Gurl! Finish it! For The Week of 7/20/2107

Every Thursday I share what I am reading and watching. This is just a nice little feature for myself partially to have a record of stuff I have started, finished, read, watched, and all that business. I will also include a little bit of why I am reading it or watching that particular thing. Also it will help keep ME on track because I stop reading or watching stuff way too much, so this will help me hold tight to sticking with one darn thing. Anyone reading this also can hold me accountable on what I have been reading and if never moves to "Last Finished" or "Recently Finished" you can be like GURL!!! FINISH IT.

LAST FINISHED READING: 

Vidia and the Fairy Crown (Manga)

You Can Read My Review Here

I basically didn't get any further in my reading goals this last week because I have focused so heavily on making sure I get blog posts made, had a lot for school (Masters of Social Work program), and I am also volunteering this week. This has made my reading schedule almost non-existent. I am hoping later this week though I can get into reading some more of the current reads.

CURRENTLY READING: 

I am currently reading still "Between The World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates and have not really progressed with it. I think this is because I am finding myself so inundated with academic types of books that I am having to rethink my focus. I may have to change to not doing the topic reads until I am removed from the academic community slightly or just figure out how I can balance between the two. It may be that I have to go to one "diverse conversation" read a month, but this is why I wanted to practice this before officially starting it on my blog. Much of my time is becoming occupied with the schoolwork that I have to do, which does not always give me the time to focus on things I want to do. That is why I have been forcing myself to do my blog this week so I have a bit of happiness in my life. This being said, I want to continue reading Coates book because it is only about 152 pages. I am only on page 11 of it though at this time. 

I am also reading from NetGalley "Pathfinder: Worldscape Volume 2." I selected this because my partner for awhile was interested in Pathfinder and used to play it with a group of friends. The issue appears to be though that this incorporates characters from many of the properties that Dynamite has licensed. As a result, I have been feeling a little lost on who is who and what they are doing within this particular realm. I am still, however, going through it and plan on finishing it for my next weeks "Comic Book Wednesday" review. 

Still not finished from other Gurl! Finish Its: The Witching Hour by Anne Rice and Bearing An Hourglass by Piers Anthony. 

LAST FINISHED WATCHING and CURRENTLY WATCHING:

This week has been a weird week for me. I have not really been watching anything, for the most part. This is because of the above issues with school that I discussed and the volunteering that I have been doing. When I am watching something I am watching episodes of "The World According to Gumball" and "We Bare Bears" that I have previously watched. I am caught up on what they have on Hulu for these shows, so it has been mainly mindless viewing of these programs during a rather hectic week. After this week things are a little less hectic with school and I should be able to return to some pleasure viewing. I am hoping to actually get further, like every week so far, in "The Handmaid's Tale." This is going to have to be my priority when I am able to return to watching next week. Next week if I mention I have not progressed further in the series someone needs to yell at me and remind me that I love the book and the two episodes that I watched were actually good. No more excuses! No more life getting in the way. Just watch the darn things already. I have to say to myself if I don't progress further in this show then I need to shout at myself my own phrase "Girl! Finish It!"

Gurl! Finish it! Week of 7/13/2017

Every Thursday I share what I am reading and watching. This is just a nice little feature for myself partially to have a record of stuff I have started, finished, read, watched, and all that business. I will also include a little bit of why I am reading it or watching that particular thing. Also it will help keep ME on track because I stop reading or watching stuff way too much, so this will help me hold tight to sticking with one darn thing. Anyone reading this also can hold me accountable on what I have been reading and if never moves to "Last Finished" or "Recently Finished" you can be like GURL!!! FINISH IT. 

Last Finished: Lady Mechanika: La Dama De La Muerta (Graphic Novel), "You Can't Touch My Hair and Other Things I Still Have to Explain" by Phoebe Robinson, and Vidia and The Fairy Crown (Manga and Book). 

Review Here

Literally all of these are getting a review on this blog (Lady Mechanika was reviewed yesterday). I am shocked because I am finally getting books read and ready for review on the site. I feel like I am building myself up and finding new ways to engage with the blog. I am really happy this week that I am getting the chance to actually get some blog postings up and out there. I am thankful for NetGalley for that right now. I also appreciate the local library that had a copy of the book edition of "Vidia and the Fairy Crown" as I wanted to review both the book and the manga at the same time. That will come next week as the manga will be my "Comic Book Wednesday" post.


