Media - October 2015

[themadpoker]

Did you know you can load up e-books to read on your phone? I was aware of this in theory but I did not realize that in practice it is genuinely simple. It's....probably obvious at which point I figured this out from my book list.

Books

155. Filter House by Nisi Shawl -- 4 stars (sff) (50books_poc: Book 15)
156. Alex + Ada Volume 2 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn -- 3 stars
157. A Bride's Story Volume 6 by Kaoru Mori -- 3 stars
158. Library Wars Volume 13 by Kiiro Yumi -- 3 stars
159. Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 3 by QuinRose and Soumei Hoshino -- 2 stars
160. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell -- 4 stars (ya sff)
161. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates -- 5 stars (n-f) (50books_poc: Book 16)
162. No Sex in the City by Randa Abdel-Fattah -- 3.5 stars (chick lit) (50books_poc: Book 17)
163. Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney Milan -- 4.5 stars (rom) (50books_poc: Book 18)
164. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan -- 3.5 stars (rom) (50books_poc: Book 19)
165. The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan -- 5 stars (rom) (50books_poc: Book 20)
166. A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan -- 3.5 stars (rom) (50books_poc: Book 21)
167. Boy vs. Girl by Na'ima B. Robert -- 3 stars (ya) (50books_poc: Book 22)
168. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin -- 4.5 stars (sff) (50books_poc: Book 23)
169. The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan -- 3 stars (rom) (50books_poc: Book 24)

Books: 11
  chick lit: 1
  ya: 2
  romance: 5
  sff: 2
  non-fiction: 1
Manga/Comics: 4
50books_poc: 10

Movies

12. Breakfast with Scot (October 10) -- 4 stars

This was an interesting experience in which I rocketed between cooing over what a precious child Scot is and outragedly lecturing Eric through his parenting growing pains. By the end this conflict was resolved in favour of happily cooing over what a precious family they'd created together. 4 stars

Television

Broad City 2.06
Brooklyn 99 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04, 3.05
Empire 2.02, 2.03, 2.04
Faking It 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 2.20
Fresh Off the Boat 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05
How to Get Away With Murder 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 2.01, 2.02, 2.03
Man's World 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, COMPLETE.
Over the Garden Wall 1.01, 1.02, 1.03

Comments

[themadpoker]

Oh man, that must have been such a pleasant surprise, I went in expecting it but I was still pleased. Keeping my fingers crossed for more in later books too.

And! Ravishing the Heiress is my FAVOURITE Sherry Thomas, I was so deeply disappointed when I read Tempting the Bride after because it was like, I know you can do better? You gave me Fitz and Millie? I swooned over Fitz and Millie? WHAT HAPPENED? In terms of other books, I think I've read almost everything she's done? Except for that new-ish duology (Goodreads claims it's called the Heart of Blade?) and her YA trilogy. Have you read her YA trilogy (starts with The Burning Sky)? It's theoretically on my to read list but idk, it isn't really calling to me so it'd be nice to know if it's worth the time.

Let me know how Vicious goes! It's also on my to read list but that thing is massive so unless I have a reason to prioritize I'm going to end up picking it up five years from now at earliest. xD But I'm glad to hear Broken's good! I have the faint recollection that I read a review somewhere for it that sounded good, not sure why I didn't jot it down to pick up at the time.

Also, high five, I'm diplomatic about Whedon because so many people love him but like. Nope. Nooooooope. He gave me some joy in Buffy but boy do we disagree strongly about many of his narrative choices. And you are a braver soul than me for trying Dollhouse because I heard the premise and immediately exited stage left, I had zero faith it'd draw out anything but the worst of Whedon. However! Volumes 1-6 are not by Whedon, they are by Brian K. Vaughan and he is SO GOOD, I have liked everything he's written. I haven't tried Silk yet, I tend to only pick up comics once they're collected into trade volumes, issue to issue is too hard on my wallet. Have you read it/heard good things?

I did read the third book! And I enjoyed it which was surprising because ngl, I went in as a hostile audience. (the summary implied a romance between Sieh and the heroine? and I was like NO, he's the god of childhood, I REFUSE. I was also coming in with some lingering bitterness over a romantic relationship in the second book that I was really digging as platonic so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). I also really liked her next book, The Killing Moon (which is technically part of a duology? But I haven't gotten about to reading the second book yet and as far as Killing Moon is concerned it stands alone great).

AND YES, OH MY GOD, CODE NAME VERITY, WHAAAAAAT, I WAS A *MESS*. WHAT A BRUTAL BOOK. WHAT AN *AMAZING* BRUTAL BOOK. I first got into Wein via her Arthuriana meets Africa! books (they probaaaaaably have an actual series name? but idk what it is off the top of my head and tbh I always remember them as the Arthuriana in Africa books) which in retrospect also got pretty brutal but somehow I was still wholly unprepared.

