media update: December

Happy New Year!  Well, close enough.  This year was mostly good with the very notable exceptions of my MIL's bad fall, someone hit my parked car and didn't leave a note, and my dad temporarily going off the radar in Costa Rica and scaring the absolute shit out of us.

My wishes for 2024:  a well-paying WFH job and health and happiness for myself, my family, and my friends!  Manifesting like crazy and sending it out to the universe.

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.

When applicable, this page will be published as a work in progress and continually updated so I can provide timely feedback for advance reader copies.  Receiving an ARC does not affect my reviews in any way.

(Oh, and I can't figure out how to change the date of this post so...sorry)

FICTION

1. The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen:  A dark alternate version of The Nutcracker.  I've never seen the original (G is jealous, having been dragged to it numerous times as a kid), but I'm pretty sure it didn't include a flesh pit!

2. Five Bad Deeds by Caz Frear:  Ellen's perfectly curated life begins to fall apart when she receives a threatening letter, and five bad deeds in her past point to the potential suspects.

3. In a Dark Mirror by Kat Davis:  When she was 12 years old, Maddie and her best friend Lana committed an awful crime, believing that doing so would please a supernatural figure they called Him.  After her release, Maddie tries to rebuild her life but discovers a message board where other people claim to have seen Him...and they're planning a crime of their own.  I thought it would be a mystery or thriller, but it's just straight up fiction.  I liked it fine, but I was expecting something a little different, which is probably on me.  A real corker of a final chapter, though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!  The book will be officially released on June 18th, 2024.

4. The Instruments of Darkness* by John Connolly:  When a woman is accused of murdering her little boy, lawyer Moxie Castin asks private investigator Charlie Parker for help.  Of course, because Charlie's involved, it means things are much more sinister than they seem.

I've been a huge fan of John Connolly's since randomly picking up Dark Hollow (still in my top ten favorite novels of all time), so I was super excited to be approved for this ARC.  Full of tension, fan favorites (I'll forever be ride or die for gay hitmen Angel and Louis and the gigantic but gentle---if they like you!---Fulci brothers), and moments of exquisite sorrow.  In my opinion, it's his best book in years.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC!  The book will be officially released on May 7th, 2024.

5. Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver:  Two serial killers (think the Dexter kind, not the Ted Bundy kind) have a yearly competition to see who can take out a mutually agreed upon target first, and they wind up falling in love.  I couldn't wait to read it based on the premise, but it was disappointing.

2023 TOTAL: 51

NONFICTION

Nothing this month.

2023 TOTAL: 5

MANGA/GRAPHIC NOVELS

1. A Kiss That Stains the Innocence by Emu Soutome

2. Snow Fairy by Tomo Serizawa

3. Blood on the Tracks vol. 15 by Shuzo Oshimi

2023 TOTAL:  75 volumes of manga and 6 graphic novels

MOVIES

1. The Last Voyage of the Demeter:  The story of the doomed boat that accidentally brought Dracula to London.  Not as good as I was led to expect, but it was decent and I love Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos in Game of Thrones).

2. May December:  An actress (Natalie Portman) visits a notorious tabloid couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton), infamous for starting their relationship when she was in her thirties and he was 13, in preparation for starring in a movie about their lives.  I'm not sure how to categorize this; it had some funny moments, but it was the kind of laughter where you feel a bit queasy.  It's well done, and I expect Oscar nominations for the three leads.

3. The Blackening:  A group of friends meet up at a cabin in the woods for Juneteenth and find themselves in the crosshairs of a twisted killer.

4. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny:  The famous archeologist (Harrison Ford, of course) sets out to find a legendary dial that can turn back time.  I was going to give it a star until some last act goofiness, but it was a lot more fun than the bad reviews and poor box office led me to believe.  Go in with an open mind and you might enjoy it!

5. Prey:  Naru, a young Comanche woman, must protect her people from an alien predator.  Yes, THAT predator.

6. Priscilla:  A biopic of Priscilla Presley (Cailee Spaeny, who's fantastic), who was wooed (or, to be more precise, groomed) by Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi) when she was only 14.  Directed by Sofia Coppola, so it's absolutely gorgeous to look at.

7. Barbie*:  The iconic doll (Margot Robbie) has an existential crisis and goes to the real world to find her purpose.  Despite its incredible box office success, I didn't think this movie could possibly work...yet somehow it did.  It's funny, the costumes and set design are great, the cast (which also includes Ryan Gosling as Ken) is terrific and I cried more than once.  Props to Mattel for allowing such a subversive, unapologetically feminist take on one of its most valuable properties.

