End of the decade. Wow. 2019 had the usual news overload and intense frustration with world events, but also good things like paying off my student loan, finally seeing a production of Hamilton, getting a new tattoo, having a solo show that I am really proud of, adopting a hedgehog, traveling to Canada twice, and spending time with family and friends.
Here are some of my other favorite things from 2019. I liked a lot of stuff so this is going to be a long list.
MOVIES
Promare
A joyously kinetic, colorful, stylish AF anime about a mech-suited firefighter and his nemesis, a magic-fire-weilding terrorist/freedom fighter. It seems like every year there is one animated film that just takes over my brain and hits every pleasure center. There was Your Name in 2017, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse in 2018, and this year that honor goes to Promare. I was incredibly entertained and immediately obsessed.
Parasite
A gorgeously filmed story about class and family, Parasite stuck with me long after I left the theater. Bong Joon Ho’s film is full of unpredictable twists, tension, heartbreaking drama, and way more dark humor than I expected.
Knives Out
I had no idea this sly take on the murder mystery was going to be one of my favorites from the year, but here we are. This movie is FUN and I was grinning steadily the entire time.
JoJo Rabbit
I laughed, i ugly-cried, i loved this WWII satire from Taika Waititi. He has such a wonderful filmmaking voice and is able to combine biting humor and devastating tragedy into a single film that leaves you, somehow, with hope.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
A beautiful film about family (biological and chosen), identity, home, and gentrification. Last Black Man in San Francisco is a lyrical, drifty sort of movie that savors little moments and gives weight to things not usually celebrated. The cinematography and music are also excellent.
Yesterday
Yesterday follows a disheartened musician who wakes up to find the Beatles never existed and he’s the only person who remembers their music. The reviews for this one were rather mixed but I really liked it. It’s a kind, sweet movie with a charming cast and it made me happy.
Us
Us is the sort of weird, surreal horror that is right up my alley. A film filled with creepily beautiful imagery, a perfectly unsettling score, great performances, and a clever story I wanted t to experience again right away.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Legend of the Demon Cat
John Wick 3
One Cut of the Dead
TV
The Mandalorian
I loved this smaller Star Wars story about characters on the fringes of society who aren’t directly connected to the main story of the movies (so far at least). The western flavor of the show and the creature design really stand out and the finale was excellent. Plus I have huge crushes on Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano.
Schitt’s Creek
A wealthy family gets in trouble for not paying taxes and loses everything except for a small rural town that they bought as a joke many years earlier. With no other options, the parents (Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara) and their two adult children (Dan Levy and Annie Murphy) end up living in the town’s roadside motel and facing different humorous dilemmas each week. Typical sitcom fare for sure, which is greatly elevated by a stellar cast and smart writing. I adore this show and can’t wait to see the final season.
My Hero Academia
I started watching this “superhero high school” anime after seeing cute fan art on the internet and ended up really liking it. The show includes a lot of great characters and a strong underdog hero to root for.
What We Do In The Shadows
This excellent television adaptation (based on the film of the same name) moves the story of vampire roommates from New Zealand to Staten Island and features a new cast of characters but keeps the same style and dry, ridiculous humor.
Good Omens
A lovely adaptation of the Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman novel, carried strongly by David Tennant and Michael Sheen; the friendship and chemistry between the demon Crowly and the angel Aziraphale are the heart of the show. Plus, the production and costume design are great.
Fleabag
Fleabag is the incredibly funny and genuinely moving story of a woman (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) dealing with all sorts of emotional issues involving sex, family, depression, guilt, and loneliness. She shares her thoughts directly with the camera, so we become her confidant as she copes with various adventures and dramas. At the end of the final episode I was literally laughing and crying at the same time.
Barry
A bizarre blend of comedy and very dark drama that somehow works. The show follows a hitman (Bill Hader) who discovers a passion for acting and tries to balance his life as a murderer-for-hire with his desire to attend theatre classes and be on stage. Hader is such a charming actor that you naturally root for him, which makes this show emotionally complicated and occasionally unpleasant because Barry does some really bad things. Luckily that darkness is balanced with outstanding comedy and sharp writing.
