Monday, February 29, 2016

February 29th | Weekly Wrap Up #32 (+ accidental discussion)

It's been a weird week. I decided to take part in a readathon: #5Books7Days, and I also decided to reread something. Mostly because I haven't been reading, I hadn't finished any books this month before this week. And, because of what I ended up rereading, I have a feeling I'll be trying to make sense in the "stuff" section and failing at it.

Books: (finished / actively reading)
Paper Girls #5 by Brian K Vaughn, Cliff Chiang (5/5)
The end of the first story arc, and we don't get a new issue until June. If you haven't read this series - I highly recommend it. It's so good and really damn weird at points. I'm really enjoying it.

And here we are, to what I reread (so far) this week. I'm going to just list them and then put general thoughts under it.

City of Bones (TMI #1) by Cassie Clare (4/5)
City of Ashes (TMI #2) by Cassie Clare (4/5)
City of Glass (TMI #3) by Cassie Clare (4/5)

So I first read this series (and literally just this, what was then, a trilogy), when I was in middle school about? I read the first two before the third came out and had to wait for it, that was torture. And I'm not sure what it is about the books, characters, but I know it's definitely related to that. I really love this series, though not as much as Infernal Devices, which we'll get to. Honestly - a lot of the time Clary drives me a little crazy, but mostly because of the decisions she makes. And how they never seem to really lay everything out.

Obviously I started this reread because the show started at the beginning of the year - and I hadn't really started watching it until this month. And, personally, I don't think it's... good? But it is definitely entertaining, seeing the changes they've made and some of the truly awful effects added. The weird chemistry. Anyway - it made me want to reread the books. I did the summer before last so I could read the last book in the TMI series, and they're - I don't know. I also wouldn't call them good, but they're interesting. And the world is pretty interesting and complex enough to hold that interest. I honestly don't know, why I love these books so much, especially considering the problems I have with the author (which we'll talk about down below).

Clockwork Angel (ID #1) by Cassie Clare (4/5)
Clockwork Prince (ID #2) by Cassie Clare (5/5)

I enjoy this series so much more then The Mortal Instruments and I think for a few reasons. The characters are more mature - in some areas, less mature in others. I don't know why, maybe it's because I like Tessa more then Clary - mostly because I identify with her more, I might not like Dickens as much as her (having not finished a full book by him yet) but I do love books. And I also like all the characters we meet and that live in the institute and such. I mean, obviously - Tessa, Will, Jem, but I also really like the other ones.

And, this is a weird thing, but I like how painful it is - starting in the second book, but more in the third one. They way they all are, and how Jem's health is, they're all just in constant pain from their emotions, basically. And this is a love triangle that, for some reason, I don't mind - and I won't say my main reason for it here, because spoilers. However - if you don't like TMI, give this series a try.

I think I'm going to continue with my reread, might as well since I'm this far, and I've never read the Magnus short story thing. However, I'm so torn about this - my love for this series, posting I'm reading about it places. I mentioned it on the first picture I posted this week, and I've been trying to write a whole discussion post about it - but I'm just going to put it here I guess.

Stuff:
Like I said, I've been working on a discussion post. Mostly trying to talk about my relationship with the TMI/ID series and Clare herself - mostly because I started watching the show, again like I already said, and I've been thinking about it.

If you're unsure why the hell I would dislike her - plagiarism. Just google it, I'm not going to spell it out here. It rubs me all the wrong ways, though, because it seems so damn disgusting - as a writer, and imagining someone stealing my words, makes me very angry. However, I fell in love with her series before I knew all of that (ironically, since I was actually in the HP fan fic community at the time, just not on that site). And so I guess that's how you separate the art from the artist, at least the only really way I can, is to have fallen in love with the world they write in before knowing.

Saying that all - for some reason - I'm not going to stop reading her work. Maybe if my favorite character wasn't going to appear in her new series, I'd be able to just say whatever and let it go (I would say who it is but spoilers, but I think there might be some guesses, former silent brothers, guys. Anyway), but I want to see what happens. I just plain do.

