Reading and Watching
Apr. 10th, 2018 05:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lunabee341. Lucifer
I really liked the episode that showed Cain as a cop in the early twentieth century. I am fascinated that the first murderer is drawn to law and order; I keep waiting for there to be something more to why he murdered Abel, some justifiable reason. Love Cain's rock collection. I also love the way this episode suckered me into thinking that Cain is truly falling for Chloe when he's just using her as a tool to get what he wants. This episode is also me reaching the point of being utterly done with the story line they've got Maze on.
The last episode made me even angrier at Maze's character arc. I think showing her having some trouble dealing with humans is fine; this goes way too far. Every single character reaches out to her and tries to restore the relationship and she rejects it. The only person I think she's justified in being angry at is Lucifer; when she says to him, "I'm always going to be the consolation prize," that hurts because she's right. Love Charlotte learning the truth and seeing Lucifer's wings; really interested in how that's going to play out. Very amused at the way Maze's bounties all like her, even the guy with the broken arms. LOL
2. Gotham
I'm not even going to separate this out by episode but mish-mash together.
I absolutely adore Zazz teaming back up with his murder boyfriend. My glee reminds me of when I started lowkey shipping Jeffrey Steingarten and Bone Crusher after that Iron Chef episode.
I love that Jim was going to let Oswald go in exchange for his help. I don't ship it, but I can really see where a shipper gets her fuel for those two.
Oh the joy when Lee shoots the shit out of Sophia! What a great scene!
I love Oswald saving Ed on the pier (that pier has seen so much action, it's reached symbolic importance at this point).
Love Harvey and Jim being friends again and Harvey keeping Jim from being a martyr by confessing all his sins.
Love Oswald and Butch teaming back up.
Not sure yet about Barbara's glowing hand and her new army of lady assassins, but I suspect I'm going to like it.
Absolutely adore Selena and Bruce working together and helping each other.
I like Jerome okay enough as a villain (Emma *really* likes Jerome; I think he's her fave villain), but not sure how I feel about the addition of a twin (who maybe is just as evil as Jerome? IDK).
Love Lee smashing the hand of the former mayor of the Narrows. Love her dressing like a bad-ass. Absolutely love her seducing Ed. Like hard love. As in, I am surprised how much that scene super worked for me. Ahem.
3. After watching the commercial for Beaches resort get away, Fiona said, "That's a dream cremation."
4.
Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?: Inspiring Stories for Welcoming Life's Difficulties by Ajahn Brahm
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is a compilation of short essays written by a Buddhist monk. It's a quick read, and the lessons Brahm imparts in the book (like letting go of anger and accepting pain) are important and meaningful. His sense of humor doesn't really work for me, though, and since the book really hinges on that humor, the book doesn't work for me overall. He did make me laugh out loud a few times, however, and his insights on managing emotion are good food for thought.
View all my reviews
The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked this book, but I only gave it three stars because it didn't wow me.
The premise is really interesting: what if very rarely, people are born who don't die? The book starts in antiquity and introduces us to a cast of characters as they move forward in time. At first, they don't have much trouble picking up and moving on when they're finished with an identity; as time moves forward, and especially in the 20th century, that becomes much more difficult. All the immortals hate the loss of privacy that technology and record-keeping bring. On the other hand, finding each other was extremely difficult in the distant past and becomes much easier through those same factors.
By the time the book ends, humanity as a whole has become immortal through technology, and the original handful of immortals find themselves living lives that seem barely human to them. They petition for permission to leave earth on a colony ship, and what they find beyond our solar system just might be what they've been searching for their entire lives.
Very interesting premise. I got a little confused remembering who's using what alias as the narrative skips through time; I also got a little bored from time to time. Contains some mentions of rape. On the whole, I recommend for sci-fi lovers.
View all my reviews
I really liked the episode that showed Cain as a cop in the early twentieth century. I am fascinated that the first murderer is drawn to law and order; I keep waiting for there to be something more to why he murdered Abel, some justifiable reason. Love Cain's rock collection. I also love the way this episode suckered me into thinking that Cain is truly falling for Chloe when he's just using her as a tool to get what he wants. This episode is also me reaching the point of being utterly done with the story line they've got Maze on.
