Reading: DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY - Julia Buckley

Though mysteries - and particularly cozy mysteries - have been one of my biggest loves as a reader for some time, in the last couple of years I've gotten more ... picky about my tastes in the genre; to me, only a fraction of cozies I read today give me the same satisfaction they used to, mainly because of what has become fairly generic/formulaic plotting, the lack of real clues that build up to a logical conclusion as to the identity of the killer (I was spoiled by Agatha Christie since age 12), or - worse - the intrusion of a romantic storyline that, instead of being an extension of the main character's life or world, becomes almost more important than the mystery. So imagine my relief and excitement when a cozy comes along that breaks these negative trends; one with good plotting, characters I truly care about, and writing that comes off engaging and fresh. Such is book one of the Hungarian Tea House mystery series, a wonderfully-written mystery that finds Hana Keller playing amateur sleuth when a customer in her family's tea shop drops dead, poisoned - with spiked tea served to the victim in Hana's newly-acquired treasure, the one-of-a-kind Budapest Butterfly teacup. I immediately loved Hana and her family, in particular Hana's tea leaf-reading grandmother - an old-school, no-nonsense lady from Hungary who may or may not have psychic ability. Everything flows so naturally and wonderfully in the book: Hana takes up the investigation as amateur sleuth to defend both her family's reputation and avenge the use of her precious keepsake in the murder, and even when she finds herself attracted to the lead detective investigating the crime, never ever does this budding romance overtake the story or intrude on the book's central mystery. Indeed, again, all the character's here come across so real on the page, it's as if I knew them - or would like to. The police investigation, as well as Hana's own poking around in the case, reveal clues that build logically and realistically to a satisfying reveal of the killer and motive behind the murder. Best yet, author Julia Buckley has tied nearly every aspect of it all into Hungarian folklore and/or the backstory of more than a few of the Hungarian characters in the book, making the cozy come off not just original but genuinely interesting a read. Death in a Budapest Butterfly is nothing short of a terrific opener to a new series, a fresh and solid debut that guarantees this reviewer's place at the head of the line for future installments.  4.5/5 stars 

Reading: DEAD AND UNBURIED VOL. 1. ZOMBIE AT LARGE - Jocelyn Boisvert (writer), Pascal Colpron (illustrator)

Colorful artwork and well-drawn characters with a comic touch add greatly to this first-in-a-series graphic novel starring a young student named Yan who is enjoying all life has to offer, when suddenly that life is taken away. With school almost over for the summer, being on the verge of going into production on a new horror movie with his best friend, and a new baby sister on the way, the last thing Yan expected or wanted is to be the victim of violence. But while trying to help someone else, Yan is stabbed to death by a hoodlum - and unlike with most people, life doesn't stop there when a year later Yan wakes up in his coffin, now one of the undead. Once free of his grave, Yan decides that being green and half-rotten away shouldn't deter his friends or family from welcoming him back, and sure enough his best friend is quite accepting (once the shock wears off) - as is the girl, with her own issues, crushing on him - but when Yan makes his way home and learns how much his family has changed (not for the better) since his death, he leaves before being discovered, determined to find a way to put them back on the right path. As said, this is a first-in-a-series, charming and well-executed and darkly funny enough that this reader found himself a bit irritated at the abrupt ending of the book, eagerly wanting more and rooting for Yan all the way.  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Watching: ANNABELLE COMES HOME

Year: 2019
Rating: R
The seventh film in the Conjuring franchise features, yet again, everyone's favorite little doll  Annabelle - who, as the film opens, is taken by demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) and encased in a locked glass cabinet in their Evil Trinkets Room (my name, not theirs) before she can do any more damage. Annabelle is so evil, in fact, that the case/room have to be blessed first, and even locked up her evil seems to effect the other evil artifacts in the room, as if she feeds them. The locks on the door to the Warren's private souvenir suite are many, and when the Warrens leave on an overnight trip they make sure to engage Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman), a babysitter for their 10-year-old daughter whom they already know and trust to steer clear of the chamber of horrors behind that multi-locked door. What they don't count on, however, is Mary Ellen's uber-annoying friend Daniela (Katie Sarife), who's read about the Warren's rep in the newspapers and has her own secret agenda; she wants in that room, and nothing's going to stop her. When she visits Mary Ellen at the Warren's home and manufactures an excuse to get her friend and the little girl out of the house, Daniela finds the keys to the locked hell-room (in a ridiculously easy way, one of a couple of eye-rolls you can expect in this film), and manages to not only unleash Annabelle but a whole truckload of evil  from that room that seems to guarantee no one will make it through the night - which, of course, also sets up the little girl as the primary target (cue horror trope). For scares, Annabelle Comes Home is actually one of the better entries in this particular series (the coin thing even had me creeped out), even dropping in a couple moments of humor to alleviate the supernatural shenanigans. Not awesome, but first-time director Gary Dauberman serves up enough scares to keep you going, even if you do sort of want to smack the crap out of the smug, annoying Daniela through most of the film.  6/10 stars

Watching: THE LAUNDROMAT

Year: 2019
Rating: R
Steven Soderbergh's latest film, for me, was an overall disappointment - but don't necessarily go by me, the film's subject matter is one I have little to no interest in and that may helped to make this one more than dry as dust to me. That said, with a stellar cast and Soderbergh behind the lens, I guess I was just expecting more from this tongue-in-cheek comedy-drama about money laundering ... that I actually found a bit depressing with its overall message that the bad guys usually win (even if it is the truth - and that's not a spoiler, btw). Meryl Streep stars as Ellen, a lady whose husband dies in a freak accident after which she discovers his insurance policy isn't worth the paper its printed on. She tries to trace it back to the company that insured him, but finds herself in a hugely complex web of fake corporations and fraudulent deals that - viewers learn - are a part of the great system of laws in this country that enable the rich to get richer by not paying taxes, while the poor get poorer and suffer the consequences of their actions. Antonio Banderas and Gary Oldman play two of the biggest con men attached to such schemes, and they narrate the film - speaking directly to the camera - in a tongue-in-cheek way of letting anyone watching know how the system "really" works, and how it's made them wealthier than God; again, not the most inspiring message to the average joe. The film is well-crafted and well-acted, but its education of how the system works - and how it works so much in favor of the rich and the criminally-inclined - is a downer of a message, true or not, that made the film less than enjoyable to sit through.  4/10 stars