Currently Reading: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Bearing an Hourglass by Piers Anthony and The Witching Hour by Anne Rice


I know I literally changed yesterday my currently reading book to "Vidia and the Fairy Crown", but that was a children's book that I finished literally in one night. I am going to be starting tonight, right after I finish this post actually, the Ta-Nehisi Coates book. I picked this book up because the local library recommended it as a book that is similar to "You Can't Touch My Hair." I am using these two books to get a bit of an idea on how I want to do the "diverse conversations" part of this blog. 

Once I finish this book I am returning to Piers Anthony. I put that book off to try to get through some of these library books and also figure out how I wanted to do the "conversation" portion of this site, but I have run out of excuses when I get this next book marked off my list. I am again, however, considering taking "The Witching Hour" off my list for now. I think I am focused on other reads to the point that this one has gotten pushed to the side for perhaps another time when I am more cemented in what I am doing with this blog. Also when I am more invested in a thousand page read. 

Currently Watching: "The Handmaid's Tale"

This last week has been a little shocking for me in regards to watching things. Normally I have been forcing myself to watch something, heck anything. This week though I forced myself to read more often. This being said I still did get a few things done though, which you will see in the next group. Focusing my time away from television though is how I have been able to get through more of the reading that I have wanted to do for this blog. I guess I am making trade-offs right now. I still, however, want to finish "The Handmaid's Tale" show on Hulu. I believe I will probably start doing the two episodes I have seen in one review and use it as a draft until I have all the episodes finish for review. I am going to have to pick up another show though soon. Any recommendations people?


Recently Finished: "Castlevania" (Season 1) on Netflix and "Steven Universe" (Season 3) on Hulu, and "The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone" on DVD.

I heard awhile back that Netflix was going to do a "Castlevania" cartoon series. I had waited for it and actually forgot that they were doing it. Suddenly across my Facebook feed came information regarding the series. Turns out that I found out that it was on Netflix the day it was released. My partner and I devoured the four episodes of the series in one night. I am not one to "binge watch" a show, but this was epically good. I couldn't stop watching until I knew exactly what was going to happen. I am only somewhat familiar with the game franchise, just enough to be like a BELMONT? Woo hoo. That is literally the only thing I am going to "spoil" about the series for you. It is well done and I highly recommend it since there are only 4 episodes at roughly 20+ minutes each. This isn't going to take a lifetime to watch. There are some gory moments, but overall it is a straight-up action animated program. My partner told me that it primarily seems to be taking its story from "Castlevania 3" if that means anything to you gamers out there. Regardless of the source material, anyone can enjoy the show. 

I am continuing to finish up my "Halloween" reviews for my friend, Alexis (Alexis' Treasures on my blog list). This is one of the four items I will be reviewing over there in October. I will say this though I am going to find and get the rest of The Flinstones specials (i.e. I Yabba Dabba Do or whatever it is called) since I rather enjoyed this one. My full thoughts will be made available when the posting has went live on her blog. Not fair to spoil the fun of "Halloween" in advance too much.

I also forced my partner to let us finally finish up the third season of "Steven Universe" even though it meant we would be out of Steven until whenever Hulu decides to put up the next season. Sometimes it feels like forever between us getting to see them and when they were aired. Probably just me complaining because I want them faster. I want to SEE THEM ALREADY! Can we get an exclusive day of deal with this show please Hulu? I am begging you. Okay, No? I Guess I will wait around until you can get them. I love this show though. It always is so encompassing of diversity related issues. I also found my two favorite characters of any show ever in Peridot and Lapis (the two pictured above). These characters are all flawed, but understand that they are flawed and learn to live with it and embrace it. The entire show had a beautiful message that makes my heart so happy. This is why I continue to watch it ever single time I see new episodes put up. It will forever be one of my favorite shows ever.

Gurl!!! Finish it! Week of 7/5/2017

Every Wednesday (starting next week I am going to move this to Thursday or Friday because I am wanting to start doing a Comic Book Wednesday since New Comics come out on Wednesday I want it to be that day, even though it won't be a review of new comics).  I am going to update where I am at with reading or watching things. This is just a nice little feature for myself partially to have a record of stuff I have started, finished, read, watched, and all that business. I will also include a little bit of why I am reading it or watching that particular thing. Also it will help keep ME on track because I stop reading or watching stuff way too much, so this will help me hold tight to sticking with one darn thing. Anyone reading this also can hold me accountable on what I have been reading and if never moves to "Last Finished" or "Recently Finished" you can be like GURL!!! FINISH IT. 

