August, 2014
August 2nd, 2014, 3:06 p.m. - What's the opposite of a surprise?
So You Think You Can Dance - "Top 14 Perform, 4 Eliminated": After the judges heaped all that praise on Jessica and Casey, I knew there was no way they'd be going home. I don't think Emily and Carly were the least bit surprised either. Now we're to the really fun part of the season, with the all-stars. Yay for Jasmine, especially! Rating: 3 giggles I had when I wondered if people remembered who Brandon was
August 7th, 2014, 6:37 p.m. - I liked it, but...
25. Americanah (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
Up next: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves (Karen Joy Fowler)
August 9th, 2014, 4:46 p.m. - I guess this is Ricky's to lose, huh?
So You Think You Can Dance - "Top 10 Perform, 2 Eliminated": That's okay, America. I don't need Emilio. I'll just cry myself to sleep. Rating: 4 benches
August 16th, 2014, 1:25 p.m. - This is a very different top six than I would have predicted
So You Think You Can Dance - "Top 8 Perform, 2 Eliminated": I can't say I'm sorry to see Rudy go – he never became one of my favorites – but it was tough to see him get eliminated the week he gave what was easily his best performance of the season. That routine was SO GOOD. But can we skip the Michael Jackson theme in the future? It's...weird. Especially with the show's connection to Wade Robson, and his accusations in recent years. Plus, it puts restraints on the choreographers that they shouldn't have to deal with. Just let them do their thing. Rating: 4 victory wiggles from me because people love Valerie as much as I do
August 17th, 2014, 9:54 p.m. - Let's start at the very beginning. ...Nah
26. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves (Karen Joy Fowler)
Up next: Slimed! (Mathew Klickstein)
August 23rd, 2014, 2:52 p.m. - Only one mention of Legends of the Hidden Temple? Come on!
27. Slimed! (Mathew Klickstein)
Up next: The Rise and Fall of Great Powers (Tom Rachman)
August 24th, 2014, 12:43 p.m. - Keep an eye on Marijana, everyone. She could take this
America's Next Top Model - "The Boyz R Back": It's new ANTM season time! One of the most magical times of the year! And Ms. J is back! What more could anyone want? Rating: 4 unnecessary stickers on selfies
So You Think You Can Dance - "Top 6 Perform, 2 Eliminated": Exactly the final four I expected, and pretty much what I wanted. This is Ricky's to lose. I only wish we'd gotten a wider arrangement of all-stars. But Aaron's coming in the next episode, so it's all good. Rating: 3 giant swings
August 30th, 2014, 1:33 p.m. - Let's just give the title to Chantelle right now
America's Next Top Model - "The Guy Who Gets a Second Chance": Shut up, Romeo. Shut up, Mirjana. Everyone else, you are still on probation but may proceed. Except Chantelle, who rocks. Rating: 4 subway trains
So You Think You Can Dance - "Top 4 Perform": My cooing over Aaron is all I remember of this episode. Oh, wait, and Jessica and Robert's routine. That was awesome. Rating: 4 totally random celebrities in the audience (Mira Sorvino and Sofia Milos? ...Why?)
August 31st, 2014, 5:14 p.m. - How to disappear
28. The Rise and Fall of Great Powers (Tom Rachman)
Up next: Soldier Girls (Helen Thorpe)
I think this book is super-important for people (especially us white Americans) to read, but in terms of the plot...I don't know. It kind of peters out. And I'm not sure Obinze's sections were completely necessary. The book would have been just as full with just Ifemelu's narration.
There are a lot of interesting themes here: family (and what, exactly, that word means), sameness and difference, language and communication, animal rights, cultural norms, memory (whether interpreted accurately or inaccurately), and the connections humans and animals can have. I'd love to read more of Fowler's work.
This book is both fun and annoying. There are way too many people talking about the same thing, and I couldn't keep any of them straight. It seems like all Klickstein did was talk to people and then write down what they said with no context or clarification. I learned a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff about the early days of Nickelodeon, but I just have more questions now.
I approached this one hesitantly, since I had mixed feelings about Rachman's debut, The Imperfectionists, but I really enjoyed this one. Because it's split into three parts – Tooly as a child, as a 20-year-old, and as a 30-year-old – there are little pieces missing, and it felt like I was putting together a puzzle. I liked the picture it made.