- No redeeming qualities whatsoever visually, aesthetically, or as a story.
- So boring I could barely pay attention or it frustrated me SO much I couldn’t finish.
- I had a headache but somehow made it through.
- I could make fun of it. . . because of how bad it is.
- It’s not good, it’s not bad. It’s just blah.
- There were various interesting aspects but nothing to really gush about.
- A solid story. Good characters, plot, and visuals. However, not amazing.
- I genuinely enjoyed watching/reading it. I could see/read it again with friends.
- A great experience! As a film/show it is visually stunning and has an incredible story I could go back to multiple times. As a book, I could do the same.
- Near Perfect (nothing is perfect. ) It has become one of my favorites. I could also write entire articles on it.
Books
A Face Like Glass (2012) by Francis Harding
8.5/10
In the underground city of Caverna the world’s most skilled craftsmen toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare. They create wines that can remove memories, cheeses that can make you hallucinate and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer even as they slit your throat. The people of Caverna are more ordinary, but for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned. Only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to show (or fake) joy, despair or fear — at a price.
Into this dark and distrustful world comes Neverfell, a little girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. For Neverfell’s emotions are as obvious on her face as those of the most skilled Facesmiths, though entirely genuine. And that makes her very dangerous indeed…
I’ve read this book before, and I still enjoy the layered messages on humanity, emotionality, and breaking free from elaborate prisons people create in seemingly perfect societies. In a way, it seems like a mixture between Metropolis (1927) and Renaissance Italy.
I highly recommend this book to people who are interested in Renaissance history or philosophical stories centered on what makes people human and what constitutes as genuine, joyful experiences.
Mr. Malcolm’s List by Suzanne Allain (2009)
6.5/10
The Honourable Mr. Jeremy Malcolm is searching for a wife, but not just any wife. As the target of matchmaking mothers and desperate debutantes, he’s determined to avoid the fortune hunters and find a near-perfect woman, one who will meet the qualifications on his well-crafted list. But after years of searching, he’s beginning to despair of ever finding this paragon. Until Selina Dalton arrives in town.
Mr. Malcolm is so frustrating! Reading this book I kept thinking, “Selina. . . why do you like this man? He doesn’t trust you and won’t listen to you. He’s pompous and overall a frustrating load of crap.” Yet, she couldn’t hear me and got with him anyway. 🙂 Such is the way of books. I think Mr. Malcolm was supposed to be like Mr. Darcy. . . but without the growth and redeeming arc.
A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker (2023)
8.5/10
Miss Genevieve Wilde—a magistrate’s daughter and independent heiress—is determined to meet life’s challenges all on her own, just as her late father had taught her. So when her father’s pocket watch is stolen, she will do anything to get it back, especially when the local authorities prove incompetent.
Upon reading an advertisement in the paper, she takes a chance and contacts a thief-taker to find the watch. It’s a choice Ginny regrets when former Bow Street officer Jack Travers arrives on her doorstep. He is frustratingly flirtatious, irritatingly handsome, and entirely unpredictable, and Ginny wonders if she’ll be able to resist such a man.
But after Ginny discovers that the missing watch is just a small part of a larger, more frightening plot against her, she needs Jack’s help more than ever. To protect her home and her reputation, the two enter into a risky charade—pretending Jack is her cousin so he can begin his investigation, starting with the household staff. As they work together to unravel the mystery, Ginny finds herself falling fast for her charismatic thief-taker, leaving her heart in just as much danger as her life.
Overview via Goodreads
This was a charming romance. I liked both of the main characters and how they didn’t let the student drama of the moment lead to all their choices. I figured out the mystery within. . . a few chapters, but that is because I read too much Agatha Christie. I highly recommend this book to lovers of Regency romances.
Webtoons/Manga
Taming the Marquess (2022) by Ire
8.5/10
Laranora Ador gets more than she bargained for when she rescues a young boy from being sold off in an infamous auction house. The boy is actually Eskal Van Dyck, the “Crazy Marquess,” in disguise! Unaware of his violent and heartless true nature, Laranora takes Eskal under her wing. Determined to raise him with utmost care and respect, Laranora grows deeply attached to Eskal… and in return, the true Eskal begins to fall in love with her. Unfortunately, Eskal is often targeted for his powerful magic and ruthless ways, which leads to a tragic event that separates the two. But Eskal is determined to find her again as his true self. Will Laranora be able to accept who he really is? And more importantly, what will happen when something fishy brewing in the Imperial Palace may involve them both?
