Review of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Review of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

So, I started reading the sample chapter of this book on Kindle and stopped after the first few chapters. But then when I bought my Kindle Paperwhite eReader, I decided to continue and finish the 5 chapter sample. As soon as I did I purchased the eBook and was addicted. I did take a week off from reading to go on vacation but once I came back I finished the book in 2 days. I was so enthralled, I could not put the book down. I spent almost my whole day off of work finishing the book.

This has been one of my best experiences reading a book. I was so entranced in the story, the drama of this young girl named Kya living alone in a shack in the marshland of North Carolina, trying desperately to find a connection or family, but struggling to let people into her world. The first time she finds love as a teenager, she get her heartbroken, and longing for someone to ease her loneliness she seeks comfort in the wrong type of man. A decision that would affect the rest of her life. Without giving too much of the story away, there is also a murder mystery that was so compelling. The author, Delia Owens, perfectly pieces out the clues throughout the book. So much so that I didn't even figure out the ending until it happen. Owens does a remarkable job captivating the reader; making us care about the life of this young girl living in the marshland trying to survive by herself. A big part of the book, is Owens describing Kya's experience in the marshland, the insects and the birds. The level of detail allows the reader to paint a vivid picture of the environment.

Owens mixes a bit of young adult romance in there and I was hooked! But the story is more than that, it's told in a non-linear timeline to help elude to the murder mystery. It's truly a story that I connected with emotionally. I felt a lot of sadness for the main character, but it wasn't detached, it was real and relatable, as if Owens transported me into the marshland with this girl. The book does take a bleak tone on the nature of people, which at times is hard to deal with, because of that's how real life is, but it doesn't provide the hope that we would expect. Hope that people can be better or should do better. The character development is also a weak point of the story. The main character has some leaps in development that don't always appear logically, and the two love interests are nothing more than cliches. Which is sad, because I think that the shocking ending would have been better served if the characters were better developed. 

This is not a perfect book, and I do understand a lot of the criticism that some people have towards it. However, my personal invested was such that I didn't care on my first reading. I will listen to the audiobook, as there were a lot of people that said the narrator did a great job. but while I see the flaws in the story, I can also ignore them because I found the main character to be compelling. If you haven't read this book, do yourself a favor and read it now. It's sort of a YA/Drama/Mystery but with out the melodramatic aspects that can be a bit eyerolling with some YA books. Where the Crawdads Sing is a gripping tale about survival, abandonment, and abuse, now go read it!

Buy the book on Amazon

"Leave Meeting: How to Commit Murder on Zoom" short film review

 

Leave Meeting: How to Commit Murder on Zoom

https://youtu.be/1O-BxpP5YB8

If you're looking for new content during the pandemic, check out this short film called “Leave Meeting: A Telehealth Recording”. The concept is based around the web meetings that everyone has been attending during this Coronavirus pandemic. The premise is therapist (Rebecca) is waiting on a call with her client (Karen) but is surprised to find the client's ex-husband (Carl) there instead. As the two talk, the truth about what the therapist has been up to, manipulating her client, is revealed, as well as Carl's issues.

One thing I want to say is that the actor playing Carl, does a great job portraying this sleazy, fast-talking, jerk. The actor nails the line delivery, coming across very naturally. All of the actors do a good job, but Carl is an interesting character to watch.

This short reminds me of a Lifetime mystery thriller. I mean that in the best of ways, I enjoy Lifetime movies. The story unravels in a natural way, leaving you wondering what's next. The decisions and choices that these characters make are quite shocking; in a way that makes you question their morality, and your own. The way the story unfolds captured my attention so well, I could have watched more of this video.

There is a bit of a surprise towards the end, that I didn't expect, but think it's brilliant. Everyone gets what they deserve and the literally clicking of “leave meeting” is the perfect way to end the film. So, if you enjoy thrillers and character drama, check out this short video by Christopher T. Woods. If you need something to watch for Halloween check out Woods other short film, “Don't Turn Around”. https://youtu.be/elpiDe3oSE0

Review for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

 

Review of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" by Suzanne Collins

After re-reading The Hunger Games trilogy, I was very excited to read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. While the initial premise of the book, a young Coriolanus Snow mentoring a girl from District 12, had some promise I think that the overall story falls short. When finished with the book, I realized what author Suzanne Collins was trying to do with the character of Coriolanus Snow. It's not the story of a young man falling in love and getting his heart broken, like I thought it was going to be. Instead, it's the story of a young man who becomes capable of the horrific things that are revealed about future President Snow in The Hunger Games books.

