TOP 10s
Featured Review
Here is a list of my 10 favorite books I've read in 2021 (so far...)
01
The Rage of Dragons
by Evan Winter
This book is a chunker, and I inhaled it. If you put Gladiator, My Hero Academia, Game of Thrones, and put them all in a blender, took the resulting story and set in a Xosa-inspired setting - you'd get this book. It's flipping amazing.
02
Circe
by Madeline Miller
When this book came out, there was buzz, more buzz, and nothing but buzz. There was no way any book could possibly live up to the hype. Except that it did. This book is so good - so well crafted, so well written - that it makes me a little angry. I'm counting the days until the HBO Max adaptation drops.
03
The Poppy War
by R.F. Kuang
This was another book that lived up to the hype. Thing is, most of the hype was about how dark, how gritty the books was, which, yeah, the book is dark. But it's also hilarious. Rin is such a compelling protagonist, and I'm thrilled to continue with her story.
04
TBD
That mean's to be determined.
05
TBD
That mean's to be determined.
06
TBD
That mean's to be determined.
07
TBD
That mean's to be determined.
08
TBD
That mean's to be determined.
09
TBD
That mean's to be determined.
10
TBD
That mean's to be determined.
Tag Cloud
Here is a list of my top 10 go-to book recommendations
01
Rook
Humor? Check. Not one but TWO complex female protagonists? Check. Female Friendship? Check. Amazing world building set primarily with in Government Bureaucracy? Check. Dragons? Check. Pet Bunnies? CHECK. This book has everything. EVERYTHING.
02
Attachments
This book is drinking a cup of tea in your favorite comfy sweater on a beautiful brisk autumn day. It's like You've Got Mail, but better.
03
Kindred
This book is a masterpiece. Vivid and compelling characters go on a harrowing and ultimately horrifying journey's into America's past.
04
The Saga of Hrolf Kraki
An old Norse Epic, this story has noble kings, dragons, vindictive witches, bromance, and werebears. That's right. WEREBEARS. If that doesn't sell you, I don't really know what will.
05
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
A feat of nonsense literature (think Alice in Wonderland), this middle grade novel boasts stunning world-building, a bevy of beloved characters, and one of the best story twists I've found in any medium. Because of this book, I am desperate to have a Wyvary of my own. (FF)
06
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Ocean's Eleven meets The Three Musketeers with just a sprinkle of the fantastic. It's rip roaring fun with bromance galore and an irreverent sense of humor. Why aren't you reading it right now?
07
The Snow Child
This fairytale, despite its frigid setting of a pioneer homestead in Alaska, kept my heart glowing warm, even as it slowly broke that same heart. A bookseller literally shoved this novel into my hands, and now I'm trying to pay that kindness forward.
08
Did You Ever Have a Family?
This book broke my heart, and I thanked it for its troubles. An examination of a small town's reaction after a tragedy, this book was kind and gentle and also a complete tearjerker. If you want to cry, read this.
09
The Golem and the Jinni
A book about immigrants to turn of the 20th century New York would be intriguing on its own, but make those immigrants Near Eastern mythical creatures and you have me hook, line, and sinker. I loved these two characters, I loved the presentation of their individual cultures. This book also happens to have one of the most terrifying villains I've come across.
10
Furiously Happy
Who knew a book about mental illness could be so hilarious? Jenny Lawson's compilation of vignettes had me literally laughing out loud. In public. The other patrons at Panera were concerned, but I couldn't care less for all the fun I was having reading this book.
Here is a list of my 10 favorite movies from 2021 (so far...)
01
Black Widow
I have waited nearly a decade for this film. It was worth the wait.
02
TBD
That means to be determined.
03
TBD
That means to be determined.
04
TBD
That means to be determined.
05
TBD
That means to be determined.
06
TBD
That means to be determined.
07
TBD
That means to be determined.
08
TBD
That means to be determined.
09
TBD
That means to be determined.
10
TBD
That means to be determined.
