Reading: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - Jessica Gunderson (writer), Thais Damiso (illustrator)

This re-imagining of the classic tale Beauty and the Beast actually saddles our poor Beauty with a pair of mean and narcissistic sisters more fitting for Cinderella. Jealous of Beauty for her sweet nature and innocent beauty, these mean-spirited hussies are more than happy, when Beauty's father is captured by a great beast while trying to get a rose as a gift for her, to have their naive sister trade places with their father and be trapped forever in the Beast's castle. From there the story is a fairly straight up retelling of sorts, but the book's prose is too clipped, reading more like a Reader's Digest condensed version of the classic tale as the book leap-frog's past details and hitting only the main points of the story, before you suddenly find yourself at The End. Thais Damiso's illustrations are nice, breathing some life into both characters and setting, but ultimately the books feels as rushed as the story itself is depicted here, leaving this reader wishing for a more complete (satisfying) reading experience. (Available September 1)  2.5/5 stars

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

Reading: GOOD NEWS! IT'S CHRISTMAS! - Glenys Nellist (writer), Lizzie Walkley (illustrator)

Though I consider myself "spiritual" over religious, keeping an open mind all the while though never discussing the topic much (it's a no-win argument, and I seek to change no one's views in their faith, let alone my own), this board book for kids telling of Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Christ - told in verse, no less - just blew me away with the sheer beauty of its artwork (though the words are pretty great, too), and the simple and touching way it told its story. A quick read and terrific introduction to any faith-based household seeking to impart this story to their young children, Good News! It's Christmas! is a must for any kid's (or even adult's) library, and should easily become a yearly tradition to re-read every December. (NOTE: Please click on images below to enlarge.)  5/5 stars

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

Reading: DEKO-BOKO SUGAR DAYS - Atsuko Yusen

This sentimental (though not overly so) m/m romantic manga follows the story and friendship of a pair of Japanese high school students, the athletic/outgoing Yuujirou Matsukaze and his gentle, kind-hearted best friend Rui Hanamine, since the boys were very young and Yuuji rescued little Rui after he got stuck in a sewer grate. Now full-grown young men in high school, to Yuuji's surprise the more innocent, gentler Rui was hit with puberty hard, now towering over Yuuji in height and making his tougher and more aggressive friend feel intimidated ... especially when Yuuji admits to himself that he has more than friendship feelings for Rui, but assumes that even if such feelings were reciprocated the height difference would be a problem. Not that it matters, as he doesn't dare bring up his attraction to Rui, even though (at least to anyone reading this story) it's pretty obvious, if unstated, that Rui feels the same. To me what makes this stand out from so many similar m/m manga romances are the characters - truly, though a couple times he borders on a bit silly, Rui comes off as a young man anyone could easily fall for, and though it takes a bit longer to let Yuuji grow on you, readers will soon root for both boys and this relationship - but also I appreciated that this story avoided many of the tropes you find in similar manga (misunderstandings keeping the boys from being together, a third person trying to break them up, etc.), instead focusing on the guys and their friends and treating this male/male love story as if it were are everyday as any between a boy and a girl. Sweet, and even at its goofiest quite a charming friends-potentially more tale.  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 WORLD ACCORDING TO KEV, VOLUME 1 - WHO'S THE BOSS? - Chico (writer), Minte (illustrator)

With artwork and characters looking very much like the bumper-crop of kid's animated series you see on TV today (each character having the same - or nearly the same - basic facial/physical make-up, with surface changes like hair and clothing the only thing really separating one character from the next), a lot of kids will relate to Kev as he goes through his day dodging teachers, pining for the girl he likes, avoiding his mom's ever-watchful eye, and trying to be the leader to his group of friends - all in a day's work for this idealistic daydreamer who wishes the world were his. The formatting of this colorful book is kind of cool, each page devoted to another story/glimpse into Kev's life and self-absorbed personality, with some funny moments along the way. Overall, while okay - even good, and a fun read - there's really not a lot to make Kev and his world stand out among similar books and graphic novels featuring rowdy little boys who want to rule their world and bend adults to their will. Still worth a read, with a couple of the scenes actually laugh-out-loud worthy.  3/5 stars

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

BEST READS OF 2019

Perhaps a better title for this post would be "Favorite Reads of 2019" - but having read over 80 books of all varieties in 2019, I wanted to do a Top 10 post spotlighting my personal favorites of them all. Which means, of course, being me I couldn't quite narrow it down to ten ... so here are my TWELVE favorite books read in 2019 (in order read; click on image to enlarge). You truly would be doing yourself a service to read any one of them!