If you're going into this book hoping for more history about Panem and the hunger games, then you won't be disappointed. However, if you're looking for rich characters and a charming love story, you might be a bit disappointed. The book is at it's best when it focuses on the 10^th hunger games, the progression of the hunger games and the districts. The world building of Panem is done well and expands our knowledge from the original trilogy. However, the problem comes when the book tries to make too many connections and references to things from the original trilogy. The book also hits you over the head with the title of the book, constantly referencing mockingjay's (songbirds) and snakes. 

Future President of Panem Coriolanus Snow is center stage but the narrative is not told in first person, and I believe that makes it difficult for the reader to ever really understand and empathize with him. Most of the book actually deals with Snow's questioning whether or not he will be able to graduate and attend a university. Throughout the book Snow makes a series of morally questionable decision that seem to be for the right reasons, but by the end of the story you realize that these decisions show what he is capable of doing for his best interest. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes shows the power and influence that social status in society has on a person.

Overall this is a decent addition to The Hunger Games universe, but not one of the books I will read over and over again. While I wish Collins would write more prequels exploring characters like young Haymitch or Mags; I think this book shows that maybe Collins should stop here. The politics of this book weigh it down a bit, but maybe that was only because it's set in the Capitol. Still, a good read, but I'll be happy if this is Collins last in the series. It's hard to root for any of the main characters and the story is overly drawn out. For better context of who president Snow is and how Panem has been shaped leading up to Katniss' story, this is a recommend. It's a must read for any hard-core fan of the franchise, but you're missing much if you're a casual reader.

One thing I will say is the artwork for the cover is amazing, and perfectly in line with the trilogy covers.

Review of Mockingjay (Book)

Mockingjay book review

The last book in The Hunger Games trilogy wraps up Katniss' story and the takedown of the Capitol. Katniss wakes up and tries to adjust (resist) to her new life in District 13, which is underground. Katniss deals with her trauma from the hunger games as well as the fact that President Snow has captured Peeta. Also, dealing with his trauma is Finnick, who is more mentally unstable than Katniss, with his love Annie also being tortured by Snow. Meanwhile, Gale aligns himself with the military of District 13. With Peeta out of the picture Katniss and Gale try to rekindled their friendship, but over the course of the book, their militaristic and political views separate them. At first Katniss is reluctant to help the rebels, but realizes that she has the power to help change Panem.

While this is my least favorite of the three books, I actually really love the first half of the book dealing with Katniss' life in District 13. The second half of the book in the Capitol is a bit slow and drawn out in my opinion. Much of the book deals with military stategy and politics, particulary between Katniss and Gale, something that ultimately undos their friendship. In the first two books Peeta was a major character and Gale was sidelined, but this book reverses those roles, but unfortunately doing it in the last book, we get an uneven progression of each characters journey's.

One thing that I do like is that the romance element between Katniss, Gale and Peeta is very subtle (at least from Katniss' perspective). The choice comes organically, her slowly falling away from Gale, and learning why she loves Peeta. This book introduces far too many characters, and most of them have a few lines of dialogue and we never get to know who they are nor what their motivations are for taking down the Capitol.

Like Catching Fire, this book takes places over a few months, but unlike Catching Fire, the narrative structure is a bit more focused. What I love about this book is that it shows Katniss' transformation into the Mockingjay that ignites the spark that burns down the Capitol. It finishes her story, giving her a somewhat happy ending. While the death of her sister is absolutely shocking, the irony is that Katniss' journey starts by volunteering in order to save her sister. The book also wraps up the stories of Gale, Finnick and Johanna, in somewhat tragic ways.

Much like the second book, Mockingjay is very much two books, the first half takes place in District 13 and the last part is in the Capitol. It doesn't have the intriguing world building of Catching Fire nor the simplistic story of The Hunger Games, making this my least favorite book in the trilogy, however, there is a lot of great stuff in this book, mainly Katniss' journey. The book also wraps up the themes and governmental philosophies that are introduced in the first book. Author Suzanne Collins provides a good twist ending not only eliminating Snow, but another threat, resulting in a minor character becoming the leader of Panem. With that decision the book takes a stand not only against the Capitol but also against the totalitarian District 13, in favor of a compassionate and balanced democracy.

