Recommendation Roundup, November 2019, pt. 2

So, we’re going to pick right back up from where we left off last time, with a bunch of anime I’ve been watching lately cause it has been a good year for me for anime.

So, without any further ado, in no particular order, let’s go!

No Guns Life

So, as a giant nerd, I regularly receive emails from both Crunchyroll and Funimation, two streaming services for anime, highlighting upcoming shows. And a lot of the time, because anime is so ridiculous, I’ll send my brother (not an anime guy) screenshots of the emails, talking about how ridiculous a show’s name or premise is. A prime example would be Fire Force, the email for which seemed to feature a weird guy without shoes and a ridiculous smile, a mostly-naked-for-no-reason cat girl, a witch, a nun, a guy with a light saber, and a couple of other weird looking people all in firefighter clothes.

But the funny thing is that a lot of the time, if I actually give those same shows a shot, they’re actually REALLY good. Fire Force being one main example.

No Guns Life is another example, mainly because the main character, Juzo Inui, has a gun for a face. That’s right. A gun. For a face.

But also, the show is AMAZING. For one thing, the art style is absolutely gorgeous. For another, the premise hits that semi-pulpy, bachelor detective fighting the evil corporation sci-fi vibe that just drives me wild (think Bladerunner or Ghost in the Shell adjacent). The premise is that Juzo Inui, an “extended” (someone with cybernetic parts that extend their capacity beyond normal human abilities), takes on cases to solve problems with other extended. He has a tenuous alliance with the powers that be to ensure that if his cases don’t go according to plan, he doesn’t get into too much trouble, and is happy eking out his existence in such a manner. Then one day, a boy with mysterious powers to control extended reaches out to him for help, claiming to have been illegally experimented on, and the show goes on from there. It’s got a neat premise, is absolutely gorgeous, and the characters are fun and engaging. I’ve got to say it’s easily one of my favorite shows I’ve seen all year.

Also the main theme, though it runs a little long in the show itself, is amazing.

Special 7: Special Crime Investigation Unit

Special 7: Special Crime Investigation Unit is one I found via Hulu’s recommendations after watching No Guns Life (good job Hulu, who is actually responsible for a couple on this list). The premise is that rookie copy Nanatsuki Seiji gets co-opted into the Special 7: Special Crime Investigation Unit (Special 7 from here on out) after getting tangled in one of their cases. The unit itself is dedicated to hunting a terrorist group known as Nine, who worship dragons. Though mostly a police procedural show, it has the added twist that this is an urban fantasy setting, with elves, dwarves, vampires, homunculi, magic, and more. What’s nice about it though, is that it doesn’t go too hard on the fantasy part. Magic is under tight government control, and though members of other species/races show up and are included in the unit, they aren’t super goofy or ridiculous–or even all that obvious. Though they might have cultural differences or some powers, they aren’t super over the top. The show has a nice animation style, is self-assured about what it is and sticks to it, and also has some nice humor to it, primarily through the interactions of Nanatsuki and Ichinose, his somewhat reluctant partner/mentor.

Cells at Work

So this one kind of feels like an honorable mention, but for the sake of honesty, I’ll include it. Cells at Work is a show about the lives of the various cells in your body, from the main two characters, Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell (the best cell, in case you were wondering), to platelets (the main one looks exactly like me from when I was little, FYI), Killer T cells, dendrites, macrophages, and more. Each episode features them battling some new condition, from the common cold, to allergies, to heat stress, and more. The show has a weird Magic School Bus meets Dragon Ball Z meets Battle Royale vibe, but is also really educational, often pausing to explain who different cells are, what we know about them, and what they do. It’s a little hard to place or recommend because I’m not always sure how to describe it (seems like it could be an educational show for kids a la a more grown up Magic School Bus, but then White Blood Cell will just go to town knifing up a bacteria or they’ll start screaming mild obscenities at the germs, which could just be a translational thing, and then I’m not sure what to say), but if you want to learn a little more about your body with some good humor and a mostly likable cast, this could be a good fit for you. It’s also fun because once you start watching, you start thinking about what these characters might be experiencing inside you every time you sneeze or get sick or whatnot. I will say one flaw about it is that because each episode is based on a specific malady and the main characters are all cells, it’s a little hard to get much traction as far as a plot or character development through line. They do have a few flashback episodes to explain what happens to cells as they grow up, and there is an epic two-parter for a really serious injury, but it’s not like the cells are ever going to fall in love (despite White Blood Cell being an absolute bae) or go on some grand adventure to fight an evil wizard or something. It ends up giving the show a sort of stilted feel sometimes, because the characters by nature can’t grow as much as you might hope they could were they not, you know, human body cells, but it’s still educational and fun to watch. And, as an allergy sufferer, I have to say, that episode is brilliant.

07 Ghost

So, this is a weird one. Because in a lot of ways, it’s not that different from your usual anime in this genre. The premise is that Teito, an angry young military student with a terrible past, discovers that he’s actually a prince from a destroyed kingdom, has access to a super-powered artifact, and must now choose between choosing light and the power/love/trust of his friends or darkness and revenge for his destroyed loved ones. As with many anime, it has a really convoluted religious system, gets super abstract and nonsensical by the end, and has a bunch of random stuff thrown in for apparently no reason (for example, the organ-player at the church where most of the show takes place is a mermaid).

However, what I like about it is as follows:

1. The majority of the show takes place in a church, and the picture of that church is actually sort of accurate. The nuns live quiet lives cleaning and helping the poor that come to them, the bishops help with those activities and services, when the church is attacked they turn to prayer, and they welcome Teito in and give him asylum when he has nowhere else to go. Now, I will say that that’s about where the similarities end, what with the mermaid organ player, the shape-shifting of several of the bishops into sort of angel/demi-god/servants of God, their understanding and completion of what are essentially exorcisms, and the weird Judeo-Christian-Greek-Roman-Buddhist-etc. religious mix they’ve got going on for the actual theology, but to have most of the show take place in a church and to see similarities and differences was fascinating. And, since a lot of animes feature churches in a sort of religious fanatic/snake oil salesman/corruptive light, seeing one that was actually good and trying to do good in ways that sort of line up with what Christianity really should line up with was neat, differences aside.
2. Three dreams. So, this was a cool thing where in their theology, God basically has each soul tell him three dreams they’d like to accomplish before they die, but then when they’re actually born, they forget what their dreams were, so life is all about discovering the three things you were sent to do, and when they’re done, you can die peacefully and return to God. Those who turn to evil to get their dreams faster lose their souls to said darkness. Does it hold any theological water? No. But it is fun to think about, was a unique twist, and actually held some sway in the actual plot, so that was nice.
3. Emotional depth. The characters in this show actually felt things quite strongly, and while I was watching, so did I. While some of it was fairly cheesy or cliche, it was still Very well done.
4. Frau. Frau is one of the three bishops featured in the show, and while he’s definitely the bad boy of the three, with some issues that really should be addressed for a bishop (naughty magazines, for example), he’s also complex, intriguing, and an all around the cool guy. The story of how he got to be a bishop was particularly interesting–including his current, somewhat antagonistic relationship with God, and he also brought out some of the best bits of humor and fighting in the show. Of all the characters, he was definitely my favorite.

