In the fall, when TV shows premiere en masse, I reviewed some of the new offerings, including CBS’s Evil, a show that still--as I said then--confuses me. However, that confusion isn’t a bad thing. I believe the show deserves another check-in, now that the first season has ended.
Read moreFebruary Foreign Films: Pain and Glory
Clearly, I love challenging myself to a good film series.
In the fall, it was 10 Weeks of Spooktober. Then I did 12 Days of Christmas Movies throughout the month of December. Now, I’m back just in time for the tail end of awards season with a new series called February Foreign Films. And with the way February is going, it’s going to be Five February Foreign Films. That’s a lot of F’s.
This is exactly what it sounds like. I will be watching and reviewing buzzy foreign films in the month of February. They must, however, be completely new to me. So, sorry, no Parasite, which I already named my #1 thing of 2019. And no Atlantics, although that is a really good movie, and it’s available on Netflix… so you should watch it right away.
So with all of that out of the way, let’s get into our very first February Foreign Film: Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory, starring Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, who is nominated for an Oscar for this role.
Read moreThe Bachelor S24E4: The Internet Knows Everything
It’s time for more drama! More gossip! More lies! And, yes, more pilot puns. Your Bachelor recap starts in 3…2…1…
Emily: We awake at the Bachelor mansion and it’s a new day, and we’re all ready to put the drama behind us. Deandra continues to be the most beautiful girl in the house. Yes, I said what I said. Don’t @ me. Anyway, she’s over the drama, and she’s ready to get to know Peter. Clearly Peter has terrible taste in women because he’s been ignoring all the cool (hot) girls.
Kelli: I agree about Deandra. I only wish I knew literally one single thing about her, but unfortunately Peter would rather focus on women who are either deeply boring (Madison) or deeply annoying and terrible (see: the rest of this episode).
Read moreStories Move in Circles: A Conversation with Author Kim Taylor Blakemore
The Companion, the latest historical crime novel from Kim Taylor Blakemore, follows Lucy Blunt, a woman in 1855 New Hampshire who is set to hang for a double murder she claims she didn’t commit. As Lucy reflects on the events leading up to her imprisonment, she tests the limits of our trust in her retelling, and the mystery that unfolds is as intoxicating as it is dreadful.
I had the immense pleasure of speaking with author Kim Taylor Blakemore about her interest in historical fiction, her writing process, and how she eventually found her way to The Companion. Plus: Kim’s thoughts on the future of Gothic fiction, an extensive lesbian romance reading list, and, of course, pet talk.
(Some spoilers for The Companion to follow.)
Read moreValley Ghouls: Bodies, Representation, and Humor
Kate Leth has long been one of my favorite comics creators; she’s contributed to titles like Bravest Warriors and Adventure Time, and I know her best from her work on Patsy Walker, AKA Hellcat!, where she helped revive a classic hero with a body positive, super-diverse flair. Leth has also worked on TV shows like Craig of the Creek and My Little Pony: Equestria Girls. Most importantly (to me!), Leth has been creating the comic strip Valley Ghouls for over 150 installments.
Read moreBSG #37: The Lesbians Next Door / Elevation & Interview w/Kelly Watt
BSG #37: The Lesbians Next Door / Elevation & Interview w/Kelly Watt
The #BookSquad returns to Castle Rock for a short, uplifting novella by Stephen King. We dig into Elevation to discuss small town politics, tolerance, body issues, and what the heck is going on with our protagonist’s strange weight loss. Plus, we interview Kelly Watt, author of the novel Mad Dog. Join us for an extra book in our next #othersode on February 10 as we talk about The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman. Then join us on February 24 for our next official #bookpisode on The Need by Helen Philips. Send listener feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and don’t forget to subscribe on Apple podcasts!
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read moreYA Book Club: There's Something About Sweetie
Emily:Okay. So There's Something About Sweetie was my pick for the YA Book Club because I have read and loved Sandhya Menon's books in the past. I especially love When Dimple Met Rishi, and I knew that There's Something About Sweetie was a "sort of" "sequel" to Dimple/Rishi, and that it featured a fat protagonist, so I was ALL IN, and I knew Mary would be too.
Mary: And I was!
Read moreThe Bachelor S24E3: Do you, like, work? At all?
Kelli: Hi! I’m not Susan, but I’m the next best thing, maybe. I’ll be here with Emily for the next two weeks as Susan prepares to walk down the aisle (as they’d probably say on this show). Emily, why don’t you start us off?
Emily: I am SO confused about where we are in time and in the episode because we keep starting in the middle of everything. I feel like the editing so far this season is especially bad, and we can talk more about that later, but just note that’s probably going to be a theme of this season: me talking about how bad the editing is. Anyway, here we are. Everyone’s talking about bullying and the definition of bullying. It’s almost philosophical, but it’s not.
Read moreSurvivor Season 40 "Winners at War" Preview
Image (C) CBS
Hello! It is hard to believe, but Survivor is almost back in our lives, and this season seems poised to be one of the best yet. For its 20th season, Survivor brought back some of the best people to ever play the game for Heroes vs. Villains. For its 40th season, the show is bringing back 20 winners (not necessarily the 20 best but we’ll take it), to compete against each other. Because all of these people have played before, this is less a “first impressions” blog and more a chance for us to talk about players we have seen before and for Mary to make snap judgments on those winners who are new to her.
Read more1917 Shines in Small Moments
If you’ve been following the Oscars race, you’ve no doubt noticed Sam Mendes’ 1917 pushing its way to the front of the pack. Just this past weekend, the film won the top prize at the Producers Guild of America awards, which often indicates what will go on to win big at the Oscars. As usual, the discourse is hostile; while many critics have praised the film’s technical achievements, others insist there is a hollowness at the center of its spectacle. While 1917 is certainly not my personal pick for best film of the year, I would not say that it lacks emotional depth. For me, this film’s best moments are the small ones.
(Spoilers ahead)
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