Reading: LOLA: A GHOST STORY - J. Torres (writer), Elbert Or & Jill Beaton (illustrators)

Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of this graphic novel exploring Filipino folklore and grief, this edition of Lola: A Ghost Story ("Lola" meaning "grandmother" in Tagalog) releases March 24th and is the story of a young boy named Jesse whose only memory of his grandmother - a woman who, supposedly, saw visions and even fought off demons and monsters while she was alive - is of when she tried to drown him as a baby. With his family as they gather together at Lola's old home, Jesse finds himself now seeing visions, only he can't figure out whether they are good ones or monsters in disguise, and more than ever he wishes Lola were around to guide him. While the artwork and writing both take on a dreamlike, hazy quality that perfectly embodies the spirit (no pun intended) of this simple yet effective story, ultimately Lola is a tale of grief and being able to move forward beyond it; of family, and of learning that in helping others we often also help ourselves. Charming and sweet. 4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: LONG WAY DOWN - Jason Reynolds

All the awards and accolades attached to this novel-in-verse made me anxious to read it - but hesitant as well, wondering if Jason Reynolds's much-lauded story could hold up to the hype. But Long Way Down exceeded even those expectations; via a true economy of words, author Reynolds weaves an intimate, punch-to-the-gut story of what happens when fifteen-year-old Will's older brother Shawn is shot to death ... and Will, tucking Shawn's own gun into the waistband of his jeans, heads out to kill the person who killed his brother. Hyped-up and refusing to back down to what Will sees as his duty, he leaves his apartment and still-devastated mother and boards the elevator on the seventh floor, heading down - and it's what happens as the elevator stops on each floor, a new passenger with ties to Shawn boarding each time to provide the angry young Will another piece in the puzzle of his brother's life and death, that has the potential to shape what Will might do ... or become. The visceral impact of Reynolds's words and the portrait they paint of a young, grieving man caught up in gun violence, make this an incredibly potent and brilliant read, as well as one of my favorite books of 2019.  4.5/5 stars

Watching: US

Year: 2019
Rating: R
Having not yet seen Get Out (I know, I know; it's on the list), Jordan Peele's rep and a great cast (totally in love with Lupita!) drew me to this bizarre, tension-filled (and at times disturbing) film starring Lupita Nyong'o as Adelaide, a woman who suffered a traumatic event in her childhood who suddenly finds herself thrust down Memory Lane again when her husband Gabe (Winston Duke) insists on taking them and their two kids to the very beachfront that - unbeknownst to him - his wife remembers all too well. From their very arrival there Adelaide has the growing sensation that something very, very bad is about to happen, and sure enough that same night the family is confronted by a group of four strangers in masks and red jumpsuits, just standing in the dark outside their rented home, who suddenly force their way into the house, where it is discovered - once the masks come off - that each intruder is the exact physical doppelganger of one of the family members they have come to kill (each bearing a huge pair of gold shears to do the job with, no less). Things get super-weird from here, in a plot that's not only un-explainable in the context of this review but would also contain spoilers. Suffice to say, Us is a twisty, truly bizarre horror story with a tremendous amount of subtext and a twist ending I somehow didn't fully see coming. Director Jordan Peele drops enough hints along the way, giving viewers an ending that may be a head-scratcher to those who haven't been paying attention ... but boy, is this a film worth paying attention to, and while not perfect Peele's execution of this strange, somewhat open-ended story made (for me) for one of the most intriguing, thought-provoking, and at times seriously creepy films I'd seen in some time. Oh yeah, and the soundtrack kicks ass, too.  8/10 stars

Watching: THE NUN

Year: 2018
Rating: R
HUGE fan of the Conjuring film series here, and in Conjuring 2 I thought that wacky evil nun was possibly the scariest, most intriguing character in the whole film ... so needless to say I was super-hyped to get her story, and more than anxious to see this follow-up. Here we follow a cloister in Romania, opening with two nuns - one older, one younger - evidently going to battle against the demon nun, in a cool opening scene that ends with the young nun hanging herself to keep the demon nun from taking over her body and re-entering the physical world. In response to this suicide, the Vatican sends a priest with his own checkered past (Demian Bichir), and a nun so new to the game she hasn't even taken her vows yet (Taissa Farmiga, sister of Vera from the Conjuring films) to investigate the mysterious hanging, where this dynamic duo meets up with a French-Canadian named - what else? - Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), who originally discovered the hanging nun's body, to get to the bottom of things. A few nice, spooky sequences can't cover up the fact that this film is a letdown, three very good actors doing their best with a weak script that ultimately makes for a film not all that scary and indeed even laughable in a few spots (a scene with Frenchie in the local village tavern, for instance, seems to play word-for-word like a cheesy Hammer horror film clip) leading to a so-so ending worthy of an eye-roll or two. A shame, because darn it this was one demon nun who deserved better!  2/10 stars

Watching: KLAUS

Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Directors: Sergio Pablos, Carlos Martinez Lopez
The first animated feature film to appear on Netflix (after a brief theatrical release) is the long-ago tale of a spoiled, cocky young rich dude named Jesper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman), currently attending the postal academy to become a postman and follow in his family's business, whose laziness and lack of caring make him the worst student in the school's history. To combat this, Jesper's exasperated father decides to teach his son a lesson and sends him off to work as a postman at the most desolate, frozen post office in the world ... in Smeerensburg, which rests on a frozen island in the Arctic Circle. With no choice but to go or forfeit his lavish lifestyle, Jesper is sent with the goal of moving 6,000 letters out of the tiny town before he can leave, but when he arrives finds the inhabitants of Smeerensburg just as cold, unrelenting, and bleak as the town itself. The town is, in fact, stuck in the middle of a feud that's been going on for millennia, the adults all hateful and angry and vindictive and passing these traits onto their awful children - so that even when Jesper learns that hope may lie in the form of a reclusive toymaker named Klaus, who lives on the far side of the island, he must still wonder whether Smeerensburg can even be saved. How I loved this film; the animation style is very unique and old-fashioned, completely fitting with the slightly-tweaked origin story of how writing letters to Santa came to be; according to IMDb, director Sergio Pablos wanted to do a traditionally animated film, but wanted to see how animation might have evolved had computer-generated animation never come along, so he used CGI lighting techniques with hand-drawn animation - and the result, on screen, is quite beautiful, with some scenes that visually took my breath away. The voice acting is terrific (JK Simmons as Klaus and Joan Cusack as the evil Mrs. Krum are total standouts), the script walking that fine line of Christmas sentimentality vs. "too much sugar" without ever toppling over into the latter. Funny, lovely, and touching (yes, a tear or two in the eyes at the end) make this one of the best Christmas animated films I've seen in ages, and one of my favorite films seen in 2019.  9.5/10 stars

