July, 2019
July 6th, 2019, 2:09 p.m. - Now that I think about it, I don't know why it was called Middlegame
28. Middlegame (Seanan McGuire)
Up next: The Last House Guest (Megan Miranda)
July 13th, 2019, 11:54 a.m. - I'm not sure she'll ever repeat her success of All the Missing Girls
29. The Last House Guest (Megan Miranda)
Up next: There There (Tommy Orange)
July 14th, 2019, 4:08 p.m. - "I have a plan." "I am not going to break into the agent's house and put my manuscript under her pillow." "...Okay then. I have a plan B"
So You Think You Can Dance – "Judges' Auditions 5": Once again, everyone was so good! Minus points for Nigel's absolutely inappropriate, completely staged question about where Mariah's father is. Come on. Rating: 4 pies in the face I have for anyone who bullies Eddie
Jane the Virgin – "Chapter 96": This was my favorite episode of this so-far lackluster season. I lost it when the doctor told Petra that she hadn't actually approved of having Magda taken off life support by just texting a plug emoji and a thumbs up. Rating: 4 moments of screen time Xo and Alba got this week, combined
iZombie – "Night and the Zombie City": Excellent premise, so-so execution. Also, who cares about Don E. and Darcy? Rating: 3 drinks too many for Peyton
July 20th, 2019, 3:23 p.m. - Not what I expected
30. There There (Tommy Orange)
Up next: Disappearing Earth (Julia Phillips)
July 21st, 2019, 3:58 p.m. - "A stone-nasty, skinny b&%#$, and I do not mean that as a compliment"
So You Think You Can Dance – "Academy Part 1": We should all keep an eye on Gino, John John, and Benjamin. I'll be shocked if they don't all make the top 20. As for the ladies...I'm not sure. The guys are the standouts right now. Rating: 4 gracious responses to rejection from Jay, who I hope gets a teaching job out of this, like Eddie did
Jane the Virgin – "Chapter 97": [insert gif of Villanelle from Killing Eve yelling, "Boring!"] Rating: 3 Rose masks
iZombie – "Killer Queen": Did Blaine kill Darcy, or did she die before he could get to her? Discuss. P.S. Hey, Tristan from Degrassi! What's up? Rating: 4 sequins
July 27th, 2019, 11:46 a.m. - Oh, my heart
31. Disappearing Earth (Julia Phillips)
Up next: The Chain (Adrian McKinty)
July 28th, 2019, 3:59 p.m. - "Quick question: Is any of that true, or are you just doing the Tom Cruise monologue from Mission Impossible 1 for your own amusement?" "Both"
So You Think You Can Dance – "Academy Part 2": I'm sad that John John and Jerrod were cut. Jerrod is so unique – they're never going to find another guy like him. But I was thrilled to see Benjamin, Bailey, Stephanie, Mariah, and Eddie make it through. There are a lot of people to root for this season. Rating: 4 unnecessarily shirtless solos
Jane the Virgin – "Chapter 98": Nooooo, Michael! Come back! It's not too late! *sobs forever about Team Michael* Rating: 3 times I rolled my eyes at Jane's book selling for $500,000
iZombie – "'Bye, Zombies": They did Alias, basically! Too bad David Anders didn't get to be in that plot. P.S. Please don't kill off Major. Rating: 4 stolen key cards
I'd been meaning to read some of McGuire's books for a while, but I thought I would start with her Wayward Children series. However, when I saw this on the shelf at the library, I figured I should try it. Good call, me! The science-y stuff lost me, but I really enjoyed it. McGuire writes the kind of sci-fi/fantasy I find really accessible.
It's slow and has too much going on and started to lose me in the middle. But other than that, it's great!
I wish that Orange had cut a couple of characters and spent more time focusing on the others. Some of them are barely introduced. But he's an excellent writer, and he has important things to say.
I just finished this about an hour ago, and I'm still recovering. The ending floored me. I was steeling myself for something completely different, and it hit me out of nowhere. THAT is how you end a book.