Happy Easter! How are we all doing in isolation? If you’ve read my posts this week, you’ll know that work’s been stressing me out lately but I think I’m finally getting in the groove of isolation. Although, who knows what will happen the longer it goes on. I’m still not reading enough but I think I’ve been doing okay with blogging. I’ll get there with everything. I just need to stop watching so much. But it’s so convenient.

Weekly Blog Posts

• BOOK REVIEW – The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling

Last week, Audible released the new audiobook version of the third Harry Potter spin-off book. It was narrated by a load of actors associated with the films/play and was created to raise money for Rowling’s Lumos charity. Although, weirdly, I got it for free with my Audible membership. Not sure how that worked. I hadn’t been blown away by the book when it was released but I thought I might as well check it out. Read my review to see if the new audiobook made a difference.

• TUESDAY REVIEW – Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Before the Cats CGI controversy took over the film world, the biggest faux pas in recent film history was the original design of Sonic in the first trailer for this film. The reaction was so bad that they literally went back to the drawing board. Whatever they ended up coming up with, it was almost guaranteed that people would flock to see this film. All publicity is good publicity and all that. Of course, Coronavirus may have derailed it from becoming the phenomenon it was meant to be. I wasn’t convinced by the film in general but it only seemed fair to give it a try. Read my review to see if I was right to be dubious.

• BOOK REVIEW – Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter

I needed a quick book to get me through to my second review last week. Thankfully, Audible came to my rescue again by offering half price on all of their titles. I managed to pick up a few I’d been looking for and a few shorter ones to keep in reserve. It’s always hand to have a few books at less than 2 hours long in case I need a super-fast read. Head over to my review to see how if this short novella was worth it.

• THROWBACK THURSDAY – Tekken (2009)

We all know that very few video game films live up to their source material. It rarely ever works and it’s always disappointing if you really love the game. When I was younger, Tekken was one of my all-time favourite game series so I never let myself watch the film. But I decided to take one for the team and finally watch it. If you’re also feeling a bit nostalgic then head over to my review.

• FRIDAY FAVOURITES – Fictional Lockdown Companions

All over Twitter, people have been picking their quarantine houses in that new meme. So, I decided to shamelessly jump on the bandwagon and come up with a list of fictional people that I’d be happy to be stuck inside with. It was tougher than I expect because, as it turns out, I’m not a massive fan of other people. Still, I cobbled something together. Head over to my post to see the list.

Just Read

• Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter

A super quick listen that I finished on Monday night so I could write a review for Wednesday. It was a book I’d been interested to read for a while and I wasn’t sure what to expect. To be honest, I wasn’t even sure after I’d finished it. It was one of the hardest reviews I’ve ever written because it’s such an unusual book.

Currently Reading

• My Last Supper by Jay Rayner

Still making my way through this slowly. It’s a really interesting read and it gets quite personal in places. It’s just a problem that I have with non-fiction. Still, I bought the audiobook this week and I think that’s going to help me get through. It makes such a difference hearing Rayner read it himself.

Recently Purchased

I have bought a few things this week because I’ve been quite weak and stressed out at work. It was the only thing that made me feel better.

• Audiobooks – As I mentioned above, Audible are currently having a massive sale for members and I couldn’t resits. I pre-ordered Adam Buxton’s upcoming book because I know that Joe Cornish has also recorded something for it. I also bought:
  • Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter
  • Get Theroux This by Louis Theroux
  • My Last Supper by Jay Rayner
  • Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
• Physical books – I also did a bit of other book shopping this week:
  • Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter – I felt as though I had to buy a copy of this book just to see how it looks on the page. It might be a different experience reading it and not listening.
  • The Girls series by Jacqueline Wilson – I found out this week that there is a fourth book in this series (Girls in Tears) which I have never read. It was only right to buy the whole series and start from scratch.
  • My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell – I’d been wanting to buy this book as soon as I heard about it but, as I was on a book buying ban, I forgot about it. Until this week and I decided I had to read it now. It sounds timely and interesting.

Recently Watched

• TV:
  • Lizzie McGuire – I had to give it a go. This was a childhood favourite too.
  • The Mindy Project – I used to watch this show all the time but, for some reason, I stopped. I decided to go back to the start and see how I go.
  • Life on Mars – This BBC show is still one of the greatest things ever made for television. There are so many great lines (“You have to help me. I’m with BUPA!” is a personal favourite.) Finding out this was back on iPlayer sealed my fate. I had to watch it all. Problem is, I’m back to loving Gene Hunt again and that’s massively problematic.
  • Ashes to Ashes – Well, I’d watched the first one, it only made sense to see the follow-up. I’m close to the final episode of season 3. It’s so fantastic. And Keeley Hawes is, perhaps, the most beautiful woman in the world.
• Films
  • Road House (1989) – My friends and I had a social distancing movie night yesterday. We basically started watching this film at the same time and then messaged each other as we were going along. This film is as ridiculous as I expected it to be. A classic 80s movie.