So, January passed pretty quickly. I mean, it dragged emotionally but I can’t quite believe it’s already February. Things are going well here; they’re just busy as all get out. I have a ton of grading (shocker, I know) along with some prep and then there’s my life that’s not work: I’m serving on a search committee for our church’s new minister. That’s not even counting my support groups, bible study, working out (of which I have not done nearly enough), or, oh, I don’t know, being a mom or a person who lives in a house that I would like to enjoy.
1. I watched the premiere of Riverdale (The CW). While I liked some parts of it, I did not love it. Nor did I like it enough to keep watching. The main reason is that it took this bright poppy bubblegum comic:
And turned it into this dreary and aesthetically displeasing bleakness:
You can talk about murder in a small town without having the show be dark and depressing or UGLY (see also: Desperate Housewives and Pretty Little Liars). This whole show is gray. It is the worst.
Someday I may have the time to talk about all the ways it diverged from canon (yes, I am THAT serious about my Archie comics) and other things it did to annoy me, but for now, just see my friend Casey’s post on the PLEASE STOP of teacher/student relationships in teen dramas.
2. I also watched Powerless (NBC). I did not laugh once, nor did I really care for the camera style. However, I’m willing to give it another go.
3. The Good Place (NBC) got renewed. This is a good and wonderful thing. I loved, loved, loved the finale. I love Chidi with my WHOLE HEART. This show makes my heart happy. Thank you, TV gods, for getting this one right and letting it live to see another season.
4. I read six books last month.
- The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (YA)
- Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan (adult lit, abridged [ugh] audiobook)
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (adult lit)
- Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol (children’s lit)
- Giant Days by John Allison (YA, graphic novel) (okay, technically it would be NA, but I reject that, and the characters are 18, so: YA)
- The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (adult lit, graphic novel)
5. I finished one book last week:
Thug Notes: A Street-Smart Guide to Classic Literature by Sparky Sweets
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I listened to this on audio which I highly recommend. This book and the commentary gave me LIFE. It was exactly the joy I needed in a stressful week.
I am planning to do a full review on the blog. Let’s hope my schedule permits.
6. I am currently reading one book:
It took me about three or four chapters to get into The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, but it’s really starting to pick up, so I’m invested.
I am on the lookout for a new audiobook, though. I need something fun to balance out the seriousness of Jemisin’s world (and ours, tbh).
It’s bleak out there, folks. Try to find some joy where you can. I hope your reading is happy, and if you’re watching the Super Bowl tonight, I hope you have fun.
The Englishist 
I find it hard to believe we’re already five days into February. January was an emotional roller coaster (where the “highs” were still pretty crappy, thanks to our political climate), and I suspect this month will feel similar to me. Anyway, in good news, we finished Zahrah the Windseeker in our household (I hope I remembered correctly that you were the person who recommended it to us. Thank you!). My twins read it first and then insisted that I read it too. It was great. 🙂
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Yay so glad you liked it! I’m really glad the twins liked it, too.
Most of my highs were personal highs, though I am also counting acts of resistance as highs.
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I was wondering about Riverdale, but will give it a pass now. Haven’t even heard of The Good Place, but will look for it now. Happy TV is what I need mid-winter.
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All of the eps of The Good Place are on Hulu. It is a delight.
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I goddamn cherish Chidi. I watched the show because I loved Kristen Bell from Veronica Mars and Ted Danson from Cheers, but Chidi became my favorite character almost immediately. That actor just kills me — he has this very rare talent of being an extremely funny straight man. It’s great.
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Yessssss. And his reactions are 💯.
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I haven’t read the Archie comics, but I’m hearing so many terrible things about Riverdale that I don’t want to watch it. Fans of the comics hate it because of how much it diverges from the comics, and there’s also tons of criticism coming from the aro/ace communities about not making Jughead aro/ace. So yeah, I’m staying away from it for a variety of reasons.
Oh, you’re reading The Fifth Season!!! It’s a very serious book indeed, very dense and complicated. Be sure to read the appendix at the end for more context on the world & and its history.
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I love The Good Place so much! So glad it’s getting renewed.
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I feel the same way about Riverdale. If it wasn’t for the names, it wouldn’t really be “Archie” at all. I think they were trying to capture a different group of people but also trying to appeal to the exact same group of people. Bleh. I added Thug Notes to my TBR… I should get to it in about 72048325874365438 months.
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