July, 2017



July 1st, 2017, 1:33 p.m. - Vanessa Hudgens has turned out to be a great addition to the judging panel

So You Think You Can Dance – New York auditions, part 1: Everyone this week was unique and lovely and fun to watch. There were also a number of dancers who were definitely top 20 material, especially Kaylee and that tapper whose name I can't remember (but it's okay because I want to keep my distance, since the tappers I love never go as far as they should). This should be a good season. Rating: 4 minutes wasted on someone who shouldn't have had any time wasted on him


July 8th, 2017, 11:35 a.m. - Angie is the new Lena, in that I despise both of them and never want to read about either of them again

21. The Kept Woman (Karin Slaughter)
I don't know why I waited so long to read this (I've had the hardback since it came out; it's now out in paperback), but I won't make that mistake again. I've enjoyed all the Will/Sara/Faith books, and this was one of the best in the series. The climax was particularly excellent. Now I'm ready for Slaughter's next book, coming out next month.

Up next: UNSUB (Meg Gardiner)


July 14th, 2017, 8:11 p.m. - All hope abandon, ye who enter here

22. UNSUB (Meg Gardiner)
This might be my favorite of Gardiner's books. I was looking forward to it since I heard about it, and I was definitely not disappointed. I'm glad she's using Caitlin in a series; she was a great character.

Up next: Final Girls (Riley Sager)


July 15th, 2017, 2:08 p.m. - Raimonson Raimon? Poor guy

So You Think You Can Dance – New York auditions, part 2: Wait, we're already done with auditions? They only went to two places. That's weird. BUT NOT AS WEIRD AS THE NAME RAIMONSON RAIMON. Rating: 4 home countries represented in just this episode


July 20th, 2017, 7:57 p.m. - There had to have been more than three Final Girls, though

23. Final Girls (Riley Sager)
Mostly lives up to the hype, but I thought the ending was dumb. Also, I...didn't really care what happened to anyone.

Up next: The Mothers (Brit Bennett)


July 22nd, 2017, 1:25 p.m. - "No need to seize the last word, Lord Baelish. I'll assume it was something clever"

Game of Thrones – "Dragonstone": I can't believe I'm saying this about GOT instead of SYTYCD, but was Ed Sheeran really necessary? That scene was so distracting. I kept waiting for Arya to kill him. Rating: 4 cups of poisoned wine

So You Think You Can Dance – Academy Week No. 1: There are too many people to follow, and I don't see it getting better any time soon, since 10 all-stars with four dancers each means...a top 40? Really? Rating: 3 names I've already forgotten after just a week


July 26th, 2017, 8:03 p.m. - "She mothered as a penance, like sliding fingers along rosary beads"

24. The Mothers (Brit Bennett)
Lovely and sad and a little bit...haunting. I love the idea of church mothers being a Greek chorus; that was really original. I look forward to reading more from Bennett in the future.

Up next: Spoonbenders (Daryl Gregory)


July 29th, 2017, 2:07 p.m. - "You are a dragon. Be a dragon"

Game of Thrones – "Stormborn": Well, we're probably not getting a Jon/Arya reunion for a while, but at least we'll probably get a Sansa/Arya reunion pretty soon. Also, Jorah should be looking hot again pretty soon. ...Oh, was that out loud? Rating: 4 homecooked meals from the lovely Hot Pie

So You Think You Can Dance – Academy Week No. 2: So now there are only going to be 10 finalists? I don't know if I like this new format. I'm going to wait to get too attached to anyone, since the odds are so low that everyone I like will make it through. Rating: 3 very welcome saves by Jenna



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