Constantly Seeking Wonder
Talk about something I didn’t see coming. Somehow, April was a month that was overflowing with r & b, rap, and hip-hop influenced songs. Which are genres I enjoy, but not normally at the top of my faves list. To have 4/5 songs overwhelmingly fall in those categories is a new turn. The one thing I knew would be happening was that April would be a month where it was near impossible to select only five songs to feature.
I am happy to report, April was a much better month again in the book department. Quite a few of the books I read landed four rose ratings. Which, thank goodness. If the year continued on like March’s month of disappointments, I may have hit an early reading slump this year.
Unless you’re living under a rock, or simply just don’t give a eff – you’ll know Marvel’s cinematic event ten years in the making is opening today. Just for clarification, I’m talking about Avengers: Infinity War.
What better way to celebrate this milestone than to cause some controversy by ranking my personal favorite (and maybe even a few of my least favorite) Marvel characters that have graced the screen.
This is completely spoiler free as it was written BEFORE I saw Infinity War.
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If you follow me on Instagram, recently you would’ve saw I attended an event promoting Super Troopers 2. I’ve been a Broken Lizard fan since I first saw Super Troopers when I was 14 and thought it was absolutely hysterical.
I’ve come to realize not everyone knows what Super Troopers is and it always shocks me. How?!? I thought it was one of those films that EVERYBODY had seen?
The 2000s were a great time for comedy and that means there were plenty of funny movies that flew under the radar compared to bigger comedy hits of the oughts – think Mean Girls, Anchorman, and The Hangover. Well, that leaves plenty of laughs to still be had. I put on my movie-glasses and got to work in putting together a list of what I think are 13 Underrated Comedies of the 2000s.
Some bloggers have stories to share about exotic vacations or exciting announcements. My life is a little more average, but I’ve learned through the years that readers still enjoy hearing about it. Here I am to talk about all those ground breaking matters on what I’m thinking, eating, watching, and more. This month features Harry Styles, home renovation, and s’mores.
Welcome to Weekend Coffee Break. The perfect opportunity for me to do exactly what I intended when I created this blog: find joy in the things I love most and the ability to share that with others. You can expect to see these posts every second and fourth Saturday morning. You’ll get your fill of the best of the best in what the internet has offered with pop culture, music, and a bit of everything in between.
Were you a fan of the Spice Girls? Do you enjoy pop music? If you answered yes to either of those questions, I may have the perfect suggestion for what you should listen to next: Little Mix.
I have been a long time fan of pop group Little Mix. In one of the first iterations of this blog circa 2012 there was even one or two posts all about my love for Jade, Jesy, Leigh-Anne, and Perrie. I’ve stood in line for hours to meet them and paid for overpriced concert tickets where they were only on the docket as the opener. Little Mix is a massive success in their U.K. home, breaking long-held records even, but it seemed hardly anybody knew who they were in the states. What gives? Why were these talented ladies only a blip on the radar?
I slowed it down during March with my books, but only slightly, as I still read a whopping ten books. We went from a high month in February where all the books were great…to March, the month where I had the most number of horrible books I’ve encountered since I started doing reviews. How do you manage to call it and DNF (did not finish) a book when you hate it? Honestly, teach me your ways. Instead – I slogged through each page complaining about how much I hated said book. It was all in the hopes it somehow got better or because I simply wanted to know how the stupid storyline ended.
On a winning note, I finally managed to schedule and get my book reviews to align with Jana and Steph‘s Show Us Your Books link-up! I’ve been meaning to for months, because I love how they’ve created this little community for all book lovers to chat.
March’s Top Pick: Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
March’s Dud: The Idiot – Elif Batuman (You know it’s a bad month when there’s MULTIPLE dud contenders.)
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling (5 Roses)
There were tears. (Lots of them.) I didn’t want Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows to end, even though I’ve read through it multiple times before. I know every time I read through the series, that sadness will be there as the pages dwindle, but I also know I can re-enter Harry’s world many more times throughout my life. The series will always have a special place in my heart.
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child – J.K. Rowling (2 Roses)
I don’t even know where to begin with this book. It sent me into a rage. Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is basically bad fanfiction. In February I posted my full length review (yes, it deserved one) so I’ll spare you the details here. Basically it comes down to there being no charm of the original books and I’m simply going to pretend it doesn’t exist. I was shocked this book wasn’t the dud of March, but somehow another book stole that title. Barely.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertalli (3 Roses)
Guess what…I read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda because it’s going to be a movie with Love, Simon. How many of you saw that coming? My biggest complaint was that reading it, I realized just how far removed from my high school years I am. At times the mellow-dramatic teenage angst felt so over-the-top, but probably is far more realistic for that age than I want to recall. If you can get past that with only a few eye rolls, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is an enjoyable story about being vulnerable and loved for exactly who you are. Some of the questions posed are worthy of larger discussions such as why in society is straight and white still the default.
