Just A Potato

Just some bite-sized pieces of good old-fashioned, unasked-for, semi-criticism from an unqualified nobody. Home to snippets that reflect little to no experience with writing, combined with a savory blend of zero talent and a sprinkle of some horrendous grammar errors. Read at your own risk of being offended by unpopular and popular opinions alike. And feel inspired to do a little of your own criticizing, because it's never fun if everybody likes everything.

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I guess who I am is exactly the same as you are. Not better than. Not less than. Because there is no one who has been or will be exactly the same as either you or me.

Sense 8, S2E2

I need a season 3 and I need it now. This is my third time rewatching this series. I experience the same amount of sadness each time when I get to season 2 knowing that it comes to an end. @netflix it’s not too late! <3

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Malice by Heather Walter

I will admit that I discarded this book just as quickly as I picked it up. However, my boyfriend convinced me to give it more of a chance, and I'm so grateful he did. The story as a whole is absolutely stunning. The character development alone is magic within itself. I love reading a villain origin story, and that is truly what this book is. Inspired by sleeping beauty, this story takes on a life of its own, separate and whole and beautiful. There were times that I wanted the main character, Alyce, to break. I wanted to see her take her revenge.

Despite thinking that the writing was amazing I will say that it has a very young feel to it that I wasn't expecting. YA books aim, from my understanding, at an audience between 13-18 years old. I would say that this book leans more towards the younger end of the spectrum, something that I was a little disappointed by. Then, it has a sudden sex scene thrown into the mix. I question its purpose and existence at all amongst the younger-audience-vibe that I was getting through the writing itself. Most YA books gloss over those scenes but this one gave much detail, not that I personally minded.

Another half annoyance is the romance. It doesn't take front stage, it's not all consuming, which I loved. Without a romance that takes up all the oxygen, Alyce and her character, along with the plot, grew and twisted and became extraordinary. Throughout the story we get hints of jealousy, all from Alyce, but we don't really get those from Aurora. It seems like all she wants is friendship. Yes, there is interest from her behalf, but nothing that I thought was leaning towards the romance that I knew was coming. And then... The kiss.

The kiss changes everything. Suddenly their love is all consuming: fast, hot, steamy, and the driving force for the rest of the story. It even convinces Aurora to rescue Alyce from the dungeons of the king. I wonder if it will be enough when she wakes and finds what Alyce has done to Briar. Will love conquer all, as it always seems to do? Or will this be a different type of fairy tale, the twisted villainous one we were promised? I honestly don't know what I hope for. Does she deserve a happy ending, or does she get handed what every villain before has been dealt, defeat? I think maybe somewhere in the middle will be good.

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The Devil’s Thief by Lisa Maxwell

When I read the first book in this series I loved it. You don't find a lot of stories with a time-traveling thief and a bonus magical element. I love the original storytelling and I thought the first installment in this series was absolutely beautiful. I was captured within the bounds of the brink right alongside the characters. I felt their need and drive to escape, to be free. When I finished "The Last Magician" I was even more excited to start the second. Honestly, right from the beginning, the writing just felt a little off. It doesn't have the same read as the first. Besides that, the story was a little slow and sluggish. I often wanted to skip sections, something I refuse to do. Perhaps it was the addition of the multiple POV's or the constant switch between different timelines. I also felt frustrated with Esta as she seemed to deviate from the main objective of their mission, to collect the stones and change the future. At times I even questioned if the story was planned. It has a very reactive and bumbling flow that seems disjointed with an ending that doesn't seem like an ending at all. Instead, If feels like Lisa Maxwell was writing, realized that she had almost hit 700 pages, and decided to split it. As to whether the third book is worth the read, I do not yet know. Maxwell left enough questions and loose ends that leave the reader wondering what happens next. Whether that "need to know" is a burning need, is a question within itself. I Think Lisa Maxwell is a terrific writer and I will be taking a look at her other books, but I can't help to think that "The Devil's Thief" could've been so much more.

