Top 10 Good Movies We Watched in 2024 (by James M)

Happy New Year, people. 2024 is just about over, and this year, my parents and I watched some really fun movies, and some of which I didn't think about seeing at one point. Over the many, many movies I watched this year, I will name just ten films that were undoubtedly great IMO. Let's start...











10. Eye In The Sky

Released in 2015, this film stars Alan Rickman prior to his death, and revolves around taking out a terrorist. On the day we watched it, we planned on seeing INSIDE OUT 2, but it turned out the film wasn't free to watch on Disney Plus yet. Time to improvise. So, mom picked out this movie, and I initially got cold feet because it was R-rated until I recalled that I'd seen R-rated movies before and it had been a while since we all saw an R-Rated movie. We watched it and, well, it was really good, teaches you a lot about how things work out behind the scenes when it comes to taking out terrorists.












9. Jojo Rabbit

We got this for Christmas in 2023, and this was the first movie we saw in 2024. Set during the Second World War, the movie follows a boy who looks up to Adolf Hitler, until he finds a Jewish person hiding in the house. As someone who loves World War II movies and movies involving Nazis, this one was quite good, and I am considering rewatching the film in the future. Takkia Wattiti is one funny actor, and his rendition of Adolf Hitler was... wow.












8. Aladdin (1992)

"TEN THOUSAND YEEAAAARRRS can give ya such a crick in the neck!"

I never saw this movie as a kid, even though I saw scenes from it here and there. But, we saw it, and, wow, I see why so many people love it. This is one of Disney's best movies to date, and Robin Williams sold it as Genie. You gotta love animated films, especially when it can go absolutely off the walls in a good way. We will see the live-action remake down the road, and I do want to see the sequels this film produced.












7. Batman: Mask of The Phantasm

One of DC's most valued characters and one of the most beloved comic book superheroes for decades, Batman, next to Spider-Man, has become one of my favorites and, as I am keen to watch superhero films, it was obvious I would watch this at some point. I saw it twice this year, once with my dad, and again with my mom. This is without a doubt a good, and gripping Batman movie, with Kevin Conroy voicing the Dark Knight as the story takes a look at Bruce Wayne's motivations. People are not wrong to say it is the best Batman film ever, and Mark Hamil steals the show as The Joker. I will write up a review of this at some point.












6. Frankenstein (1931)

A classic monster movie and one of the greats. We watched this on Halloween, and it felt right to watch it at the end of October, after watching scary movies for weeks (including the original Beetlejuice movie). The story of Doctor Frankenstein and his monster is well-known, and, for its time, the movie is still incredible to this very day. We all enjoyed it, and I would not mind watching the sequels and the remake and I'd be glad to read the book down the line. Truly, an unforgettable horror movie.











5. Invaders From Mars (1953) 

Another film we watched in October. My dad suggested it, and, well, you can't say no. This one was intense, and dad observed that it left me on the edge of my seat at one point. For a film from the 50s, this is an insane sci-fi classic with a crazy ending. The special effects are not too bad, and the aliens are scary as heck. Jimmy Hunt, the lead actor in this film, will never be forgotten by us modern day movie watchers. Bring on the 80s remake.










4. Oppenheimer (2023)

"We knew the world would not be the same. Some people cried, most people were silent..."

We got this film for Christmas along with Jojo Rabbit, and, past the anniversary of Japan's surrender, we watched it. I'm telling you, this is a long movie, but it is pretty good. Cillian Murphy was an interesting pick to play Dr. Oppenheimer, even though OPPENHEIMER can be hard to follow as it bounces all over the place and gets a little weird at times. And yet, it still tells the story of Robert J. Oppenheimer's affairs and efforts to make the bomb. However, mom prefers 1989's FAT MAN AND LITTLE BOY over this, but OPPENHEIMER is worth the eventual rewatch. OPPENHEIMER does its best to be historically accurate, despite certain issues coming up, and the acting is pretty decent.











3. Forrest Gump

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."

A classic film for the ages. Starring Tom Hanks, FORREST GUMP follows the title character as he talks about his life, which sees him fight in the Vietnam War at one point, and Gump is one of the funniest characters ever. FORREST GUMP is a humorous story, but one full of kindness, and may have valuable life lessons you won't forget. The end of this film, well, it is touching. FORREST GUMP is a must-watch, especially for those who have not seen this one yet.











2. Ultraman Rising

Ultraman. Who can forget it? I remember watching the original Ultraman show as a kid, and, given my love of animation, we could not resist watching this movie. ULTRAMAN RISING tells the tale of a baseball player who becomes a monster-fighting superhero and looks after a baby kaiju. Sure, we've seen someone looking after a baby monster before, but this one is just endearing. ULTRAMAN RISING is a tale of heroism and fatherhood. You gotta feel bad for that baby kaiju, and this is one superhero/monster movie worth a rewatch.


-Honorable Mentions-











Inglorious Basterds (2009)

Damn good movie, that's all I can say. C'mon, you can't resist an alternate history World War II movie, especially when Brad Pitt is in it and Adolf Hitler gets killed off at the end.











Rise of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie

I love the TMNT franchise, having seen the OG movies, the 2007 animated film, most of RoTMNT, Turtles Forever, and the Michael Bay movies while reading some TMNT comics and playing a TMNT game or two. Mom and I loved this, and you can't go wrong with a film like RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.











Full Metal Jacket

This was crazy as heck, and still enjoyable. It shows boot camp training and, of course, the madness of Vietnam. R. Lee Ermy made for a crazy cool drill sergeant character, and I almost feel bad for him when he got killed by "Private Pyle". I handled this like a champ, and it is a fun war movie. When you see this, you are not in a world of crap.











1. Godzilla Minus One (2023)

We all know the story of Godzilla. In 1954, 9 years after the end of World War II, America tests the H-Bomb in the Pacific, leading to a huge radioactive dinosaur ravaging Tokyo. However, this film changes up the status quo by having Godzilla attack Japan shortly after the conclusion of the war. It starts in 1945, in the closing weeks of WWII, and Godzilla's big attack happens two years later. Focusing on a would-be kamikaze pilot, GODZILLA MINUS ONE is an incredible movie and was the one that ensured the Big G got an Oscar after seven decades. I would love to watch this again, because, next to GODZILLA 1954 and GODZILLA FINAL WARS, this is one of the most important Godzilla films ever.


"Hey, wait a minute! How about you cover one more film?"

I was just thinking, and if I am being honest, GODZILLA MINUS ONE isn't the only movie that is one of my favorite films I got to see in 2024. Sharing the number one spot, we have...











Deadpool (2016)

Okay, the story here is interesting. After mom and I saw the trailer for TERMINATOR DARK FATE in 2019, I got curious about Deadpool, and we saw the trailer for that movie. After seeing what it had to offer, mom objected. And, for a long time, I was against seeing R-rated comic book films like this, but eventually, I decided to watch this movie with my dad. Oh, I am here to tell you now, this R-rated comic book movie was worth watching. Ryan Reynolds is my favorite actor, and he played Wade Wilson so well. Full of action, humor, and good moments, I am happy I saw Deadpool. And this one is more than just an over-the-top bloody action film, it is a comedy at heart, with so many comedic beat. I will be seeing the sequel in 2025 along with the third movie.

Happy New Year!