GAMES
Control
Control took me a little while to get in to but ended up being my game of the year. The story takes place in The Oldest House, the logic-defying headquarters of The Bureau of Control, an organization that contains and investigates other-worldly objects and occurrences: a teleporting rubber ducky, a traffic light that stops time, a refrigerator that eats people, etc. You play as Jesse, who is trying to find her missing brother and ends up at the bureau right after an extra-dimensional evil has taken over the staff and the building. To combat this evil (called The Hiss) Jesse gets a very strange gun and a bunch of supernatural powers like telekinesis and levitation. Control was a blast to play, with really smooth controls that constantly made me feel like a bad-ass. Definitely one of the most original games I have played in a while.
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is basically Fallout in space (and I mean that in a good way). Your character was part of a lost space colony ship and has been cryogenically frozen for way too long. A mad scientist discovers the ship and is able to revive you but needs help saving everyone else. Thus begins a grand, colorful space adventure with entertaining quests, cool monsters, and a motley crew of companions. It’s the sort of game where you tell yourself “ok, just one more mission” and then it’s 3 a.m. and you’re no longer sure what day it is. I also really appreciate that the game isn’t excessively long - I tend to get overloaded when given too many side quests and locations to visit because I feel like I have to do everything. I did all the quests I wanted to do in Outer Worlds and it took me about 40 hours which seemed just right.
Prey
I had been meaning to play Prey for quite a while and finally found time for it in 2019. An art-deco space station is taken over by aliens and it’s up to scientist Morgan Yu to make things right. The game is full of beautiful, haunting locations that are incredibly fun to explore and, despite having a more-or-less silent protagonist, Prey manages to tell a really interesting story through the environment, well acted non-player characters, and various emails and audio-logs you find along the way. If you like creative first person stealth/action/shooter games, put this one on your list.
Jedi: Fallen Order
Jedi: Fallen Order is a Star Wars game that focuses on Cal Kestis, a padawan who survived Order 66 and has been in hiding ever since. When the empire discovers him, Cal goes on the run and joins forces (ha) with an ex-Jedi who is trying to rebuild the order. The game includes some fun new characters (especially Cal’s tiny droid companion BD and force-witch Merrin) and the force powers + lightsaber combat was very satisfying (once I dropped the difficulty more to my skill level). Plus, I think the game handles the Star Wars mythos/lore elements (particularly the immediate aftermath of Order 66) really well.
Wolfenstein: Young Blood
The levels felt a bit samey, the final boss was disproportionally difficult, and I wish the game leaned more into the 80s aesthetic, but that being said I loved Young Blood’s co-op option, the gameplay was well crafted, and the two main characters were great. So not my GOTY but still worth checking out, especially if you like the other recent Wolfenstein games (which I totally do).
Devil May Cry 5
This game is utterly ridiculous, doesn’t always make sense, and I loved it. In Devil May Cry 5 you play as three different demon hunters using bonkers swords, rad flips, demon buddies, and oversized firearms to kill monsters and stop an evil dude from destroying the world.
God of War 4
Despite my absolute loathing of the other GoW games, I ended up loving God of War 4. The game re-frames the previous installments’ violence and despicable main character in an interesting way. God of War 4 follows the recently widowed God of War Kratos and his young son as they set out on a quest through the universe of Norse gods. Throughout the game you are constantly hoping that Kratos does not impart his violence and anger onto his impressionable young son, a conflict which made for some very effective tension and an unexpected commentary on toxic masculinity. I had a couple of issues with some story elements, but overall GoW 4 was one of my favorites.
Donut County
A 90-minute puzzle game about a raccoon moving holes around which features a remarkably funny, engaging story and charming animation. A really great way to spend a few hours.
BOOKS
FICTION
Swordheart (T. Kingfisher)
Bryony and Roses (T. Kingfisher)
Minor Mage (T. Kingfisher)
Clockwork Boys / The Wonder Engine (T. Kingfisher)
My stand-out author discovery of 2019 was definitely T. Kingfisher (the pen name of Ursula Vernon). I loved these fantasy stories which combine great dialogue and characters with strong world building. Swordheart is a road-trip romance between a widow and a magic sword spirit; Bryony and Roses is a retelling of Beauty and The Beast with a very creepy mansion and gardening-based sorcery; Clockwork Boys and The Wonder Engine follow an assassin, a paladin, a scholar, and a forger on a quest to stop some really bad war machines; and Minor Mage (which was my favorite) is about a very young wizard and his very small armadillo companion trying to survive a dangerous adventure.
