Captain America : Civil War

Why I'm watching
Marvel’s been knocking these out of the park. The first Captain America was alright I guess (Hugo Weaving was massively underused) but Captain America: Winter Soldier was great (and not just great for a superhero movie).

Where I watched the movie
Local theater with just Alan (usually we do these superhero movies with a big group…)

Expectations
Something along the lines of Captain America: Winter Soldier in plot and feel, but with all the A
vengers getting cranky at each other and failing to communicate. I won’t lie, I’m expecting the infighting to be annoying (come on guys, just sit down and talk it out, it’s all a misunderstanding)

So how was it?

Uhhhh…. Really good. Really, really good. I don’t know how they got that many characters together (including two entirely new introductions) and built that complex of a plot without getting confusing, convoluted, bloated, or boring. Are you taking notes, DC? Because the latest Superman reboot managed all four and an insanely bland story.

There’s a lot going on in this one, but the central issue is (I’m not kidding) paperwork. After the disaster in Sokovia, the UN wants control over the Avengers, and the Avengers initially take sides over signing a treaty -- Iron Man is for, Captain America against. The actual “civil war” comes when a bomb goes off and Bucky Barnes (Rogers’ old frenemy, the Winter Soldier) is implicated.

And guess what? It wasn’t all just a misunderstanding. There’s lots of people feeling all sorts of feels, having all sorts of opinions and perspectives, and no one is entirely wrong. (Okay, well, in terms of priorities, Cap’s team is right to go after the bad guy that Stark’s team doesn’t quite know about; there could have been better communication there).

Best villain yet, I think.

Recommendation
Oh, just go see it.

Feels
It had exciting action scenes and a reasonable amount of humor (much less than the Avengers movies) -- but you’re gonna feel some feels. Lots of good people hurting each other because they’re doing what they believe is right. While it avoids pointless grittiness, this isn’t a lighthearted superhero movie.

Favorites
It’s all about the pacing. We get action scenes that are dynamic and interesting (and don’t drag on as characters repetitively bash each other into buildings), slower scenes with some humor (that’s actually funny and appropriate to the situation), glimpses of humanity (without bleeding hearts and dramatic speeches), side characters who actually matter (and aren’t just plot devices)... basically my favorite part is the whole movie.

Part of that good pacing includes just chucking two new superheros into the mix with minimal backstory (especially Spiderman, oh god) or explanation of powers (still not 100% on what Black Panther is or how he does what he does).

Okay, I lied: my favorite part is the central fight, team Cap vs. team Stark -- more specifically, the constant undertone of "Imma beat your face in, but we’re still cool, right? Right."

Least favorites
There were a few things I was iffy about, but ultimately liked. Black Panther’s character was a little weird for the first, oh, third of the movie, because I didn’t have context for him -- but in the end, I love the way they did it.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Eleanor // Jason Gurley

Why I'm reading
I almost skipped over this -- it seemed like your typical tug-on-your-heartstrings mother-daughter story. Then halfway through the summary, suddenly... Scifi?

Where I got the book
Received this from LibraryThing's early reviewer program.

Expectations
The summary was strange. 99% of it reads like something from Lifetime or Oprah's book list, until I realized trite phrases like "Eleanor's painful reality begins to unravel" and "Eleanor is torn from her world" are happening literally.

So how was it?

Eleanor is the story of three generations of women... mostly making each other miserable. It spans forty years (1962-1996), with a plot that jumps between Eleanor, her daughter Agnes', her daughters Eleanor (junior) and Esmeralda, and -- ready for the Scifi? -- a mysterious rift dimension. Oh, and a series of husbands/fathers who don't really help the situation.

I've been calling this all Scifi, but it's not really Science Fiction. It has the freedom and imagination of Scifi, but there's no science involved; it's closer to mythology. I would probably call it Fantasy, but it has no relation to familiar High Fantasy exemplified by Tolkien.

Recommendation
Extremely similar to the video game Life is Strange -- love, tragedy, time travel, and relationships between women. Vaguely similar to Donnie Darko, except A) it's not super-pretentious, and B) I didn't hate it.

Feels
Deals with grief and pain between generations of women. The cosmology reminds me of Egyptian or Tolkien's mythology.

Favorites
I thought I'd hate the myriad of characters introduced, but it was satisfying once everything came together. The story didn't constantly need to ram its own mystery/suspense down the reader's throat.

Least favorites
I guess I like that it bounced around between characters/times, but it did that a little too much.

Artemis Fowl // Eoin Colfer {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
It’s one of those series/characters I keep hearing about, and it’s Scifi, and it’s available on audiobook.

Where I got the book
Greenwich!

Expectations
To be honest? Not high. I got pretty burnt by the trainwreck that is the Dresden Files, so I’m hesitant to start another popular scifi/fantasy detective series. Also, Artemis is a girls name.

So how was it?

The adventures of Artemis Fowl, pre-teen super-villain ; his bodyguard Butler ; fairy LEPrecon officer Holly Short ; the technical genius centaur Foaly ; and Mulch Diggums, a kleptomaniac dwarf.

Soooo much better than I expected. It’s not high literature (or even high fantasy) and it’s definitely YA, but it’s a good solid adventure with a well-built world and lots of interesting characters. Fairies are real, and they're technologically advanced. Awesome.

