In which I talk about the books I’ve read, the movies I’ve watched, as well as TV shows I have finally completed their seasons for. Keep in mind this does contain spoilers for all of the recaps/reviews!

Books 📚

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman, is the kind of book you can’t put down. At least, for me it was. I was so into the book one morning that I missed my bus stop! Luckily I made it to my destination on time via a different path, so alls well that ends well, right?

I didn’t know what I would be getting into when I read this book. I usually stick to fantasy, but Goodreads (an amazing site to keep track of all books read) recommended this book to me. Not sure which books led Goodreads to recommend EOICF to me, but the premise seemed interesting enough.

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. 

Okay, good so far. I struggle with social skills, and maybe saying what’s on my mind isn’t a popular way to go about things. But it’s what I do, it’s the way I roll, but I definitely do not compare to the way Eleanor goes about living her life. It’s incredibly awkward, but it’s still on the line of humorous to keep you interested and not disgusted by how rude she can come off at times. After reading through some situations, we figure out that it’s not something she’s quite concious of, and was just taught it was the way to go about life.

Her obsession with this rockstar she happened to see by chance is also humourous. How she suddenly gained this obsession with this one guy (who, according to Raymond, sucks), and Eleanor is going about her life thinking that she’s completely fine, but as the book goes on, you find out that she’s not fine, but I promise by the end, you’ll be happy to know she’s fine. This books has twists and turns that keep you turning pages.

In short, this book keeps you reading by having new events, introducing new characters, and confusing you with Eleanor’s quirky mannerisms – an enjoyable read with a wrapped up ending. While I’m curious about Eleanor and Raymond and how their friendship develops, this is the kind of story that I think best ends with an ending the reader can imagine for themselves.

I guess I have a bit of a soft spot for this book because like Eleanor, I often find myself confused by the world and by others, and this cluelessness has made me keep my distance from others simply because I don’t know what’s going on or what the exact relationship between me and others are.

I would give this book a 10/10. I don’t know how to make this book perfect, it’s already near it.

Movies 🍿

My Life as a Zucchini! I’d heard about this movie way back when it first aired in US theaters, but I didn’t watch it… It popped up on Netflix, and I put it off until finally watching it this month..and it didn’t disappoint. Courgette (Zucchini for non-French speakers like myself) lives in an abusive environment, constantly hiding from his mother. One day, he accidentally upsets her, and slams the door of his attic room on her while escaping her beatings. The next day, Courgette meets a police officer who takes him to an orphanage, where he is led to believe he killed his mother, thus placing him in the home. His innocence and naivety shines when he asks to be called “Courgette” instead of his legal name, not realizing his mother used it as an insult and not as an affectionate name.

The story follows along of his life at the orphanage, and the children he meets there, as well as their own reasons for being there. The bully at the orphangae, Simon, initially tries to mess with Courgette until he opens up to him, saying everyone’s reasons for being there. Simon’s parents are in trouble with the law, Alice was

I was extremely sad when her mother finally did arrive, only for her to reject her. While the movie ends on a bittersweet note with Courgette and Camille being adopted by the officer, the rest of the children are left behind.

This movie gets an 8/10. I really loved the characters, and getting to know them

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World came out when I was in middle school, and I don’t know why, but I would’ve bet my money (if I had any, I was one of those kids who didn’t have an allowance) the song “Me Against the World” by Simple Plan would have been in the movie. All I knew was that Scott Pilgrim had a comic of the same name, but I had no idea what happened in the comic book other than the “fighting evil exes” stuff.

To finally sit down and watch the full movie many, many years later…wow.

I love the many video game references throughout the film. The cartoony-ness of it all blends in well with the characters, and effects have aged well enough to still look completely fine.

I guess the thing that bothers me is a. Scott dating a high schooler, which is kind of gross? He stops caring about her after meeting Ramona, but even then, he doesn’t even tell her he’s no longer interested in her. Also, b. who makes a league of evil exes??

But we can understand why there’s an attraction between the two to begin with – they’re both running away from their realities. Ramona went to an entirely new country, whereas Scot can’t get a date, so he dates a kid who idolizes him.

Overall, I give this movie a 7/10. I like the comic effects, I like the “fights”, but Scott is a screw up and his relationship is problematic (although thankfully by the end Knives realizes she’s getting the short end of the stick and leaves).

TV Shows 📺

A Series of Unfortunate Events, season 3, finally dropped in the new year. I didn’t watch it until a few days after, but it’s not like there was anything to be spoiled for me.

I don’t remember the Man with the Hook being as likable in the book as he was in the show, but then again, I haven’t read the books since 6th or 7th grade, when I finished them all… I don’t know why, but seeing Sunny grow in each version is like, adorable? She was still a baby during season 1, then she could walk season 2, and now she’s fully capable of walking season 3. I’m curious why they did change some costumes though… As you can see, on the cover of the 12th book, the Penultimate Peril, they have red-orange uniforms…

But in the show, they have green uniforms!

Nonetheless, it doesn’t detract from the story – I’d completely forgotten about the hidden Denouement – so that reveal was great! What I loved about the show, or perhaps what made it enjoyable for me what that I forgot many plot points, but remembered just as many to say “oh!! this is gonna happen next, how are they gonna show that? what will they change?” The show is most definitely better than the movie we got (sorry Jim Carey! Your “start again” blooper/line can’t top the show).

But can we talk about Esme’s ridiculous outfits?!

I mean, I guess the US is.

I have to give this an 8/10. Some changes and creative choices were made, but it didn’t affect the entire storyline too much. I don’t remember much of the books so I’m going off memory, but I find this series to have been much better than the movie adaptation we got years ago.

The Good Place! I tried to catch up last summer, then tried to find the first three seasons – not fun. Hulu is missing episodes 1-7 – what gives?

Anyway, the gang is back, and this time, they got to live about a year past their original time of death, and we get to see each of the ways they all deal with it. But they all begin to stray off the “good path”, so

I have to give this an 8/10. There were some parts where it got slow and it felt like the charm of the show was beginning to wear off in weaker episodes. But it bounced back, with Eleanor and Chidi confessing their love for each other, and then having to act like it didn’t exist…oh, man. Looks like next season may be it’s last. If they can prove that anyone is capable of change, they can all go on to the good place…

Steven Universe!! Oh my gosh, a season finale! Season four ended back in 2017 with “I Am My Mom”, and season five began with “Stuck Together”, “The Trial”, “Off Colors”, and “Lars’ Head” as part of the Wanted hour-long special. And that was a good while ago. I can’t believe we’ve come this far! I began watching SU when Jailbreak Pt 2 dropped, and we got to hear Estelle (of American Boy fame – yes, that one!) sing Better Than You to the villain Jasper.

oh my god, season finale!! after like what, four years? I graduated from high school and got an associate’s degree, and traffered to a university before we finished season 5! omg.

I give season 5 a 9/10. Why not a 10? Well…there’s still a few things unresolved. Like White (now Pink) Pearl – what’ll happen to her? Who are the rest of the crystal gems? If this were the series finale, we would not have so many openb