Hello ladies & gentlemen,
The month has come to an end and it’s time to do a quick wrap-up of what has been done.
Reading Breakdown.
Novels read: 5 (↑).
Comic books read: 5 (-).
Manga volumes read: 14 (↓).
BOOK REVIEWS
An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.
The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks.
A Hero Born by Jin Yong.
COMIC BOOK REVIEWS
DC: The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke.
The Witcher Omnibus (Vol. 1) by Paul Tobin.
Saga of the Swamp Thing (Book One) by Alan Moore.
Harleen by Stjepan Šejić.
Bone (Vol. 1): Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith.
Batman: Detective Comics (Vol. 2): Arkham Knight by Peter J. Tomasi.
Wonder Twins (Vol. 1): Activate! by Mark Russell.
TV SERIES/MOVIE REVIEW
MISCELLANEOUS POSTS
How Can We Get Others to Read?
TOP BOOK
I feel like any month where a Brent Weeks book is read is an amazing month. At this rate, I’m just repeating myself when I say this is one of the best fantasy series in the market right now!
Check out my review for more on my thoughts!
LEAST FAVOURITE BOOK
Guess it’s safe to say that Peter J. Tomasi has yet to impress me. With his second story arc, he went ahead to deliver a mediocre origin story for the Arkham Knight.
Check out my review for more on my thoughts!
TOP TV SERIES/MOVIES
Out of all the movies seen in March, three of them stood out and they all merit a mention here.
Her (2013) is an incredibly thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence and relationships through a masterful performance by Joaquin Phoenix.
Knives Out (2019) is a sound and stellar whodunnit featuring an excellent cast who keep the suspense and thrill at the highest degree while delivering an unexpected and lovely revelation.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) is a trippy, tragic, yet beautiful tale of love, memories, and destiny. Sometimes negative experiences make the positive ones so much more precious.
They all get 4 ½ stars outta 5.
CURRENTLY READING
It was about time that I complete this grimdark trilogy once and for all! My thoughts on this one will be coming soon. 😉
Check out my thoughts on the second book for now!
PERSONAL LIFE
I imagine it’s no surprise that March 2020 became a historical month with the coronavirus (COVID-19) making the headline on a daily basis. I still remember, on March 14th, how everyone’s reality in Montreal was dramatically transformed with our prime minister putting forth certain measures that immediately raised a red flag on the gravity of this pandemic. Nothing else mattered to anyone at work, anyone amongst our family and friends, or anyone in the street. If anything, it felt like we were getting ready for an alien invasion.
Throughout the following days, dystopian classics and horror stories couldn’t have seemed more real to my eye as the lessons that were once simply cautionary and philosophical were now so evident in our behaviour that humankind simply seemed without hope. From an obsession with numbers to irrational beliefs that bring out racial tension, it was a bit saddening to see such a dark facet of ourselves being once again further amplified in a time where compassion and altruism should dominate.
While I’ve heard many being contaminated by this virus, others falling to it, the people closest to me, including myself, have remained vigilant regarding this pandemic and are safe to this day. The much more heartwarming stories of people around the world and the online community—depending on where you’re looking—have also been wonderful and helped smoothen out the chaotic atmosphere that is bound to only worsen for a bit longer.
While working at home was an easy transition for me, it’s definitely important to take care of yourself and continue doing the things you love while adapting them to the situation in your city. Whether it’s reading or working out, just remember to play it safe. This pandemic is a challenge for each and every one of us.
But also for us, as a community, as a society.
Do your part.
Just don’t make me bring out the big guns, bro.
Thank you all for checking out my monthly wrap-up and don’t forget to check out any posts that might interest you or that you might have missed out on!
Stayed tuned for my Monthly Anticipation post coming out soon. 😉
So what’s going on with y’all? What have you discovered this month? What are your thoughts on the books/TV series/movies I’ve checked out?
Yours truly,
Roars and Echoes 
I am glad you and the people close to you are safe! I hope you will remain vigilant, as I am afraid this will take some more time. But comparing it to some dystopian event really seems fitting. The way everyone stormed the supermarkets and left things empty was something I had never expected to see like that (just to name one, maybe more trivial than other, things).
I also really wanted to say that I loved Knives Out. I am usually not one for a murder mystery at all, but this one was just so much fun to watch! I have seen it several times now and enjoyed it every single one of them.
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It’s insane, right? Makes you wonder what we’d be capable of when things really get much more intense. Better off not thinking about it too much for now.
It was such a fun movie, huh? I loved the pacing, loved the structure, loved the actors and there respective roles. And the bittersweet ending made things so much more satisfying! I can’t wait for the sequel. Hope they know what they’re doing cause I would’ve loved this being a stand-alone!
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From what I heard, the Knives Out sequel will just follow Daniel Craig’s character on a new case. I suspect we won’t see the other characters again. But, of course, I could be wrong! I just heard they wanted to make this into a Poirot-esque series.
