I wrote this on a nice morning in December. Good golly, I’m so behind! But, sooner rather than later is the key for me! My job and various goals keep me pretty busy. Writing posts like this is more for my mental health than anything.
Anyway, I didn’t watch or read a ton this month (it being the first month of the school year), so it should be quick and simple!
Here is how I rate things!
- No redeeming qualities whatsoever, visually, aesthetically, or as a story.
- It was so boring I could barely pay attention, or it frustrated me SO much I couldn’t finish.
- I had a headache, but I somehow made it through. This category is also for when I absolutely DESPISE something I’ve watched or read.
- I could make fun of it because of how bad it is or because it lacks any real merit.
- 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, it’s 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 that 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
Persuasion (1817), 8/10
Persuasion marks a break with Austen’s previous works, both in the more biting, even irritable satire directed at some of the novel’s characters and in the regretful, resigned outlook of its otherwise admirable heroine, Anne Elliot, in the first part of the story. Against this is set the energy and appeal of the Royal Navy, which symbolises for Anne and the reader the possibility of a more outgoing, engaged, and fulfilling life, and it is this worldview which triumphs for the most part at the end of the novel.
Synopsis via Goodreads
I liked this book and finished it fairly quickly, which surprises me because it takes me a while to get through Jane Austen novels. While I don’t think it’s my favorite, I do think it had THE most romantic confession from a male lead! Take a look below and imagine the man/woman of your dreams said this to you.
“I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W.
I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father’s house this evening or never.”
Quote from Persuasion (courtesy of Captain Wentworth)
Ride the River (1983), 8/10
In Ride the River, Louis L’Amour spins the tale of a young woman who has to protect her family fortune from a murderous thief and teach him what it means to be a Sackett. Sixteen-year-old Echo Sackett had never been far from her Tennessee home—until she made the long trek to Philadelphia to collect an inheritance. Echo could take care of herself as well as any Sackett man, but James White, a sharp city lawyer, figured that cheating the money from the young girl would be like taking candy from a baby. If he couldn’t hoodwink Echo out of the cash, he’d just steal it from her outright. And if she put up a fight? There were plenty of accidents that could happen to a country girl on her first trip to the big city.
Synopsis via goodreads
This is one of my favorite Louis L’Amour novels to listen to! It is rather short, but it’s charming in its own right. It is one of the few novels I’ve read from him that focuses solely on a female protagonist. Echo Sackett is part Anne Oakley and Anne of Green Gables in equal measure, and I love how she uses her wits and grit to help and fight in equal measure.
Whispering Pines (2020), 10/10
Rae’s father vanished without a trace—and Rae knows what happened to him. But no one believes her when she says that her father didn’t run off, that he was actually taken. Now, a year of therapy later, Rae’s mother decides they need a fresh start, and so they move to a new town in the hope that life can return to normal.
The problem is, there is nothing normal about the town of Whispering Pines.
No one knows this better than Caden. He’s lived in Whispering Pines his entire life, and he’s seen more than his fair share of weird—starting with his own family, as the town is the perfect home base for his mother’s ghost hunting business.
When several kids go missing and then show up like zombies with their eyes removed, many locals brush it off. Just another day in Whispering Pines. But Caden has a dark secret, one that may explain why someone is stealing eyes. And Rae, who knows how it feels to not be believed, may be just the person Caden needs to help him put things right.
Synopsis via Goodreads
I’ve already talked about this book, and tend to listen to it every two or so years around the fall. I’ve heard it’s a lot like Stranger Things (2016) and The X-Files (1993), which means I should watch/rewatch those shows soon. I love this book, and its sequel (Book below). If you are into truly spooky books for kids, these are a definite read for you!
Infestation (2021), 10/10
Caden’s brother Aiden is many clever, powerful, vindictive. Unforgiving. And now, he’s also mysteriously free from the hellish dimensional prison that Caden had trapped him in. Caden is sure that Aiden is out for revenge, but since his parents refuse to see the danger when it comes to his brother, he’ll have to find a way to survive on his own.
Meanwhile, Rae, freed from the threat of the eye-snatching, monstrous Unseeing, has once again turned all her focus toward finding her missing father. She believes the town’s shady alternative energy company, Green On!, might have the information she seeks, so she joins their internship program to get answers. Unfortunately, this means sacrificing her friendship with Caden, who wants nothing to do with Green On! or anyone associated with it.
When a special assignment from Rae’s internship leads her to uncover an infestation of giant, flesh-eating centipedes that may be alien in nature, she needs to convince Caden to help her get rid of them. The two friends must learn to work together again, because this time, it’s not just Whispering Pines’ fate that hangs in the balance, but the world’s.