Watching: PARASITE

Year: 2019
Rating: R
Director: Bong Joon-ho
I purposefully went into watching Parasite knowing as little as possible about the film, beyond the trailer, and would heartily advise the same to anyone else wanting to see it. Deserving of the hype and accolades? Of being labeled one of the Best Films of the past Decade, let alone 2019? Absolutely. It would appear that, after directing visual and cerebral stunners like Mother, The Host, Snowpiercer, and Okja, (that last one I still have yet to see), Bong Joon-ho has directed his masterpiece. Parasite follows the Kim family - father, mother, and their grown daughter and son - all of whom are unemployed and living in a tiny, rundown lower-level apartment in Korea, subsisting on government aid. When the son, Ki-woo, is offered a job tutoring a high school girl from a rich family, we meet the Parks - father, mother, teenaged daughter and young son - and within a very short time the Kim family ingratiates themselves with the Parks when each takes a job within the household while pretending to no even know each other, let alone admit they are related. But the Kims don't just take over the open positions of driver, therapist, housekeeper, etc.; no, they hatch elaborate plans to first get the people already in these positions at the Park household fired, then finagle their way in as the replacement. That's how without conscience the Kims are, even as somehow - and this is part of Bong Joon-ho's genius - you still root for them to get away with it, if nothing else than maybe in the way the poor always want to stick it to the one-percent. Things, in fact, seem to be going quite well for the Kims, who celebrate in the Park home one evening after the family has gone out of town camping about an hour into the film ... until a genuine "WTF" incident happens that turns both the film and the Kims cushy situation absolutely on its head, the rest of the film a suspenseful, darkly-funny potential train wreck you won't be able to take your eyes from. Parasite is perfectly cast, and directed with Bong's signature artistic edge (you can tell Kubrick was an influence) that makes simple shadows chilling or a sarcastic line said during the tensest moment downright hilarious. It's a film that needs to be seen more than once to pick up everything, visually and stylistically, the filmmakers imbued each line and image with, and it's certainly a film that must be seen without distraction of food or bathroom breaks or anyone talking in your ear; you have to pay attention to this one. For this reason I don't know, how this South Korean gem may work on middle-American audiences, but anyone missing Parasite is missing an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind treat that's also a masterclass in filmmaking.  10/10 stars

November Wrap-Up: Transitions

Wow, thirty days and only five books read - most of them easy-read kids' ARCs, and a graphic novel I had high hopes for - and not even a single new film watched in November. Good God, what a letdown; the year cannot end like this!

That said, my living situation is still in flux, and am currently staying with friends (soon to change). My normal lifestyle of a lot of "me" time alone, to read and watch films, is no more right now; am constantly surrounded by people and noise and distractions. Not a bad thing, it's a great family with a lot of love for each other yet still enough to share even more with a weirdo like me - but it's just not conducive for any activity done solo, such as reading or writing or watching films.

December will be different. Period!  

Please look for reviews of the five books pictured (to come), as well as some catching up from past months' reviews not yet done. Hope your November/Thanksgiving were terrific, and keep watching this page for more content; I do have some ideas brewing, especially for the new year!

Reading: CODING CAPERS: LUCI AND THE MISSING ROBOT - Angela Cleveland & Tamara Zentic (authors), Juan Manuel Moreno (illustrator)

Luci and her friends are into science; really into science. They're smart kids with a passion for technology who are readily on-board when they get to school one day ... and are told by their science teacher that her robot is missing! Using coding terminology and their combined knowledge of computer science to solve various clues they are given, the three kids form one of several teams challenged to play a sort of scavenger hunt through the school in search of the missing robot - the reward for the winning team being no less than each member receiving his or her own robot to keep! This children's book is a quick, fun, easy read that should appeal to kids not even into computers or science - while at the same time potentially creating such an interest in those who do read it, as coding and computers here are seen through the eyes of students who understand what technology can do to help both people and the planet. Good messages here that never come across as messages, but rather as a genuinely enjoyable mystery that brings what - for some - may be a hard-to-understand subject down to a readily-understandable level, while also being fun.  3.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: SKELETITOS: MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT - Susie Jaramillo

Complete with a movable clock to help children learn how to tell time, Skeletitos is a beautifully-illustrated and written kids' book consisting of twelve rhymed verses - one each for every hour on the clock - with a Day of the Dead theme that uniquely and comically portrays to children the different events that these lively characters partake in throughout their day and night. The artwork is extraordinary and kids should be totally hooked on the rhymes that mom and dad read off - but even if they aren't, as an extra bonus said parent can, within minutes, head over to the website or download the app ... and actually sing along, with their child, to each day's rhyme set to music and sung by a joyously ghoulish narrator! Even as an adult with no kids, after one read-through I went to the website and must have listened to/re-read the book another four times to the musical/singing accompaniment, smiling like a goofy kid the entire time. Author/illustrator Susie Jaramillo has packed a lot of fun and humor - even joy - into such a small space, and if anything could make me happier it's that this projects to be only the first in a series. A truly great surprise I'd buy for any child; absolutely loved it.  4.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: HASHTAG: DANGER VOLUME 1 - PANIC ON DINOSAUR MOUNTAIN! - Tom Peyer (writer), Chris Giarrusso and Randy Elliott and Andy Troy (illustrators)

