JG's Take on What's Good

Welcome to my new and improved Tumblr page!! I have to say, it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I'm back and ready to talk about what's good in television, film, books and whatever catches my attention. Don't worry, I'll still get to the meat and potatoes of my favorite shows without spoiling it for you. No spoilers here!! So get ready for more Game of Thrones, but also Outlander, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder and my new obsession, The Walking Dead. Stay tuned!

[gjgriff736]

New site is up and running!!

New site is up and running!!

Hi all!  Well, I’m back from my holiday hiatus and the new site is up and running.  I won’t be posting on WordPress anymore because I’ve moved the site to Squarespace.  But don’t worry, all of my original content will remain on WordPress until the domain expires.

The new domain name is now bookmindedmag.comand looks more streamlined and professional.  I still have some work to do to the site but…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

So long for now!!!

So long for now!!!

Dearest Readers,

I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything and that is because I am burned out.  From work, living in New York, and reading and posting about books, I haven’t been enjoying the process as much as I used to and I hate that feeling.  So I have decided to take a break until January 2020.  While I’m away, I will FINALLY be updating the site and moving to a new platform.  I’ve…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

Full Throttle - Joe Hill

Full Throttle – Joe Hill

Author: Joe Hill Rating:  4.2 Stars More Info Author Bio Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

It’s officially Spooky Season, and I had the pleasure of reading Joe Hill’s short story collection, Full Throttle.  And folks, some of these stories kept me up at night.

This is my first time reading any of Joe Hill’s work and I’m glad I started with this collection.  The stories range from…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

Well, folks.  My week back at it has been unbelievably busy.  I went to New York Comic Con and attended book launches for Saeed Jones and Zadie Smith.  I’m tired!  This is gonna be a long one, so stick with me.  Okay, let’s get to it.

NEW YORK COMIC CON

So this year, I went to New York Comic Con no longer a newbie.  I went with the focus of someone who knew how things work.  Was it perfect?  Of course not.  But did I have fun?  I absolutely did.

Instead of killing myself to try and make every single panel, talk and event, I strategically chose what I would do.  I mean, I have a regular job so I had to take that into consideration (Note to Self:  TAKE THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE NYCC OFF!).  So I skipped Thursday and Friday and just made sure to show up on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday was a day of panels, which meant I basically stayed inside the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden all day.  I attended panels for The Walking Dead, where Danai Gurira (Michonne) talked about her last season with the show, and we all learned that Lauren Cohan (Maggie) would be making her return.  Cailey Fleming, who plays Judith Grimes, came to her first NYCC and she handled the crowds like a pro.

I had a break until the next panel, so I made my way to Johnnie Walker’s pop-up for the brand’s Game of Thrones-inspired whiskey tasting.  At one of New York City’s art galleries, I was able to taste A Song of Ice, which was smooth and tasted great in a mixed drink I tried called Queen in the North, and A Song of Fire, a spicy and stronger version.  Guests sampled both whiskeys, struck a pose in the photo booth (including yours truly) and interacted with each other.  It was a lot of fun.

Afterwards, I headed back to the Hulu Theatre for the Castle Rock panel.  Attendees were treated to the Season 2 premiere episode and it was BANANAS!!  Season 1 already had me on edge, but Season 2 is going to be absolutely crazy.  The audience was not ready for what happened in the episode and neither will the rest of you.  Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes is a dream!  Get ready for her take on an iconic character when the show airs on October 23.

Once the screening was over, the cast took to the stage for a lively discussion about the season, even though they couldn’t say too much without spoiling anything.  I was fine with that because I want to be surprised.  I’m pretty sure I’m going to be more than surprised when I watch.

Once the Castle Rock panel was over, it was time to prepare for Outlander, a show and book series I adore.  I’ve been to three screenings/panels for the show so far (twice at NYCC) and it’s ALWAYS a great time.

