Thriller

My 2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge

January 1, 2025 — Leave a comment

Hey, y’all! It’s time to start my annual reading challenge via Goodreads. If you’re new here, let me tell you now: I love books. I am a certified bibliophile. And each year, I set a reading goal on Goodreads – a goal I typically break and reset at least twice.

This year, my goal as of today is only 50 books. But there’s a reason for this. I have decided to have a theme for my book choices in 2025. I saw a list of 100 classics everyone should read, and I wrote down those that I have never read. That number was 36. (Before you think I’m exceptionally well-read, be aware that the list included the “complete works of William Shakespeare,” then also included some of those works individually, just to hit their goal of 100, I guess.)

So, I have 36 classics to read, and I’m giving myself 14 books of my choosing. This should be fun!

I am currently reading The Bell Jar (Sylvia Plath), Twas the Knife Before Christmas (Jacqueline Frost), and Horror Movie (Paul Tremblay). I have also started The Murder of Sleepy Hollow, the fifth book in the Charlie Kingsley series by Michele Pariza Wacek, but it’s more of a read-for-a-few-minutes-before-bed kind of thing.

If any of you are fellow readers, recommend some books! Or tell me your favorite read of 2024!

Must-Watch Movies/TV Shows?

January 30, 2024 — Leave a comment

Hello! Today, I wanted to ask my followers a favor. Can y’all recommend some good movies or shows, preferably on Netflix, Hulu, or Tubi? I’m a big fan of horror (obviously), thrillers, true crime documentaries, and I do enjoy comedies, but not childish/stupid humor – like everything Will Ferrell does.

Most of the newer movies/shows I’ve watched have been garbage, honestly. I’m keeping the hope, though, because I have stumbled across a few gems. It’s difficult when you don’t want to watch something where the writers voice their political opinions and social commentary every ten seconds.

Anyway, leave me your recommendations! Thank you in advance!

Thoughts on The Menu (2022)

January 16, 2023 — Leave a comment

I’m not going to call this a review, but I just had to post about this film. I said I was gonna write more about movies this year, after all.

I had to let the movie percolate for a couple of days, and now I’m ready to share my thoughts. (No spoilers, I promise!)

For those of you who don’t know, here’s a short synopsis of the film from IMDb.

“A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.”

When I saw the preview, I was intrigued. I love Ralph Fiennes, first and foremost, and I could easily picture him in the role of a creepy – perhaps murderous – chef. Plus, I had my own assumptions of what the twist would be once the trip went horribly wrong, as it so clearly was going to. Even believing that it was going to be semi-predictable, I still wanted to watch it.

I’ll start by saying up front that my assumption was wrong. I was actually pretty far off. However, and I mean this humbly, my semi-predictable idea would have been better than the reality.

The Menu wasn’t bad, per se, it simply…lacked any excitement. The characters weren’t very likable (except, ironically, the “evil” chef), and it was a story that’s been done before numerous times in numerous settings. There were no shocking moments, or perhaps I’m just immune at this point. It became obvious early on who would survive, and I don’t even want to talk about the absurdity of how that happened.

IMDb categorized The Menu as a “horror, comedy, thriller.” It is none of these things. It wasn’t scary, nor even the least bit creepy. It wasn’t thrilling. And the comedic bits fell flat.

As you can probably tell, I was not impressed. This is one I’m glad I missed in theaters; I would have demanded my money back. Lol.

This isn’t a review, but I would rate this film a 2 out of 5, and the 2 can be attributed only to Fiennes and the performance by Hong Chau, who plays Elsa. It’s watchable, I suppose, so I won’t advise against watching it. However, definitely get it on HBO Max or something.

30 Day Film Challenge: Day 14 – A Film That Gave You Depression

January 14, 2023 — Leave a comment

Okay, when I watched Odd Thomas (2014), I already knew it would rip my heart to shreds because I’d read the book. I have cried during books before, shedding a few tears over fictional deaths or whatever, but I literally sobbed at the end of that one, and that unhappiness lasted days. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that the film had a similar effect on me.

30 Day Film Challenge: Day 12 – A Film You Hate From Your Favorite Genre

January 12, 2023 — Leave a comment

My favorite genre is horror, of course, but even I can acknowledge there are some awful horror movies out there. I’m not very big on paranormal horror; ghosts and spirits just doesn’t freak me out at all. And the worst of the worst?

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2023

January 6, 2023 — 2 Comments

I have started my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2023! I’ve already finished one book – Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli – but to be fair, I started it back in November. Lol. It counts, though, because I finished it this year.