The last book in a wonderful trilogy might not be great, but does a good job in how it handles the political philosophies, and steering Katniss' story to a place that is a satisfying ending. While some of the new characters are useless, Collins makes sure to continue the stories of the returning characters. With the end of Katniss' journey, this book makes me feel satisfied and not needing more stories told with these characters. I love the world that Suzanne Collins has created with this trilogy and Katniss is one of my favorite female characters in literary history.

Review of Catching Fire (Book)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The book picks up about 6 months after the ending of The Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta, now Vitctors, must relive their time in the arena by doing a Victory tour of Panem. As a reminder of the hunger games, the previous victor travels to each district to celebrate their winning. Before going on this tour, Katniss is confronted by President Snow. While Snow was mentioned in the first book, this is the first time Katniss comes face-to-face with the serpent-like leader of Panem. She describes him as smelling like blood and roses, the latter attributed to the rose in his square pocket. President Snow is a bigger presence instilling fear into Katniss, which drives her decisions throughout the book. By bringing these two characters to a head, the book gives the Capitol a face to vilify.

The book shows it's YA (Young Adult) genre by having Katniss confused about her emotions and feelings for both Gale and Peeta. But the book does a good job at not making “a boy” the primary motivations for her decisions. She tells Gale that she can't think about him (or Peeta) in a romantic way with everything going on around her. Meanwhile, Peeta tries to deal with his feelings for Katniss by being just friends, something that ultimately endears him to her. The character of Gale is more present in this book, showing the separation of friendship between two characters that are grasping to maintain their old way of life. This is where Gale starts to get more involved in standing up against the Capitol, with a differing philosophy than Katniss, something that slowly drives a wedge between the two.

What Collins does in this book is solidify Katniss' realization that she has changed everything and there is no going back to her old life. After finding out that she will be going back into the hunger games, she has to make a choice, and that is to protect Peeta, at all costs. A sign that she really does love and care for him. One of the standouts of this book are the new characters that it introduces. We get a few characters that move on to the next book, mainly Finnick Odair, Johanna Mason and Beetee. Three past victors that ally with Katniss in the arena as part of the rebellion. Finnick is one of my favorite characters from this trilogy and he's introduced here as charismatic and beloved by the Capitol.

One thing I love about this book is that it opens up the world of Panem to the reader, providing more details about the districts and their victors. With the introduction of the Quarter Quell, Collins gives details about the past Hunger Games Quarter Quells, as well as some of the previous victors and how they won their games. We learn that Haymitch is the victor of the 2^nd Quarter Quell, and we find out how he won the games and what he went through. It provides some context into who Haymitch is as a person, and why he drinks alcohol.

The narrative structure doesn't flow as well as the first book, due to inserting various scenes and information about the other districts, the Capitol and past victors. A lot of time is spent on expanding the world, which immerses the reader, but sacrifices the flow of the story. There is also more time spent in District 12 showing Katniss', Peeta and Haymitch's life after the ending of the first book. While these details are great it slows the pace of the story. The book also feels divided in two, with the first half, taking place mostly in District 12 and the second half in the arena. The story takes place over months which makes the 391 page book feel longer.

When I first read The Hunger Games trilogy, I loved Catching Fire and it was my favorite of the three. Upon revisiting the trilogy, I have come to enjoy the simplistic narrative structure of the first book more than the world building done in the second book. While there is much to love about Catching Fire, I think there are some extraneous details that are noticeable on a second reading, especially knowing where Katniss' journey ends.

Review of The Hunger Games (Book)

Review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My first exposure to The Hunger Games was in 2011 when my sister recommended that I read the book. However, it wasn't until the first movie was announced that I decided to take her advice. I literally finished the book, an hour before I saw the movie in theatres with my sister. That's when my love for The Hunger Games franchise started. Since then I have read the books three times and have watched the movies at least five or six times each. Author Suzanne Collins created a world and a story that captures my attention and imagination. In preparation for the new book The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel sixty-four years before Katniss volunteers, I decided to re-read The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

Collins structures all of her books into three parts, each part represents a big change in the characters' storty. The Hunger Games parts are: Tribute, The Games, and Victor. The first part of the book sets up Katniss' character, her district and the entire process of the hunger games. This includes the ceremony, known as the reaping, where the children (or tributes) are chosen to compete in the games, the train ride to the Capital, the opening ceremony of the games and the training center. The second part is focused on Katniss' survival in the hunger games arena, making allies with a little girl named Rue and helping Peeta heal his injured leg. The third part is about how Katniss and Peeta win the hunger games and are crown “victors”, leaving the ending ambiguous.