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Its private little alcove of sunshine ☀️

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Raya and the Last Dragon

This movie was unbelievably cute. Maybe it was just the thrill of being in a movie theatre for the first time in over a year that made it almost magical. It felt as if I had broken out of prison and was taking a deep breath of fresh freedom-filled air. Also, the entire movie was made from the personal studios of each animator’s home. An impressive feat.   

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Rewatch

Do you like to rewatch movies? I’ve very recently gone on a rewatch bender. Anything from the classic Disney movies to 50 First Dates. They just make me feel so cozy and comfortable. 

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Stephenie Meyer- Midnight Sun

So, I don’t know how hard the Twilight fandom is faring these days. Is there still a huge following? I know I’ve talked about prequels in the recent past, especially concerning the recent addition by Suzanne Collins, but this is some next level stuff here. I don’t know how to feel about what is happening. I enjoyed the initial series enough to reread it in my youth, but I’ve always had a distaste for unnecessary additions. Midnight Sun, to be released in 6 days, is a retelling of our classic vampire romance from the POV of Edward Cullen. Is it worthy enough to be read? In the synopsis it tells of an unknown past that reveals Edward’s inward struggles infused with hints of dark secrets and forbidden love (which we already know the ending of) , but the question that needs to be asked is: do we care?

Have any of you read her other remaking of this romance, Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined? I didn’t even know about its existence until yesterday. I’d rather see a completely new vampire romance from Stephenie Meyer than the same story being beaten well past its death. 

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The Great

“Ever since I was a child, I felt like greatness was in store for me. A great life, I felt. Like God himself had spat me forth to land on this Earth and in some way transform it. That I was here for a reason, a purpose."

“Why did he make you a woman then?”

“For comedy, I guess.”  

- The Great: S1E1

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The Kissing Booth 2

Just saw the trailer for this piece of “insert wording of your own choice.” This is a huge pile of heaping cheesy garbage…trash. And do you know what, do you know what the worse part is… I’m here for it. Will I watch it? I hate my own answer to this self-posed question. Will I like it? I already know I won’t.

In a more serious tone. This is being put out into the world. Like, I’m old enough to know that this is not it. This is not how high school, or relationships should be, but would I know that if I werrrreee…say… a 12-year-old girl fantasizing about her own potential high school romance.

Firstly, a lot of emphasis is put on Elle’s body throughout the movie…like, a lot. It’s arguably the catalyst of the whole thing. The movie starts with Noah pointing out her boobs, which she then feels like she has to cover while Lee and Noah both laugh about it. Then, there’s the whole fighting scene outside the school, there’s the locker scene, and the beach scene (can’t remember which came first). All of it is centered around Elle’s body and how it “developed” and “changed” over the summer. There’re so many issues that I could go and on about and this could easily turn into an essay based solely off the fight outside of the school, and how Elle got punished for it. Then, with no self-respect, she agrees to go out with said guy. Like, ughhhh, this should not be acceptable. And they spin it like she agreed to the date because nobody else had asked her out. She sacrificed her respect so that she could…what? Hit a milestone? Say she’d been asked out? Go on a date with a moron? Seems to me like she was pressured by the timeless construct of a woman’s worth being based off the approval of men. Is that just me, am I being harsh? Am I looking too much into it?  

Secondly, if you like your best friend’s brother just be upfront about it. Like, fuck-it, talk to your friend about it, especially if you established a rule between you two not to date each other’s siblings. I promise you, it’s not that big of a deal. It may seem like it, but once you get older you realize stuff like that doesn’t even matter. Say something before it’s too late. What’s the worse that could happen if you tell your friend that you like their brother? You stop being friends? At that point, sounds like you need a new one anyway. Elle… this is a hint that Lee is a big whiny baby.

Thirdly, the triple-mean-girl-threat, that’s so often portrayed in high school, is getting old. Really, really old. Give me some originality please. God, I’m thirsty for it. Did anybody really have that going on in their school? I’m genuinely curious because this wasn’t a real thing in my high school.