I’ve seen it billed as something similar to Sherlock Holmes, and Artemis is theoretically the villain... and while that’s not untrue, it’s not really accurate. Artemis himself certainly fits the idea of a young Sherlock well (or, since the audiobook reader gives him an Irish accent, BBC’s Moriarty) and some deduction happens, but the plot is more action/adventure than detective mystery. As for his villainy, you might not even notice that he’s the “villain” of the first story if he (and other characters) didn't keep mentioning it.

I blew through the whole series in a few days:

1. Artemis Fowl
   Twelve-year-old Artemis, super-villain in the making, kidnaps fairy officer Holly Short for a ransom of fairy gold.
2. The Arctic Incident
   Artemis and the fairy LEP reluctantly team up to fight a goblin conspiracy, led by an evil pixie.
3. The Eternity Code
   Artemis looses a piece of refitted fairy technology to an evil human businessman, and once again teams up with Holly and the LEP.
4. The Opal Deception
   Fairy LEP drafts Artemis to help prevent humans from finding and destroying a major fairy city.
5. The Lost Colony
   The demon island Hybras, banished millennia ago, returns to the normal time-stream.
6. The Time Paradox
   Artemis and Holly go back in time to save his mother from a magic-related illness; the timeline gets all sorts of messed up.
7. The Atlantis ComplexArtemis is suffering from magic-related paranoia and OCD, and is kidnapped.
8. The Last Guardian
   Artemis and Holly struggle to prevent an evil pixie from destroying the human race.

Recommendation
Fans of Scifi and Fantasy. I'd call this "techno-fantasy" or "techno-detective-fairies."

Feels
A little bit like like a detective story, a little like a classic YA novel (before they all got obsessed with love triangles and contests).

Favorites
I really can't choose. Technologically advanced fairies, for one. The ridiculous characters.

Least favorites
Okay, let me get this off my chest: OMG ARTEMIS IS A GIRL’S NAME. Greek goddess. Hello. I actually just met someone who didn’t know that. But hey, at least someone acknowledges that in the second book.

Mockingjay // Suzanne Collins {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Duh.

Where I got the book
Greeeeeeenwich.

Expectations
Finally getting to this whole rebellion thing.

So how was it?

After being rescued in Catching Fire, and bumming around with what is probably several layers of PTSD, Katniss ends up the Mockingjay: the rebellion's figurehead. There’s lots of arguing about everything, a new flavor of makeover, and actual rebellion-fighting action! Then she sets off with a small elite squad and the real action actually starts. Also, Peeta’s all sorts of messed up.

This vastly exceeded my expectations. Not so much in terms of plot, but in terms of how Collins handles the emotional aspects of war. There's a brief afterword at the end (read by the author in the audiobook) explaining how she came up with the idea: she was flipping through channels, and saw  young reality TV stars juxtaposed against young soldiers in Iraq. I'm so glad I stuck around for the afterword (I usually don't read them) because it explains how this book had such an impact; the plot and the characters are your typical dystopian thriller, but there's a strong undercurrent of -- I don't know what to call it, but it reminds me of M*A*S*H.

The afterword also explained why I was constantly thinking jeez, I really hope they filmed this shot-for-shot, the scenes are set up perfectly for film -- Collins worked in TV!

Recommendation
Well, if you’ve made it this far…

Feels
Like everyone’s dying and you don’t have time to care. Seriously, just assume everyone dies. Not everyone does, but at least then you'll be -- let's not say pleasantly surprised, but at least not totally crushed.

Favorites
Continues to be Finnick and Haymitch, although Haymitch plays a smaller role this time. The shenanigans with the camera crew. Katniss’ last arrow.

Least favorites
The whole thing with Peeta was a little silly initially, but I guess it served its purpose. I also wasn't a fan of the way she wrote the fire... thing at the very end.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Catching Fire // Suzanne Collins {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Well, I can’t stop in the middle, now can I?

Where I got the book
Greenwich, Overdrive, etc. etc.

Expectations
Not really sure what The Hunger Games is going to be after the Hunger Games are over. Politics and rebellion and ass-kicking, I presume.

So how was it?

Okay, so, I guess the Hunger Games aren’t over.  

Catching Fire kicks off with the victors, Katniss and Peeta, going on tour to all the districts. It’s traditional, but President Snow is also using the tour (and their shmoopy fake relationship) to relieve the unrest inspired by Katniss’ defiance in the previous book.

Aaaand suddenly there’s such a thing as a “quarter quell,” an extra-special version of the games that happens every 25 years, and involves special rules… yup, Katniss and Peeta are dumped right back in the arena. I know, it's so ridiculous that they can't believe it, either. But in a shocking turn-up, this second trip to the arena actually wasn’t boring or repetitive. It’s an entirely different situation, with entirely different tributes -- other past victors, at various ages and levels of preparation -- and everyone’s acting oddly.

On the Team Gail / Team Peeta front, Katniss becomes even more conflicted; I continue to prefer Peeta. (Which, from my experience with Korean TV dramas, usually means she'll end up with the other one.)

Recommendation
Same as the first book: there’s fighting, survival, romance, a little bit of a psychological thrill (like a spy novel), family drama, and pageantry.

Feels
About the same as the first one in terms of gritty YA plot/action, but the tone is no longer one of immediate immediate desperation. Katniss continues to have no idea what's going on.

Favorites
Finnick Odair, hands down. Of course that means he’s probably going to die. I also continue to like Haymitch.