One of the things that happens between panels is what I call the Seat Shuffle.  Hulu Theatre is not cleared out after each panel, so attendees who stick around for the next one have the chance to move to a better seat, if they can.  I already had a pretty good seat for Castle Rock, but I moved anyway.  I found an even better seat closer to the stage and sat with some die-hard fans of the show.  We talked, laughed and sang songs during a contest we could have easily won had we jumped on stage to participate (if you don’t know the words to the Saved By The Bell theme song, I don’t want to know you).

As always, the Outlander panel was so much fun.  The cast was so funny and very gracious to the fans.  David Berry, who plays fine ass Lord John Grey was especially charming and I was psyched to see Duncan Lacroix, who plays Murtagh, on the stage.  One of the funniest things during the panel was hearing the cast say lines from the show in a New York accent.  Caitriona Balfe won that challenge easily when she delivered her lines sounding like she grew up in the Boogie Down Bronx.

Since Season 5 was still being filmed, there was no screening of the premiere episode, but fans did get to see the new trailer for the season.  As always, Claire and Jamie have to deal with some mess, but they deal with that mess together and still very much in love.

And finally, I watched the Season 10 premiere of The Walking Dead.  The gang is in full-on training mode after the Whisperers massacre, Carol and King Ezekiel are still broken up (dammit), Michonne is still kicking walker ass and this season looks like we’re gonna see an Alpha/Carol showdown.

Sunday was not as busy, but I did attend a couple of cool book panels.  The highlight of my day was meeting and taking a picture with author N.K. Jemisin, and folks, I was a damn geek.  I am normally very cool when I meet celebrities or authors but for some reason, I geeked out when I met Nora (yes, that’s how she introduced herself to me so that’s what I get to call her now).  But she was incredibly gracious and handled my spazzing like a champ.  After that, I walked around so I could take pics of all the cosplayers.  As always, attendees went above and beyond.  See all of my pics from NYCC below.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

SAEED JONES

The next evening, I had the pleasure of attending the book launch for Saeed Jones’s new memoir, How We Fight For Our Lives.  The launch was held at BAM Fisher in Brooklyn.  The event began with a reading by a young student named Jada Wilkinson, a senior in high school chosen to read her work.  This young queen read her poem, “Removal,” which was powerful and moving.  With her amazing blue hair, strong voice and beautiful smile, Ms. Wilkinson had our attention and received a rousing round of applause when she was done.  I hope to feature her one day on this blog, and I made sure to meet her (and her mother) to tell her so.

After the reading, Mr. Jones came running out to give Ms. Wilkinson a giant hug and to congratulate her on the poem.  He then read from the poem at the beginning of his book called “Elegy with Grown Folks’ Music” and then part of the first chapter.  I loved the poem because it perfectly captures how kids feel the first time they realize that their parents were other people before they were parents.

After his reading, Mr. Jones was joined on stage by playwright extraordinaire Lynn Nottage.  The two of them together made for a truly wonderful talk, both providing the audience with the kind of engagement you hope to have when you attend a book event.  Mr. Jones is gregarious and witty, with a personality that makes you want to be friends with him immediately.  Ms. Nottage provided the soothing but also empowering side, drawing the audience into her own experiences and how she reacted to the book.  This talk was something special, and I’m always grateful to be able to attend these events.  See pics below.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

ZADIE SMITH

People, this was the talk I had been waiting for.  I have been a fan of Zadie Smith’s since I read her debut novel, White Teeth in college.  I’ve read just about all of her books and essays (I still need to read Autograph Man) and I was lucky enough to see her at BAM’s annual event “Eat, Drink & Be Literary.”  But this time, I would get to see her up close and personal.  She did not disappoint.

Held at the Barnes & Noble Union Square location, fans listened to Ms. Smith read from her new collection of short stories, Grand Union.  Her voice is made for reading and I was soon in her thrall (yes, I know that sounds dramatic).  Once she was done, Ms. Smith and The New Yorker‘s Vince Cunningham engaged in a great discussion about the book and what her life is like now that she lives in New York full time.  One of the things Ms. Smith says she enjoys is people watching.  If you’ve never done it, people watching in New York City is a blast.  You will see so many different types of people of all ages, sizes, temperaments, etc.  I love people watching in NYC and often wonder what they’re thinking about as they walk by.  It was nice to know that Ms. Smith enjoys doing that, as well.