So yeah, ultimately not necessarily an objectively good show, but definitely one I really enjoyed, if for unconventional reasons. Also, please go look up pictures of Frau, because he’s amazing and I basically either want to be him or be his friend at the very least. I couldn’t find a good video of the opener that I felt good about posting here copyright wise, so that’s why I didn’t bother to include that here. It’s worth watching if only for Frau and the ridiculous notion that the top of a giant spire would be a comfortable place to sit (spoiler: it’s not).

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Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for now. I hope you enjoy these if you look them up, and if you have any thoughts on them or other recommendations for shows for me to check out, please let me know in the comments below. If you want more recommendations, or updates on my life, faith, or writing, please feel free to follow me using the links in the sidebar or below. Thanks for reading!

Recommendation Roundup: November, 2019, pt. 1

Hey all,

I’m still in processing mode from a lot of things, and as we’re heading into the busy season of the year, it may be a while yet, but I did want to get at least one post up soon (how are we so far into November already??), and since I’ve been sick the last few days and binging a lot of shows, I figured I’d just go ahead and share what I’ve been watching. Warning, this is definitely going to be a special, anime edition of recommendation roundup. But also, this year has been a great year for anime for me, so there’s some great stuff in here. Oh, and P.S. no, I didn’t watch all of these just in the last couple of days. These are actually from several months, haha.

So, in no particular order:

Fire Force

I know I mentioned this one in my last recommendation roundup post, but since it continues to be great and is still ongoing since my last post, I figured I would recommend it again. The premise is that as people have started to spontaneously combust, special fire soldiers must track down the cause, with different fire companies being controlled by varying religious, military, and commercial funders. The show centers around Company 8, whose purpose–besides finding the source of the combustions–is to investigate the other companies and make sure they’re on the up and up. The show is absolutely beautifully animated, funny, and has a great plot. As I mentioned before, do watch out for some pervy humor, but that’s actually lessened a lot since the show’s start, so that’s great news. Since the opener is so gorgeous and the song is so fun (great band overall, FYI) I’m gonna go ahead and re-add that here.

Bem

So, this one surprised me a little. I found it because it came up as a suggested show related to one of the ones above (Special 7, I think?) on Hulu, and since the main character looks SO COOL, I figured I’d give it a try. Turns out, not only is this a reboot (one of many, this being a 50th anniversary from the original series from 1968), it’s actually a rapid departure from the old style of the show, which up until this one had a much more 60s almost Hanna Barbara vibe, so far as I could tell at least from pictures. I haven’t actually seen any, so I can’t speak to the tone (let me know if you have!). Anyway, this time they went a completely different direction, with something closer to a jazzy, noir-y, night club feel, and even had what appeared to be a nod to the famous painting “Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper in one of their episodes.

“You know, the diner one.”

Combine this with the fact that the premise of the show is that three humanoid monsters protect a city that despises them in hopes of one day becoming human themselves, and you can see why this is naturally VERY MUCH my vibe.

That being said, I will say the show does have some pretty serious flaws, mainly having some trouble getting a strong plot through line (especially in the beginning), lacking some emotional depth some times, a few elements that go unresolved, and an ending that in classic anime style goes a little abstract/off the rails. It is still fun to watch though, especially any time the main character Bem is on screen (such intrigue. Swoon, haha), and I’m hoping that if they get a second season (which I hope they do), they’ll be able to dive deeper into some of the elements that didn’t seem to get quite enough time in this one (mainly some inter-character relationships, the main character himself, their histories, and the mysterious Dr. Recycle, who does illegal human modifications). To give a taste of it, here’s the intro, with the three monsters being Bem (the hat guy, also the coolest, also the one with the prettiest, most attractive eyes ever), Belo (headphones kid), and Bela (side pony-tail schoolgirl). Oh, and fun side note, because some of the villains in the show are actually pretty silly, especially given the otherwise more serious vibe of the show, it also kind of has this weird like, 90’s kids show vibe to it a la Gargoyles (yeeeessssss) and Batman the Animated Series, which is both kind of weird but also great.

Black Bullet

So, turns out this one actually came out in 2014, but was so popular, they’re actually going to come back for another season hopefully next year. It, like Bem, also has some flaws, but I also just really liked it. The premise of the show is that some weird virus thing turns people into monsters, and the only ones who can fight them well are super-powered little girls born of women infected by said virus. The girls pair up with people who basically take care of/control them and together they protect humanity. As to flaws, there are some bits of humor that toe the line, some plot holes, and some times when the characters/tone felt really inconsistent, but because it hit that sweet spot of techno-magic and thriller for me, I still really enjoyed it. And, Enju, the little girl who partners up with the show’s main protagonist Rentaro is also super adorable, so that helps too.

Do I understand why Enju uses such large and weird hairclips? No. Do I still adore her? Yes.

To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts

To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts is a show about Hank, a super soldier who can turn into a monster and hunts down his fellow super-soldier friends as they start to lose themselves to their monster forms, and Schaal, the daughter of one of said monsters who is determined to discover the truth about Hank and his mission. Pros about it are a cool premise, some really pretty fight scenes, and a cool twist on mythology, in which many of the creatures are based off of traditional mythic creatures or monsters (the way they handle the minotaur and vampire in particular were pretty great). Flaws include a certain lack of emotional breadth in some of the characters to start (cough cough, Hank, cough cough), some fairly trope-y character types, and the fact that ultimately, some of the monsters are doomed to be a little silly. There are also some structural gaps in the plot that were a little disorienting, but overall, it was enjoyable to watch and as the characters developed more, I did start to care more. Schaal in particular is great and more complex than the others from the start.

So, there are still four more shows, I wanted to share, but since this post is already getting pretty long. We’ll be saving those for next time. In the meantime, please enjoy these! Thanks for reading!

