Book and Movie Log 2016
I'm doing great on both my goals. :)
Books 05 to 08
Goal: 45 books, of which approximately 15 can be rereads
05. King's Rising (Captive Prince Volume 3) by CS Pacat
The long awaited ending to the Captive Prince series, and it did not disappoint. Though there is not as many surprising twists and turns in this concluding volume (and the big concluding reveal in the final confrontation came a little out of left field for me), Pacat continues her subtle mastery of words in the writing of Damen and Laurent's relationship. The first four chapters made my heart hurt, but hey… you've gotta have good angst to make the schmoop really work, and I kept trying to remember that as she tore my heart in two. I love that she is able to keep the mystery of Laurent even though we are seeing him through Damen's eyes. And the final confirmation of what happened to Laurent in his childhood was absolutely chillingly written.
Now I want to reread the entire series again from the beginning.
AND Pacat has promised that three more short stories set in this universe are forthcoming. EEEE I can't wait!
06 to 08. The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three and Wastelands - by Stephen King
The first three books in the seven volume Dark Tower series. It's been a long time since I've read this series in its entirety, and I'd forgotten just how incredibly brilliant King can be when he's completely on point. It takes incredible skill to construct an entire new world, weave in aspects of our own, and inhabit it with a plethora of three dimensional characters with this much depth and never once resort to a 'tell'. I am transfixed all over again. (And Oy is still my favourite character, though Roland is a very close second.)
The Tally:
New To Me: 3 books
Rereads: 5 books
TOTAL: 8 books read
Movies 06 to 07
Goal: 40 movies in 2016, 25 of which must be New To Me
06. Deadpool (2016) - starring Ryan Reynolds
I was very much looking forward to this movie. And .. there were funny moments. But overall, I was disappointed. I think it could have been SO much better, but the failure was in the script. There was just too.much.banter. When every single character is sort of a sarcastic smartass with a quick deadpan response, it gets wearying. There needs to be some breathing room, and the characters need to sound *different* from each other. It did get some bonus brownie points for breaking up the 'origin story' part of the movie into flashbacks, though.
07. Triple 9 (2016) - starring Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Casey Affleck
I quite enjoyed this. A smart script that starts by putting you right into the action and letting the audience figure out who everyone is and what the heck is going on. It's dark and gritty and 'real' in the way that reminded me, for some reason, of "To Live and Die in L.A." It's got that vibe that makes me scoff at the sanitized world of most cop shows. I think it could have maybe done with a slightly longer running time and a slightly bigger budget - at times it felt like pieces were missing and they couldn't do what they really wanted to do. Unfortunately the ending felt flat and forced (and too sudden - again, perhaps they couldn't film everything they wanted to film due to budget constraints?) and that dropped it down a few notches for me.
My second Casey Affleck movie! This one had a really top notch cast (Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet are in it, too) and I think Affleck was the best of the bunch. What is it about his guy? There is something about him that is so laid-back and low-key but he gives the impression that he's always thinking - it's acting without acting. Brilliant.
The Tally:
New to Me: 6 movies
Rewatch: 1 movie
TOTAL: 7 movies out of 40
.
Books 05 to 08
Goal: 45 books, of which approximately 15 can be rereads
05. King's Rising (Captive Prince Volume 3) by CS Pacat
The long awaited ending to the Captive Prince series, and it did not disappoint. Though there is not as many surprising twists and turns in this concluding volume (and the big concluding reveal in the final confrontation came a little out of left field for me), Pacat continues her subtle mastery of words in the writing of Damen and Laurent's relationship. The first four chapters made my heart hurt, but hey… you've gotta have good angst to make the schmoop really work, and I kept trying to remember that as she tore my heart in two. I love that she is able to keep the mystery of Laurent even though we are seeing him through Damen's eyes. And the final confirmation of what happened to Laurent in his childhood was absolutely chillingly written.
Now I want to reread the entire series again from the beginning.
AND Pacat has promised that three more short stories set in this universe are forthcoming. EEEE I can't wait!
06 to 08. The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three and Wastelands - by Stephen King
The first three books in the seven volume Dark Tower series. It's been a long time since I've read this series in its entirety, and I'd forgotten just how incredibly brilliant King can be when he's completely on point. It takes incredible skill to construct an entire new world, weave in aspects of our own, and inhabit it with a plethora of three dimensional characters with this much depth and never once resort to a 'tell'. I am transfixed all over again. (And Oy is still my favourite character, though Roland is a very close second.)
The Tally:
New To Me: 3 books
Rereads: 5 books
TOTAL: 8 books read
Movies 06 to 07
Goal: 40 movies in 2016, 25 of which must be New To Me
06. Deadpool (2016) - starring Ryan Reynolds
I was very much looking forward to this movie. And .. there were funny moments. But overall, I was disappointed. I think it could have been SO much better, but the failure was in the script. There was just too.much.banter. When every single character is sort of a sarcastic smartass with a quick deadpan response, it gets wearying. There needs to be some breathing room, and the characters need to sound *different* from each other. It did get some bonus brownie points for breaking up the 'origin story' part of the movie into flashbacks, though.
07. Triple 9 (2016) - starring Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Casey Affleck
I quite enjoyed this. A smart script that starts by putting you right into the action and letting the audience figure out who everyone is and what the heck is going on. It's dark and gritty and 'real' in the way that reminded me, for some reason, of "To Live and Die in L.A." It's got that vibe that makes me scoff at the sanitized world of most cop shows. I think it could have maybe done with a slightly longer running time and a slightly bigger budget - at times it felt like pieces were missing and they couldn't do what they really wanted to do. Unfortunately the ending felt flat and forced (and too sudden - again, perhaps they couldn't film everything they wanted to film due to budget constraints?) and that dropped it down a few notches for me.
My second Casey Affleck movie! This one had a really top notch cast (Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet are in it, too) and I think Affleck was the best of the bunch. What is it about his guy? There is something about him that is so laid-back and low-key but he gives the impression that he's always thinking - it's acting without acting. Brilliant.
The Tally:
New to Me: 6 movies
Rewatch: 1 movie
TOTAL: 7 movies out of 40
.