After the talk, guests were given the chance to have their books signed.  Before you ask, of course I got my book signed.  And I got to chat with her briefly, as well.  I kept my cool and spoke to her like a normal human being.  She was absolutely lovely.  See the pics below.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

And that was my week!  I had such a great time and I hope the rest of the year proves to be just as full of literary goodness.  Stay tuned.

My Week: Comic Con, Saeed Jones & Zadie Smith Well, folks.  My week back at it has been unbelievably busy.  I went to New York Comic Con and attended book launches for Saeed Jones and Zadie Smith. 

[gjgriff736]

Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Now I understand why everyone has been going crazy over @tjenkinsreid and her book, Daisy Jones & The Six. It's badass!

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid Rating:  4.8 Stars More Info Author Bio Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Let me say this to you, my lovely readers: Daisy Jones & The Six is straight up rock and roll.  That’s what I kept saying to myself as I blazed through this amazing book.

Daisy Jones is one of those women who everyone remembers.  She’s rich, beautiful, and has a powerhouse voice. …

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

Hi All!

Guess who’s back??  It is I, you’re friendly neighborhood book lover.  The month off did me some good.  I read some great books, slept, enjoyed the rest of Summer, and went to Paris for a week (which was FANTASTIC).  I’m ready to roll and just in time for NEW YORK COMIC CON!  The four-day event begins this Thursday and below are some panels, vendors and activations that I’ll be visiting so they’re on your radar:

Blacksad: Under the Skin Demo

On Thursday, the first day of NYCC, I’ll be demoing a new adventure game called Blacksad: Under the Skin.  Now I normally do not play video games (except for the 80s games) so I probably won’t know what I’m doing.  But one of the great things about NYCC is having access to these games so I can tell all of you and my gamer friends about them.  Based on the Eisner award-winning comic book Blacksad, I’ll get a first-hand look at the game before it launches on November 5.  If you’re at NYCC, stop by Booth #1665 to try it for yourself.

Expanse Activation

Celebrating its new home at Amazon Prime Video and the premiere of Season 4, the sci-fi show Expanse will be hosting an interstellar experience through its activation.  If you remember any of my posts or recaps from last year’s Con, I love activations.  They’re interactive, fun and give NYCC attendees a chance to interact with their favorite shows, films or books.  Fans of Expanse will get exclusive access to the activation, as they become crew members of the spaceship Rocinante.  They’ll be able to travel to the show’s new setting and there will be photo opps as fans take their first steps on New Terra (or Ilus, depending on their allegiance).  I’ll let you know which one I choose.  For now, take a look at the cool photos below and stop by and experience the activation for yourself.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hulu’s Castle Rock Season 2 Premiere and Panel

Saturday at last year’s NYCC was my day of panels.  I went to so many and this year will be no different.  And I’m ECSTATIC to be attending the Season 2 premiere screening and panel for Hulu’s show Castle Rock.  I watched Season 1 and I am obsessed with this show.  Believe me when I tell you that I quickly said “yes” to an invite I received to attend the panel.  I can’t wait to see what Hulu is cooking up for this season, because Season 1 was nuts.  This season, fans of the show and Stephen King’s book Misery will be reintroduced to nurse and psycho super fan Annie Wilkes (played by Lizzy Caplan).  I’ll post after the screening to give you my honest (and spoiler-free) feedback.  If you’re around on Saturday, get in line early for this panel.  It’ll be at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden and starts at 3:30pm.  Don’t miss it!

Legion M

Legion M, the first fan-owned entertainment company, will be at NYCC to celebrate its latest projects, Memory: The Origins of Alien and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.  During NYCC, Legion M’s very own Jeff Annison (Founder and President), David Baxter (VP of Development) and Terri Piñon (Legion M’s Meetup Hostess with the Mostest) will give fans and investors a first look at the two projects, as long as exclusive access to swag and merchandise for sale.  I plan on attending one of the Memory: The Origins of Alien screenings and getting my hands on a t-shirt.  Stop by Booth #746 to see what Legion M has in store.  In the meantime, take a look at the official trailer for Memory: The Origins of Alien.