2024 Books Completed.

Courtesy of @becauseallthebooks


2024 Books Completed  


Alan Dean Foster- Life Forms (reread) ****

Amanda Quick - When She Dreams #6 Burning Cove ***

Andy Weir - Project Hail Mary:  *****

Arthur C. Clarke - Rendezvous with Rama (reread) ****

Ashley Poston - Seven Year Slip - e, ****

Ashley Poston - The Dead Romantics ****

Ben Aaronovitch - Broken Homes #4 Rivers of London ****

Ben Aaronovitch - Foxglove Summer #5 Rivers of London ***

Ben Aaronovitch - Moon over Soho #2 Rivers of London ****

Ben Aaronovitch - Whispers Underground #3 Rivers of London ****

Blake Crouch - Dark Matter ****

Bonnie Garmus - Lessons in Chemistry ****

Brendan Slocumb - Violin Conspiracy ****

C.J. Archer - The Librarian of Crooked Lane #1 Glass Library - ****

Campbell Walker - Your Head is a Houseboat - Nonfiction ****

Caroline Peckham - Zodiak Academy #1: The Awakening - ***

Cassandra Clare - Lady Midnight: Dark Artifices ****

Cassandra Clare - Lord of Shadows: #2 Dark Artifices   ***

Charles De Lint - The Mystery of Grace (reread) ****

Christopher Paolini - Murtagh #5 Inheritance Cycle ****

David Brin - Earth (reread) ****

Dean Koontz - Elsewhere - ****

Dean Koontz - Odd Thomas #1 (reread) ****

Debra Webb - Deeper than the Dead - e, ***

Derek Paul - A Machine Divine ****

Diana Setterfield - Once Upon A River ****

Dylan Newton - How Sweet it is - e, ****

Elizabeth Bear - Machine #2 White Space ****

Elizabeth Hunter - The Scribe #1 Irin Chronicles (reread) ****

Elizabeth Hunter - The Secret #3 Irin Chronicles ****

Elizabeth Hunter - The Singer #2 Irin Chronicles ****

Emily Henry - Funny Story ****

Emily St. John Mandel - Sea of Tranquility   **

Ernest Cline - Armada ****

Evie Woods - The Lost Bookshop ****

Faith Hunter - Rift in the Soul #4 Soul wood ****

Gwendolyn Brooks - People of the Book (reread) ****

Haruki Murakami - Kafka on the Shore (reread) ****

Haruki Murakami - Sputnik Sweetheart *****

Iain Pears - Giotti's Hand #5 Jonathan Argyll *** 

Isak Dinesen- Out of Africa ***

J.D. Robb - Random in Death #58 In Death ****

J.D. Robb Passion in Death #59 In death *** 

J.T. Ellison - Lie to Me *****

Jason Pargin - I'm Starting to Worry About This Big Black Box of Doom:  *****

Jenna Black - Dark Descendant (reread) ***

Jenny Colgan - Cafe by the Sea #1 Mure ****

Jenny Colgan - The Bookshop on the Corner ****

Jessica Strawser - The Last Caretaker **

Jim Butcher - Aeronauts Windlass #1 Cinder Spires ****

Joanna Quinn - The Whalebone Theatre   *****

John Grisham - The Racketeer -  ****

John Grisham - Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer ****

John Scalzi - Old Man's War ****

Julia Quinn - Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (reread) ****

Justin Cronin - The Ferryman  *****

Karen Rose - Count to Ten  ****

Kate Clayborne - Love Lettering -  e, *****

Kay Hooper - Curse of Salem: #20 Bishop/Special crimes  ****

Kelly Barnhill - When Woman Were Dragons - ****

Leslie Wolfe - The Surgeon  **

Lyssa Kay Adams - Undercover Bromance ***

Mariana Zapata  - From Lukov with Love - e, ***

Marie Brennan - Tropic of Serpents #2 Lady Trent  *****

Mark Helprin - In Sunlight and In Shadow  ****

Mark Pryor - The Book Artist #8 Hugo Marston  ****

Mimi Matthews - The Belle of Belgrave Square  ****

Nalini Singh - Archangel's Lineage #16 Guild Hunter *****

Nalini Singh - Primal Mirror #8 psy-changeling trinity, *****

Namrata Patel - Candid Life of Meena Dave  *****

Naomi Novik - His Majesty's Dragon #1 Temeraire  *****

Nina Sankovitch - Tolstoy and the Purple Chair  (reread) *****

Noa Walker - You, Me, and the Colors of Life - e, ****

Nora Roberts - Mind Games *****

Nora Roberts - The Mirror #2 Lost Brides    *****

Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb - Remember When / Big Jack #17.5 In death ****

Paola Peritti - The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree  ****

Patricia Briggs - Winter Lost Mercedes Thompson adventure, *****

Patricia Briggs Alpha and Omega series (reread) 1 - 4

Patricia Briggs Mercedes Thompson (reread)  1 - 14)

Peng Shepherd - The Cartographers ***

R.F. Kuang - Babel: An Arcane History *****

Rebecca Yarros -  Iron Flame #2 Empryean - *****

Rebecca Yarros - Fourth Wing #1 Empryean - *****

Rebecca Yarros - The Things We leave Unfinished - e, ****

Ruth Ware - The It Girl ****

Samantha Shannon - The Bone Season #1 ****

Samantha Shannon - The Pale Dreamer novella ****

Sara Nisha Adams - The Reading List ****

Sarah Addison Allen - Other Birds  ***

Sarah Hall- How to Paint a Dead Man  **

Satoshi Yagisawa’s - Days at the Morisaki Bookshop  ***

Sharon Bolton - Now You See Me #1 Lacey Flint  ****

Steve Berry - Charlemagne's Pursuit #4 Cotton Malone  ****

Sulari Gentill - The Woman in the Library  ****

Sylvia Cathrall -A Letter to the Lumious Deep - e, ****

T.A. Barron  - The Ancient One (reread) ****

Talia Hibbert  - Get a Life, Chloe Brown - e, ***

Toni McGee Causey - Bobby Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day (reread)   ***

Trisha Das - Never Meant to Stay  ****

V. E. Schwab - Darker Shade of Magic ****

Venus Prime V: Breaking Strain - Paul Preuss ****

Willa Cather - Death Comes for the Archbishop: reread (reread) ****


2024 Reading Wrap Up


 

My 2024 Reading Year

In 2024 I surprised myself by reading more physical books than ebooks. The past couple of years, I read 50% or more in ebooks so I'm proud of myself for sticking with the books on my shelves. I thought I was making headway in clearing some books out, except they kept having babies, so guess I'll have to start over again for 2025.  LOL!

I read 104 books of which 82 were paperback or hard back and the rest were ebooks. Huzzah.  Out of those, I read 37 new to me authors, and 19 rereads and the rest were books by known authors.

Out of all of them, 18 were Five Stars  - They were stellar reads.  The writing was compelling, the world building was outstanding and the story flowed. I couldn't put them down. They evoked an emotional response and made me feel my feelings. Or they were unique.  If it was a series opener, it made want to read the whole series.  If it was a new to me author, it made me want read more of their stories. I have to say I would reread them again in the future. 

Some of my five star reads I couldn't stop thinking about:

R.F. Kuang's Babel - because once I started reading, I could not put it down. The etymology discussions, how the characters related to the world around them, how the characters grew in knowledge, the choices they made, some good, some bad, the heart wrenching decisions. All of it combined to create a story that made me think and how it related to today's world and why people do the things they do. 