Synopsis via Goodreads
(See previous book!)
Dread Detention (2022), 6.5/10
When classmates Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to school on a Saturday, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong. Things are about to get seriously scary.
What has dragged their teacher underground? Why do the creepy caretakers keep humming the tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider? And what horrors lurk in the shadows, getting stronger and meaner every minute . . .? Cut off from help and in danger each time they touch the ground, the gang’s only hope is to work together. But it’s no coincidence that they’re all there on detention. Someone has been watching and plotting and is out for revenge . . .
Synopsis via Goodreads
This book was fine. It had somewhat of a pacing problem, but at least there were plenty of giant spiders!
Comics/Manga
The Villainesses Stationary Shop (2022), 7.5/10
What’s a girl to do when she wakes up in the body of a villainess? Meldenique Babelloa is a supporting character in a romance novel starring her fiancé, Duke Lennox Hessman, and… her sister, Sheria! Heartbroken, she eventually dies a tragic death as a villainess… or so the original story goes. Determined not to follow the script, Meldenique resolutely abandons her old life and sets out to open… a stationery shop! Will she succeed in defying fate and building the stationery shop of her dreams?
Synopsis via Tapas
I’ve liked this series so far! Things do go a little bit too easily for the female lead, but I’ve enjoyed watching her romance blossom without too much stupid drama and learning about running a toy shop. Also, the male lead is a definite gem! Also, he isn’t a prince character! In these stories, for some reason, the female lead often falls for a prince or a duke. Not this one!
The Male Leads Girlfriend (2021), 6.5/10
Waking up inside your favorite novel sounds like a dream come true. Unless you’re born as the hated villainess, that is. Our new, full-fledged Louise Sweeny must try to reinvent her character to dodge her doomed fate of being killed off at the end of the story. It seemed easy enough at first, but there’s one big problem. The story, which she knew like the back of her hand, has veered so far off course that she can’t predict what plot twists are coming next. Can she avoid getting in the way of the male and female leads’ romance to save herself from impending demise?
Synopsis via Webtoon
Meh, this was alright. I tend to be a sucker for stories where the side characters have the male leads fall in love with them instead. Said side characters tend to have more personality than the blocks of wood the male leads originally fall for. In this one, neither of them had much personality, so it was hard to really invest myself.
Natsume’s Book of Friends (2003), 10/10
Takashi Natsume is a 15-year-old boy who wants nothing more but to live a normal life like everyone else. But to his dismay, like his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he possesses the ability to see “youkai,” or spirits. Natsume eventually discovers that Reiko had bequeathed to him a book of contracts in which she had bound youkai—the “Book of Friends.” However, without Reiko ever calling upon the spirits’ names, they have been left in a confined state. Now, these spirits continuously pursue Natsume in the hopes of having their contracts dissolved for freedom.
While there may be gentle, harmless spirits which come to Natsume for help, there are also malicious, hostile spirits that threaten him. This is where Madara steps in, a spirit disguised as a rotund cat. Commonly referred to as Nyanko-sensei by Natsume, Madara is a self-proclaimed bodyguard who has his own motives for accompanying Natsume.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
I don’t think I need to explain HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS SERIES. I’ve made it halfway through, but I’m taking a break so I can read some other things. I like reading this at night as a COMFORT READ, and I normally fall asleep after getting through a few pages. Some books/series are like that. Perhaps you have old book friends you go to when you need a break from life and its drama, too!
Movies
The Blob (1958), 4/10
A mysterious creature from another planet, resembling a giant blob of jelly, lands on earth. The people of a nearby small town refuse to listen to some teenagers who have witnessed the blob’s destructive power. In the meantime, the blob just keeps on getting bigger.—Rob Hartill
This movie has a lot of problems:
- The characters are so wooden I thought I could see the puppet strings on their backs.
- The coloring is off-putting, like they used an old technicolor filter from the 1930s (but in a bad way)
- There is no tension, not even in the scenes where the blob shows up.
- The opening song made it seem like a Beach Boys holiday getaway, not a horror film.
My favorite character was the old man whom the blob eats at the beginning. At least he had a dog. Also, the movie theater scene was the best because it made me laugh! I could tell the creators just took gelatin or something and pushed it through the windows of a miniature set. With that image in mind, the crowds of screaming people became comedic in the best way.