The best thing about this volume of multiple stories about three inept scientists and the various dangerous missions they go on is the genuine love the artists had in recreating the 1960's-style artwork and cover art found within this graphic novel. Truly, each page was like walking down memory lane, as I grew up with Archie and Casper and comics that looked just like these. From there, while the book is okay in its sarcastic, definitely-for-adults humor, this reviewer just didn't find the situations or jokes all that funny after awhile, even as a lot of potential existed in the fact that these goofballs find a way to louse up nearly everything they do. Not a bad book by any means, just not as funny as I'd hoped; though each mission's tale was super-short, I still found my attention wandering from time to time, and found myself only chuckling when I wanted to (sometimes at least) laugh out loud.  3/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE LITTLE FIR TREE - Christopher Corr

Corr's "modern retelling" of the famous classic Hans Christian Andersen tale about a beautiful little fir tree who always longs to break free of his forest and see the world is a bit of an odd jumble of trying to put a positive spin on what is ultimately a slightly unsettling message. Here, a young fir tree, ever since he (she?) was just a little tree among much bigger trees and always never chosen as a family's Christmas tree because he was too small, has only wanted to be one of the chosen ones, and see what the world is like beyond his forest. Finally, once fully-grown himself, the tree gets his wish and is cut down and taken by a family who then set him up in their home and decorate him on Christmas Eve, and the tree is immeasurably happy. But we know what happens to live Christmas trees once the holiday is passed, and while author/illustrator Corr does his best to put a positive spin to the story, the bottom line is obvious upfront and logic never comes into play as the tree continues to live on for some time, even after being cut down and honored for the holiday. Corr's folk art-style illustrations are at once charming yet feel a bit "off" at times, and once finishing this short book for kids I immediately went back and read it again, only to ask myself Is this really something younger kids would get, much less enjoy? Even to this adult, the story and illustrations come off a bit unsettling in the end.  2/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER (THE GRAPHIC NOVEL) - Stuart Moore (writer), Chris Wildgoose (illustrator):

In this entertaining adaptation of the Marie Lu novel, a young Bruce Wayne - literally traveling home on the evening of his eighteenth birthday - has a brush with the newest crime syndicate to terrorize Gotham City: the Nightwalkers, a gang of avenging vigilantes who are murdering some of Gotham's richest citizens after relieving them of their fortunes. Bruce's rash decision to try and stop a particularly daring Nightwalkers crime lands him in trouble with the law, and from there to a stint of community service if he's to avoid trouble with the cops. To make an example of the newly-minted millionaire head of Wayne Enterprises, the cops make Bruce serve his sentence at none other than Arkham Asylum, where Bruce finds himself drawn to Nightwalker member Madeleine Wallace - a heartless murderer with her own plans for Bruce Wayne, even as he tries to use her to break up the Nightwalkers gang for good, though it becomes clear pretty quickly that it's up in the air who is using who. Though a bit slow in spots (while still building up to a more-than-satisfying climax), I genuinely liked the story here; another bit of character background for Bruce Wayne, pre-Batman, that develops and spotlights the personality that would become the Dark Knight. Madeleine Wallace got on my nerves from time to time, yet I think she was supposed to; for most of the graphic novel she seems always two steps ahead of both Bruce and the cops, which is quite vexing for Wayne himself. Artist Chris Wildgoose's depiction of Gotham and young Wayne are spot-on and dark in tone, though I would have liked a bit more variety of color in the book; that said, having read this first I am more than anxious to dive into Marie Lu's novel now, while the graphic novel itself is definitely a worthy addition to the story of Bruce Wayne's road to becoming Gotham's only hope of redemption.  4/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

October Wrap-Up: The End of the Road?

October. Good God, when I thought things couldn't get worse in the personal life: tah-DAH! Certainly enough to ruin  my October birthday, but also even trashing Halloween (my second-favorite holiday) in my heart. Maybe that's why I focused on some more Christmassy titles in October.

(I was also without wi-fi through the majority of October, which gave me more time to read, and even write some reviews and get them up; please scroll down, if interested).

Cozy mysteries, graphic novels, and kids books dominated. Also tried to get up to date with some ARCs I was overdue in reading, and to my happy surprise discovered a few of my favorites of the month (maybe even year) that way (click any image to enlarge). 

Even upped the film watching to three for this month. Talk about variety there though, woof.

Please keep checking back, but just a head's up: this may be my last blog post. Without going into detail, I can't say when or even if I will be back. Should that happen - if this is the end of my road - my heartfelt thanks to all who've ever read a post here, or followed me via email, or made a comment. Ya made this goofball feel important. Much love.

Reading: BLACK CANARY: IGNITE - Meg Cabot (writer), Cara McGee (illustrator)

Bestselling author Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries) offers up her first graphic novel via DC Zoom, telling the story of thirteen-year student Dinah Lance whose interests are as diverse as winning the battle of the bands contest at school and following her Gotham City cop father into the business of taking down bad guys. Dinah's dad forbids the latter and - based on Dinah's voice - even seriously questions her playing in the all-girl band with her best friends. But when Dinah finds her voice - her true voice, which can shatter glass and bend steel and short out electricity - she soon discovers a legacy and power she never knew she had; one that could potentially set her long-term career goal of being a crime fighter into motion, even as the young girl finds herself in trouble at school when she finds herself unable to control her talent ... and is stalked by a figure in black with ties to her mother and "the family secret". This origin story for Black Canary, well-illustrated (if a little "cartoon-y" for me) by the super-talented Cara McGee, paints a realistic portrait of a typical thirteen-year-old full of drama and big dreams and bullheaded determination. Dinah is likable, funny, loyal to her friends - even funny, in her initial reaction to having what she thinks is the most boring superpower ever. The relationship with Dinah and her friends feels right as well, and especially good is the bond between Dinah and her mother, the original Black Canary who ultimately will or will not "pass the mantle" down to her daughter. But while I enjoyed Black Canary: Ignite and it's characters, plot and art, the book always felt very "DC Lite" for me; I never felt bonded with any of the characters on a level that drew me fully into the story. And having had that very experience in a number of graphic novels, this was just the tiniest bit of a letdown for me.  3.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: GRETA AND THE GIANTS - Zo Tucker (writer), Zoe Persico (illustrator)

