Media - December 2015

[themadpoker]

Aaaand that's 2015. Happy belated New Year to all. I've got some pretty statistics here, let's see how I did with my year's goals.

This year I read a total of 84 books, 132 volumes of comic books (manga included), watched 17 movies, and more television than I can be bothered to count.

Goal: Read 10% non-fiction. Depends how you count it. I read 11 non-fiction books, mostly memoirs. If I count books alone then that's 11/84 which slides in at 13%. If I don't cheat awfully and count comic books, I have 11/216 which makes a pathetic 5%. Goal half achieved? Will try again this year.

Goal: 50books_poc scaled down: 30 POC-authored books. Read 32, goal achieved. Scale this up to try for 50 this year.

Goal: Read and review at least one literary book per month on my professional blog. Failed horribly, I didn't even do one. /o\ Forget the literary bit, I just want to revive my professional blog again. Will try to post at least once a month this year, can be either book reviews or any topic related to librarianship.

Goal: Try to watch more movies? Watched 13 last year, watched 17 this year. Success!

All in all, managed about half of what I wanted? And it was the easier half that did not require substantial changes to my habits. >_> I will try to do better in 2016! Let's move on to December's media as I quietly shuffle out of the room.

Books

194. You Could Make a Life by Taylor Fitzpatrick -- 3 stars (rom)
195. Echoes of a Giantkiller by E. Jade Lomax -- 4 stars (sff)
196. Happy Marriage?! Volume 10 by Maki Enjoji -- 2.5 stars
197. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North and Erica Henderson -- 4 stars
198. The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae -- 3 stars (n-f memoir) (50books_poc: Book 32)
199. kimi ni todoke Volume 21 by Karuho Shiina -- 4 stars
200. Valor edited by Megan Lavey-Heaton and Isabelle Melançon -- 4 stars
201. Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2: Spider-Verse Prelude by Dan Slott and Christos Gage -- 3 stars
202. Amazing Spider-Man: Edge of Spider-Verse by David Hine et al -- 2.5 stars
203. Spider-Gwen Volume 0: Most Wanted? by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez -- 3 stars
204. Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir by Maggie Thrash -- 3 stars
205. Hawkeye Volume 4: Rio Bravo by Matt Fraction and David Aja -- 3 stars
206. Loki: Agent of Asgard Volume 3: Last Days by Al Ewing -- 4 stars
207. Idol Dreams Volume 1 by Arina Tanemura -- 2.5 stars
208. Diana Comet and Other Improbable Stories by Sandra McDonald -- 4 stars (sff)
209. Step Aside, Pops: A Hark! A Vagrant Collection by Kate Beaton -- 4 stars
210. Gunnerkrigg Court Volume 5 by Thomas Siddell -- 5 stars
211. Age of Bronze Volume 1: A Thousand Ships by Eric Shanower -- 3 stars
212. Princeless Volume 3: The Pirate Princess by Jeremy Whitley -- 4 stars
213. Princeless Volume 4: Be Yourself by Jeremy Whitley -- 4 stars
214. Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Search by Gene Luen Yang, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Gurihiru -- 3.5 stars
215. Sweet Disorder by Rose Lerner -- 5 stars (rom)
216. True Pretenses by Rose Lerner -- 5 stars (rom)

Books: 6
  romance: 3
  sff: 2
  non-fiction - memoir: 1
Manga/Comics: 17
50books_poc: 1

Movies

14. Beyond the Lights (December 2) -- 4 stars

It's been so long since I watched a full on romance movie gosh. I loved it, GuGu Mbatha-Raw was radiant as always and while Nate Parker couldn't quite match her acting-wise (lbr not a lot of people can) he did good guy leading man just fine. Also he's ridiculously attractive which definitely didn't hurt. :D 4 stars

15. Creed (December 14) -- 4 stars

Oh my stars boxing is brutal. I watched some of the fights in this through my fingers. Why don't they wear helmets? Are concussions a desired side effect in this sport? Consider this my plea to boxers worldwide to come join us over in tae kwan do where we were protective equipment and don't deliberately aim for unprotected faces.

This movie was amazing btw, I'm just still boggling over the wild world of boxing it revealed to me. 4 stars

16. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (December 21) -- 4 stars

John Boyega as Finn has 0% chill and an affinity for hugs and I love him the best. I also love Rey deeply but seeing as she is slightly less of a disaster more of my affection goes out to my ex-stormtrooper child. 4 stars

17. Love & Basketball (December 31) -- 4 stars

So a few weeks ago my cousin made a reference to Love & Basketball and proceeded to boggle at me when I had no idea what she was taking about. Apparently it's a classic! I can see why; there aren't enough black romance movies out there. I really liked the casting; everyone looked like someone you might meet in real life instead of in a world composed solely of preternaturally beautiful people. Monica and Quincy were both really strong leads. 4 stars

Television

Brooklyn 99 3.09
Doctor Who 8.03, 8.04, 8.05, 8.06
Fresh Off the Boat 2.07, 2.08

Comments

[wingstodust]

Yay to achieving goals! \o/ am super in awe of the 11 non-fiction book count, I don't think I've hit double digit count for n-f bks since I left school (and that is me cheating since those r textbooks). Also am impressed by ur comics count, I've been SO BAD at keeping up/reading them the past year. *contemplates making comics/manga etc reading time a 2016 goal*

E. Jade Lomax' Leagues and Legends sounds fantastic!! Diana Comet also sounds great, and You Could Make a Life. I've downloaded all of Rose Lerner, can't wait to get to them!!

Good luck with achieving ur 2016 goals, whatever they may be, and your professional blog, inspiring would-be librarians everywhere \o/

[themadpoker]

Hahaha I feel like memoirs probably shouldn't count though, it's like the equivalent of reading a gathered up blog. xD I'm going to try to read the Hamilton biography this year at least! Education~

Also re: comics, do itttt, they're so much fun! Meanwhile I will be trying to read more books and less comics because my list of books to read is terrifying and I would like to knock off at least twenty of them by July. Comics are just so much easier though /o\

All of those are GR8! hmu if or when you read Leagues and Legends, there are plot twists and I am available for the inevitable screaming when you encounter them

Ty! Good luck with any goals you have for this year! I hope 2016 is FANTASTIC