The way of shadows by Brent Weeks (because the Legendarium podcast is talking about it, and it looked interesting)
Dutch girl: Audrey Hepburn and WW2 by Robert Matzen
Three things on my mind:
I had an absolutely great time at a cabin with a couple friends, spending three days there during winter vacation. We relaxed, made food and went on short walks during the day, partied at night until 5am and still felt great waking up before everyone else on the mornings, to my surprise. Also played cards against humanity for the first time, a lot of it, and it was really fun and you get to learn the others humor.
I hate hospitals irrationally much, but I’m also unbelievably thankful to them. Unlucky bad shit happened again like it has a tendency to when I’m finally on top of life again! (This is starting to be the rule of my life, but we’re just going with it at this point). I had a bad reaction to a vaccine, which doctor found out is probably more likely to happen because of immune-surpressing medicines I’m on (autoimmune disorder). I really hate throwing up.
This travel video with a roadtrip through Mexico was so well shot and Jacob is really the only traveller I watch now. Like he’s got a really unusual lifestyle and a good balance between showing the spectacular places and negative sides with crises happening while travelling, but with a good, problem-solving, out-going attitude towards them. Just how unusual he lives is shown through his very minimal packing guide, too minimal for my taste as there’s no damn wool. How are you surviving in the cold, Jacob? Get a first aid kit in there! But he really seems so friendly, is extremely productive and what I would consider a true entrepreneur.
Siobhan at Siobhan’s Novelties tagged me, thank you! I’m currently at a really cute cabin hanging out with my friends who all are too good at karaoke (I can honestly not compete with this) and having a great time.
Favourite Shows?
I’m here for this, the whole list is already on my phone.
MR ROBOT!!!
Orphan Black
American gods
Hannibal?? I’ve talked a lot about it to people recently as something I would never recommend anyone to watch, but I do like it too much.
How to get away with murder
Jessica Jones
Daredevil season 3
Sense8
Favourite Genre?
I guess it’s fantasy-ish stuff, I like everything with like genuinely good fight scenes, to the point where I might skim through the plot if it’s boring enough (cough, most superhero stuff). I do also really like the psychological thriller/drama tv series though, but it’s harder to find good ones.
Least Favourite Show
Siobhan had harsh words for 90 Days Fiance and I completely agree. with her, it’s awful.
But – here’s a more controversial one. I really hate Friends. My bestfriend and dad was both loving watching it, I couldn’t get away and I just don’t find it remotely interesting or funny. I’ve tried so hard, believe me.
Most Re-Watched Show/Favourite Show to Binge Watch?
The first season of Orphan Black! I’ve made the bestfriend (and dad) mentioned above watch it, sitting through the season with them and it’s so satisfying and just so much details you don’t get the first time watching it.
I haven’t watched the last episodes yet. Like I’ve been on S5 E7 for so many months, I just can’t bring myself to watch the last four episodes.
Do You Prefer Watching Things Week-by-Week or Binge-Watching?
Binge-watching. I know that when I start a season of a tv series, if it’s a good one, I’m going to be too drawn in and have no choice. So I don’t usually watch too much Netflix, and no TV at all. Just that one weekend when I’ve finished all important tests and deserve it. Hah, there’s been a couple mistakes of course.
Favourite Television Characters?
Jessica Jones, I just love her so much. My biggest pet peeve is when tv series or movies have the characters with the perfect morning/night routines, no matter how much shit is going down. From the moment I saw Jessica Jones just roll out of bed, and go to track down bad guys I was like YESS.
Favourite Television Ships?
I don’t usually ship people that hard?
Show You Could Never Get Into?
Many. Friends, of course. The vampire diaries, even though I loved vampire books at the time.
Show You Fell Out of Love with?
Every single one that have more than four seasons, including the beloved Orphan Black.
Cancelled Too Soon?
THEY AREN’T RENEWING THE PUNISHER FOR A THIRD SEASON. WTF IS WRONG WITH THEM. Did they see even see Giorgia Whigham as Amy? And the punisher’s fun banter with her? AAHH.
Guilty Pleasure Show?
Like the shows finding the wedding dresses, we’re all critiquing the shit out of that like we know anything about fashion. (I really like couture fashion shows in general though, like that new Paolo Sebastian show for SS19? Watched it three times, excellent.)