Justin Cronin's The Ferryman -  because it was so complex. It left me breathless, especially with the twists and turns. Real life or a dystopian world, the future or the past, a dream or reality, upper class versus the working class, fantasy or deceit, lies or truths.  

J.T. Ellison's Lie to Me - When I finally dove into the story, it lead to me reading every spare minute. Fast paced, psychological thriller and would have never guessed who caused Sutton's and Ethan's marriage to implode. They were both to blame, yet there was someone else hiding in the shadows pulling all their strings. It was a thrill ride of a story with so many twists and turns, it made me dizzy.

Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series - Fourth Wing with dragons and gut wrenching bad good guys and bad guys. The cadets have to master a parapet to join or fall to their deaths.  Each challenge becomes a matter of life or death, no in between.  In Iron Flame, the cadets to go war and have to deal with deception and challenges and the story is full of twists and turns.  

Naomi Novik's first book in her Temeraire series - His Majesty's Dragon, all about Captain Laurance who reluctantly bonded with the dragon Temeraire during the Napoleonic war and grew to love and trust him above all else.  I went on to read the second book and will definitely read the rest of this series. 

Nalini Singh's Archangel's Lineage, the sixteenth Guild Hunter urban fantasy/romance in which Raphael and Elana and the rest of the angels have to fight to save the world on brink of destruction due to ancestors, plus Elena dealing with family issues was an emotional coaster ride. 

Nora Roberts Mind Games which was unique, clever, gut wrenching, scary, and heart warming all in one.

Diana Setterfield's Once Upon a River,mystery with magical realism elements totally captured me with the different characters. The story slowly bloomed and just when I thought I had the answer, it changed.  Very well done!

Kate Clayborn's Love Lettering was so unique, I decided I needed to read it again and purchased the paperback so I could annotate.  

Jason Pargin's I'm starting to Worry About this Big Black Box of Doom was a crazy thrill ride from California to Washington DC, with him vs her conversations, adulthood, and relationships, how the internet can shape your thinking, plus all the mayhem that occurs when the conspiracy theorists on the internet follow your journey. And through it all, what was in that box? The answer was a surprise.  Enjoyed it from beginning to end. 

I made the mistake of reading Joanna Quinn's The Whalebone Theatre at bedtime and there was so much of this story that captured me. The forgotten child Cristabel, the heir apparent Digby, the privileged parents, the elite friends, and how they all handled life up to, during, and after wartime. Beautifully written.  I need to read it again with annotations and marginalia to remember all the good, bad, and the ugly. 

And Patricia Brigg's Winter Lost which inspired me to reread the whole dang series over again as soon as I finished it. 

Four Stars: 61 -  The writing, world building, and characters were excellent. Enjoyed the story. Would read this series or author again. Willing to give it a second read.  Many, many well done stories. 

Three Stars: 18 - It was average, a good story, but...  Generally nitpicks about the characters actions and how ridiculous or immature they were. 

Two Stars: 5 -  I read the whole thing but had morally grey characters without any redeeming qualities, or something about the story turned me off, or it failed to live up to my expectations.   

I read three in a row which was  an interesting turn of events. I had looked forward to reading Mark Helprin's In Sunlight and In Shadow since I thoroughly enjoyed The Winter's Tale and Soldier of the Great War, but was disappointed by the story line. A historical romance novel set just after WWII in New York city in which the lead character decides vigilante justice against the mob was the best way go and it ends up all wrong.  

Helprin's novel set a theme for the next two books my husband bought for me which went down the same path and he got to hear all about how mad the characters made me. 

Jessica Strawser's The Last Caretaker  started out with good intentions then went down the wrong path in dealing with domestic violence, vigilante justice and solving problems without the authorities. 

And Leslie Wolfe's The Surgeon when a cardiac patient died under mysterious circumstances and the lead characters were involved in abuse, adultery, blackmail, and decided vigilante justice without the police was the best solution. 

Oh my word! 

My books covered a wide range of genres, emotions and subjects from dragons, dystopian oxford, psychological thrillers, magical realism, mysteries, thrillers, fantasy and science fiction and took me around the world from Japan to Europe to the United Kingdom to the United States. From grief, racism, and disability to love and family and life, the stories ran the gamut. 

I didn't avoid the cathartic reads, the ones that hit you in all the feels. In the past, I avoided them like the plague. But now, sometimes you just need to have a good cry or have a good mad.  They're a great excuse for feeling your feelings and if you dive in, let the words wash over you and pull you into the characters lives and emotions, when you come out the other side, not only have you learned something, you feel better.  

All in all, I had a great reading year. And since I usually keep the good stories, now that I've learned to annotate and talk to the author, the characters, or myself in the margins, next year should be interesting. 



2024 A to Z and Back Again books completed

 

I cheated a little on my A to Z and Back Again for x as long as long as it was contained within the spelling of the title.


A to Z and Back Again


A) Armada by Ernest Cline
B) Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
C) Candid Life of Meena Dave by Namrata Patel
D) Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
E) Elsewhere by Dean Koontz
F) Fourth Wing #1 Empryean by Rebecca Yarros
G) Giotti’s Hand #5 Jonathan Argyll by Iain Pears
H) His Majesty’s Dragon #1 Temeraire by Naomi Novik
I) Iron Flame #2 Empryean by Rebecca Yarros
J ) Man’s War by John Scalzi
K) Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
L) Lie to Me by J.T. Ellison
M) Moon over Soho #2 Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
N) Now You See Me #1 Lacey Flint by Sharon Bolton
O) Once Upon A River by Diana Setterfield
P) The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree by Paola Peritti
Q) The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn
R) The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
S) Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
T) Talia Hibbert Get a Life by Chloe Brown
U) Whispers Underground #3 Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
V) Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
W) Lost Bookshop by Evie Wood
X) Foxglove Summer #5 Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Y) You, Me, and the Colors of Life by Noa Walker
Z) Zodiak- Academy #1: The Awakening by Caroline Peckham


Z) From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
Y) Your Head is a Houseboat by Campbell Walker
X) I’m Starting to Worry About This Big Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin
W) The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
V) Venus Prime V: Breaking Strain by Paul Preuss
U) Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
T) Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham
S) Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
R) The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Q) Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
P) Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
O) Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
N) Never Meant to Stay by Trisha Das
M) Machine #2 White Space by Elizabeth Bear
L) Life Forms by Alan Dean Foster
K) Odd Thomas #1 by Dean Koontz
J) Cafe by the Sea #1 Mure by Jenny Colgan
I) The It Girl by Ruth Ware
H) In Sunlight and In Shadow by Mark Helprin
G) Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
F) Funny Story by Emily Henry
E) Earth by David Brin
D) Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
C) Love Lettering by Kate Clayborne
B) Broken Homes #4 Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
A) Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen


December Reading Log

 



December 1:  I’m dipping my toes into multiple books right now and all of them are different so don’t get them mixed up. When I get tired of reading one, move on to the other.

Steve Berry’s Emperor’s Tomb

Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore

Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa

Louise DeSalvo’s Art of Slow Writing

Emily Henry’s Funny Story.

My book buying binge is out of control and have added multiple books to my TBR. Thank you Amazon for extending Black Friday for a whole week. *facepalm*    Now it’s time to start Christmas shopping.