A Wind in the Door – Madeleine L’Engle (1 Rose)
Ever read the first book in a series, enjoyed it and thought oh boy there’s four more? Of course you have – that’s what all readers do. In the case of the Time Quartet by L’Engle, it really should’ve stopped with A Wrinkle in Time. Book two, A Wind in the Door was terrible. TERRIBLE. If it wasn’t for my pure stubbornness and dislike of not finishing books – I wouldn’t have made it more than 40 pages into this. The storyline, characters, everything about it seems jumbled and halfed. The magic is gone with that wind.
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid (4 Roses)
Even though I predicted almost every single twist (which I can’t tell if that’s a result of them actually being semi-predictable or if I’m a little too obsessed with pop culture) the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was still a thoroughly enjoyable read. The titular character Evelyn is complicated and flawed and she knows that. The book’s title (purposefully) makes the reader assume this will be all about Evelyn’s seven husbands, but it’s so much more than that. Know that this isn’t just your simple “chick-lit” story, rather it’s a full of bombshells, scheming, secrets, lies, and the lengths one will go to in becoming famous and protecting those they love. If the rest of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s works are this good, I definitely need to pick them up soon.
The Idiot – Elif Batuman (1 Rose)
I ended up feeling like the idiot as this was almost torture to get through. I understand the premise of The Idiot was language being susceptible to problems and barriers, but it felt stagnant, pretentious, and disjointed. I can’t even decide what was the worst part. Was it the dry writing that felt like I was muddling through sludge? Was it the one dimensional characters that even through 423 pages, I couldn’t connect with the main character, let alone the secondary characters. Actually, all the characters annoyed me when they did show the slightest glimpse of personality. There wasn’t much of a story, but I kept reading to see if that ever changed. Unless all those things sound fun to you, I’d skip it.
Fates and Furies – Lauren Groff (2.5 Roses)
The first-half I zoomed through, but the second-half was a struggle. While later chapters felt more interesting, they also left me with the need to take a shower because I felt gross in some respects. A story of two ultimately unlikeable characters, Lotto and Mathilde. It documents their love affair, both in building it up and tearing it down. I enjoyed that the marriage was realistic, with a good and not-so-good look at what it takes to make one work, but was unpleasantly surprised to find one particular side to be heavy-handed in the bad. While I loved the big reveal, it seemed Fates and Furies ended so soon after it left me with a feeling of “that’s it?” One can tell Gross is a lover of language as the book is brimming with beautiful metaphors and descriptions, but at times it felt convoluted and overdone. The lovers of Greek Mythology will be happy as well to find those long-held anecdotes weaved throughout to propel the storyline.
Seven Days of Us – Francesca Hornak (3 Roses)
We’ve all heard it before – a dysfunctional family coming together for the first time in ages. In the case of the Birch family, its to celebrate Christmas and spend seven days quarantined together, due to prodigal daughter Olivia coming home after being a doctor in Liberia helping patients with a deadly virus. As the patriarch of the family refers to the holiday, “every Christmas is a quarantine of sorts.” Of course, the premise couldn’t be as simple as that – there’s secret relationships, an unknown child from a long-ago affair, and cancer diagnoses! While it’s nothing new, Seven Days of Us was still a fun read. I will say there was one last twist at the end that was fairly unnecessary and I felt at least, took away slightly from the book. (That could also be because I’m someone who just likes happy endings okay?)
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry – Neil deGrasse Tyson (4 Roses)
If it hasn’t been said yet, Neil deGrasse Tyson has one of the best voices to listen to when learning about science. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry was a fascinating juncture into subject matters way over my head. After finishing, I felt like I learned a lot of cool things – but was still left confused. The universe is truly mind boggling. Neil deGrasse Tyson makes a weighty subject, much more accessible taking the reader on a journey from the creation of matter to the periodic table of elements. If you’re a perpetual learner or a science geek, I would definitely recommend this. My only caveat would be to read it slowly and properly digest each chapter.
