articles

Public Scrutiny Destroyed Jennifer Lawrence. Now She Wants To Win Us Back.

Link to article here.
I fantasize that in another life, I write cultural analysis articles. I love examining entertainment and celebrity and analyzing how it reflects and influences our world. I still remember finding Anne Helen Petersen in college back when she had a blog(!!!) and had just finished her PhD(!!!). I've always been inspired by her work, and this article (while not written by her) reminds me a lot of the work she would do.

books

Note: these are organized in the order I read them.

Fiction

Circe by Madeline Miller

The first two weeks of this month I was on a cruise, and I got so much reading done. I also read Song of Achilles with my partner. I have to say I do prefer Song of Achilles over Circe, Song of Achilles has a bit of a tighter structure by virtue of the fact that Patroclus is mortal whereas Circe is immortal. In addition, the ending of Song of Achilles is sooo good. I will say that I did enjoy how Circe explored a woman coming into her own power, however.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

I wanted to like Piranesi so much. For one, it was my recommendation from Mr. B's, and second, there are so many rave reviews of Piranesi. I just...didn't like it, though. I found the narrator's voice naive and annoying, and I just didn't *get* the book. I might just not be smart enough.

Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket

I LOOOVE Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler). This particular book is his take on philosophy. While reading the book, I had no idea where it was going, but was just luxuriating in his writing style. The ending is a bit...um okay but overall I still really enjoyed this book just because Lemony Snicket is just so clever and humorous.

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

This book had its genesis as a fanfiction, and you can definitely feel that (not in a bad way). I found the book a bit uneven but very charming.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I stumbled upon this listicle and discovered her non-Graceling Realm book, Jane, Unlimited. On a whim, I decided to reread Graceling, and y'all, I forgot how much this book slaps. The plot and the writing are both so strong, or as a review said, "Some authors can tell a good story; some can write well. Cashore is one of the rare novelists who do both." I’m just in awe and luxuriating in Kristin Cashore’s writing ability and so lucky I have a whopping five additional books I get to read from her (Fire; Bitterblue; Winterkeep; Seasparrow; and Jane, Unlimited, 3 books which I hadn't realized existed, plus she has a graphic novel of Graceling now!). The beginning of the novel is written so grippingly and suspensfully. Katsa is such a strong female character, and Po is such an amazing feminist partner. Their chemistry is so amazing and off the charts.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Y'all...I am not a fan of this book. I was anticipating a lot due to the rave reviews and the fact that there is a whopping 4,000 people on the waitlist for this book on Libby at NYPL. I will say the narrator's voice is really interesting, very detached and unsparing. The descriptions of game making are very interesting. I do feel like the book is a bit overly long and unfocused. The two main characters are very unlikeable. Also the ending I feel like kind of negated the main theme that the book was going for?

All the Wrong Questions Series by Lemony Snicket

I finally finished this series! I will say I do prefer the original A Series of Unfortunate Events over All the Wrong Questions series, but it was still a good time, especially the last book, which was a train mystery. The ending was a bit disquieting and solitary but very fitting for Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler)'s style in this universe.

Nonfiction

The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink

Really excellent, I strongly recommend. The book first studies the types of regret people typically have, then moves on to how this can inform our behavior. Initially I kind of pooh-poohed the latter efforts but was pleasantly surprised by the conclusions that the author came to. Daniel Pink is an interesting thinker and good writer (clear, concise, imaginative).

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

While this memoir didn't completely resonate with me, I thought it was really well done.

tv shows

Peak Time

Y'all, this show is so much fun! I looove Kyuhyun as a judge, and I love the supportive atmosphere between the contestant groups. I also love the lack of the Mnet evil edit.
Episode 1:
Standout performances include team 8:00 (DKB) and 13:00 (BAE173).

music

The Alchemist by La Poem

La Poem are alchemists with how beautiful their singing is. "Find the Light" is gorgeous. "The Fire," the title track, is not my favorite off the album but it's a bop. Highly recommend this music show performance which was apparently the second most-viewed performance that week. Go La Poem! I LOVE LOVE LOVE "Anchor" as mentioned in my media round-up from February. "We'll Stay" is sooo beautiful. Anyway stan La Poem. My bias is Choi Sunghoon.

Circle by SHINee's Onew

I quite liked Onew's first album Voice. I have yet to check out Dice, but I am big fan of Circle. Favorite tracks include "Circle," "Rain on Me," and "Expectations," although the entire album is excellent.

Rover by EXO's Kai

I was not the biggest fan of the song on first listen, but then, as many K-pop songs do, a la EXO's Monster, "Rover" said "I'm creeping in your heart babe" and I fell for the song. It's such a bop and suits Kai a lot. I still need to listen to the rest of his album.

Give Up by The Postal Service

Y'all why haven't I listened to this album before?? I am a big fan of Death Cab for Cutie, and on a whim I bought tickets to their concert where they'll be performing both albums Give Up and Transatlanticism in celebration of their twentieth anniversary. I decided to listen to Give Up to see what I'd be hearing and I like this album a lot. Also I never realized Iron & Wine's "Such Great Heights" was a cover of The Postal Service.

games

The Sexy Brutale

I have yet to finish this game, but the premise is a lot of fun and super creative! You play as someone stuck in a time loop who works to save different guests at the manor. There's also an interesting game mechanism where depending on how you wind the clock that's where you're located when you enter the time loop again.

etymologie

media round-up: march 2023