"And a little child shall lead them." Not a Bible quote from this picture book spotlighting Nobel Prize nominee Greta Thunberg, though it nonetheless fits her story. Thunberg is the Swedish teen who became an overnight source of adoration and inspiration when she basically (and very descriptively) told world leaders where to get off because they'd spent decades systematically destroying the environment, the planet, and everyone/everything living on it. This picture book colorfully spins a tale of Greta, who lives in a forest that one day is besieged by "Giants" who unthinkingly and (seemingly) without thought begin plummeting the home of her animals friends of trees, water and other resources for their own gain. Greta comes up with a plan to try and save the day, and the end of the book even has helpful resources for kids wanting to learn more about saving the planet, and helping Greta in her fight. The book is great, beautifully done and with lively art to keep kids interested; my only issue with it is a mild one, in that even before Greta young activists from all over the world - Nigeria, the Amazon, South America, and more - have been stepping up and fighting back to save their world, knowing full well that today's crop of adults have ruined it so it's up to future generations to fix. Sadly, not one of them are mentioned or highlighted in this story, even as back-up to Greta's fight, so for me the book came across a bit like yet another story of how the white child/person is the one to set the tone as the leader, doing it first and best to show others the way - when in reality that's just not true. At best, you see people of color here in a few of the kids who come to take up the fight with Greta. Again, not so much a complaint, as something that just felt off to me while reading it. As if the story wasn't so much about the little child shall lead them as it was the little white child shall lead them. It just would have just been nice to see "reality" represented here a bit more, in what's otherwise a great, informative, maybe even life-changing addition to any child's picture book library.  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: ROWDY RANDY - Casey Rislov (writer), Zachary Pullen (illustrator)

Rowdy Randy is a colorful picture book depicting an average day in the Wild West through the eyes of a rather large, rambunctious female horsefly who lives to stir up trouble. In beautiful, gallery-worthy, fully-painted illustrations, we follow Randy as she buzzes the cows and bulls and other animals, even narrowly missing some fatal blowback from an angry fish and nest of rattlesnakes less than thrilled with her attention. Personal highlight: Randy bronco-busting a cranky lizard, which kids should love. While the story seems a bit light even for a picture book (and seemingly - of all things - ends on a cliffhanger no less), Randy is the rootinest-tootinest horsefly in the west, and the lively artwork alone vividly brings her day to life.  3.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: NANCY DREW & THE HARDY BOYS: THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING ADULTS - Scott Bryan Wilson (writer), Bob Solanovicz (illustrator)

If you grew up watching animated TV series from the 1990's to the present, the "Saturday morning cartoon"-style artwork of this mashup of a graphic novel will appeal to the eye. Indeed, some of the images/art could be screen-shot from TV. If you grew up, however, reading and loving the classic Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys mystery novels, this volume may we be a huge let-down. Here, Nancy's the new gal at Bayport High where - soon after meeting the "great detectives" Frank and Joe Hardy - finds herself pulled into a mystery with the guys when all the adults in town disappear on the eve of a major science fair/contest Bayport has with its rival school. Could there be a connection? The road to finding out is a rather silly one, Frank and Joe Hardy (especially Joe) often doing or saying something that makes neither of them come off too bright - even to the boys physically fighting in a Wile E. Coyote ball of dust whenever Frank teasingly calls Joe "Joseph". Nancy comes across as the smart (mature) one, though all do contribute to solving the mystery ... but sadly, the characters you loved from the original novels are just dumbed-down and unrecognizable here. The story - even book - is fine on its own, and would have actually worked better with original characters in the leads. As a vehicle for iconic characters like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, it simply falls flat on the page.  2/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: BURY THE LEDE - Gaby Dunn (writer), Claire Roe (illustrator), Miguel Muerto (colorist)

One of the more gratifying, intelligent and absorbing graphic novels I've read in years, Bury the Lede centers around Madison Jackson, a young woman who's just landed a prime interning position at The  Boston Lede, the most prestigious newspaper in town. Soon after she starts at the paper, a brutal murder rocks Boston when beautiful celebrity socialite Dahlia Kennedy is arrested for the heinously brutal hanging and stabbing death of her husband. The couple's young son has also vanished without a trace - and Dahlia Kennedy, shocking the world, confesses to both crimes, claiming to have also murdered her son and disposing of his body! Dahlia refuses all requests to talk with the many reporters practically climbing over each other to get her full story ... except Melody Jackson, who the Lede's ace reporter sends in on a whim, figuring the young intern could do no harm. And thus begins a fascinating, can't-tell-who's-lying-and-who's-not mindgame that Dahlia seems determined to play, Melody slowly rethinking the case and unsure if anything is at it seems. It's a genuine cat-and-mouse of each woman thinking she's playing the other, beautifully written onto the page by Gaby Dunn; so much so, often reading this graphic novel feels more like reading a fully-formed, structured novel (though the dark, moody artwork and murky colors help to set the entire mood of this bizarre game between the two women). Definitely for "mature audiences" due to its depiction (and descriptions) of graphic violence, Bury the Lede is brilliantly-written and stylistically impressive, gruesome and raw as whatever is going on between Madison and Dahlia themselves. Here's hoping I can find more graphic novels like it.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE AMAZING LIFE OF AZALEAH LANE - Nikki Shannon Smith (writer), Mari Lobo (illustrator)

