my opinion matters

Every year since I think 2011, I have read 52 books each year. I am probably too proud of this, but I think it's awesome and fun and I get to read a lot of great books and some pretty terrible ones. I don't have any sort of requirement, and count graphic novels too. Here is my current hold list at the library (and yes, I said library — I refuse to pay for books to take up more space in my house — I love books, but I also live in a 700 square foot apartment with my boyfriend and dog and there is no room for the thousands of books I read and own — my Kindle rocks): The Woman in Cabin 10  — Ruth Ware → I’m really digging this psychological “I don’t know what’s happening in this book but somehow I’m still reading it” genre, and   In a Dark, Dark Wood   was surprising good Fatal  — John Lescroart → Periodically, I go through the New York Times’ Bestseller list because I like reading books that people are talking about — for this reason, I read the   Fifty Shades   tri...

Last night, I watched Arrival , nominated for Best Picture and a slew of other awards this year. Starring Amy Adams and the guy who plays Hawkeye (unconvincingly as a physicist), it’s basically the story of how Earth will react when aliens come to visit. Although it sounds like it, this is not an action movie, and that’s a surprising twist. In general, the nominees for Best Picture are a collection of some of the most depressing and weird movies that would otherwise never been seen by the general public. And once they upped the possible nominees to 10 films per year, I hoped that would mean more mainstream or palatable movies would start to be nominated. Last year, the big surprise nomination was The Martian , even though it was never going to win. And Spotlight was a great movie and everything, but it’s not exactly an upper. None of the Best Picture nominees really are. And it’s been that way as long as I can remember.   There is an upside to this, of course. If you’re like...