Least favorites
The Gail/Peeta wishy-washy gets on my nerves, but I knew what I was getting into.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Hunger Games // Suzanne Collins {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
I feel like a bad librarian for not having read Hunger Games yet. That's me, always late to the party!

Where I got the book
Overdrive from Greenwich Library.

Expectations
I've seen the first movie, so more or less (more, it turns out) know the plot.

So how was it?

The movie stuck fairly close to the plot -- and feel -- of the book, so it was what I expected: a dystopian future, where North America is split into twelve districts, each of which sends two 'tribute' citizens to compete in the Hunger Games.

The book is always better (of course) but in this case, the movie had no chance; as a film medium, it just can't get the same message across. In the book, we understand that Katniss is playing things up for the camera, that everything she feels/does is filtered through the lens of being watched and fighting for her life, and that she's disgusted by the audience watching her -- all things that are nearly impossible to convey to... well, an audience watching her. Jennifer Lawrence actually does a fantastic job conveying the right blank-face disgust and terror.

I've held back on watching the other movies, because I don't want to spend the rest of the series comparing the two (hey, it worked for LotR!)

Recommendation
If you liked the movie, you'll like the book. It's got a little of everything: fighting, survival, romance, a little bit of a psychological thrill (like a spy novel), family drama, and pageantry -- but definitely heavy on the fighting and survival.

Feels
Fast-paced without being ridiculous or confusing. The romance elements are a bit annoying, but honest and don't have any real resolution.

Favorites
It's nothing groundbreaking, but I really appreciated the detail and honesty given to Katniss' relationships -- they're allowed to be conflicted and confusing. She doesn't understand the motives behind her own actions, especially when it comes to Peeta.

Least favorites
Suddenly werewolves? Or something? I can see why they downplayed that in the movie.

Writing style
Easily accessible, descriptive, just the tiniest bit cheesy. Lots of flashbacks.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Fragile Things // Neil Gaiman {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Neil Gaiman is fantastic.

Where I got the book
Audiobook from Greenwich. Again.

So how was it?

A collection of short stories and poetry featuring Gaiman’s unique mixture of spooky, creepy, morbid, snarky, dark horror. Also includes lots a little tidbits of poetry interspersed between the chapters, and introductions/context in the foreword. The audiobook is read by Gaiman as well -- he’s brilliant.

The Mapmaker 
I wasn’t really sure about this one. It’s the story of a Chinese emperor who creates a miniature map of China in his garden. It’s extremely accurate and a huge drain of resources; then he dies, and the map is abandoned and grows over. Something about transience, maybe, and the whims of people in power.

A Study in Emerald 
Oh. my. god. Oh my god. I can’t even. This is a retelling of the Sherlock Holmes story A Study in Scarlet within the Cthulhu universe, where the ruling class consists of Lovecraftian monsters. That’s right: Gaiman wrote crossover fanfiction, and it is fantastic. Sent me into mental cascade failure by the end. I made Alan listen to it, it was so good. Read it here!

October in the Chair 
The seasons tell stories around the campfire; October tells an oddly peaceful horror story about a young runaway boy playing in a haunted graveyard. The framing (i.e. the seasons) was more memorable than the individual stories. There was a moment where the ghost’s story reminded me of Bradbury’s "Yes, We'll Gather at the River" -- sure enough, it’s dedicated to him.

Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire 
An author struggles to write realistic fiction, in a world where elaborate Gothic horror constitutes ‘realistic.’ A fun little turn-up of expectations.

The Flints of Memory Lane 
A tiny little story where the author -- like several of these, I’m not entirely sure if it’s really Gaiman, a fictional Gaiman, or just an arbitrary fictional author -- encounters a chilling gypsy woman. There’s no real backstory or follow-up, and that seems to be the point; some things are just unexplained and creepy.

Closing Time 
A few pub (club) goers tell ghost stories before closing up shop for the night. The main ghost story follows a young boy who falls in with three slightly older and more delinquent boys; they find a creepy old playhouse, and the older boys disappear inside. Turns out the youngest of the three is in the club. Nothing is really resolved. I’m not sure if it’s an allegory for loss of innocence, child abuse, or just the scattershot nature of stories.

Bitter Grounds 
A man drops his life and picks up another one at random, following where it leads, until he ends up at an anthropology conference in New Orleans and … something something something zombies? It’s a rambling story that actually makes sense as you read, but doesn’t have a cohesive plot.

Other People 
A man is tortured until he understands why he deserves to be tortured. Creepy and sad, although it’s hard to feel one way or the other about the main character without knowing why he deserves torture.

Keepsakes and Treasures: A Love Story 
A story about a (psychopathic?) young orphan overcoming his terrible upbringing, meeting the mysterious and insanely wealthy Mr. Alice, and becoming his devoted right-hand man. Surprisingly nasty; disturbingly satisfying in a way that’s seriously Not Good. No, despite my vocabulary, this is nothing like Sherlock!

Good Boys Deserve Favors 
Strangely endearing, I can’t really call this one ‘horror.’ It’s the story of a boy who takes up playing the double bass, although he has no particular passion for it -- and has one spontaneous moment of connection with the instrument. There wasn’t anything about this story that really stood out, but I liked the sense of having one perfect in-the-moment experience.

The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch 
The narrator is invited to entertain his friends’ standoffish acquaintance; they all go to a really weird circus performance. Well written and entertaining (of course) but I didn’t really connect with this one.

