5 Ways I am Using My Time While Social Distancing

5 Ways I’m Keeping Busy Right Now

Social Distancing has been trending for a month on social media, and has caused everything from moderate panic to job loss to downright insanity (has anyone figured out why everyone thought massive amounts of toilet paper should be hoarded??)

Covid-19 isn’t dysentery, folks. But all that goes to say, we are living in strange times. I know a lot of people are quite reasonably afraid – whether of getting sick, or their relatives getting sick, or the ramifications of losing their job for weeks or indefinitely, etc., etc – and this is the same all over the world. I myself will be without income until who knows when, and the outbreaks might stop me from getting the job I really wanted (teaching English in Korea!) for some time yet, as I mentioned in my previous blog post. I can’t wait tables from home, and I’m looking into teaching ESL on line. So I am also uncertain. However, I do have one advantage in this situation: I’m an introvert.

Image result for introverts unite separately meme
Sourced from https://louderminds.com/introverts-unite-separately/

Since my brain has been over-stimulated by social interaction for the past 6 months and counting (10-13 hr shifts waiting tables combined with school), I have found that my creative energy is low most days – until the last four days where I have been mostly in my house with just my sister for company. My brain reawakened, and now I have 1000+ projects all wanting my attention. I suspect many introverts currently feel the same. But how about my extroverts out there? Make sure you facetime people, text your friends, and let people know if you are having a hard time being alone!!

SO, how am I using my time? Anyone who has ever read my blog knows that I like lists, so here are my top 5 recommendations for how to use your time in relative isolation:

Be (stay!) Active

Whether it is walking around the block twice a day, or doing morning yoga, or even doing a virtual fitness class , you will feel better if you are active. Doctors back this up, therapists back this up, and I myself have found, personally, that keeping up with my fitness routine does wonders for my mental health. And hey – what if you could come out of this time looking AND feeling better? YouTube is my go-to for workout routines and inspiration, and I usually switch up my daily routine between cardio, strength-building, and calisthenics.

So for the “virtual fitness class,” I’ve been facetiming my younger sister (who still lives with my parents but frequently works out with me), and setting up a YouTube playlist that we both access from our respective TVs, and then we do the routines together but separately in real time. It’s more fun, and keeps us both motivated. If you have offline friends who are also missing weekly Zumba, yoga, or gym meetup, etc., then you should definitely consider doing this so you can still work out “together.”

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-x0Xl4bh4rGZ5sxFcGx7ceVH6-M4bd7y
A Link to My Current Workout Playlist – I usually workout for 45 minutes to 65 minutes a day with Sunday as a rest day, and alternate yoga days with cardio + yoga

My favorite and most used YouTube Fitness channels are Blogilates (pictured above), Yoga With Adriene, Leilah Isaac (Bellydance/Dance Fitness), Kpop Fitness (Puts fitness videos to kpop), Cardio Party Mashup (Cardio set to music), Emi Wong (General routines), Mark Kramer Pastrana (Dance Fitness/Zumba), and Chris Heria (Calisthenics and strength-building). Let me know if you have any recs in the comments! (Or if you try any of these out)

Get Creative – Pull out those projects

Working on something I love is not only therapeutic, I love to see things accomplished. Even if you aren’t “creative,” now is the time to work on a project that interests you. Organizing the garage? Building a shelf? Coloring a page in that adult coloring book you received as a gift three birthdays ago? Especially if you have kids, getting out some paper and colored pencils or watercolors is a great way to flex your creative muscles. Use some plain white cardstock and draw pictures or decorate your letters to make cards to send to friends and family also self-isolating. Bloggers and pinterest boards have literally thousands of ideas for all skill levels and attention spans.You might discover a new passion or hobby – who knows?

I love words and typography art, and I used to draw all the time. I combined that with my love of textile and clothing design, and I have been using a plain pair of cream-colored jeans as a canvas for the type of collage/word-art stuff I used to do in high-school. Not only is it fun, it’s nostalgic and something I haven’t had much time for in the past few years. I put on my crafting playlist (see the end of this post), and just start where I feel like it.

Lyrics/Quotes Credits: Icarus by Bastille (from “Bad Blood”) , Interlude: Shadow by BTS (From Map of the Soul: 7) – Icarus drawing by me

So maybe this feels too overwhelming? There is a ton of art and literature already out there for us to enjoy, which brings me to my third way of spending time:

Read, read, read

Scribd.com just made their library of ebooks and audiobooks free for thirty days if you sign up at the website (I just did!). Even if you don’t want to sit down and read, consider listening to an audiobook while you’re cleaning or coloring or doing dishes.