I have since started my second book, Stacia Kane’s Unholy Ghosts. It is the first in the Downside Ghosts series. (I needed a new series to get invested in after finishing The Morganville Vampires.)

Unholy Ghosts is an urban fantasy novel that centers entirely around, you guessed it, ghosts. Here’s the synopsis, per Google Books:

“The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.“

I’m enjoying it so far, and I’m over halfway through. All of the characters that have been introduced are likable, even those without many redeeming qualities. I like Stacia’s writing style, as well.

I’ll give my rating with my next update! And please consider joining me for the challenge this year!

Home Tonight, So Here’s An Update

October 14, 2019 — Leave a comment

My mom and I spent the majority of the day at the nursing home with my grandmother. There has been no change, except her blood pressure has dropped slightly (no cause for concern, according to Hospice) and they are now having to suction out her throat and esophagus at least two or three times a day. So, please continue praying/sending us positive thoughts, if you would.

In other news, it’s October — my favorite time of the year! (I know we’re already 13 days in, but I’ve been distracted.) I have no idea what I’m going to be for Halloween. I’m leaning toward a variation on Harley Quinn, the girl on the cover of Mindless Self Indulgence’s Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy, or Tim Sköld. I haven’t had the chance to indulge in many horror movies so far; however, my best friend and I have binge-watched “Light as a Feather” on Hulu.

Other highlights of October: it’s finally below 1000 degrees here in Alabama, and my favorite college football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, is undefeated. Oh, and Alter Bridge is playing a show within two hours of me on the 17th.

Given that this is a music blog, I guess I should mention something about music, huh? Ha! Okay. Here are a few upcoming releases:

  • Super Junior – Time Slip (10/14)
  • Shane Eagle – Dark Moon Flower (10/15)
  • Alex Vargas – EGO (10/18)
  • Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky (10/18)
  • Cody Jinks – The Wanting (10/18)
  • HXXS – Year of the Witch (10/18)
  • Jimmy Eat World – Surviving (10/18)
  • The Lacs – Rise and Shine (10/18)
  • Third Eye Blind – Screamer (10/18)
  • Cigarettes After Sex – Cry (10/25)
  • Fit For An Autopsy – The Sea of Tragic Beasts (10/25)
  • Jinjer – Macro (10/25)
  • Night Flowers – Fortune Teller (10/25)
  • Norma Jean – All Hail (10/25)
  • PVRIS – Hallucinations EP (10/25)
  • Scarlett Rose – Welcome to Wonderland (10/31)

I’m trying to schedule some posts in my free time so that my blog isn’t lacking content for consecutive days, or even a full week. I hope to resume the playlist challenge and choose a featured band on the 21st.

[Trailer] The Predator – 2018

June 30, 2018 — Leave a comment

The latest Predator is hitting theaters on September 14, 2018. Here is the synopsis, via Wikipedia:

“From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home. The universe’s most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.“

Below is the trailer. I warn you, it’s gonna get bloody!

2018 Reading Goal

January 18, 2018 — Leave a comment

I know this is a music blog, but I wanted to share something else I’m doing with my followers…just because.

I love to read! I have always loved to read. I don’t always have time, of course, though the various apps I can download to my phone have helped. Anyway, I finally joined GoodReads. I browsed through my favorite genres and found at least fifty books I was interested in reading. Lol.

The site encourages its users to set a goal for themselves, so I did. I am going to read fifteen books in 2018. I know that doesn’t seem an exceptional amount, but we’ll see how it goes. I may update my progress here, as well.

Right now, I’m on the final book in a trilogy by Shannon Mayer. The first in the series is entitled Venom and Vanilla. I honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. The main character, Alena, starts out as kind of a stick in the mud. However, once she is turned into a supernatural (saving her from dying of a supposedly incurable disease), things get interesting.

Shannon Mayer combines all the usual suspects — vampires, werewolves, etc. — with the Greek pantheon, and it is masterfully done.

Thus far, my list of books for 2018 is as follows:

  • Venom and Vanilla by Shannon Mayer (read)
  • Fangs and Fennel by Shannon Mayer (read)
  • Hisses and Honey by Shannon Mayer (reading)
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (reading)
  • IT by Stephen King (reading)

At this rate, I think I’ll reach my goal!

Let’s Talk Covers (Pt. 4)

September 3, 2016 — Leave a comment

1. Framing Hanley: “Lollipop” (Lil’ Wayne cover)

I love when rock bands cover rap songs!

2. Dope Stars Inc.: “Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson cover)

3. Static-X: “Looks That Kill” (Mötley Crüe cover)