Harlequin Valentine
I like Harlequin type characters (incidentally, Harley Quinn was my Halloween costume!) so I enjoyed this quasi-mythical take on the character/archetype of Italian theater. The story is sad if you empathize with the male main character, but delightful and fun if you consider Harlequin the main character -- exactly the kind of dark humor you want from a Harlequin. And his seamless transition into real life was so cool.

The Problem of Susan 
Another sort-of-fanfiction, this time in the Narnia universe. Not being familiar with Narnia, the source of her turmoil isn’t quite clear to me -- but I always appreciate fanfiction that goes for a darker, realistic, more complicated interpretation of simple/idealistic stories.

Instructions 
A poem with instructions on what to do if you find yourself in a fairy tale. Similar to The Evil Overlord List.

How Do You Think It Feels? 
A weird little story about a guy who cheats, falls in love with his young mistress, gets his heart broken… and makes a gross little stone demon? I didn’t connect with this one at all. Also, holy shit, this was porny! I mean, hey, I regularly listen to worse podfic, but Overdrive occasionally plays snippets before switching over to headphones, and I was listening to this at work D:

Feeders and Eaters 
A weird not-quite-zombie story with this undercurrent of unhealthy compulsion. It doesn’t quite make sense -- shouldn’t there be a more straightforward way to eat? -- but somehow that makes it creepier.

In the End 
Genesis in reverse; the last book of the Bible. Weird.

Goliath 
A little side story set in the Matrix universe, following one human as the war causes glitches in the Matrix. I loved the experience of a mostly regular human within a glitching Matrix!

Pages from a Journal Found in a Shoebox Left in a Greyhound Bus Somewhere Between Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Louisville, Kentucky 
A circular, dizzy adventure that feels like something between heatstroke and time travel.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties 
Two teenage boys -- your typical extrovert and introvert -- wander into a party full of alien tourists, looking to hit on girls. Apparently this is going to be a movie! I don’t think it has enough plot to be a movie, but John Cameron Mitchell is directing, so it can’t not be great.

The Day the Saucers Came 
I’ve heard this one before; it’s cute. As the world falls into elaborate and redundant ruin, the author is preoccupied with his love life.

Sunbird 
The gastronomical adventures of the Epicurean Society, an ages-long society dedicated to eating everything you could possibly eat. They’ve run out of new things to try, when one of the older members suggests the mysterious sunbird in Egypt. As fanciful as it was, this one felt weirdly reassuring.

Also, I couldn’t help but picture the character Methos from Highlander.

Inventing Aladdin 
The inner thoughts of Scheherazade -- the “author” of stories like Aladdin and Arabian Nights -- as she invents new passages every night so her sultan husband won’t behead her. Exactly as I’ve always pictured her; what an awful situation.

The Monarch of the Glen
A crazy, blurry take on Norse? pagan? mythology, (apparently) part of his American Gods novel. It follows Shadow, a reincarnation of a Norse hero, as he wanders into a small town. He ends up playing bodyguard -- and then the entertainment -- at a strange pagan party.

Inside Out {Movie}

Why I'm watching
It’s got incredibly good reviews, and Tina Fey Amy Poehler is the main character/voice.

Where I saw the movie
Local theater with Alan.

Expectations
Family friendly fun. I was hoping for something on par with Pixar’s other fantastic works, like Up! and Wall-E.

So how was it?

Inside Out is the story of a young girl, Riley, during her move from the Midwest to San Francisco -- or, rather, the story of her emotions. Joy, along with Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness, try to make sense of Riley’s upheaval by exploring the metaphorical landscape of her mind.

Recommendation
EVERYONE. Literally everyone should see this movie. Including people who have already seen it. Go. Now.

Okay, no, this isn’t really a movie for younger children. It’s not going to be scary, but it deals with concepts that young children might not understand. They'll be super bored.

And if you're depressed, it's a great message, but it will make you feel all the emotions.

Feels
It’s beyond hilarious, but it’s also sweet and upsetting in places… and no, not upsetting like Up! It’s pretty much teaching an entire generation of children (and adults!) the importance of acknowledging and listening to sadness.

Favorites
As an individual character: Anger. Anger is ridiculously hilarious. But the star of this movie is absolutely the relationship (both literal and metaphorical) between Joy and Sadness.

Least favorites
I know a lot of people loved Riley’s imaginary character, and I appreciate his role in the story, but I didn’t actually connect with him as a character.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children // Ransom Riggs {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
I’d heard the title before, and it seemed pretty interesting. I actually went looking for this one, instead of just browsing.

Where I got the book
Greenwich/Overdrive.

Expectations
Harry Potter with less wizardry and a more circus/freak show vibe.

So how was it?

Soooo…. not actually what I was expecting. For one thing, there isn’t really a “school,” in the sense of Harry Potter (which I did find in the Finishing School series). And while it has a lot of YA themes, it didn’t feel constructed the way a lot of modern YA books do. It felt like the books I read (oh god am I about to say this) when I was younger, before YA was such an established genre. It reminded me of Hunky Dory Dairy.

The plot is fun. It requires you to suspend a whole lot of disbelief, but it’s fun. It’s not all that easy to explain without a blow-by-blow, but the basic premise is: there are “peculiar” children who have special powers or mutations (think side-show, not X-Men), who live in time-looped locations, and who therefore don’t age. The modern-day main character stumbles into this situation, after growing up hearing about all these kids from his grandfather, gets crazy confused, and eventually there’s some monster-fighting.

