Books, Movie and TV
Aug. 13th, 2018 01:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bearshorty Books
Brief Cases by Jim Butcher
I didn't even realize how much I missed this series and universe until I read this collection of short stories,which just came out in June. I am not generally into short stories, but this was such a welcome treat in the super long wait for the next book. Both Bear and I agree that this collection of Dresden Files short stories is better than "Side Jobs," the previous collection that came out a few years ago.
What we both liked about this collection is stories from other perspectives and the stories that do seem to matter in the long scheme of things, not just one offs. These stories help you understand many of the happenings in the books. There are several Molly stories - the 'favor' she was owed in how she got her apartment, and her first job as a Winter Lady (which was a very effective story and gave a lot of new information). There is Butters' first case as the Knight of the Cross. There is Maggie and Mouse and going to the zoo with Harry. There is a Marcone story, which I did read before (I read 2 stories in other collections previously - this one and the baseball curse one) There is even a Luccio story from the Wild West but that was the weakest story in the book. I also loved Harry stories too like the Bigfoot trilogy. The only one really missing was Murphy.
Just a really diverse and fun collection of stories that made be miss this world again and really anticipate the next book, whenever it will actually happen. A lot of fun basically. And it refreshed my memory of this world as well, which was needed.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
I need something fun and quick and this book qualifies. It is not the best autobiography - she goes into select episodes of her life - but it is amusing and a good read overall. The chapter on motherhood and breastfeeding made me laugh a lot. I was in the subway too so I was trying not to laugh too hard. That had very hilarious lines. I also liked seeing the background stuff to the 2008 election sketches. I read other autobiographies of comedians that were better but I enjoyed this book and I read it in 3 days. A nice glimpse at Tina Fey.
Movie
Black Panther
Bear and I managed to watch this movie a week ago. We watched it over two days and it feels like each night was a separate experience. There was a lot of hype over this movie so I think I was expecting more out of it. And last Marvel movie that I watched was "Thor Ragnarok" which was super hilarious and is probably my favorite movie this year so far. So, especially the first night, I was a little disappointing in Black Panther. It's not that funny and the first hour is basically set-up with the real villain only being revealed in the second half. The second night, the movie picked up for me and I enjoyed it more but it is not a top Marvel movie for me. The main villain was a little one note. His whole life is about what? Avenging his Dad? Anger? He was just extra villainous as soon as he got the throne. There was no nuance. He was really there for the King' T'Challa's journey to become King on his own terms and not just to be an intimation of his father. There was no suspense whatsoever that the bad guy killed him.
I did enjoy all the female supporting characters. All four were their own separate people with strength and weaknesses and were really drawn well as characters. That was certainly the best part of the movie for me. And I also like actually seeing all the Wakandan technology - like the traditional cloaks used it battle that were really shields. That was well done.
So overall, a good movie, but not as good as Thor Ragnarok or Spiderman.
TV
Agents of SHIELD: Season 5
I also finished Agents of Shield Season 5 last week. The season did hold together well as a whole, although I felt they spent a little too much time at the Space Station and I wanted something a little more original from that apocalyptic scenario. Evil alien overlords who keep humans in terrible conditions and sell some into slavery and do so arena style battles to the death was a bit overdone. As usual the character journeys were much more interesting, especially for Yo-yo and Fitz. The finale did play like a Series Finale - I'm curious what they will do with a shorter season next year. Search for frozen Fitz but also what about Coulson. I did like where they ended with Coulson at the end of Season 5 and I don't want them to undo it too much. And I really, really hope this will be the end of Hydra storylines because it is just so tiring to come back to them. Season 5 did great callbacks all the way to the 1st season and it did really feel like a wrap up.
Currently watching: The Great British Baking Show on PBS (one more episode to go) and I just started Season 6 of Orange is the New Black.
