Misunderstanding The Lord of the Rings

I will be out of town next weekend, and probably not able to upload something the weekend after that, so I find it unlikely that you’ll get Saturday Notes these next two weeks? I’m not sure. I’ll try to make it up somehow.

When you read this, I am probably reading The Star Wars Archives by Paul Duncan, though I may have moved to something else! I’m struggling to write; not because I don’t have ideas, but because I don’t know how to start the darn thing and it’s bothering me. Maybe I’m missing a writers’ workshop?

The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe is celebrating 75 years, by the way.

The Saturday Note will start a bit political, but we’ll move away from it as we go on, so stick with me.

On Bringing Back Dead Characters

By the time you read this, I expect I’ll have finished another Redwall book, and moved on to a mythology text. I’m still playing LEGO Star Wars and watching Leviathan on Netflix.

The official National Novel Writing Month organization is dead; but the month still exists, so jury’s still out on if I’ll do anything for it? November also has YALLFest’s 15th anniversary, but I will not be able to attend this year as I’ll be busy.

The Value of Talking Animals

Man, I hope the government shutdown ends soon.

I am presently reading the next Artemis Fowl book, The Atlantis Complex, which is, uh, an installment in the series, I guess. Hm. I finished Mr. Robot and began Leviathan, the anime adaptation of Westerfield’s trilogy. Still on LEGO Skywalker Saga, which has kind of grown on me.

I think I’ve done something like this in a Note before in the last couple of years? We’re doing it anywhere.

"Rethinking Monsters"

I am home this weekend (after last weekend's concert and Ren Fair), and may you all have a very merry No Kings weekend.

Presently re-reading The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Sir Terry Pratchett; after that will, I think, be The Forest Laird by Jack Whyte. I have one more episode of Mr. Robot left, and, uh… this is a bit of a screwy finale? We might talk more when that’s done.

I had originally planned to do a different topic for the Saturday Note, but I switched because I didn’t really like it–or rather, it would involve me being judgy about game mechanics again, which I didn’t think was fair until I got further in this game. Also, Halloween’s coming up, so, uh… monsters?

They're Everywhere

It’s been a weird week, but I kind of expected that. It’s a short work week, though, and I’m going out of town, so I don’t know if this will go up on time. I hope so.

I’ve got a couple more books to review (on a Stephen King book now), and I started LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which, uh… I’m actually not super impressed with it compared to the original game? That’s a conversation for another day, though.

Enough with the Podcasts, Already

Happy Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi!

It’s been a bit of a rough week, not least because my computer couldn’t decide if it needed to update (and thus render itself unusable) or not for a few days (rendering itself unusable). 

There’s an expected free expansion of Assassin’s Creed: Mirage coming soon, which would be fun after finishing up God of War. If it doesn’t come soon enough, we’re doing LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

Might do a Lindsey Stirling concert in November? Hashing things out.

Gods as Jobs

ImpishIdea is back online?? I need to investigate this further.

Presently, I’m reading the one book I found in the Hispanic Heritage Month display in the library’s YA section that wasn’t a romance. Still playing God of War; right now I have done basically everything except kill Sigrun, the Valkyrie Queen, though she has killed me! Let’s see if we can reverse that. And I’m almost done with season three of Mr. Robot.

Hispanic Fiction Doesn’t Have to be About Suffering

Yesterday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so I be hoping you and yer mateys be having smooth sailing through ye weekend voyages.

I have a lot of nonfiction on my book pile, but right now I’m working on the next book in my Artemis Fowl re-read. Finishing up God of War still–almost cleared Niflheim, and I have two more valkyries to fight before the queen.

The Unreliable Narrator Should Not Be a Crutch

If you’re looking for a hot take on current events, you’re not getting it here! So move on.

Did you know Aaron Taylor-Johnson is in the movie adaptation of The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke? Because I didn’t. I also ended up down a Wheel of Time rabbit hole, having found an archive of Robert Jordan interviews. RAFO is a fantastic author answer.

Presently re-reading a book I had to read for my freshman history class on volcanoes and the Bible. It makes sense in context.

A lot of Assassin’s Creed games are on sale in the Ubisoft store, and in other outlets like the PS Store, if you’re interested in that kind of thing. 

Spoiling vs. Foreshadowing

The week’s been alright, though I am woefully behind on the book reviews. And I need to actually write stuff like fiction or sporkings or something. I have a day trip today, though, so I suspect I won’t get much writing or reading done.

Presently on another Katherine Briggs fairy book.