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So, how about you? Any good shows you’ve been watching lately? Let me know in the comments below and if you want more content like this, or updates on my life, faith, or writing, feel free to follow me here using the links in the sidebar or below!

Recommendation roundup: September 2019

Hi All,

Wow, I am cutting it really close to the wire on this one. But hey, I’ve been busy with my life getting a little thrown up in the air lately (yay, blog fuel), so I’m fine with a bit of a closer shave this time around.

Anyway, to keep things light this time, I figured I’d just share a little about what I’ve been into lately in the hopes that you can find something you like too.

Fire Force

So beautiful!

So, because I’m a giant nerd, I’m subscribed to emails from a few different anime streaming services. And because anime is ridiculous, when they tell me about insane new shows, sometimes I’ll text my brother screenshots of how crazy they are.

This one, which featured a nun, a girl with not enough clothes on for no reason, a firefighter with a wizard hat, a guy with super pointy monster teeth for no reason, a guy with what basically looked like a light saber, and the premise that a group of firefighters have to stop people who spontaneously combust/turn into monsters as its premise, definitely got that treatment.

Except then my anime guru friend told me to watch it, and since I trust her, I gave it a shot.

Man, has this show taken me by surprise.

Besides being beautiful (see above video, and yes, most of the rest of the show is that gorgeous), the plot is actually really good, with mystery, drama, and some nice twists. And while the girl with not enough clothes on for no reason (and a few others, actually) does continue to frequently get into stupid locker room humor situations (come on, anime, seriously) pretty much every episode to the point that it feels almost like satire, honestly, I think it’s probably my favorite show right now. So, if you can get past some almost nudity and stupid humor on occasion, you’re gonna be fine.

Demon Slayer

What is with these gorgeous openers? Seriously.

So, this show has come as another surprise to me. I heard about it from a different friend, and it is absolutely beautiful.

The premise is essentially that when Tanjiro’s sister Nezuko is turned into a demon, he goes on a quest to become a demon slayer, both to save other humans and to find out how to turn her back.

I’ll be honest, it’s pretty violent, so if that’s not your jam, stay away.

But if that doesn’t bother you, this is another great one to check out. The animation is insanely beautiful, the characters are a lot of fun (not going to lie, Tanjiro himself is pretty flat, but I’m hoping for some growth for him in future), and, to my great surprise, it’s actually pretty funny. You know, when they aren’t in super gory demon battles.

Karneval

Okay, so I can’t remember if I’ve ever mentioned this one before, but as long as I’m on an anime kick, I’d like to recommend this one.

It only lasted a season, and didn’t get through all of the manga, but it’s cute and fun (though also with some violence, mostly up front), and the characters are supremely likable, all in all, particularly in the manga.

I’ll also admit I’m only up to about where the show ended in the manga, but we’ll go from there.

Zumba

So, my sister and I will sometimes take fitness classes through local programs, and this year we finally decided to try Zumba. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s a workout based primarily on dancing/cardio mashups. I’ve been kind of curious about it for a long time, but we finally decided to give it a go.

Man, is it fun.

Super sweaty and a good/hard workout? Yes. But also, so, so fun.

It’s also come at a really ideal time for me, because as I’m realizing, when I’m in a rough patch, or even when I’m not, moving and dancing really just makes me feel good. When I’m not dancing regularly, I forget that, so having something that I’m paying for (to make sure I go) that is regularly scheduled has really done a lot for my mental health. The first time I went, not having done much dancing for a while, I swear it was a healing experience.

And now that I’ve got the movement bug again, hopefully I’ll be able to get back in gear and pick up dancing again.

Church

Okay, so this last one is probably the most important, and basically what it is is not the actual practice of going to church (though that is super valuable and important too!), but the people themselves, Christ’s body and bride, the church.

As I’ve alluded to above, I’m in a little bit of a chaotic season, and besides that have been realizing some things in my life that need to get addressed (more on that later). And being able to go to a church where I am welcomed, loved, and encouraged whether or not I’ve even given back anything has meant more than I’m sure any of those people have realized.

Going to church or church events has not always been easy for me. Because I like weird stuff (or violent stuff, or just not typical “Christian” stuff, see above), I’ve often felt a little squeamish or afraid of being “found out,” rejected, or scolded about my weird interests (and to be fair, some people shouldn’t watch the things I do, just like there are certain things others are fine watching that I don’t/shouldn’t). But at the church I’ve started going to, even despite my flaws, even despite coming to church angry or weepy or anything else, I’ve felt so loved and accepted and welcomed in such a non-pressuring way, it’s been amazing.

So even if you’re weird, even if you don’t think you do or can belong, even if you’re angry or hurt or upset, find yourself a good, Jesus-modeling church. Their love, Christ’s love, will set you free.

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Anyway, that’s what I’m up to lately. How about you? What are some good hobbies, media, or otherwise that you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments below. Want more content like this, about my life, faith, or writing journey? Subscribe now and feel free to follow me on social media (though social media and I are on a break, so I may not respond there right away) to stay in touch. Thank you!

Recommendation roundup June 2019

Hi everyone! It’s time for another recommendation roundup, where I tell you about all of the things I’ve been enjoying most as of late. Let’s dive in.

Octopath Traveler

This is a JRPG (Japanese Role-playing Game, think 8-bit Final Fantasy sorta) for the Nintendo Switch, in which you rotate through playing as one of eight different characters along their individual quests. Now, normally, I wouldn’t play this kind of game because you have to grind a ton (keep fighting the same kinds of bad guys over and over to get enough experience points to actually move forward), but I’ve got to say, this one is different. For one thing, the stories are tight, clear, and at least so far, make sense (which is not always the case. I’m looking at you, Kingdom Hearts).

Secondly, the game is absolutely gorgeous. The detail spent on the surroundings is off the charts, and some of the finer art pieces in it (such as the pictures on the cover/menu screens) are done in a really unique and beautiful style. Add to that the fact that the combat system isn’t insanely confusing (I’m looking at you, most JRPGs I’ve played), that the upgrade trees for the characters is straightforward and fun, the light and cheery attitude of most of the characters, and the amazing voice actors, and it’s no surprise that this one is getting listed first on my list. I highly recommend it (just make sure you pick a good character to start with off the bat, as they can’t leave your party until you finish all of their arcs. I picked Cyrus, and he’s been a gem).