The story is told strictly from her point of view primarily in present tense, but there are several key moments and details recalled in flashbacks. Collins does a great job to immerse the reader into the world of Panem and give a genuine account of Katniss' experience. We are introduced to each character as Katniss encounters them. The characters that inhabit Panem are a big part of what I love about the books.

The story deals with oppression and morality. The districts are oppressed by the Capital, and the Capital uses fear and the hunger games to control the districts. The book explores what happens when someone defies the Capital, the consequences both positive and negative. It raises an interesting question about a person's own moral compass when faced with competing in the hunger games. Peeta brings up the idea that if he dies in the arena, he wants to die as himself rather than be changed by the Capital. Essentially, he means that he would keep his morality, and not kill unless attacked. If the only way to win is to kill the opponent, then is it better to live knowing you killed a person, or die because you refused to? An interesting philosophical theme that reoccurs throughout the trilogy. A theme that seems very applicable in today's society.

While the main story of the first book heavily centers on the actual event of the hunger games, it also sets up the “love triangle” between Katniss, Peeta and her best friend Gale. Unlike most young adult fiction, the books don't really delve into the romance angle of Katniss' male relationships. In fact, Katniss mentions to Gale that she can't even think about being with him or Peeta in that way, until the war with the Capital is over. I find this more interesting, because it's not about who Katniss' is going to chose, but rather develops her relationships with both boys in a way that feels natural. It's not until after she takes down the Capital that she makes her decision based on the men that both Gale and Peeta have become after the events of the series.

The Hunger Games is probably my favorite series, and the first book is my favorite in the series. I think that the pacing in this book and the narrative story telling is executed very well. The book stays focused on Katniss and her mission to win the hunger games. Collins only reveals details that are essential to the story and we get only hints about the other districts in Panem. While I love the world building done in Catching Fire there is something about the simplicity of the first book that I believe makes for a great reading experience. Even the ending is left somewhat open ended. It can be read as a standalone story and that's what I love about it.

*One of my favorite quotes is from Effie Trinkett, “put enough pressure on coals, they turn to pearls”. A great quote that refers to the old saying about coal turning into diamonds, not entirely true, but it shows the level on intellect in the Capital to not correct Effie.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Review

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Review

This is a delightful, heartwarming movie that is not about Mr. Rogers. The movie is about the journalist Lloyd Vogel witnessing the pure kindness of Mr. Rogers and how his influence changes how he deals with his own personal issues. The movie is framed as an episode of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood with the opening of the show introducing us to Lloyd Vogel.

Throughout the movie, we cut back to this fake episode that is playing out like a dream for Lloyd. The movie deals with the elements of the show, the puppet characters, and even the mailman with the "how it's made" segment. Tom Hanks is so good as Fred Rogers, I loved him as Walt Disney in Savings Mr. Banks, even better here. Matthew Rhys does a great job as the main character, Llyod Vogel. In a small supporting role Susan Kelechi Watson, playing Andrea Vogel, does a wonderful job with the little she's given.

It's a movie about a man with anger and little faith in humanity overcoming those issues after seeing the real pure effect that Mr. Rogers has on the people around him. Through learning that Mr. Rogers is just a person with problems, but learning how to deal with those and overcome them, Lloyd gains a new perspective on his own life and his relationship with his father that abandoned him as a child. A good quote in the movie is when Llyod asks Mrs. Rogers, "what's it like to be married to a living saint?" She responds by saying that she doesn't consider Fred a saint because that makes it seem like who he is, is unattainable, which means that anyone can be a kind, generous, caring humanitarian just like Mr. Rogers, if they are willing to do the work.

Not knowing what to expect with this film, I was surprised how touching and heartwarming it is. I think a lot of people can relate to Llyod's character and his journey of acceptance to his current life situation. It's a powerful message about dealing with your personal problems and treating people with compassion in order to create happiness in your life. This movie makes you appreciate and view the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood show in a way that highlights the values of the show. There was a wonderful documentary called Won't You Be My Neighbor about Mr. Rogers, and this is a great companion piece to that film. I highly recommend it.