When Washington D.C. third-grader Azaleah Lane takes a field trip with her class to the National Zoo, the little girl has such a great time, later she readily jumps at the chance to make a diorama of one of the endangered species her class saw, for extra credit at school. Setting her entire weekend aside to craft her project so she can knock the socks off her teacher and principal, Azaleah's plans hit a snag when her little sister's favorite stuffed animal, comes up missing. As an older sister with a talent for solving mysteries - with her parents busy at their prospective careers, and Azaleah's own older sister too busy rehearsing for her leading role in the school musical - Azaleah has no choice but to investigate, determined to solve the mystery and still finish her diorama ... all by Monday! This first-in-a-series chapter book by the bestselling #OwnVoices writer Nikki Shannon Smith captures well the frustrations of being a middle child - putting up with your younger sibling while rolling your eyes at the antics of your older, supposedly more mature sister. Though I found Azaleah and her family a bit too picture-perfect on the page, it didn't detract from my enjoying the book, which features bright, colorful illustrations and even a good mystery that should keep young readers guessing.  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: HERE COMES SANTA PAWS - Laurien Berenson

Book 24 in the long-running Melanie Travis cozy mystery series is a slim, quick Christmas-time mystery that finds wife/mother/poodle enthusiast Melanie literally called in to help when her close friend Claire finds a dead body. In the rundown gatehouse of an even more rundown estate, Claire's personal shopper client Lila Moran lies dead in her living room, a bullet in her chest. Right away, even during the police's questioning of her friend, Melanie suspects Claire isn't being entirely forthcoming ... and sure enough, soon Claire admits to Melanie that a background check she did on Lila revealed the woman had no history going more than five years back. Melanie sets out to get to the bottom of the mystery, digging into Lila's past even as she puts herself into danger via a killer ready to strike again if needed, in a mystery that, while definitely set in an around Christmastime, never feels 100% fully-rooted in the holiday season; the mystery simply takes place during the holidays, but in no way feels tied into it (also the lack of any snow, oddly enough, felt a bit disconnected from wintertime). That said, one think I truly appreciated, as a new reader to both Berenson and Travis, was Berenson's skilled economy of words that immediately introduced the murder in the story and kept things moving without lapsed for long exposition or description. Melanie's questioning of one suspect leads her to another, and she simply follows the trail, everything tied up neatly and quickly even once the killer was exposed. Even though I guessed who that killer was from the character's introduction on  the page, it never felt like a letdown even when I was proven correct, the book is that smoothly written and takes you on the ride to solve the puzzle with Melanie so easily. Maybe a longer novel would have benefited the mystery more, via the addition of other suspects or a few red herrings (also, the ending was a bit anti-climactic), but for a short,fluffy-light Christmas cozy Berenson delivers exactly that, via her "get in, tell your story, get out" writing style that works well here. Also worth mentioning is the way the author, even through her economy of words, still in so short a novel makes Melanie and Aunt Peg and all the other characters so real on the page. Kudos for that alone!  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from  NetGalley and the publisher,  in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: HARLEY QUINN: BREAKING GLASS - Mariko Tamaki (writer), Steve Pugh (illustrator)

While not exactly the characters or background stories I am accustomed to with three such iconic characters from the DC canon, if taken on its own merits that is a LOT to love about Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass, which opens when a 15-year-old Harleen Quinn is sent to Gotham City by her mother to live. In the big bad city Harleen is befriended by the unlikely Mama, a chubby drag queen who ultimately takes the girl under her wing, Harleen adoring her as a surrogate mom as she also bonds with the other drag queens at Mama's club. It's through these new friends, as well as the meeting of a girl named Ivy at school, that Harley comes to learn about the serious divisions between the rich and the poor in Gotham - the rich fully embodied by the evil, selfish, hideously-rich Kane family (the heir of which, teenager John Kane, also taking great pains to taunt Ivy and Harleen in school), who seem determined to own the city, and to and including their efforts at gentrification that could destroy both Ivy's family and Mama's livelihood in almost a single blow ... until Harleen meets yet another new Gothamite friend in the form of a young man wearing a mask he refuses to take off, who appears to want to topple Gotham's elite even at the fire and brimstone-like destruction of the city itself. A man who just calls himself "Joker". While as far as I can tell these are all basically different takes on each character (Ivy a hardcore activist and champion of human rights, Harleen still "out there" but very toned-down/coming across more like a vigilante hero here than an arch-criminal, and - well, let's not get into The Joker), what makes this graphic novel such an engrossing read is how writer Mariko Tamaki has caught the basic personalities of each character so perfectly, each so readily recognizable that you have no problem following any of them onto these strange, altered paths. All of this is only enhanced by Steve Pugh's art, often so reflective of Harleen's childlike mentality or Joker's frenetic insanity or Ivy as the eye of the storm she creates herself, as the situation warrants (even his use of color is a spot-on at creating mood).  I don't know if I can handle a Harley Quinn who almost seems like "the goody guy" in the story, but reading this knowing what and who her character becomes later on poses some fascinating questions about how in the world she gets there.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER - Jen Wang

In 19th-century Paris (or thereabouts), a poor but talented seamstress/dressmaker gets the opportunity to design a gown for a client that captures both the imagination of Paris fashionistas and the ire of the Paris upper-class. So much so, when the young designer is soon after contacted at her job to possibly work for royalty, she finds herself whisked off where indeed she meets none other than Prince Sebastian of Belgium himself. The young (16) prince is on an extended visit to Paris with his parents, in order for them to find Sebastian a suitable bride to marry, where Sebastian managed to see Frances's controversial gown featured in the local press and wants her to be his personal designer ... not of suits and royal princely finery, but of beautiful gowns and dresses, as Prince Sebastian finally confesses to Frances - that he often sneaks out of the palace at night dressed as his alter-ego Lady Chrystallia, a woman who seems to have at least three times the courage, energy, and passion for life that Sebastian feels when in men's clothing. Frances, out of the good nature of her heart while also understanding what being the prince's personal seamstress could do for her career in fashion, commits to Sebastian's secret, and over the next few months helps to turn Lady Chrystallia into something of a local celebrity via her innovative designs, as well as Sebastian's coming to terms with embracing his gender-fluid lifestyle at last. This is such a brilliant graphic novel, light on dialogue as in many cases author/artist Jen Wang can compact so much emotion into just a character's look or gesture on the page, making nearly every panel have an impact. Sebastian and Frances form a bond of friendship palpable on the page, and even as you feel that things are going to blow up (and open up) sooner or later, you feel for both of these characters, greatly, to come through it all okay. Anxious as heck to figure out where Wang was going with their story (and what the heck would happen when/if Sebastian's secret were discovered) - how many stereotypical endings or over-done tropes she could avoid, in order to bring this to the satisfying conclusion that her richly-drawn/lovable characters deserved - I plowed through the last third of the book fairly holding my breath the entire time. Then I read that last third again. It really is that good; a great story that plays fair with its characters and their story right up to the end, while hitting home some important, very valid points about friendship, loyalty, love, and acceptance. So great.  4.5/5 stars