8. Leave the World Behind:  A couple (Ethan Hawke and Julia Roberts) and their children rent a home for the weekend, only for the owner (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter to show up in the middle of the night claiming the country is under attack.  Gripping and tense, but the music is absolutely jarring...possibly intentionally so, but it really took me out of some scenes.

9. Saltburn*:  A college student (Barry Keoghan, who should get an Oscar nomination) with lofty goals tries to fit in with his very rich friend's family at the titular estate.  It took a bit of time to get its claws into me, but once it did, they were stuck until the very last frame.  A movie so psychologically dark you'll need a flashlight.

10. Morbius:  Dr. Michael Morbius tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but he accidentally turns himself into a vampire instead.  Only half a bottle of sangria made this dud even remotely tolerable.

11. Silent Night:  In this aptly named movie---there's hardly any dialogue and the main character never speaks---a man (Joel Kinnaman) sets out on a bloody rampage to avenge the death of his little boy.

12. Pet Sematary: Bloodlines:  A mediocre prequel to the Stephen King classic.

13. Murder Mystery 2:  Nick and Audrey Spitz (Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston) try to solve the kidnapping of their friend.  It was actually pretty funny, though that may have been the prosecco talking.

 2023 TOTAL: 87

best of 2023: animation

- Not all of these were first released in 2023, but that's when I first watched them.

- These are in random order, though I did make note of my favorite.

- We watched all of these on Netflix except for #1 and #5, which we watched on Crunchyroll.

-  All of these are anime except for #2, which is actually hanguk aeni (Korean).

- As always, your mileage may vary.

1. Chainsaw Man:  Denji is a broke young man whose best friend is a demon dog named Pochita.  When Denji is on the brink of death, Pochita fuses with his heart to save his life, meaning Denji can now transform into, you guessed it, Chainsaw Man!  He's recruited to fight devils using his new ability, leading to buckets of blood and gore.

2. Lookism:  A plain-looking high school student suddenly develops the ability to switch into a new, super hot body.

3. Darwin's Game:  Kaname Sudou gets an invitation to play a mobile game (no prizes for guessing its name!) that turns out to be an actual game of life or death.

4. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead:  Akira Tendo is completely exhausted and on the brink of a nervous breakdown thanks to his job.  When a zombie outbreak ravages Tokyo, he's positively gleeful because it means he doesn't have to go to work anymore!  He resolves to take advantage of the situation and complete his bucket list.

5. Spy x Family:  Loid Folger is an elite spy who's ordered to build a family to serve as cover for his mission.  He adopts a little girl named Anya and marries an office worker named Yor, but he doesn't know that Yor is actually an assassin and Anya can read minds.

To be honest, the first two episodes didn't bowl us over, but we decided to stick with it, and we're glad we did!  It starts to find its groove in episode 3.  The characters are fun (especially Anya), the animation is beautiful, and it's delightful.  It's my favorite anime of the year.

best of 2023: video games

- Not all of these were first released in 2023, but that's when I first played them.

- Because this list is so short, these are in preferential order.

- Some of these may be available on multiple platforms, but I played the first two on the PS4 and the last one on my Kindle Fire (Android OS).

- As always, your mileage may vary.

1. Yakuza: Like A Dragon:  Despite my overwhelming love for the Yakuza series, I was really skeptical about playing this when I heard it was an RPG.  I mean, sure, I have a couple of RPGs in my top twenty (Persona 4 and 5), but in general it's not my favorite type of game.  Besides, I figured why fix it if it ain't broke?  The Yakuza series is practically perfect, and who was this bushy-haired pretender to the throne that Kiryu Kazuma has rightfully held all this time?

Well, his name is Ichiban Kasuga, a friendly fellow who's just gotten out of prison after taking the fall for someone else.  He gets shot shortly after release, and a homeless man named Nanba patches him up.  Nanba will become your first party member, eventually joined by a group of absolute ride or die friends who will stop at nothing to help Ichiban uncover the truth.

Look, I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong (usually) (sometimes).  I didn't think I'd like this game as much as I did, but it's an absolute BLAST.  There's pathos, humor, fantastic side quests, exciting battles, cameos from fan favorites, and excellent voice acting (we played with the English dub). If you like the Yakuza formula, there's just no way you won't love the shit out of this.  

