media update: June

Wow, I read a book that wasn't manga this month! Go me! I just started a book by one of my favorite authors (Karin Slaughter), and two of my other favorite authors have books coming out in July (Jessica Knoll and Sarai Walker), so I'm hoping my reading slump is coming to a close.

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

Nothing this month.

2026 TOTAL SO FAR:  6

NONFICTION

1. This Is Me by Hayden Panettiere:  A memoir by the actress about her almost lifelong work in TV and movies, her struggles with addiction, making the excruciating choice to give up custody of her daughter, and an abusive relationship.

2026 TOTAL SO FAR:  3

MANGA/GRAPHIC NOVELS

1. My Dress-Up Darling vol. 15 (final volume) by Shinichi Fukuda

2. The Apothecary Diaries vol. 15 by Natsu Hyuuga and Nekokurage 

3. Adabana* vol. 3 (final volume) by Non

2026 TOTAL SO FAR:  13 volumes of manga

MOVIES

1. Hoppers*: Mabel is a college student who's always loved animals. When she discovers a technology that lets her consciousness inhabit a robotic beaver and communicate with other animals, she decides to use it to try to save their habitat.  It skews a little darker than a lot of Pixar movies, but I don't consider that a negative.  It's very funny and made me tear up more than once.

2. Anaconda:  A group of friends decides to reboot the 90s movie Anaconda, but the shoot takes some unexpected turns.  It has a good cast and a couple of funny scenes, but it's definitely not worth watching for anyone but Jack Black/Paul Rudd completionists.

3. Pretty Lethal:  A stranded group of ballerinas gets trapped at an inn where they wind up in a fight for survival.  I was about to peace out about thirty minutes in, but it definitely gets better as it goes along and has some fun banter and action.

4. Sentimental Value:  An actress is startled when her estranged father, a famous film director, wants to cast her in his new project.  The acting is incredible, but I'm not entirely sure why this got so much acclaim.  I don't regret watching it or anything, but I was expecting more.

5. Apex:  A woman (Charlize Theron) on a solo adventure in Australia becomes the target of a deranged stalker (Taron Egerton).  Tense and compelling.

6. Marty Supreme:  In the 1950s, Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet) is determined to be the best table tennis player in the world.  It's good, but like #4 on this list, I'm not sure why this got so much attention during awards season.  

7. Greenland 2: Migration:  After their underground bunker (see the first movie if this makes no sense) is compromised, John Garrity (Gerard Butler) and his family make a perilous journey across Europe to find a new home.  

8. How to Make a Killing*:  Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell, charming as always) stands to inherit several billion dollars, but only if he gets rid of his competition first.  An enjoyable black comedy.

9. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple:  This picks up directly where its predecessor left off, so I can't review it properly lest I spoil something.  It's a little disjointed but eventually comes together.  Caveat viewer: it's REALLY gory.  I know, shocking that the latest movie in a zombie franchise is gory, but this was a special brand of nasty.

10. Avatar: Fire and Ash*:  Like #9 on the list, I can't give a proper review since it picks up immediately after its predecessor.  I will say it's one hell of a visual spectacle!

2026 TOTAL SO FAR:  41