november

It’s finally chilly hygge-weather in the Bay Area, so I’ve been reading a lot after returning from a long trip to Japan. I hope wherever you are, you’re warm and feel loved.

Books

The Starless Sea

I read this in a delightful haze during the holiday weekend. I love stories like these, that are also about stories, and books, and love. I remember liking the Night Circus, but I absolutely adore The Starless Sea. This is a book for those of us who love exploring, and digging into a fantastical tale.

The Infinite Wait

My friend Jenny recommended this one a while ago, and I finally got around to reading it. I couldn’t put it down. It’s hilarious, sad, and very close to home. I’d never heard of Wertz until now, but I plan to immediately buy all her comics.

The Future of Another Timeline

Wow. This book was a triumph, and seriously seals Newitz as a scifi master. I only wish I could explore this world for longer. A perfect blend of history, speculation, and feminism—this book imagines a world in which collective action is possible deep into the past. Dang.

How to Do Nothing

Now that I’ve finally finished her book, I can wholeheartedly recommend it. This isn’t the self-help palp that so many books about your phone are, but instead a wildly revelatory piece on bioregionalism, art, mystery, and birds. So many cool birds. This is a book I had to sip, because every few pages were full of so many ideas I wanted to savor them. I learned quite a bit from Jenny in these pages, and I am lucky to count her as a friend. Don’t worry if it takes you a while to read this, just buy a copy and meander through California through it.

Shadow and Bone

This was a neat YA that ended far before I thought it would—my edition had almost 100 pages of previews after the book. I enjoyed the magic system, despite the unfortunate teen romance that tends to plague YA. I’ll likely read more of this series, in hopes that it continues to build a cool world.

Movies

Knives Out

Sadly, I wasn’t feeling great so I missed a bit of this, but I think I got all the important bits. I really want to see this again in the near future. The overall tone of the film was fantastic, and the comedic hits were delightful.

Fast Color

The preview of this movie had me hoping it was a potential adaptation of NK Jeminson’s Broken Earth trilogy, but alas, it wasn’t. Fortunately, it was still a fun movie about family and mutant powers. I wish there was a little more substance to the whole film, but on the upside, the mood was pretty interesting. Also it’s weird seeing a belter as a sheriff (please see the Expanse for more details).

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

I’ve had this on my to-watch list for years, and finally decided to dive in. It was a beautiful and strange mediation on life, death, and family.

Terminator: Dark Fate

A nice return to form. This felt like a nice natural extension to Terminator 2, and while it wasn’t a great film by any means, it was a fun romp with lots of goofy jokes, explosions, and Mackenzie Davis.

Edge of Tomorrow

This was a rewatch after a listening to a recent episode of the Incomparables. I have a special place in my heart for movies where Tom Cruise is supposed to be a tough guy, and if you add in mechanized suits? Hell yes. It’s not the best film, but it’s very fun.