media update: April

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. Insomnia by Emma Pinborough:  As Emma approaches her fortieth birthday, she starts suffering from severe insomnia, which would be sucky enough on its own, but her mother was driven insane by the same thing, and Emma fears she's next.

2. Alcestis* by Katharine Beutner:  A retelling of the story of Alcestis, the Greek mythological heroine who willingly went to the underworld in place of her husband even though he was fooling around with Apollo on the side.  Mythology reboots are popular right now, and I've enjoyed most of them; this was no exception.

3. Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel:  A sympathetic take on the story of Queen Kaikeyi, vilified in the Ramayana.

4. The Clockwork Girl* by Anna Mazzola:  In 17th century Paris, Madeleine leaves her mother's brothel to work as a chambermaid for a renowned clockmaker, hoping to win her freedom by giving information to a police detective.  But the clockmaker's creations seem a little too realistic, and Madeleine is afraid she's in over her head.  Beautifully detailed and engrossing.

5. I'll Be You* by Janelle Brown:  Sam and Elli are former child stars and identical twins who grew apart due to Sam's addiction issues and a terrible lapse in judgment.  When Elli disappears into a cult, leaving behind her toddler, Sam is determined to save her.

2022 TOTAL SO FAR:  18

NONFICTION

Nothing this month.

2022 TOTAL SO FAR:  3

MANGA/GRAPHIC NOVELS

1. Hell Phone by Benji Nate

2. Lorna by Benji Nate

3. Yona of the Dawn vols. 1-7 by Mizuho Kusanagi

4. The Art of Sushi by Franckie Alarcon

5. Go to Sleep (I Miss You) by Lucy Knisley

6. The Ghost in You by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

7. Go for It, Nakamura!* by Syundei

8. My Love Mix-Up! vols. 1-2 by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko

2022 TOTAL SO FAR:  16 graphic novels and 18 volumes of manga

MOVIES

1. Death on the Nile:  Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) investigates when a honeymoon party aboard a luxury ship turns deadly.  Somehow, despite reading a billion books in my lifetime, I haven't read any Agatha Christie, so I was refreshingly unspoiled.

2. Scream*:  Twenty-five years after a string of murders rocked the small town of Woodsboro, a new Ghostface has taken up the mantle.  I'm not sure why they gave it the same title as the original, but it's still lots of fun.

3. Hunt for the Wilderpeople*:  A young boy and his foster father go on the lam in the New Zealand wilderness in this sweet and funny flick.

4. The Night House:  A grieving widow (Rebecca Hall) begins to think her house is haunted in this extremely creepy movie.

5. Spider-Man:  No Way Home*:  Peter Parker (Tom Holland) tries to undo certain events, which leads to disastrous consequences.  Lacked some of the snap of the previous two movies, but it was still a lot of fun.

6. Choose Or Die:  If you want to watch this abysmal Netflix horror movie, go to sleep until the urge passes.

7. X*:  An adult film crew finds trouble on the Texas farm where they're shooting in this lovingly grimy, VERY gory grindhouse flick.  The horror is a bit of a slow burn, but once the action starts, it doesn't let up.  

8. The Batman*:  Batman (Robert Pattinson) tries to track down the Riddler, who's gleefully picking off political figures.  A very noir take with shades of Saw and Seven; I really dug it.

9. The Adam Project*:  A time traveler (Ryan Reynolds) meets up with his 12-year-old self in hopes of changing the future.  A fun (and funny) surprise.

2022 TOTAL SO FAR:  25