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Well Lashaan the covid is of course everywhere BUT there is a bright side to the lockdown: pollution is at extremely lowe levels and it does wonder for our climate change! I swear I see and hear birds that were so rare here. So that puts a smile on my face. As an Aussie friend told me : “we’ve got the fire, we’ve got the floods and now we’ve got the plague” ever the jockester I answered “It’s the apocalypse” LOL.
Anyway we’ll survive and learn lessons from this. Stay safe and…wash your hands 😉
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I actually didn’t even think about the impact on pollution it has! Then again, gas prices have dropped so much over the past weeks! Hahaha I do like seeing how we deal with apocalypse but I just wish we knew how to be much more composed! Stay safe, Sophie! 😀
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I absolutely loved Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It was so far from what I expected, but I felt it worked so well. I’ll begin The Black Prism very VERY soon, so thanks much for the periodic posts pushing the series. 🙂 I’m glad to hear all is well with you and yours. So far so good here.
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I knew it was going to be trippy going in but I didn’t know it was going to be this trippy! I liked how natural it felt though.
I really look forward to seeing how much you enjoy The Black Prism, Todd. I hope you love it as much as I do! 😉
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Glad you’re doing ok. I know you don’t review manga, but what series are you working through now?
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I only review completed series and so far, I seem to be attracted to classic super-long runs… 😛 I’m currently working through Bleach. A bit more than halfway done with the series. 😀
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Ha, good luck with Bleach! I gave up once I realized it had turned into a never-ending series.
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Glad you’re staying safe, Lashaan. I try to avoid the news and Facebook as much as possible. There’s so much negative, scary stuff being reported, I just can’t deal with it 24/7.
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I’m really happy to hear from you, Tammy! I hope you’re doing well too and that your daughter isn’t stuck at her dorm! 😮
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Great stuff Lashaan – I remember seeing Enternal Sunshine when it first came out, it’s certainly a decent watch and proof of Jim Carrey’s talents beyond the manic comedy he was mainly known and loved for up to that point. Can’t wait to check out Knives Out!
Glad to hear yourself and your loved ones are keeping safe in these scary and unpredictable times. It’s funny you should mention an alien invasion, I made a similar comment to a work colleague as the pandemic reached the UK. We’re barely two weeks into lockdown over here and unfortunately we’ve been told the worst is still to come. Stay safe my friend!
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Exactly. It was sad to see him quit his acting career for a while but heartwarming to see him make a return with Sonic! He even kept a little bit of his comedic chops in Eternal Sunshine! And yes, you definitely need to check out Knives Out. Your man Chris Evans is in it too. 😀
Great minds think alike, good sir! 😉 I’m glad to still hear from you (assuming things are good on your end). I do hope the worse of it all won’t break us as a whole! Stay safe as well, Chris.
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I’m curious to check out Sonic, if at the least for nostalgic purposes and to see Jim Carrey give it his classic “all” as Dr. Robotnik! Oh an Knives Out is definitely a priority! Was hoping we would get the digital release of Birds of Prey the same time as the U.S. but alas we aren’t getting it until the end of this month.
I’m doing well (as are my family and friends), thanks my good man – my workplace is currently closed and I’m staying safe locked down with plenty to occupy me.
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I’m glad those closest to you are safe. The world seems to have truly gone mad, but it pays to be vigilant and to be safe. It’s basically just a test of patience in this waiting game. There’s a lot of negativity in the news, but what I’m choosing to take from all of this are those little stories of hope and goodness that really highlight the best of humanity.
Knives Out is brilliant. It is one of the most compelling murder mysteries I’ve ever watched. The casting was on point and I love how eccentric some of the characters are. Definitely a new favourite.
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I’m glad to see your positive outlook on this situation despite the chaos out there. And all that knowing that things are bound to get worse in the coming weeks. I do hope we’ll strive to be better versions of ourselves during this period!
I’m so glad that we’re on the same page for Knives Out! What a fantastic movie that sort of came out of nowhere. Perfect cast, perfect mystery, perfect reveal! So much fun wrapped up into one solid movie. I look forward to what the sequel will have for us now. 😮
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When I read your sentence about an alien invasion I had to smile, although it was a bittersweet one: just a few days ago a friend compared the empty streets to some early scenes in The Walking Dead and I wondered if all our reading or watching post-apocalyptic scenarios did not somewhat prepare us to better face these weird times. The jury is still out on that point, though… 🙂
Keep safe, keep healthy!
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I’ve always joked about being super prepared for a zombie apocalypse with all the entertainment stuff I’ve consumed over the years. But an invisible threat like this one? Good thing corona doesn’t turn people into zombies though. That would’ve been insane… Stay safe, Maddalena! 😉
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Glad you’re all safe Lashaan, it’s such a worry and so surreal. Take care and stay safe 🙂
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It is quite the event to face but one that might have been necessary for us to really understand how we deal with this kind of crisis in 2020. Stay safe as well, Nicki!
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Those 3 movies, I haven’t watched, but I just know(and I’m glad) that they’re gonna be good! Knives Out is the one I want to watch the most. And that cast. Wow.
