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 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!

Gurl!!! Finish it!!! or This be what I do in my free time...

Every Wednesday 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

I literally finished this book today. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, since it was a book that was placed before me by my partner. Often I do not find myself enjoying books that are in the fantasy or sci-fi genre, which this book is in both, but this had me hooked. Characterization is on point, settings are done well, and almost every single aspect of it was done well. There are moments that I am taken out of the story simply because it incorporates the future with magic, so hearing about dragons right after you heard about a car was weird. Overall though it was a good read.

Currently Reading: Bearing an Hourglass by Piers Anthony and The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

After finishing "On a Pale Horse" and enjoying it so much I am immediately going into the next book, which for anyone that knows me knows this is a feat because I do not go immediately into series like this. I am a one and then take some time and then go to the next after reading other books for awhile. Largely because I easily get oversaturated. I am, however, looking forward to reading this next book in the "Incarnations of Immortality" series by Piers Anthony. This book focuses on Chronos (Time), which will be interesting since I always feel like I have so little of it. I am keeping "The Witching Hour" on here though I have not made any progress past the first fifty pages so far because I have become so focused on the Piers Anthony books. I am promising myself that I will return to this one though after I finish the third book in the Anthony series.

Currently Watching: "Steven Universe" on Hulu

I pretty much keep up-to-date on this show through Hulu, which means I am always a season or so behind everyone else. I do not mind this though because I still enjoy watching it regardless. My partner and I have about 8 episodes left in season 3. My favorite characters are Peridot and Lapis, which I think are two of the more popular characters on the show anyways. I will review the season after I am finished. I may go back and review the first two seasons at some point as well. 

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

I finished "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" around Friday of this last week. It is one of those shows that I tend to binge-watch when it comes out, which is weird since I hate to binge-watch anything. Seems like I have the same issue I have with books about marathoning a series with television shows as well. I tend to not to want to get through them that quickly, sometimes taking a lot longer than probably they even aired, but everytime Kimmy premieres it never takes me long to get through all the episodes. This is largely because the show has a certain charm and positivity to it even through all the crap that is being portrayed. It makes me laugh and feel good, which is what I need in my life. I am thankful that I have already seen that it was renewed for a fourth season, especially since the third season felt a little anti-climatic at the end. I do not feel though that this is a show about exciting cliffhanger finales, but instead is focused on just being a damn good show! 

Last week at some point I also finished "Dear White People" which was a bit of a more socially conscious show with a message to tell the audience. It wants us to understand different aspects of life that POC have to deal with on a regular basis. It is handled in a funny manner at times and in a very real in your face matter at others. It balances between these two elements perfectly. I wish there was something I could say to get more people to watch this show, but I know that it has been heavily criticized for being racist itself. It is NOT. It is an important show about an important part of society. This group is facing real issues, racial issues, in our society and this focuses so masterfully on them and shows us the humanity under the people that are often pushed to the side in society. If I could force people to watch any show it would be this one. It is needed and the conversation it stirs is so vital. I cannot express that enough.