2. Lost Judgment:  Judgment is my favorite of the Yakuza games (well, it's a spin-off; if we're only counting proper Yakuza games, then Yakuza 0 is my favorite), so I was super excited to play the sequel.  Our favorite lawyer turned PI is back, along with his buddies, to investigate the absolutely brutal murder of a teacher.  The usual plaudits apply as above.  I didn't love it as much as its predecessor, largely because of some side stories I found tiresome (fortunately, G loved the mechanics involved and was happy to take over for those), but damn, it still ate practically every waking moment until the credits rolled.  The DLC, which includes new love interests (none of whom are sexy thief Sugiura, unfortunately), additional side stories, a hoverboard that makes traveling around the huge map much easier, and a meaty story-based campaign for Kaito, is a must.

3. Meow Tower:  I enjoy nonograms (grid-based puzzles where you fill in cells to reveal a hidden picture), so when I heard there was one with cute cats, I knew I had to download it.  After meeting the first cat, whose name was Momo (also the name of our little guy), I knew I'd love it...and I do!  I whomped through the first thousand plus puzzles in a matter of weeks, and I'm currently happily going through the new update.  An enjoyable way to pass the time and exercise your mind.

best of 2023: TV

A few notes before I begin:

- Not all of these were first released in 2023, but that's when I first watched them.

- I haven't finished some of these series, but I've watched enough episodes to put them on this list.

- I posted where to watch them after the review.

- Anime will get its own post later. 

- These are in random order; I couldn't really pick a favorite!

- And as always, your mileage may vary.

1. Andor:  The backstory of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the Rebel spy featured in Rogue One, which is in my opinion by far the best Star Wars film since the original trilogy.  It's done by the same people who did Rogue One, too, and it shows.  There are plenty of awesome special effects, fun action, and great set design, but it's the mature, thoughtful writing that really shines.  (Disney+)

2. The Bear:  A chef (Jeremy Allen White) named Carmy leaves the fine dining world to take over his family's restaurant after his brother's suicide.  I'm going to sound like a real sappy asshole here, but I had a hard time watching the first season, as great as it was, because I just felt so BAD for Carmy!  Things kept going wrong, his big blue eyes would well up, and my empathy gland got squeezed so hard it hurt.  Season 2 was more hopeful for the most part, and I was glad for the reprieve.  Fantastic writing---the dialogue is the most natural since The Wire---and terrific acting from the entire cast.  (Hulu)

3. The Last of Us:  Joel (Pedro Pascal) is a gruff man trying to get by in a world overrun by clickers, which are very fast, vicious humans mutated by cordyceps.  He's tasked with getting a miraculously immune young girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the country so researchers can create a cure.  The two video games are in my top five of all time, so believe me when I say this is a damn near perfect adaptation.  (Max)

4. She-Hulk:  Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) accidentally gets exposed to Hulk blood and now must figure out how to balance her career as an attorney with her new identity as a gigantic green superhero.  I saw some clips and GIFs of this show and did NOT think I'd like it; boy, was I wrong!  Tatiana Maslany is great and it's funny as hell. (Disney+)

5. Bloodhounds:  A kindly moneylender recruits two boxers to take down a predatory loan shark in this exciting Korean drama. (Netflix)

6. Cobra Kai:  Johnny Lawrence, the bully from The Karate Kid, is down on his luck, so he decides to reopen the Cobra Kai dojo.  However, he finds himself facing opposition from Daniel LaRusso, his former (and now very successful) punching bag.  It's a lot of fun---watching Johnny try to cope with modern times is a blast---and I love that they managed to get William Zabka and Ralph Macchio (as well as some other characters I won't spoil) back too.  (Netflix)

7. The Devil's Plan:  In this clever and engrossing reality show, contestants (most of whom are Korean celebrities, though the only one I'd heard of was Seungkwan from the idol group Seventeen) face off in numerous games of strategy and skill over the course of a week.  (Netflix)

8. Reacher:  Jack Reacher, the hero of Lee Child's novels, is 6'5" and super muscular...so he was played by Tom Cruise in the movie.  Uh, okay?  Fortunately, the TV series rectified that error and cast Alan Ritchson, who more than adequately fills Reacher's very large shoes.  Reacher is an ex-soldier and drifter who goes to a small Georgia town in search of his brother.  He's falsely arrested for murder, and when he's released, he teams up with two cops to uncover a conspiracy.  Lots of great, bone crunching action, and whooo Reacher is fun to look at.  Plus he's very protective, and I would be lying if I said watching a huge handsome dude punch an animal abuser didn't give me a wetty.  (Amazon Prime)

