media update: April

I spent the first half of the month with Yakuza: Like A Dragon basically plugged directly into my veins during my waking hours.  Unfortunately, even after I finished LAD, I went through a massive reading dry spell!

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. Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler:  Adelaide is an American living her dream in London.  She meets a man she calls her Disney prince, but his unwillingness to completely reciprocate her affection sends her into a tailspin.  

2. Out of the Ashes* by Kara Thomas:  When she was thirteen years old, Samantha's family was murdered and their house was set on fire; she was spared thanks to an impromptu sleepover.  Twenty-two years later, she returns to her hometown (yep, one of those!) after a prison inmate claims that her baby sister was taken alive from the scene.  I did NOT see where this one was going!

2023 TOTAL SO FAR: 13

NONFICTION

1. Tough Titties* by Laura Belgray:  A collection of essays about growing up in the eighties, finding oneself in the nineties, and trying to figure out what the fuck is going on in the 2000s.  I found myself alternating between hysterical laughter and sympathetic cringing.  Perfect for fans of Samantha Irby and Jenny Lawson.  

Side note:  thank you to Hachette and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy that I received in exchange for an honest review.  The book officially comes out on June 13th.

2023 TOTAL SO FAR: 2

MANGA/GRAPHIC NOVELS

1. We're New at This vols. 3-12 by Ren Kawahara

2. My Dress-Up Darling vol. 8 by Shinichi Fukuda 

3. The Single Life by Akiko Morishima

4. Asumi-chan Is Interested in Lesbian Brothels!* vols. 1-3 by Kuro Itsuki

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

2023 TOTAL SO FAR: 16 volumes of manga and 2 graphic novels+

MOVIES

1. M3GAN*:  After gaining custody of her niece Cady, engineer Gemma (Allison Williams) creates a robotic friend for her that quickly gains sentience and is determined to protect Cady by any means necessary.  Campy fun.

2. Kill Boksoon*:  A single mom is secretly a very skilled assassin in this badass Korean flick; it could have been called Jane Wick.

3. Plane:  After making an emergency landing, a pilot (Gerard Butler) enlists the assistance of a passenger with particular skills to survive and protect everyone else.  I can't stress this enough: this movie is SO much better if you're drunk.  

2023 TOTAL SO FAR: 18