Last Finished: Disney Magical Dance Volume 1

I reviewed this on the blog already, but it was a fun little read. I greatly enjoyed getting to read this through NetGalley and their program of selecting books and requesting them. If you want to read my full-review of this go to here (it will open in a new window, so you can continue reading this posting).

Currently Reading: You Can't Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson,  Bearing an Hourglass by Piers Anthony and The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

I am pushing through "You Can't Touch My Hair" by Phoebe Robinson still. I am over halfway finished with the book and I hope I am able to get it done before it is due on Friday. It is, I admit, a harder book for me to get through because I am not the target audience (African-American), but it is interesting to read to see that perspective. It is the first book that I have actually utilized an index card as a bookmark and wrote page numbers on it so I could remember areas that I may want to quote for a review later on. It is interesting to see myself progress in what and how I want to blog. This book is definitely moving me in the direction I want to go because it is more focused on the topics and conversations that I want to have here. It will be interesting to see what I think about it when I am finished because there are moments where I get frustrated because there is a bit of pop culture overload utilized, but I get partially why she is doing it (which is the reason I have not DNF it). When I am finished with it though I am immediately going back to the Piers Anthony book because I need a little bit of a lighter book than what this one is. Then I will probably move onto another book. I do believe this is the last time that "The Witching Hour" will appear on this list for now because I seriously want to focus on other reads as I try to get myself more acclimated to reading and blogging more regularly. Next week I will have four books either on my currently reading or on my last finished list because I have checked out 4 more graphic novels from NetGalley to review. A couple of them are Disney Manga books, but two of them are other graphic novels that I want to start reviewing for the Wednesday feature mentioned in the top paragraph, which also mentioned that this will move to a different day next week. 

Currently Watching: "The Handmaid's Tale", "Steven Universe" on Hulu and been watching "The Bold and the Beautiful".

This hasn't changed really at all, so I wanted to discuss the fact that I have been regularly watching a soap again. I know soaps are ongoing, so I will never hit the end of this one, so never will be added to my recently finished. Since I haven't been currently watching anything else recently and haven't moved that much forward in the two I am watching (looking at you "The Handmaid's Tale") I thought I would share my thoughts about a recent return to the soap opera genre for me. I stopped watching most soaps because I just simply did not see the characters I grew up with or storylines that I was invested in watching. That was until it came across my Facebook newsfeed that Kimberlin Brown had returned to "The Bold and the Beautiful" as Sheila Carter.

Kimberlin Brown as Sheila Carter (All rights to photo are original owners, not my own)

 I have seen this character do all sorts of despicable acts, but I love the actress so much. I wanted her to return to either Young and the Restless or this soap. I just couldn't fathom how they could do it with some of the storylines they told about her on Young and the Restless though involving switching faces and plastic surgery nightmares. I was pretty sure she was untouchable as a returning character because of this. Then lo and behold she returns suddenly as a cliffhanger on a Friday episode of the show. No one was expecting it because they actually kept it so hidden that only a select few people knew that she had actually been on the set. They went so far as to blackout screens on the lot when filming her scenes. This is phenomenal that it was kept so hush-hush. When I saw this I started watching it online at CBS's website. She still has it! That is all I can say about the actress. She still has that look of evil that comes across without much emphasis, but we are also seeing a softer side to the character than we have seen in the past as well. It is, as a viewer, interesting to watch. I am greatly enjoying it in my free time between all my graduate studies. Since B&B only airs for 30 minutes in the afternoon it only comes out to about 20+ minutes in my day to watch each episode. It gives me something to look forward to on days when I am so busy writing a paper that I am unable to really relax, so thank you "The Bold and the Beautiful" for bring back to the canvas this character because it truly is making me love the soap opera genre again. 