The Birch

Facebook Watch has a new show airing this month called The Birch, about a blood-thirsty tree that may or may not be the friend of three teenagers.  Sounds weird?  Yes.  Is it any good?  I’m lucky enough to watch the first six episodes so I’ll let you know before it airs.  In the meantime, head to Booth #152 for “The Birch Experience,” an immersive photo opp for all NYCC badge holders.  Make sure to get a pic with The Birch herself (or else).  I’ll be stopping by so I can see her for myself.  The show premieres on Facebook Watch on October 11.

Game of Thrones/Johnnie Walker Pop-Up

Still mourning the end of Game of Thrones?  I definitely am so what better way than to visit the Johnnie Walker A Song of Ice and A Song of Fire pop-up this Saturday.  Head on over to the Crossing Arts Gallery (559 West 23rd St.) to sip the newest blends of Johnnie Walker’s collaboration with HBO.  But make sure to RSVP before you go or you’ll be iced out.  Get it?  Iced out?  No?  Okay.  Go to www.jwiceandfire.com to RSVP.

A TRICK OF LIGHT: Stan Lee’s Alliances

One of the late, great Stan Lee’s creative works before his death, A Trick of Light is an adult novel, co-authored by Kat Rosenfeld, and the first installment into a brand new universe.  It “explores the deeply complex relationship between technology and humanity.” The book will be promoted at the “Building a New Universe with Stan Lee” panel on Friday from 5:30p-6:30p, followed by a book signing.

This is just a small taste of what’s to come at NYCC.  I’ve already carved out my days, with Saturday being my busiest one.  This time, however, I’m not going to kill myself to get to everything.  I’m being strategic about what I see, the panels and special events I attend and the vendors who’ll be taking my money (I’m coming for you, Design by Hümans).  Instead of exhausting myself to get to everything, I’m going to show up when I want and enjoy the things I want to enjoy the most.

See you guys there!

  I’M BAAAAAACKKK!! Hi All! Guess who's back??  It is I, you're friendly neighborhood book lover.  The month off did me some good. 

[gjgriff736]

See you in October!

See you in October!

Hi All!

So now that we’re at the end of August, I’m going to take a month off from posting to enjoy this last bit of Summer.  But don’t fret, I’ll be back just in time for New York Comic Con, new book events and other fun book-related things to gush over.  There are so many great books being published this Fall and I want to be refreshed and ready for everything.

I’ll be ready to roll on October…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

What Happened That Night - Deanna Cameron

What Happened That Night – Deanna Cameron

Author: Deanna Cameron Rating:  4.2 Stars Publication Date: September 17, 2019 More Info Author Bio Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Griffin Tomlin was the golden boy of his town.  Smart, handsome, funny, athletic.  What we would call an “All-American Boy.”  But one night, the town is shocked to learn that Griffin has been murdered.  Even more shocking?  He was killed by the neighbor…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

House of Salt & Sorrows - Erin A. Craig

House of Salt & Sorrows – Erin A. Craig

Author: Erin A. Craig Rating:  4.5 Stars Publication Date: August 6, 2019 More Info Author Bio Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

In her retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Erin A. Craig takes readers to the sea and beyond as we try to solve the mystery of the Thaumas sisters.

The Duke of the Salann Islands is having a hard time.  More than a hard time, he is…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

Girls of Storm and Shadow - Natasha Ngan

Get ready because @girlinthelens has written an amazing sequel to Girls of Paper and Fire! Girls of Storm and Shadow - Natasha Ngan

Author: Natasha Ngan Rating:  4.7 Stars Publication Date: November 5, 2019 More Info Author Bio Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

When I tell you that I did a happy dance at the post office when I received an advance copy of Girls of Storm and Shadow, believe me.  I truly did because I was so excited to read the next chapter in Lei’s and Wren’s story.