Saturday Night Movie: How to Train Your Dragon.


December 2:  All the packages from my black friday splurges have started rolling in and hubby asks did you do some christmas shopping?

Um, yeah sure. Hee hee

December 3:  Finished reread of Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore.  Understand a bit more, however feel the Same as when read it the first time.  Much to ponder, but it still left me in a state of confusion. Feel like that maybe if read Kafka’s metamorphosis I may understand but probably not.  Big book hangover.

December 8:  I recently added A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote to my stacks. Ann Patchett, author and owner of Parnassus books says she’s never been able to read the book aloud to a group of people without crying. I also added another holiday tale – Comfort and Joy: A Christmas fable by Kristen Hannah.

Plus I am reading Kingdom of Copper, part of the Daevabad series by our December author of the month, S. A. Chakraborty.  Be sure to check her out.

Besides Kingdom of Copper, I’m still in middle of Steve Berry’s Emperor’s Tomb.  Was reading it at breakfast but started to get gory so have to read when not eating.

Finally got back into reading my ebooks so on tap is Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn.

“Meg Mackworth’s hand-lettering skill has made her famous as the Planner of Park Slope, designing beautiful custom journals for New York City’s elite. She has another skill too: reading signs that other people miss. Like the time she sat across from Reid Sutherland and his gorgeous fiancée, and knew their upcoming marriage was doomed to fail. Weaving a secret word into their wedding program was a little unprofessional, but she was sure no one else would spot it. She hadn’t counted on sharp-eyed, pattern-obsessed Reid . . .

A year later, Reid has tracked Meg down to find out—before he leaves New York for good—how she knew that his meticulously planned future was about to implode. But with a looming deadline, a fractured friendship, and a bad case of creative block, Meg doesn’t have time for Reid’s questions—unless he can help her find her missing inspiration. As they gradually open up to each other about their lives, work, and regrets, both try to ignore the fact that their unlikely connection is growing deeper. But the signs are there—irresistible, indisputable, urging Meg to heed the messages Reid is sending her, before it’s too late . . .”

Also have several non fiction books going at the moment: Louise DeSalvo’s The Art of Slow writing as well as The Twelve Week Year, and Danny Gregory’s memoir Everyday Matters.

Saturday Night Movie: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.


December 15: Will be reading the Kingdom of Copper for the next week or so with Steve Berry’s Emperor’s Tomb  waiting in the wings.  Making some headway in Louise DeSalvo’s Art of Slow Writing in which the current chapter details the art of slow reading. *grin*

Saturday Night Movie: Alien: Romulus.


December 17:  Adding Canticle to my bedtime reading pile. It’s been years since i read it so need to see how I feel about it now.  Currently rereading Brook’s  People of the Book at bedtime.  

Finished 2025's Bingo for 52 Books. 


December 21:  I’ve been counting down the days to Christmas with our advent calendars as well as anticipating the annual book flood Jólabókaflóð. However, I started a little early and our shelves and stockings are filling up. But nevertheless, we’ll spend Christmas Eve curled up on our cozy couch reading until the thought of Santa coming down the chimney drives us to our beds. Winter also officially started on Saturday, the 21st, which means plenty of cold weather books to keep us company.

Somebody reminded me the other day, it isn’t the quantity of books we read that’s important, but the quality. 

I’m still enjoying Kingdom of Copper in S.A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad Trilogy plus reading Geraldine Brook’s People of the Book at bedtime. I loved these type of stories

“The story traces the harrowing journey of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illuminated Hebrew manuscript created in fifteenth-century Spain.

When it falls to Australian rare book expert Hanna Heath to conserve this priceless work, the tiny artifacts she discovers in its ancient binding—a butterfly wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—only begin to unlock the book’s deep mysteries and unexpectedly plunges Hanna into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics.”

Started listening to Patricia Brigg’s Moon Called with a dramatized cast which has been really fun.  Found I can listen and concentrate better with a book I’ve already read than a brand new one.

Will post wrap up and answers to questions later in the week after I finish my current reads.

Saturday Night Movie: Watched Red One with James.

Completed the spelling challenge for 52 books for 2025 which is dragon bookology.  Hurrah!


December 27:  I needed something more uplifting than The Kingdom of Copper and Emporer’s Tomb, so dove into Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, as well as Murakami’s What I talk about When I talk about Running.  Refreshing.

I think my last book of the year will be Gwendolyn Brooks People of the Book so I’ll get started on my wrap up list….

Or maybe not.

Interruption # 53893  in which I have to help John set up his new cell phone.  Later.


Watchmen (1986) comic review -by James M

 









For decades, superheroes have been beloved by the public in pop culture. And yet, one rarely asks the question; "What if superheroes were real?"

There have been a handful of stories that answer the question, and one of them was published by the company that produced the likes of Superman and Batman. In 1986, with Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, DC Comics produced WATCHMEN, a story set in an alternate world where costumed superheroes were thriving before being outlawed with only one individual having superpowers. This one is real dark and gritty, and risqué, so, if anyone wants to read it, be warned, you may be diving into mature territory.

So, allow me to summarize Watchmen's story.

In the late 1930s, costumed heroes rose up to fight crime and protect the innocent, inspired by comic book superheroes, leading to the formation of superhero groups such as the Minutemen and, later, the Watchmen. Years later, the government has outlawed superheroes, with a few individuals like Doctor Manhattan and The Comedian still working for the government while a mysterious man named Rorschach strikes out on his own against the scum of the world. In 1985, the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union is reaching its peak as The Comedian is murdered, setting in motion a mysterious plot that will forever change a world on the brink of nuclear war.

I discovered this comic after discovering the existence of the 2009 Zack Snyder film a couple years back (and after being informed of it by an old friend on Twitter). And, having watched the motion comic version on YouTube and, after reading it for myself on READ COMICS ONLINE while watching videos on it and finding information about this story across different websites, I will say, Watchmen is one heck of a story.

Well before this comic was written, superhero comics, and comics in general, were mostly for kids. However, the game changed in the 1980s with the likes of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: The Killing Joke being published, along with Watchmen. Times had changed, comics weren't just for younger audiences anymore. Watchmen examines the superhero genre, and offers a look into a world where superheroes are real, offering an alternate universe where events played out differently. In fact, while America lost the Vietnam War in our world, in Watchmen, we won the war. And yet, the existence of superheroes in this alternate world doesn't advert the Cold War period between the US and the Soviet Union.

Written by Alan Moore, WATCHMEN has some colorful artwork and engaging dialogue, but do not let the gorgeous coloring fool you, especially as this comic was not intended for younger readers. At best, Watchmen is aimed at ages 17 and up. And yet, if you like alternate history and want to see a world where superheroes are real, this one is basically for you. To be honest, I would give WATCHMEN a 4.5 out of 5 stars, and perhaps we should be fortunate superheroes don't exist in our world.

Thank you for joining me today, people, and take care of yourselves. Merry Christmas.

Inglorious Basterds (2009) movie review

 









World War II was the darkest of conflicts in human history, lasting for six years, and it saw the most horrific acts ever committed in human history. We know how it ended, and what the cost was. And we know what the name Adolf Hitler means, just as we know what Nazism truly is. And yet, in the following decades, the global film industry has produced many incredible movies set during the war. Saving Private Ryan, The Longest Day, The Monuments Men, and Der Untergang.