Adaptation & Re-Writing Canon

It’s a long weekend because Mondaybor Day is Labor Day! I got out of work early on Friday, but that also means I don’t have any desk notes for the Saturday Note, so this is a bit more spontaneous than usual. Which is sort of saying something, because I still don’t usually get notes for this until Saturday.

I am getting towards the end of the main story of God of War, though it will still keep me busy for a while. I’m reading Ron Chernow’s biography of George Washington, which is really long, though I should also get a couple of comics out of the way this weekend.

There was a different idea for a Note, about immigrants/refugees in fantasy, but I don’t know if I have enough material for that, other than I want more of it.

Worldbuilding Terminology

I am out of town, but hopefully I can get this to go up on time. I have finished Thief of Time this week. I have a few other books (perhaps, too many?) for this trip, so I should have read another volume or two by the time I get home.

Gamescom was this past week, which included an announcement for a new LEGO Batman game, and it looks AMAZING? I’m also getting towards the end of the main story of God of War; a bit weird to be playing a new game that’s not a bajillion years long.

A bit of a short one, since I have less time to write it this week.

Bad Faith Criticism: Context

There was a while where subtitles on Hulu didn’t seem to be working (or at least, not in sync with the audio); but that’s been fixed, so this week I finished The Three Musketeers: Milady in French! Had a cliffhanger ending, though, which was, uh, a bit of a surprise.

Presently reading an Alatriste book. 

I will be out of town next weekend, so I don’t know if I’ll have time to write another Saturday Note. But we will see!

The Dragon Prince/King Situation

After getting swarmed by mosquitoes last weekend, this weekend should be chill and less blood-sucker-y. I started watching Mr. Robot on Netflix, which is different, but interesting so far. I’ve also read two nonfiction books in a row, so next is a comic and then we’re back to a couple of fiction books.

Slowly working my way through God of War; just pulled up to the giant stone mason.

Love Triangles Have Always Been Terrible

This week I finished my re-watch of the Netflix Marco Polo series. Given that it ended on a cliffhanger, it was a bummer that it was canceled after only two seasons, though it’s not like it was brilliant television all the time anyhow. Next on Netflix will be… I dunno, Mr. Robot, or something?

The tummy felt a bit crappy through most of Friday, but seems to have recovered nicely. 

Almost wrote about The Dragon Prince and its continuation Kickstarter, but this came up and I’m afraid I’m going to forget. So. Here we go.

Dinosaurs Are Not a Protected Species

So, uh, the daytrip planned for today is postponed on account of it being, uh, obscenely hot outside this weekend? Hopefully it’ll go on without a hitch. I did manage to try all three of the superhero donuts at Krispy Kreme this week, though, which is kind of cool.

I just finished another Discworld book; next is Scott Pilgrim’s finale, I think? I’m also looking at a new book, we’ll see how that goes.

Dragon Age & Religion

I saw Superman and had a great time! Krispy Kremey also has DC superhero-themed donuts, if you’re interested. I just finished re-reading Tyrant’s Throne by Sebastien de Castell, and after that is… The Truth? Or maybe The Mesopotamian Riddle? Could be Delilah Dirk? 

I am out of town this weekend, so I’m trying to get a headstart on writing this Saturday Note. The idea has been in my notes for at least half a year now; since pretty early in my start of playing Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Star Wars Without the Jedi

I finished the Songs of Penelope trilogy this week, and now I’m reading another Artemis Fowl book–though I realized that I skipped The Artemis Fowl Files and will need to go back for that. I also started playing God of War, and spent a lot of time throwing and catching that axe, because it’s fun as heck.

My laptop doesn’t know if it needs to update or not this week.

Catholic Charities of Central Texas is one of the groups taking help for victims of the floods.

The Importance of Learning History

It is the Fourth of July weekend! I am off from work on Friday, so that theoretically gives me time to sit and work more on this Saturday Note. In practice? Uh…. don’t know about that, champs. I had trouble coming up with a subject. I know I told you guys I was going to do Star Wars, but given the holiday I thought it might be nicer to do something related to the country or history or something.

The filler title in my planner was ‘Hope for the Future’, but, uh… it’s not that I have no hope, okay, it’s just that I’m not someone who can exactly do rousing calls for hope. It’d probably end up making me sound stupider than usual.

I also finished Andor and Dragon Age: Inquisition! Next game will probably be God of War, while the next television show is… probably back to Burn Notice. Although the new Librarians is also on Hulu right now.

Books Are Not Movies

I am almost finished with Andor, and DANG this is good stuff. Talking about Andor might end up being next week’s Saturday Note (“Star Wars Without the Jedi”) or something like that? Stay tuned.