The Joy Luck Club - Book Review

The Joy Luck Club Review

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan is wonderful tale about the hardships of mother-daughter relationships. I once had to read an excerpt chapter for a class, and I was immediately intrigued by the characters and story. I remember when I was a kid, my mom used to watch the movie, so I had known of this book for some time. When I go to thrift stores I like to browse the book section to see if anything catches my eye. I saw that they had a fairly good condition paperback of The Joy Luck Club. So I bought it! A good addition to my growing library.

One thing that I do love is the narrative flow of the story. Everything feels like it is in continuity with each other even though it bounces back from present to flashbacks, and between different characters perspectives. Each chapter adds to the overall story. At it's heart the book is about the connection and disconnection between mothers and daughters and the influence that American culture has had on the second generation of women.

The present day story

is set during the 1950's in San Francisco, and the flashbacks go all the way back to the 1920's in China. Each of the four mothers share their experiences growing up in China. They share stories about their different experiences; such as having to give up twin babies and being in an arranged marriage. The mothers also share stories about how they grew up disconnected from their own mothers.

Author Amy Tan does a great job not only showing the generational gap between the mothers and daughters, but also the evolution of the mother-daughter relationship from China to America. The story is told in four parts, and each part has four entries. This represents the four mother-daughter relationships that are revealed throughout the book, with the exception on one character that has passed away at the start of the story. Each character reflects on their relationship with their mother, and how that has affected their current relationships, either with their daughters, or the daughter with their family and husbands.

The book does a great job of showing the condition of life in China during the 1920's – 1940's. Each story provides sympathy for the mothers, who from the daughters' point of view seem strict, conservative and unemotional. The main story line revolves around the June Woo and the death of her mother. The ending where June is reunited with her long-lost half sisters in China, is very touching and even brought tears to my eyes. Tan is a tremendous writer that conveys the struggles of Chinese-Americans in the 1950's and the generational struggles between mothers and daughters. This is a book that women of all ages can relate to and enjoy.

The Call of the Wild-Movie Review

The Call of the Wild (2020) Movie Review

Based on the book by Jack London, The Call of the Wild is the story of a dog going from a domestic, spoiled life in the city, through an adventure in the Alaskan wilderness to find where he truly belongs. This is an adventure film for the whole family, harking back to the old Disney adventure films, like Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea or Swiss Family Robinson. 

There are several notable actors throughout the film, but the main lead is Harrison Ford, who gives a great performance despite acting alongside a CGI dog. His relationship with the dog, Buck, is touching and heartwarming. They both find where they truly belong in the world, and go in peace. Buck takes an incredible journey from his pampered life in the city, to being an Alaskan sled dog, to helping Harrison Ford's character recover from his loss.

Besides Harrison Ford, there are several notable actors throughout the film. Omar Sy, has the second biggest role, and does a great job playing the leader of the dog sled that delivers the mail. There are other actors that I was surprised to see pop up as well. But the story is always about Buck, and the character growth he has throughout the movie.

While this isn't the best family film, there is a lot to like about this movie, including the importance of having a connection, be it man and dog, man and family, or dog and other animals, we are all searching for our connection to the world. 

That's the true message of the film and there were a few teary eyed moments throughout. Having not read the book, I cannot speak to how true it stays to the source material. It may not be a Christmas film, but if you need a family movie to pop on during the winter months, give this one a shot.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

                           Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Finally, I have completed the Lord of the Rings trilogy movies! It only took about four months. Since I was watching the over four hour long extended edition it was hard to find the time to sit down for that long. But I wanted to start off the New Year by finishing the movies. I went into this one with less anticipation than I did The Two Towers, but I wound up enjoying this movie even more. The only things that I had remembered from this movie were the giant spider scene and that the endings went on forever. So, not knowing much, I didn't know what to expect from this film. It continues from The Two Towers more so than The Two Towers picked up after The Fellowship, so I like the continuation of the story.

I loved the opening of the movie, giving us the back story of Gollum/Smeagal. It's a very tragic tale and so sad how he became so easily consumed by the ring. The fact that he dies trying to hold onto the ring as it is destroyed in Mount Doom is terrible but also poetic. Poor Gollum. I love his inner turmoil between his two persona's.

