Culture Consumption: February 2018

Here’s my month in books, movies, and television.

Books

As I already mentioned, I adored Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi, which is a stunning book of gods and bodies and fractured minds. The writing is stunning, and I highly recommend picking up this book. I’m planning to read everything I can from this author from here on out.

The Night Masquerade by Nnedi OkoraforAnother great read was Binti: The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor. This is a powerful conclusion to the trilogy, which had me crying in front of strangers on several occasions. The trilogy has been imaginative and moving from start to finish. I love Binti as a character in every way and she grows more and more strong and interesting with each book. I’m sad that the series has ended, because I could always read more Binti.

I also did a reread of Stephen King’s Wizard and Glass, the fourth book in The Dark Tower series — which I already wrote over 2,000 words on, but I’ll just say that it was fun to return to the story of Roland’s youth and I’m excited to pick up the next book in the series (new territory for me).

Books Read Last Month:
1. Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower #4), by Stephen King
2. Binti: The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor
3. Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

Total Books for the Year: 3

Still in Progress at the End of the Month: Falling in Love with Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson (which I’m *this* close to being done with) and Let’s Not Live on Earth, a collection of poetry by Sarah Blake

Short Stories

There Are No Wrong Answers,” by LaShawn M. Wanak, Podcastle, is a brilliant story of a woman who creates personality quizzes and gets caught up in a scheme. It incorporates the quiz format as a way of helping to structure the story and illustrate how life has a multitude of possibilities.

Sinners, Saints, Dragons, and Haints,” by N.K. Jemisin, Uncanny Magazine, is the story of a man caught by a flood and the creatures he meets in the aftermath. I love the voice in this.

While the Black Stars Burn,” by Lucy A. Snyder, Psuedopod, is about a woman striving in the practice of the violin — a dark and powerful story that gives new mean to practice until your fingers bleed.

Movies

Only a few movies made it onto my screen this month, my favorite of which was Murder on the Orient Express. Although I never read the book or seen any previous adaptations, hints of the ending made the resolution not much of a surprise. I rather liked the great detective character, Hercule Poirot (as played by Kenneth Branagh, who also directed), and enjoyed how all the pieces ultimately fit together. The cinematography, sets, and costumes are stylized and rich in color and texture. I enjoyed it.

Murder on the Orient Express

New-to-me Movies watched this month:
1. Winchester (2018)
2. Fifty Shades Freed (2018)
3. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Television

I managed to work my way through all ten seasons of Stargate SG-1 last month, hoping through my favorite episodes and being surprised to find there were a few episodes I didn’t remember at all (considering that I’ve watched every single one in the past). The show is still delightful to me with its campy humor and over-the-top storylines with everything from epic alien battles to first contacts to time traveling, ascended beings, and alternate realities — just to name a few. The show was and still is absurd fun, and after all these years, I still love these characters.

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1

SyFy Wire recently published an oral history of Stargate SG-1, which looks back at how the show came into being and managed to survive for so long. And now I’m tempted to put together a favorite episodes list. For no particular reason. Just because.


That’s it for me! What are you reading? Watching? Loving right now?