Promised Neverland

One of the weird things I face with non-anime fans is the assumption that all anime is (because it’s animated) either made for children, simplistic, or otherwise frivolous. Next time that happens, I’m going to tell them they should watch this show. A story following (ironically) three crazy smart kids, it chronicles their plot to escape from Grace House, a supposed orphanage that they discover is actually a farm raising children to be eaten by monsters. What I love about it is several fold. First, the kids are so smart (while still being realistic. I’m looking at you, Ender’s Game), it’s amazing trying to watch them outsmart the adults. Second, the plot is super tight with a ton of really great twists and turns. I’m always in suspense. Third, the art style is really beautiful. While there is some graphic content in there (violence/horror, mostly in episode one so far), the rest is really gorgeous, and in a style that is just different enough from most anime to be especially charming. Fourth, Isabella, the “mom” who runs the farm, is an amazing villain. This show is a perfect example of just what anime can be, and is definitely much, much more than something for kids (who, honestly, probably shouldn’t watch it, haha).

Side note, the manga is really gorgeous too, with an even more distinct art style. The anime is only 12 episodes in, but I’m just about to outpace it in the books, of which I think there are 10 so far (in English).

This is Emma, one of the main characters (though she’s younger here since it’s a flashback). She’s adorable.

Deus Ex

Another video game, I am super late to the party on this one, but I think it still deserves mentioning. I remember playing it a long time ago, but because I didn’t have full access to it, I was only able to play the first story or so. Now that I own it ($5.99 at Half Price Books, w00t), I’ve started in on it again and well, let’s just say I stayed up way past my bedtime last night.

There are a few reasons this one made my list. First off, I just really like the ambiance. Action games with really unique worlds or moral questions in play (now I’m looking at you, Bioshock, Mass Effect, Horizon Zero Dawn) are pretty much my favorite kinds, so having one in a strange future version of Detroit with a fairly relevant moral question fits that mold perfectly. I also think the idea of upgrading your body rather than your suit (not an entirely new idea, of course) is really fun and well handled in this game. Like I said, I haven’t gotten super far into it yet, but I expect that based on what I’ve seen so far, I’ll continue to enjoy it.

Storm Writing School/Write by the Lake

This year I had the pleasure of attending Write by the Lake, an annual writers’ workshop and retreat. I took a class on story engineering with Tim Storm who runs Storm Writing School, and I have to say I learned a lot. Tim was a great teacher and the content we covered was both dense and immensely helpful, which, when learning, are two of my favorite things. I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to WBTL again soon, because it is expensive (not overly so, I just have bills and limited vacation time, haha), but if you get the chance, and especially with Tim, I highly recommend it.

Diana Wynne Jones

Despite the fact that I’m a writer, I really don’t read as much as I should. Recently, I started asking myself why. What I realized, was that–outside of manga, which I typically only read for anime series I already enjoy–most of the books I’d been reading lately hadn’t been terribly enjoyable. Now, I could list some theories as to why that is, but to keep things short and positive, I’ll rephrase the problem, which was really that I wanted to read something I liked better.

Enter Diana Wynne Jones. I’ve been a fan of her since my middle school years, and while I don’t love every book she’s written (which is fair to say of anyone), I do always love her writing style. Her unique magic systems and worlds, the creativity of the characters and the names, and her voice in general have always drawn me in, and, having a four book series of hers waiting on my shelf, I decided to dive back in.

It has been well worth it. Though the first book of the Dalemark Quartet series wasn’t an exact hit with me, at least at first, I have been loving the second one, and when I’m done with the rest, I think I’ll be looking into rooting out more of her work (or repurchasing old favorites).

Attack on Titan season 3

Sorry non-nerds, this is a rough post for you, but I wanted to bring up the third season of Attack on Titan because honestly, it’s been, for the most part, amazing.

The reason this one makes the list, honestly, is partly because of how little I enjoyed the first season/how hot and cold my relationship with it can be. If I’m being strictly honest, the titans–especially in season one–are super gross and the premise of the show is violent/gory/creepy enough to be a little off-putting. Add to that the fact that I couldn’t tell the characters apart that much in season one and thought everyone was super annoying except for Levi and Mikasa (I’m looking at you Eren), and well, you can see why it was a rough start.

Which is why it’s been so refreshing to see the show get so much better with time. I’ll admit the titans are still super gross and there is a lot of blood and violence if that’s not your thing, but the storytelling itself (and the animation) have gotten a lot better.

I’d say the show is still hot when it’s hot and not when it’s not, and it definitely has its fair share of both epic strengths and weaknesses, but in some ways, that only makes it more fascinating (especially when I’ve been diving so deep into what makes stories tick this year). Anyway, fair warning to you all if you don’t like blood, violence, or creepy, anatomically skewed, giant, genitalia-less naked people, but if you can take it, I’d be interested to know what the rest of you think.

Captain Levi: One of the many reasons anime has ruined all fair expectations I have for human men.

Honorable Mentions

1. My Roommate is a Cat. This heartwarming slice of life story is about an anti-social writer who adopts a cat when she inspires his new series and how his life opens up as a result. As a writer who has sometimes struggled to make connections herself, this spoke to me on a deep level and was at times a great comfort. And, since half of each episode is told from the cat’s perspective, it’s also hilarious.
2. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. This anime about an abandoned prince plotting a rebellion against the empire that threw him and his sister away is a lot of fun. With a great combination of really terrible lines, some cheesy anime randomness, and some sincerely good storytelling, it’s been a blast to watch it with my roommate.
3. Murder Falcon. If any of you follow me on Twitter, you all know I’ve been low key obsessed with this series. An eight comic series about a guitarist who helps fuel a giant falcon-man who fights evil via the power of metal, it is both one of the raddest comics you’ll read and one of the most heart-wrenching. I cannot recommend it enough.

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So, how about you? What have you been reading, watching, or listening to? Have you had an experience with any of my recommendations or think you’ll give one of them a try? Let me know in the comments below, and if you want more content about what I consume, my writing, or my life, please feel free to follow me here on the blog or on social media using the links in the sidebar or below. Thanks for reading!

Recommendation roundup: January 2019

Hey all,

I wanted to write this post a little earlier, but apparently, I had other things I wanted to say so here we are. That being said, there are a few things that have been of particular interest to me this past year/heading into this one (I promise this is probably, maybe the last time I milk the old year/new year transition) and given the time of year, I wanted to share.

Fullmetal Alchemist

Edward Elric. What a cool guy.

For anyone who follows me on Facebook, Twitter, (feel free to join the clubs) or Goodreads, you know that one of the bigger features of 2018 was what I referred to as my “Fullmetal summer,” in which I read the entire Fullmetal Alchemist manga series by Hiromu Arakawa. At the same time, I watched all of the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, having seen the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime series several years before. And, while they all have their differences, there are a few things I wanted to point about the story in general that really put it at the top of my list.

