AUSSIE FILMS AT TIFF 2023 - "THE NEW BOY" FROM AWARD-WINNING WRITER/DIRECTOR WARWICK THORNTON
Sadly, due to the far-reaching effects of the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strike, many of the big stars, the A-Listers and international stars and filmmaker will not be coming to town for this year’s Toronto Int’l Film Festival launching in 2 day’s time. But have no fear, dear fellow fans of Australian cinema…I got you covered with some of the films featured at TIFF. First is THE NEW BOY which has already…
I'm very happy that I was able to read (and finish) quite a few books this month! My reading selection was also perhaps a bit more varied, with a non-fiction book thrown in. I began reading the Tea Princess Chronicles by Casey Blair (very good, so lovely), continued with the next volume of Spy x Family, and read books newly published as well as older.
- The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older (very good, loved the worldbuilding, interesting plot)
- Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey (really enjoyed it, definitely cried a bit toward the end, a lot of interesting tropes and themes, good worldbuilding, liked how many of the themes were handled)
- Batman: Wayne Family Adventures Volume One by Payne and Starbite (lovely, so happy I get to have a physical copy, can't wait for volume two)
- A Dance with the Fae Prince by Elise Kova (liked it a lot, loved the themes and the romance, good character growth)
- Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (re-read, well-written, interesting and illuminating, difficult subject matter, felt the narration treated the subject material well for the most part, interested in seeing the movie adaptation)
- A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair (amazing, lovely, binged it in almost one sitting, loved the themes and characters and how it was all put together, as well as the focus on tea, diverse in a good and welcoming way)
- The Physicians of Vilnoc by Lois McMaster Bujold (loved it, tough subject matter however, Penric and Desdemona as lovely as always, enjoyed the philosophical themes and questions)
- Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie (great, loved it, missed Seivarden a bit though, great themes and characters, made me want to re-read the first book)
- Spy x Family Volume 6 by Tatsuya Endo (Cute, funny, engrossing, more of a tight one-arc story which I liked, has the famous lullaby Yor and Loid scene, Nightfall was hilarious, a key moment finally occurred!)
- Tea Set and Match by Casey Blair (loved it, a lot of communication, loved the themes and how it was handled, cathartic, interesting understanding of the MC's privilege (and how she can use it)
- The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (re-read, interesting, the narration was amazing and really sold the story, liked the back half of the book more, some very dry and funny and witty parts, wanted more things to be fixed/dealt with, Maia's internalized racism is never really questioned by him)
- Outlaw Mage by KS Villoso (had backed the Kickstarter, very good, read it in a few sittings, enjoyed the characters and themes, tried to figure out how the book connected to the other series in that world, enjoyable and thought-provoking, not too subtle, want to know what happens next)
SATURDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO “Saturday’s Child” by The Monkees (live 2011) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy2fcnIz9mk This performance features guitarist Wayne Avers, who has played with The Monkees in all their manifestations since 1990 (and he’s also worked with Christopher Cross, Rick Derringer, Todd Rundgren, & other notables). David Robicheau and Felipe Torres are rockin’ it in this clip, and I always enjoyed playing it. “Saturday’s Child” was the second track on The Monkees’s debut LP. It’s one part bubblegum and one part hard rock akin to The Yardbirds. The song was written by David Gates (later of Bread fame) and was first recorded by the garage pop band The Palace Guard (with Emitt Rhodes and actor-musician Don Grady) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy2fcnIz9mk #monkees #mickydolenz #wayneavers #christophercross #rickderringer #toddrundgren #felipetorres #saturdayschild #davidgates #yardbirds #bread #palaceguard #emittrhodes #dongrady #johnnyjblair