March / April 2025 Reads

 

March / April 2025 Book Reads

 

1.       Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

a.       Format: Hardcover Large Print

b.       Series: Nope

c.       Thoughts:  I’ve had this author recommended to me before but this is my first book.  It just so happened to be in the new books area of the library and due to sitting on it for a bit, well I picked it back up to see if I still wanted to read it since it was about to be overdue.  Well, I picked up the book and remembered WHY I got it from the library in the first place, amongst the hold stack I’d already been retrieving that day.  It’s quite easy to fall into this second-chance romance and I can see there is something about this author’s writing that drew me in… All this is to say I will likely pickup the other two books I’d been recommended in the past at some point this year.  If you’re a fan of the second-chance romance, long time friends to lovers type trope, this is a quick fun read.

2.       A Kingdom of Venom and Vows by Holly Renee

a.       Format: Paperback

b.       Series: Yep

c.       Thoughts:  I struggled… March was rough reading wise in general but this...  At some point I skimmed.  This is my second series by this author and have observed a pattern.  We all start somewhere, that there is a choice in what we put out and there is an opportunity for learning. That said there is one book left in this series and one left in the other.

3.       Fearless by Lauren Roberts

a.       Format: Audiobook

b.       Series: Yep

c.       Thoughts:  Overall, I enjoyed the series… I did ugly cry suspecting a certain character would die and they did.  There was a scene or two I was confused by the happenings of it but it was a satisfactory ending.  Still makes me wonder if I should go back and finish the Red Queen series…

4.       The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

a.       Format: Hardcover & Audiobook

b.       Series: Nope

c.       Thoughts:  This book ranged across different topics I felt like; stories and antidotes given to bring it full circle.  I admit there were some things that resonated and other points that makes me question what I picked up.  I do remember feeling at some point I’d have to revisit this book again.  But it was this book that had me looking into books on Palestine and understanding the various sides of what is happening when it comes to these holy nations/sacred lands.  Between reading this book and the John Oliver episode on the West Banks, there is much to understand and I can’t help but think about the importance of narrative, whose telling it, and the motives that could be at play. 

5.       The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

a.       Format: Hardcover

b.       Series: Sort Of

c.       Thoughts:  This was a very quick read.  I LOVED the illustrations and was inspired by them as it relates to some of the art I’ve been working on for my next illustrated ACB.  It also is a reminder that I plan to read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell one of these days. 

Books on deck for May include –

-          Finishing Sunrise at the Reaping

-          Finishing My Life as Myself

-          Finishing The Body Keeps the Score

My official May read is A Curse Carved in Bone

 

 

"Dead Presidents" Film Thoughts

     

Language: English

1995

Running time: 1hr 59min

From IMDb:

A Vietnam vet adjusts to life after the war while trying to support his family, but the chance of a better life may involve crime and bloodshed.

Dead Presidents (1995) - IMDb

Quote:

Delilah:  "It's not your fault you've been brainwashed by America."

Thoughts:

I had always thought I'd seen this movie before but once it started, I quickly realized while being familiar/having heard of the title, I'd never actually watched it and it wasn't what I thought it was.  

I expected to see a movie about a heist, but the heist itself is about the last twenty or so minutes of the film.  Then I thought perhaps it was going to be a film laying the groundwork of how all those involved came to contribute to being part of the heist.  Which is sort of true but giving how the story starts and how it ends, perhaps it's a character study of how/what America takes.

Again, I found myself thinking back to a recent book I read given the effects of the war (during and after) for several of the characters but I also feel like this film was marketed one way intentionally.  This is a heist movie but not in relative sense usually think of heists movie.

There was also something heartbreaking, got the waterworks going, during one part of this movie. This Hughes brother film is worth watching with a friend in order to talk about afterwards.

Same same, but different

 

Was updating GR and saw "The Wind Weaver" I thought the cover familiar... LOL

/update

OH!  I am grateful for:

-water

-access to hot water

-my uncle

^_^

"Captain America: Brave New World" Film Thoughts

    

Language: English

2025

Running time: 1hr 58min

From IMDb:

Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, finds himself in the middle of an international incident and must discover the motive behind a nefarious global plan.

Captain America: Brave New World (2025) - IMDb

Quote:

Bucky:  "Steve gave them something to believe in, you give them something to aspire to."

Thoughts:

I didn't hate it.  And I feel that says something in of itself because I feel cinema was inundated with superhero movies.  I realized I too was hitting a bit of a wall when there were ones coming out and t thought I'd go to the movies to see them only to not see them.  

