January Stories I Ate This Month

Movies

•  Night School
• My friend and I wanted to watch something light-hearted and funny one night so we rented Night School because it had both Tiffany Haddish (whom we love) and Kevin Hart (whom I find hilarious). It was exactly what we expected it to be, not some cinematic masterpiece but it had a decent plot and flowing storyline. 
• B 

TV Shows

• Brooklynn Nine-Nine (season 1)
• I had heard a lot of good things about Brooklynn 99 and so I decided to watch it from the beginning. I had previously just seen random episodes when there was nothing else on TV that interested me. I'm so glad I started it because now I have a new obsession!
• A+
• Brooklynn Nine-Nine (season 2)
• A+
• Brooklynn Nine-Nine (season 3)
• A+
• Brooklynn Nine-Nine (season 4)
• A+
• Brooklynn Nine-Nine (season 5)
• Now I am all caught up and am able to watch season 6 as it comes out every week! So pleased with this development. 
• A+
• Thirteen (season 1) 
• Once I finished Brooklynn Nine-Nine, I needed something else to binge. I decided to browse tv shows included with my Amazon Prime Video membership. Thirteen is a BBC thriller show. It has kept me on the edge of my seat, for sure.
• A

 Audiobooks

• Becoming ~ Michelle Obama
• Although Michelle ruined my hopes that she would run for the presidency in 2020 or ever for that matter, I am so happy with this book. I loved that she read the audiobook as well because as I've said before that always adds so much authenticity. Despite the disaster that is our political climate right now, she gave me hope that things will get better if we work hard enough we will get back to the days of Obama. 
• A+

Books

• Escaping from Houdini ~ Kerri Maniscalco (the third in the Stalking Jack The Ripper Series)
• Another incredible installment to this series! I am beyond excited to follow Audrey and Thomas on their next adventure in the final book coming out this year. 
• A+
• The Complete Persepolis ~ Marjane Satrapi
• Graphic novel memoirs are not something that I read often but I'm so glad that I read this one. It gave me some major insight on the Iranian Revolution. 
• A+
• Crazy Rich Asians ~ Kevin Kwan
• I have been thinking about reading this ever since I realized how well the movie did. Now I want to watch the movie because the book was so unique. I loved that it was set in Singapore (a country I know very little about) and that the characters used their native language often. I really loved the family dynamics though, even though I hated some of the characters with a passion.
• B+

October Stories I Ate This Month

Movies

• North Country
• I had to watch this in my three-hour class. It was about a real court case from women who were sexually harassed or assaulted while at work in a steel mine. It was an interesting take on what happened while still following much of the truth.
• A

TV Shows

• Arrow - season 6
• I love the Arrowverse as you should know by now. However, this season of Arrow was really slow for me. We would think that Oliver was off the hook, then he wouldn't be but the change was never a big twist, you could see it coming from miles away. Plus, I love the team aspect of Arrow and to see that so broken this season made my hear hurt.
• B
• The Mind of Jake Paul - Shane Dawson's Youtube Docu-series
• So fucking mind-blowing, as all of Shane's series have been as of late. However, for being the longest, it didn't feel it. It was so genuinely good. Many people had qualms about how Shane approached the mental health issues. I found that he was genuinely trying to understand the topic but may have taken it a bit far in production. Also, people had an issue with Jake not showing up until part 5. I think that all of the episodes leading up to Jake were necessary. 
• A+

Audiobooks

• Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore - Matthew Sullivan
• Kept me on the edge of my seat while making me second guess every memory that I have. A really good fiction listen too. I typically struggle with audiobooks that aren't non-fiction, but I had no problem following along with this one. 
• A+
• Marita: The Spy Who Loved Castro - Marita Lorenz
• This was such an interesting read about a lot of topics that we never discussed in history class about Cuba, Fidel, Communism, the CIA, etc. I knew that the US had attempted to kill Fidel Castro, but I never knew how. I truly feel for Marita. She loved that man, she loved the baby that was torn from her, and this woman was put through hell throughout her life.
• A+

Books

• Hunting Prince Dracula - Kerri Maniscalco
• Such a good sequel. I continued to love the relationship between Thomas and Audrey. The setting was quite unique as well. I can't wait to do a review of the series for you guys. 
• A+
• Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible - Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Robert Hack
• I grew up watching Sabrina The Teenage Witch and I am excited to watch the show based on these comics. The world is so different from the one that I loved growing up, but I am obsessed with the creepy atmosphere and can't wait to continue with the series and watch the Netflix show. 
• A+

September Stories I Ate This Month

Sorry for posting this a few days late but happy Mean Girls Day!

It was a really lousy month for me in terms of stories. I was super busy with college and babysitting that I just didn't have the time to read or watch or even listen to anything. However, this month should be pretty good. I am going to try really hard to read as many spooky books as I can, maybe even finally crack open one of my Harry Potter illustrated editions for fun!