However, one special movie deserves to be covered, and that is 2009's Inglorious Basterds by Quinten Tarantino, starring Brad Pitt, Christopher Waltz, Daniel Bruhl (of later MCU fame) and Michael Fassbender and guest-starring Mike Myers. The story follows a pair of Jewish Allied commandos on a mission in Europe as they take on the Nazis, and begin making plans to take out Adolf Hitler and his inner circle when circumstances fall into place.

Despite being intense, with many grizzly scenes, Inglorious Basterds is a fun action flick with wonderful writing and good special effects. The start of the film was a highlight for me, especially as it draws you in. I want to focus on that for a bit, especially as it starts on a farm in the countryside of Nazi-occupied France, and the film's main villain, SS colonel Hans Landa, visits the French farmer Perrier in his search for a hiding Jewish family. 

In just the first ten to fifteen minutes, you are drawn into the film, especially with Landa and Perrier's conversation. The highlight of the scene is when they start talking in English after speaking in French, but you can't deny how suspenseful the opening is. Perrier gives away the Jews that Landa is hunting are hiding beneath the floor, and Landa pretends to leave as he brings in his men. Obviously, the Nazis shoot through the floor, but what really cements this as the best opening scene for an R-rated movie is that... we don't see any blood in that moment.

Yes, there is blood at various points in the movie, but the opening only shows the soldiers shoot through the floor, with no blood flying everywhere. Mr. Tarantino is undoubtedly a visionary, and his style has to be respected. Even fifteen years after its release, Inglorious Basterds deserves a world of respect. Adolf Hitler does makes an appearance in the movie, played by German actor Martin Wukke. The movie depicts Hitler wearing a cape for a time in the movie, which is pretty funny, and he has gone on to become an online meme within the world of Hitler-related memes. Really, Hitler's first scene sees him banging his fist on the table and screaming "no" about four times in German. 

Oh, and he gets shot and killed in a theater at the end of the movie, just like Abraham Lincoln in our world. Inglorious Basterds is an alternate history WW2 film, folks.

My dad and I watched it on YouTube months ago, and it was a fun experience to see it. Inglorious Basterds is a must-see for anyone who likes watching crazy World War II movies, and if you're into alternate history in general. My score for the movie is a 9.8/10, and I was fortunate to see this one. Have fun out there, people.

-James M

November Reading Log

 



November 2:  It's non fiction November! When I told my husband I was planning on reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, he said it’s fiction. I disagreed but when I looked it up, found a variety of opinions and the main consensus is Zen is a fictionalized Autobiography in which the author took creative license with the subject matter. *sigh* And hubby hated it when he read it way back when. Thank you for bursting my bubble. I’ll make up my own mind what I think of the story when I read it. A few people who shall remain nameless have fooled me in the past with their so called  autobiographies which turned out to be fictionalized and resulted in me tossing their books across the room in disgust. However, there is literary nonfiction or creative nonfiction which I love to read which uses literary styles and techniques similar to fiction but is actually based on fact to tell a story, rather than a dry tome regurgitating facts.

I finished rereading Nina Sankovitch’s Tolstoy and the Purple Chair and got so much more out of it because I took my time, highlighted so much of it, wrote notes to myself in the margins, plus jotted down quotes and stuff in my book journal so I need to write a blog post about it soon.

Finished Dean Koontz Elsewhere which was quite good.  A parallel universe, time traveling story about an father and daughter who are given the ‘key to everything’ and what happens when they accidently set the thing off.

Finished my bedtime read – Toni McGee Causey’s Bobby Faye’s very (very, very, very) bad day which was a wild day which starts with her trailer flooding, her brother being kidnapped, and her racing through the day from catastrophe to catastrophe trying to save him and keep herself out of jail at the same time.

On the nightstand for nonfiction November, I had quite a few books but don’t think I’ll get through them all. My first pick is A.J. Jacobs The Know it All, or Struthless Your Head is a Houseboat.  If I have time, I’ll meander through True North: A Journey into Unexplored Wilderness by Elliott Merrick. And yes, Zen is still on the table for reading this month too.  As well as Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore.

My reading has slowed way down and not sure why, but I haven’t read any ebooks this past month.  Need a physical book in my hands these days.


November 10:  I’m dipping my toes into multiple books right now:

Bedtime: Life Forms by Alan Dean Foster- “When nine scientists discover a faraway planet that is miraculously like Earth, they immediately move in for a closer look but discover that nothing is as it actually seems and their survival will be challenged.”  Got to the “Uh Oh” moment last night and the characters don’t know what they are going to do.

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami:  Kafka trying to figure out his life, Nakata, the cat whispering wondering about, riddles and reasoning tripped up by rainstorms of fishes and leeches is making for a odd read.  I think I may have started this book once before, but never finished it, because don’t remember half this stuff.

John Grisham’s The Racketeer (my G book) “Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of the USA only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett just became number five.

His body was found in the small basement of a lakeside cabin he had built himself and frequently used on weekends. When he did not show up for a trial on Monday morning, his law clerks panicked, called the FBI, and in due course the agents found the crime scene. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies – Judge Fawcett and his young secretary.

I did not know Judge Fawcett, but I know who killed him, and why.

I am a lawyer, and I am in prison.

It’s a long story.”      Interesting so far.

A.J. Jacobs – The Know it All (nonfiction read) in which he is reading his way through the encyclopedia brittanica.  Currently on C – little know interesting facts which he tries to use in everyday conversation making for hilarious results.

Saturday Night Movie: My pick tonight for the movie – Dead Poets Society. We’ll see how the guys like it.


November 13:  Voting has started on the Goodread’s Choice Awards nominees and I recognize maybe one or two out of all the categories.    *facepalm*  I may be living under a rock.


November 17:  Can you believe there are 6 1/2 weeks left in the year? I can’t. Time to start brainstorming for next year. I’ve reached F in A.J. Jacob’s The Know it All in which he’s reading through the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in his quest to become the smartest person in the world. The first entry is fables, which coincidentally, coincides with the letter of the week and the first thing that popped up in literary terms when I searched the internet. Synchronicity! Maybe.

I finished Alan Dean Foster’s Life Form (reread from the 90’s which meant I didn’t remember any of it)  Excellent story about scientists going to another planet to study the habitat and come across natives of the planet. In the midst of their research, in the midst of learning about these life forms,  information comes to light that they may not have been the first humans on the planet, throwing their whole project into disarray.

Also finished Grisham’s Racketeer which had a twist near the end that explained everything. Well done.

Still in the middle of Kafka on the Shore. Not sure why keep losing interest and moving on to other books.

Haven’t decided on next read yet. Time to peruse the shelves.

Saturday Night Movie - Our monster movie Yuzo was a big fail – set during covid and a musical to boot. Turned it off and watched an excellent and engaging war movie instead – Operation Crossbow.


November 20:  Last night I finished How to Paint a Dead Man by Sarah Hall. It was supposed to be a reread but just looked through my records and discovered it was a DNF 10 years ago or so. Now I know why. No happily ever after and very depressing. Grief, affairs, a little girl going blind, an artist dying. The little girl gets killed, the old man artist dies from cancer, the younger artist I’m not sure about because his foot was stuck between some boulders off on a mountain,  and the morally gray female character is pregnant and not sure if it was hubby or the man she was having an affair with. But the baby knocks her out of her grief and the day turns sunny.  Oh brother!


