Review Round-Up
Books, movies, and shows I read/watched in February.
Read some more books, watched a ton more movies, let’s see which of which!
Books
I got an ARC of this when I went to OLA at the end of last month and I mean it when I tell you this is the best book I’ve read this year. It’s strange and explores a variety of themes, the main being what makes us different from animals (if anything) as well as having a host of disabled characters and wildly exploring grief. I loved this book, so please get ready for it when it comes out in March!
I liked this book so much more than his last one and think Hendrix did a great job of getting into the setting and exploring the topic of these homes for pregnant teens/unmarried women. It isn’t perfect and some things needed a bit of tightening up, but overall I really enjoyed this.
I waited to read this until after I finished Twin Peaks: The Return but it turned out I didn’t need to because this book was published right before The Return came out. I’d love to see a updated version or sequel to this just talking about The Return, but I did enjoy reading Burns’ thoughts on the first two season of Twin Peaks and how it quickly entered and left the zeitgeist. That being said, I expected more, especially a kinder treatment to the trans character Denise that Lynch gives in the show.
I Don’t Do Disability and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself by Adelle Purdham - 3.5/5
Thank you to River Street Writing for sending me this book for an honest review! I think Purdham is a talented writer and enjoyed her voice, but this book has very little to do with disability, ableism, or being a mother of a child with Down Syndrome despite being heavily marketed as that. I still enjoyed the essays, but some were a bit repetitive.
Movies
The Substance dir. Coralie Fargeat (2024) - 5/5
February was the month of watching as many Oscar movies as I could find and I adored The Substance! Fantastic acting and camera work, I loved the horror and heart found throughout this.
Easily one of Dreamworks best films in a long time. I’ve heard great things about the book as well, but the movie was phenomenal and I’m really hoping it wins Best Animated Feature.
A Real Pain dir. Jesse Eisenberg (2024) - 4/5
I liked this so much more than I thought I would and really hope that Eisenberg wins Best Screenplay. It’s like a depressing Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
Wicked dir. John M. Chu (2024) - 5/5
A rewatch because it’s on DVD now and just as good as the first time I saw it!
Mulholland Drive dir. David Lynch (2001) - 4.5/5
RIP David Lynch, I’m going to try and watch as much of your stuff as I can! Watched this for the movie night I have with my friends and I loved it, Mulholland Drive is easily the most straight-forward of Lynch’s work that I’ve seen. Also, Deep River representation!
Party Girl dir. Daisy von Scherler Mayer (1995) - 3.5/5
This has been on my list for a few years after learning that Parker Posey was in a movie where she is a party girl and works in a library. I would have liked more library and less partying though.
TV Shows
Yellowjackets - Season 3
There are only three episodes out so far but what a fantastic start to this season!
The twists! The turns! The drama! My friend told me this was a good arc and he wasn’t wrong, lots ramping up in the One Piece world!
Twin Peaks - The Return
Finished this and honestly, still don’t know what happened but I liked it!