9. Gen V:  A college for superheroes has dark secrets, and some of the students are determined to bring them to light.  It's a spin-off of The Boys, so you know what THAT means:  graphic sex, foul language, and enough gore to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.  (Amazon Prime)

10. Squid Game: The Challenge:  This game show is based on the Korean drama that pretty much everyone watched in 2021, but fortunately nobody gets killed!  456 contestants start out, and as they're eliminated, money is added to the pot until one person is left with a $4.56 million prize.  Most of the games are based on ones from the original, but there are a few new twists too.  The finale airs tomorrow, so I'll be curious to see who wins!  (Netflix)

best of 2023: movies

And now it's time for my favorite movies of 2023!  A few notes before I begin:

- Not all of these were first released in 2023, but that's when I watched them.

- These are in random order, though I did make note of my absolute favorite.

- G and I watch a LOT of movies, so if we watch something between now and the end of the year that belongs here, I'll update accordingly.

- And, as always, your mileage may vary.

EDIT:  On 12/22, I replaced Totally Killer with Saltburn.

1. The Menu:  A group of very wealthy people go to an exclusive restaurant on an isolated island, where they discover the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared an unusual experience.  A deliciously sly treat; try to know as little as possible going in.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3:  The Guardians fight to save Rocket in the bittersweet final (allegedly) installment of the series.  Definitely the best GotG movie in my opinion, and the best Marvel movie in quite some time too.

3. Extraction 2:  A commando (Chris Hemsworth) embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a gangster's family.  Super exciting, especially a one-shot sequence that lasts twenty minutes.  (I mean, I'm sure there was some camera trickery, but it wasn't obvious to a layperson, or at least this one.)

4. Four Lions:  A group of British Muslims decide to become suicide bombers...and would you believe this is a comedy?  A very dark one to be sure, but there are some really damn funny scenes in this; one involving an argument about a "bear" had me in hysterics.  Major caveat: we watched this on DVD and the only subtitles were in Spanish, which neither of us speak, so if you need subtitles due to hearing impairments or because you have a hard time understanding the accents, like us, you might find it tough going.  

5. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse:  In order to avoid spoilers, I don't want to go into plot details.  I'll just say it's an absolute visual feast and the most fun I've had watching a movie in a very long time.  It's definitely my favorite movie of the year!

6. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One:  Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), his team, and a thief (a charming Hayley Atwell) try to track down a key that could stop a rogue AI system.  Exceptionally entertaining, with lots of great action sequences.

7. 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.

8. Nimona:  Ballister Boldheart (voiced by Riz Ahmed) is about to be knighted when a tragedy occurs.  Wrongfully accused of the crime, he goes on the run and meets a curious new ally in the form of Nimona (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz), a cheerfully anarchic shapeshifter.  The animation is serviceable but nothing special; however, the movie more than makes up for it with excellent queer rep, heart, and humor.

9. Triangle of Sadness:  Rich people on a luxury cruise have a very bad time in this deliciously pitch black comedy.  Warning:  absolutely not for emetophobes!

10. Saltburn:  A college student (Barry Keoghan, who should get an Oscar nomination) with lofty goals tries to fit in with his very rich friend's family at the titular estate.  It took a bit of time to get its claws into me, but once it did, they were stuck until the very last frame.  A movie so psychologically dark you'll need a flashlight.

MADE ME CRY (OR AT LEAST TEAR UP):  Ticket to Paradise; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; The Sea Beast; Clerks III; M3GAN; Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves; Avatar: The Way of Water; Creed III; Nimona; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3; Elemental; Totally Killer; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Barbie

MADE ME SOB SO HARD THE CAT NUZZLED MY FACE IN CONSTERNATION:  The Whale

SEEN IN THE THEATER:  Nothing.  Honestly, with an excellent audio/video system at home and several streaming platforms at our disposal, I don't foresee going back to the theater any time soon.  The theater is too expensive, people are rude, and I can't pause for my pee breaks.

best of 2023: nonfiction

And now it's time for my favorite nonfiction books of the year!  I didn't read much nonfiction this year (only five books as of this writing), so it's a pretty short list and in preferential order.  As always, your mileage may vary.

1. Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby:  This book includes essays with titles like "Two Old Nuns Having Amzing [Sic] Lesbian Sex", "I Like to Get High at Night and Think About Whales", and "Oh, So You Actually Don't Want to Make a Show About a Horny Fat Bitch with Diarrhea? Okay!" so of course it was going to be my favorite of the year.