Dream Year – Ben Arment (2 Roses)
A friend who recently launched her own business highly reccomended Dream Year and I was excited to read it. While I will honestly say I did learn a few lessons, most of the book came off as extremely privileged. At one point Ben Arment discusses how he lost $15,000 attempting his dream but he learned that you have to be prepared to take big chances and lose it all. Telling people to not think of losing large sums of money as a deterrent to attempting something is not reality. Most people would be bankrupt or at least in a financial position that would be near impossible to recover from if they lost that amount of money. There may be truth to taking risks, but saying if people aren’t willing to risk it all is just another excuse they have to overcome is simply bullshit to put it mildly.
Have you ever found a book in the self-help genre that doesn’t come from an incredibly privileged point of view?
P.S. – Let’s reminisce about a better time, when I had a month full of amazing books. Otherwise know as last month.
Until next time,
I feel like I say this every month, but you guys…March was seriously brimming with so much musical goodness. Why did I think only featuring five was a good idea? My top choices this month all skew a bit more pop-sounding, other than one solid rock song.
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Ben Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda decided to combine Broadway superforces and create a charitable song, “Found / Tonight” to benefit the #MarchforOurLives. It’s a beautiful arrangement of Hamilton‘s “The Story of Tonight” and Dear Evan Hansen‘s “You Will Be Found” that results in a match made in musical heaven. Every time I listen to “Found / Tonight” I become slightly emotional, not going to lie. By combining the themes of the original songs, the listener is left with a powerful feeling of acceptance and standing up for what you believe in to create change. Buy the song here.
I have a confession. Years & Years is one of those bands that exploded on the scene a few years ago and I honestly didn’t understand the buzz. I now completely get it. I am a full-fledged convert and apologize to all my friends I previously looked at skeptically. “Sanctify” is ringing in a new era for Years & Years, but don’t worry the unapologetic vibrancy the band was known for is still there, just a little refined. It’s a sexy synth-pop song with a hypnotizing melody. (It also feels a little risqué due to the mixture of overt LGBTQ lyrics mixed with holy references.)
I can sum it up simply: you won’t find a more good old-fashioned alternative rock song than you do in “Pyramids of Salt.” The Wonder Years are back with another round of poetically gorgeous lyrics about loving someone so much, but not being able to heal or protect them; which is a subject matter we can all relate to. “Pyramids of Salt” follows all the rules to incite emotion by walking the fine line between soft and chilling, only to ramp up in the right places with layers of sounds to leave you feeling raw.
Is it supposed to be spring in the US? I thought I heard that rumor, even if it doesn’t feel or look that way here in Minnesota. Since that warped reality is currently the case, I was especially drawn to “There’s a Reason” – Wet’s new sunny and bright song. The mid-tempo ballad is a great mixture of emotional and delicate, without being a downer, partially thanks to the bubbly drum beat. “There’s a Reason” is a perfect bridge that old fans will love, but can most assuredly help them find fans in a new audience too.
Somehow after almost two decades of performing, Panic! at the Disco continues to bring the classic spastic energy you expect from the band. If Brandon Urie ever stops being theatrical and slightly over the top, I’ll truly worry something is wrong. Between the coursing drum beat throughout “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” being mixed in with the call and response formula chorus, this song is meant to be your Saturday night anthem…maybe with slightly less ninja fighting. I think it will do well on mainstream radio as it’s a fun pop-rock song.
Honorable Mention: I am almost ashamed to tell you how much of a bop I find “No Excuses” by Meghan Trainor to be. As soon as the beat starts, it’s almost irresistible to start grooving. “No Excuses” is a sassy song that has a killer retro production.
The March 2018 playlist has 41 tracks for your listening pleasure. I always say my playlists are like my rubbish drawer, not in the sense that they’re full of awful things, but for the fact that they always contain a little bit of everything. An interesting tidbits this month include a haunting orchestral version of a well-loved classic 90s rock song.
Do you have any songs that are just so. dang. catchy that you can’t help but dance, even when you don’t want to?
P.S. – You may say upbeat pop songs aren’t your thing, maybe my go-to writing playlist is a better alternative option.
Until next time,
Listen, I’m not normally one for reality tv. I cringe any time my mother turns on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I never found the genre of reality television entertaining. Except for two particular Bravo shows that I can’t stop watching. Vanderpump Rules is one of them. (Gold star if you can guess the other.)
Vanderpump Rules is currently finishing its sixth season. Each year it gets more and more ridiculous, but yet, I am more and more compelled to tune in and be captivated by these people’s lives. It’s not a guilty pleasure – remember, I don’t believe in those. It has all the formulaic elements of a classic reality show, but there’s just enough of some extra quality that entices me to the point I can’t get enough.