Movies

• Cheaper By The Dozen - rewatch
• Just as good as I remember it being. 
• A+
• Cheaper By The Dozen 2 - rewatch
• Not as good as the first movie, but still one of my favorite childhood movies.
• A
• Scooby-Doo: The Movie - rewatch
• Who doesn't love Scooby-Doo!?
• A
• Set It Up - Netflix original
• This was a really cute rom-com that I was pleasantly happy to watch. Plus, the ending was really cute.  
• A+

Books

• Heretics Anonymous - Katie Henry
• Such a unique and interesting read. It reminded me of a Breakfast Club in a Catholic school. It gave a really interesting take on tolerance and acceptance of differing religions, sexualities, and perspective. 
• A+
• Notes From My Captivity - Kathy Parks
• This was very different from anything I have ever read before. When I picked it up, I wanted a YA thriller style book (because fall and I just really wanted it to be October). It definitely served its purpose.
• A
• Any Man - Amber Tamblyn
• This was such an interesting read for me, as it was taking an issue so close to home for me as a woman, sexual assault, and flipped it on its head. This story chronicles the fictional lives of male sexual assault victims of a female serial rapist. So compelling. Finished it in 2 sittings. 
• A+

April Stories I Ate This Month

For everything that I have had going on this month, I was still able to read quite a bit. I don't think I will get that much reading in throughout May, but we'll see.

Movies

• Saban's Power Rangers
• I was skeptical about this movie when it came out last year. I grew up watching the original Power Rangers and even dressing up as the Pink one for Halloween and crushing on the Red one all of the time. I was worried that the nostalgia would hold me back from enjoying this new version. However, I really enjoyed it. I do wish that they had morphed sooner though. It felt like it took forever to get to them being Power Rangers. 
• A-
• Jeepers Creepers 3
• I watched the original two films with my great-grandma growing up. I own the first on VHS. I didn't even know that they had come out with a third one. It had been a while since I had watched the original two so I don't remember much about them but I was still able to enjoy this one. It had a similar spooky feel without being the most terrifying film ever. The same feeling that I have with the other two just without the memories. 
• B+

TV Shows

• Jessica Jones -season 2- a Netflix Original
• It is no secret that I love all of the Marvel shows that Netflix produces and really enjoy any Marvel superhero movies too. Although three years separate the first and second season of this show. I didn't feel disconnected. I'm really going to miss Malcolm and Jessica working together, but maybe season 3 will surprise us.I love the new connections that Jessica is making in her personal life though. 
• A+

Audiobooks

• When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir - Patrisse Khan-Cullors
• I was expecting her to talk more about the movement itself but she really delved into its creation and her motives behind it. It was a great insight.
• A+
• The Job: True Tales from the Life of a New York City Cop - Steve Osborn
• The typical New York City accent meshed with the hilarious yet action-packed stories of a New York City cop makes this perfect!
• A+

Books

• The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo
• I was excited to read this YA contemporary in poems. It reminds me a lot of Ellen Hopkins' books that I really enjoyed throughout high school. It delved into family relationships, family expectations, struggling with faith, first love, etcetera. 
• A-
• Blackout - Kit Mallory
• This book comes out on May 8th and I will be putting up a full non-spoiler review before that. I had the privilege of being sent an ARC by Mallory. And I love it! LGBTQ+ representation, mental health awareness, etc. 
• A+
• History Is All You Left Me - Adam Silvera 
• This book has been on my radar since it was published. I believe that this is the first book I have read where the main character was a gay man. I read the first 250 pages in one sitting and finished the last bit the following morning. I haven't done that in years! I got emotional and really felt everything Griffon was going through.  I can't wait to read more by Silvera. 
• A+

March Stories I Ate This Month

Even though I had Spring Break this month, I was unable to get much reading done or tv shows watched. Most of the stories that I have consumed are audiobooks because they are easy to listen to while doing other things. As I write this, I am currently listening to a memoir about the Black Lives Matter movement which you will see in next month's Stories I Ate This Month. I've started some tv shows but have yet to finish a season. I have not watched any movies. And I have started two physical books but I have yet to finish either.

Audiobooks

• The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes ~ Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, with Jeffrey E. Stern
• I followed this story on the news when it happened and then learned more about Alek Skarlatos no his time on Dancing With The Stars. It was really interesting to hear what each of the men heard, saw, experienced through their own eyes and the memories that have resurfaced overtime and those that have stayed hidden. Told in flashbacks. 
• A+
• It Takes Two: Our Story ~ Drew and Jonathan Scott
• I've been obsessed with the Property Brothers for a few years. I love all of the shows that they have done and cheered Drew on while he danced rather awkwardly on Dancing With The Stars. It was really interesting to listen to how they came into the success that they now have and what comes with the fame.
• A+
• Undaunted: The Story of America's Servicewomen in Today's Military ~ Tanya Biank
• I chose this book to read for a book report in my Minority Politics class. It was really eye-opening and hope-filling. I learned about the personal discriminatory experiences that these women have experienced while trying to fight for our country and also learned how they overcame the oppression and pushed forward. 
• B+
• The Red Parts ~ Maggie Nelson
• This memoir follows the story of Maggie as she learns about her Aunt Jane who was murdered before she could ever meet her. She sits in the courtroom as the real murderer is on trial decades later. Such an interesting perspective. 
• B+
• I'll Never Change My Name: An Immigrant's American Dream from Ukraine To The USA to Dancing With The Stars ~ Valentin Chmerkovskiy
• I've been obsessed with Val for years!! He has been my favorite pro on DWTS forever! Listening to his journey from Ukraine and how he learned to assimilate into the US and managed to keep his heritage alive. It was also such a unique perspective on ballroom dance competitions, family, etc. 
• A+