2. Still, I Cannot Save You by Kelly S. Thompson:  The author's relationship with her sister Meghan was sorely tested by addiction and illness.  After Meghan became a mother, they started to rebuild their bond, but shocking news sent everything into a tailspin again.  Heartbreaking (I cried at least five times) but hopeful.

3. 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.  

best of 2023: fiction

It's time for my lists!  A few notes before I begin:

- For at least the third year in a row, this list contains only female authors.  This wasn't on purpose, although I ain't mad about it.

- These are in random order, though I did make note of my two absolute favorites.

- I believe all of these were first published in 2023.

- And, as always, your mileage may vary.

1. What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall:  When she was eleven years old, Naomi spent a lot of time in the woods with her best friends Cass and Liv, making up elaborate stories about fairies and goddesses.  One day, Naomi is brutally attacked and her testimony, along with that of her friends, sends a man to prison.  But when she grows up and learns more about the man, now dead, she begins to wonder if she and her friends were wrong, and she returns to her hometown in search of the truth.  Yep, another "woman returns to her hometown in search of the truth" book, but this one is excellent!

2. Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey:  Maggie is getting divorced from her husband of 608 days, who's no longer answering any of her texts or emails. She's broke, her job is no longer fulfilling, and her initially supportive friends are getting increasingly frustrated with her.  Still, she tries to convince herself that she's doing great.  Anyone who's been through a nasty breakup will relate, but it can also be really funny.

3. Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson:  A "meet cute" between two women at a farmer's market turns, well, not so cute.  Lush romance collides with Grand Guignol in a way that'll make your head spin.  It's short (177 pages) but packs a punch.

4. I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai:  During her senior year at a prestigious prep school, Bodie's former roommate Thalia was murdered.  Years later, Bodie returns to the school to teach, and she starts to question whether the right person was convicted.  Yes, another take on the "woman goes back to hometown to investigate an old murder", but Rebecca Makkai was a Pulitzer Prize finalist, so it's much better than others of its ilk.  I had a hard time putting it down; it's my second favorite novel of the year.

5. Deliver Me by Elle Nash:  Daisy is a poor young woman living with her insect-obsessed boyfriend, who she calls Daddy.  She's desperate to have a baby, and she's convinced herself she's pregnant, which leads to drastic measures to perpetuate the lie.  It's really good and I flew through it, but holy shit, it's the most disturbing book I've read in a long time.  

6. After That Night by Karin Slaughter:  Dr. Sara Linton tries in vain to save the life of a brutalized young woman in the ER.  Much to her horror, there's a connection to her own assault fifteen years earlier, and Sara's fiance, special agent Will Trent, is determined to get to the bottom of it.  I didn't like Karin Slaughter's last couple of books, but this was a welcome return to form.  I don't tend to give content warnings, but this needs one for graphic descriptions of sexual assault and domestic violence.

7. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll:  In 1978, a serial killer (very obviously Ted Bundy, though he's never named) attacks the residents of a sorority house, killing two young women and maiming two others.  Pamela Schumacher, who witnessed the killer leaving, joins forces with Tina Cannon, who's convinced the murderer is behind the disappearance of her friend Ruth.  Disturbing and engrossing.

8. Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens:  After her father dies, Bridget becomes a prostitute at the Buffalo Queen brothel.  Thanks to Kate and Lila, the madams who run the place, Bridget finds brothel life better than she expected.  Then a legendary female gunslinger named Spartan Lee rolls into town, and against her better judgment, Bridget falls in love.

Our internet went out for over 24 hours right before I started reading this, and although I was initially grumpy about it, I wound up being grateful because I was able to fully immerse myself in this novel without the distractions of Twitter and Buzzfeed listicles.  What a wild ride!  Despite Red Dead Redemption 2 being one of my favorite video games of all time, westerns aren't generally my thing, but throw a queer feminist twist on it and I was enraptured.  It's my favorite novel of the year.

9. The Whispers by Ashley Audrain:  At a neighborhood party, the guests are scandalized when they overhear the hostess screaming at her son.  Months later, when the boy mysteriously falls out of a window, everyone has a theory as to what happened and why. Powerful and engrossing, with one hell of a final chapter.  

10. Don't Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna:  When Chelsea and Bree were in college, their friend Abby disappeared, presumed murdered by a serial killer.  Twelve years later, the killer is days away from being executed and a podcast is digging into his crimes.  An excellent debut with more nuanced characters than most thrillers.