I didn’t read much this month, or rather, I didn’t read much in the way of books. I read journal articles instead, along with blog posts and news releases. Inquiring minds want to know. I worked hard at staying informed and educated until about the twentieth of the month, when the state of life, the universe, and everything – thank you, Douglas Adams – became all a bit much. I don’t like living in interesting times. I don’t like living in a world that is apparently run, in large part, by the greedy and ignorant.

I watched more new content this month than I have in a while, abandoning some of it before the first half-hour was up. If I’d been at the theatre, I could’ve asked for a refund. I don’t enjoy stupid humour. It gets on my nerves. I see no virtue in continuing with a book or movie you hate, either. Life is too short to waste on unpleasant or unenjoyable content.

(Blue text indicates a new read or watch; red text indicates a reread or rewatch. Books are listed by their authors, and movies/television shows are listed by their year of release. The list is presented in order of consumption.)

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The Parent Trap (1961) – the original, with Hayley Mills. It’s worth watching, although the sexism hurts.

The Birdcage (1996) – The cast was much younger than I recalled.

The House Bunny (2008) – I finished, but it was close. There’s much cringeworthy among the sweet and funny.

Bride Wars (2009) – I usually enjoy Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway films, and this was no exception.

“The Menopause Brain,” by Lisa Mosconi, PhD – I learned a lot on the biology side, which I enjoy.

The Menu (2022) – I like dark films.

Virus (1980) – It’s a long movie starring most of the big names of the time.

While You Were Sleeping (1996) – Funny, feel-good, and a happily-ever-after. What’s not to like?

The Abyss (1989) – James Cameron has the subtlety of an earthquake.

Mother/Android (2022) – another dark and apocalyptic vision of the future.

Life Off Grid (2016) – a Canadian documentary about different people living off-grid.

The Last Witch Hunter (2015)

Twisters (2024) – It’s awful. It doesn’t have enough action to compensate for the bad acting and dire dialogue.

Skyline (2010)

Beyond Skyline (2017)

The Numbers Station (2013) – John Cusack blocked me on Twitter, and I’ve never felt the same about him.

Ocean’s 8 (2018)

Peppermint (2018) – I love me a movie with a strong female protagonist.

Hot Pursuit (2015) – I watched sixteen minutes and forty-eight seconds of this movie before bailing, and the only reason I lasted that long is because I was fascinated by the height difference between a flat-wearing Reese Witherspoon and a heel-wearing Sofia Vergara.

“Hidden Nature,” by Nora Roberts – Her latest release. It was okay. There are a couple of serious flaws. Nora Roberts is my most favourite author, however, so I’m going to put the book away and pretend her writing is as good as it always was, and that no continuity errors exist.

“Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” by Matthew Perry – I’ve started this book in audiobook form. Matthew Perry is reading it, so that’s a bit surreal. I always felt a bit of kinship with him – we’re both Canadians, both the same age, and both a little screwed up. What I’ve noticed so far in this book is that he was not very strong in his recovery while writing it. So far, it sounds like the work of someone who was dry, and not the writing of someone who has found sobriety (my inside voice is yelling at me to stop this line of thought and criticism – who do you think you are to even write this? It’s definitely a strange thing to think about, knowing what happened to him next.) Recovery isn’t abstinence, however; it takes more. I’ve white-knuckled it enough myself to know the difference. Then again, I’m only a few chapters in as yet. My opinion may change as I progress.

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