Books

• A Clash of Kings ~ George R. R. Martin
• I preferred the first book in the Game of Thrones series more than this one and I think that is one of the reasons it took me so long to get through it. However, it was still pretty good and I am excited to continue with the series.
• B+ 

Update on my Goodreads Reading Challenge

I have read 25 of the 100 books that I want to read by the end of the year! I am currently one book ahead of schedule. Thank you Audiobooks!

Friend me on Goodreads if you want! 

January's Stories I Ate This Month

I got this idea from one of the many BookTubers that I watch on YouTube all of the time, Christine Riccio. Her channel name is polandbananasBOOKS. I will link her most recent "Stories I Ate This Month." The reason that I prefer this over a monthly reading wrap up is that it includes all of the stories, no matter the format that they are in, that I have consumed over the month. So here are my stories. Also, any reviews that I have posted so far, I will link. 

Movies

• The Greatest Showman 
• Such a good movie!! I have not stopped listening to the music since seeing it. 
• A+
• Pitch Perfect 2
• I decided to watch this after seeing the third one because I realized that I hadn't watched it. It was pretty good. I think that the first one will forever be my favorite though. 
• B+
• Pitch Perfect 3
• Went and saw this on New Years with my best friend. It was good. I've been listening to some of the songs still actually. I just loved that it was surrounding a USO tour. 
• A-

TV Shows

• Marvel's Runaways - a Hulu original
• SOOOOOOOO GOOOD!!!!!! I am so obsessed with this show. It made me read the comics as you will see further down in this wrap-up. It was so damn good!!! I can not wait for season 2. 
• A+
• Good Girls Revolt - an Amazon original
• I'm really sad that there isn't going to be a season 2 of this. It was really good and I wish that we could see what would happen now that the girls' lawsuit went public!!
• A+
• Shooter (season 1)
• It was a good, suspenseful show. Exactly what I wanted. When season 2 comes on Netflix, I definitely will be watching it. 
• A
• She's Gotta Have It - a Netflix original
• This was such a good show. I binged it in two nights! It does a great job of going against the stigma of casual sex for women, deals with PTSD like symptoms after a sexual assault, artistry, etc. I loved the cinematography. 
• A+

Audiobooks

• Our Revolution - Bernie Sanders; narrated by Bernie Sanders and Mark Ruffalo
• Such an inspiring read. It made me understand why Sanders believes what he does and I think that is important when you are supporting someone or not for that matter. 
• A+
• The Last Black Unicorn - Tiffany Haddish; narrated by the author
• Hilarious!! I was laughing the entire time I read this. It also made me feel other things for her as well. I'll elaborate in my review. 
• A+

Books

• The Sign of The Four - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Exactly what I expect from a Sherlock Holmes story.
• A-
• Far From The Tree - Robin Benway
• I cried, a lot! I've never watched This Is Us but this has been compared to it often in reviews and if they are similar then I can guarantee that I will be watching This Is Us as soon as I get a chance. 
• A+
• The Nowhere Girls - Amy Reed
• At first, I wasn't sure that I was going to really get into this. It seemed like it was going to be very similar to Moxie by Jennifer Mattieu, which I loved, but I just knew that I wasn't going to want to read the same story again. Thankfully this is very different even though it has many similarities. So good!
• A

Comic Books/Graphic Novels

• Runaways Vol 1: Pride and Joy - Brian Vaughan
• Runaways Vol 2: Teenage Wasteland - Brian Vaughan
• Runaways: Vol 3 The Good Die Young - Brian Vaughan
• Runaways Vol 4: True Believers - Brian Vaughan
• Runaways Vol 5: Escape to New York - Brian Vaughan
• Runaways Vol 6: Parental Guidance - Brian Vaughan
• Runaways Vol 7: Live Fast - Brian Vaughan
• Runaways Vol 8: Dead End Kids: Dead End Kids Premiere - Joss Whedon
• Runaways Vol 9: Dead Wrong -Terry Moore
• Runaways Vol 10: Rock Zombies -Terry Moore
• Runaways Vol 11: Homeschooling - Kathryn Immomen
• Runaways #1 - Rainbow Rowell
• Runaways #2 - Rainbow Rowell
• Runaways #3 - Rainbow Rowell
• Runaways #4 - Rainbow Rowell
  
  *I did a collective review for all of those!
• 
  *The rest of the books that I read or listened that I have not provided links for will have reviews going up throughout the coming weeks.