November 24:  Happy birthday to me. I think my guys went a little bit overboard! Not that I mind, as I’ll read them all eventually!


Currently on Nora Roberts The Mirror which is excellent so no spoilers since my buddy read partner hasn’t read it yet.   Reading Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa at Bedtime and still working on the Art of Slow  Writing by Louise DeSalvo.  Haven’t decided on my E book yet.

Saturday Night Movie:  Ender’s Game.



James' Review of THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE (2023)

 








Mama mia, everyone! Its-a me, the Crazy Video Game Wizard, and we're here to talk about THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE from Illumination/Universal & Niiiiiiiiiiintendo!

As you all remember, back in the 1990s, during the near-height of Mario's fame, Nintendo gave Hollywood the license to make a Mario movie. In 1993, SUPER MARIO BROS starring the late Bob Hoskins as Mario and Dennis Hopper as King Koopa was released to the world... and it failed. It was so infamous, Nintendo never attempted movie adaptations again. But during the 2010s, as they worked on a theme park with Universal, the desire to make a Mario movie was rekindled.

Collaborating with Illumination Studios, with Universal as the distributor, Nintendo worked on the new animated Mario film with Chris Pratt as Mario and Jack Black as Bowser and Charlie Day as Luigi. In April 2023, after years of work, the movie was released and made billions of dollars despite being negatively received by critics. Oh, and it was well-received by fans. The movie was so successful, a sequel is in the works.

I saw this movie on DVD in June, and, yes, it is just as good as folks say it is. Years ago, I didn't think of the idea that Chris Pratt would do something Mario-related. However, hearing his Mario voice, Chris is real great. His Mario is my favorite Chris Pratt character next to Star Lord and Owen Grady of Marvel and Jurassic Park respectively. Oh, and Jack Black was real treasure when it came to taking on the role of Bowser. Yeah, I liked him in KING KONG and KUNG FU PANDA amongst other things, but you cannot top "Peaches". BTW, I saw Jack Black's music video, and it is cool.

While the 1993 film has a place in my heart, this film makes me want to play Mario games even more, and it is a love letter to the franchise, with so many easter eggs and moments that fans love. Mario turning into a cat with the Cat Suit from SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD is priceless, and I would be thrilled to watch a Donkey Kong movie. THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE is what makes me love Mario even more, and I am happy it succeeded.

Solid 9.9/10, and I'd be glad to rewatch this film down the road. By the way, the sequel will drop in 2026, and the movie's victory has opened the door to other video game films such as a LEGEND OF ZELDA movie. Oh man, you know I love Zelda. Anyways, I'll see ya'll next time.

-James M






James' review of Jojo Rabbit (2019)

 








Welcome back, everyone. Today, we're here to review this comedic movie involving Nazis and World War II called Jojo Rabbit, loosely based on a book called Caged Skies, and the story is pretty simple:

During the Second World War, Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), who confides in an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler (played by the film's director Takia Wattiti, joins the Hitler Youth and, after recovering from an injury, he discovers a Jew named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) hiding in the house. As it turns out, Jojo's mother (Scarlett Johansson) is an anti-Nazi, and, the more Jojo interacts with Elsa, his patriotism towards the Third Reich begins to diminish. At one point, Fake Hitler launches into a frightening triad to Jojo, telling him how Germany relies on the passion of valiant young men and that its up to him to decide if he wants to be remembered by history or disappear insignificantly.

While it is set during one of the roughest times imaginable, Jojo Rabbit is a fun movie with plenty of comedic moments throughout, and Takia's portrayal of Hitler ranges from wacky to completely serious. By the end of the film, Fake Hitler has become a raging mess, akin to the version played by Bruno Ganz in Der Untergang. The writing is well done, and Jojo had a swell character arc, going from a Nazi fanatic to someone who cares for those the Nazis persecuted.

Jojo Rabbit deserves a 9.5 out of 10. Go watch it if you want. And don't ever forget the horrors inflicted by the forces of Nazism. Don't follow their ideals, don't give their fallen empire power, and don't honor the legacy of Adolf Hitler. Even in death, Hitler can still hurt the world, and influence many people. The Nazis, regardless if they were a political party, are monsters forever.

Farewell, folks.

-James M


James' Review of SUPERHERO MOVIE (2008)

 








Ah, superhero movies. The greatest of our time, right next to sci-fi space adventures and war movies. You've seen Marvel movies, and DC movies, but to see a superhero movie that isn't associated with those two is quite rare. And then, we have the parodies, especially the Movie movie stuff.

2008 was a big year for superhero films. Iron Man came out, kicking off the MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE, alongside THE INCREDIBLE HULK, and then, there was THE DARK KNIGHT, the sequel to 2005's BATMAN BEGINS. And, among the many other superhero films, there's this movie...

SUPERHERO MOVIE.

Made by the same folks who made the SCARY MOVIE, er, movies, SUPERHERO MOVIE is a spoof of the pre-MCU Marvel films that were out at the time with some elements of DC. It spoofed Spider-Man, Batman, the X-Men, and you get the idea. The movie tells the story of Peter Parker parody Rick Riker, who gets bit by a dragonfly and, after being in a coma for five days, he learns that he has super powers. After his uncle, a parody of Uncle Ben, gets shot, Rick becomes the superhero Dragonfly and fights injustice. Before long, he is battling the threat of HOURGLASS, an obvious Green Goblin parody, who is ought to drain the life force of almost everyone in the city to sustain himself.

Drake Bell plays Rick Riker, who is based on Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man from the Sam Rami trilogy with a bit of Christian Bale's Batman from BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT, and, like Peter, he's a high-school student with a crush on a girl who is his neighbor and lives with his aunt and uncle. Fun fact, years after the movie's release, Drake actually went on to voice Spider-Man himself in the Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel's Heroes.

Now, this movie is really, really crazy, and not just for being a spoof of Spider-Man and the other Marvel (and DC)-related movies. Throughout the film, you'll be encountering sex jokes and bathroom jokes galore. And for crying out loud, the reason Rick gets bit by a dragonfly is because his bully pushed him on top of animal dung and he tried to wash off the stain with some liquid that attracted a bunch of animals to the kid (complete with a dog humping his leg). The film is crazy for sure, but I don't think too much of things like blood, violence, swearing, sex jokes and I'm twenty-five years old!

Anyways, if you wanna watch a funny superhero movie and you're into juvenile humor, go ahead and watch, well, SUPERHERO MOVIE. Its an 8, and it can be fun, but don't expect to see Wolverine do any hero stuff. And by the way, light spoilers, the Uncle Ben parody survives, and its the Aunt May-type character who dies, which kind of predicted that Aunt May would get killed off in a Spider-Man movie years later.

Be safe out there.

-James M



James' review of REIGO THE DEEP SEA MONSTER (w. RAIGA)

 








Hey, Godzilla nerds. I'm back to discuss a kaiju movie that is NOT a Godzilla film, but its still Japanese made. This movie is REIGO: THE DEEP SEA MONSTER, and you wanna know what makes it very special?

As you know, kaiju movies like Godzilla or Rodan became known in the years after the conclusion of World War II, and monster flicks like these are usually set after the war. However, Reigo takes place DURING World War II IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. That's right, the crew of a Japanese battleship during the war battles a sea monster. Oh, and get this, the battleship is the YAMATO, which was actually a real ship.