Of course, with libraries shut down, it might be harder to find physical books you want to read – but I guarantee you or someone you know has books sitting around waiting to be read “someday.” Just pick one up and start reading. Many libraries also have ebook libraries that members can access, so check out your local libraries’ websites. And hey – ebooks are cheaper than regular books, so why not purchase a book or two if you have a little money you can spend? My go-to is fantasy, as that is the genre I tend to find the most books I enjoy in.

If you like fantasy, fairytale retellings, or paranormal – check out W.R. Gingell’s collection of varied and fun ebooks here. Her ebook titles are under $5 and she is a talented author that will appeal to fans of Jessica Day George, Diana Wynne Jones, and Gail Carson Levine. Alternatively – you should read Wicked Fox by Kat Cho – it’s like a Korean drama YA style that vividly modernizes the Gumiho (tailed-fox) set in Seoul, with a lot of heart and angst and adventure. It also made me hungry (the descriptions of Korean food, lol).

Not a fan of the romance and “happy” endings? R.F Kuang‘s The Poppy War and The Dragon Republic are epic dark fantasy – fantastically written and imagined. But be advised that they contain graphic violence, adult themes and language, and characters that will 100% make you frustrated.

Alternatively, if you want to read but have trouble sitting still and focusing (like me), try Webtoons or comics. I love Webtoons (a little too much – I am subscribed to 30+ series and have stayed up till 2am reading them too many times). It’s a great time to find independent artists, authors, and illustrators to support with your time and/or money. Webtoons.com is available in many languages, and is accessible from any computer, phone, or tablet. Some series I love include Save Me (Drama), Rot & Ruin – The Webtoon (an adaptation of Jonathan Mayberry’s YA series that I LOVE*), Eleceed (Superhero-type individuals and CATS), and Not Even Bones (another YA adaptation that makes me want to read the book 100% more not). There is something for everyone.

Write. Or Start Writing

Whether it is a letter to a friend, a journal of your thoughts and emotions, or that novel you have been sitting on, there has never been a better time to write. I am setting aside time every day to either blog or work on one of my novels-in-progress/editing. Getting words on paper does wonders for my mental health, and I have many friends who also feel that putting a pen to paper (or typing) helps them think better. So if you’re feeling things because of everything going on – write about it, even if it’s just for you to read back on in ten years. If you have a cool hobby, now is a good time to write or blog about it for people who are bored and need something to read (see above).

If you are already a writer (like yours truly), now is a good time to edit, edit, edit! Considering a professional editor, or querying agents, or even looking into self-publishing are things that can all be done in times of social isolation. I am currently looking into self-publishing (so much work, yikes!), and juggling WIPs, so I have a lot of things to do for the next few weeks. I’m grateful for the time to devote to something I love, and I’m trying to think about that instead of what the loss of income means for me.

And you know what – sometimes it is too much to create, or read, or write, or even clean. In those times, video games and streaming services are there. But why not make a party of it – leading to my final way of spending social isolation:

Netflix Party! (Or Disney +, Hulu, Vudu, etc.)

Want to watch a show or movie with friends, but you can’t go sit with them irl? Well, there is a Chrome extension called Netflix party that will let you watch and comment in real time with your friends if they are also using it. Alternatively, watch the same show and use Facebook Messenger chats, WhatsApp, Kakao Talk, Google Hangouts, or any similar method to discuss the show/movie with your friends while watching. You can do this with books too – and have a virtual bookclub. And if you are the person who keeps a running commentary during a movie (this annoys a lot of people, I know), then here is a quiet way of doing just that – but quietly. And no one in your own house will (probably) get mad at you for having your phone screen on while watching. Make it more fun by cooking snacks and sharing photos in the chat. I could write a whole other post on recommendations, but I’ll just my current top 3, and please let me know if you have watched them, or if you have any recommendations!