Reading: THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK (80TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) - Carolyn Keene

Growing up weaned on Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys set the stage for my falling in love with Agatha Christie at age twelve, as well as my lifelong infatuation with mystery novels. So much so, upon hearing this was the 80th anniversary of Nancy Drew, I wanted to get back to my roots with my favorite gal detective with a re-read of The Secret of the Old Clock for maybe the first time since reading it originally, as a kid, decades ago. What a joy this was, I loved the book - the experience even more - and if nothing else was happily reminded that, while the stories and characters in Carolyn Keene's iconic novels may feel a bit corny and dated by today's standards, all the Nancy updates and remakes that have come since, bearing the original character (and I am talking whether in book, film, or television form) are fairly ka-ka by comparison. In book one of the original, wonderful series, Nancy sets about solving the mystery of what happened to what may well be a missing will, written by the elderly, eccentric Josiah Crowley who promised those he cared for that they'd be taken care of upon his death ... only to have him pass, and have the last family he lived with - the rich, affluent, vain, and very disliked Tophams - produce a will naming them as the only beneficiary. Knowing in her gut that something isn't right. with her father's guidance Nancy starts her own investigation, soon running into a dangerous band of house thieves in her quest to find the hidden document (not to mention the greedy Tophams themselves), at times even putting herself in danger to get to the truth, as Nancy always does. What I wasn't expecting, though - didn't realize until reading this - was the tightness of the prose; not a word is wasted here, in a novel that keeps you reading, the anticipation mounting without a beat as Nancy methodically asks questions and follows the clues, the action moving along swiftly right up until the book's satisfying conclusion; truly, a lot of mystery writers today could well adapt this trait, and tighten up their plots instead of meandering at times on the page. Before starting, I kind of assumed this would be a great, nostalgic trip down memory lane; never did I realize reading this fast-paced, sparely-written mystery would make me a Nancy Drew fan all over again.  4.5/5 stars

Reading: A CUP OF HOLIDAY FEAR - Ellie Alexander

The 10th (though first for me) Bakeshop Mystery gets the Christmas-obsessed mountain town of Ashland, Oregon so meticulously and perfectly described, you should be able to feel the snow in the air and Christmas lights of every color twinkling around you. Similarly, the book's intro to Torte - the bakeshop itself centered in the town plaza across from the local police station and also dolled up for Christmas - brings to full life the smells and tastes and warmth of the coziest bakeshop in the west, co-run and -owned by Jules Capshaw, who also happens to have a nose for solving mysteries. As a bonus to their employees, Jules and her partner/mother have treated their staff, for Christmas, to the Dickens Feast at the local Winchester Inn on the hill, where a six-course period-correct meal will be served by the likes of Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley as live carolers sing, in a hotel redecorated in the same era for the occasion (though the book takes awhile to get the reader to that night, which only happens when page after page of description, exposition, and a lot of baking/cooking have gone by). The first quarter of the book paints a perfect, detailed picture of Ashland at Christmastime that you could almost live in - but the problem, for me, was that the lengthy descriptions never stopped. By the time the murder occurs the author has thrown enough at you, you aren't a hundred percent sure who the victim will be (kudos for that) until the person is found dead ... but that's more than a third of the way into the novel, and for me things went a little downhill from there. Readers get yet more detailed descriptions of baking and recipes, while something as important as any clues from the crime scene or body are never covered or cared enough about to be mentioned (indeed, no forensics team even appears to show up; none are mentioned and no such evidence is ever discussed - instead the story coming off like the coroner just came to collect the body, and left again as the cops started asking questions and investigating). Character development of any depth is relegated mostly to Jules or the ongoing cast of characters, even the mystery itself really taking a backseat to the town, its residents, and the season (truly, a romance plot could have replaced the mystery in this book without extensive rewrites). And, of course, the baking. Even worse (MILD SPOILER AHEAD; nothing ruined but be alert!) is the unforgivable sin this book makes of having its killer nabbed "off-screen"; in other words, instead of the murderer's apprehension in the story, in real-time, readers learn the person's fate the same way the main character does - when someone tells her. This robs the reader of all that time and emotional investment in all the pages that came before, only to not actually see justice done on the page (the killer's motive? Also one of the weakest I've ever read, in over four decades of reading mysteries). Very conflicted about this one, a well-written Christmas-themed mystery that works on some levels but definitely not as a mystery. Can't help but feel that a romance subplot would have fit with the rest of the book's tone and worked a lot better.  2/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: BACK TO CHRISTMAS - Dennis Canfield

A very forgiving Santa has shaken things up at the North Pole, virtually eradicating his "Naughty" list by believing that - regardless of their mistakes and weaknesses - people are generally good at heart. This couldn't be worse news for Marmel, Santa's Head Labeling Elf, who doesn't want to lose his job - so is overjoyed when he discovers the Krumwerth family. The Krumwerths, who used to be very loving and do things together as a family unit, have since somehow lost their way, and now rarely communicate with each other, choosing to spend their time glued to phone or game or television screens. Only problem: this will be the Krumwerths third year in a row on the Naughty list - and once you've hit that third time, you're Naughty for good and lose a lot more than presents. It's Marmel's job to warn the family that they have very little time to perform the tasks to get them off the list before sundown on Christmas Day, and he chooses to share this info with 12-year-old Amanda Krumwerth, who - even once she believes him - has no idea how to get her family back. Worse, when Marmel learns his own fate might be tied in with the Krumwerths' dire straits, he has no choice but to try and help correct his own huge mistake ... but can he, even with the help of Santa's younger brother, Reverse Claus, and a group of disheveled flying penguins, find the spirit of Christmas either in himself or a jaded, technology-addicted family? This book is fantastic; lively and funny and with enough heart to induce a tear or two in the end. Sentimental but not sticky, easily enjoyable by kids from eight to eighty-eight, and deserving of its own place alongside your favorite Christmas stories on the bookshelf.  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

September Wrap-Up: Reading Light, Life Heavy

Rarely have I been so glad to have a month over, but September was it. It's difficult to suddenly learn, after nearly two years, that you live with someone with a mental illness; to have that person's newly-acquired second personality actually drive you out of your home is a different story. Just a couple days left until freedom, and may I never, ever have another Jekyll/Hyde roommate like this one again!