We finish quickly with Sarumon and worm tongue and then Gandalf goes off with Pippin to Gondor. While Aragorn stays in Rohan trying to rally the troops to fight. There's a whole quest with him, Gimli and Legolas recruiting the ghost soldiers into fighting with them in order to break their curse. One thing I have noticed about these three movies, it how well the visual effects are executed. The ghost soldiers look so real and the combination of practical and CGI effects work perfectly. I really enjoy the friendly rivalry between Gimli and Legolas, they provide the perfect about of comedy in these films.

As for the hobbits, I love the brave and courageous journey that all four of them go on in this film. From Pippin serving with Gandolf and doing the right thing stadning up to Denethor, to Merry wanting to fight in the battle. Sam not giving up on Frodo and the two of them making it to the top of Mount Doom to destroy the ring. It's no wonder Aragorn says they bow to no one, they are just as every bit of hero as Aragorn, Legolas, Gandolf and Gimli are in these movies.

Having not remembered much of this movie, there were a lot of surprises and some vaguely familiar elements, like the ghosts, and the Denethor character who is not really a good guy. I had completely forgotten the Faramir chraracter but I like him ending up with Eowyn, even though I liked her crush on Aragorn. One thing that I got very wrong in these three movies was the use of the Arwen character, I had thought she was in a lot more of these movies then she actually is. However, I like her decision to give up her immortality to be with Aragorn.

Speaking of Aragorn, A.K.A, Stryder, A.K.A the true king of Gondor, I love his journey from being hesitant to even join in the fight against the dark lord Sauron, to him rightfully claiming his place on the throne of Gondor. It's such a great story arc and I love the ending of this movie, everything form the tree of Gondor blooming to Arwen to the people bowing to the Hobbits. That's the perfect ending to this trilogy.

As for the multiple endings to the movie, it's more of an epilogue to the Hobbits story. I love that Sam gets his happy ending with Rosie. I had forgotten that Frodo and Bilbo went off to live with the Elves. It's a great few scenes that bring us back to the Shire, which is a great bookened to the journey that these characters have gone through in this Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Watching the extended editions of these movies has been interesting, considering I don't remember the theatrical editions all that well. So, I'm not sure what parts were added into the movies and if they made an impact story or not. Next time I will watch the theatrical versions but I really enjoyed watching these movies. I think that the movie I enjoy the most is The Fellowship of the Ring, but the best story is in Return of the King. Going into these movies I had thought The Two Towers was my favorite, but now it's my least favorite of this trilogy, with the exception that I love the Battle at Helm's Deep.

So, while it took a long time to get through The Lord of the Rings movies, I am very happy that I watched them. It's a great story, about friendship, finding one's identity and standing up for what's right in the world. I have not read the books, because I know they can be a bit dense and dry, but I will get around to reading them some day. If only to get more out of the story. The world that J.R.R. Tolkien has created is rich and full of interesting chraracters. As for the Hobbit movies, well, I have seen the first two, but not in any hurry to watch those movies. Right now, I'll just enjoy the marvel that is the original Lord of the Rings trilogy.

CW Arrow/Flash Crossover podcast leading up to Crisis on Infinite Earths

Available on PodBean and YouTube

https://FlashFanLit.podbean.com/mf/play/jct66n/CrossoverIntroEpFinal.mp3

YouTube http://bit.ly/33XWe00

The Rise of Skywalker Movie Review

Star Wars-Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker

Even though I'm not the biggest fan of the Star Wars movies, I do enjoy watching them. My favorite being The Empire Strikes Back and I really liked The Force Awakens. Unfortunately The Last Jedi was a let down, so I was unsure of how I would react to The Rise of Skywalker. But I went in with an open mind, and surprisingly I really enjoyed this movie. Not the best of Star Wars but I don't think it's the worst either.

I know there are a lot of people that don't like this movie, and yes, it does have problems and plot holes that don't make sense. The return of the Emperor and Rey being his granddaughter doesn't make much sense, but it also doesn't bother me. What I like about this movie is the adventure, going from planet to planet and meeting new characters. I love Babu Frik! So cute and hilarious a much needed source of humor for the movie. I also liked Keri Russel's Zorri character, and I really liked the new Jannah character, and how she works well with Finn.

With the unfortunate passing of Carrie Fisher, it was going to be tricky anyway they chose to handle Leia. Personally, I think it's fine in the movie, reusing old footage, but it doesn't allow for the character to have any personal arc. That said, it's great seeing Carrie Fisher here in the last of the Skywalker saga movies. The surprise appearance of Han Solo was also welcomed by me.