  • If you like The Walking Dead, Grimm, Supernatural, Return of the King, Train to Busan, Game of Thrones, Underworld, or A Quiet Place, watch Kingdom (Netflix). Kingdom is a historical thriller set in Joseon Dynasty Korea involving both political intrigue and zombies. I could write a post about why it is one of the best shows ever (and maybe I will), but if you like any/all of the above titles, and want to see phenomenal cinematography, costumes, special effects, and writing along with your usual zombie horror, then Kingdom is what you’ve been waiting for. (Note: This show deserves the MA rating – it is frequently violent and disturbing due to the subject matter, and neither the zombies nor the corrupt government officials spare innocents)
The internet is (rightfully) obsessed with the numerous fantastic Joseon Dynasty hats
  • If you like westerns, The Lone Ranger, The Seven Samurai, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, or Star Wars Rebels, watch The Mandalorian (Disney +). Everyone has seen baby Yoda from this show, but you have to actually watch it to understand how painfully adorable the small alien and his guardian (adoptive father) are together. You too would risk everything for baby Yoda after two episodes. Cuteness aside, the writing and directing are solid, with a western, lone gunman feel that is refreshing and fun to watch. It’s more about character and story than many shows on tv, and also pretty family friendly, hanging out in the PG/PG-13 range. My only complaint is that we all have to wait for a second season now . . .
This man’s mask has more varied expressions than many actors I won’t name . . .
  • If you like Beauty and the Beast (any version), Jane Eyre, Labyrinth, Pride and Prejudice, Goblin (Korean Drama), redemption arcs, The Sixth Sense, Once Upon a Time, Grimm, and costume dramas, watch Hotel Del Luna (Viki.com). With gorgeous costumes, soundtrack, (and actors), and a lot of ghosts, this unusual Beauty and the Beast + Count of Monte Cristo + Sixth Sense-esque drama is thoroughly captivating. While the story starts off slow, the interesting characters, individual ghost stories, and the well-handled themes of redemption and forgiveness made this show really stand out. Also, IU (singer and actress) as the lead antagonist/female lead Jang Man-wol, an immortal (?) and mysterious owner of a hotel for ghosts lost between life and the afterlife, is fantastic. Man-wol is the type of character that is generally male, and the role-reversal (a sensitive, morally upstanding, and brave male lead) makes this show even more fun. Hangs out at solidly TV-14 – with some violence, adult subject matter including suicide and murder, some frightening images, and minor innuendo.
More fantastic hats – joined by fantastic dresses

As a side note – if you haven’t watched Stranger Things (Netflix) yet, I highly recommend it. It’s as good as people say, and a really fun concept. And there are 3 seasons (with a 4th on the way). It’s short and smart and well-written, and deserves the praise.

So there you have it – some advice from an introvert and how I’ll be spending my time during social-distancing. Let me know if you have recs, ideas, or just if you want to Talk 🙂 See you soon!
Eclectic? Naturally. And I update frequently

*If anything, the Rot & Ruin Webtoon reminded me that my torch for Tom Imura will never go out.

Sorry Honey, I Forgot Our Blogoversary . . .

SO, I figured out that my blog’s anniversary was August 13th . . . and then I worked a 65 hour week and didn’t think about it at all.*

So I’m doing a belated Blogoversary post for myself. That means I will use an inordinate amount of gifs and jibber about nothing for at least a page; you have been warned.

I’ve been blogging for a bit now, but I’ve only been consistent for about a year. In that time, I’ve made some awesome friends, and had a lot of fun getting some words out there. More importantly, I feel like the writing connection with others (and the helpful feedback) has made me a better writer, and made me a more efficient writer.

I answered a lot of the “Why do you blog” questions on this tag from blogger Victoria Grace, so I’ll skip that. Also, you probably have heard more random facts about me than you ever needed! So I’ll skip that too. Instead, I think I’ll write a bit about my past year in blogging, and where I see myself going.

As most of you probably know, I had my debut novel scheduled for August publication.

Unfortunately, it’s already September (yes, I’m screaming), and I have yet to hear back from my publishers on a new, concrete date. They haven’t done something terrible like close down or drop my book, they’ve just pushed everything back in their schedule because: LIFE HAPPENS. No one knows this better than me, but it doesn’t make it easy. In fact, it’s made my last couple months rougher mentally than I would like.

In the meantime, I’ve been trying to stay positive and work on the many writing projects (new and old) that I have. I’ve also kept myself reading – because my love of reading is what got me writing, and it’s still my favorite pastime. It’s also good to get other people’s’ words and ideas flowing through your head, just like it’s good to have conversations with various people and not always be stuck in your own brain!

A Few Things I’ve Been Working on Between Last August and Now:

Promoting:

Knight of the Blue Surcoat, my delayed but still debut novel – an Arthurian historical fantasy adventure starring King Arthur’s daughter Melora. More about it here.

Editing:

The Last Coffee Shop (TLCS)- A snarky, post-apocalyptic adventure novel that involves a barista, a bounty hunter, a dancing thief, and a lot of aliens. Read more about it here.

Drafting:

Red as Blood – A genderbent Snow White retelling set in the same “world” as TLCS, just a decade or so later. It involves high fashion, corruption, food service, and quirky, damaged characters. More about that here, and in my current series of Beautiful People posts. September’s entry will be up soon!

Reading:

Scads of research books for a planned Japanese folktale retelling, and a few for an epic fantasy idea that I’ve been tossing around.

ARCS – as many as I can get to, for my day job as a bookseller. Standouts include Vassa in the NightBlood for Blood, and Patchinko.

Most recent reads: Tokyo Ghoul Volume 8 (<3t_t KEN!) and Malice by Keigo Higashino (Japanese mystery).

Learning:

Korean, and lots of other things – to be continued below . . .