The Affair of the Mysterious Letter (Alexis Hall)
Alexis Hall is one of my favorite romance writers and he branches out a bit here with a weird, fun, and delightfully queer riff on Holmes and Watson, set in a world where basically everything exists: extra dimensional gods, time travel, multiple universes, magic, vampires, underwater cities, zombies, and more. The story follows Captain John Wyndham, who becomes roommates with the strange, eccentric, drug-fueled sorceress Shaharazad Haas and gets pulled into a series of adventures when Haas’ former flame enlists her help in solving a blackmail plot.
Good Omens (Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman)
Armageddon is at hand, the four horsemen have been summoned, the Antichrist is an 11-year-old boy, and a demon, an angel, a witch, and a novice witch-hunter join forces to save the world. Many years ago, my family and I listened to the Good Omens audiobook while on a road trip and I accidentally slept through a large portion of it. So I made a point to properly read it again this year. I’m a fan of both Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett and I really like this combined work. It’s silly, satirical, and smart; an all-round fun book full of memorable characters and clever writing.
The Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller)
The Song of Achilles is a re-imagining of the famous hero’s life, told from the point of view of Patroclus, Achilles’ companion and, in this version, his lover and dearest friend. Since the book is based on established mythology, you know from the start how tragically things will end. That could have been a hinderance but I felt it added emotional weight of the novel. I really like how Madeline Miller weaves the mythology and original elements together, making things matter more because they have backstory and depth.
Middlegame (Seanan McGuire)
This was by far the most mentally-strenuous book I read in 2019. Middlegame involves stories-within-stories, a non-linear plot with time shenanigans, and alchemy described through metaphor. The core story is about a man, created through alchemy, who is intent on gaining infinite power. His method for doing this is to break down the essence of the universe into two children - one who embodies math and one who embodies language. Middlegame follows the lives of these two “cuckoo” children, Roger and Dodger, who grow up on separate sides of the country but share a telepathic-ish bond. They find and lose each other many times throughout their lives but can’t escape their destiny. If you can get on board with this slow-burn, abstractly-structured story, I would definitely recommend Middlegame.
Wayward Son (Rainbow Rowell)
Wayward Son continues the adventures of Simon Snow (the former Chosen One wizard from Rowell’s Carry On) and his vampire boyfriend Baz, who are struggling to figure out their post-school life, keep their relationship together, and survive an impromptu and ill-planned road trip across America spearheaded by their know-it-all best friend Penny. I basically inhaled this book; it’s a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed that Rowell set a large portion of the story in Nebraska (where both she and I live) and wrote such a messy and surprisingly honest romance (about a be-winged wizard and a vampire).
ROMANCE
How to Belong with a Billionaire (Alexis Hall)
How to Belong with a Billionaire is the final installment in one of my all-time favorite romance series. The first book begins with lovable hot-mess Arden working at an Oxford phone-a-thon where he calls past graduates and asks them for donations to the school. When he dials the number of aloof billionaire Caspian Hart we get an adorable over-the-phone meet-cute which leads to attraction which leads to a misunderstanding and then an on-again off-again relationship which spans three books and is filled with passion, angst, drama, uncertainty, and dark pasts. In How to Belong…, Arden and Caspian finally get a happy ending, but it takes a lot of work to get there.
Any Old Diamonds (K.J. Charles)
Any Old Diamonds follows an illustrator (and disowned son of a Duke) who enlists the help of a jewel thief to exact revenge against his horrible father and equally horrible step-mother. I loved the romance that grew between these two characters and the twisty trajectory of the story as more history and secrets were revealed. A soul-soothing comfort book. K.J. Charles remains one of my favorite romance writers.
Ravensong (TJ Klune)
Ravensong is the second book in TJ Klune's angsty werewolf Green Creek series and focuses on the angry, tattooed witch Gordo as he pines for and rebuffs the love-of-his-life werewolf boyfriend who abandoned him many years ago. Plus evil werewolf hunters, intrigue, magic, bad dads, shapeshifter politics, smooching, FEELINGS, and melodrama.
A Duke in Disguise (Cat Sebastian)
A Duke in Disguise is the second in Cat Sebastian’s Regency Imposters series, but you don’t have to read them in order (this one actually takes place first). Our main characters are Verity, an anarchist newspaper publisher who has decided to print a steamy adult novel, and Ash, an engraver and long-time family friend, who she hires to do the illustrations. Oh, and Ash is secretly the lost heir to a dukedom.