I love a cheesy romance movie. Nothing against the gooey, hallmark feel, but can we have something different. Like, as a reconstruction, I would’ve liked the pool/boob scene to go like this… Noah pointed out her boobs, Elle said something snarky and/or sarcastic like “never seen a pair before?” or looked down and said, “Oh, shit, you’re right. I hadn’t noticed.” or even better is the clueless approach to make the other person feel uncomfortable, “what do you mean?” Then, if Lee just had to jump in, he should’ve been defensive, not laughed and said whatever shit he spewed about her hormones. Bleh.

Then, the skirt scene that follows should’ve gone something like this. The pants ripping was fine, the short skirt idea was okay, but did the skirt have to be so severely short that you could literally see her underwear. It was so exaggerated that I think the only reason we didn’t see her vagina is because of the cuts and angles of the scene. With the skirt so short, it makes it hard for at least some of the audience to not be like, “okay, well she shouldn’t have worn a skirt that short.” No, no, no. I agree, it’s school, you shouldn’t have to see someone’s underwear, girl or boy, as they walk around, but they could’ve had the same issue with a skirt that was too short but not, ‘I feel a breeze on my bare ass cheeks’ short. Then, because it’s a cheesy movie, Noah coming to her rescue is alright, but the conversation that follows is just awful, just plain cringy. That should’ve been altered to something like “women should be respected.”, “he had no right to lay hands on you no matter what you were wearing.”, “that should’ve never happened”, “I know you could have probably handled the situation yourself”. This would’ve made him more likable, like her crush on him was justified beyond his outward attractive appearance.

After finding out that Lee wasn’t gay, I think I would’ve liked to have seen a love triangle. We come to find out that Noah has had a crush on Elle for who knows how long, but it would’ve been cool to find out that the reason for rule 9 (is that the right number, idk) is that Lee also had a crush on Elle (was this hinted in the second trailer or am I just too hopeful?). I think at the kissing booth, with Elle blindfolded, they could have had Elle kiss them both without the firework explosion, or whatever they had going on in the background when her and Noah kissed. Could’ve done without that to be honest. Then, Elle, unaware that she kissed Lee, continues with her crush towards Noah. And Lee, poor poor Lee, tries to win her over, unsuccessfully, because she is secretly with Noah and she can’t see that her BFF is the one for her. Then, *gasp*, instead of Lee getting angry when he finds out that Elle and Noah are together, he’s sad and we come to find out that he knew the whole time. Then he spontaneously kisses Elle, and Elle realizes that she likes him too, recognizing that his was the amazing kiss she had the night of the kissing booth. Noah sees the kiss, they lock eyes, and then the movie ends. Cliffhanger established. Boom. Not entirely original with the well-established play on the love triangle, but I would’ve eaten that cheesy garbage up. And it looks like that’s the direction they decided to go for the second movie anyways.

What changes would you guys have liked to have seen in the first movie, and what are your predictions for the second?  

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The Lovebirds

I thought this movie was so funny, although everyone falls on a different level when it comes to the comedic spectrum, so some might think the jokes “lame” or “flat” or “used”. The movie was easy to follow, one of those types that you don’t have to do much thinkin’ with. Overall, I thought it was cute, mixed with just the right amount of inappropriateness that most often accompanies a good comedy. The movie is perfect for Netflix, which offers just the right place for those that just don’t have one in theaters. I’d say this is a good one Netflix.   

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People, I picked this book back up after not reading it for awhile and let me tell you, I’m completely lost in the storyline. I also found out there’s a movie that’s considered a “cult classic.” It looks amazingly overdramatic and borderline comedic. Where has this gem been hiding👀

Have you read or watched this cult classic?

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Walk on Earth a Stranger- Rae Carson

I bought this book on kindle. Honestly, I was enticed by the pretty cover in combination with my latest book trope obsession, girls forced to disguise themselves as boys. I love this trope and I find it’s getting increasingly more difficult to find adequate character development and an overall good storyline to accompany it. The reason must be solid, and I feel that this book accomplishes that...