Cooking:

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my random kitchen projects. Kimchi-in-everything has been the theme. I’ve progressed to a proper kimchi storage container, so I can make as much kimchi jjigae (김치찌개) as I want!! Other things, such as Korean BBQ, fresh tuna sushi, Thai curries, the usual pies and scones, and many other things happened in my kitchen between work and other work.

Watching:

Obviously, I haven’t had much time to watch anything. However, I did finish the Korean Comedy/Horror/Drama “Let’s Fight, Ghost!” and it was hilarious (and actually a little creepy at times). I also started watching PinocchioCity Hunter, and a big-budget Chinese drama called Ice Fantasy. If you’re interested in hearing more about my tv watching habits, check out this post. AND PEOPLE – if you aren’t watching W: Two Worlds, you should! Not only do we get Lee Jong Suk being a fabulous action hero, it’s a reality-bending drama about being sucked into/out of a manhwa (만화 – Korean comics) and it has a rather Christopher Nolan-esque/postmodern feel about it that is pretty unique.

Oh, and Lee Jong Suk = reasons to watch anything. No, I’m completely unbiased.

ANYHOW.

The last movie I saw was Suicide Squad – and I had very mixed feelings about it. It felt like two different movies competing with each other, and I thought that it would have been better off as a goofy heist-style movie. Everything from the message to the storytelling was muddled (and I seem to be in the 1% who thought the Joker was in there too much – and I’d thought he was the main villain from the trailers . . .). And honestly, the villain (Tia Dalma 2.0, supermodel edition) was completely underwhelming. That being said, the main cast was good and parts of it were very fun/funny – and there were some excellent soundtrack choices.

I’m really looking forward to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemMiss Peregrine’s wasn’t my favorite book – I found it rather boring, and the romance was really the only unnerving thing about it, but the movie looks pretty cool. And of course I’m excited about Fantastic Beasts! It looks like breath of cinematic fresh air.

Listening to:

Other than the usual, I’ve really been liking Korean rockers F.T. Island‘s mixture of pop-punk and excellent vocals/instrumentals. Other notable current favorites include BØRNS (Michigan Native!), For the Foxes, EXO and B.A.P‘s dance-y recent offerings, The Unlikely Candidates, and Icelandic rockers Kaleo.

Also in music, I compiled an ultimate Last Coffee Shop Playlist (around 100 tracks) that gives you a great audio picture of the novel – and it includes a lot of the songs I listened to while writing TLCS as well.

Work:

Err, that. Back in February, I took on a second job at a new craft brewery, in addition to working part-time as a bookstore manager/head book-buyer, writing reviews for a women’s mag, and my own personal writing/reading work . . . so, yes. Anyhow, it’s been fun, but I think the crazy work fest might be over for the year.

Travel:

Besides travelling to Nashville and back in three days, I’ve been to Pensacola (for a day, but well, it was a good day), Gulf Shores, Chicago (4 times!), Traverse City, Harbor Springs, and all that jazz. I manage to clock a lot of road hours for someone who is rarely away from work, 😛

Life:

I GOT A NEPHEW!!! I already had a niece (and she’s one of the most precious, sweet, and mild-mannered little angels ever), but as of the end of June, I have a nephew too. He’s adorable and cuddly, and I got to go see him way too briefly in July.

So you remember I was learning Korean?

Well, last fall, after some serious contemplation/soul-searching/finance-shuffling, etc, I decided I’d be interested in putting some of my savings toward a few more college courses (I have some credits, but that’s all). I’ve always wanted to travel, travel write, and make it to East Asia. Not to mention, my passion for Asian History has had me reading courses worth of books for years. SOooo, I thought, well, a degree in East Asian Studies? Worth it? Maybe a foray into International Relations, or a certificate for teaching ESL? My number one goal has always (and probably will always be) to be a published author, but that travelling/teaching/exploring side is loud too. I want to write, in other places. So this meandering paragraph just means, I’m going back to school, as long as I can afford it . . . At least I’ll have a whole class of people to practice Korean with!!

Related to this – readers might remember how my sister and I had to leave our rental and ended up back with our parents? Well, I’m going to move (at least till December) down to Grand Rapids, and commute to my bookstore job in between. So I can’t see the craziness letting up any time soon, but it will probably be a bit more organized now. *Gulp*

And while I’m on the subject of school, I’m attending a college that really is quite a nontraditional place for an adult student – and it feels like I’m in class with high schoolers – I feel so awkward and out of place. So there’s that. I thought about doing a series about what it feels like to go back to school at 27 (on a small enough campus to where you can feel it). So that might be a thing . . . It’s amazing how isolated you can feel when you’re surrounded by thousands of people. Don’t get me wrong, I love being by myself, but trading in 65hr work weeks for 65hr work-and-school weeks is kind of lonely, you know? But I know that I have you guys to talk to! (And believe me, it’s comforting)

So that’s it – that’s all there is in a nutshell. Happy Belated Blogoversary to me! (Also, happy 추석 to my Korean friends out there!)