Brazen and the Beast (Sarah MacLean)
I think Brazen takes the crown as my favorite Sarah MacLean book. I loved the two main characters and the romance built on equality and mutual respect. The hero, Whit (aka Beast), is a tough, gorgeous crime-lord-with-a-heart-of-gold who doesn’t talk much and has a ton of emotional baggage. The heroine, Hattie, is the very competent, chatty daughter of a shipping magnate who is determined to take charge of her life and the family business. The story contains a few more “passion-followed-by-misunderstanding” scenes for my taste but overall Brazen is a winner.
Red, White, and Royal Blue (Casey McQuiston)
The premise of this book sounds a lot like fan fiction (and it kind of feels that way in the beginning): the son of the first female president and his nemesis, the prince of England, are forced to feign a friendship for the press and end up falling in love. R, W, & RB was a little hard for me to get into at first due to some uneven writing and annoying name dropping, but once the story gets going and the relationship takes priority, I was totally on board. There are so many good angsty confrontations, swoony kisses, and really sweet lovey-dovey bits in this book. A fun escapist romance to take your mind off the world for a little while.
The Reluctant Royals series - A Princess in Theory / A Duke by Default / A Prince on Paper (Alyssa Cole)
If you enjoy modern romances, this series by Alyssa Cole is definitely worth checking out. What I love most about these books are the women; smart ladies who have actual lives, friendships, and jobs separate from their romances. I read an irritating succession of books this spring where the female characters had NO existence beyond their interaction with the dashing heroes. Barely any mention of their work, ambition, or dreams. So when I started A Princess in Theory and found a substantial amount of time dedicated to establishing the life, history, and science career of our main character, I was overjoyed. Princess follows Naledi, an epidemiologist who was raised in foster care and discovers that she was betrothed at birth to a dashing prince. A Duke by Default is about Naledi’s wayward friend Portia, who travels to Scotland for a sword-smithing internship and attempts to figure out her life while she’s falling in love with the gruff master sword-maker. A Prince on Paper features a charming sibling-to-royalty (but not a prince himself), a great non-binary character (whose coming out scene I re-read like four times), and a heroine who lacks world experience but never lacks self-worth or self-respect. These books are ridiculously fun and thoroughly entertaining.
ADDITIONAL ROMANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
Contemporary
Historical
Paranormal
GRAPHIC NOVELS / COMICS
Heartstopper (Alice Oseman)
A very sweet series of graphic novels/comic collections about two high-school boys forming a friendship and falling in love. Alice Oseman’s illustration style is lovely and expressive and adds so much to the story. Volume One follows the blossoming friendship/romance between Nick and Charlie and Volume Two focuses on Charlie trying to come to grips with his bisexuality and his fear of coming out.
My Brother’s Husband, Volume 2 (Gengoroh Tagame)
My Brother’s Husband is a two volume manga that follows a Japanese father who is forced to examine his biases and beliefs when his deceased brother’s Canadian husband comes for an extended visit. The story is sometimes sad but also really hopeful and genuinely made me cry at the end. Just sitting there crying on the couch. The art is beautiful and it is a wonderful series.
Cosmoknights (Hannah Templer)
The tagline for this graphic novel is “For this ragtag band of space gays, liberation means beating the patriarchy at its own game” which I think sums things up pretty well. Cosmoknights takes place in a futuristic space society that adheres to a bunch of patriarchal traditions, including giant arena battles where knights compete to win marriage to a princess. When the story begins we are introduced to Tara, a princess longing to escape the forced marriage looming in her future, and her best friend Pan, who helps Tara escape off-world to avoid this fate. Five years later, Pan meets a pair of cosmoknights who are not what they seem and begins her own journey with the resistance. This story is so much fun and Templer’s art is gorgeous, in particular her wonderful colors.
ART
In 2019 I made 34 new collages (most of which were for my August solo show), 4 wooden mobiles, and 31 digital Pokemon drawings. A major 2020 goal I have set for myself is to work more consistently, instead of only making things when I have a deadline. Here are some of my favorite pieces from the year.
Best wishes on all of your 2020 endeavors and thank you for reading my blog and following my art!
