Recent TV Faves

Between Goodreads and Letterboxd, I can keep track of and review books and movies but I have no outlet for my TV love!  Here are some recent faves that I think people should check out.  (Some of them are only streaming)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)

The set and costume design is absolutely gorgeous! From the creators of Gilmore Girls, I love the fast talking chutzpah of the main duo, Midge and Susie.  What I wasn’t expecting was also loving some of the side characters such as Abe and eventually Joel.

Killing Eve

I wanted to include this show on my 2018 staff picks, but it wasn’t in the TRL catalog by the end of 2018…but it is now!  I love both Sandra Oh and Jodie Cormer, especially the latter’s unhinged performance.  I generally don’t like spycraft thriller type shows, but this one is imbued with a lot of humor.

Bodyguard

Another surprising thriller that I enjoyed.  This one is super intense, however, and definitely raised my blood pressure.  I don’t know how I feel about the ending, but the ride was certainly worth it.

Steven Universe

Many people have suggested I watch this, which of course meant I didn’t want to for a long time.  When I finally got into it, I couldn’t stop!  It is definitely aimed at a specific audience but if you enjoy wholesome animation with catchy tunes, I would check out this series.  I would also recommend getting the whole first season instead of some of shorter DVDs.

Nailed It! Mexico (Netflix)

I love the OG Nailed It!, but something about this Spanish language version gives it a little extra.  I find the jokes to be a little more funny and the host more palatable.  Nicole is great but can be a little bit much, but Omar is zany in just the right amount.  Plus, this show proves that failure is universal and knows no borders.  I would recommend that you turn off the English dubs and put on the subtitles.

The Good Place

I am so glad that this series has the following it does because I can’t get enough.  All the twists and turns are great and I am always delighted in the jokes and heart each episode contains.  The character development is excellent and I can’t wait to see where the gang goes. Also, Michael’s bow ties are on point.

Forever (Amazon)

I don’t know what it is about the afterlife, but it is definitely getting a bunch of coverage.  I am not sure where this season eventually went, but I enjoyed seeing Maya Rudolph play against Fred Armisen.  It’s look at marriage and life gives something to think about and I am anxious to talk to more people about it!

Russian Doll (Netflix)

Stealth Amy Poehler!  This Natasha Lyonne written series has both laughs, frights, and insight.  Come for the death montages and stay for the raspy voices.

 

If you build it, I will read

One of my favorite aspects about sci-fi and fantasy is the intense world-building that can ensue.  I love these imaginary places and people where the culture is richly defined, especially novel magical systems.  However, there is a fine line between establishing a strong sense of a world and being way too detailed (I’m looking at you, Brandon Sanderson).  Here are some books featuring world-building that I have found to be strong but not overwhelming, for the most part.

The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett

When the first book came out, City of Stairs, it barely on my radar but I gave it a shot and I am so glad I did.  This book was heartbreaking and dramatic with everything I love.  Gods, cities, culture-clash, and complex characters.  Bennett pulls no punches and throughout the trilogy your heart will break, but you will also fall in love with this complicated and brutal world where gods once ruled and magic lives in the margins. This trilogy is the type of urban fantasy that will bridge the gap to epic fantasy.  Somewhere between The Dresden Files and Mistborn.

The Craft Sequence by Max Gladstone

What if magic was law and sorcerers were lawyers?  That is the basic premise of the world in the Craft sequence.  Set in a world where some gods have fallen and others fight, magic is transactional and politics abound. There are many storylines to follow in the Craft Sequence which all relate in some form or fashion.  It’s hard to say where to start with this series as the publication order is different from the internal chronology.  For the first five books, the number referred to in the title reflects its place in the world’s chronology. So you can either start with Last First Snow (first in chronological order) or Four Roads Cross (first published).

The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

N.K. Jemisin is a star in the speculative fiction world, having won three straight Hugos for her Broken Earth Trilogy.  However, I was first introduced to her work with The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and I still enjoy it more.  I’m not sure if it is because it was my first Jemisin or because it was sexier, but I found it to be more accessible than the Broken Earth trilogy.  Also, it featured what is becoming increasingly obvious as I make this list is a favorite subject of mine, interesting gods and their complex relationship with mortals. So if you like Jemisin’s newer works, it is interesting to look at her earlier work. This trilogy pairs well with the Divine Cities.

War of the Realms series by J. Patrick Black

The first book, Ninth City Burning, has its detractors due to its possibly excessive world building.  It is definitely one of the lengthier mentions on this list but the detail, to me, was not overbearing.  In fact I relished every explanation of how the complex magic/science works in this alien-invasion story.  The plot is fairly complex and I don’t want to go into a lot of detail due as spoilers begin almost right at the beginning, but suffice it to say that humans are under attack and they are fighting back.