What Are You Currently Watching?
Nothing, because I haven’t had time. See binging problem.
I Tag
This tag was so much fun, but I feel I’ve just tagged people in other things. So if you want to do it, feel free to link to me so I see it!
I was tagged by Siobhan at Siobhan Novelties, thank you! The tag was created by Ally from Ally Writes Things. This was much more difficult of a list than expected! It’s like trying to give positives about yourself, it always come with a “but…” followed by how I break most habits regularly.
List some of your good reading habits, the things you think you do well
Nominate some of your blogging friends
I’ve started to DNF more books, without feeling guilty
I saw Siobhan had this one on her list of some sort as well. There’s just too many books and too little time! Even like NetGalley copies – I don’t have that much motivation and patience if I can’t like the book. Better to DNF even 70% in than struggling through it, is my opinion these days.
I search for what the author tried, or perhaps managed, to accomplish even in a book I disliked
I feel like this is common, especially as book reviewers. But since I’ve more seriously started writing stories, it really helps to disect it a bit and just find out where it went wrong in the story or in my interest of it. It doesn’t mean you can’t judge a book harshly.
I’m not stressing about how much I should read
Which I did just as I started to write a book blog. Got to have books to review right? Not really. First, I’ve gotten better at having a few books I’ve yet to review, because little time. For example right now, where I’ve read more than I’ve written. And if I really haven’t been reading at all, why should I post, no one’s forcing me.
I use Goodreads to keep track, and also a journal
It’s my biggest habit of these ones. The journal is especially because websites sometimes overwhelm me, so I just regularly copy my TBR and the month’s reads down on paper and it’s much easier to bring to the library (the few times a year I have access to one).
I don’t buy a lot of books.
I feel like this might be the most controversial one, because I wince on others behalf when they have like three copies of the same book, even though I halfway get it and try to not judge. (Just like what do you do with them? How do you choose which one to give away? Keep them all – for what?) I just gave away three plastic bags of books to a friend, but those books were from a few years ago, with only a few new ones that I disliked. She was confused and grateful, I felt lighter. I have lots of legitimate reasons why I’ve moved over to nearly just ebooks and audiobooks. But biggest reason is money, for someone who’s a student. Also that I’m moving in a couple months and are not looking forward to dragging any books across the country twice, let alone those I will never read again.
I’ve got a lot of new reviews coming out as there were none the last two weeks, oops.
I finally finished “Six easy pieces” by Richard Feynman
A brilliant short story “The ones who walk away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin, one of the authors that I know I would love the writing of if I just read more from them. A mini review will be out shortly!
In addition there’s a review of “Women in science” by Rachel Ignotofsky coming out, where the inspiration of quote of the week came from.
Legion: skin deep which is the second book in the trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, but won’t be reviewed before I read all three.
The wicked king by Holly Black
Branches by Rhiannon McGavin (poetry)
Added to TBR:
I am not a serial killer by Dan Wells
The calculating stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
The godfather by Mario Puzo
The blade itself by Joe Abercrombie (fantasy)
All systems red by Martha Wells (fantasy)
The gutter prayer by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan (fantasy)
So you want to be a wizard by Diane Duane (fantasy)
Black sun rising by C. S. Friedman (fantasy)
Influence: the psychology of persuasion by Robert Cialdini
Recent book buys:
The wicked king by Holly Black
Preorder of The truth about keeping secrets by Savannah Brown
The body in pain by Elaine Scarry
Three things on my mind:
I’m just going to post three very varied youtube videos here because I’ve been sick a week and then studying too much the other week to make up for it. My brain feels empty and chaotic at once. Fun. I did preorder “The truth about keeping secrets” by Savannah Brown just before watching Ariel Bisset’s video on what preorders actually mean.
Tv series produced by BBC, based on book series by Philip Pullman
Remember the movie that everyone think is crap? Well, it’s bad plot-wise, and without the moral depth on the books, but at least I thought the effects like the polar bear was nice to look at. I’ve read the golden compass in depth for an essay recently, and it made me x5 times hyped for the tv series. There’s so much to take from! Questions of morality and humour! I just found out Lin-Manuel Miranda is playing LEE! Not too excited about casting choice for mrs. Coulter. I have high hopes for this one, it can’t fail a second time?