Excluding the opening of GODZILLA MINUS ONE, this is the first Japanese-made monster movie that takes place during the events of the infamous real-life conflict that led to the nuclear age which led to Godzilla's creation in the first place, and the plot is pretty interesting. At one point, while the ship's crew are fighting against Reigo, they team up with an American whose ship was destroyed by the monster.

So, what are my thoughts on this, uh, blockbuster?

Well, REIGO is fun, when you can look past the odd CGI effects that appear in this film. It was hard to look at the CGI in the movie without getting the vibe that you're looking at video game graphics, and this is one monster movie that is not going to age well despite being a fun kaiju-related outing. When you get past the poorly aged CGI, and some questionable moments, REIGO: THE DEEP SEA MONSTER is worth your time if you want to watch it... or rewatch it if you've seen it like I have. Not much to say about the acting, even though it was funny that the American character spoke Japanese, and there was a tiny bit of English from the ship's crew member who talked to him.

9.8/10. The studio did its best. And by the way, REIGO got a freaking sequel three years later, in the form of DEEP SEA MONSTER RAIGA.









The film is set decades after the war, and I am going to be honest, this one was weird as heck. No spoilers for those who haven't seen it, and they actually made a third movie. GOD RAIGA VS. KING OHGA, which came out over five years ago as of this writing. My parents and I should see that down the line.

See you next time, folks.



James M's review of BEETLEJUICE (1988)

 








Happy Halloween, everyone. 

Today, we're talking about Tim Burton's 1988 classic known as BEETLEJUICE, starring Michael Keaton as the ghost with the most. To make a long story short, the film sees a married couple trapped in their own house after dying in a car accident and, when new people move into their former living residence, they eventually turn to a troublemaking ghost for help... leading to all sorts of insanity.

Right off the bat, I saw this film nearly a few weeks prior to Halloween and it is worth a watch during the spooky season, especially with the supernatural themes throughout from death, the afterlife and ghosts. Tim Burton knows when to freak people out with his style, and Michael Keaton's portrayal of Beetlejuice is hammy, over the top, and can be pretty disturbing in certain places. 

BEETLEJUICE is a breathtaking work of art for it's time, and my family and I really loved it. Obviously, people in 1988 did too since the movie got a sequel this year. No, we haven't seen BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE yet, but Michael Keaton was a good pick to play the ghost with the most, and you have to give Mr. Burton props for how he pushed the boundaries of the PG rating this film got. My thoughts, well, it's a worthy Halloween-season Matane. 9.9/10 from me. 4.5 stars. Who could have thought films with death and ghosts would be funny?

See you next time, spook fans.

October Reading Log

 



October 6:  All I’ve been reading this week is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Fascinated by all the scientific jargon and what not.  Added the Cardiac Recovery Cookbook and well as The Diabetic Cookbook to our stacks to read as we are trying to figure out a more heart healthy meal plan. So much fun.

Saturday Night Movie: Haunted House!

One of my favorite authors is Nora Roberts. Our 52 Books author of the month is Nora Roberts and October 10th of this week just so happens to be her birthday. Roberts is the diva of romance, romantic suspense, action and adventure, and supernatural thrillers. I discovered her books back in 2007 and fell in lurve. I have one very full bookcase dedicated to all her books. She is a prolific writer and has written 242 novels which include multiple trilogies and stand alone books. All of which are unique and interesting. She writes stories that are full of world building, settings, and characters I have fallen in love with and makes me want to reread them over and over again. She also has written a unique futuristic police procedural under the pseudonym of J.D. Robb and recently published the 55th book in the ongoing series. I’ve reread them a number of times as well.

Roberts and her husband also own a bookstore in Maine called Turn the Page and a historic inn called Inn Boonsboro with rooms named after literary characters including Eve and Roark from the In Death series.

Her official blog, Fall Into The Story, contains updates on books, conversations with readers and insights into Nora’s home life.

Although romance is an element of most of her stories, she has written a number of books that are spooky, thrilling, chilling, and include ghosts or are post apocalyptic such as The Sign of Seven Trilogy or Chronicles of The One. All good choices for our October Spooktacular.


October 7:  Finished my bedtime reread from my shelves:  The Ancient One by T.A. Gordon which is a middle grade fantasy I purchased way back in the 90’s.  Kate is tested to her limits when she time travels back 500 years and has to save not only the forest, but the world from the machinations of Gashra.  The world building was amazing, quite descriptive, and Kate teams up with native Americans, talking owls, and other creatures.

“When Kate travels to Oregon for a quiet week at Aunt Melanie’s cottage, her plans are dashed by the discovery of a grove of giant redwood trees in nearby Lost Crater. Caught up in the struggle to help protect the redwood forest from loggers, Kate is thrown back in time five hundred years and finds herself facing the evil creature Gashra, who is bent on destroying the very same forest. In this extraordinary quest, a girl discovers that all living things are connected in ways she never expected, and that true friendship can reach across cultures, and even across centuries.”

In the middle of Project Hail Mary and enjoying the heck out of it. Highlighting all the science info  and annotating which has made me slow down and absorb the story.

October 9:  Welp! I bought way too many books during Amazon prime day deals. But I did think twice about every single one. LOL!


October 13: Still reading Project Hail Mary as well as The Art of Slow Writing.  Have been perusing multiple books on heart stuff and diabetes. Every single one of them is different and at cross purposes to the other.  Think we’ll stick with the keto diet and not worry about it. Hubby’s blood sugar was normal today, thanks to the Metformin. Hopefully he’ll be able to lower the dosage as time goes on.


October 18:  I started putting reasons in the amazon note area why it captured my attention.  At the end of the year I may delete it completely and start fresh later in the year. I’ve purchased some books, mainly ebooks, which sounded good at the time I found them, but when I go back later, can’t figure out why in the world I’d want to read it.  Note to self: less impulse shopping.  I’ve been going through my kindle list and removing the download for any book I don’t think I’ll read anytime soon and trying to narrow it down to a reasonable amount.  Same with physical TBR.

Speaking of next year, I’ll be doing a year long read of Les Miserables if anyone want to join me.

I finished Project Hail Mary which was excellent and ended up highlighting half the book. Need to write down a few quotes. Loved Royce and Rocky’s communication process, loved all the science, and the ingenuity of the characters, the flashbacks which explained the why of what they were trying to accomplish in the present.  By the end hated Stratt who was a real piece of work, and stopped at nothing to get what she wanted.

Also finished bedtime reread of Willa Cather’s Death comes for the Archbishop.  Didn’t remember much from the first read and deserves another reread at a time when I can highlight and annotate.

I have a few series to finish but don’t think I’ll finish them before the end of the year. My reading has slowed way down.  Stormlight Archive, Broken Earth, Lady Trent, Rivers of London, for instance.  I reorganized my physical and ebook TBR read shelves in effort to not have so many damn choices and get overwhelmed. But thanks to instagram keep seeing books I want and have acquired a few more asian author books. Although fantasy books still outweigh the rest. Lots of fat books. Beginning some new series including Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy, RF. Kuang’s Poppy War, and others since obtained the first book.  Except for birthday and christmas, I’m pretty much done buying books.


