Review Round-Up
Books, movies, and shows I read/watched in October.
October was a crazy busy month socially so I’m surprised that I read and watched as much as I did!
Books
‘salem’s Lot by Stephen King - 4/5
Why didn’t I read this sooner?! This was a fantastic book, maybe my favourite of what I’ve read of King’s works so far. I loved the slow build of it, how the town itself was a character. Absolutely phenomenal!
Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson - 4/5
This book was such a weird one but WOW I’m obsessed with it! I originally read it as part of a Discord Read-a-thon, and while I enjoyed it I kind of want to re-read it quicker because it is one strange book.
Identity, theatre, and female rage. It’s everything I love and so much more! Great dialogue, and such a good look at a wide range of topics.
A great spooky middle grade read. There’s nothing scarier than being a little fox in the wilderness! I thought the first story was the scariest, but they’re all fantastic.
Annabel by Kathleen Winter - 2/5
It’s amazing this book was nominated for the Giller and given so much praise when a major plot point is medically impossible for intersex people and only goes to further stereotypes against them.
The Donoghue Girl by Kim Fahner - 2.5/5
Thank you River Street Writing for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. Fahner is a good writer in terms of setting but I just couldn’t connect or care for any of the characters.
Coup de Grace by Sofia Ajram - 2/5
Why are horror novellas a thing and why do they all suck?
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman - 4/5
Surprisingly good! I think Malerman got Bela’s eight-year-old perspective as right as any adult writing a child’s perspective can get and loved the formatting to show that. There were also some honest to God chilling moments, I loved this!
The Witchcraft of Salem Village by Shirley Jackson - 5/5
Shirley Jackson the woman you are! I read this as prep for my visit to Salem and what a fantastic little book this was. She really got how terrifying the trials were and the tragedy of them.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller - 4/5
Historically inaccurate, but a classic. More prep work for my trip!
Movies
Late Night with the Devil dir. Cameron and Colin Cairnes (2024) - 3/5
This would have been so much better if it had just been a found-footage type movie of the actual episode that aired, the behind-the-scenes bits took away from it.
Death Becomes Her dir. Robert Zemeckis (1992) - 4/5
This was so fun and campy! Bruce Willis KILLED it, why didn’t he do more comedic roles?
Lisa Frankenstein dir. Zelda Williams (2004) - 3/5
I wanted a little more out of this and honestly I don’t think Kathryn Newton is that great of an actor, but this was a lot of fun!
The Addams Family dir. Barry Sonnenfeld (1991) - 4/5
I rewatched this on my bus trip after many years. A Halloween classic, but why do both movies centre on Fester?
Hidden Figures dir. Theodore Melfi (2016) - 4/5
This had Oscar bait written all over it in 2016 but honestly, such a good movie. If an Oscar bait movie is actually good and I learn something from it then it’s worth it for me!
TV Shows
Kaos
Okay, I watched this in September and forgot to put it here. But is there even a point because NETFLIX DECIDED NOT TO RENEW IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AMAZING AND I’M ANGRY ABOUT IT!
I didn’t like this as much as the others, but I’m recognizing the flow of the series now. This was more of a transition to the next part of the journey so I’m excited for that!
Didn’t get very far, but still enjoyed it!
Agatha All Along
I was a bit iffy on this series. Even though I loved the character in WandaVision it went through so many weird title changes and Marvel didn’t seem to know what to do with it. But it was getting some hype and I’m so glad I watched it because this was such a good show! I have a new song stuck in my head, and I think this is one of Marvel’s better shows!