Them (1954), 7/10
In the New Mexico desert, Police Sgt. Ben Peterson and his partner find a child wandering in the desert and soon they discover that giant ants are attacking the locals. FBI agent Robert Graham teams up with Ben and with the support of Dr. Harold Medford and his daughter Dr. Patricia ‘Pat’ Medford, they destroy the colony of ants in the middle of the desert. Dr. Harold Medford explains that the atomic testing in 1945 developed the dangerous mutant ants.
But they also discover that two queen ants have flown away to Los Angeles and they are starting a huge colony in the underground flood control tunnels of that city. When a mother reports that her two children are missing, the team begin searching for them. Will they arrive in time to save the children and destroy the colony?—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Surprisingly, this was NOT a bad movie. In fact, for its time, I think it was incredibly well made. This shocked me when I watched it because I was expecting puppet ants and bad acting, not political intrigue and great pacing.
TV Shows
The Holzer Files (2019), 6.5/10
Investigating terrifying true hauntings from the case files of America’s first ghost hunter, Dr. Hans Holzer.
Synopsis via IMBD
I’m always skeptical when I watch Ghost Shows, and I was especially wary of this one. Do I think Dr. Holzer saw some things and experienced some paranormal activity? Sure. But there were times while watching where I didn’t quite believe what the investigators concluded or saw.
Scooby Doo Where Are You (1968), 8/10
Four teenage friends, Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, along with their talking dog, Scooby-Doo, travel around in their van, The Mystery Machine, solving strange, spooky, and hilariously kooky mysteries.
Synopsis via IMBD
This is a staple show I watch every year around autumn. Although I know the animation is janky and the stories are predictable, I still think it is charming! I am not so much a fan of the newer stuff from the 2010s-2020s, but at least there are still people who enjoy and promote this show from time to time.
Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (2025), 8/10
The all-girls Kikyo Private Academy and Chidori Public High School are polar opposites. With its prestigious history, Kikyo is attended by noble young ladies from distinguished families, while Chidori is infamously full of simple-minded delinquents. It is no surprise that their students clash with their differences.
Having a tall stature and fierce appearance, Chidori student Rintarou Tsumugi is often avoided by others despite his gentle heart. One day, while helping out at his family’s patisserie, he meets a customer who, after a brief moment, runs away from him. The next day, the customer returns to apologize to Rintarou, introducing herself as the cheerful Kaoruko Waguri.
After spending time with Kaoruko, Rintarou appreciates that she does not judge him based on his appearance and looks forward to when they will meet again. However, when Rintarou discovers Kaoruko attends Kikyo, their relationship will challenge the social expectations and dynamics around them.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
So far, this is a heartwarming and grounded slice-of-life romance! I watch Shojou sometimes, but I normally bail at some point because there is too much drama or sexy content. Plus, those romances tend to get repetitive after a while. I do like this one, mostly for how open the main characters are with each other and other characters. I look forward to seeing where this show goes. Animation-wise, it is also beautifully done! I’ll give my full review once I finish.
Shikimori Isn’t Just a Cutie (2022), 7/10
Yuu Izumi leads a high school life filled with one mishap after another. No matter how improbable the situation, unfortunate events strike him at every turn. In possession of such terrible luck, Izumi enters his second year with a single wish in mind—to spend more time with his affectionate girlfriend, Micchon Shikimori.
Cute, athletic, and caring, Shikimori is immensely popular at their school. But since they began dating a year ago, Izumi has witnessed a surprising side to his otherwise adorable girlfriend: when the need arises, she turns incredibly cool! His misfortunes are easily avoided when she is there to protect him with an awe-inspiring look on her face. Charming in every way, she never ceases to make his heart skip a beat. Unfortunate as he may be, Izumi is sure to see his days of bad luck end thanks to the cute yet cool Shikimori.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
This show was fine. I don’t think I’ll watch this again anytime soon. I never really got a grasp of who the characters were, beyond some obvious quirks that the show reiterated constantly. Like, Izumi has terrible luck, is super gentle and nice, while Shikimori is popular, athletic, and a bit possessive and awkward. With any romance, personality is key! Otherwise, I’ll bail.
Regular Show (2010), 8/10
The surreal misadventures of two best friends–a blue jay and a raccoon–as they seek to liven up their mundane jobs as groundskeepers at the local park.
Synopsis via IMBD
This is the bro-est show to ever bro! I didn’t think I’d make it past the first season, but I’ve enjoyed Mordecai and Rigby on their 20s journey. It gave me a unique perspective on how guys think about relationships, their future goals, and what they value. Once I finish the show, I’ll have a more concrete score for it!
Thank you for reading! See you soon!
From the Perspective of an Old Soul 