The Rook by Daniel O’Malley

Set in contemporary Britain, this book is what you would get if you crossed X-Men with James Bond and sprinkled in a little bit of Monty Python.  Filled with dry British humor, the story follows Myfanwy Thomas who awakes having had her memory erased only to find out that she is 1) under threat from unknown forces and 2)is a high ranking figure in the mutant government agency.  Myfanwy is helped by the clues her former self left behind for her, which prove to be excellent fodder for world-building.  There is a sequel to The Rook, Stiletto, but it does suffer a bit from sophomore slump.

The Founders trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett

Yes, this is the second Bennett series on the list.  What can I say?  I like his stuff.  Foundryside is far and away more detailed than the Divine Cities, on the same level as Ninth City Burning really.  It however, has a unique and well explained magical system that is similar to coding.  The story follows a young thief, Sancia Grado, who gets on the wrong side of the all powerful Merchant Houses in a fantastical city that is reminiscent of Renaissance Italy. With intense and pretty crazy heists, fights, and action this book offers much for readers who enjoy Sanderson and Rothfuss.

Wayfarers universe by Becky Chambers

My love of world building stems in part due to my love of Star Trek.  I liked learning about new alien worlds and how they all interconnected.  For a while, I felt that science fiction was leaning a little too hard into the space opera or literary way but Becky Chambers brought fresh new life into the large but intimate galaxy of alien civilizations. While each book in the universe is standalone, they have some common characters and enhance the world that Chambers has created.  From ragtag crews of space tunnelers to the trials of generation ships, old science fiction fans and newcomers will find something to like in all of her books.

Imperial Radch universe by Ann Leckie

This series is one that has also garnered a lot of awards and attention.  The world that Leckie builds is both progressive and oppressive and gives the reader a lot to think about.  It follows Breq, a lone AI fragment of the destroyed battle starship, Justice of Toren, in her quest for revenge and answers.  Beyond the fast moving plot, the Radch empire is full of interesting characters and cultural norms.  With only one gender, all pronouns are feminine and the language style takes a little getting used to.  The follow-up novel, Provenance, adds a different human culture with three genders and establishes Leckie as a progressive and thoughtful speculative fiction author.

Rom-Com Reads

I’ve always loved romantic comedies as films, but never really got into them as books. I think I picked some duds to be honest, but I’ve rediscovered my love of funny romances with the latest trend of contemporary romance novels, especially with more diverse offerings.  Here are some books that I’ve read and my thoughts on them.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

This one is really a two-fer because it has also been adapted into a movie! I’ve only read two out of the trilogy, but I enjoy the catty tone of the books as well as the over-the-top events.  The first book is definitely the most “romantic” of the ones I have read but they all contain nuggets of dealing with an Asian family.  I particularly enjoyed the use of footnotes by the author.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

This debut novel has many qualities to recommend it.  It is a #ownvoice romance from a neurodiverse author featuring a neurodiverse character and a racially diverse love interest.  Stella Lane is a well-paid career woman who finds relationships and friendships difficult, in part due to her Asperger’s.  When pressured by family to pursue romantic relationships, she does her research and hires escort Michael Phan to teach her how to be good in bed.  The steamy escapades that ensue will remind readers of 2005 rom-com starring Debra Messing, The Wedding Date, and has some Pretty Woman vibes as well.  I particularly enjoyed the complex characters as well as the very accurate description of a Vietnamese family living in America.  Shrimp paste FTW!

 

The Wedding Date and The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

More #ownvoice books by a newcomer!  Not to be confused with the aforementioned rom-com film, The Wedding Date was Jasmine Guillory’s debut novel which features steamy scenes and the usual will they or won’t they plot. Attorney Alexa Monroe is barely thinking about her love life when she is trapped in an elevator with Dr. Drew Nichols.  On a whim, she agrees to be his last minute date to his ex’s wedding and of course this meet cute ends up with some action! However, emotional baggage and long distance get in the way.  Set in LA and the Bay Area, this novel is fun and sexy which has spawned more novels set featuring familiar characters, such as The Proposal and forthcoming The Wedding Party.

The Matchmaker’s List by Sonya Lalli

I recently finished this audiobook and I loved every minute of it! Set in Toronto, it features an Bengali-Canadian protagonist, Raina Anand, who is now a successful business woman with strong ties to her immigrant community. No tie is stronger than the one she shares with her Nani, as the surrogate mother for her own flighty teenage one.  However, Raina finds herself lost as she is pressured by her Nani to accept an arrangement for marriage which she had reluctantly agreed to with the deadline of her looming 30th birthday.  Naturally hijinks ensue, including one that really through me for a curve.

In addition to the somewhat predictable romantic plotline, Lalli digs into the complexities of being a second generation immigrant and the conflicts that come between tradition and new ways.  The description of the tight-knit immigrant community along with the Canadian culture (shout out to Ontarians!) is a welcome addition to the rom-com scene.

