May, 2016
May 2nd, 2016, 7:56 p.m. - Ugggggggggh
12. Missoula (Jon Krakauer)
Up next: Version Control (Dexter Palmer)
May 7th, 2016, 11:56 a.m. - "You look like Tigger if Tigger looked like a jacka%$"
Supernatural – "Don't Call Me Shurley": If the middle hadn't dragged a little, I would have given this episode a 5, because there was so much good stuff: The long-held fan theory that Chuck is God becoming canon. Rob Benedict's awesome performance of "Dink's Song." Curtis Armstrong's terrific acting. God blogs cat pictures. Hilarious meta. THE SAMULET. So much love here. Rating: 4 World's Greatest dad mugs
Modern Family – "Promposal": The prom stuff was cute, but there just wasn't a ton of funny stuff here. Still, a mostly enjoyable episode. Rating: 3 Maseratis
The Big Bang Theory – "The Line Substitution": Same here – not a ton of funny stuff. Also, Penny and Beverly got along fine the first time they met. They need to get drunk and go to Del Taco again. Rating: 3 stick chairs
May 14th, 2016, 2:01 p.m. - "Turns out James got off right after I left him. On a possibly unrelated note, my wallet is gone"
Supernatural – "All in the Family": Amara really isn't that bright, is she? I don't see her as much of a villain. Remember how they got rid of Abaddon before the finale that season and finished up with other stuff? Let's do that again this season. Make Lucifer the big bad instead! Rating: 4 curling matches
Modern Family – "Crazy Train": I wish we'd gotten more of the Alex/James plot. No "I jump, you jump" adaptation for a train? Sad. Rating: 4 floppy hats
The Big Bang Theory – "The Convergence Convergence": I liked Judd Hirsch in this episode, but I think he would make more sense as Howard's father; there's a bit of a resemblance there. This episode was kind of disappointing. It didn't feel like a season finale at all. And we still haven't met Penny's mother! Rating: 3 emails from the Air Force
May 15th, 2016, 9:55 p.m. - "History makes you what you are"
13. Version Control (Dexter Palmer)
Up next: City of the Lost (Kelley Armstrong)
May 21st, 2016, 1:27 p.m. - "Together we can make Hell great again!"
Supernatural – "We Happy Few": This was fun in theory – everyone working together to take down their common enemy – but in execution, it didn't work for me. They really don't think Amara's that smart, do they? Rating: 3 witches needed to make a coven
Modern Family – "Double-Click": That was a season finale? Really? But nothing happened! Rating: 3 high scores
May 24th, 2016, 8:03 p.m. - Thanks for the long piece of the last act that detoured into the unnecessary romantic subplot
14. City of the Lost (Kelley Armstrong)
Up next: The Fireman (Joe Hill)
May 28th, 2016, 2:13 p.m. - "So that was a gun in your pocket"
Supernatural – "Alpha and Omega": I hated the climax. So Amara killed people all season because she missed her brother? All it took to calm her down was reuniting them? Dean was seconds away from sacrificing himself, but it ended up being unnecessary? Whatever. BUT. 1) I think Toni is a great character, and I'm looking forward to seeing what role she takes next season. 2) I liked the cliffhanger of her seemingly shooting Sam, and leaving his fate undetermined for now. 3) MARY IS BACK. Amazing. Rating: 4 souls
Obviously I shouldn't be surprised by how screwed up the justice system is when it comes to rape victims (because...well, I live in the world, so I know), but it's SO BAD. Toward the end of the book, I just wanted it to be over because it didn't exactly make me feel hopeful.
I really wanted to like this book, but there's just so much I found wrong with it. I wasn't invested in any of the characters. There were entire sections that were completely unnecessary. There's no catalyst that brings about the third act; it just comes out of nowhere. A promising story, with a disappointing execution.
I was really looking forward to this book, but it just didn't click for me. Too much talking, not enough action. Too many characters. 20 pages of me saying, "Can you please keep your clothes on and actually solve the mystery?" This was my first of Armstrong's books and will probably be my last.