(I love Lurch’s dancing because we can all do better – sorry Lurch)

If you blog, when’s your blogoversary? Have you ever thought about going back to school after leaving it? Would you read a series about going back to school as an adult student?

What have you been up to this September? Conversation is delightful ;P

*I didn’t forget my beloved Bigbang’s anniversary though (August 19th). Priorities, priorities . . .

 

What to Watch When You’re More of Reader . . . (Top Ten Tuesday)

Apparently, Fall TV is a thing . . . ? And I currently have access to some cable and internet . . .

Anyhow, this week’s TTT is TV themed, and though I mostly just read for fun, I do find a little time to watch a select handful of shows. I tend to gravitate toward shows with twisty plots or great dialogue (preferably both), but I’ll stick with anything that has good enough writing/acting to make me care about the characters!

So what shows are interesting enough to get me away from the books?

BEHOLD:

Copyright : The Broke and the Bookish
Copyright : The Broke and the Bookish

TV Shows for  a Bookworm (err, More than 10)

Mysteries and MURDER, JOHN!

I don’t think I’ve mentioned my great love of a good mystery, but those can be hard to find! If you grew up on Nancy Drew, love some Agatha Christie, and are always drawn in by the next Sherlock Holmes retelling, here are a few shows to try:

1. Beautiful Bones: Sakurako’s Investigation

This anime is more of a drama than a mystery, overall. Still, the hero is a quiet student who is reminiscent of John Watson, aiding the mercurial and eccentric bone-fanatic Sakurako as she finds bones (nearly) everywhere. It’s beautiful and eerie, and the only thing I didn’t like about it was the fact that there isn’t a second season yet!!

2. Sherlock – (BBC 2010-?)

Yes, it’s over-hyped, but it’s also really good! From the casting to the twisting stories, Sherlock deserves the praise for it’s clever writing and plots. Now if only there were more seasons already . . . *grumble, grumble*

3. Pushing Daisies

Pushing Daisies is about a piemaker whose touch can wake the dead, but if he touches them again, they’re dead for good. Pair him with his resurrected childhood sweetheart and a mercenary detective, and involve a lot of brightly colored weirdness, and you have this show. It was cancelled after two seasons and I AM STILL MAD ABOUT IT!!

4. Monk

Adrian Monk is an obsessive compulsive, but brilliant detective, consumed with finding out how and why his wife died. After 8 seasons (including many crazy mysteries and loads of humor and heart), he finally achieves his goal. Any show that can come up with compelling mysteries for 8 seasons deserves an award!

5. Psych: If you haven’t watched Psych, who are you?

Shawn Spencer, a man with too little ambition and a brilliant mind, pretends to be a psychic and solves a case. But now he has to keep the act up or be exposed as a fake to the police, with very real legal consequences. Alongside his best friend Burton Guster (Gus), a pharmaceutical sales rep who is hilarious, and a quirky bunch of detectives, Shawn grows as a character in a great positive arc, and there are a ton of fantastic mysteries. And it’s still one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen. And most quotable. (And they made a musical!)

Spies, Vigilantes, and Thieves

No, they aren’t necessarily good role models, but the less right side of the law pack tend to have some great representatives in the TV department.

6. Chuck

So Chuck is more of a comedy/romance, but it is about spies. And your average, hapless everyguy who just happens to get a super spy software burned into his brain. Happens all the time. Fans of Firefly will appreciate Adam Baldwin’s comic turn as the “humorless” and trigger-happy Agent Casey.

7. Daredevil (Season 1)

This one goes in the BE WARNED category – it’s very violent and appropriately rated for Mature audiences. However, Daredevil (the first season) has some of the best writing, acting, and moral complexity I’ve seen on TV. More akin to a novel (and the graphic novels it was based on) in it’s pacing, Daredevil was one of my top shows of the last five years.

8. Death Note

(anime, I haven’t tried the live-action)- Still worth watching if you’ve read the manga. Clever cat and mouse that lasts way longer than you thought possible? Check. Characters that make you question your judgement and give you conflicted feelings? Check. Lovely to look at? Check. This one is a classic for a lot of reasons.

9. White Collar

Another older show, but definitely worth watching. Smooth criminal Neal Caffrey becomes an (unwilling) consultant for the White Collar crime division, starting an odd-couple comedy meets crime show with a lot of style and great characters.

Ghosts, Ghouls, and Mayhem

10. Tokyo Ghoul

Just like the manga, the anime is short, beautiful, and very bloody. But don’t let that scare you away. It’s a the story of a gentle college student who becomes a monster in the most Shakespearean style of tragedy. From questioning morality to humanity, to what really makes us monsters, Tokyo Ghoul does it all. The score is also excellent.

