TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

4/16/2024 What new-to-you authors have you enjoyed in the past 12 months?

Ok so last year was the read of re-reads and Dare, and other ones I had read before, so not really any new authors that blew my mind. 

Josh Malerman, so scary!

Janet Fitch, I really need to try other books by her

CL Polk. Fun and I need to try book 2

4/23/2024 TBR Update: How is your list coming along?

4/30/2024 Social Media: Where can you be found these days?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole´s Monday: Godzilla x Kong

Title: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Length: 1h 55 m

Released: 2024

Genre:  Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Comedy
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Movie theater

SUMMARY:

Two ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull Island's mysteries.

Trailer

REVIEW:

I am such a sucker for Godzilla. Love that beasty. I've never been a huge Kong fan (there's something about monkeys and gorillas that I'm meh about). I missed the Kong movie and the last time these two shared the screen. However, I was assured that you could watch this fine without watching those two movies. 

Here we follow a group of humans trying to keep the peace between all the titans and the humans. Things start to bubble up (literally) and it's time to take action. There is something dark heading to the surface. They will have to try and get Kong and Godzilla to join forces. Yikes. 

Oh Godzilla! Love you! But we did spend more time with Kong here...and suprisingly....I wasn't mad about it. Kong actually had a storyline. He feels so alone since he thinks he's the last of his kind, but low and behold...he learns more. His knowledge quest, though, will unlock some secrets that could destroy the fragile peace. He'll need help from the humans and enemy...Godzilla. 

The people were right and you can def watch this film without the knowledge of the past movies. They give you JUST enough info to be all, "Ah. Okay. Fair enough" and keep watching on. 

Yes, we get to see Godzilla, but he isn't doing much besides kicking ass of other titans (don't worry they are baddies) and getting ready for the battle. Godzilla doesn't know what's coming, but he can feel it and he hears a call in the air warning and asking for his help. Love it, but yes, not much story there so we only get to Godzilla for a little bit until the big battle. 

WHICH I had more hope for that big battle. It seemed the baddie wasn't THAT bad on his own. He just has a secret weapon, but without that weapon. Meh. Weakling. 

This was loads of fun even the human stories! Whaaaa?! I know crazy. I actually cared about this group of humans and their part in the story! 

OOOOO! That twist melted my wee little heart. I was so excited to see a certain character!!!! Didn't see that coming!!!

TBH...I'm now curious to backtrack and watch the Kong movie and the previous Kong/Zilla films. This Kong isn't too shabby. He has personality and I was intrigued. Wow.....is this creator making me LIKE Kong? Past Carole is shocked and shook. 

All-in-all....this was fun. I enjoyed it. Beautiful CGI and I loved all facets of the story. The humans, Zilla, and Kong. I'll always be a Godzilla Gal, but I can appreciate Kong a little more. Strange when a movie can change your opinion a bit ;) 5 stars from me. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Exciting

Audio. Only this Beautiful moment by Abdi Nazemian

By: Abdi Nazemian

Narrated by: Vikas Adam, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Iman Nazemzadeh

Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins

Release date: 05-09-23

Publisher: HarperAudio

YA fiction / from storytel.fi

I liked the other one I listened to by Nazemian, so I decided to try another one. It was a good one, but I did feel at the ending that I wanted more. Like now what? What happened next? Is there hope?

This is a book about 3 generation. Bobby whose mother is trying to make him a star. He is gay in a time that that certainly is not accepted. Then we have Saaeed who has to flee Iran because he took part in demonstrations. You know when they thought they made it better and they made it even worse. He did not even know that he has a grandmother living in LA and that she is American. Then there is Moud. Who is gay in a time when it is certainly more accepted, but he is going to Iran, where is so is not accepted. He will visit his dying grandfather (whose secrets he does not know.)

I think I would have liked to see Bobby actually go to Iran. And maybe more about Saeed later on. And def what Moud does afterwards. The book ends when they are all still in Iran and I just want to know that everything works out. Nothing says it will not, but yes I could have listened to more. I was so invested in these lives.