When? Filming wrapped in december, so it’s supposed to be out sometime now in 2019
Tv series produced by Amazon Prime and BBC Two, at least 6 episodes, based on the book by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett
I almost forgot Good Omens and that would’ve been bad. I’m so excited for it! Gaiman is heavily involved in the production, which is very promising. American Gods, his other book, has already become such a good tv series, it’s extremly aesthetically pleasing in a way that adds to the story. So I’m having good hopes for this one, especially because of the trailer. David Tennant is cast as the demon Crowley (not that I’ve seen doctor who).
Also I just listened to Neil Gaiman’s recent podcast episode on “Tea with Alice” where Neil talks about criticism of why it hasn’t come out yet (answer: film doesn’t edit itself). Twenty minutes in there’s tears in my eyes as he says how Terry Prachett wanted him to make it so he could watch it before he died, but went too soon, and now Gaiman has taken it on himself as to finish his friends last wish.
Tv series produced by Starz, at least 8 episodes, based on book by Daniel O’Malley
I’m terrified of this adaption. Know why? Stephenie Meyer is a producer. One of the castmembers described it as “violent and more sexual”, seemingly putting down the original book a bit as he describes the tv show. The rook is a fantasy book, with characters with weird supernatural powers, which is always a challenge to make work on screen. (This is going to be so bad, I can feel it.) The biggest trouble I think is multiple characters controlled by the same brain – a hivemind. Here’s where I throw my hands in the air and hope the people behind it all know what they are getting into.
When? Imdb claims it should be out in 2019, but there seems to be little updates
Tv series produced by Hulu, at least 8 episodes, based on book by John Green
As a fan of John Green and vlogbrothers I know it’s been a long road to get “looking for Alaska” adapted, with movie deals falling through. Now we’re finally getting it! The actress cast as Alaska is Kristine Frøseth (norwegian!!), which is surprising because she’s relatively “unknown”, but hopefully goes really well. The biggest problem with adapting this series is if the message of the book being about the problematic sides of a “manic pixie dream girl”, and not being so subtle so it instead seems to promote that concept. This is a well-known problem though, and surely will work out. I think it’s going to be very interesting how they adapt this movie, and what kind of tone they set with it.
When? 2020
American gods will be back for a second season 10. March 2019!
The movie “PS I still love you” comes out probably late 2019. Tt’s the sequel to “To all the boys I’ve loved before” and it’s surely going to be as good as the first one.
A discovery of witches will continue for a second and third season. I enjoyed the first season, but cringed so much, so I hope it gets better.
I’m always joking about how much (or little) I actually follow my TBR and before I wrote up my big TBR for all of 2019 I had this in mind. So I went through my pasts TBR myself, but Ally Writes Things inspired me to share it!
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente: DNF because not in the mood, but will pick up again sometime
The F- It List by Julie Halpern: not read, but will this year
The Concept of Anxiety by Søren Kierkegaard: not read, but will this year
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman: read
If I throw the DNF in with the read ones (because at least I gave them a try), I’ve read 53% and not read 39%. Not amazing results, but better than expected honestly.
After that last disappointing list, I gave up on making a winter TBR and also apparently went full in on trying to make on for the whole of 2019. It’s been working pretty well one month into 2019!
Women in science by Rachel Ignotofsky (review to come)
Unngå øyekontakt av Nora Aschim (norwegian poetry)
Gull i grusen av Rebecca Kjelland (norwegian poetry)
Andvake av Jon Fosse (norwegian)
Added to TBR:
Spoiler alert – it’s a lot.
