Book news, movie reviews, hot takes, etc.
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The Batman is more noir, less superhero
It’s brooding. It’s moody. It’s heavily-stylized. No, it’s not Twilight. It’s actually a good movie—it’s The Batman. It’s been two years since Bruce Wayne donned the mask and cape, and Gotham has only gotten worse. What’s more, there’s another justice-hungry vigilante named the Riddler that’s on a conquest to uncover Gotham’s elite for what they…
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The ingredients to Wordle’s success
Crossword? No. Word search? Try again. The hottest word game of 2022 is Wordle. And rightly so. In late January, Wordle was purchased by the New York Times from its creator, Josh Wardle, for a low 7-figure deal. Rumor has it that homeboy just wanted to make a fun word game for his partner to…
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A hate letter to traditional publishing
Okay, okay, the title is a little harsh. And clickbaity. I apologize for that. And this isn’t even written as a letter, either. So I apologize for that, too. The truth is, I don’t hate traditional publishing. I think it’s just fine, albeit fraught with its own set of problems. It’s kind of like Marvel…
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It’s time we accept that New Year’s resolutions are stupid
“New year, new me!” “2022 is gonna be my year!” Are you, though? And is it? Look, can we be honest with each other? I think it’s safe to say that most of us will look back and realize that we bombed on our New Year’s resolutions before March even rolled around. Lose weight. Quit…
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No Way Home is great, but isn’t the best Spiderman movie
I can feel you bristling through the phone/computer. This title got you heated. You’re probably reading this because you’ve already seen Spiderman: No Way Home and decided it was one of the best movies you’ve ever seen. And I respect that. But you’re wrong. Look, I’ve heard so many people say that Spiderman: No Way…
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Halo is back and our lives are blessed
It took months of prodding before my parents allowed me to get the original Halo for XBox. I was about fourteen at the time, a little angsty, a little irritating, growing up in a conservative and religious home where R-rated movies and M-rated video games were usually shunned if not frowned upon. It took the…
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It’s 2021 and I finally beat Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie reentered my life when I bought an XBox Series S and signed up for Game Pass. I was tickled to see that a remastered version was available on the library, especially since I had the game as a kid but never managed to beat it. But now I’m 30 years old, renting a townhouse,…
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TikTok is a GREAT place for writers
I was a little hesitant about TikTok at first. Maybe it’s a sign that I’m getting old and uncool, but I thought the last thing I needed was another social media account. As if I don’t already spend too much time scrolling through Instagram and Facebook. Besides, TikTok is a place full of teenagers doing…
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Advice to my 20-year-old self at age 30
I’ve been a little depressed the last couple of weeks. Maybe it’s because I’m turning thirty and life didn’t turn out the way I expected. I don’t own a home. I don’t drive a fancy car. I don’t have a wife, kids, or a dog. I’m not a New York Times-bestselling author. Instead, I rent…
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Want to look cultured? Own these books.
Some books just stand head and shoulders above others. And frankly, having some of these books on your shelf makes you look smarter. Here are some books that are absolutely worth reading and will fool houseguests into thinking you’re a cultured person. There are two caveats to this list. One, this list isn’t comprehensive, so…