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating

I found this book using appeal and read-a-like features on NoveList Plus.  On one hand it did remind me of rom-com movies, but in the worst way.  Josh and Hazel are opposite types of people.  Josh is steady, responsible, and maybe a little boring.  Hazel is unpredictable energetic and ready to be friends with everyone, even if you don’t necessarily want her to be.  Basically Hazel is the literary equivalent of the manic pixie dream girl who complains that no one “gets her”.  It reminds me of the meme “If you can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best”.  Neither Josh nor Hazel really endeared themselves to me, so it was difficult to get behind their ridiculous antics.  But there are plenty of romance readers who love difficult characters, such as some of Emily Giffin’s novels, so if you are one those, you might like this book.

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

This one is almost a cheat because it is basically a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, which is such a classic.  However, Sittenfeld does a great job at updating the tale to be relevant to modern times.  I particularly liked the inclusion of reality TV and Cross-Fit.  If you are familiar with the original story and want something new, this book will not be for you.  If you love that old workhorse in a new dressing, this novel has much to offer in terms to revisiting your old friends Lizzy and Darcy.

Books I am looking forward to:

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal

Another Pride and Prejudice retelling.  I obviously have a problem.

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

Pretty much the definition of a rom-com.

When Katie Met Cassidy

I’ve heard great things about this book and recently suggested it to a patron looking for a funny romance.

How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway

I once did a display about digital dating, but it was hard to find enough books incorporating dating apps!  I am curious how this one will tackle the new standard in modern dating.

From Russia, With Love

I’ve noticed and enjoyed a recent uptick in Russian-based fantasy of late.  Here’s some mini-reviews of ones that I think are worth a look.

Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko, translated by Julia Meitov Hersey

This novel was one of my favorites from 2018.  It follows a young Sasha who is accosted one summer by a strange man asking her to do even stranger things.  Eventually she is forced to attend a college with opaque curriculum and dire consequences. I can see why it took so long to be translated from Russian as the concepts and language are tricky to convey.  The pace is leisurely, but the tension and suspense keep you turning the pages until the very end.  The audiobook is a must if, like me, you are not familiar with Russian names.

The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden

A lush historical fantasy, Arden draws upon Russian folklore and historical events to craft a rich tale about a young Vasilisa.  Daughter of a rural lord, she finds her unique magical abilities pitted against the unseen folk and members of the clergy.  Trying to find a way to resolve this conflict between the old and new ways while keeping her family and country safe, Vasya is a complicated and real character with an inspiring inner strength. Recommended for fans of epic fantasies who like a strong sense of place.  Plus, the trilogy is complete so you don’t have to linger in anticipation!

Deathless by Cathrynne M. Valente

One of the first of the Russian-based fantasies that started me on this kick.  It’s been awhile since I’ve read this novel, but I remember it straddling the line of urban and epic fantasy in a way that was refreshing.  Those familiar with Russian folklore will recognize the trappings of the tale of Marya Morevna against Koschei the Deathless but Valente’s version adds another dimension to the characters and their motivations.

Grishaverse series by Leigh Bardugo

This ongoing YA book world by Leigh Bardugo only gets better with every new book.  The original series will feel a bit trope-y and somewhat bogged down by its YA status, but the worldbuilding is all-encompassing and the later novels gain ground where Bardugo really finds her voice.  While each trilogy or duology is technically stand-alone, you benefit greatly from reading it from start to finish.  Great for those readers who enjoyed Laini Taylor or their fantasy to be a little on the dark side.

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

Anothe YA novel, this book came out around the same time as The Bear and the Nightingale, featuring another Vassilissa.  However, this time it is set in a strange version of Brooklyn and features one of the more recognizable figures from Russian folklore, Baba Yaga. Vassa is living with her step-mother in New York when she accidentally is ensnared by one of the deadly convenience stores, Bab Yaggs.  Armed with only her wits and her animated wooden doll, Erg, she struggles to survive to avoid become a head on the post. A little more whimsical than the other books on this list, the incorporation of Russian figures in a modern New York setting is interesting and fun.

               

Uprooted and Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Both of these fairy tale novels are more Slavic inspired than strictly Russian-based, but are both so wonderful that I couldn’t omit them.  Each novel is stand-alone and not set in the same universe per se, but I like to call them spiritually connected.  Uprooted is loosely based on Beauty and the Beast and Spinning Silver is loosely based on Rumpelstiltskin.  Each updates the classic tales and imbues them with richly drawn characters and imagery.  Staying true to the grimmer aspects of the classic fairy tales, Novik doesn’t shy away from addressing historical injustices such as sexism and antisemitism.  Move over Disney, these are the women I would follow any day.

**ADDED***

The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

I can’t believe I forgot to add this book to the original list.  I read it and it reminded me of the trend, but then I forgot when I was typing up the list.  This book follows two sisters who each have a strange pull and power.  Left alone in the village by their parents they face anti-Semitic attacks and dangerous men.  Both fight to assert their own individuality while still being true to their family.  Each sister alternates in narration, one in prose and the other in verse.  The book, to me, felt like it was trying to hard and the ending was a bit forced.  But it is the most like a fairy-tale out of all the ones in the list.