Recommendation
Fans of adventure stories, historical fiction, circus freak shows.

Feels
Fun, imaginative, much more fantasy than scifi.

Favorites
I love that the “peculiarities” are much more freak show than X-Men. They’re not always useful, or at least not always obviously so.

Least favorites
There is pretty much zero logic behind “peculiarities.”

Live Die Repeat // Tom Cruise {Movie}

Why I'm watching
I’m a big Tom Cruise fan, no matter how cray-cray he is… but mostly I’m watching because the plot looks awesome.

Where I got the movie
Greenwich library. Watching it on a plane to Arkansas!

Expectations
Tom Cruise living, dying, and repeating said process. If I had to take a stab at the plot, I’d say Cruise (and female costar) go to some kind of post-apocalyptic Earth to do...something?

So how was it?

Yeah, no, I’m now fairly certain that’s the plot to Cruise’s Oblivion, which I should probably see.

Anyway.

I really, really liked Live Die Repeat Edge of Forever Edge of Tomorrow. Like, holy crap, big-budget scifi action movies are making a comeback!

Cage seems like your typical Tom Cruise Military Dude at first, but we quickly find out he’s a useless cowardly asshole. As an actor, Cruise doesn’t have a huge range -- but when he deviates from his typical action hero role, he does it really well.

Things happen, he gets sent to the front lines, and accidentally gets stuck in a time loop. As this is the first we (or the military in general) hear anything about time manipulation, he’s justifiably WTF. His reaction to the time loop -- before and after he figures it out -- absolutely makes the movie worth watching. He ends up being trained by the famous war hero Rita (Emily Blunt) -- turns out she was caught in a time loop, too, but lost it -- in an attempt to destroy the alien threat.

Oh right, the world’s military is fighting these crazy alien things. And the soldiers are equipped with exoskeleton fighting suits.

Recommendation
Action and scifi fans. Duh.

Feels
Fun and action-y, with a hint of Oceans 11 elaborate social misdirection. The plot is smart without being wrapped up in its own complexity. The characters are engaging.

Favorites
The movie was surprisingly subtle and heartfelt about how Cruise was changing as he repeats the same day for who-knows-how-long. On the surface, he’s just memorizing the day and learning how to fight… but if you pay attention, you actually see him changing as a person. I love it when movies don’t shove this stuff down your throat.

I also liked the trust between the two characters -- he trusts her training and guidance, she trusts his knowledge of the day. Teamwork!

Least favorites
I really have no complaints. Of course there were some parts of the plot that don’t make all that much sense, you have to suspend disbelief about certain alien things, and the characters make some stupid decisions, but… it’s an action movie.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Etiquette & Espionage // Gail Carriger {Audiobook}

I listen to a lot of audiobooks (no way!) on the way to and from work, but at work I’m mostly limited to music, stand-up comedy, and whatever audiobooks I can find on Spotify or Google Play.

UNTIL NOW!

Overdrive sent an email out a few weeks ago that they would be adding an in-browser player, similar to their in-browser reader for ebooks. I just tried it out for the first time, aaaaand it’s fantastic. I haven’t tried it on my phone yet, but the phone app lets you download files to play, so that might be friendlier for my data plan.

Why I'm reading
I was just looking through Overdrive for something to test out the in-browser audiobook reader, and this seemed interesting.

Where I got the book
Overdrive, Greenwich library.

Expectations
Your standard YA fare, hopefully not too self-involved or full of tropes.

So how was it?

Set in a Victorian steampunk era, the Finishing School series follows the rambunctious Sophronia as she’s whisked away Hogwarts-style to Mademoiselle Geraldine's finishing school… except it doesn’t seem to be a normal finishing school. She meets a variety of friends, learns skills like eyelash-flutter manipulation and wafting poisonous perfume, and embarks on various little plots and adventures.

It's definitely meant for the younger side of the YA audience, but it's a nice guilty pleasure read you don't actually have to feel all that guilty about.

Recommendation
Younger YA readers or older readers looking for something quick and fun; fans of the “special school” trope (like Harry Potter’s Hogwarts); steampunk fans.

Feels
Fun, light-hearted, with somewhat believable characters (if not plot).

Favorites
Sophronia’s friends are extremely tropey, but they’re done well and don’t feel fake or forced. Some of the stuff they learn in class is hilarious, particularly anything having to do with their "decolletage"...

Least favorites
There wasn’t anything I particularly disliked. Everything is predictable and tropey, but the story isn’t trying to be anything it’s not.

Writing style
As far as the writing itself goes, I had no urge to pull out the red pen. The teenage characters and fairly simple action/spy plot make this clearly a YA book, but with not quite as much focus romantic sub-plots (although there are several), and Sophronia actually pulls off the “just a normal girl” trope by 1) actually acting like a normal, reasonably headstrong girl, 2) not making a big deal about how normal/not special/average she is, and 3) not describing herself every five sentences. I'm fairly certain I didn't even know her hair color until several chapters in.

Mad Max // George Miller {Movie}

Ugh. Can I just say -- a plate full of edamame does not constitute “vegetables,” not even with the little bits of shredded carrot. We went out with some of Alan’s friends for this one, and I was not impressed by the Chinese (?) fusion place we went. I think it was supposed to be French/Chinese fusion, but it was just Americanized Chinese take-out with fancy plates and a few odd ingredients. It wasn’t bad, but… meh.

Anyway!  