1. Concept: When people ask me what I like about anime, one of the first things I tell them is that anime is really good at committing to a concept, or, to put it another way, that they are really great at exploring ideas (the American contrast in storytelling being much more moral/message driven). Fullmetal Alchemist is no exception to this rule. Following these two boys as they wrestle with concepts such as equivalent exchange, truth, and even God is a joy and a pleasure, and the world (and the rules it lives by) are by and large consistent, fascinating, and fun to explore.
2. Characters: From the two main brothers, Ed and Al; to Roy Mustang and his coterie of soldiers; to the homonculi; and more, even small characters in this series are well thought out, distinct, and purposeful. I love the different cultures Arakawa has created, the strong and intertwining relationships between the characters, and the humor and heart that live in them all.
3. Plotting: Given that Arakawa had such a large cast, it would have been easy to drop characters or plotlines almost without her readers noticing. Instead, she has created a tapestry of plots, all weaving in and out of each other until the very end. And while of course there were parts I didn’t love, or times when the arcs she chose to follow most closely weren’t my favorite, the overarching impression I had throughout this series was one of admiration and respect. The story is great, well-paced, and how everything managed to come together was, overall, a joy.

The Story Grid Podcast/Book

Image source

As I’ve been looking into improving my own plotting skills, one of the resource names that I kept seeing was The Story Grid, a method by which writers and/or editors can map out a story’s major movements in detail in order to better quantify and locate those vague, foggy places where something “just doesn’t work.” Looking it up, at first I was a little overwhelmed. I like making plot graphs and taking notes, sure, but this? It seemed like another level entirely. I wasn’t even sure where to start.

That’s when I discovered they have a podcast.

The show is simple in premise: New fiction writer Tim Grahl asks long time editor Shawn Coyne (author of The Story Grid) questions about how to be a better writer.

The results are magic. Shawn has a wisdom and familiarity about storytelling borne of 25+ years of experience that absolutely shines through the way he speaks, and Tim’s questions are both practical and insightful. Along the way, I get tons of practical advice (something that can sometimes be missing in the somewhat ephemeral world of writing and writing advice), as well as frequent forays into the more philosophic questions about writing and what it is actually for. Shawn provides authority on the topic–as well as flexibility in the fact that all writers really do approach things their own way–and Tim is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with him on topics about which they might disagree. The result is a series of natural sounding conversations that are smart, practical, and wise, and I am devouring them.

On a related note, after starting to listen (and after finding the website fairly unwieldy in actually finding the information I need), I did decide to buy the book and it just came in the mail yesterday. Given that today is a snow day as well, I can’t wait to dive in. I am sure the pages will be much earmarked by the time I am finished.

Twice Born 2

Okay, I’m going to admit, this one is a little self-promotional, but I am also very, very excited about it. Again, as anyone who follows me on social media knows (don’t you want to be included now? Links below!), I recently finished the first two arcs of a collaborative story I’ve been telling online for the past five years. I use an online, collaborative storytelling platform called Storium to host it, and the story is called Twice Born. It follows the story of a young prince who was nearly murdered by his Uncle while his country sits at the brink of war with the neighboring Lustaran elves. The first two arcs focused mostly on him getting his original body back (after being forced into a different one after his near-assassination) and returning to his home kingdom.

Now, entering arc three, he and his companions will be taking down the larger entities behind his near-death, all while hoping to bring his country back from the brink of said war.

There are a couple of reasons I wanted to include this one on the list.

First, because as someone who loves collaborative storytelling, I am super jazzed about getting to be involved with this story and the super awesome writers who have agreed to write it with me.

Second, because, given that it took five years to complete the first two arcs, this game has meant a lot to me on a personal level. Not only have I learned to write (and plot) better, to persevere, and to work collaboratively, but I have also been so blessed by the friendships and relationships that have come out of writing with these amazing people. They have challenged my writing, pushed me to improve, and it has just been an utter blessing to get to work with such kind and talented people.

Thirdly, because we got some new writers for this game, and I cannot wait to see what their characters do. With so much to work from using the first two arcs as fodder and the creativity these new writers have already shown in just their character submissions, I think this story is going to be an absolute blast. We’ve already started the first two scenes, (available here). If you want to find out more about these awesome folks or follow the story, I suggest you sign up and follow or bookmark it now!

Honorable Mentions

Since this post is already starting to get a little long, I don’t want to bog you down with too much more, but I did want to share a few other things I’ve been into lately, even if they couldn’t fit in top billing.

Chris Renzema is a Christian music artist and his music has really helped me through some tough times. What I love about him most is his honesty and willingness to plumb the full range of human experience for his art. A playlist of some of his top songs is embedded below.

Critical Role is a real-play podcast that follows several friends as they play D&D. Warning, there is a lot of bad language/inappropriate content in the show, which I don’t like, but also a lot of wonderful characterization, growth, and creative action, so just listen at your own risk.

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So, what about you? What have you been into lately and why? Any good resources, stories, or favorite jams? Please tell me in the comments below, and if you want more content like this, feel free to follow me here on the blog or on social media using the links below!

Recommendation roundup: March 2018

Hey all,

It’s time for another round of sharing what I’ve been digging lately. Allons-y.

Sufferings in Africa

This is a book by Captain James Riley, a man taken into slavery with his crew after shipwrecking on the coast of Africa. A major factor in convincing Abraham Lincoln to be an abolitionist, I heard about it from the podcast Futility Closet, a compendium of miscellany from the site of the same name.

What I enjoyed about this book so much is as follows.

1. Straight-forward language that was both easy to read and full of candor. Though at first glance the style might seem boring for its simplicity, I actually found it captivating in its own, curious way.
2. Riley’s excellent keeping of distances over time. I don’t know why the fact he kept track of miles traveled daily made this book so charming, but it did.
3. Life lessons everywhere. Riley’s faith, gratitude, thoughtfulness and care for his crew, hard work, and fortitude are startling. Add to that his even-handedness in describing the people he met, his surrender (and faith) in the face of utter helplessness, and the various contrasts between just and cruel treatment, hospitality and rejection, love and hate, and you’ve got yourself a powerhouse for critical thought. I picked this up as part of some research I was doing for a project. I am so glad I did.

Our Fair City

A podcast about a dystopian future where an insurance company has taken over nearly all aspects of the lives of its “policies,” this audio drama podcast is an often outrageous, sometimes sobering satire. With lovable characters like Dr. Herbert West, Andrew Snidge, and so many more, it’s funny, charming, and well produced. While it sometimes veers into territory I’m not fond of (re-writing hymns or Christmas songs to be about the company or its goals), and not all of the content is amazing (some of their season break stuff gets a little tiring), on the whole, I’ve really enjoyed devouring this one.