1) DRAMA by Raina Telgemeier

2) THE INFAMOUS RATSOS: PROJECT FLUFFY by Kara LaReau/Matt Myers

3) BLOOM by Kevin Panetta/Savanna Ganucheau

4) THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper

(favorite book read in 2019)

5) THE SILENT COMPANIONS by Laura Purcell

6) MY BROTHER'S HUSBAND (Volumes 1 & 2; Volume 1 pictured above) by Gengoroh Tagame (translated by Anne Ishii)

7) LOCK EVERY DOOR by Riley Sager

8) THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware

9) WONTON TERROR by Vivien Chien

10) THE CREAKERS by Tom Fletcher/Shane Devries

11) LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds

12) DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY by Julia Buckley

Some of the above titles are already reviewed on this blog, otherwise as always I am playing catch-up. Meanwhile, these twelve titles serve as a reminder of what a great year of reading it was, so hope you will check them out for yourself as well!

December Wrap-Up: Onto 2020 - PLEASE!

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted this sooner; what a few months it's been!  Don't know if I'd actually thought I already posted my December wrap-up or just forgot - or what! To be fair, five days in the hospital and recuperation time afterward (still not 100%) didn't help December to be a better month, but I am so deliriously happy 2019 is over I'll take it. 

Still, only FOUR books in December (albeit, the two novels being particularly terrific) is my lowest in some time; improvements to come, especially starting in February when things settle down better!

But films are always good for recuperation, and even I was surprised to find I'd watched TEN films in December alone; a lot for me, of late! This is part of what took time away from books as well, however, so will be seeking to strive a better balance in the coming months as well (although January's wrap-up will probably be much like this one).

Starting 2020 with (hopefully) better health and a new mindset. To anyone reading this, I hope your holidays were awesome ... but still won't compare to the brilliant 2020 you will have. God Bless, and thanks, as always, for reading! 

(Please check back for updated reviews - finally just got November books all updated, please scroll down a bit to read! - and remember you can always click any image on this blog to enlarge it, if you need to see better.)

Reading: OWL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - Donna Andrews

Though her name and titles had been on my radar for some time (the titles and covers, especially, are all soooo cool), this was my first shot reading a Meg Langslow mystery by Donna Andrews. Owl Be Home for Christmas is book 26 (whew!) in the series, and the Christmas theme was what drew me in right away. Here we follow Meg as she plays personal assistant to her grandfather, who is hosting a pre-Christmas conference on owls at the Caerphilly Inn - Owl Fest - which, unfortunately, is immediately besieged by a blizzard that socks not inches but feet of snow on the proceedings, making checking out impossible and frustrations run high. So much so, when the conference's resident know-it-all, Dr. Frogmore, drops dead during the end-of-conference dinner, nearly any of the other conference attendees could be guilty because the victim - while alive - had managed somehow to tick off every other owl enthusiast in the place. Working with limited resources with the inn snowed in, Meg and her father (another wannabe detective) put their heads together to solve the crime, particularly before the weather lets up and the killer might have a chance to get away. As previously stated, this highly popular cozy mystery series has been on my radar for years, and while I was glad to finally read an entry in it, at the same time I wonder if I should have started from the beginning instead - or at least with an earlier title. Here, the murder just seems to take place quite a ways into the book, even though you can see early on who the victim will be, and then once the murder does occur it's like the novel happens practically in real time; every, and I mean EVERY detail of the investigation laid out like a crime show on A&E Network. Similarly, while I have always found owls fascinating (a trait I inherited from my mother), here it felt like information overload, to where learning about owls seemed to far out shadow the mystery plot. Add to this what felt like characters that have tread this well-worn path too many times, and as mentioned I just wonder if maybe my introduction to this series would have been better off had I started from book one, instead of so far into the series.  3/5 stars

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

Reading: GOING UP! - Sherry J. Lee (writer), Charlene Chua (illustrator)

This sweet-natured picture book's premise is simple: it's Olive's birthday, and Olive lives way up on the ten floor of Sophie's apartment building. There's even a party to celebrate, and Sophie and her dad have made some cookies to take upstairs. Like most kids, Sophie loves elevators, and readily pushes the button for the tenth floor, but on the way the elevator stops at every floor heading up and a new neighbor - or set of neighbors - gets on, bearing treats or decorations for Olive's party as well! Soon the elevator goes from crowded to packed to overstuffed, nearly bursting with color and laughter (thanks to Charlene Chua's wonderful artwork) and people and pets, as everyone heads up to celebrate Olive's birthday - in the end, the reader finally finding out who the very popular Olive is. This charming and lively book should easily appeal to young kids, especially those living in bigger cities because Chua's illustrations beautifully reflect the multicultural diversity one can expect living in such an apartment building. Full of life, love and good food, Going Up! is a picture book that reflects a world where everyone belongs, and everyone is called a friend. (Note: the book itself is taller and narrower than your average picture book, giving even more of an impression of a rising elevator.) (Available April 7th)  4/5 stars

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

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.