The MC, Lee Westfall, has the special ability to sense gold, so when her parents are murdered she decides to pack up her life and make the trek to California during a time that becomes known as the gold rush. Simultaneously, she is escaping her dangerous/evil uncle, who is after her for her witchy gold sensing abilities. To travel the road alone, she cuts her hair and dons the disguise of a boy, both to make travel easier and escape notice from her uncle’s men.  

The book was a little slow. I can admit that, but it kept me engaged enough to read it mostly in one sitting, which is saying more than other books that I’m currently trying to get through. I think the author could’ve spiced up the conflict in the storyline a little bit. There were some robbers and deaths along the way, as well as some close calls with her getting discovered, all things to be expected. Although, I was waiting for a little more of something to happen. I suppose some of this could be contributed to the type of storyline this book follows— a long walk across the country can get a little monotonous in description.

In the end, I loved the book, at least enough to buy a physical copy because digital doesn’t cut it sometimes. Does anybody else do that? Buy a book on kindle because you want to read it right in that moment, but then if you enjoy it, buying a physical copy because nothing beats the feeling of holding the actual book in your hand? No? Just me?

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the half of it

I don’t know the appropriate timeline that one would deem worthy the usage of the word “recent,” but I think this Netflix Original fits underneath that cap. This movie, The Half of It, has a coming-of-age feel, which I suppose was the purpose. It follows a young high school senior who is hired to write love letters for a popular jock, who in turn is trying to win over the girl of his dreams. The movie was alright, it has some average representation while also shining a slight light on differing sexual orientations. 

I thought the plot was ‘ehh.’ It was on the same level as other movies, such as After (I don’t know if those are fighting words) and The Kissing Booth, which has a second part being released on July 24th of this year (was it deserved…I’m unsure). I’m not too keen on giving ratings, like star-wise ratings. I’m just here, sharing my opinion with noncommittal onamonapia-like reactions. Overall, I think this movie is a ‘bleh,’ or maybe a ‘hmm.’

I believe movies, and how good they’re perceived, are about how they make a person feel. This movie just didn’t cut it for me, but you may feel differently. Let me know.

>Last minute thoughts: I don’t like how they went with the stereotype of the “stupid” jock. He could’ve been smart and still needed help with writing his love letter while simultaneously, or even coincidentally, being a football player.        

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Prequels

Do you like prequels? For me, they leave a bland taste on the tongue, like eating stale chips. I’ve always had mixed feelings towards them. I’ve read a couple, none that I can name off the top of my head and zero that I know I’ve aptly enjoyed. I think the quality of a prequel is determined based on whether there’s a story that needs telling. In my opinion, I think the answer is almost always no. Most of the time you already know where that person’s story concludes, so why go back and tell an earlier one that will only lend to further the character’s development and lead them to an already disclosed ending.

Does anybody else have strong opinions on prequels? What about Suzanne Collins’s new book, The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, a prequel that revisits Panem from the world of Coriolanus Snow. Is it worth the read?  

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Reads

Like most avid readers I have a nice assortment of books sitting beside my bed and lining my shelves just waiting to be opened. And even more commonly, I find myself looking for more books to add to my collection before I come close to finishing my current stack. It’s not my fault, as I’m sure many of you can relate to. It’s a healthy addiction of sorts, finding pretty covers that pair nicely with the perfect words— when a book isn’t just a pretty face. It’s how I imagine sommeliers, wine stewards, feel as they expertly complement food with wine. My current bedside book-dresser is assembled of the following…

- Different seasons by Stephen King

- The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter  

- Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger: This book reminds me of The Golden Compass, at least the beginning chapters do.

- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (shamefully covering my face as I admit that I’m reading this series for the first time- who else out there never read Harry Potter growing up?”)

- We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal    

I’m not going to officially label this as a TBR list because that feels like I would be putting unnecessary pressure into an unofficial deadline. Most of the time I get distracted and will read, and finish, other books that I never even planned on. It happens more often than I like to admit. Reading is spontaneous like that, forcing oneself to read a book, which can be the most fantabulous book in the world, is the quickest way to boredom. Sometimes one just isn’t in the mood for certain genres/tropes.