Why I'm watching
Well, yes, partially Tom Hardy, but honestly the movie looks like great scifi dystopian action.

Where I saw the movie
Middletown. The theater was super tiny… I’m not sure why we went there for an action movie. Once we walked over to the parking lot, I realized I’d been here before with Abby to see that sort of magic-themed Ocean’s 13 bank robbery movie with Morgan Freeman, Ariadne, and the kid who played Zuckerman Now You See Me.

Expectations
Boom.

So how was it?

The entire thing is more or less a chase scene. 

It was pretty much everything you could ever want out of a dystopian action movie. Fantastic cinematography, high caliber actors, self-aware absurdity, engaging characters (heroes and villains!), crazy sets and wardrobe, world building, an impressive lack of spoon-feeding… just solid, awesome, and chock full of explosions. And on top of all that, a female-heavy cast (without making a point of it) and fairly feminist plot.

Mad Max is played by the gorgeous and increasingly non-verbal Tom Hardy, Furiosa by the badass Charlize Theron, and a host of excellent supporting actors rounds out the cast.

Recommendation
Action fans, scifi fans, and/or feminists.

Feels
Like a solid, classic 80s scifi flick -- and I'm not just talking about the visuals. Beautiful cinematography, fantastic world building, simple-but-solid plots and themes, absolute unapologetic absurdity, and none of the overly twisty-turny plot shenanigans that have been so popular in the last decade.

Favorites
I can’t choose. Doof (the guitar guy). The two lead actors, who were able to crunch so much into just one glance that the usual action movie dialogue tropes weren't necessary. The world building. The wives. How every single character was a solid, recognizable, individual personality.

Least favorites
Max was pretty quiet -- which I didn’t have a problem with at all -- but since they went that route, I think they should have made it a more deliberate character trait. There are a few scenes that make a point of how non-verbal he is, but several scenes just seemed a little unbalanced, like they forgot to write in his dialog.

Cinematography
I remember thinking about the cinematography in Blade Runner -- gorgeous, sure, but it was just rammed down your throat. HEY LOOK, STOP AND LOOK, LOOK AT THIS SET, LOOK AT HOW WE SET THIS SHIT UP, IT LOOKS LIKE A PAINTING LOOK LOOK LOOK.

This... was not that. There were a handful of incredibly gorgeous shots, but they always fit with the flow of the movie, had elements of movement and good timing, and told you something about the characters. They weren’t just pretty shots.

And yes, yes I did tag this as road trip.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy // Douglas Adams {Original radio}

Greenwich just got the complete set of the original Hitchhiker’s Guide radio plays (which were eventually re-written into the first book) and I snatched them up.

I don’t need to go through yet another explanation of why Douglas Adams is fantastic...

I’m loving the voice actors (except maybe the Vogons, and nothing beats Stephen Fry’s Zaphod) and everything is fairly familiar. It was fairly easy to pick out some parts that were copied verbatim in the first book, a few parts that were left out of the book, quite a few sections that were expanded upon in the book, and only one or two things that actually changed. In the first few chapters, for example, the Vogon ships are called “saucers.” No one ended up laying in the mud at all, and the entire “sleepy Arthur fails to notice the big yellow thing” opening scene doesn’t happen. And unless I heard this incorrectly, and I don’t think I did, Arthur suggests the bulldozer driver could cover for him while he popped off to the pub -- not Ford.

After the first book -- the “primary phase” of the radio show -- however, things seem to be quite a bit different, unless I’ve vastly underestimated my memory of the rest of the books. In fact, the later ones seem to be supplementary to books that have already been published: Arthur can fly, but I don’t remember that being explained; he knows about Stavromula Beta, but again, not explained, etc. Definitely a great read/listen, although I found it a little more confusing and less structured than the books.

The Girl With All the Gifts // M.R. Carey

I got a new phone! Woo! Not sure I’m in love with it, but it’s fast and not (quite as) glitchy.

Why I'm reading
I just installed the Overdrive app, because I want to start reading more ebooks on my phone, and -- hello -- libraries do that. Honestly the cover was okay and the summary wasn’t terrible, but mainly I just wanted to load a random book to make sure Overdrive worked.

Where I got the book
The Overdrive app.

Expectations
None, except that the sample page seemed like an interesting take on zombies.

So how was it?

This went right onto my ‘favorites’ shelf on Goodreads.

“Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.” 

I usually summarize a little bit, but I’m not sure exactly what to put without ruining some of the surprise. I can’t even really call it “surprise,” because that usually means sudden unexpected deaths and unpredictable plot twists. But The Girl With All the Gifts never really surprised me; instead there was a slow, building horror as we (and the girl) slowly piece together what’s going on, and come to terms with it.

Recommendation
Fans of zombie books, of course. But this will also appeal to people who like sci fi short stories. Maybe it’s because they require less investment, but short stories usually end up more experimental and interesting.

Feels
Confusion, horror, gentleness, and adrenaline.

Favorites
The first chapter felt like the world was turning upside-down, but very slowly… like one of those turning tunnels in a funhouse.

Least favorites
None that I can think of. It’s not entirely free of tropes, but what is?

Writing style
Subtle, I guess? No punches were pulled with the horror and suspense, but they’re not overdone. It’s written in third person, but focuses on one character for several chapters at a time, so we get to understand all the characters.