Children of the Whales

Okay, to be fair, I’ve only seen one episode so far, so please don’t quote me on this being stellar if it turns out to be bad, but just in case it holds up as being as beautiful and interesting as the first episode was, this anime is definitely worth checking out. A Netflix original, it follows a group of people from the “Mud Whale,” a small island drifting through a sea of sand. Its inhabitants consist of the “marked” who can use magic but live shorter lives, and the “unmarked,” who can’t use magic but live much longer. The animation style is beautiful, the characters and plot are interesting so far, and ultimately, I’ve got high hopes. There are only 12 episodes so far, so we’ll see where it goes!

The BFG

A collaboration between Spielberg (one of my favorite directors) and Disney, The BFG is based on Roald Dahl’s novel of the same name. Full disclosure, I haven’t read the book, so I can’t compare the two.

In any case, I had a night off the other night (a miracle not of my own doing. Thank you, Jesus!), and since I knew nobody else wanted to watch it with me, I decided to give it a go on my own.

What a journey.

The CG in it is beautiful, the story is light and full of wonder with none of the usually angsty trappings of many stories today (not that I hate that, believe me), and though simple, is tremendously well done. Spielberg does a great job as usual, and all in all, it’s just a beautiful movie. I highly recommend it for anyone, regardless of age.

Bonus, the main character Sophie looks just like my sister when she was younger, to the degree I couldn’t every fully extricate one from the other, so it was fun to cheer for her throughout the whole movie.

Anyway, I think those are some of the major ones I’ve got right now.

Runners-up would include Black Panther (my favorite Marvel movie in a while, and perhaps the subject of a later post), Futility Closet (the podcast where I found Sufferings in Africa), and Colony House, a band I’m really digging. Also, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (an anime that is animated very well with an amazing supporting cast. I recommend watching Fullmetal Alchemist first, though Brotherhood is definitely the better of the two), and as ever, foxtrot, swing, and all other forms of ballroom dancing.

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So that’s what I’ve been listening to/watching lately. What are your most recent jams?

Recommendation roundup, audiophiles and artistry

Hey guys,

It’s that time of year again. Not a specific time I’ve set up beforehand (like I probably should) but, as the title suggests, that time of year where I’ve been finding tons of cool new stuff to share with all of you!

So without further ado and in no particular order, let’s go!

Chet Baker

I first heard about Chet Baker probably five years or more ago when I was trying to get into jazz. It’s a tricky genre because it can veer from amazing to obnoxious on a dime for me, and in the slew of recommendations, I think poor Chet got lost in the shuffle. In trying to get back into jazz (again), I decided to look him up again, and man, am I glad I did.

The perfect mesh of boyish optimism, charm, and melancholy for me, I find him intensely romantic (in the same way I find bachelor detectives and cozy sweaters and fall romantic, not in the usual sense). Extra bonus, look at the album cover for this delightfully passive-aggressive love song. Magical.

“Hey girl, wanna come hang out with my dope sweater in my crazy chair? My trumpet can come too.” Love it.

Edict Zero – FIS

My favorite recommendation for this round, Edict Zero – FIS is a sci-fi audio drama, and it is AMAZING. For one thing, the production quality is off the charts. Secondly, the writing itself is incredible. The world is rich and complicated with details paced at just the right speed, the characters are charming, deep and diverse, and the exposition (one of the easiest downfalls for audio dramas) is handled beautifully.

The story follows a team of five federal agents as they seek to unravel the mystery behind an explosion at a nightclub on New Year’s Eve, 2415. According to their site: “The story is cyberpunk, being a mix of science fiction, law enforcement procedural, crime, suspense/mystery, and dark fantasy. Listeners have made comparisons to Bladerunner, The X Files, Fringe, Lexx, The Prisoner, Twin Peaks, Millenium, The Matrix, Tron, and a diversity of shows.”

Naturally, it’s the kind of thing I would adore, and I do.

As they’ll warn you at the start, there are some violence/language issues to be aware of if that’s a trigger for you, but if you really want to sink your teeth into something meaty, smart, and beautifully crafted, I can’t recommend this enough (oh that the production schedule was more reliable/that they had a larger backlog for me to devour).

Extra bonus: Special Agent Nick Garrett, who is rapidly becoming one of my all-time favorite characters across well, any form of media.

You can find them on iTunes or here: https://edictzero.wordpress.com/

We are So Bad at Adventuring

In discovering my new love for audio dramas, I also managed to stumble across this quirky one following the adventures of Thornwick and Bob, a would-be wizard and a spearman determined to find their way to The Road in order to reach the Big Battle (at least in season 1).

A bit of a guilty pleasure given how deplorable the main characters can be, if it weren’t so witty I probably wouldn’t have listened as far as I have, but it is a fun one to work to. The second season has been a little shaky so far in some of the back and forth development of the characters and it does fall into the exposition through straight up explaining things trap (a fact of which they’re aware and make fun of at least), but it’s still a fun show. You can find more about it at http://www.terribleadventurers.com/.

Audio drama runner-ups

Because I usually binge find things that I enjoy, I’ve also scrounged up the following audio drama podcasts.

It’s About Time is a podcast about Charlie and Steve, two normal guys who get hired at a time travel agency, hijinks sure to ensue. It’s light, charming and clever, and the theme song (a longer version available on the first episode) is so catchy and fun, it cheers me up whenever I hear it.

Deadly Manners, a Clue-style podcast about a dinner party gone horribly wrong features some big name talent such as Lavar Burton and Kristen Bell and has production quality to match. Though it hasn’t gotten very far yet, what it does have so far is great, Olivia and the Fortune Teller being my favorite.

The Once and Future Nerd is a podcast about three average high schoolers who get magically transported to your classic high fantasy world. I haven’t listened to more than a couple episodes, but have liked what I’ve heard thus far. There is a fair amount of bad language in it, so if that’s not your jam, I would skip this one (it’s the main reason I haven’t listened to more myself), but the narrator has a Monty-Pythonesque wit that I really enjoy.

We’re Alive is a zombie apocalypse survival podcast with great production quality and a thus far enjoyable story. I’m not crazy for zombie stories most of the time (surprise!), which has probably kept me from listening to more, but what I have heard has been of really high quality with distinct characters and some nice tension. They also handle exposition well and have a backlog that will be sure to keep me satiated for quite some time.