11. Who Are You AND Let’s Fight, Ghost!

These two shows have four things in common – they are Korean, they involve ghosts, the heroine has circumstantial amnesia, and the male lead is played by popstar TaecYeon, but that’s where the resemblance ends.

Who Are You (후아유) is a detective show with important supernatural elements – female Detective Shi On returns after a terrible accident (that she can’t remember), and finds she can see ghosts. As she is drawn in by the ghosts and their unresolved stories, she stumbles upon a web of corruption that is tied to the memories she lost.

Let’s Fight, Ghost! (싸우자 귀신아 ) follows student Park Bong Pal as he exorcises ghosts for money. When he meets a cute female ghost who is more annoying that malicious, he starts to question everything he believed about ghosts, and opens up to more people and experiences. There are a lot of Grudge-esque  ghosts and a truly terrifying villain played by the talented Kwon Yool. This one is short and sweet at only 16 episodes, and it has a lot of hilarious moments to break up the ghost-chasing action.

http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s486/BelWatson/Lets%20Fight%20Ghost/11/02.gif

12. Grimm

Ohhh, Monroe
Ohhh, Monroe

This inventive crime show blends supernatural/fairytale elements and procedural drama in the story of Portland detective Nick Burkhardt – who also happens to be a Grimm. The Grimm are like supernatural police, humans with powers who keep the Wesen (non-humans of various varieties) in check, and try to keep the balance between the “worlds.” It’s clever and fun, with characters you’ll root for, and it’s a must if you’re a fairytale nut. And it’s on its last season, so you won’t be waiting around long for the ending.

13. Doctor Who

This classic British show could probably have fit in any of these categories, and therefore, it doesn’t fit well in any of them. If you don’t know, it’s about a time-travelling alien (a Timelord) who wanders space and time with a human companion. Debates about seasons and Doctors abound, but everyone Whovian knows that it is worth the watch. From science to theology, to psychology, to downright silliness, there is a Doctor and an episode that has it.

Romantic Comedies

14. You Who Came from the Stars (별에서 온 그대 )

A romantic dramedy that is reminiscent of My Fair Lady, if the Professor was an elf-like alien, and Eliza was a spoiled actress. The premise works surprisingly well, and good acting and writing, compelling characters, and the usual dose of hilarity make this show one of my favorites ever!

15. Pride and Prejudice (BBC 1995)

For acting, production quality, faithfulness to the material, and being compulsively watchable, few things can beat the Andrew Davies penned P & P. Jane Austen’s classic novel has never been treated better. Still one of my favorites.

Honorable Mentions:

I rarely finish shows, and lately I have watched more nonfiction or documentary programs, but there are a few other shows I have enjoyed that didn’t make this list for one reason or another –

Supernatural – the drama about two brothers who really can’t die (where the world is always ending), with terrible plot holes, contradictory morality and theology, and general frustration. While I can’t recommend it morally (and I gripe a lot about it as a writer!), the show has its brilliant moments.

The Flash – A fun superhero show that has too many episodes for me to finish yet. Great cast, fun premise, and some good writing.

Psycho-Pass – an anime with an intriguing premise and great moral questions. I can’t recommend it because I haven’t watched enough yet!

Ice Fantasy – A beautiful Chinese drama starring all of the people who should have been elf extras in Lord of the Rings. One of the most lovely things I’ve ever seen – from the scenery to the actors to the costumes. But there are TONS of episodes, and I’m not very far into it!

Pinocchio (Korean Drama) I love this show so far, but I haven’t finished it yet. If you like your heart being twisted into knots, adorable characters that have terrible things happen to them, and alternately nasty and hilarious reporter drama, then you should check it out!

Boys over FlowersThe Cinderella-esque Korean school drama. Despite the fact that the drama sometimes annoyed me, I loved it enough to buy it. A fun cast, a relatable heroine, and lots of humor made this show one of the most popular and widely watched Korean dramas. And I’m sure that Lee Min Ho didn’t hurt things, 😉

So, have you seen any of these shows? Do you watch much tv? Is there a fall show that you’re looking forward to? Do you have any shows that I should watch?

Also, if you did a TTT, don’t forget to post the link so I can check it out!

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books I’d Like to See as Movies/TV Shows

Image Credit: Broke and the Bookish

After a week-long hiatus due to an (awesome) trip to Manhattan for Book Expo,* I am ready to get back in the ring with a Top 10 Tuesday via The Broke and the Bookish. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out their Top 10s and other features here.

