media update: December

Goodbye to another dumpster fire of a year!  That makes three in a row, so hopefully 2022 is much better.

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. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham:  When Chloe was twelve years old, her father was arrested in connection with six missing girls.  Now a psychologist and happily engaged, she becomes concerned when it seems like someone is copying her father's crimes.  You will guess the twists if you've read a thriller in the last five years.

2. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry:  Poppy and Alex used to be best friends and traveling companions until an incident causes them to stop speaking.  After two years, Poppy finally reaches out to Alex, and they decide to take one last trip in hopes of mending their friendship.

3. Problem Child* by Victoria Helen Stone:  Jane is a sociopath who doesn't care about much except herself, but when her teenage niece goes missing, she's compelled to search for her.  Sequel to the also enjoyable Jane Doe.

4. One More Lie* by Amy Lloyd:  When she was young, Charlotte and her friend Sean committed a terrible crime.  After being released from prison, she's given a new identity and tries to forget her past, but then Sean tracks her down.

2021 total:  49 (last year: 44)

NONFICTION

1. Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones:  The author grew up in the Children of God cult, which was founded by her grandfather.  The cult taught faith in God, good works...and some other, much more sinister things, including "flirty fishing", in which female members seduced outsiders in order to get money or new followers, and the acceptance of sex with children.  The title and cover don't match the tone;  they seem a little, for lack of a better word, "breezy", and the book most definitely is not.  (Content warning:  child sexual abuse and sexual assault)

2. Tacky:  Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer* by Rax King:  A very funny appreciation of the joys of tacky things like Cheesecake Factory and Hot Topic.

3. Invisible Child* by Andrea Elliott:  For almost ten years, the author followed a young girl named Dasani as she moved in and out of New York City homeless shelters.  Absorbing.

2021 total:  17 (last year: also 17)

MANGA/GRAPHIC NOVELS

1. Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas, Louise Simonson, and Samantha Dodge

2021 total:  21 (last year: 40)

MOVIES

1. Jungle Cruise:  Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) hires a skipper (Dwayne Johnson) to take her down the Amazon in search of a mystical tree.  Fun, and Blunt and Johnson have good chemistry.

2. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins:  The backstory of G.I. Joe associate Snake Eyes (Henry Golding).  Some decent action, but overall not really worth the watch.

3. The Babysitter:  Cole stays up late to spy on his hot babysitter, but he isn't prepared for what he sees.  An entertaining horror comedy.

4. Venom: Let There Be Carnage:  Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and his alien symbiote Venom face off against a serial killer who's infected with a symbiote of his own.

5. Encanto*:  The Madrigal family lives in an enchanted house, and I'll leave it there to avoid spoilers for this (pun intended) enchanting and touching animated film.

Side note:  if you watch this on Disney+, be sure to check out Far from the Tree, the animated short that ran before Encanto in theaters.  Between the two, I was borderline dehydrated afterwards.

6. No Time to Die*:  James Bond (Daniel Craig) is enjoying retirement when he's called back into service.  A bit overlong, but a welcome return to form after the extremely underwhelming Spectre.

7. VelociPastor:  A priest turns into a dinosaur in this movie that would be abysmal without adult refreshments, but is enjoyable when properly buzzed.  I blame G's nephews for making us watch this.

2021 total:  67 (last year: 72)