The Girl from the Other Side

This one is a manga series by Nagabe (art credit for below as well). A dark fairy tale along the lines of Over the Garden Wall, the story follows a little girl abandoned in the woods and her “cursed” Teacher. The girl, Shiva, is the epitome of innocence, and the tenderness of Teacher could melt a robot’s heart. First suggested to me on Amazon, I was delighted to find that three of the books were available so far, of which I have read two. Though some of the imagery is probably a little creepy, the story and heart of the series is so sweet I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. The art style is unique and beautifully inked (though I will admit sometimes it’s a little hard to distinguish because of how much black is used with Teacher and the other cursed beings that crop up). If you like that mix of eerie and sweet, you’ll love this.

 

He loves her so much. Entirely precious.

Anyway, that’s probably enough for recommendations for now. I’m sure if I find more I’ll let you know.

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What about you? Anything you’re dying to tell the world about lately? It doesn’t have to be podcasts or books. Let me know in the comments below!

 

Recommendation Roundup

Hey all,

I’ve been thinking a lot about influences lately, so I thought I’d throw out some shout outs to artists who have been encouraging to me as an artist/writer. For this round I’m just going to do Christian artists, just because finding my place as one has been a journey (and also because if I expanded it, this would be much, much longer), and because they’ve been specifically helpful to me in this regard. So in no particular order, here we go!

Daniel Warren Johnson (@danielwarrenart)

http://www.danielwarrenart.com/
http://www.space-mullet.com/
https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/extremity-1

Daniel Warren Johnson is a comic book writer/illustrator/web comic artist, perhaps most well known for his webcomic Space Mullet, “an episodic style comic about a washed up, Ex-Space Marine trucker named Jonah, and his alien co-pilot, Alphius,” and his new comic Extremity, which explores the varying impacts of pursuing revenge as a collective family unit. Not only is his work beautiful (fyi, it is pretty violent, so if that’s not your jam, I wouldn’t follow this up), but his writing is also thoughtful and complex in its introduction and exploration of its themes. My favorite example of this is issue #3 of Extremity. I love his characters for their complexity and heart (Alphius, Bobbi, Shiloh, and Rollo being some prime examples), and for the artfulness of his compositions, especially in their subtle echoing and support of his themes (a good example is this page of Space Mullet http://www.space-mullet.com/comic/chapter-4-pg-35/ and all of the third issue of Extremity.)

Anyway, you should check out his work (he’s got more than just those two projects for sure), order it at your local comic book store, and if you ever get the chance, snag a commission.

Meg Syverud (@BluDragonGal)

http://megsyv.com/
http://www.daughterofthelilies.com/dotl/part-1-a-girl-with-no-face

Meg Syverud is the writer and illustrator of Daughter of the Lilies, a beautiful webcomic that follows adventurers Thistle, Orrig, Brent, and Lyra. From her site:

What happens when a man who kills monsters falls in love with a girl who thinks she is one?

Brent, a brutish, freelancing adventurer, realizes that he’s fallen for his coworker, Thistle: a shy, talented Mage who considers herself a monster, and who is relentlessly pursued by a tyrannical dictator.

Daughter of the Lilies is a comic largely about the importance self-worth, the different forms love can take, how it can redeem and empower us, as well as issues relating to anxiety. (There are also unicorns, manticores, ghouls, goblins, cannibalistic elves, and so on.)

One of the things I love about this comic (besides the fact it’s really pretty) is one of the goals behind it, which is to have open dialog about Christianity in the webcomic sphere.

One of the things I really love about it is how she actually does it, through story and community discourse. It’s lovely (and a great story and concept too!).

The Bible Project (@JoinBibleProj)

https://thebibleproject.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVfwlh9XpX2Y_tQfjeln9QA

I’ve mentioned these guys before. They’re a Portland based non-profit whose “mission is to help people see the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus,” and they do it through a variety of resources, including YouTube videos, books, and, my personal favorite, their podcast. I’ve only known about them since fall of last year, and only started listening to their podcast a few weeks ago, but I’ve seen a lot of growth come out of even that short period of time. They do a great job of mixing intellect, history, and literary knowledge to reveal what the Bible is and how to read it properly, and I’m really grateful for their thoughtful and varied approach.

N.D. Wilson (@ndwilsonmutters)

N.D. Wilson is a non-fiction and Middle Grade fiction author from Idaho. I’ve read his 100 Cupboards trilogy, following home grown adventurers from Kansas trying to save basically everything from an evil witch, and most of Death by Living: Life is Meant to Be Spent, and the more I read, the more I appreciate his work (I’ll admit, I wasn’t terribly sure of him when I first read 100 Cupboards. Thank goodness I came back!). It’s very poetic, which is lovely, but it also does a great job of calling evil what it is. I know on my writing journey, one of the most important lessons I’ve had to learn is to acknowledge evil and its power without either glorifying or magnifying it–that is to take it seriously but always recognize there is a greater and better power still, and that’s something that I think N.D. Wilson does very well. I love both the purity and humanity of his characters (I think of Henry, who can one minute be squabbling with his cousin, and the next flinging himself in the line of danger to save her), and the poetry of his writing (the opening to Dandelion Fire is a great example of this, if I recall). I’ve been so encouraged by the strangeness of his stories (weird books do matter!), and have learned much from his example of maintaining good in the face of evil within an invented world. I am reminded of broader scopes and Tolkien-esque adventures when I read his work, and am encouraged to think such stories can and do happen in our day to day lives.

Alma (@hearalma)

http://www.hearalma.com/

I’ve mentioned my friend Alma a few times before, but I just wanted to call attention to her again, partly because she has a new podcast (@voicescast) regarding people who use their voices in life and how to do so well, and partly because if we’re talking about artistic influences, she’s definitely on my list. She’s a neo-soul singer, so there’s not a lot of overlap in our trades, but she has encouraged and inspired me in her thoughtfulness and wrestling with what it means to be a Christian artist, for her quality in craft, for her outspokenness in, well, many things, for her great love for cultivating meaningful conversation, and for actually going out and getting things done! She’s lovely. Check her out.

Honorable mentions

To finish off, I’d like to highlight just a few other artists that I like, those who might have had lesser influence (so far), or just that I feel are worthy of mentioning as great artists.

Kyle Culver (@kulver), a friend of mine with a passion for art, film, and storytelling who constantly inspires me with the volume of projects he works on, and his enthusiasm for story and self improvement. https://www.youtube.com/user/akaneo17/playlists

Mutemath (@MUTEMATH), a band you might know whose lyrics bring comfort.