I tend to be leery of book to screen adaptations, though there are really good ones out there.** Still, it’s hard for me to see beloved characters (or awesome plots) destroyed. Movies like Ella Enchanted (which would have made a great movie as is) or the 2008 Prince Caspian had me running for the hills. That being said, I love BBC miniseries adaptations (most of the time), such as the 1995 Pride and Prejudice or the 2006 Jane Eyre.*** (all gifs are from Tumblr.com, and belong to respective copyright holders)

So here are the Top 10 books I’d like to see hit the screen (in varying degrees of detail):

1. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexander Dumas) as a BBC miniseries

There is a movie of this that lots of people love. I read the book first, so I was pretty disappointed. It’s an epic (read: long) adventure/revenge novel that was practically written for TV. Duels, honor, Betrayal, daring escapes, vengeance, and lots of characters. The BBC’s stellar casting, sets, costumes, and attention to detail are a perfect fit. With the right actor as Edmond Dantes, it could be a cult classic.

2. The Lunar Chronicles (Marissa Meyer) as an anime (or movies)

As Sailor Moon was one of Meyer’s biggest inspirations, it would be fitting for her Lunar Chronicles to go the anime route. Can’t you just see New Beijing as an anime city? With the right group of artists and writers, this could be an awesome cross-cultural phenomenon. Everything from the characters to the futuristic world would translate so well. And seriously, Prince Kai’s fan club was meant for anime—->

3. The Dante Club (Matthew Pearl) as a movie or miniseries

Tell me I’m not the only one who wants to see Longfellow and his literary cronies solve murders connected to Dante’s Inferno? Cast a group of brilliant actors, and sell it as the murder mystery/costume drama that you didn’t know you needed. I think it would be awesome. I haven’t seen an old school straight-up murder mystery on the big screen in awhile (there might be one, I just didn’t see it).

4. The Others Series (Anne Bishop) as a miniseries

I have gushed about these books other places, so I’ll just say that now is the perfect time for a serious urban fantasy/political thriller fusion. Meg Corbyn is such a kind, unique heroine, and the world of Namid is fascinating and brimming with great material. And who doesn’t want to see Howling Good Reads as a tv set? With a vampire and a Wolf manning the counter? And Tess, Tess would be a great TV character. Actually, they all would. (You can read an excerpt of this book here

5. The Queen’s Thief Series as a Miniseries

Roman/Greek inspired mythology, politics, adventure, costly mistakes, awesome characters, and at the center, cheeky thief Eugenides. I think you could split each of the books into segments and air them in groups of three. Irene and Gen, when played by the right actors, could be one of those pairs that keeps everyone watching on the edge of their seats. (One of those will they end up getting married or getting executed things)


6. Sabriel (Garth Nix) as a movie

Another book I have yakked on ad nauseam. Sabriel has everything: fantasy, anti-necromancers, a world of decaying grandeur, slow-burning romance, and most importantly, a strong and logical heroine who wears practical clothes and is more worried about saving her dad than getting the guy. The Old Kingdom would be epic on the big screen.

7. Crown Duel/Court Duel (Sherwood Smith) as movies

Described as “a fantasy of manners,” this book (my edition was one volume) is one of my favorite pick me up reads. It’s a little Scarlet Pimpernel, a little Pride and Prejudice, and some general silliness (and the fan language!). There are pokes at fantasy tropes, and manners madness, and adventures. It would make a great movie (or two) for those days when you are tired of “dark, gritty, realism.”
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8. Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman) as a movie

There is an excellent radio adaptation of this book, with a cast that should have been grabbed for an actual movie. James McAvoy as Richard. Natalie Dormer as Door. Sophie Okonedo as Hunter. And Benedict Cumberbatch as The Angel Islington. At the very least, seek out the audiobook and imagine it as you listen. So good.

9. The Two Princesses of Bamarre (Gail Carson Levine) as a movie

TPoB is actually my favorite book of Gail Carson Levine’s. I discovered it on one of those family vacations (the ones where you’re supposed to participate instead of reading) and fell in love with the story of two sisters. The fantasy world is lovely, but it is really Addie and Meryl’s relationship that makes this book so special. Addie, with her hard won courage and terror of spiders, always struck me as such a real girl. I think that (in the right hands), this could be made into a classic fantasy movie. There are some great fan-casting pics here at iflist.com
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10. The Monster Blood Tattoo series as a miniseries/movies.

Sort of steampunk series that has Dickens vibes and awesome characters. It would be a cool miniseries, as long as the (many) monsters were well done. However, the whole thing would really hinge on the actors playing Rosamund and his mentor Europe. Europe is a little ex-society girl, a little Natasha Romanoff, and all boss-so you’d have to have a great actress with just the right balance of edge and superiority. Rosamund would be best suited by a pale English waif with phenomenal acting powers. I could just see all the quirky other characters as famous cameos. Maybe Guillermo Del Toro could achieve the mixture of dark, sober, and whimsical necessary?