In this case, I hadn't intended to go see this whatsoever.  But I'm glad we did.  Everyone enjoyed it, I enjoyed the scene between Sam and Bucky as well as like this go around might be set up better(?)... like more planning/thought went into this round of Marvel and there are some intentions despite having to make some changes with casting in the overall universe.  Not that I'm the authority on Marvel, just know enough to be dangerous ^_^

The one takeaway I'll say is that the film did not shy away, let alone the character of Sam, of feeling the weight/pressure of the comparison.  It's thrown in his face, it's in his own mind and there can be something maddening when you think about times you've set yourself up for that kind of failure.  There are ways to elevate. that a predecessor or even you can't recognize, it's just one of those leaps of faiths you step into, bit by bit.  

There's also the mystery of Celestial Island, that if Marvel does it right, can probably keep evasive for it, for a bit, maybe 3 or 4 movies depending on how they drop them nugz.

Anway, this was worth the watch.  

"The Boy and the Heron" Film Thoughts

     

Language: Japanese/English

2023

Running time: 2hr 4min

From IMDb:

In the wake of his mother's death and his father's remarriage, a headstrong boy ventures into a dreamlike world shared by the living and the dead in search of his missing stepmother.

The Boy and the Heron (2023) - IMDb

Quote:

Noble Pelican:  "We did not choose this life..."

Thoughts:

I'm not going to lie.  The animation, especially that fire scene was FIYAH!  To be a Studio Ghibli artist....

But.  But the storyline.  This plot.  I-

This isn't my favorite Miyazaki film.  And I'm such a nerd.  Such a FAN of his work that I'm thinking maybe it's me... maybe I need to re-watch in Japanese.  Even though I had the subtitles on since it automatically was on the English speaking when it started.  I suspect I will watch it again before returning to the library but the story, so many threads, it felt all over the place, not really closing out but having something of an ending?  Maybe it's not complete because that new world is still being built, because Miyazaki, as I've come to understand that this is semi-autobiographical, is still with us and has not passed the baton on.

But when I think back to this film, the interaction of Mahito with the Noble Pelican, I felt in that little exchange, that here was the story...

I'm likely to rewatch this before I put this post up so if I do, there'll be an update below this...

"Won't You Be My Neighbor" Film Thoughts

    

Language: English

2018

Running time: 1hr 37min

From IMDb:

An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host Fred Rogers.

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018) - IMDb

Quote:

Fred Rogers:  "From the time you were very little, you've had people who have smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, loved you into loving... They've always cared about you beyond measure and have encouraged you to be true to the best within you.  Let's just take a moment of silence to think about those people now."

Thoughts:

Even rewatching that trailer tears me up.  And this quote at the end.  Yep, another water works showing but in my recent self-studies I am again reminded of what I've been reading, especially with the development of children and this inner connective tissue we share.  Unconditional love, if you believe all that you consume of the world via the media, seems to be rare.  In fact, I felt myself even falling to this with some recent family events but then I remembered there's a lot of hurt happening.  And hurt people hurt people.  As I type this, I even remember Pharrell Williams documentary (that had me reaching to pick up 'Won't You Be My Neighbor") had talked about what he came to realize about his song "Happy".  There are a lot of battles people have going on, both seen and unseen.  Though there was some controversary and I have my own thoughts, I recommend checking this out if only to remind yourself that there is kindness out there. We are all doing our best and our best will vary from day to day but each morning you wake up, every deep conscious breath you take is a moment to reset.

"Wild Robot" Film Thoughts

    

Language: English

2024

Running time: 1hr 42min

From IMDb:

After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island's animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.

The Wild Robot (2024) - IMDb

Quote:

Longneck:  "...Sometimes hearts have their own conversation."

Thoughts:

Watching this was not on my movie bingo card.  I had no intentions of seeing, didn't care to see it, only picked it up for someone else to watch and never even got around to letting them see it before I took it back to the library.  

That said, as much as I thought I was going to turn this one off, something about it kept me glued.  I hadn't even realized the actress who voiced Roz was until I went through the extras because yes, I indeed peeped out the extras for this film because there was something beautiful about the art and story and true to form, I did cry a bit.  I have to say I am curious about the book having seen some of the stills from the extras with the dvd.  But one of the funnier lines was when Roz was like "mothering isn't included in my programming" or something to that effect, lol.  There was cute/funny moments in the form Catherine O'Hara's character, Pinktail, as well as with Fink voiced by Pedro Pascal.

It's a family movie but like with most kid's movies, there's stuff baked in for adults too.  

WTW.

'EILEEN' Film Thoughts

   

Language: English

2023

Running time: 1hr 37min

From IMDb:

A young woman working at a boys' corrections facility becomes mesmerized by the new female psychologist, but their budding relationship soon takes a sinister turn.

Eileen (2023) - IMDb

Quote:

Rebecca:  "...some families are so sick, so twisted..."

Thoughts:

The trailer very effectively tells you a story and you'll think you know it, have seen it before, until you watch the movie and come to see you've watched an unraveling of sorts.  That it's a character study in one woman's isolation and her desire. Worth the watch. 

