What to Watch...

I don't remember the source, but about three years ago I came across an article about people who re-read books, sometimes many times. Or they watch the same rotation of movies and TV shows over and over.

The theory (and it makes sense to me) is that it's helpful for people who have anxiety to revisit stories where they already know what's going to happen. When I am watching something for the first time, there's a 100% chance that I will be consulting the internet to find out what's going to happen next and whether the hero(ine) will survive to fight another day.

There are some things I have watched multiple times because I loved them the first time. 

And the second and the third and the fourth... yeah, keep going, there are many movies and series titles that keep rotating through my watch list.

Right now I'm watching Big Bang Theory (for the first time). I picked it up at Goodwill, or at least the first seven seasons. I may end up buying the rest of them.

But I have this wish in the back of my mind to watch Firefly and Serenity again, so I may do that soon. It's like a compulsion. Tell me you've watched it. If you haven't WHY NOT?!? It's amazing. 
Turns out Joss Whedon is an asshole, but that's not a surprise and was known before Firefly. 
Still worth watching. 
Apparently repeatedly.

The Cast of Firefly

I'm also reading Stephen King's latest, Never Flinch.
So far, it's great. Holly Gibney is a character I fell in love with in Mr. Mercedes.
Quirky doesn't really cover it. Relatable, empathetic, humorous. Steady and smart and dealing with life as best she can.

Sometimes the first reading of a book causes me to skip ahead and find out what happens because I honestly can't stand the suspense. I know people say, "ZOMG NO SPOILERS!!" but I'd rather have it spoiled so I'm not... fraught. I don't mind knowing what's going to happen, I still like the journey.

What are you reading? What are you watching?
I'm going to have a bit of time off work this summer. And while I have a lot of stuff that needs to be done around here, and some thrift store shopping and other things, reading and watching stuff happens, too.

What's a good story?

When Wendy posted on her blog asking for people to review her story, Dead Wrong, I promptly volunteered. I'm embarrassed to say that I wasn't too prompt with the review, though.
::blush::

I didn't know what the story was about when I asked to review it, either. I've just been reading Wendy's blog/following her life story for a few years and was interested in seeing what she'd write.

But I really enjoyed this story. Even though it is not like the usual stuff I read.

I liked it so much that I just read it again this evening.

Wendy has opened up a whole new realm of vampire possibilities for me. All the political intrigue and back stabbing and loyalty and friendship and sex and layers of nuance we mortals have... only at night. Original ideas and thoughts about what vampires would really be like... if they existed.

After reading the story, I'm not convinced that we don't have them, actually.
It's like Wendy has been doing, hm, live research. :)

I was sorry the story wasn't longer, but the plot and ideas Wendy invented for the story were fascinating.

I would have liked to know more about the earlier life of Neku/Shiva, the human woman/slayer turned vampire main character in the story, because I found her real and genuine and deep and wanted to get to know her better.

I would have liked to read about her childhood and how she got where she was when the book started. I'd have liked to read the novella, and then find out more about how the story expanded. Her later life. How Desmond, her handsome,strapping slayer/lover fit into her life after she was allowed to be with him.

I count myself among those who would like to read more of the story for sure... and wish it had gone on longer. I'll definitely read the next/final installment. Even if I have to pay for it.  :)
I think a story that's still with me days after reading it is a good story.

I love a story that makes me care about the characters.

To do that outside of my usual genre means the story is really good... because I'm a picky reader. If you don't catch and hold my interest fairly early, I won't give your story a chance. I don't have time for that.

Things to do, places to go, munchkins to wrangle... you know the story.

Now I've read vampire novels.
Some I even liked. Salem's Lot is one that I still have with me both figuratively and literally more than 30 years after reading it for the first time.

Some, (Anne Rice comes to mind) I thought were just... well, lots of hype and not that great. Your mileage may vary, of course. Someone must like her books, there are an awful lot of them out there and she has a whole lot of money from selling her stories, but they're sort of.. obscure. Her writing style is hard for me to wade through.

Thanks Wendy, for sending me the book to preview. I thought it was excellent. Not obscure. Didn't have to do any wading. And Shiva and her friends are still on my mind.
Which makes it a good story indeed.