Here is a list of my top 10 go-to movie recomendations
01
Ladyhawke
My date night recommendation movie. There's humor, provided by Matthew Broderick, the beautiful Michelle Pfieffer & Rutger Hauer, a fantastically hatable villain, and some of the worst music ever put to soundtrack. It's cheesy and campy and complete artifice - and that's half the fun. (See also: The Princess Bride, The Mask of Zorro, Knight & Day)
02
The Happiest Millionaire
My family recommendation. In this little known Disney delight, Fred MacMurray plays an eccentric millionaire in turn of the 20th century Philadelphia. Tommy Steele plays the Irish butler, and he alone is reason to see this movie. There are pet alligators, boxing rings in the stables, and poison darts - I mean raisin tarts. It's got great songs, great lines, and is just a great time. (FF) (See also Summer Magic, Rise of the Guardians, Kubo & the Two Strings)
03
Singin' in the Rain
My musical recommendation. Hardly a hidden gem this one, but if you're looking to dip your toe into the genre, you can't pick a better place to start. This movie is all smiles from beginning to end. It's funny, the songs will be stuck in your head for days (in a not-even-remotely annoying way), and it's very, very pretty. (FF) (See also Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)
04
The Martian
My sci-fi recommendation. One of the hallmarks of sci-fi for me is stress. Someone in dire situations is trapped somewhere where no one can hear you scream. The Martian is no exception, but it's lifted by well placed humor and the warm glow of seeing intellectual enterprise and global cooperation at work for a humanitarian goal. So you'll have the warm & fuzzies while also being sick to your stomach. Also, that cast cannot be beat. (See also Sunshine, Snowpiercer)
05
The Man from Snowy River
My western recommendation. Another treasure from the 80s, this film however has an amazing soundtrack. I could probably go a whole day speaking only in quotes from this movie. It lays claim to one of my favorite movie heroines and possibly the most amazing horse ever put to film. (We will not speak of the sequel and the INJUSTICE played upon said horse.) (FF) (See also Slow West, Logan)
06
The Guest
My horror/thriller recommendation. Horror is not my genre. I don't see the point or benefit of making myself scared. Normally I can only watch horror if it's got a strong comedic aspect interwoven. The Guest is the rare exception. Two thirds of the film is tension, waiting for the shoe to drop and when it does, boy howdy. The one film I know where I throughly enjoyed screaming my lungs out. (See also Rip & Tucker vs the Evil Dead, Final Girls)
07
Belle
My period piece recommendation. Amma Asante's film about real life Regency era woman of color, Dido Elizabeth Belle, has all the pretty gowns and manners of a Jane Austen adaptation with a healthy helping of social justice. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is sublime as the titular character, and her supporting cast is (nearly as) spectacular as well. (FF) (See also Sense & Sensibility 1995, Clueless)
08
Sabrina (1995)
My romance recommendation. This might be the only film where I prefer the remake to the original, but, oh man, do I prefer this film to its predecessor. The 1954 film is - fine. But the 1995 remake is romantic perfection. Julia Ormand's voiceover is just a hair breadth behind The Beauty & the Beast in the running for my favorite opening to a film ever. Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear are both in this, if you needed extra convincing to watch this beautiful film. (See also The Lake House)
09
Pillow Talk
My romantic comedy recommendation. Doris Day and Rock Hudson get up to hijinks in this 1959 romantic comedy. The gender politics in this are - not great. In fact, they are pretty terrible. And I still love this movie. It's just froth, slightly mean spirited though it may be, and I enjoy it every time I watch it. (See also Something's Gotta Give, While You Were Sleeping, Clueless)
10
Pacific Rim
My blockbuster/popcorn flick recommendation. Rinko Kikuchi. Idris Elba. Charlie Day. Global cooperation. Giant Jaeger Robots fighting Giant Monster Kaiju. Stunning action set pieces. What more could you ask for? (FF) (See also The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Mad Max: Fury Road, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation)