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What we do here echoes in eternity: Reviewing The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith

Hi again everyone! I hope you all are still doing well. Maybe you’re doing better than before. I can say that I have experienced some improvements in my life, including being able to finish books quicker than before. Lately, I’ve been finding myself reading more books about books. I love the meta nature of those stories. Now, let’s talk about The Library of the Unwritten.

As the head librarian of the Unwritten Wing in Hell, it is Claire’s job to maintain and organizing books while also making sure the stories don’t escape from Hell’s neutral space. When a rather stubborn hero escapes from the library, Claire must go on a retrieval mission with her assistant Brevity and an awkward but kind demon named Leto. The mission soon turns into something bigger when they are attacked by a powerful angel named Ramiel, who believes they have the Devil’s Bible. This book could bring about a war between Heaven and Hell. It is up to Claire and her friends to find the book before Heaven and Hell begin their war with Earth as the battle ground.

This book was a random pick off the shelf for me and I had put it off for a bit. I must say, though, that this was a delightful read. The world of the book is so unique and an interesting way to view novels, written and unwritten. The novel has a nice, snarky sense of humor about it that balanced out with the heavier, more emotional moments. What I enjoyed the most, though, is how well-rounded and dynamic the characters were. Everyone had a satisfying arc, which I feel is rather rare at times. The Library of the Unwritten is a great fantasy novel that I found to be quite charming and endearing. I have a feeling other readers and authors alike will find enjoyment in this book.

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Look Beneath the Surface: Reviewing The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal

Hi everyone! I’m back sooner than ever with another book review. It has been a while since I read a book in day. I haven’t done that since I was a kid. Thankfully, I found the perfect book to breeze through. In undergrad, I discovered Good Mythical Morning and it has been part of my morning routine ever since. I watch way too much Youtube, by the way. When I saw Rhett and Link were coming out with a novel (and a mystery one at that) I was pretty excited. Normally I am rather hesitant with debut novels but I am always willing to give them a chance and I was glad I gave this one a chance. Now, let’s talk about it.

Bleak Creek is a quaint little Southern town where incoming freshman, Rex McClendon and Lief Nelson spend their days trying to film their magnum opus, PolterDog. With the help of their friend, Alicia, the boy are determined to make history with their film. After an accident happens while filming during the church barbecue, Alicia is sent off to the infamous Whitewood reform school. Rex and Leif decide to take in upon themselves by teaming up with Janine, a film student looking to film her own documentary. As the group investigates, they begin to uncover the dark secrets that lie beneath the unassuming town of Bleak Creek, one that may put their lives in danger.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I started reading this novel but I was certainly (pleasantly) surprised by what I got. The novel is way darker than I assumed, with plenty of twists that kept me reading onward. The town of Bleak Creek feels perfectly real as well as shockingly terrifying. There were parts were my jaw dropped from how dark the book became but that was the best part. The novel also had just the right amount of nostalgia that didn’t overpower the scarier elements. It definitely filled the Stranger Things void in my life. You don’t have to be a fan of Good Mythical Morning, either, to enjoy this book. It was a swift read with plenty of twist, turns, and shocks to keep me on the edge of my seat.

Warning: There are instances of blood and violence. It’s pretty PG – 13, though.

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My Favorite (Cancelled) TV shows and some post-semester thoughts

Hi everyone! I am truly and officially done with my semester. I had to wrap up some grading and deal with some rather…angry students. That was honestly the most frustrating part. Email doesn’t allow for proper communication because you obviously can’t read tone through an email. It was hard, to say the least. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one dealing with it so it felt good to be in similar company. I can honestly say that I did not enjoy my first time teaching a class on my own. I have higher hopes for the next time I teach, though. I’m sure many of you have similar frustrations and just need a break. That’s why I’m giving you my list of favorite tv shows that were sadly cancelled before their time. To clarify, I’m talking about tv shows that were cancelled after a season or two and not shows that had a proper series finale. I figured some of you might not want to commit to an ongoing tv show so here’s some that require little commitment and are still satisfying to watch.

Firefly – Let’s start with one of the most famous cancelled tv shows. Firefly is such a unique sci-fi show as it combines the gritty and atmospheric feel of a Western with the futuristic tech of science fiction. This show only lasted one season and was created by Joss Whedon. It is still a cult classic with a large following. The spin off movie, Serenity, is also fantastic if you are feeling disheartened after finishing this series.

Agent Carter – Marvel may have a great track record with movies, but they haven’t had as much success with tv shows. Agent Carter, though, was definitely a winner. Peggy Carter is a bad-ass icon who kicks ass in every episode. It was a great take on comic book media with a unique twist to it. There was even a musical episode. All of the seasons are currently on Disney Plus if you are going through Marvel withdrawals.

Forever – Forever didn’t last long but it will stay in mind..forever (I couldn’t resist). This show was about a doctor who accidentally discovers he is immortal and now works as a mortician for the NYPD. He must solve crimes and try to hide his secret, while also learning why he is immortal. It stars Ioan Gruffud, who you may recognize as Mr. Fantastic from the 2000s movies. It was a charming little show with a great premise as well as it was a crime show (and I am a sucker for a good crime show).

Pushing Daisies – Again, we have another quirky crime show with an element of magical realism. This show is about a pie maker named Ned (played by Lee Pace) who has the ability to bring dead things back to life with a touch, and send them back with another touch. He uses his ability to help solve crimes. Along with that, he brings back his girlfriend and they must navigate their strange new relationship. It’s a charming little show with a sweet romance at the center. It is also just morbid enough without losing its charm.

Sleepy Hollow – And now we have yet another crime show but this one isn’t as…cute. Sleepy Hollow begins with Ichabod Crane coming back to life after being supposedly killed during the American Revolution. He must discover what happened to bring him back by teaming up with a no-nonsense detective as they investigate all of the supernatural happenings in Sleepy Hollow. This was a really great crime show with a supernatural twist. You can find this one on Hulu if you’re interested. (By the way, I would recommend visiting the actual town of Sleepy Hollow. It was so much fun and they really embrace the legend.)

Constantine – Now, I’m making a bit of an exception with this one as the show is cancelled but Constantine the character is very much active in the current DC tv shows. Constantine is great because it’s like Doctor Strange but imagine if Doctor Strange was an alcoholic. I love my underdog, unconventional heroes and John Constantine fits the bill. It had some great visual effects too.

Swamp Thing – This one was a recent cancellation and I talked about it before a previous list of tv shows I enjoy. I am normally not a fan of the monster genre but I was pleasantly surprised by this show. It took something I considered hokey and made it genuinely scary. If you want a good horror show, I would recommend this one.

I hope you enjoy some of the shows on this list. I’m planning on doing another podcast list because I finally have time to dedicate to the fictional audio genres that I’ve been sitting on forever. Stay safe, stay sane, stay healthy.

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One Embraces One’s Enemy: Reviewing Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Hello everybody! Again, I hope you are all doing well and still holding together as we all start to realize that quarantine isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds. (Not that anything about this situation is fun. I’m just hoping my sarcasm is clear in text). I am officially done with my semester and my brain is fried. Thankfully, I have time to get to my TBR list. I’m also planning on posting a “boredom” list of random things I have found to keep myself occupied. Before I get that, let’s talk about Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James.

Tracker was well-known for his ability to hunt down anyone or anything with his remarkable sense of smell. When he’s hired to track down a nameless boy, he must team up with a shape shifting man only known as Leopard and other misfits. The more Tracker searches for the boy, the more creatures and enemies he runs into who are also after the boy. Now, Tracker is in over his head and he must find the boy and the truth behind his search.

It took me longer than I would like to admit to get through this novel but I was thoroughly immersed the whole time. The narrative voice is so authentic and layered with different characters overlapping each other. The world of the book is so rich and detailed. Some of you might enjoy that this novel has several maps in it. This book is also so infused with mythology that it gives the novel an almost hallucinatory quality (in the best way). It is a truly unique experience reading Black Leopard, Red Wolf. It is definitely a novel you might need to re-read in order to fully absorb the world. I would recommend this if you are a fan of either The Children of Blood and Bone or Game of Thrones. It delivers that epic element that all fantasy novels should.

Warning: The book does contain graphic violence and sexual violence. Please be aware if you are uncomfortable with either of those subjects.

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We will make another path: Reviewing A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Hi everybody! I hope everyone is still doing their best to stay safe and sane as we continue forward with lockdown or quarantine or whatever you want to call it. I am a week away from being done with this semester. It’s a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, I’ll have a break from the pressures of grad school and having to deal with online classes. On the other hand, I will be incredibly bored. I still have a stack of books I’m so excited to get through, though. While I wait to be free, I decided to review another book I read this semester. It isn’t what I would choose to read but I am very glad I read it. Here is my review of A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza.

Rafiq and Layla have only wanted what was best for their children, but tragedy drives their family apart. Now, on the day of their eldest daughter’s wedding, they must come to terms with the tragic past that has haunted them. First, they must come to terms with Hadia’s untraditional marriage, then their second daughter Huda’s determination to follow her sister’s path, and finally, they must try to reach out to their youngest and only son Amar, who has been estranged for the last three years. The family must learn to forgive the past in order to create a better future.

Like I said, this was a required novel so normally it is not something I would choose to read so I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. I am even writing my final paper on it. The writing is delicate and doesn’t pressure you to choose any one side as conflict happens. The characters are perfectly imperfect, which makes them feel like real humans. Mirza’s attention to detail within this non-linear novel is what makes this novel so unique. With the main family being Indian and Muslim, it offers a different perspective on tradition and culture. I think it is always important to explore other cultures, especially through literature. Even when Mirza touches on topics that are still rather taboo, like addiction, she handles it beautifully and carefully by offering multiple perspectives. The book is as heart warming as it is heart breaking with such great attention to detail. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good tear jerker with a lovely message.