The last episode made me even angrier at Maze's character arc. I think showing her having some trouble dealing with humans is fine; this goes way too far. Every single character reaches out to her and tries to restore the relationship and she rejects it. The only person I think she's justified in being angry at is Lucifer; when she says to him, "I'm always going to be the consolation prize," that hurts because she's right. Love Charlotte learning the truth and seeing Lucifer's wings; really interested in how that's going to play out. Very amused at the way Maze's bounties all like her, even the guy with the broken arms. LOL
2. Gotham
I'm not even going to separate this out by episode but mish-mash together.
I absolutely adore Zazz teaming back up with his murder boyfriend. My glee reminds me of when I started lowkey shipping Jeffrey Steingarten and Bone Crusher after that Iron Chef episode.
I love that Jim was going to let Oswald go in exchange for his help. I don't ship it, but I can really see where a shipper gets her fuel for those two.
Oh the joy when Lee shoots the shit out of Sophia! What a great scene!
I love Oswald saving Ed on the pier (that pier has seen so much action, it's reached symbolic importance at this point).
Love Harvey and Jim being friends again and Harvey keeping Jim from being a martyr by confessing all his sins.
Love Oswald and Butch teaming back up.
Not sure yet about Barbara's glowing hand and her new army of lady assassins, but I suspect I'm going to like it.
Absolutely adore Selena and Bruce working together and helping each other.
I like Jerome okay enough as a villain (Emma *really* likes Jerome; I think he's her fave villain), but not sure how I feel about the addition of a twin (who maybe is just as evil as Jerome? IDK).
Love Lee smashing the hand of the former mayor of the Narrows. Love her dressing like a bad-ass. Absolutely love her seducing Ed. Like hard love. As in, I am surprised how much that scene super worked for me. Ahem.
3. After watching the commercial for Beaches resort get away, Fiona said, "That's a dream cremation."
4.
Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?: Inspiring Stories for Welcoming Life's Difficulties by Ajahn BrahmMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is a compilation of short essays written by a Buddhist monk. It's a quick read, and the lessons Brahm imparts in the book (like letting go of anger and accepting pain) are important and meaningful. His sense of humor doesn't really work for me, though, and since the book really hinges on that humor, the book doesn't work for me overall. He did make me laugh out loud a few times, however, and his insights on managing emotion are good food for thought.
View all my reviews
The Boat of a Million Years by Poul AndersonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked this book, but I only gave it three stars because it didn't wow me.
The premise is really interesting: what if very rarely, people are born who don't die? The book starts in antiquity and introduces us to a cast of characters as they move forward in time. At first, they don't have much trouble picking up and moving on when they're finished with an identity; as time moves forward, and especially in the 20th century, that becomes much more difficult. All the immortals hate the loss of privacy that technology and record-keeping bring. On the other hand, finding each other was extremely difficult in the distant past and becomes much easier through those same factors.
By the time the book ends, humanity as a whole has become immortal through technology, and the original handful of immortals find themselves living lives that seem barely human to them. They petition for permission to leave earth on a colony ship, and what they find beyond our solar system just might be what they've been searching for their entire lives.
Very interesting premise. I got a little confused remembering who's using what alias as the narrative skips through time; I also got a little bored from time to time. Contains some mentions of rape. On the whole, I recommend for sci-fi lovers.
View all my reviews
no subject
Date: 2018-04-11 01:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-04-11 09:36 pm (UTC)I keep hoping we'll get a surprise Fish Moony cameo to really cap it off.
no subject
Date: 2018-04-11 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-04-11 09:34 pm (UTC)At first their angst is all about outliving everyone (especially children and loved ones) and how to stay sane after thousands of years of memories.
Then, when humanity advances and figures out how to offer immortality to everyone, people can't have kids anymore for population reasons; traditional relationships and family units disappear. They can control the weather; there's no more poverty or hardship or danger or adventure. No one makes stuff anymore (like weaving or painting or carvings) because replicator can just make anything (for free!). There's even some transhumanist stuff about how people can change sexes if they want to or become part animal, etc.
The original immortals think that everybody else living forever is going to make life wonderful for them and instead they feel bored and like life is meaningless. It's a really cool Monkey's Paw.
no subject
Date: 2018-04-15 04:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-04-16 12:19 am (UTC)You're right; the making just becomes more intangible in this story--like people stop hand carving bowls but people are still creating by coming up with new body modifications or holodeck program equivalents.