2021 continues to be the year where I fall behind on updating the blog. This months’ culprit: I AM JUST ABOUT TO BUY A HOUSE Y’ALL! 😬
MOVIES & TV
Phantom of the Paradise
Phantom of the Paradise is a ridiculous, melodramatic, and very fun 1974 cult classic rock-opera retelling of Phantom of the Opera, directed by Brian De Palma. The story centers around Winslow Leach, a wide-eyed musician with a lot of talent but zero charisma, Swan (Paul Williams), a celebrity record producer with a cult-like following, and Phoenix, a young ingenue looking for her big break. When Swan hears part of the opera that Winslow is writing, he steals the music, frames Winslow for drug possession, and ruins his life. But Winslow manages to escape from prison and sets out to bring down Swan and finish writing his cantata for Phoenix to sing. The music in the film, written by Williams, is extremely catchy and the costuming and production design are quite memorable. Phantom of the Paradise does contain some tiresome gay stereotyping/caricatures, but the whole movie is so camp and ridiculous that it’s not a deal breaker.
Loki
There is still one episode left (airing next week), but unless Loki majorly drops the ball, i’d say it’s easily my favorite of the Disney+ Marvel shows. Loki has a stellar design and narrative aesthetic, reminiscent of Doctor Who, which works well for this cosmic story. Tom Hiddleston continues to be charismatic as heck and the supporting cast is great. This week’s penultimate episode “Journey into Mystery” was a particular favorite of mine.
Trixie Mattel and Katya
Instead of getting caught up on all the movies and shows I keep meaning to watch, I spent most of June enjoying UNHhhh, a youtube series hosted by drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya. Each episode has the two queens cattily chatting for 10-15 minutes about a very random assortment of topics. UNHhhh is wall-to-wall adult content, so be warned if that’s not your jam, but it constantly makes me laugh and Trixie and Katya play off each other extremely well.
I also watched a lot of Trixie’s solo channel in which she does drag makeup with guests, tries out cosmetics, discusses her (extensive) doll collection, and frequently tries to bake things using Easy Bake Ovens.
BOOKS
I had a hard time getting myself to sit down and read anything in May. Luckily I talked to a friend who has been reading a lot of “Cozy Mysteries” and it turns out that is exactly what I needed. I zipped through the first three books in Josh Lanyon’s Secrets and Scrabble series and they were the perfect combination of low-stakes mystery and by-the-numbers storytelling to get me back into a reading mood. Sometimes you just need the literary equivalent of a Murder She Wrote episode.
The Quiet House by Lily Morton
I loved Lilly Morton’s The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings when I read it last year and was delighted to discover that a second book in the series came out in March. This paranormal romance is about illustrator Levi and his psychic, ghost-tour-leading boyfriend Blue. In book 1, Levi inherits an extremely haunted house and ends up working with Blue to oust the evil spirits. In The Quiet House, the pair are in a committed relationship and taking the next step by moving in together. But right as the last box is carried into the house, an invitation arrives that pulls Levi and Blue into investigating another haunting, this time at an ancient manor house on the moors of Yorkshire. I am 100% a chicken nugget when it comes to scary stuff, so my spine was frequently tingled by the ghosts and spooky imagery in these books. I appreciate how strong Levi and Blue’s relationship is throughout the series and how hunting ghosts makes them fall deeper in love. (Paranormal Romance)
The Queer Principals of Kitt Webb by Cat Sebastian
Kitt, formerly an infamous highway bandit, has left his life of crime and is bored to death running his perfectly legal coffee shop. Powdered, wigged, and outlandishly fashionable aristocrat Percy needs help planning a heist to rob his dastardly father. It’s a perfect historical romance set-up. You’ve got crimes, revelations, sword-fights, disguises, escapes, and just desserts. Thank you Cat Sebastian. (Historical Romance)
Paladin’s Strength by T Kingfisher
You know those books that you are sad to finish because it means you have to stop spending time with a character or setting that you’ve fallen in love with? Paladin’s Strength was one of those books for me. The second entry in Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel series builds on the story that began with Paladin’s Grace, following another paladin from a disbanded group of holy warriors. This time that paladin is Istvhan, who is working as hired muscle for a convoy traveling through hostile territory. Not long into the journey he crosses paths with Clara, a nun in search of her recently kidnapped sisters. But Clara has a secret and there is more to Istvhan’s story than he’s letting on and then things get complicated.
I am constantly amazed how T. Kingfisher is able to create such engrossing stories about people walking from point A to point B. So many of the books in this fantasy universe involve convoys, road trips, or caravans and yet they all feel different and compelling. This story also works so well because Clara and Istvhan are wonderful characters; good people who are kind to each other, trying to do the right things. I was sad to leave them.
On that note, I want to include Istvhan’s first description of Clara here, because it really stuck with me:
“She was a big woman. Nearly as tall as he was, which put her well over six feet, with heavy breasts and belly, hips and thighs. Her shoulders were broad and she carried herself with the confidence of one who is used to being the most physically powerful person in the room.”
So many fantasy adventures have small, slim women heroes. For Clara to be big, both in height and body, really resonated with me. And this series being a fantasy romance, having a big strong hero falling in love with an equally big, strong woman was wonderful.
While I think you could enjoy this book on its own, it does build on some major points from Paladin’s Grace and references a couple of characters from Swordheart. Since I loved those books too, I’d recommend just reading everything T. Kingfisher has written just to be safe. (Fantasy Adventure/Romance)
ART
“Black Shuck”
“Devils Hole Pupfish”