Rivers & Robots (@riversandrobots), another great band whose lyrics bring perspective.

Billy Joel the Opera Ghost

Hey guys,

The other day I was listening to Billy Joel and the song “Pressure” came on, in which he sings about how not having scars on your face means you can’t really handle life (paraphrase).

Immediately, my mind went to Phantom of the Opera, and then naturally things spiraled out of control. What follows is a somewhat ridiculous pitch (though I would DEFINITELY pay to see it) about what would happen if the Phantom of the Opera were actually Billy Joel, and if the Broadway show were rewritten as such.

• Open relatively the same, but with “We Didn’t Start the Fire” playing as the chandelier lights up, as much of the show is about communal responsibility/the shirking thereof and results.
• Christine becomes popular singing “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,”
• Raoul comes to visit Christine and the Phantom is naturally upset, singing “Everybody Loves You Now.”
• Christine agrees to go through the mirror, and Phantom sings “The Longest Time” to talk about their love.
• Replace “Music of the Night” with “River of Dreams.”
• Christine passes out, and on waking hears the piano part of “Piano Man” as Billy plays at the organ.
• Christine wants to know who he is, and after ripping off his mask, she pursues knowing his story. He sings “The Entertainer” by way of explanation of his being an incredible musician struggling for recognition from unsympathetic humans/the struggle of his creative genius vs. human ideals of beauty.
• Christine returns, and after performing in “Uptown Girl” on stage, retreats to the roof with Raoul.
• Raoul sings “An Innocent Man” to try to convince her to love him.
• The Phantom is crushed by Christine’s betrayal, but still loves her, singing “She’s Always a Woman.”
• As the Phantom’s grief turns to anger, end the first act with “Pressure.”
• Instead of Masquerade, start with “Why Should I Worry” medley and transition into “You May Be Right/Pressure” when the Phantom returns.
• Replace “Don Juan” with “I Go to Extremes,” as the Phantom tries to convey his roller coaster existence.
• Replace “Point of No Return” with “Just the Way You Are.”
• As Raoul chases them down, the Phantom tries to convince Christine one last time that their love can make it with “A Matter of Trust.”
• When Christine kisses the Phantom, have some kind of reprise, possibly of “Just the Way You Are” or “Always a Woman.”
• When the Phantom decides to let them go, he sings “Tell Her About It” to make sure Raoul takes his new love seriously/treats Christine right.
• End with bits and pieces “Piano Man” as he disappears.

Anyway, I know some of the songs would have to be tweaked some or shuffled around, and that ultimately the whole thing is a little silly, but hopefully next time you hear a song from either, you can get a smile.

Oh, and I definitely created the playlist on Spotify (listen here), if you want to think about it some more. Let me know what you think, folks. Songs you would add, change, shuffle or move? Tell me in the comments!

That’s my jam: February 2017

Hey all,

We’re nearly halfway through February, and I have been a bit busy and sick for hardcore processing/thinking (though I will say I just got a new job, yay! Thanks Jesus!), but I have also been enjoying a lot of other things, so why don’t we talk about them, because they’re great!

1. The Expanse: This epic sci-fi series comes both in book form and the TV variety. I just started the first book a bit ago, and have really been enjoying it (warning, neither is for kiddies). I’ve also seen the first season three times, twice in London and once back home. It’s about the political turmoil between Earth, Mars and “Belters” (from the Asteroid belt), a missing girl, and a mysterious war-threatening scheme involving something called a protomolecule, and it is really, really good. Also, the character design, world-building and production quality are all pretty high too, so all in all it’s one of my new favorite series (likely one of my favorites of all time if they keep it up). The second season just started on SyFy, which I don’t currently have access too, but hopes are high. Also, for the record, Miller is the best.

   

   Miller, also known as “the best.” Not shown, his awesome noir-ish detective hat. Shown, his awesome cheekbones, which I’m pretty sure could cut glass.

2. Critical Hit: I’ve mentioned this one before, but I just want to say it again, this podcast is hilarious. It comes from the Major Spoilers podcast family, and follows several guys and a lady as they play D&D. The characters are laugh out loud funny (actually, I’ve had to stifle myself several times at work), and the adventures creative and engaging. Rodrigo Lopez, the GM (he also wrote a book called The Tale of Tallest Rabbit. It’s cute.), does a great job leading, and also does super great voice work for NPCs, some of my favorites of which are Malfrond the crocodile, Stagsy the Tiefling, and Poke the hedgehog. Rob, DnD Brian, Steven (Stephen?), Matthew and Adrianna voice the characters of Ket (and Smith), Randus (crowd favorite, also my favorite), Orem, Torq and Trelle. There are other characters I have yet to meet, being a over halfway through the series myself, and several others I haven’t mentioned, but it’s good. Also probably not for kiddies in general, but also a lot less explicit than several other real play podcasts I’ve tried, and with the longest ongoing story I’ve seen from them.
3. Death by Living: Life is Meant to be Spent: N.D. Wilson is the author of the 100 Cupboards series and several other books for middle grade readers, but he’s also written a couple of books about Christian living (as well as The River Thief, which is a movie on Netflix, I believe), and this is one of them. Part Memoir, part theological essay, the writing is poetic and visual, and I’ve really been enjoying it so far. If anyone else has read it, I’d love to hear their thoughts.
4. Artemis Fowl: A middle grade book about a twelve year old kid who kidnaps a fairy, though the humor can be a little crude and there’s more cursing than I’d expect for a middle grade, the writing is smart and the main character fascinating. I’ve been eyeing this series for about a decade, and I’m pleased to say I’ve finally been able to start it.
5. Amos Lee: One of my favorite singer/songwriters out there, Amos Lee just released his album Spirit last year, and it’s gorgeous. My favorites are “New Love” Running out of Time” and “Spirit.” Check it out (and his other music of course) on Spotify.
6. John Williams: I know we know him from his film scores, but he’s also been featured on Spotify’s Composer Weekly playlist for some of his non-film scores, and not surprisingly, they’re just as awesome. Check them out on Spotify.
7. Sawbones: A marital tour of misguided medicine, this podcast is all about how we’ve tried to cure various medical conditions through history, and besides being interesting, it’s also pretty funny. Hosted by Justin and Dr. Sydnee McElroy, they cover everything from chapped lips to tea, hysteria to cranberries and more.

Anyway, that’s some of what I’ve been listening to, reading, watching, etc., lately. So check it out, and if you have any suggestions for things for me to check out, or whatnot, lemme know!