And I know for some people it doesn't bother them, or they've made up a defense for her in their head since they like her work, but I can't do that. Especially with the new claim that came out (was that this month or last? It was pretty recent. Also google, educate yourselves about what's up with this). So it annoys me, but mostly I'm annoyed at myself.

However - I don't think I should have to be. Sure, she appears not to be a very good person considering all of that, but why should that affect how much I enjoy her work? It should, considering it's directly linked to her work. But I've kind of decided, while keeping that in mind, that I just can't keep worrying about it, I just can't, because I'm going to keep reading her books - characters, I get very attached to them. Even then - since I'm writing this all out - obviously I'm having a hard time trying to get past it.

And now that I've rambled - and, even reading it over, am not sure any of that makes sense - now I'm curious - do you care? Did you know about this before? Am I over-thinking this (yes, but I over think everything. Anxiety).

Monday, February 8, 2016

February 8th | Weekly Wrap Up #31

First weekly wrap up of the month and it's full of comics - trades, single issues - and I read most of them before learning that it's #ComicsFebruary apparently. I guess I can be on board with that, considering, and it's not like I'm not super behind in single issues (even having read a good few this week. Next week I want to read more but also finish a book or two before I'm behind for wanting to read 100 in 2016 (100 just books, not counting single issues, maybe trades but hoping not to).

Reading: (finished this week and actively currently-reading)
Rick and Morty, Volume 1 by Zac Gorman, CJ Cannon (4/5)
If you haven't watched season 1 and 2 of Rick and Morty and have a strange, morbid sense of humor, or can like that kind of humor, you should probably watch Rick and Morty. It's ridiculous and just kind of a lot of fun.

Paper Girls #1 - 4 by Brian K Vaughan, Cliff Chiang (4/5) (5/5)
There's been a lot of excitement and love that I've seen about this series, and so I picked up the first few issues - thinking why not, I've liked a lot of the things Vaughan has done, and holy shit I was not expecting this series at all, let alone how much I really freaking loved it. I have no idea what it was about it, well I kind of do, but I highly suggest going into this series knowing as a little as possible. Four girls who deliver papers in the late eighties, and stuff happens. Read

Pop (#1-4) by Curt Pires, Jason Copland (2/5)
I had really high hopes for this mini series, but finally getting around to it - it just really fell short. I don't know what it was, but I guess I was kind of expecting more? It was still fun and interesting, but not what I expected at all.

Monstress #1, #2, & #3 by Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda (5/5)
Okay. I don't think I can talk about this without just going oh my god it was so good you need to read it. But I'm going to try. The first issue is 72 pages, the start of an all new fantasy series and it's incredible and amazing and she's so angry. And I just really love when female characters are angry? When they're allowed to be angry. (Also if you've got any written by female comic reccs, I've realized how male my comic reading is. Please help).

Hawkeye vs. Deadpool by Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli (3/5)
This was interesting - and Fraction's Hawkeye(s), my favorite kind. (Though, one reason I love comics - different universes/different versions).  Anyway - this was more fun then I expected and had some moments that made me laugh, but, overall, wasn't something I was super in love with.

Stuff:
Two of my favorite YouTubers/Booktubers who I've been watching for years and year, made videos together this month (yay!): How to Get Back into Reading and How to get Organized & Get Shit Done. They're both long, discussion type videos but very, very good. Highly recommended. The first of these videos, the reading one, was kind of perfectly time because I'd just started working on my own discussion-y post about my recent reading like.

On a totally different subject - I watch BrownMan (Ray) replay Bioshock because I will watch anyone and everyone play Bioshock, I love that game. His playthrough was interesting since he kind of plowed through it.

Also finally got around to watching some Broadway con stuff like, for instance, the Hamilton panel. This started because I ended up watching my friend Jenny's BroadwayCon video (which you should def check out, that cats costume always blows me away a little. Mostly because I rarely find the motivation to put on eyeliner myself. And she looks incredible).