Life, the Universe, and Everything // Douglas Adams {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Hitchhiker! Plus, Martin Freeman (yes, Martin, not Morgan) played a fantastic Arthur Dent in the not-quite-so-fantastic movie adaptation.

Where I got the book
Greenwich Library.

Expectations
I’m not sure about Martin Freeman’s narration, especially after I just listened to Fry’s.

So how was it?

In a nutshell, Life, the Universe, and Everything follows Arthur Dent and Ford Perfect as they try to save the world from evil cricket robots. Cricket the game, that is, not the insect. Freeman has done several of the Hitchhiker books -- maybe the whole set, I can’t tell -- but I somehow managed to skip from Fry’s version of book 1 to Freeman’s book 3. So getting plopped in the middle of prehistoric Earth was a little jarring. Plus, apparently I didn’t remember quite as much about Life, the Universe, and Everything as I thought I did as a teenager (ha!), so it was an exciting read/listen.

Recommendation
Definitely for fans of the movie version of Arthur Dent.

Feels
A bit more wacky than Hitchhiker, but conversely, a more solid plot.

Favorites
Freeman’s version of Trillian was pretty good, and his narration of the flying scenes (my favorite part of the book) was delightful.

Least favorites
Ugh, coming from Fry’s delicious interpretation of Zaphod Beeblebrox, I hated the New York / New Jersey accent Freeman used. It reminded me of the scraggly-blond-trashy-pirate movie Zaphod, who also sucked.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy // Douglas Adams {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
First of all -- uh, hello, Hitchhiker’s Guide and Stephen Fry are a match made in heaven. Second, Hitchhiker was originally created for radio (although this is a reading of the book version) so it should work well in audiobook format.

Where I got the book
Greenwich Library.

Expectations
I’ve read the book several times, so I know what I’m getting into. I’m super excited about Stephen Fry’s narration.

So how was it?

In a nutshell, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is the story of a regular human guy (Arthur Dent) who is rescued from the demolition of Earth by his -- unbeknownst to him -- alien hitchhiker buddy Ford Perfect. There’s no use summarizing past that, and frankly it would ruin the fun. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Hitchhiker series, and Fry’s narration totally did it justice. He shares the same kind of British humor as the Guide, and a great command of different English accents.

Recommendation
Every and all sci fi fans, and even those who aren’t. Not for people who need a very structured plot, and definitely not for people who expect super-gritty, super-serious scifi. A great choice for people just getting into audiobooks, since it doesn’t really require a lot of attention.

Feels
...British?

Favorites
I can’t even deal with Fry’s Zaphod voice. Cannot. Even. Deal. It’s perfect.

Least favorites
He only did the first book!

Dead Air // Doctor Who {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Doctor Who is awesome! Go watch it!

Where I got the book
Greenwich Library. I’ve been browsing through the Sci Fi audiobook shelf -- which is unfortunately smaller than you’d expect, for such a huge audiobook selection -- and picking whatever seems interesting.

Expectations
A typical doctor who episode.

So how was it?

Aaaaand... it was a typical Doctor Who episode : The Doctor shows up someplace (a pirate radio boat) sometime (the 60’s) and something (a sentient noise monster) is trying to destroy Earth. He’s helped by a twenty-something woman (a bubbly radio DJ) who is sort-of-involved with a normal human guy (crush on another DJ), there’s a hint of angst about Gallifrey (the monster’s creators), and of course the usual noble sulking about his companions (he’s traveling alone).

If I sound like I didn’t like it, that’s not true -- it was a quick bite of sci fi fun, and the characters were good -- but it was definitely in the ranks of the mediocre when it comes to Doctor Who.

Recommendation
Doctor Who fans, sci fi fans. A quick 1-CD episode.

Feels
A little creepy, a little perfunctory. Not enough suspense.

Favorites
David Tennant was a pretty good narrator, with different voices/accents for each character. He didn’t make the female character sound like a drag queen (which is disturbingly common in the audiobooks I’ve listened to so far). In fact he gave her enough character that she actually felt like the kind of quirky, plucky young woman the doctor usually hangs out with.

Least favorites
This could have -- and should have -- gone a lot creepier. This is an audiobook about a noise monster who silences people. Come on. That’s another “are you my mummy?” just waiting to happen, but they didn’t use it very well. There was just some static every once in a while, and an ending cribbed from The Ring. The only thing that got even close to being creepy was the random skipping and glitching the CD did... because it was a scratched up library CD.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Ready Player One // Ernest Cline {Audiobook}

I wrote an extremely long and actually fantastic review of Ready Player One, with all sorts of insightful ramblings and meaningful commentary. It was pretty much the greatest review in the world.

This is not that review; this is just a tribute.

In a spectacular show of fail, I managed to lose that review completely. That’ll teach me to write something directly in the Blogger interface… I was lured in by the promise of cloud backup, and clearly forgot the ancient teachings of livejournal.  

Why I'm reading
I’d heard some great things about this book, but also some not-so-great things. It seems like the kind of book that’s fantastic if it’s your thing, and stupidly self-indulgent if it’s not.


Where I got the book
Greenwich library, audiobook format.

Expectations
Your classic YA Marty Stu character -- overpowered, angsty, shallow, and special -- with a nerdy 'uncool but secretly super cool' bent. And for some reason, I think I had a vague impression of Tron leotards, which is strange, since I know very little about Tron. In retrospect, this was not entirely incorrect.

So how was it?