So far, this story is very interesting. I like the main female lead’s courage, spunk, and independence and the male lead is not a toxic piece of garbage like many I’ve come across lately. The story is also well constructed, especially compared to many like it in this genre. Since this story isn’t done yet, I can’t give a definitive review, but for now, I’m looking forward to other chapters.
Black Dragon Romance (2020)
6/10
The wealthy Black Dragon clan rules Shanghai, and their power knows no bounds. But for three ordinary young Koreans, life in the city is very different. Pyung-an, an art enthusiast, is working her dream job in a prestigious gallery. Yeo-rae, a talented cellist at the Music Institute, is grafting hard to make ends meet. And Jin-hwan is looking for inspiration after his dream of being a taekwondo star foundered. For these three, the vast metropolis teems with potential romance, excitement…and danger. As they become mixed up with the formidable Black Dragon family, their lives are turned upside down.
Overview via https://www.lezhinus.com/en/comic/blackdragon
I hate stories where the main lead or their love interest LIES and just expects the other to accept it because of LOVE. That was basically every relationship in this story. It was aggravating and unnecessary.
TV Shows/Anime
Move to Heaven (2021)
8.5/10
Working as trauma cleaners, both Gu-ru and Sang-gu uncover various stories of the deceased while experiencing different emotions and sentiments toward life, death and family.
Overview via. IMBD
This was a really lovely watch. I loved the respect the main character and his father showed the deceased people they cleaned for and I honestly cried at the end. I don’t want to say TOO much because it is something that needs to be experienced.
Movies
Sabrina (1995)
7.5/10
An ugly duckling having undergone a remarkable change, still harbors feelings for her crush: a carefree playboy, but not before his business-focused brother has something to say about it.
This is one of the few romantic comedies I go back to every once in a while. Do I think it is one of the greatest movies ever made. . . not really. Some part of me doesn’t believe they could fall in love in so short a time. But there is another part of me that casts off my disbelief and enjoy seeing Sabrina and Linus be together in Paris.
I do like it more than the original, which RARELY happens so that’s a plus.
Elemental, (2023)
7.5/10
There isn’t too much to say about this film. I don’t think it is as bad as people say it is. I also don’t think it is the greatest movie in the world. Just normal. Here is what I really liked about this movie:
- The romance between Water Wade and Fire Ember was really sweet and the best part of the movie! I thought their relationship was sweet and healthy.
- The animation in general looked great. . . I mean it is Pixar so that is a given.
- The ceremonial bow between Ember and her father was very touching.
- I really liked how the elemental people moved.
Now this is what is MEH in this movie.
- The side plot with Ember’s family shop was. . . not interesting.
- The plot seemed broken in places and haphazardly put back together.
- It lacked real FOCUS
- Besides Ember and Wade, I didn’t find any of the other characters interesting.
But hey, I would give this movie a watch. It was interesting enough and I enjoyed myself.
The Incredibles (2005)
10/10
If you don’t know what this movie is by now, you probably have been living under a rock. That said, I truly love this film and marveled at its music, pacing, staging, animation, and character work when I watched it with my brother. I have nothing bad to say about it and simply recommend it on principle.
Rock a Doodle (1991)
4/10
In order to defeat the wicked Grand Duke of Owls, a young boy, transformed into a cat, teams up with a group of barnyard animals to find the rooster who can raise the sun.
Overview via IMBD
It’s downhill from here. This movie was . . . so bad. But I liked some of the songs. Honestly, I don’t know why they thought this story would work. The pacing is awful, the villain is so cringy, the character animation sometimes doesn’t make sense, and the live-action mixed with the animated scenes is very dated.
But I did laugh at it. So it doesn’t have a lower score. Snow White and her new friends must rescue the Prince when he is captured by the Wicked Queen’s vengeful brother.
Happily Ever After (1993)
2/10
Snow White and her new friends must rescue the Prince when he is captured by the Wicked Queen’s vengeful brother.
Overview via IMBD
Goodness. I couldn’t even laugh at this. It was PAINFUL to watch. Nostalgia didn’t help. In fact, my brother and I kept taking breaks so we wouldn’t have to watch it all in one go. The songs might have been the most painful part. I HOPED someone would die just so I could stop watching the movie.
A Troll in Central Park (1994)
3/10
An evil Queen banishes a flower loving troll named Stanley (Dom DeLuise) to New York City, where he befriends two young children.
Overview via IMBD
Wow, this movie made me feel NOTHING. It was nothing. At least the character animation didn’t make me want to claw my eyes out. I can’t recommend it to anyone because who would want it? It is really bad. I feel bad for Don Bluth that this happened to him.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have a wonderful day.
From the Perspective of an Old Soul 