media update: February

Asterisks denote something I particularly enjoyed or found especially worthy of my time; double asterisks are reserved for the creme de la creme.  As always, your mileage may vary.

FICTION

1. Serpentine by Jonathan Kellerman:  LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis gets roped into investigating the decades-old murder of a millionaire's mother, and his friend Dr. Alex Delaware comes along for the ride.

2. Milk Fed** by Melissa Broder:  Rachel obsessively counts every calorie she consumes, chewing nicotine gum in between meals to dull her appetite.  The only indulgence she allows herself is an occasional cup of frozen yogurt, and one day, there's a different person working behind the counter.  Miriam is an Orthodox Jew, completely unapologetic about her size, and determined to make Rachel enjoy food again.  It sounds sappy, but trust me, it's not; it's funny, lushly erotic, and heartbreaking, and it will make you INSANELY hungry.  I know it's only February, but this is going to be the one to beat for my favorite novel of the year.

Side note:  This book is a literal example of "Don't judge a book by its cover", because the cover is one of the worst I've seen in a long time.

3. Beneath the Keep by Erika Johansen:  This is a prequel to the Tearling series, so I can't review it properly lest I spoil the other books.

4. A Simple Murder by Linda Castillo:  A collection of short stories featuring ex-Amish police chief Kate Burkholder.

5. Infinite Country by Patricia Engel:  After committing an act of violence, Talia is sent to a correctional facility in the mountains of Colombia, where she plans an escape so she can meet up with her father and leave for America.

6. Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic:  Roan is a teenage equestrian whose abusive father/coach is a former Olympic gold medalist in the sport.  When she falls in love with a classmate, she begins to think there may be a better life for her, but her father isn't willing to relinquish his hold on her.  (Content warning: incestuous sexual abuse) 

2021 total so far:10

NONFICTION

1. Want Me* by Tracy Clark-Flory:  The author grew up with conflicting messages about sex fed to her by the media, and when she got older, she decided to explore her own sexuality by writing about sex and desire.

2021 total so far: 1

GRAPHIC NOVELS/MANGA

Nothing this month.

2021 total so far:  1

MOVIES

1. Godzilla: King of the Monsters:  Some big muhfuh monsters stomp around our planet and wreak havoc.  Fortunately, Godzilla is THE (spoiler alert!) king of the monsters, and he's on our side.

2. Paddington*:  After an earthquake destroys his home, the titular bear travels from Peru to London in search of an explorer who once visited his family.  We weren't expecting to enjoy this as much as we did, but it was a delightful and charming surprise.

3. Freaky*:  A teenage girl and a serial killer accidentally swap bodies when he tries to kill her, and they have to figure out a way to fix things before the switch becomes permanent.  An enjoyable horror comedy with some innovative kills and a fun performance by Vince Vaughn.

4. Sky Ladder:  A documentary about Chinese artist Cai Guo-qiang and his quest to build the titular art piece.

2021 total so far:  9