Currently reading: I'm going back and forth between 3 books: "Waiting for the Barbarians" by J. M. Coetzee, the short stories about Kosmoolukhi by Gromyko (this is the year of short stories for me apparently), and the non-fiction collection "Rocket Fuel" from Tor.com of the best 10 years of their articles (it is free on Amazon)
Brief Cases by Jim Butcher
I didn't even realize how much I missed this series and universe until I read this collection of short stories,which just came out in June. I am not generally into short stories, but this was such a welcome treat in the super long wait for the next book. Both Bear and I agree that this collection of Dresden Files short stories is better than "Side Jobs," the previous collection that came out a few years ago.
What we both liked about this collection is stories from other perspectives and the stories that do seem to matter in the long scheme of things, not just one offs. These stories help you understand many of the happenings in the books. There are several Molly stories - the 'favor' she was owed in how she got her apartment, and her first job as a Winter Lady (which was a very effective story and gave a lot of new information). There is Butters' first case as the Knight of the Cross. There is Maggie and Mouse and going to the zoo with Harry. There is a Marcone story, which I did read before (I read 2 stories in other collections previously - this one and the baseball curse one) There is even a Luccio story from the Wild West but that was the weakest story in the book. I also loved Harry stories too like the Bigfoot trilogy. The only one really missing was Murphy.
Just a really diverse and fun collection of stories that made be miss this world again and really anticipate the next book, whenever it will actually happen. A lot of fun basically. And it refreshed my memory of this world as well, which was needed.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
I need something fun and quick and this book qualifies. It is not the best autobiography - she goes into select episodes of her life - but it is amusing and a good read overall. The chapter on motherhood and breastfeeding made me laugh a lot. I was in the subway too so I was trying not to laugh too hard. That had very hilarious lines. I also liked seeing the background stuff to the 2008 election sketches. I read other autobiographies of comedians that were better but I enjoyed this book and I read it in 3 days. A nice glimpse at Tina Fey.
Movie
Black Panther
Bear and I managed to watch this movie a week ago. We watched it over two days and it feels like each night was a separate experience. There was a lot of hype over this movie so I think I was expecting more out of it. And last Marvel movie that I watched was "Thor Ragnarok" which was super hilarious and is probably my favorite movie this year so far. So, especially the first night, I was a little disappointing in Black Panther. It's not that funny and the first hour is basically set-up with the real villain only being revealed in the second half. The second night, the movie picked up for me and I enjoyed it more but it is not a top Marvel movie for me. The main villain was a little one note. His whole life is about what? Avenging his Dad? Anger? He was just extra villainous as soon as he got the throne. There was no nuance. He was really there for the King' T'Challa's journey to become King on his own terms and not just to be an intimation of his father. There was no suspense whatsoever that the bad guy killed him.
I did enjoy all the female supporting characters. All four were their own separate people with strength and weaknesses and were really drawn well as characters. That was certainly the best part of the movie for me. And I also like actually seeing all the Wakandan technology - like the traditional cloaks used it battle that were really shields. That was well done.
So overall, a good movie, but not as good as Thor Ragnarok or Spiderman.
TV
Agents of SHIELD: Season 5
I also finished Agents of Shield Season 5 last week. The season did hold together well as a whole, although I felt they spent a little too much time at the Space Station and I wanted something a little more original from that apocalyptic scenario. Evil alien overlords who keep humans in terrible conditions and sell some into slavery and do so arena style battles to the death was a bit overdone. As usual the character journeys were much more interesting, especially for Yo-yo and Fitz. The finale did play like a Series Finale - I'm curious what they will do with a shorter season next year. Search for frozen Fitz but also what about Coulson. I did like where they ended with Coulson at the end of Season 5 and I don't want them to undo it too much. And I really, really hope this will be the end of Hydra storylines because it is just so tiring to come back to them. Season 5 did great callbacks all the way to the 1st season and it did really feel like a wrap up.
Currently watching: The Great British Baking Show on PBS (one more episode to go) and I just started Season 6 of Orange is the New Black.
Currently reading: I'm going back and forth between 3 books: "Waiting for the Barbarians" by J. M. Coetzee, the short stories about Kosmoolukhi by Gromyko (this is the year of short stories for me apparently), and the non-fiction collection "Rocket Fuel" from Tor.com of the best 10 years of their articles (it is free on Amazon)