Presently, I’m reading Crown of Vengeance by Lackey and Mallory, which is, uh, longer than I expected. Also a lot of long elven names which is taking some getting used to. I have a trip this weekend so I should have time to get through a large chunk of it, though.

Meaningless Tropes

It’s my mother’s birthday today!

A bit of an odd week, though sometimes it seems as if I say that every week. Work is… work, though at least I got to read a couple of delightful books. Presently re-reading The Immortal Fire, the third and final book of Anne Ursu’s Cronus Chronicles. Season two of Andor is presently on Hulu (for about two weeks, anyway), and I’m giving that a go. I might re-watch Netflix’s Marco Polo after finishing The Residence–or maybe just Hundred Eyes’ scenes.

The Dragon Prince & Forgiveness

I am massively behind on writing this because the Friday night church thing took longer than I’d like (though I kind of expected it to take a while?). I should have started writing this days beforehand.

Presently watching The Residence on Netflix, which is kind of like if Shonda Rhimes tried doing her own Knives Out? Entertaining so far. Book right now is O’Connor’s final Dracopedia. There’s an article about the behind-the-scenes drama behind the development of Dragon Age: Veilguard out by Schreier on Bloomberg, if you’re into that sort of thing (and know how to bypass paywalls).

And UGH laptop updated again this week. Of course, the shower rod, also being a fiend from Hell, also decided to fall down of its own accord again….

You Can’t Speedrun a Fallen Hero Arc

Had a bit of a trash week, but no one cares and also I have a cool weekend! A little vacation, if you will. I finished The Recruit on Netflix (which has James Purefoy in it???), and on Hulu I’m alternating between Elementary and Burn Notice.

Now our conversation turns to that subject that our minds always return to when we wish to stimulate deep thought: BIONICLE.

Status Quo Must Be Established Before It’s Changed

My laptop is, once again, a massive raging douchebag. It began updating Thursday morning, and didn’t finish until Friday evening. UGH. I should get a new one.

I read Impossible Creatures this week, which was quite good, and kind of led to my thoughts here in a very roundabout way. Now I’m reading The Fifth Elephant by Pratchett. Also, I liveblogged my rewatch of BIONICLE3: Web of Shadows a couple of days back, so if you’re on Tumblr you can check that out.

I saw an article about the video game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Polygon, where the writer said, “I can’t wait for it to be adapted to live-action!” and that just made me furious. Not everything needs to be turned into live-action! Doofuses!

Next week I will try to attend an arts festival so I might not be able to write a Saturday Note then.

Can I Do Film Criticism?

Hey! The numbers in the date are the same forwards and backwards!

I am getting random body aches sometimes, which is worrisome. Other than that, though, I’m doing okay. Presently reading Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee (who are not related, I don’t think), and almost done with season one of The Recruit. I am trying to clean out the Frostback Basin in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and then I should be able to race towards the endgame.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade might be coming back to theaters for Father’s Day? Look out for that.

Is Bad Representation Worse Than No Representation?

My eye is still partially red, my shoulder somehow hurt itself on Wednesday, while I squished my hand in a car door yesterday. Somehow.

Presently, I am reading Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima, and watching The Recruit on Netflix and Burn Notice on Hulu (occasionally catching an episode of Elementary). I have some Batman and Star Wars comics to read, too.

I’m trying to clean up on Dragon Age: Inquisition! Let’s see if I can get to the finale soonish.

Swearing in Fiction

We have a new Pope! Leo XIV! I thought the process would take longer, but I’m glad that it’s been taken care of.

There has been a bit of red in my eye since last weekend. That’s a bit troubling, but it’s not affecting my vision or anything, so I suspect it will probably go away soon enough.

I finished season three of the newest Jurassic Park cartoon, so I need to find something new on Netflix. I am reading Ithaca by Claire North, which I am surprisingly fond of thus far?

Prequel Discourse

Last Saturday, I went to see the twentieth anniversary re-release of Revenge of the Sith in theaters. And it was fun! I had a lot of thoughts about it. Hopefully, there will be a Movie Munchies review, though I’m a bit behind on things there. I meant to have up a Fellowship of the Ring review and that’s lagging.

I have a busy weekend, so I started working on this ahead of time. I am presently reading The Divider, a nonfiction account of our president’s tumultuous first term in office. After that… re-read Delilah Dirk, probably? And I have some other nonfiction books from the library to get through.

I might need a new planner soon.

Tomorrow is Star Wars Day!