October 20:  I have been a fan of Japanese literature for a very long time. I usually start the new reading year with stories written by Haruki Murakami which are full of magical realism. Fortunately he has a new book coming out in November, The City and It’s Uncertain Walls.

“We begin with a nameless young couple: a boy and a girl, teenagers in love. One day, she disappears . . . and her absence haunts him for the rest of his life.

Thus begins a search for this lost love that takes the man into middle age and on a journey between the real world and an other world – a mysterious, perhaps imaginary, walled town where unicorns roam, where a Gatekeeper determines who can enter and who must remain behind, and where shadows become untethered from their selves. Listening to his own dreams and premonitions, the man leaves his life in Tokyo behind and ventures to a small mountain town, where he becomes the head librarian, only to learn the mysterious circumstances surrounding the gentleman who had the job before him. As the seasons pass and the man grows more uncertain about the porous boundaries between these two worlds, he meets a strange young boy who helps him to see what he’s been missing all along.”

I’ve branched out quite a bit over the years and have acquired many more books written about and by Japanese authors. From Reading the City series,(I hope to eventually read them all) I have added the Book of Tokyo, A City in Short Fiction, with short stories written by Banana Yoshimoto and more:

“A shape-shifter arrives at Tokyo harbour in human form, set to embark on an unstoppable rampage through the city’s train network… A young woman is accompanied home one night by a reclusive student, and finds herself lured into a flat full of eerie Egyptian artefacts… A man suspects his young wife’s obsession with picnicking every weekend in the city’s parks hides a darker motive… At first, Tokyo appears in these stories as it does to many outsiders: a city of bewildering scale, awe-inspiring modernity, peculiar rules, unknowable secrets and, to some extent, danger. Characters observe their fellow citizens from afar, hesitant to stray from their daily routines to engage with them. But Tokyo being the city it is, random encounters inevitably take place – a naïve book collector, mistaken for a French speaker, is drawn into a world he never knew existed; a woman seeking psychiatric help finds herself in a taxi with an older man wanting to share his own peculiar revelations; a depressed divorcee accepts an unexpected lunch invitation to try Thai food for the very first time… The result in each story is a small but crucial change in perspective, a sampling of the unexpected yet simple pleasure of other people’s company. As one character puts it, ‘The world is full of delicious things, you know.”

My family are also big fans of the Godzilla movies created by Toho Studios in Japan which lead to us wanting to eventually travel to Japan. The closest we have gotten is through our armchair travels which is why I recently picked up Pico Iyer’s A Beginners Guide to Japan:

“In A Beginner’s Guide to Japan, Iyer draws on his years of experience—his travels, conversations, readings, and reflections—to craft a playful and profound book of surprising, brief, incisive glimpses into Japanese culture. He recounts his adventures and observations as he travels from a meditation hall to a love hotel, from West Point to Kyoto Station, and from dinner with Meryl Streep to an ill-fated call to the Apple service center in a series of provocations guaranteed topique the interest and curiosity of those who don’t know Japan—and to remind those who do of its myriad fascinations.”

I enjoy translated books from a variety of countries but there is an emotional richness to Japanese literature, with layers and complexity that will capture ones attention.

I’m currently in a non fiction mood and rereading Tolstoy and the Purple Chair. Dipping my toes in and out of The Art of Slow Writing, plus Your Head is a Houseboat by Campbell Walker, aka Struthless.

I pulled The Silent Cry by Kenzaburo Oe to read again. Read it years ago for college course and don’t remember a thing, probably because I skimmed through it fast, fast, fast, to do a synopsis for an assignment.

Saturday Night Movie: A Quiet Place!!!


October 26:  I’m halfway through Pargin’s I’m Starting to Worry about this Big Black Box of Doom and enjoying it.  Could it be considered intertextual. Not sure. Have a lot of books in my stacks but considering rereading Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore.   Picked up an interesting book at the comic book store – Sally’s Lament by Mari Mancusi, a middle grade twisted tale which jumped out at me from the shelf. They don’t normal stock a lot of normal books so grabbed it. Might read it next.

“Sally has mostly loved her creepy hometown of Halloween Town. But lately, she can’t help but want something more. In a place full of the frightening, you’d think living in the shadows wouldn’t feel so . . . isolating. She knows she could do so much more if she wasn’t always stuck in the lab of her creator, Dr. Finkelstein. Soon Sally is surprised to learn that the Pumpkin King, Jack, is longing for a change of his own. Determined to find a solution for them both, Sally follows a vision that could be the key to changing their fates.

But the more time Sally spends in the strange, jolly land of Christmas Town, the more suspicious she grows of the seemingly idyllic winter wonderland. What is lurking behind those dancing sugar plums? And what exactly does it mean to be put on the Naughty List? Will Sally be able to save the best of both towns—before it’s too late?”

Or maybe I should save it for Christmas. 🙂

Saturday Night Movie:  Poltergeist.


October 27:  Finished I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom. It’s a crazy thrill ride from California to Washington DC, him vs her conversations, adulthood, and relationships, how the internet can shape your thinking, plus all the mayhem that occurs when the conspiracy theorists on the internet follow your journey. And through it all, what was in that box. The answer was a surprise.  Enjoyed it from beginning to end.  Definitely 5 stars


October 30:  Currently reading Dean Koontz Elsewhere. Forgotten how much I love Koontz imagery in his books.

“Since his wife, Michelle, left seven years ago, Jeffy Coltrane has worked to maintain a normal life for himself and his eleven-year-old daughter, Amity, in Suavidad Beach. It’s a quiet life, until a local eccentric known as Spooky Ed shows up on their doorstep.

Ed entrusts Jeffy with hiding a strange and dangerous object—something he calls “the key to everything”—and tells Jeffy that he must never use the device. But after a visit from a group of ominous men, Jeffy and Amity find themselves accidentally activating the key and discovering an extraordinary truth. The device allows them to jump between parallel planes at once familiar and bizarre, wondrous and terrifying. And Jeffy and Amity can’t help but wonder, could Michelle be just a click away?

Jeffy and Amity aren’t the only ones interested in the device. A man with a dark purpose is in pursuit, determined to use its grand potential for profound evil. Unless Amity and Jeffy can outwit him, the place they call home may never be safe again.”   Rating *****


I bravely read my first Dean Koontz book a few years ago in which my requirements were no blood and guts horror because I’m squeamish. However, love psychological thrillers and the violence offstage. Thrills and chills. So waded through his stories and found the one I wanted to start with – By the Light of the Moon which was scary crazy but oh so good.  After I read Stephen King’s On Writing, did the same thing and found Duma Key which was oh so crazy chilling good.  Which then lead to Under the Dome.   I may be crazy because I like books that send cold chills up my spine. I’ve also found some Christian writers who do the same thing.  But their stories are a little bit more spookier since it’s good against evil.


Added to my physical TBR purchased through Penguin Random House – The Penguin Book of Dragons and Decagon House Murders.

Went through my TBR and discovered I have an overabundance of historical fiction and fantasy, followed by at least 10 each of  thrillers, mysteries, science fiction, translated of which 9 are japanese books, dragons, philosophy,  nonfiction, and romance.  Guess I have my 10 categories for next year already.


October 31:  Went to the comic book store and Barnes and Noble with James today. Added more books to my TBR. I’m such a non conformist, I didn’t wanna get books all the booktubers are talking up,  but wanted to read Backman and more by Haig, so got ones that captured my interest.