The love & lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabrina Khan (ya, new release)
These witches don’t burn by Isabel Sterling (ya, new release, lgbt)
Fence by C. S. Pacat (graphic novel, lgbt)
Spin the dawn by Elizabeth Lim (new release, fantasy)
A separate peace by John Knowles
The lessons by Naoimi Alderman
Special topics in calmity physics by Marisha Pessl
Rosalind Franklin by Brenda Maddox (biography)
The reheasal by Eleanor Catton
Obsessive genius about Marie Curie by Barbara Goldsmith (biography)
Wicked lovely by Melissa Marr
Severance by Ling Ma (sci-fi)
So far so good by Ursula Le Guin
Plastic by Doug Wagner (graphic novel)
The master algorithm by Pedro Domingos (science)
Call down the hawk by Maggie Stiefvater
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey (fantasy)
The body keeps the score by Bessel van der Kolk
Illness as metahphor & aids and its metaphors by Susan Sontag
Kuby immunology by Judy Owen (like literally an immunology textbook)
I feel I should explain the three last books? In my 2019 TBR I explained some of my reading goals, in which one of them was to search for good descriptions of pain. The immunology textbook I can’t explain, other than I heard it was good, it’s just my exsistential crises over choosing an uni programme coming through (still think it’s going to be physics).
Recent book buys:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
In the woods by Tana French
The sea around us by Rachel Carson
A portrait of the artist as a young man by James Joyce
The trial by Franz Kafka
Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Three things on my mind:
I watched Divergent again on netflix. I haven’t sat down and watched the whole thing since the release. It’s not a good movie, but it could be a whole lot worse (like Allegiant aah). The book just gives such an insight into Tris’ fears and fearlessness. What it made me think about though is just how much teenage me adored that book and any book where the main character breaks free and exchanges monotony with freedom, even if it comes with risks. Like the training, especially fight training, parts of a book, tv series or movie is absolutely my favourite part, because the main character has to find their strength quickly. And they’re always unfamiliar with the people and how far they mentally can push themselves.
I’ve been sick. And studying. It’s been a bit of a mess of trying to figure out a new schedule that still meets deadlines and tests, which is always fun
I’ve been listening a lot to “the Robot and the Unicorn” podcast by Alex Cox and Kathy Campbell and it’s wonderful. Fav episode I’ve heard this far is “Priests and belief”, but if you don’t know about any of them before, perhaps start on another episode that’s a bit more goofy and regular. Also the Ologies podcast by Alie Ward had new episodes on sea turtles and tortoises, which were so much more interesting than I expected!
I started writing this post and realize there’s SO MANY book adapted movies and tv series coming out this year, along with announced this year, that I’m making this post at least two parts.
Movie and tv series produced by Lionsgate, based on book series by Patrick Rothfuss
I was out of my mind excited when I heard my favourite fantasy books were going to get a tv series, and a movie also which is confusing.
Let’s first look at the movie: Sam Raimi was announced would no longer direct it two months ago, to a mostly relieved reddit crowd it seemed like. The movie will follow the actual kingkiller plot, which is what could be a big hit or miss, depending on how close to the original material they are and if they’re serious about it. Patrick Rothfuss, the author, is heavily involved and also got Lin-Manuel Miranda on the team as a producer, so that’s a relief. I’ve heard Rothfuss quote Lin as “being the chairman of the dont-fuck-it-up committee”, so we’re all nervous here. Also Lin is writing the music, which is a joy!
The tv series will be set a generation before the actual book series, which I have better faith in because there’s no expectation. In summary I’m absolutely terrified and excited about it all.
When? No one knows when production starts, I don’t think the actual script is done either.
Movie produced by Disney, based on the book by Eoin Colfer
This was one of my favourite series as a kid, with the protagonist Artemis Fowl being a rich, criminal mastermind of a kid. He’s always on the edge of being a villain and doing good, and has a butler named Butler who protects him. With fantasy elements like fairy-officers and goblin criminals the movie can turn out really bad. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping they get both the effects and the main character personality and motives right, because that will make or break this film. It’s supposed to be geared towards kids in that there’s humour, but I just hope it hasn’t lost its cleverness. I honestly didn’t get any info or vibe from the trailer, so I’m not certain what to believe.
When? 9. August 2019
Movie produced by Warner Bros & Amazon, based on the book by Donna Tartt
I love this book, but it was very much chaotic and surreal in how fast things develop – going from one place to an entirely different one multiple times – and it’s going to be really interesting to see how they solve that on screen. I’m not so excited about Ansel Elgort as the main character, honestly some of the cast choices makes it feel like they’re going to downplay the craziness of the book and make it boring and average. The synopsis is that “A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” which is technically true, but even that sounds boring as hell and isn’t really an intro to the whole plot.
