years). If I intend to read the series, I have listed it as the series title, but if I hope to at least read 1 book from the series and go from there, I have just listed the first book for now. So, without further ado, here's my list of 50 books that I'm still excited to get to!

Trouble with Lichen (John Wyndham)

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.

abebooks.co.uk

What it's about:

Diana Brackley is unusual. She doesn't think about marriage or babies, and wants to go to university. She asks uncomfortable questions and seems to be able to look right through you. Upon graduating from school, she decides to become a biochemist, and soon is hired at the prestigious Darr House, owned and operated by Francis Saxover. Upon working with different strains of lichen, Diana discovers something she never could have foreseen - a lichen species with a property that, if know, will change the course of human history forever.

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.

Mini-Reviews: The F Word, The Space Between Us, The Perfect Date

Here are a few things I've been watching for fun that I haven't done a full review for. Let me know if you've seen any of these and what you thought!

wearemoviegeeks.com

The F Word/What If
Now these are the types of roles Daniel Radcliffe shines in! Radcliffe's character is disillusioned with love, and both Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan are both appropriately awkward and dorky together. It's a sweet movie with some offbeat humour that is really great for any day of the week. The main characters both have odd names though, and the movie is definitely quirky, so if you aren't into that, then it's likely not your cup of tea. It's that kind of predictable, but sweet romantic comedy like When Harry Met Sally that can't help but make you smile. The original title is "The F Word," however it was changed in some countries to "What If".

film.avclub.com

The Space Between Us
Although pretty predictable, it's still a sweet movie about two teens both trying to break free from the lives they've been forced into. It has lots of adorable moments and the connection between the two leads is perfect. Asa Butterfield is so, so cute in this, and Britt Robertson is great as a troubled but still good at heart kid. It's a nice movie with a cool concept, and definitely worth a watch if you are looking for something with a little depth but that won't leave you feeling too heavy-hearted.

Mini-Reviews: The DUFF, Mortal Engines, The Impossible

More movies in my long list of things that need to be reviewed! I love watching movies, but I don't like to review all of them. Why not? Well, there can be a few reasons for this: 1) sometimes there just wasn't enough going on in it for me to feel inspired to write a full review/have enough material to write about, 2) because I often just want to watch a movie for enjoyment, and without analyzing it. So, here's how we both win: I watch it for fun, and then I write a mini-review. However, if you see that I have watched a movie and you desperately want a full review...tell me! I am more than happy to consider writing a full review if I know readers are interested.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, here are some of the things I've been watching!

sheknows.com

The DUFF
Do you like Easy A? Well, this movie has that kind of feel to it. It's a relaxed, but fun teen movie that still deals with some important issues and relationships. It's a little bit quirky, but still very relatable. If you are looking for a fun movie for the weekend, or for an evening to curl up and relax with, then I think this is perfect. It will leave you feeling happy, and without having to think too intensely to keep up.

May 2019 Update

May was definitely an intense month for television...I think I need some happier things for June, don't you?

Started Watching:

denofgeek.com

The 100 - season 6

I was a bit worried about whether or not I would keep watching this show, but it's looking like it has gotten a decent revival with the change of scenery this season. It's still pretty early on, but I'm liking it so far. I definitely don't feel desperate to watch the episodes the second they come out, but I am watching them within a few days, and am looking forward to them. If you're into basic sci-fi and dystopians, I would check this series out. It is also inspired by a book series, but they are only very loosely related to each other. The series came out before the first book was published, so it is only based on the characters and the concept, but most of the plot differs.

April 2019 Update

Yay, my semester is done! I have a few weeks with which to read and watch a bunch of stuff, and blog to my heart's content. That's a good thing because May has a bunch of awesome content that I am looking forward to.

Started Watching:

netflix.com

3% - season 2

I only have two episodes left of this season (which is all there is on Netflix so far), and then I will be done. There was a huge shift in the feeling and perspective of this season, so that took quite a bit to get used to. Where last season focused on the candidates in the Process, this season actually takes place before the next year's process. Although I found this interesting (and we get to see a lot of character backstories), I haven't been enjoying it as much as the first season. Still worth a watch, but I'm not as attached to it.

newyorker.com

Game of Thrones - season 8
No spoilers, don't worry. The show "everyone" has been waiting for. Love it or hate it, it's definitely everywhere right now. Unfortunately I am not always able to remain completely up to date with this because my family likes to watch it all together, so that can make being on the internet difficult. I am currently all caught up though, so it's nice to be online right now! Haha. Anyway, I'm not overall impressed yet, but there have been a few stellar moments, so I wouldn't list myself as disappointed. Bit of a deus ex machina type of thing going on for me though. We'll see!

March 2019 Update

Well, I can't say that too much has been going on for me again lately. I'm nearly done my semester (end of April), and then hopefully things will pick up. However, what I did watch was good stuff!

Started Watching:

gizmodo.com.au

3% - season 1
This is an awesome show about a group of people vying for the opportunity of a better life in The Offshore. Once civilians reach the age of 20, they are able to compete to be one of the 3% that have what it takes to make it out of the slums and into a beautiful land of prosperity and medicine. It really takes a look at what lengths people will go to when pushed into desperate situations, and is kind of like reality television except less cheesy. Never heard of this show? I'm not surprised - it's in Portuguese. It's on Netflix though, so it will be relatively accessible. I started watching it with the default settings, which was the English dub, and was having a hard time getting into the acting, but thought the plot had potential. Partway through episode 2 I switched it to the original Portuguese with English subtitles, and my enjoyment grew exponentially. So, if you can handle the subtitles, it works so much better for the show. I have one episode left to go and then I'm on to Season 2. (P.S. I just heard it described as the Brazilian Hunger Games, and I kind of loved that).

2019 TBR Pile Challenge

Yes, I'm doing it again! Originally I had decided that there was no way I was going to do Roof Beam Reader's TBR Pile Challenge again, but when I started going through some of my books, I realized that I still have so many that I want to get through, and have for many years. Now I don't particularly mind if a book is a year or two old before I get around to reading it, but some of these I've wanted to read for about 10 years now...and I really want to finally get them off my TBR list!

So, how does this work?

Pick 12 books that have been on your TBR (to be read) list for at least a year and finish them by the end of 2019. Two alternate books can be chosen to replace any books in the challenge that are just "unfinishable". All of these books must be reviewed and linked back to the original post.  

For a full explanation of the rules for this challenge, check it out here.

Here's this year's list:

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.

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.

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!:

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.

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.

The Lobster

rogersmovienation.com

What It's About:

After his wife leaves him, David enters The Hotel in order to find a new mate. It is here that he must do three things - choose an animal, choose a compatible mate, and hunt down single people to bring them to The Hotel. If within forty-five days David does not find, and fall in love with, a suitable partner, he will converted into his chosen animal and sent into the wilderness to try and find love again. As the days tick by, David must decide the lesser of the evils - becoming a lobster, or pretending to fall in love. Or is there another option?

2018 TBR Pile Challenge

Roof Beam Reader hosts The Official TBR Pile Challenge, and this year I've decided to take part. I have so many items that have I have been meaning to read for years now, and this will hopefully be a bit of a kick in the pants to get them done. 

So, how does this work?

Pick 12 books that have been on your TBR (to be read) list for at least a year and finish them by the end of 2018. Two alternate books can be chosen to replace any books in the challenge that are just "unfinishable". All of these books must be reviewed and linked back to the original post.  

For a full explanation of the rules for this challenge, check it out here.

Here's my list: