Stuff we're reading / watching / listening to

[Genuine Article]

I watched the whole series, but I'm a sucker for overly-dramatic shows. And I liked FNL because of all the interesting relationships. I don't look at them in terms of whether or not I like the characters or agree with them, but whether or not their interactions and personal story arc feel genuine/realistic. They all make bad decisions and treat each other poorly at times, and some of the situations they find themselves in feel way contrived, but overall it was a fun watch and an interesting look into the world of Texas football. Just don't expect too much from it.

[mic0]

I love it when my Pandora station that is "classical" and based on Aaron Copland plays movie soundtracks. Star Wars! Star Trek! YES! I love the other stuff, too, but it is a welcome surprise.

[thatonemom]

I'm reading Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. It's about all the different ways cadavers are used in medical (and other) research. It's surprisingly fascinating.

[C is for]

Emma Approved started today.

Unfortunately, I just finished watching the 2009 Emma.

[Tally M.]

Emma Approved started today.

Unfortunately, I just finished watching the 2009 Emma.

Why unfortunately?

[C is for]

Because I hadn't had time to get Romola's Emma out of my head before meeting 21st-century extra-self-assured Emma and I'm going to need a couple episodes to like her.

(I do already like Knightley though.)

[Katya]

(I do already like Knightley though.)

Ditto.

[bobtheenchantedone]

I've been reading Tess of the D'Urburvilles but I think I'm going to have to stop. I just got to the part where they got married - "My dear new wife, I must confess I've had sexual relations in the past! Can you forgive me?" "Of course, because I too have suffered the same folly in my past days. Can you forgive me?" "... So, about that marriage that we were going to have... let's not." *bob nearly breaks phone in anger*

[Portia]

I've been reading Tess of the D'Urburvilles but I think I'm going to have to stop. I just got to the part where they got married - "My dear new wife, I must confess I've had sexual relations in the past! Can you forgive me?" "Of course, because I too have suffered the same folly in my past days. Can you forgive me?" "... So, about that marriage that we were going to have... let's not." *bob nearly breaks phone in anger*

Oh, Thomas Hardy.

[Violet]

Because I hadn't had time to get Romola's Emma out of my head before meeting 21st-century extra-self-assured Emma and I'm going to need a couple episodes to like her.

(I do already like Knightley though.)

Romola Garai... I don't have words. She is so fantastic. I started watching The Hour for Ben Whishaw and ended up falling in love with her.

[Whistler]

I just watched The Lady Vanishes by Alfred Hitchcock. I thought the ending was a little cheesy but otherwise it was pretty good. Maybe someone mentioned it as an example of gaslighting? I sure there was some reason it was in my Netflix queue.

[Dragon Lady]

I read Brandon Sanderson's Rithmatist in one day the other day. I really liked it. I felt like I was being pulled back and forth and over and up and in circles in figuring out who the bad guy was, though. Which is probably a good thing. Because even knowing there was a twist, it still took me by surprise. Good job, Brandon. I'm excited for the next book.

Though, I'll admit, I'm a bit peeved that he's started yet another series without finishing his other ones first. But what can you do.

Now on to read Steelheart.

Edited because I forgot html is weird on here.

[Giovanni Schwartz]

I just want him to finish all of Stormlight. And then he can write whatever else he wants.

[Dragon Lady]

He's making great progress on book 2! It's scheduled to be out this spring. I think they're supposed to be on a two-year release schedule.

[Giovanni Schwartz]

...So he's planning of writing them for the next 16 years? I don't want to wait that long!

[Dragon Lady]

Well… they are 1,000 page books. It takes time to get Brandon-quality writing for that big of a book! I'd rather they be good than rushed.

[Katya]

Finished Heaven is Here. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

[Giovanni Schwartz]

Read Steelheart. Pretty good. Actually, I liked it a lot, even though it wasn't the typical Branderson mold (heroes in a fantasy world with some people having some kind of magic). Instead, it was kind of dystopia-y, which I love.

I've also been reading Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. Good books, but not entirely enthralling. I've read 2, and will continue to read them, but I don't have a strong drive to read much besides before bed every night.

[Dragon Lady]

Read Steelheart yesterday. Woke up this morning running the storyline through my head. And on an unsurprising note, I did not guess the end. But in my defense, I was pretty sure that all of my guesses were wrong, but that I'd read it and say, "Oh hey. Why didn't I think of that?" Which is what ended up happening.

Also, there was just enough violence in there to make my pregnant stomach not happy. In good news, there was no throwing up involved. I actually avoided the Mistborn trilogy until after Dragon Baby was born, at Yellow's request, even though he read it while I was pregnant. But during that pregnancy, Yellow would mention something absolutely normal (like a food), and I would throw up. So I appreciated his request.

[Dragon Lady]

I got Audible one year ago. Apparently I use it way more than I thought I did. I just got my stats in email form today for my first year:

Your anniversary stats:
52 new items added to your collection
828 hours of entertainment enjoyed
$719.63 saved by being an Audible member


Which is pretty impressive considering I only bought 24 credits and I'm pretty sure I've only spent $3 outside of those 24 credits. Go me!

I accidentally let it resubscribe automatically, which was a good $250. Oops. But for 24 audiobooks, that's still not a bad deal. Problem is, I like to use those credits on books that cost, well, more than $10. Preferably closer to $40. Just so I feel like I'm getting a great deal. Last time I bought all the Wheel of Time books, which was a fantastic use of a lot of credits. (15! (I bought the prequel, too.)) This time… I have no idea what to buy. I already own Harry Potter (which isn't on Audible anyway) and Way of Kings. And they don't do LDS fiction. I'm just not sure where to go from here...