When? 11. October 2019
Tv series produced by Netflix, at least 8 episodes, based on the book series by Leigh Bardugo.
Netflix is exciting! I personally didn’t like the shadow and bone series, but the six of crows is included as well in some way. I had hope, then I saw the screenwriter of birdbox is on it and that the two book series would go parallell and interlap in the tv series. No, please, don’t. I’ve seen a lot of negative reactions similiar to mine. I know it was just announced, and they should get a chance, but I’m nervous on their behalf trying to weave two very different and complicated stories together just because it’s placed in the same universe.
When? It was just announced, so no idea
Movie produced by Disney, a remake, but technically based on story from The book of thousand and one nights so that counts
I like the cartoon Aladdin. Disney haven’t had much luck with getting me to watch the remakes lately. There were a Belle one? The Lion King is coming soon? Freaking Dumbo? The jungle book of 2018 was good, but average. I hadn’t heard about the little mermaid before it popped up on netflix. It has a shockingly low 20% on rotten tomatoes – I got to watch this one now, to see why. I’m honestly more excited for Mulan, after it got its asian cast.
I do not remember where I first saw this book tag, I’ve had it saved as a post idea for a while, but you’re welcome to do it if you want to! The Harry Potter Book Tag was created by Trang and Lashaan at Bookidote.
A book you found the theme interesting, but you’d like to rewrite it.
This is most books I don’t like, because they usually had something special in their synopsis that made me read them.
The first book in a series that got you hooked.
A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan is the first book of a series called Cirque du Freak and absolutely got me hooked not only that series and the more gruesome Demonata series, but vampires, monsters and demons in general as a (way too young haha) kid. People ask me if X book is appropriate for their eight year old? I’m like “YES and also I’m not the right person to ask because I mostly say no to only game of thrones and lord of the rings (for different reasons)”
A book you wish you could have right now.
Like every collector’s edition. Six of crows collectors edition is even cheap, but I can’t bring myself to buy it because I move next year for uni and what then? I don’t need books that I’ve already read? But I want them all, so badly. A dedicated library is my dream in whatever apartment or house I live in as a “real adult”.
A killer book. Both senses. Take it as you like.
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga.
A book that you found really confusing.
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. I knew I liked it, but I didn’t understand it at once. I still don’t get all of it after one read through, but firstly I know who Kafka is now. I expect a tiny applause and lots of gasps at that, I know it’s weird. Murakami answered 1200 questions about it allegedly and I’m going to delve into it after some more readthroughs once because:
In an interview posted on his English language website, Murakami says that the secret to understanding the novel lies in reading it several times: “Kafka on the Shorecontains several riddles, but there aren’t any solutions provided. Instead, several of these riddles combine, and through their interaction the possibility of a solution takes shape. And the form this solution takes will be different for each reader. To put it another way, the riddles function as part of the solution. It’s hard to explain, but that’s the kind of novel I set out to write”.
A dark twisted book.
The tv series “You” on netflix. Book-wise is harder. The torture and physical and psychological conditions Kaladin is put under in The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson really struck me as so amazingly written and utterly terrifying because it’s such a cruel play on having to work together as a team, but everyone dying before trust can be built.
Your spirit animal book.
I don’t know what this means, but the answer is “Graceling” by Kristin Cashore. I need to reread it and review it as an adult, but it was so precious to me growing up. Katsa is a really fierce, violent warrior who has emotions, but doesn’t let any hardships she’s put through stop her. I love her so much and would carry her in my mind like she could give me strength.
A book that surprised you in a great way, reveals more than it is
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins seems like such an average title, cover and synopsis, but it went freaking MAD. It built up forever, both the world and the character with their interactions, and then ascended in chaos as worlds were torn down and Gods missing and the main character isn’t as unassuming as she’s been the whole book. It’s one of those books that sticks in your mind afterwards and has become one of my favourite, but I can’t promote it to people without SPOILING THE WHOLE DAMN THING. It’s just plot-twists!! But they’re not really plot-twists, they’re just a twisted plot. Led by twisted characters? I love it and I think a lot more would as well, if they picked it up.
aquapages 