I am beginning to see that my to read list is going to grow exponentially the more I talk to you btw, Under the Painted Sky sounds great and is going to the list rn. Also I need to get back to reading Sara Farizan's debut! I started and liked it but it was due back at the library so I never finished. (This...happens with way more books then I really want to admit. u_u I have this problem where I always pick up way more books than any human could conceivably read before the end of loan period and end up with a lot of fines and half read books. Reasons to want a public library job: LESS FINES). Also we have the exact same YA priorities! And re: Aristotle and Dante, WHAT A GOOD BOOK. I'm so happy that Benjamin Alire Saenz has a fair sized back catalogue, it's like a list of guaranteed reads I can dip into whenever I'm in the mood for contemporary stories.

(side note: any chance you've read Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian? I group him, Matt de la Pena, and Benjamin Alire Saenz in my mental readers advisory list of dudes doing good work writing POC boys in YA. Recently picked up Adam Silvera's More Happy than Not too which I have high hopes of adding to the list provided I get around to reading it some time soon)

[wingstodust]

ngl the lead dude in Tempting the Bride really tested my patience. blarghhhhhh. I bought The Burning Sky but I haven't actually made much progress in it. I read the first two chapters and put it down. I'll get around to finishing it... Someday... (Tip: Do NOT read the Duology!!! The first book was decent but the second book was a hot mess and the first book really reads like a prequel that doesn't wrap things up on its own so just... don't even start it).

lol I am very vocal about my disdain for Joss Whedon, I don't even know why I started Dollhouse, I am going to put that down as the misguided actions of my youth or whatever that was. But OK, I shall give Runaways a shot! Someday... And yes I heard good things about Silk! But once again have not gotten around to reading it (Can you tell how not caught up I am re:comics?? lol)

!! Yes I read the Killing Moon and I really liked it!! Ok good to hear about Third Book, I'll have to actually check it out this time then. :)

Code Name Verity was my first Wein book, and I WILL NEVER TRUST AGAIN!!! ALSDKFJALSKDJFAL;JKDF. But I must check out Arthuriana in Africa because I cannot believe no one has told me that was a thing until now.

(I can say the same to you re:my reading list growing!!) Do you want to borrow my copy of If You Could Be Mine? I have both that and her other contemporary High School fluff book. :D And you neeeeeeed to read If You Could Be Mine because I've been telling people ever since I finished it that I think that book would make an excellent musical but no one is listening to my genius ideas. Yay re: matching YA priorities!! *high fives* MY FEELINGS ABOUT ARISTOTLE AND DANTE ARE RIDICULOUS, I LOVE THESE TWO DOOFUSES TO MUCH DOOFUSES IN LOVE AHHHHH!!! ALSO I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE SEQUEL OF ARISTOTLE AND DANTE AHHHHHHHHH.

(I have read and own Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian!! What a good!! Also, PLEASE READ MORE HAPPY THAN NOT SOON BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO MAKE A PLAYLIST FOR IT AND I WISH TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT MY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK!!!! AND DEBATE ALL THE MATCHING SONGS FOR THIS BOOK FOR REASONS!!!!)

lol I am gonna end this off with: Courtney Milan's Once Upon a Marquess is coming out TOMORROW *___*

[themadpoker]

Okay I'm heading off to work so I will respond later but! Did you know Marvel's making an Avengers high school AU??? :D! This is my exact flavour of nonsense, I'm so excited!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY3VBKryE0I

[wingstodust]

Ahhhhh here for this!!!

Did you see Lin-Manuel Miranda wheel of freestyle on the Jimmy Fallon show??

[themadpoker]

I did, it was incredible! :D He's so talented omg, I would never be able to pull off freestyling like that. And ty for the Sherry Thomas tip! I'm always glad to see my to read list get that tiny bit shorter. xD

Re: Wein, I can't believe no one told you either! First book is about Mordred and set in Ye Olde Anglo-Saxon Land and then at some point he gets himself to Africa, marries a woman there and the other books are all set in Africa and follow his sister and son respectively. GOOD TIMES. :D

And thanks for the offer but nah, I can pick it up from the library. I feel guilty borrowing people's books because I've always got so many in the house that it takes me awhile to get to anything. I am very intrigued about this musical idea though! Consider me a captive audience as soon as I've picked it up (so, uhh awhile from now probably). Also, the Aristotle and Dante sequelllllllll, every now and then I google to see if there's any kind of release date out yet and nothing. /o\ Though if Publishers Weekly can be trusted, Saenz should be putting out another (different) YA novel soon! For a value of soon that is about six months away. >_> The slow pace of publishing is a trial to me sometimes.

(It's amazing! I reread it for a Young Adult Literature class I took last year and it was like WHY do I not reread books more often, it's literally guaranteeing a good experience for yourself. And I will bump More Happy Than Not up on the list! I've got two books I'm in the middle of right now (a Cinderella telling with an evil Fairy Godmother? idk how it's going to work out, I'm only a chapter in; and the Welcome to Nightvale novel) but I'll go onto More Happy Than Not next!)

Also, re: Marquess, it is? I can't find it on Amazon, is it selling through a different retailer?