Now the choice to redeem Kylo Ren I thought was rushed, I don't mind redeeming him especially since he died. But I don't feel his motivations for turning to the light side when he starts out the movie very deep in the dark side of the force. If maybe he was told Anakin's story of how he turned to the light and defeated the emperor (since Vader was his hero) that could have given him the last push that he needed since he was clearly conflicted throughout the whole new trilogy.

As for the other characters, I really enjoyed what they did with Finn and Poe in this movie, since I didn't really care for them in the other movies, and hated what they did with them in The Last Jedi. I liked giving Poe more back story and his relationship with Zorri, I really loved Finn and Jannah's connection and I liked what they did with C3PO. Speaking of the droids, I don't like how these new movies have sidelined R2D2 in favor of the adorable BB8, but we get a new droid in this movie Dio, who is kind of annoying and mostly useless. I wish we would have got more R2D2 but the good C3PO story works I guess.

As for Rey, the main character of the new trilogy, I feel like this movie skipped a few chapters in her character development. I also don't care for her relationship with Kylo Rey. I do like where Rey's character ends up at the end of the film. Overall, I think this new trilogy did a bad job at setting up the new characters and giving the old characters a satisfying ending. While I did enjoy this movie and would watch it over some other Star Wars movies. There's a lot great scenes in this that I liked and I walked out of the threatre having had a good time. So, yes there's problems with this movie, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying the movie.

CW Arrow/Flash Crossover podcast leading up to Crisis on Infinite Earths

Available on PodBean and YouTube

https://FlashFanLit.podbean.com/mf/play/jct66n/CrossoverIntroEpFinal.mp3

http://bit.ly/33XWe00

New Years Reading Challenge Tips

Reading Challenge for 2020

The New Year brings a new challenge to readers. How many books can you read this year? If you are like me, it can be hard finding time to read a book. And excuses are no actual reason for not reading. My goal is to re-read a few books, read a couple of classics, and read three new books, so about ten books total. On top of all of the short stories I plan on reading. Not sure if I'll make this goal, but here are a few tips we all can implement in order to accomplish our reading goals this year!

Audiobooks

Time is hard to come by these days, so what better way to consume books than by listening to them? There are lots of places to find free audiobooks to download. Try your local libraries and various online sites (see the link below). Audiobooks are a great way to get through books, on long drives, doing chores, working out or waiting in line at the doctor's office.

Ebooks

Similarly to audiobooks ebooks can be read on the go, waiting in lines and such. Lots of books can be stored on ebook readers and that can help you keep track on what books you are reading.

Enjoy you books

Sometimes you can't tell if you're only to like a book based on the cover or jacket. But trying to push through a book that doesn't capture your attention can cause you to go days or weeks without reading. If a book is not working for you, put it down and pick up a new book. Keep reading books that you enjoy and you will get through more books in the year.

Read a book instead of watching TV

Now days there is so much content on TV that it can be easy to just sit down on the couch and watch a show. However, if you have an hour to watch TV you could spend that time reading a couple of chapters of a book. So, next time you think about watching a show, stop and consider if your time is better spent reading instead.

Read before you go to Bed

Most people like to relax right before they go to bed, so instead of playing on your phone, open a book. Reading can be a soothing way to fall asleep. Even if you can only get through a few pages before you past out, that a few more pages than you had read.

Mix it up!

Fiction novels aren't the only things you can read this year. To avoid getting repetitive or stale in your reading, try mixing up the genres. You can read fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, collections of short stories or even poetry. Keeping your reading diverse will help you stay engaged and allow you to continue to read without getting bored.

Be sure to check out this article from Goodreads for personal goals and stories from several readers. Feel free to post you goals down below. Happy New Year everyone! 2020!

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1751-super-readers-share-their-best-tips-to-read-more-in-2020?content_type=all

Free Audiobooks
https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/books/ Classics
Free 30 days with Audible.com and Scribd.com
Amazon Prime certain books have free audio such as the short story collection Forward. 

CW Arrow/Flash Crossover podcast leading up to Crisis on Infinite Earths

Available on PodBean and YouTube

https://FlashFanLit.podbean.com/mf/play/jct66n/CrossoverIntroEpFinal.mp3

http://bit.ly/33XWe00