Lena’s Comments (group member since Nov 17, 2014)

Lena’s comments from the Spells, Space & Screams: Collections & Anthologies in Fantasy, Science Fiction, & Horror group.

They have been surprisingly brutal. I have not finished the third yet but my general opinion is (view spoiler)[she should have been sacrificed. (hide spoiler)]

The first season of Jack Ryan is good.

Stewart does look like Diana in a few angles but often it’s more Jodie Foster. We’ll see about the accent, the actress from the Crown said the trick was to always end on the down so that you sounded sad even if you weren’t.

Tilda Swinton either landed a chilling horror movie or an indie wet blanket: https://youtu.be/PDU6B93ltds

60% in. While I’m glad the story made a desperate pilgrimage back to NYC it has fast forwarded eight years and our MC is a “functional” drug addict, professional antiques grifter (thief). and obsessive creep. It’s disappointing. I feel like he’s a bomb that’s going to go off in everyone’s life.

Fear Street Movie Marathon tonight!
Netflix
7PM Central Standard Time (TX time)
Scary Movie Club: https://discord.gg/PEdeP9c9

In a ballsy move Kristen Stewart is Diana Spencer: https://youtu.be/q7nprMVO54A

The Goldfinch was beautiful writing, a story where you could hear classical music playing in the background. Then the location changed to Las Vegas. It’s been reduced to white trash adventures, I can smell the stale beer.

Glad you stuck it out Fiona. I thought Mexican Gothic would have been better as a short story. Remember she edited Fungi?

Mr. Olyphant was perfect for the role Melanie 😉

I think I have time for one last tome - The Goldfinch, 2014’s Pulitzer Prize. Come to me big momma!

A Cup of Salt Tears by Isabel Yap ★★★☆☆
This felt something like a Japanese version of Mrs. Caliban. Short and tame but interesting.

The Hanging Game by Helen Marshall DNF
That’s in the nope pile.

The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere by John Chu ★★★☆☆
A coming out story in a world where no one can lie.

Done with Miracle Creek! It ended well but it was graft getting there: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Spider & Strange Together Again: https://youtu.be/b8gw1JEYE00

About Faries by Pat Murphy ★★★☆☆
“Cats have theories. Every cat owner knows that.”
A painful slice of life where work, fantasy, and personal tragedy blend into one story.

Next up is Miracle Creek, 2020s Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

It’s slow, and the MC was not a favorite, but the reveal is cool.

“… I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.”
Which immediately reminded me of my favorite non-Clancy Cold War movie, Company Business: https://youtu.be/IRtUHE_CVo0

Elephants and Corpses by Kameron Hurley ★★★½☆
In a bleak, medieval and magical world a bodythief, and his apprentice, take on a cult. I nearly wept with Nev over the elephant, but they seemed the vengeful type and, happily, I was right.

I enjoyed Koko! It was a hard book to review though. I decided to take my time and give it character visuals in lieu of trying to find spoiler free depth.
Enjoy! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A five star first shot, that was great luck Fiona! I’m 90% done with Koko, it’s been awhile since I read a slow burn and I’m enjoying it. It’s almost slight of hand, you get to know and like the characters - then you find out what they did. But it’s too late, you still like them. Well, most of them.