A quick update on the other two shows. I have been putting off "The Handmaid's Tale" until I can figure out how I want to review it on the site. I cannot decide if I want to do each episode individually or if I want to do a larger one-time posting on the show broken-down by episodes. I am leaning towards the one larger posting, but I haven't decided yet. Once I do, I will move on with the show. Steven Universe on the other hand I am only two episodes away from finishing the 3rd season of the show, so I will probably be reviewing it later this week! 

Recently Finished: "The Last Halloween" Halloween Special and "The Biskitts" episode on Halloween.

(The Last Halloween)

I nearly put that I had not finished any more media items since my last check-in, but this wasn't true. I have not finished any television shows or movies currently, but I did finish these two things. My friend, Alexis of ALEXIS' TREASURES, will be doing an entire month of Halloween in October. I am doing some guest writing for her over there during that event, so we are trying to get some of it written up already. It may seem like a far time out, but she is doing an entire month. I am doing roughly 5 reviews for her during the month. I am not wanting to get backed against a wall with the fact that I am moving this blog towards a certain direction with the diversity focus, as a result I am finishing my reviews up already. She does not have an issue with this, so it may seem weird that I am watching Halloween in July, but it is helping me stay on schedule and keep my word to a friend in the process. When the reviews are live I will remention it here for those that are interested in seeing my opinion over these two Halloween programs.

GURL!! Finish it!!! Week of 6/30/2017 or oopppss! This is a bit late...

Every Wednesday (oopps, I am a few days late on this one) I am going to update where I am at with reading or watching things. This is just a nice little feature for myself partially to have a record of stuff I have started, finished, read, watched, and all that business. I will also include a little bit of why I am reading it or watching that particular thing. Also it will help keep ME on track because I stop reading or watching stuff way too much, so this will help me hold tight to sticking with one darn thing. Anyone reading this also can hold me accountable on what I have been reading and if never moves to "Last Finished" or "Recently Finished" you can be like GURL!!! FINISH IT. 

Last Finished: On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony

This is still the same as the last time because I got a bit caught up starting the next book and then realized I had library books checked out that I had to return before next year ;-) I am still keeping this here though as a reminder to read! 

Currently Reading: You Can't Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson,  Bearing an Hourglass by Piers Anthony and The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

Okay, My currently reading list is starting to expand a little bit to an uncomfortable place. I may have to put one of these books on the chopping block (Looking at you Anne Rice with your over thousand pages). I still plan on reading and finishing the Piers Anthony book, but I recognized that I had a library book out that I wanted to finish really badly. This would be the Phoebe Robinson book. I am in a phase of my life where I am finding I really want socially conscious books. Is that a genre? If not someone should totally make it one. I want to read books with an important message or that tries to teach us something about life or ourselves in the process of being just a good book. Phoebe Robinson's book fits into that socially conscious category for me, so I want to read it, no devour it before it is due back. 

Currently Watching: "The Handmaid's Tale" & "Steven Universe" on Hulu

I am plugging away at "Steven Universe", but it is slow going because I don't like to marathon the show since they don't get added often to Hulu. It can take a bit to see the shows from Cartoon Network on there, so I take my time. Even with that I only have about 6 episodes left before I am finished with season 3 of that show.

I have become so enamored with the world of "The Handmaid's Tale" I have started watching the series that was produced for Hulu. I have already watched the first two episodes. Due to the content it is not a show that I can watch very quickly. I watched episode one five days ago and did not watch the second episode until yesterday. I have to put time between the episodes. The content stirs up a lot of emotions in me, but I am enjoying the acting (especially of Elisabeth Moss) and the little changes and additions that this series has made on the book. I will be reviewing this series as I progress through it. I am not sure if I will wait until I am all the way finished with it to start posting the reviews of the episodes or if I will post them as I go along with the first two coming up sooner rather than later since I already watched. When you see the reviews you will know. 

Recently Finished: "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" Season 3 and "Dear White People" season 1

These are still the most recent completed series that I have finished up with currently. I will eventually rewatch and review "Dear White People" for the blog because it fits my topic conversations. "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" I will never review and that is because it needs to stay a fun watch for me with no ties to anything outside of just enjoying the series.


P.S. You will notice that I am updating the blog here and there. This is because I am trying to move the blog towards being more professional, but also towards the direction that I want for this blog. I am incorporating elements that I like from other book bloggers, but at the same time finding my own place in this wonderful community. I am looking forward to growing and having anyone reading the blog currently going on that journey with me!