And this week I also did the 'keep track of the time I spent reading' thing and spent significantly less time then the week before (also spent almost an hour of it reading Hawkeye vs Deadpool, for some reason I was at a slow reading speed, must just of been tired. 3 hours, 42 minutes overall for this week, which is nothing, but I just wasn't in the mood. (Rant incoming)

(That isn't true - I was for certain things but I'm trying to finish Six of Crows, which I read some of this week, so I can move onto another book. But I also want to reread a bunch of things currently - either just for fun or because I want to continue with the series. For instance - City of Bones by Cassie Clare. I could probably write a whole discussion post about this series. Mostly, though nostalgia because started reading this one a bit after the 2nd one came out, so had to wait for the third, and kind of been reading ever since. They're not amazing but they're fun - kind of where it starts and ends for me with the series, I just adore the characters. Ironically, pretty much everyone more then Jace and Clary. It came up because I watched the newest episode of the TV show - which honestly isn't really... good, but I'm enjoying it? - and Magnus/Alec scenes. Also want to reread The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks so it's fresh in my mind and I can continue to the next ones, I remember less then I should for it being so recent, just a little over a year ago).

Besides me rambling about books and such - how was your week? What did you read / what've you been up to?

On the blog:

February 1st | Weekly Wrap Up #30
January 2016 | Monthly Wrap Up

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

January 2016 | Monthly Wrap Up

January was a good reading month - and started out as a good month period, which I am very thankful for. But the last week hasn't been going so well - physically mentally. I mentioned it in the wrap up I put up February 1st (wrapping up the last two weeks of January), but mostly it just plain wasn't a good one.

Also a pretty good one blog wise, though - I got some posts up, beginning of the year push with the beginning of the year posts. And I've got a discussion post I've been turning over and over in my head, just my ability to focus to get it written down has not been good the last week or two, being in pain does that to me. (How am I doing this right now? I have no idea, but I'm going with it)

Now - onto what I read this month, sticking with splitting it up.

Books:
  • The Grownup by Gillian Flynn (3/5)
  • Summer of Surrender by Zara Stoneley (2/5)
  • Restraint (Away We Go #2) by Charlotte Stein (2/5)
  • A Gentleman in the Streets (Campbell Simblings #1) by Alisha Rai (4/5)
  • The Queen (White Years #4) by Tiffany Reisz (5/5)
  • Star Wars: Before the Awakening by Greg, Rucka, Phil Noto (4.5/5)
  • Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3) by Patrick Ness (5/5)
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling (5/5)
  • The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster (4/5)
  • Playing the Game (Neighborly Affection #1) by M.Q. Barber (2/5)
  • 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write by Sarah Ruhl (4/5)
  • Crossing the Lines (Neighborly Affection #2) by M.Q. Barber (3/5)
Graphic Novels/Trades:
  • The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Volume 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North, Erica Henderson (3/5)
  • Ms. Marvel, Volume 4: Last Days by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona (5/5)
  • Coffin Hill, Volume 1: Forest of the Night by Caitlin Kitteredge, Inaki Miranda
  • Coffin Hill, Volume 2: Dark Endeavors by Caitlin Kittredge, Inaki Miranda
  • Coffin Hill, Volume 3: Haunted Houses by Caitlin Kitteredge, Inaki Mirand
Single Issues:
  • Black Canary #6 by Brenden Fletcher, Annie Wu
  • Captain America: White #5 by Jeph, Leob, Tim Sale
  • The Wicked and the Divine #17 by Kieron Gillen, Brandon Graham
  • Wayward #12 by Jim Zub, Steve Cummings
  • Injection #6 by Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey (4/5)
  • Wolf #5 by Ales Kot (3/5)
  • Wayward #13 Jim Zub, Steven Cummings (4/5)
Overall I read - 12 books, 5 trades, 7 single issues. And I mostly enjoyed everything I read. I don't want to talk about everything too in depth, I did that already in my weekly wrap ups, but I'll say a few things and be quick. 