Tensions have been so tight the last few weeks, even finding the concentration to read was often tough, so while I am in the middle of about four books right now that I'd hoped to finish in September (now pushed to October, hopefully), instead the month ended up devoted to lighter fair in the reading department; more than a couple graphic novels and children's books on this list. The quality? A mixed bag - in particular one I'd really been looking forward to reading that, ultimately, disappointed (never trust the hype, only your own instincts and tastes)! But definitely some good quality in this group, too (a children's book, in particular, that genuinely blew me away)!

Reviews to come - PROMISE! Just gotta get this move out of the way. October is already starting off better, having just finished my first Christmas-themed book of the year. And quite a good one it was, too.

Amazing, what differences just a month can make. No more like September, hopefully, for awhile. Thank God for books, they keep me sane. Even the one film I watched in September (saw it on the 1st, thinking I was on my way to a better movie month!) was pretty freaking awesome; I don't usually watch a lot of action films, but this series just gets better and better.

Anyway, will let you go. You should be reading, anyway. Please check back for reviews, or scroll down a bit on the left to subscribe for updates! As always, any image here can be clicked on to enlarge, if need be.

October! Spooky month! Hopefully you are getting some awesome Halloween-y type books read while cowering under the covers with a flashlight, ignoring that crack in your closet door that seems to grow wider and wider in the dark. Happy Reading!

Reading: WONTON TERROR - Vivien Chien

Lana Lee seems to be settling into her role as manager of her family's Ho-Lee Noodle House, as well as into the role of girlfriend to her cop boyfriend Adam Trudeau, as the summer season in Cleveland begins with the opening of the night market - a weekly festival of food and fun put on by local merchants and musicians, where customers can stroll past food trucks or tents set up by retailers to get their grub on and sample local wares, all while listening to home-based music. But among setting up the noodle shop's tent with friend and cook Peter, Lana notices throughout the night that Ronnie Chow, owner of the Wonton on Wheels food truck down the way, seems to be arguing or picking a fight with first his wife and then his adult son, prior to opening for business. Later, when the Wonton on Wheels truck explodes, killing the cranky owner who was alone in it at the time, Lana senses immediately that something isn't right within the Chow family (Was wife Sandra deliberately away from the truck when it exploded? Why did son Calvin hurry from the night market with his Uncle Gene just prior to the explosion?), and takes it upon herself to start inquiring into the accident/potential murder ... putting herself into the sites of a killer adept at ending lives with a bang. Though book #4, this was my introduction to the Noodle Shop cozy mystery series, and I really loved it; being my first, I wasn't sure who the recurring versus new characters were, yet all seemed to come 100% to life on the page, each with his or her own voice. Also wonderfully gratifying was to find a cozy series with a predominantly Asian cast of characters - from Lana to her family and friends, to co-workers and other business owners at Asian Village plaza and beyond - that added real depth to the book as subplots and Lana's interactions with family and friends provided peeks into a culture rarely even mentioned in mysteries (unless accompanied by tropes where everything comes off "mysterious" or "exotic"), let alone cozies. You never felt you were reading of Asian characters but of characters - people - who just happened to be Asian, and that was terrific. Chien's writing style is also so fluid and laidback, bringing you into the restaurant or the apartment Lana shares with her roommate Meagan (just two examples) in a way that makes you feel like you belong there; it's a very visual, easy-to-read style that makes the book play like an film in your mind, complete with comic touches. The mystery itself was solid; for a hot minute I thought Lana almost too focused on one particular person as the culprit, but then in the end Lana herself addresses that - and the solution of the murder, while you may get there just before Lana does, makes for no less an impact on the book's suspenseful resolution. Lana Lee and Company have a new fan in me, can't wait to catch up with the series and my only regret is that I can't go to Cleveland right now and hug Kikko or hang out with the Mahjong Matrons for breakfast; that's how real the characters were, at least to me. 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from the author and publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

August Wrap-Up: Raider of Some Nearly-Lost ARCs!

First of all, the important stuff: THANK YOU! A month ago I was looking forward to breaking 10K in pageviews, now heading into September this blog stands at nearly 11,000 pageviews already! So, so grateful, and thanks to all who have come by; please visit again and again, and sign up for email alerts (scroll down a bit on the left, you'll see it) to be made aware of new posts!

Again - thank you. Hopefully you'll stick with me as the blog continues to grow.

August ended up being a slight catch-up, particularly for graphic novels, on just some of the advanced reader's copies (ARCs) I had to get back to the publishers about, via a read and review, either on or close to publication date (note: you'll still find some reviews missing from July and August; those weren't ARCs, and reviews will be filled in sometime during September). The graphic novels really went the extreme from bad to good and back, but also discovering Ruth Ware for the first time and finally starting V.M. Burns's Dog Club cozy mystery series rounded things out nicely! Again, please check for reviews here, anything missing will be popping up before too long - and as always, click on any image here to enlarge, should you be unable to clearly see any of the books.

The film buff in me? Not so happy. August also saw some transitions in my personal life, including a new job, so - and I can't believe this - I watched NO new films for the month (and still have to get up the review for Slice from July, not to mention other film reviews from, gulp, JUNE that haven't been posted yet!). Seriously ashamed of myself and this trend will stop in September; I love movies too much to go even a month without seeing one.

Meanwhile, wherever and whoever you are, I hope your reading month of September sees you enjoying some great books, as well as some good films that keep you munching popcorn in the dark. Again, thanks for getting me up to nearly 11K, and please keep checking back or following. Welcome September!