[wingstodust]

We can only aspire to be as awesome as Lin-Manuel Miranda. 8D

Re: Heart of Blade duology - I am SO SAD that it sucked though! I was so excited for Sherry Thomas to release a wuxia romance, but it was awful. :( At least there is still Jeannie Lin... (Have you read any of her novels?)

Arthuriana in Africa is def now on high priority of books to read 8D

Haha I understand re:ridiculous amounts of books at home. It gets really intimidating... And you start thinking of creative ways of storing your books because there is no space on the shelves......

OH I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT NEW (DIFFERENT) SAENZ YA!! Do you have link? Deets? Can't find anything ;_;

Yay when you get to More Happy than Not let me know!! :)

Can I ask what is this Cinderella retelling? The only retelling I can think of rn with an ambiguous Fairy Godmother was Ash.....

I still haven't gotten around to Welcome to the Nightvale podcasts! One day....

I double checked Courtney Milan, she changed the release date to December! :( but we should be getting two Courtney Milan stuff in December so at least there is that?

[themadpoker]

I own two of Jeannie Lin's books! And have read one. The one I don't own. xD I tend to read library books quicker then things I've bought because I have a deadline. I thiiiiink the title was something like The Dragon and the Pearl? Idk, it's the one about the courtesan and the warlord. It's been awhile, the only thing I remember was being annoyed that the courtesan didn't get more development (everytime she pulled off something it got glossed over in like two lines and meanwhile the dude got to have an entire political plotline in tandem with his love story? booooooo)

But yeah, at some point I will read Butterfly Sword and My Fair Concubine too. Someday. Probably some far off day when I have actually returned every library book I have checked out.

I recently bought a new bookshelf! It's great, it goes nearly to the ceiling of my room and now I don't have to double stack my books anymore. I even moved most of the books I've been keeping in my bed drawers! PROGRESS. :D Other tips for book storage: if you have a sibling, lowkey take over their bookshelves, if they're like my brother they only use two shelves for videogames anyways, they don't need the extra space. :D

And sure! Here's the post where Publishers Weekly announced the purchase: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/64476-rights-report-week-of-october-20-2014.html

He also talked a little about it on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenjaminAlireSa/status/513372314134904832 Not a lot of deets but I'm looking forward to it!

Will do! And re: Cinderella, it's Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas. Someone I follow on Goodreads described it as subversive, critical of fairy tale Happily Ever Afters, and featuring a lesbian Rapunzel. SOLD.

I recommend Nightvale highly! :D I'm not really a podcast person but I started playing it while doing chores and ended up burning through all the episodes within a few days. I find it hard to sell though because the best description I can manage is The Twilight Zone meets This American Life with bonus romance. Which I feel is accurate but doesn't quite get the experience across.

Also! For whenever you end up finishing Hamilton, I just came across a tumblr with some of earlier songs that were cut in the move from off-Broadway to Broadway: http://icantbelievemientuscalledmeadick.tumblr.com/. They're interesting to hear! I can totally see why Miranda cut what he did and I think the final version is stronger for it but there are some great lines that got axed.

EDIT: omg. I hope someone got the full performance on camera, I was just getting into it when the video cut off. Idle dreams: what if one day Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a musical and cast Lea Salonga in it. WHAT IF.

[wingstodust]

omg you basically read the WORST Jeannie Lin book! I hated Dragon and the Pearl ugh the guy was super gross and the girl didn't get to do much!! Okay so my FAVOURITE Jeannie Lin novel is Sword Dancer, which I see you don't own, check it out from the library, I love this thing!! All the troupes (family honour! quest for object! rooftop chases!! I won't say more because it spoils things!! but trust me!!), and it's just super fun. Romance between thief-catcher and sword dancer is THE BEST.

Butterfly Sword is not bad, did not hate the lead dude, shockingly. My Fair Concubine is okayyyyyy, cute forgettable fluff, I feel like I blocked out things that might have been objectionable in the novel but my overall feeling was that it was cute but meh. Basically if you were wondering which one of the two books you should start with, definitely choose Butterfly Sword!

I'm currently reading her Gunpowder Alchemy book and I keep waiting for the lead girl to do things but so far nope. Also not feeling the love triangle in this one. =/ But maybe it will improve??

Ohhhhhh bookshelves that reach the ceiling are my DREAM COME TRUE. (Haha I have used the drawer and siblings' bookshelf technique already! Also using basement space ahaha...)

*INSTANT ADDS ASH AND BRAMBLE TO TO-READ LIST*

I keep telling my friends into Nightvale I will get around to it someday so maybe!!

Yay thank you for link!! Will definitely look all the things up when I am done listening.

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA HAS MENTIONED CASTING A HAPPY MUSICAL STARRING LEA SALONGA MAYBE DREAMS DO COME TRUE????

[wingstodust]

AHHH YOU NEED TO SEE THIS RIGHT NOW https://twitter.com/ConStar24/status/664578352443953152

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA AND LEA SALONGA SINGING A WHOLE NEW WORLD TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!