Book stand outs - A Gentleman in the Streets was not expected at all, a book I bought and read within a few hours, and was pleasantly surprised. The Queen, of course, was fantastic - and I hope she writes more in this world, from these characters or not. Both Star Wars books were interesting. And so glad I finally finished 100 Essays... it was fantastic, but a book I had to slowly absorb, and that I put aside for a little while in the middle.

Really enjoyed reading the Coffin Hill series, volume 1 a reread but I didn't remember anything from it.  And was kind of disappointed in Squirrel Girl after hearing so much good about it.But I am so glad that Injection is back and cannot wait for the next issues. Wayward continues to be gorgeous. Also, was a little disappointed in the last issue of Cap: White, but it was still good.

Overall a good reading month. I'd love to hear what you guys have been up to, what you've been reading! Especially anything positive - or not, but I do hope your last week was better then mine. And let me know if you've read, or would like to read, any of the books I mentioned. Let's talk books!

Monday, February 1, 2016

February 1st | Weekly Wrap Up #30

The last two weeks of January wrapped up - I was going to keep up with the weekly ones, but I hadn't read much and I wasn't feeling good (still not feeling good, we'll get to that later), and I'd only read two things so I was like eh. Got a few more things now, hopefully not too many.

Reading: (finished this week and actively currently-reading)
Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3) by Patrick Ness (5/5)
I mostly listened to this one on audio, and so it was pretty slow going, but it was so damn awesome.  I want to reread this series from the beginning this year. Definitely recommended.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling (5/5)
Do I need to say anything, honestly?

The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster (4/5)
This was super interesting to read because there were a few things just a little different then the movie. (Which makes sense, I guess, since he probably got the script for it to come out on the same day as the movie. Still - interesting). It was also fun, but I kind of wished we'd gotten more scenes that we knew happened but that weren't in the movie. Ah, well.

Injection #6 by Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey (4/5)
I love this series, I'm so glad we're getting issues again. So excited for more.

Wolf #5 by Ales Kot (3/5)
This series is still interesting enough that I haven't dropped it from my pull list, but it feels a little confusion for me, but I am looking forward to the next issue

100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write by Sarah Ruhl (4/5)
I really enjoyed this. It took me longer to read then I would of liked, but I did just really enjoy it. I'm not super into the behind the scenes of plays, but it was even more interesting to see just a bit kind of behind the curtains. And the way she talked about things in such a condensed fashion. Fantastic, really.

Wayward #13 Jim Zub, Steven Cummings (4/5)
I started crying at the end of this - not even because of anything in the issue itself, but because of the little aside to Shigure Mizuki at the end, I didn't even know he'd passed. I really need to read more of his things. About the actual issue, though - gorgeous coloring, as always, and looking forward to more.

Playing the Game (Neighborly Affection #1) (2/5)Crossing the Lines (Neighborly Affection #2) by M.Q. Barber (3/5)
This series is fun so far - my pet peeves about it so far (for both books, really): the fact that in the first book, at the beginning, it isn't explained well to Alice, who is new and everything. But most of all is their inability to talk about things sometimes, and how bad Henry is at dealing with that part of it at points. Just speak the words - to be fair, Alice isn't being truthful, which causes problems. Will probably continue with this series, though (it's on Scribd, been my ebook read).

Stuff:
We'll start with the not feeling well - I haven't been feeling well this whole week. Physically, mentally - just been a shitty fucking week, to be blunt. (The week before was slightly better). So it hasn't been a great week, overall, and focusing with everything else hasn't been very good. So I'm honestly surprised at getting any reading done.

Besides that, I did get some reading done. I also decided to see how much time I spent reading during the week. I just thought it'd be interesting so this is the time: 7 hours, 34 minutes. It feels like such a small amount of time considering the good amount of reading I feel like I got done. I finished four books this week, along with reading some from other (I think, though not a lot, a few pages), and three single issues. All in less then eight hours.

And, considering how shitty and awful my week was otherwise - I feel really good about that, it makes everything a little better.

I'm hoping this week will be better, but I don't think it will be physically. Maybe mentally, though, feeling a tad better there.  How was your week? Let me know what you read or talk to me about the things I read!

On the blog: