Thendral's Take: July 2021
Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
Overall
All I can say is, this is one of the best books I've read so far this year.
I loved the portrayal of:
grief and loss: processing, coping, getting through it.
the "I'm a Nice Guy" stereotype
very old friendships that have a dynamic to be protected
It was addicting and I simply could not put it down. When the book ended, I was feeling all 🥺🥺🥺 that's all I really want from a book anyway. There is no one specific theme for me to be like if you’re a fan of this or that, please read it. Just go in with an open mind with no expectations of where the plot would go! Be warned there are themes of death and panic attacks if those are triggering for you! The cover and the blurb are hugely misleading, I loved the plot, the characters, and the romance that was just sweet and natural even though this book is not a rom-com. Please read this!
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
My Thoughts
I love Talia Hibbert's representation in the people she writes about, and I like how she can produce amazing dialogues that can cause me to LAUGH or giggle. That's the two main pros for me. But! The first book of hers that I read, Get a life Chloe brown was really unique for me because the main character had a chronic condition that impacted ALL parts of her life. And it was interesting to read about someone live through that while also stubbornly pretending like they don't need anyone or any help. She was complex, and the guy she found was very understanding and accepting of the needs her condition creates and that was very wholesome and lovely.
But the other two books on the other sisters, Eve and Dani just feel like synonyms of the first book but without the novelty of the chronic diagnosis. Which just makes for a more romance read (that's a bit smutty!), rather than something about complex people. The issues both Eve and Dani had felt a bit tiresome and repetitive (especially when I'm following this with Chloe's issues) and plots like this one where people CLEARLY just need to communicate sometimes exhausts me.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My Thoughts
Usually, when I read a book I feel a part of it. But somewhere in this surfing-narcissists-drugs-cheating-singers Southern California setting, I had a hard time connecting with most of the characters. Nina is the only person I kind of got. But even then the writing was really frustrating. There was a lot of dramatic foreshadowing, and then some more foreshadowing and then even more drama but the book NEVER took off. TJR's books have characters I love and stories that stay in my heart for YEARS. Neither of that is true in the case of this book. The plot is pretty much next to nothing and the characters were boring. I really don't have much to say other than that this didn't hit the TJR mark for me. I only stayed with it from start to finish because like I said, I'm obsessed with TJR's books and I kept hoping the book would go somewhere. But this turned out to be a very disappointing read. Only recommending this to those who are as obsessed with TJR's writing as me and NEED to know what the book is like. Other than that, this is a no from me guys.
Black Widow
My Thoughts
I'm going to be honest with you. I didn't like the movie. That's all I can say 🤷🏽♀️ The first half was STRONG. In fact, it easily has the BEST opening sequence among ALL the MCU movie's opening sequences we've had so far. I liked the action sequences, they really got dirty with it and I really liked that none of the action sequences had to do with being a woman (as in our bodies). And like WHO was the villain?? She was on screen for like 2 minutes maybe?? One minute to stare into blank space while standing and another minute to stare into blank space while lying down - I hope we get to see more of her in phase 4? Because what a waste of having marvel in her CV otherwise! The CGI was sooo bad too!! What was with THAT??? It's 2021, come on! And you're giving CGI from 20 years ago?? Complete WASTE of Rachel Weisz, the plot was "umm... Okay?" at best and the direction was so, so choppy. It SHOWS the director has never done action movies. And by the time they ended the movie by tying it to Infinity War, it just all just felt too little too late.
Listen. Throwing Black Widow off the cliff in Endgame was one thing but promising to give her a movie and hyping us ALL up as this movie is Marvel's RETURN to cinema - for it to turn out to be this? Come on man, MCU has done Black Widow SO dirty. The thing is, this movie didn't feel like it was filling up anything that was missing. Remember how they brought out Captain Marvel before Endgame and everyone was like "This is the bish who's supposed to defeat Thanos? How are they going to tie it all in ONE movie??" and they actually managed to? And by the time we saw Captain Marvel in Endgame we were all WHOAAAAA. Yeah, I don't know what this achieved. Florence Pugh THOUGH. I've not seen ANY of her performances before but my god if she is the replacement for Black Widow, I am so in! The talent, the performance, ugh. Completely wasted in this movie otherwise.
Overall
Do I recommend this? I don't know man. Watch it at home I suppose? Like if you're in SG, watch it in the theatres on a weekday because it's cheaper - don't bother with premium access. Or you can just wait until it's available under regular access on Disney+. If you need to know how it ties into phase 4, just Google Black Widow end credits if you've watched Falcon and the Winter Soldier. You're good.
Plot
A TV producer is trying to get ahead in her career and away from her mum. Except, her mum joins as the new intern at the very news station she works at.
My Thoughts
I LOVED it! It’s smart, it’s relevant and timely (even though it was filmed 2017 to 2018ish). It is laugh out loud funny and has a unique premise like no other. And all the characters are so likeable! Even though NBC cancelled it after two seasons, it concludes somehow so you can still watch it without worrying about being left hanging. Both seasons have less than 15 episodes so I’m sure you can binge it in no time. The only thing I didn’t like about the show was its parody of Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood. It was funny but I also hope comedians like Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield would stop going after Taylor and Taylor alone and all the time!
Overall
Do I recommend this? I don't know man. Watch it at home I suppose? Like if you're in SG, watch it in the theatres on a weekday because it's cheaper - don't bother with premium access. Or you can just wait until it's available under regular access on Disney+. If you need to know how it ties into phase 4, just Google Black Widow end credits if you've watched Falcon and the Winter Soldier. You're good.
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