And in reading "The Body Keeps the Score", well, it demonstrates the prevalence of cycles, even though it's not the focal point, it makes me think of the book and say "... but it should be."

February 2025 Book Reads

February 2025 Book Reads

 

1.       Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

a.       Format: Paperback & Audiobook

b.       Series: Nope

c.       Thoughts:  I got a bunch of books from the library revolving around religion and mastery of self.. this has been one of them that I hadn’t finished reading before needing to return it.  It’s a small book but a slow read, slow in that pursuit of being mindful as I evaluated/self-evaluated/listened/re-listened/read/re-read to allow things to marinate; it’s not a shallow read and was apt timing.

2.       Into the Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah

a.       Format: Hardcover

b.       Series: Noperz

c.       Thoughts:  Short cute read, I especially liked the two snails handling of things.

3.       Powerful by Lauren Roberts

a.       Format:  Audiobook

b.       Series:  Yes, Powerless series, novella is 1.5

c.       Thoughts:  As one reviewer put it, you have to be a masochist to go into reading this book if you’ve read book 1 but you can also be a wishful, hopeful, personality as well thinking that some twist will be offered up.  If you are the former or the latter and if you might have felt a wee bit of emotion toward the scene at the end of the book 1, be warned, be prepared, have the Kleenex on deck and be gutted.  I very nearly rated this on GR thinking how choked up I got because the author doubled down because I don’t think I felt as nearly as much I originally did when reading Powerless.  Though this series, especially the first book, has been compared and held in the same breath as the ‘Red Queen’, this story, following Adena and Mak, actually reminded me of another series (a series that was also mentioned in the same breath when speaking of Book 1, ‘The Hunger Games’); when I first read Mockingjay and when this particular character is killed I thought ‘all of this had been for one thing…’.  And though Paedyn had not nominated herself as tribute or anything of the sort there was something in the nature of those scene, in the middle of the arena, and to read it from Adena’s POV that made me thinking of Mockingjay.  That said, this will likely not make sense unless you’ve read these books but to be sure, while it took me some time to get to this book, considering it's a novella, it was the ticking clock of the impending return to the library that made me sit my fanny down and consume it.  To which I entered a crying fit, fixed my face, only to have cry again, fix my face, and even after finishing, think about that scene again to feel the emotion swell once more.  Very effective.  The last book in the series is set to be released later this year. 

4.       The Answer Is…: Reflections On My Life by Alex Trebek

a.       Format:  Audiobook

b.       Series: n/a

c.       Thoughts:  I found myself jotting down little notes while reading this, mostly in the beginning and maybe a couple things later on that caught my attention or resonated.  Though this is not a full autobiography of delving deep into things, more like skimming the surfaces and hitting some spots, it felt nice to read.  A majority of the book is read by Ken Jennings and there was something about the audio in places that made me think it might’ve been recorded by Alex from home or some other place besides a studio.  It didn’t take away from the experience, in fact, it just cemented that sadness.  I feel we all have our Jeopardy stories and when you have that type of person, that iconic voice being invited into your home regularly, there is sure to be a note of connection.  Reading this then following up with Black Privilege felt synchronistic.  Even reading about Alex’s father just deciding at random to change course.  I did enjoy this read and it’s one I want to add to my shelf as an old friend to come back to.  Also, tears were had with this read.  This book came out short of Alex’s bday and later on that year he passed. 

5.       Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It by Charlamagne Tha God

a.       Format:  Audiobook

b.       Series: n/a

c.       Thoughts:  This book is broken down by eight principles while being an autobiography of Charlamagne’s path from the streets to the authentic radio personality he is today.  His ‘tell as I see it’ approach when being on-air is reflected throughout his trials and there was a term he used when talking about the roundabout ways life can lead you in a different direction but how it all is ultimately apart of your path (misdirection).  This too feels like another book friend worth having on the shelf.  There’s humor and truth but other thoughts that strike you while reading.  The ‘no weapon formed against me shall prosper’ mental, which is funny because part of the reason Alex Trebek ultimately decided on doing a memoir was to tell it in his own words, from sharing his diagnosis to the actual memoir.  In short, this book points out that infamous rap battle of Eminem in 8-mile, if you know you know, but it’s of the I’m about to rob you of the artillery you think you’ve amassed and do one better…  Worth rereading for sure. 

“The Body Keeps the Score” was one of the books I had intended as a February read.  I’m still reading through this and grappling with some of thoughts I’ve had while reading in parallel to observations I’ve made. 

Books on deck for March include-

1.       The Rivaled Crown by Holly Renee

2.       Caste: The Origins Of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

My official March reads are Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins and Skin by Ibi Zoboi. 

I’ve also been thinking about books I’d like to revisit/reread, My Sister, The Serial Killer being one… Not sure when though.