There were 3 narrators, and yes I chose the book too partly cos one of the narrators. I just really like his voice.

Moud is an out gay teen living in Los Angeles with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud gets the news that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, where the revelation of family secrets will force Moud into a new understanding of his history, his culture, and himself. 1978. Saeed is an engineering student with a promising future ahead of him in Tehran. But when his parents discover his involvement in the country's burgeoning revolution, they send him to safety in America, a country Saeed despises. And even worse--he's forced to live with the American grandmother he never knew existed. 1939. Bobby , the son of a calculating Hollywood stage mother, lands a coveted MGM studio contract. But the fairy-tale world of glamour he's thrust into has a dark side. Set against the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the fragile bonds of family, the hidden secrets of history, and all the beautiful moments that make us who we are today.

Audiobook: Christmas and other horrors

By: Ellen Datlow - editor

Narrated by: Carrie Coello, Andrew J. Andersen

Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins

Release date: 03-19-24

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Horror/short stories/to review

A lot of short stories. All about different things too. We have Xmas, we have solstice, Hannukah. Lots of winter holidays, and lots of different monsters that show up. I still think those Austrian ones were the creepiest.

Some were better, some were meh, but that is the thing with an anthology. Some were not scary at all, some had some horror in them. Though none made me look at the window in fear.

But I do like short stories in audio. I really do. They work so well, a fast listen and on to the next one.

It was the same narrator, but I was so immersed in the stories that I didn´t really think about it. So she did well there. Same with the man.

"The Importance of a Tidy Home" by Christopher Golden:

A creepy tale about what happens if you have not cleaned your house before xmas.

"The Ones He Takes" by Benjamin Percy:

A sad xmas turns into a happy ones and then horror

"His Castle" by Alma Katsu:

I liked this one. A little twist to what happens in Wales on xmas

"The Mawkin Field" by Terry Dowling:

I am not really syre if I understood this one fully, I think, but, what? Not scary either

"The Blessing of the Waters" by Nick Mamatas

Another not scary one about a runaway inmate and blessed waters

"Dry and Ready" by Glen Hirshberg:

It took me a while to get it, but yes no eerie feels here before the boom at the end

"Last Drinks at Bondi Beach" by Garth Nix:

I liked this one. I wondered about a few things. It could have been longer. Never scary though

"Return to Bear Creek Lodge" by Tananarive Due:

I wondered about things here too. Like wtf was that thing? I want to know

"The Ghost of Christmases Past" by Richard Kadrey:

I had no idea where this was going, and it went dark

"Our Recent Unpleasantness" by Stephen Graham Jones:

This just had me confused what was happening.

"All the Pretty People" by Nadia Bulkin:

Kind of wanted more blood

"Löyly Sow-na" by Josh Malerman:

A story set in Finland, and all in the sauna. No xmas feels here. Just some wood demons I know nothing about

"Cold" by Cassandra Khaw:

I managed to fall asleep to it twice

"Gravé of Small Birds" by Kaaron Warren:

Same with this one, I feel asleep twice. Dunno why

"The Visitation" by Jeffrey Ford:

Interesting one. Creepy ending

"The Lord of Misrule" by M. Rickety:

A slow start, then it turned creepier

"No Light, No Light" by Gemma Files:

Could have been better

"After Words" by John Langan:

Confusing, but meant to be so

The winter solstice is celebrated as a time of joy around the world—yet the long nights also conjure a darker tradition of ghouls, hauntings, and visitations. This anthology of all-new stories invites you to huddle around the fire and revel in the unholy, the dangerous, the horrific aspects of a time when families and friends come together—for better and for worse.

From the eerie Austrian Schnabelperchten to the skeletal Welsh Mari Lwyd, by way of ravenous golems, uncanny neighbors, and unwelcome visitors, Christmas and Other Horrors captures the heart and horror of the festive season.

Because the weather outside is frightful, but the fire inside is hungry . . .