Category Archives: Reading

Book Reviews. Book Suggestions. Favorite Books. To Be Read.

You Should Read: Red Rising

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. As always, I only link to things that I love.

Golden Son  (sequel to Pierce Brown’s Red Rising (The Red Rising Trilogy, Book 1)) drops (is that appropriate usage or is that only an album thing? *sigh, the questions that keep me up at night) today!  In celebration, I’m re-reading Red Rising before I start Golden.

I remember well the first time that I read this book.

It was evening, I’d been falling down the rabbit hole of Amazon recommendations when I came upon Red Rising. Quite honestly, I was more than a little hesitant at the whopping $10.99 price for an e-book. I could probably have bought a hardcover at that price (a tiny children’s one…) but, in an impulsive and fiscally irresponsible move, I one-clicked the hell out it. And boy, oh boy was I glad devastated that I did. This is not a small book. It’s 382 pages (5971 locations) long and Pierce Brown kept me up the entire night reading.

Tangent: Not to say that the economy and general state of the world isn’t concerning, but the books/entertainment coming out of these uncertain times are largely my favorites, and Red Rising really hits it. The book features: a dystopian world; a rigid class structure; a tragic love; and a savior hero.

I figured I’d let the book speak for itself. If you’re not sold on reading it from these, nothing I say is going to change your mind.

Quotes from the Book or Why You Should Read Red Rising: (No spoilers)

Love: “In her eyes, I see my heart. In her breath, I hear my soul.”

The Braveheart Quote: “Death isn’t empty like you say it is. Emptiness is life without freedom.”

The Struggle Against the Overlords: “We’re empire-breakers….”

The Rigid Class Divide: “If I saw myself on the street, I would hate me.”

The hero: ” ‘If you punch me back, you will be sent home, Pixie.’ I kick him in the shin.”

In conclusion, read it. Then read Golden Son and we can discuss.

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2014 Entertainment Favorites

Happy New Year!

This is the first post in the new blog expansion. I’m interested in lots and lots of things (movies and books and games and television and music and travel and pretty things) beyond just acting theory and acting as a business, and I want my blog to reflect those interests. Thus, kicking it off…

My Favorites of the Year (Caveat, some of these favorites weren’t made/aired/produced in 2014, I just happened to experience them in 2014).

Favorite Movies

Birdman– I saw quite a few movies this year, but Birdman was my absolute favorite. Though I need to see it again to confirm, it may be my favorite movie of all time. The acting was fantastic, the self-awareness was awesome, and the technical achievement was superb. Do yourself a favor, and if you haven’t seen it already, go go.

The Godfather– I know, I know…How can I profess to love movies and never have seen The Godfather until now. Well, I do love movies, this one in particular. Al Pacino is so restrained. It’s a masterclass really.

Favorite Television

Rectify– (Season 1) I wrote about Rectify in a previous post, but I’m going to say it again. The. Acting. It’s a show where characters get to go feel their feelings. In what I’ve seen, there haven’t been crazy plot twists. The big thing happened, then we watch the aftermath.

The 100– I had no idea this show existed until it popped up on Netflix. I watched the first season and caught up on the second within a matter of days. The intersection of a technologically advanced society and a regressed people is interesting to watch play out. And the roles…for WOMEN! They’re strong, they’re flawed, and the lead is female. Plus, it’s really, really good.

Favorite Performance

James McAvoy, Filth– The character he plays in this movie is an absolutely despicable human. However, McAvoy plays him sympathetic enough that, by the end, I was ugly crying.

Favorite Songs

Hozier, “Take Me to Church”– Epic.

Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off”– I’m not really sure where the “It’s Cool Not to Like Taylor Swift” camp came from, if someone could kindly explain it to me, I will listen. However, I enjoy her songs. They’re catchy, she has a way with words, and they’re FUN.

Favorite Song Covers

Lousia Wendorff and Devin Dawson, “Blank Space/Style Mash-Up”– You’ve seen this. It went viral after TSwift tweeted it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m3o5LuFKxg

Chase Holfelder, Major to Minor “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”– Turns this song super creepy and I love it.

Favorite Book

Erik Larson, The Devil in the White City– I’m rather certain that this is the first non-fiction book that I’ve read for pleasure. It’s generally not my thing. This book however, was beautifully written. The intersection of the World’s Fair and a serial killer set the stage for ruminations on art, society, death, and men who are really monsters. Check it out, especially if you live in Chicago.

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