media update: July

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. The Hidden One by Linda Castillo:  Police chief Kate Burkholder investigates when her first love is accused of murdering an Amish bishop.

2. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin:  Sadie and Max, friends since childhood, create a blockbuster video game that tests the limits of their relationship.  You don't necessarily need to know a lot about video games to read it, but you'll probably enjoy it much more if you do.  Also, be prepared to look up a LOT of words, and not just programming related ones either.  

3. One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke: Six women get together for a glamorous weekend away on a Greek island, but every one of them has a secret that threatens to turn deadly.

4. Just Like Home* by Sarah Gailey:  Despite being estranged for years, Vera returns home to care for her dying mother.  Her reluctance is compounded by the fact that her father, an infamous serial killer, buried his victims beneath their house...and even though he's been dead for years, she starts getting notes from him.  Super creepy.

5. Medusa by Rosie Hewlett:  A sympathetic retelling of the myth.

2022 TOTAL SO FAR: 31

NONFICTION

1. In the Weeds* by Tom Vitale:  A warts and all look behind the scenes of Anthony Bourdain's TV shows. 

2022 TOTAL SO FAR:  5

MANGA/GRAPHIC NOVELS

1. Clementine by Tillie Walden

2. Go for It Again, Nakamura!* by Syundei

3. My Love Mix-Up! vol. 4 by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko

4. My Lovey-Dovey Wife Is a Stone Cold Killer vol. 3 by Donten Kosaka

2022 TOTAL SO FAR:   19 graphic novels and 25 volumes of manga

MOVIES

1. Outside the Wire:  After disobeying a direct order, a drone pilot is sent to a war zone with a fellow soldier (Anthony Mackie)  to stop a warlord from launching a nuclear attack.

2. Ambulance*:  After robbing a bank, two brothers steal an ambulance and discover an EMT and injured cop in back.  It's pretty much nonstop action and quite entertaining.

Side note:  I don't know if it was the sound mixing or our somewhat finicky speakers, but we had a hell of a time understanding the dialogue.  We finally had to put on the subtitles.

3. The Bob's Burgers Movie:  A massive sinkhole in front of the restaurant disrupts the Belchers' business and summer plans.  I love the show, but it didn't need a movie, especially one that's almost two hours.  

4. Violet Evergarden:  The "auto memory doll" seeks out a person from her past.  It's very slow---at times it's like watching gorgeous paint dry---but whoo is it a tearjerker.

5. One Cut of the Dead:  The crew of a low budget zombie movie are shocked when the real deal shows up in this funny Japanese flick.

22 TOTAL SO FAR:  45