I’m glad to hear you’re all doing fine in these trying and hard-to-believe-its-really-happening times. It’ll be some time till this is over, I feel. But really, a healthy amount of hope and lots of kindness are a human’s strength in these situations. Like John Krasinski’s youtube videos, for e.g. 😄
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I highly recommend each of them. Knives Out will keep you on the edge of your seat while having loads of fun too! 😉
Absolutely! It’s definitely important to remain sane and try to limit any temptation towards anger and frustration. It really is a test of patience and willpower! Hope things are okay with you too. 😀
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I will definitely keep an eye out for it here!
Thanks! I’m getting by, trying to figure out an income route 😊 Hopefully things will turn out successful!
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It’s been a while, since I watched it, but I really enjoyed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. When I go out in the streets these days in the (under normal circumstances) most busy part of London, I do indeed feel part of a dystopian novel, where I am one of the few people left. So strange!
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It was such a wonderful movie. It’s amazing to see Jim Carrey in such a role too, especially when he’s often attributed to quirky characters!
Oh man, tell me about it. I’m impressed by how quiet it is out there. I wouldn’t be surprised if a bear decided to walk down a street thinking it’s deserted! 😛 Hope you’re staying safe ou there!
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Nice wrap up! I’m glad you’re safe and well, Lashaan!
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Thanks, Raven! I really hope the same for you too!
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Oh man! I loved Knives Out. From the moment I saw the preview I knew I would love that movie and I did. 🙂 I just didn’t like Daniel Craig’s accent in it. That Southern drawl did not work for him.
Regarding the coronavirus and all, I try to focus on positive stories too. All the conspiracy theories and such are driving me crazy. It’s mostly my parents who keep watching such stuff…I’m thinking to activate the parental control on their phones to block such content, if that’s even possible.
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Same here! Something about the movie screamed Agatha Christie and I loved the colourful and quirky vibe it gave. I’m really glad that in the end it turned out just as good as I imagined it. 😛 As for Daniel Craig’s accent… Hahahahah I found it hilariously weird, especially knowing his English accent. I indulged it though since it fit well with that detective character he was playing. 😛
Oh man, how ironic. Parental control on parents. My parents can be quite nutty about it too but I think it’s better than not caring about the potential consequences and suffering for it! Hope you’re being careful on your end as well. Take care!
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“Colorful and quirky” – spot on there and that’s what attracted me to it. Loved that it was like the board game Clue too. The accent was hilarious n odd but not too distracting, which I’m glad for.
Ikr!! 😩Well I keep telling them to fact check too. I think they partly want to believe something much crazier is going on.
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Glad to see you are happily up and running, as usual, Lashaan! March was indeed a crazy month, though probably less so here in NZ, as people continue to behave exceedingly responsibly and friendly. Full lockdown is an interesting experience, though – I’ve tried it out and after two weeks I’m ready for it to end 😉
Stay safe and healthy!
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I’m glad to hear you’re doing fine on your end too, Ola! Do stay safe and away from any of the insane folks bound to crack in the upcoming weeks. Just pick up a good book and get lost in its universe! 😉
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Glad to know your loved ones are safe Lashaan 😊 I guess these times are perfect to read a lot – not that you need that anyway 😀 Your post reminded me of the existence of the movie “her” which has been sitting in my Netflix list for way too long now! I also really liked Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind when I saw it a few years ago, but fail to remember most of the storyline – might be time to rewatch it! Anyway, stay safe and healthy! I hope everyone in your country will be very responsible so I can come in June 😂
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I’m always up for more reading time though hahaha I highly recommend checking out Her at some point. It’s bittersweet in its own way. A rewatch of Eternal Sunshine would need to be done in the right set of mind, honestly hahaha But still an awesome movie that showcases Jim Carrey’s acting chops at the prime of his career. Hope you’re staying safe as well! Look forward to hearing about your trip here when life will allow it! 😀
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I’ve never read anything by Brent Weeks. I really should give him a try. I hear so many good things about his work.
Sounds like you had a good month
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I can only highly recommend his Lightbringer series. So much fun packed into this series. Hope you had a great month yourself!
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It definitely has been quite a month! Talk about a life-changing experience with all this social protocols and shutdowns. I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. I’ve been not-blogging because of being so busy at work and I’ve been reading quite a storm. Will be sharing my reads in a few days. I’m getting back to blogging again, but still slowly since I’m still busier than ever working from home. I like all the movies you mentioned. I’ve seen them all except Knives Out. Will be looking out for that. After we can go back outside again . . .
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It has indeed been a crazy month and I think April will be just as crazy if not more. I do hope that we’ll learn from this and create a new world that will strive for better values within society, within the world!
I definitely look forward to hearing what you’ve been up to and what you’ve been able to consume for your pleasure! 😉 I can only highly recommend Knives Out when you get the chance! Maybe a digital purchase/rental could be an option in these times where going to the theaters is out of the question.
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