What I'm... No. 10

It's been a while since my last of these. There are a lot of books on this list, and this only covers those from April forward. There are a lot.

Books:

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry

This book was pretty good. The fight with Guri is legendary, and Prince Xizor is an amazing character. It took me a long time to get around to this book, but I wish I had made space for it earlier.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

This is such a lovely book. It is perfect and amazing. I love it so much.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall

A beautiful sequel that captures the magic of the original.

The Penderwicks at Point Moquette by Jeanne Birdsall

My only criticism of this book is the absence of Rosalind.

The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall

I liked this one, but it just didn't match up to the others. Probably because I had read the others so many more times when I was younger, and they hold the nostalgia. Also, the huge time gap was disarming.

Last Song Before Night by Ilana C. Myer

This was a fantastic book. I cannot stress enough how beautiful and artful this book is. It was so beautiful and an amazingly well built world with such wonderful and well-rounded characters. The ending is phenomenal.

Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 by Jim Lovell & Jeffrey Kluger

This book was amazing, well-written. It told the full story of Apollo 13, not just Jim Lovell's impression of it. Jim Lovell is one of my three favorite astronauts, so I was bound to love it.

Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution by Neil deGrasse Tyson & Donald Goldsmith

This was a great book. Well-written, interesting, insightful.

The Whole Shebang: A State-of-the-Universe(s) Report by Timothy Ferris

Very good book, if outdated. He kept mentioning things that might happen and I kept going, "I know that. You're wrong. It's actually like this..." But a good book nonetheless.

Too Far From Home: A Story of Life and Death in Space by Chris Jones

This was an amazing book. I really loved it. It is written like fiction and such a good read. While you would expect the book to focus on the tragedy, it focussed instead on the three astronauts left on Station, and how they would get home. Unexpected, but not unwelcome.

Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig

This book was mediocre. Good story, good character development, sucky writing. I found myself pulled out of the story over and over again by substellar writing.

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse by James Luceno

This was a good book. Depressing ending, lots about Han Solo, galactic crisis... What more could you want?

Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars by H. W. Jeter

This was a great book. This is a trilogy in one book, and it was phenomenal. I love Boba Fett, and this is his journey during Return of the Jedi. The book is about him, but maintains his mystery.

Star Wars: Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton

This was such a good book. It is full of twists and turns. Honestly, it's like a Star Wars soap opera. I knew how everything would end up, so the characters' constant confusion was hilarious.

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Balance Point by Kathy Tyers

This was a brilliant book. I feel so bad for Jacen, but I also can't stand him. Lots of irony in this one.

Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dimitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M. T. Anderson

This was a wonderful book. Bit gross at times, but it is an informative view of the composer and the siege. I love Shostakovich.

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest by Greg Keyes

This one was also excellent. Anakin and Tahiri's friendship is so beautiful. Plus, my favorite character is coming!

Little House in the Highlands by Melissa Wiley

A childhood favorite. These books are the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder's great-grandmother. While not quite as good as the Laura books, they are excellent.

"I Touch the Future...": The Story of Chris McAuliffe by Robert T. Hohler

This was such a good book, but so sad.

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast by Aaron Allston

This was the series that got me into the Expanded Universe. This one is so good, but I have to say I am coming at the political conflict from a different perspective than my first reading.

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Omen by Christie Golden

The Sith are so intriguing, these ones especially. A great book. Plus, I love Ben. (He's that favorite character I mentioned earlier.)

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Abyss by Troy Denning

A very good book. I love Jaina, Abeloth is such a great character, and Ben and Han never fail to be amazing.

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory II: Rebirth by Greg Keyes

Here comes that favorite character! Also, this seems like a turning point for the war. It may go in a different direction next book. We'll see.

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach

This book was so funny. It was informative and hilarious. The details Mary Roach points out are so unique. Excellent.

The Far Side of the Loch by Melissa Wiley

I love this one too. Martha grows up so well, in such a believable way.

Down to the Bonny Glen by Melissa Wiley

In this book, Martha learns a lot about herself and the world around her. A brilliant coming of age story.

Beyond the Heather Hills by Melissa Wiley

I like this book because it takes Martha out of her environment and shows how she responds to challenges to which she isn't accustomed.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster

This was a great movie and a great book. There is stuff in the book that is not in the movie, and it is so interesting. Plus, we get thought, feelings, and internal monologues! YAY!

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

This was a great book that shows how difficult it was to be an astronaut's wife. These women had real courage just as much as the astronauts did.

Failure Is Not An Option by Gene Kranz

I loved this book. It was excellent, and it shows the other side of space flight, the controllers' side, which is just as important as the astronauts'.

Star Wars: Lords of the Sith by Paul S. Kemp

This was a great book. It balanced the evil of the Sith with the good of the freedom fighters and ended in a good way. The trouble with books about Sith is that people want the good guys to win, but the Sith can't be defeated yet, so the author has to strike a balance. This book had excellent balance in that regard.

Blogs:

Sprinkle of Glitter

Louise's blog is wonderful, as always.

This Charming Life

I love Kaelah's blog. She is funny and engaging.

Anna Saccone

Anna's blog is wonderful. I love it and she has a unique perspective on makeup and fashion that I enjoy.

Life of Bon

Bonnie is so funny.

Listening:

Fall Out Boy

Still love Fall Out Boy.

Panic! At The Disco

I saw Panic! at their show in Chicago and they were amazing. Plus, they played Crazy=Genius, one of my absolute favorite songs. Unfortunately, he did not wear a top hat and tails.

twenty one pilots

I really like Heathens.

Ed Sheeran

I LOVE ED SHEERAN!

The 1975

I've been really liking the 1975 lately. They have a very unique sound, and it is wonderful.

The Lumineers

I love the Lumineers. Ophelia is such a great song, also a great character.

All Time Low

I like their music, but it's not my favorite.

My Chemical Romance

Okay, I was scared for a second when they might have been coming back. But, alas, no such luck. Still love 'em, though.

Watching:

Movies:

Captain America: Civil War

This was a great movie. It was well written, and the characters were well developed. But, the issue wasn't fully developed, the plot felt a bit busy, some characters were left by the wayside, and there was not enough variety in the sets. It seemed like the movie went from big, imposing, dark set to another big, imposing, dark set back to yet another big, imposing, dark set. More variety required.

TV:

The Flash

I LOVE THE FLASH! Barry Allen is amazing, and so is everyone else. It is a show about nerds, who also happen to be superheroes. It is the show for me. LOVE LOVE LOVE AD INFINITUM!

So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation

The Next Generation is intriguing, but I prefer the adults.

Cutthroat Kitchen

The Throwback tournament was amazing. The judge's episode was diabolical.

Food Network Star

Eh. I can't find a favorite, and it's just not grabbing me this year.

Arrow

I have mixed feelings about Arrow. The show is about Oliver Queen's redemption arc, but I just can't find a reason for him to get a redemption at this point. (I'm still in the first season.)

YouTube:

danisnotonfire

I love Dan.

AmazingPhil

And Phil.

vlogbrothers

Vlogbrothers is amazing, as always.

Crash Course

Crash Course is amazing, as per usual.

Geek & Sundry

I watched Titansgrave again, and the Behind the Scenes. I cannot wait for Season Two. !!!!!!!!!

That's a wrap!

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Chorus of the Day!


I have these thoughts, so often I oughtTo replace that slot with what I once bought
'Cause somebody stole my car radio
And now I just sit in silence

Last Chorus of the Day:

Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People

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La! ~SCP