I am on a mission to read more, and I managed to read four
books over the month of March (so far).
I also was able to finish several TV Series, though two of those were
started in a prior period. Finally, I
actually went on a movie theater date with my husband which I have not done in
a while. I picked one item from each category
to review this month.
Warning: Although I
tried not to delve into plots too deeply, there are potential spoilers in the
reviews below. Read at your own risk.
Book: Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood (2016)
Although Margaret Atwood is a name known by most book
enthusiasts, I sadly have read very little of her work. Many years ago I read The Handmaid’s Tale,
and I remember enjoying it. When I
learned Muse Monthly was doing an author curated box by Ms. Atwood, I was very
excited to read something else by her.
The book we received was Hag-Seed.
This is a modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s revenge play The
Tempest. It actually is a double-telling
of the story, as there is the revenge story of the main character overlaid
across a prison population actually putting on The Tempest. The book is very well written, though it did
take me a few chapters to get into the rhythm of the story. Although the main character was a bit
eccentric, his background was very sympathetic.
In the end, I think he got his revenge and found peace, although maybe
not entirely in the way he intended. I
am unfortunately not familiar with Shakespeare’s play (other than what I
learned with the prison theater group), but Ms. Atwood has instilled me with a
desire to go read or see it for myself.
I definitely want to read more by the author herself. I would definitely recommend this book for
its well written prose as well as its interesting story.
Movie: Logan (2017)
This was one of the best Marvel films out there. The story in this film is familiar and yet
fresh. Wolverine is old and beaten
down. Charles Xavier is slowly losing
his mind with horrible consequences for those around him. The other X-Men are all dead; it is indicated
that at least some were killed by Charles during an episode. These last few struggling superheroes have
long outlived their heroics and are just trying to get through however many
days they have left on earth. Then, it
is discovered that there are new mutants out there and they need help. Suddenly, there is some purpose to our
superheroes lives as they are drug somewhat reluctantly out of hiding to save
the day. The R-rating of this movie
allowed them to do a much darker, much grittier movie than the previous X-Men
fare. It was needed to tell this end of
days story with justice. It was violent,
disturbingly so sometimes, but it was also incredibly emotional and
thought-provoking. I left the theater feeling
completely drained by the ordeal I witnessed.
I spent many moments that day falling deep in thought about just what truths
the movie made us face about our superheroes.
Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart are fabulous actors, and I feel they especially
shined in their roles here. If neither
comes back to portray their characters ever again, then they have ended their
journey on a superb note. I would
absolutely recommend this film, but do not take your children.
TV Series: The Magicians: Season 1 (2015-2016)
A found a new series to love. This was billed as a “Harry Potter for adults”,
and it definitely has its similarities.
Humans gifted with magic walk among us every day. The lucky are enrolled by a secret school to
learn magic from the masters. The not so
lucky have their memories erased or have to fight for learning among the less
educated/less informed/infighting hedge groups.
Quentin, a gifted but perhaps not the most gifted student, is singled
out by The Beast, a monstrous creature that comes from a hard to access “otherworld”. The Beast threatens Earth’s very existence,
and it is up to Quentin and his friends to defeat him. This show veers off the known path though by
being more based in realism than the legendary children’s works. Magic is very much a tool that can be good,
bad, or indifferent, and sometimes has lasting consequences the maker did not
intend. Sex, drugs, and violence are
forefront in the storytelling, even sometimes playing a necessary role in the
magic itself. The material may not be
entirely original, but it is still the fun magical fantasy I love. I burned through the series in a week or two,
and now I desperately want to both read the source books by Lev Grossman and
see season 2. Again, I would recommend
for mature audiences only.
Overflow:
TV Series: The Expanse:
Season 1 (2015-2016) – Yes.
Book: The Fall Guy by James Lasdun (2016) –
No. I just could not get into this one.
TV Series: NCIS:
Season 12 (2014-2015) – Yes.
Book: Nicotine by Nell Zink (2016) – No. It is not bad, but there seemed to be
little point to it.
Book: The Mortifications by Derek Palacio (2016)
– Maybe. This is well written and interesting,
but it is sad and depressing.
See you next week!
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