Lei and Wren have escaped the…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

How We Fight For Our Lives - Saeed Jones

How We Fight For Our Lives – Saeed Jones

Author: Saeed Jones Rating:  5 Stars Publication Date: October 8, 2019 More Info Author Bio Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Whenever I see a memoir being published about someone who hasn’t even hit 50 yet, I’m always skeptical.  Not because I don’t think the life of the person hasn’t been interesting, but because I wonder how much life that person has actually experienced at such a…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

Pet - Akwaeke Emezi

Pet – Akwaeke Emezi

Author: Akwaeke Emezi Rating:  5 Stars Publication Date: September 10, 2019 More Info Author Bio Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

“Listen to me, little girl,” it said. “You want many things, you are full of want, carved out of it, made from it, yes. But the truth does not care about what you want, the truth is what is is. It is not moved by want, it is not a blade of grass to be bent…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

The Water Dancer - Ta-Nehisi Coates

Author: Ta-Nehisi Coates Rating:  5 Stars Publication Date: September 24, 2019 More Info Author Bio Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

The Quality, for instance, did not inquire on the inner workings of their “people.” They knew our names and they knew our parents. But they did not knowus. They had no notion of our ultimate aims and desires. They were entranced by our songs, but they…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I had the absolute pleasure of attending the book launch for Daniel Day’s aka Dapper Dan’s new memoir, Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem.    Held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, fans of Harlem’s own came to hear his story. Being all at once gregarious, thoughtful and downright hilarious, Dapper Dan turned his talk into a can’t-miss event.

The book launch, moderated by the amazing Elaine Welteroth, was like attending a family function. Ms. Welteroth took her extensive experience and genuine poise to make the audience feel like each attendee was home, which was apparent as soon as she asked her first question. And it definitely showed when Dapper Dan answered. He was engaging, funny, thoughtful and had story upon story about what it was like growing up in Harlem and becoming the man he is today. He talked of his time as a gambler, an entrepreneur and what being a life-long reader has done to change and better his life.

After his talk, Dapper Dan took some great questions from the audience, which only enhanced an already wonderful event. Many asked very poignant and intriguing questions, with the last one drawing reactions from the crowd, including myself. Afterwards, both Dapper Dan and Ms. Welteroth took the time to pose for photos, with the former signing copies of his book. Had I not needed to head out to my regular job, I would have stayed to add his autograph to my collection. I did, however, stay long enough to purchase from the Greenlight Bookstore kiosk both his book and Ms. Welteroth’s (titled More than Enough), which I will write about later this Summer.

Make sure to check BAM’s calendar of events, which includes the Unbound book series in collaboration with Greenlight Bookstore, as well as dance, film and special events. Click here for more information.

Photos courtesy of NayMarie Photography.

Unbound – Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem Book Launch I had the absolute pleasure of attending the book launch for Daniel Day’s aka Dapper Dan’s new memoir, …

[gjgriff736]

Watch Room

Watch Room: When AI Goes Wrong (But Not The Way You Think) @watchdust

Hello, my dear readers!  It’s finally Summer, the weather has taken a turn for the better and it’s been sunny skies since the beginning of the solstice.  Time for beaches, rooftop bars and, of course, Summer films.

I had the pleasure of viewing a short film called Watch Roomand I had to take the time to tell all of you about it.  It’s pretty trippy and will have you thinking about things after…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

Dapper Dan at BAM

I know it hasn’t been that long since I announced my hiatus while the site is being overhauled, but I had to take a break from everything to let you know that Harlem’s very own Dapper Dan will be releasing a memoir, titled Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem, the book we didn’t know we needed about his extraordinary life.

On July 10, Daniel Day aka Dapper Dan will grace us with his presence at the…

View On WordPress

[gjgriff736]

Book Minded Mag is on Instagram!!!

Hi all!!  Yes, I know you’ve missed me. The feeling is mutual!!  But fear not, because Book Minded Mag is on Instagram. I’ve already posted my thoughts on N.K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy and the photo is AWFUL. But I’ll get better, I promise. Just bear with me.

My new logo is on the Instagram profile and I LOVE it. You’ll see it once the website has been overhauled. Until then, head on over to…

View On WordPress