Media Round Up: Slightly Disappointing
Feb. 4th, 2025 03:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forestofgloryHere's a few thoughts on recent media I've read and watched. But first an update on my Reading Joyfully project:
I've realized that I was trying too hard to read the exact right thing at the exact right time. I kept thinking that I must find the exact right thing to read in the exact right mood because then I’d enjoy the book the most possible, but it was stressing me out and making reading less fun. So I’m thinking about how to find a good balance between only reading what I feel like reading with that level of perfectionism
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong—This is a recent cozy fantasy novel that’s getting a lot of buzz. Though I don’t think I would have called in cozy if it wasn’t being marketed that way. I guess I really don’t understand what’s happening in cozy SFF these days
I had mixed feelings about the book. The worldbuilding felt very vibes based, and the pacing was bit uneven but I liked that it focused on friendship and didn’t have any romance, and the concept of small fortunes is fun! My friend Jenny has much more thoughtful review that you should check out.
Finder by Suzanne Palmer—I have several friends who really love this book so I decided to check it out even though it didn’t sound like the kind of thing I generally like. This is a really good example of the thing that it is but unfortunately I was right and it's not my kind of thing. Which makes it a bit hard to write about it. I’m just not into loner dude causes trouble while trying not to care about other people type stories. I liked it enough to read all of it, it's fun, the worldbuilding is good, the main character actually does care about other people despite his best efforts. But I don’t plan to read the rest of the series.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal ep 13-20— I raced through this, it was exactly the thing I needed to be watching at the time. This is a fun show, and I’m glad I watched it. I did think that the way the show handled queerness left a lot to be desired, and the show is at best ambivalent about monarchy as an institution. However I really liked the characters and enjoyed their friendships and shenanigans (also there is surprising amount of good fic for this show which I’m still working my way through)
I've realized that I was trying too hard to read the exact right thing at the exact right time. I kept thinking that I must find the exact right thing to read in the exact right mood because then I’d enjoy the book the most possible, but it was stressing me out and making reading less fun. So I’m thinking about how to find a good balance between only reading what I feel like reading with that level of perfectionism
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong—This is a recent cozy fantasy novel that’s getting a lot of buzz. Though I don’t think I would have called in cozy if it wasn’t being marketed that way. I guess I really don’t understand what’s happening in cozy SFF these days
I had mixed feelings about the book. The worldbuilding felt very vibes based, and the pacing was bit uneven but I liked that it focused on friendship and didn’t have any romance, and the concept of small fortunes is fun! My friend Jenny has much more thoughtful review that you should check out.
Finder by Suzanne Palmer—I have several friends who really love this book so I decided to check it out even though it didn’t sound like the kind of thing I generally like. This is a really good example of the thing that it is but unfortunately I was right and it's not my kind of thing. Which makes it a bit hard to write about it. I’m just not into loner dude causes trouble while trying not to care about other people type stories. I liked it enough to read all of it, it's fun, the worldbuilding is good, the main character actually does care about other people despite his best efforts. But I don’t plan to read the rest of the series.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal ep 13-20— I raced through this, it was exactly the thing I needed to be watching at the time. This is a fun show, and I’m glad I watched it. I did think that the way the show handled queerness left a lot to be desired, and the show is at best ambivalent about monarchy as an institution. However I really liked the characters and enjoyed their friendships and shenanigans (also there is surprising amount of good fic for this show which I’m still working my way through)
no subject
Date: 2025-02-06 02:43 am (UTC)I did think that the way the show handled queerness left a lot to be desired
Yeah, I agree. As I recall, at the time when it came out it was considered pretty brave, especially since it aired on KBS, the main television broadcaster. But that aspect of the show didn't age very well.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-06 03:33 am (UTC)