Ready Player One is fairly easy to sum up: it’s almost Willy Wonka, but with 1980s nerd trivia instead of chocolate. A rich gaming guru dies, leaving his fortune -- and control of his massive multiplayer online virtual reality gaming company (OASIS) -- to the winner of a contest. We follow the five young frontrunners as they try to win before the employees of a faceless rival company take over and ruin OASIS for everyone.

This book was a little bit of a roller-coaster for me. The first few chapters were incredibly engaging, and then it took a rambling left turn into Self-Righteous Opinionville, for a chapter, before getting back on its feet, leveling out, ramping up to some pretty fun stuff about two-thirds in, and rolling to a gently satisfying conclusion.

Recommendation
If you like references to video games and 1980s pop culture, you’ll love this book (although you don’t need to understand the references in order to enjoy it). If that sounds irritating, this is really really really not the book for you.

Feels
Exciting, dangerous; cyberpunk post-apocalyptic, but not too gritty.

Favorites
Both side-kick characters were awesome. There’s also a major plot point with the evil rival company, but I don’t want to spoil it.

Least favorites
The book starts out well for the first chapter or so, but -- like I said -- it takes a bad turn for about a chapter. The author more or less hijacks the story to ramble on about some shallow and angry take on ecology, social responsibility, economics, etc. The worst offender is this little plot sinkhole: the economy starts to tank, with resources getting scarce, so people moved into the overcrowded city for the express purpose of finding food and work, because there was nothing to survive on in the rest of the country. You know, nothing but arable farmland.

Writing style
Engaging, with lots of focus on details and textures, which works for a story that takes place in both the real world and a virtual reality construct. I listened to the audiobook, which could not have had a better narrator (Wil Wheaton).

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Sherlock Holmes I & II // Robert Downey Jr. {Movie}

Why I'm watching
I've been meaning to see it for a while, and it just so happened to come back in while I was at the circ desk.

Where I got the book
Berlin-Peck Library, returns cart :)

Expectations
Fun, relatively mindless action-adventure.

So how was it?

Fun, relatively mindless action-adventure. Holmes and Watson take on a case with dark magic, mysterious deaths, and politics. The sequel is about the same.

It's not groundbreaking, but the plot was fun, the characters were great, action was good, good cinematography and pacing. It had some bromance and great female characters and no annoying romantic subplots. Sure, there's some drama over Watson being engaged, but it's bromance drama.

Recommendation
If you like Psych, House, or any mostly-humorous interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, you'll love this.

Feels
Fun, a little goofy, interesting without trying to be too twisty or dramatic.

Favorites
Mary being super cool about everything.

Severance // Chris Bucholz

Why I'm reading
I want to start reading more sci-fi, and the summary made this look fantastic. A generation ship, cliques, drugs, costumed orgies(!), meat plants, and a murder mystery.

Where I got the book
Another LibraryThing Early Reviewers ebook!

Expectations
An inventive futuristic world, a murder-mystery plot, probably some so-so YA level character development, randomly capitalized Things and Groups, and a "twist" ending about the purpose of the generation ship. A sci-fi snack.

So how was it?

Severance follows Laura Stein, a vaguely mid-level engineer on the generational ship Argos, which is headed towards a new home in another star system. One of her underlings ends up dead after a routine maintenance assignment, leading Stein to unravel a conspiracy that could rip the ship in two.

It was exactly what I expected... only a hell of a lot better than I expected. The writing was a little clunky (like a YA book) but I don't even care. The world development was fantastic -- imaginative, but still grounded, built into the plot but not harped upon, and completely plausible. The plot never felt too slow, didn't put the main character through dramatic trials just to watch her suffer, and built up foreshadowing without (gasp) being too predictable.

There was a great amount of humor, too, from the friendly piss talk between Stein and her friend Bruce, to the hilariously stupid inhabitants of Argos. The description had me worried, with mention of groups like Breeders and Markers... factions and capitalized Proper Nouns are a big, cheesy thing in YA literature. Yeah, that's not a problem with this book. I won't spoil what the Markers are because it's too funny, but they exist in the same world as teenagers who look at the curved ship walls and spin until they puke (vomit clubs, and they've gone out of style).

N.b. I keep referring to YA books, but I'm not sure if this fits or not. Reading level and entertainment value, yes, YA. But there's a reasonable amount of casual swearing, and honestly, it avoids a lot of the annoying YA tropes.

Recommendation
Sci-fi and action/adventure fans, mystery fans.

Feels
Exciting, fun, a little gritty -- but it doesn't make a point of being gritty, if that makes sense. Dirty and a bit scruffed up. I think I could see this adapted into a movie fairly well. It has an almost comic book vibe.

Favorites
Characters, hands down. He doesn't dig too deep into any of the characters, but they're realistic and fun. The main character is relatable without being Typical Teenage Girl, competent but not especially good or bad at what she does, smart and brave but not unreasonably so, etc. etc. She's just in the right place at the right time, and does what needs to be done. Well, okay, there's one special bit about her -- she's a "canned baby" -- but it's not a big deal.

Least favorites
The writing was indeed a little clunky... I wanted to break out my red pen at points. There were also two side characters I wish had a little more "screen time," so I could appreciate their friendship. But overall, I had very little to complain about.

Writing style
Clunky, yes, but... there are little tiny hints of Douglas Adams' influence. Ramshackle technology, a silly little metaphor here and there, and a storyline that jumps around and doesn't always go where you're expecting. Not perfect, but it has its delightful moments.