Close contenders: Rot & Ruin, The Silmarillion (not the whole thing though! I think Beren and Luthien’s story would make an epic miniseries), Artemis Fowl (which they’ve been talking about forever), The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Sorcery and Cecelia, Captain Blood (yeah, I know there’s an Errol Flynn one, but I want a reboot with Orlando Bloom as Peter Blood!), and every single Marvel comic with the Winter Soldier (Black Widow too).****

So is there any book you’d really like to see come to life? Do movie adaptations of your favorites scare you too? Are you better at casting book/movies than me? (Probably, I’m terrible). Sound off in the comments

Footnotes:
*BEA post to come, promise!
**The Princess Bride is a perfect example of the book-to-movie adaptation.
***Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell would have been on this list if it wasn’t already a miniseries. Which I can’t watch until the BBC lets us have it!
****Speaking of comics-they tend to adapt better. Netflix’s Daredevil is my new favorite thing. So. Well. Done.

The Week in Review (or Why I Sort of Reverted Back Into a Hermit This Week)

After a strong run of blogging, I have fallen prey to two weeks of intense work stuff and preparing (feverishly) to go to NEW YORK (screaming inside-in a good way) next week. But in between freaking out and scrambling around the store, I did find a few books to read, and some tv to watch.

I won’t bore you with descriptions of all the chocolates/chocolate treats I made [for work] this week, or maybe . . . nah, I’ll get distracted if I start with chocolate.

What I read/started reading (all pictures and links are from Goodreads):

I read the first one of these as an ARC, and then was bummed to find out it was a series, and that I had to wait for the next one. They are borderline MG/YA ghost hunting/paranormal mysteries that are surprisingly well written. (Why surprisingly? Look at the cover).
The first one was creepier (so far), but I love the ghost hunting team of the mysterious Lockwood, the talented ghost-sensitive Lucy, and the smart but hardly personable George.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

I picked this up randomly, and it is fascinating so far. As the regulars at the store where I work are mainly seniors, this book is one they have been buzzing about. Gawande tackles tough topics with wisdom and good sense, and he isn’t afraid to call people out. That being said, this book isn’t ranty, but gentle. He looks at both sides of the medicine debate, as well as end of life care, in an easy to follow fashion.

Expiration Day by Willam Campbell Powell

A great premise: People on earth are no longer fertile, so a tech company bio-engineered robots to act/think/look like kids to stop riots. The catch is that these robots have an “expiration day,” after their eighteenth year.

I am still only about a third into this. It is a little boring for me, and skews middle grade in the characters/depth, but the plot is interesting enough to keep me going.
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As for these two: I just started The Darkest Minds, so all I can say is that the writing draws me in. I finished The Intergalactic Adventures of Queen Bea, but I am still digesting it, and plan on writing a full review.

In the non-reading, non-work world (small part), I managed to get ten pages of writing logged, which is really good for two weeks of crazy. My current project (post-apoc parody/adventure) is still going strong, and I have very good feelings about it. But I have to be careful, and nurse that enthusiasm to the end of the book.

Pippin is cautiously optimistic for me.

When I wasn’t writing, I was finally able to catch up with/finish The Flash Season 1, which was excellent. That finale . . .

^Me, seriously impressed by the finale.

Sacrifice, emotions, courage, bad decisions, *so many emotions,* consequences Time Travel, paradoxes, black holes . . . but no spoilers here, you’ll have to watch it yourself. However, I have been really impressed with Flash overall, (especially since it is on CW!), and you should definitely check it out if you’re into superheroes. 

In that same vein, I finally got around to watching the Legends of Tomorrow trailer (CW spinoff of both Arrow and The Flash) and it looks epic, and cheesy, and epically cheesy. AND RORY WILLIAMS IS A TIME LORD. I am not kidding (hence the all caps).

Okay, so maybe he’s Rip Hunter, time traveller (but we all know what that really means). But it is still Arthur Darvill in a cool coat playing mentor to a strange group of heroes (there is time travel!). I am in. Unfortunately, it doesn’t premiere until next year. But it is up there with Captain America: Civil War and Agent Carter Season 2 for me (excitement level).
You can’t fool me, Rory. 
I still have to catch up on Arrow S3 (more than halfway through). It has had its ups and downs, but I still am really enjoying it.
I must say that DC has thrown the gauntlet for the superhero shows. I still haven’t watched MARVEL and Netflix’s Daredevil (high on my to-watch list), but I have heard a lot of good things. In my opinion, MARVEL still wins in movies, but DC is ahead in television (at least for now).

So that was a fraction of my week. How about you? Did you find any interesting books? Did you start any new ones. Do you watch superhero shows, or are you 100% done with superheroes in general. If you are a Whovian, what do you think about Arthur Darvill’s newest role, and will you watch Legends of Tomorrow?

I am off to BEA next week, so my blogging will probably be nil, but I’ll be back after that (hopefully with pictures and adventures!) with books and thoughts to share.
Cheers!
R