The Dark Tower 🤷‍♀️ Film Review

Written by Thelonia

A Stephen King property that wouldn't be one of the top 5 people would recommend to you, the "Dark Tower" series still seemed ripe for Hollywood adaptation. But upon its release, it was met with a widespread “meh” from critics. But is it as bad (or boring) as all that?

Tickets-Center.com 🏷 Website Review and Tips on How to Avoid Scams

Written by Tia

Step 1: Decide you want to scam people. Step 2: Overcharge people on a product that you have yet to acquire. Step 3: Really, really bad karma?

I'm starting to think this is just the ultimate formula for scammers these days, so I want to get you guys in on it, so it doesn't happen to you. Here's a review of a website I had a bad purchasing experience on, which brought to mind some tips I've learned recently on how to avoid scams, ripoffs, and tricks of the money-making world.

No Improvement Podcast 👯 Episode 26

No Improvement is a sort-of-funny talk show that explores the vast, untapped potential of TV shows, books, films, and more. Quill & Slate blog runners Thelonia and Tia review—and then reimagine—the stories you know and love until you can barely recognize them anymore. Hopefully in a good way. And if not, well, we hope you are still entertained.

In the 26th episode of No Improvement, we take a look at the eighth episode of Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (check out the book as well and our podcast on that) and talk about what we liked, what we didn't like, how we would improve it, and where we hope the story will go.

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All in Good Storytime 📚 Episode 13

All in Good Storytime is an interactive, bookish, book club podcast hosted by Alanna, Katya, and Tia. To join the club, make sure you're following us on Twitter to get updates on what book we're reading and to what chapter we are reading through (or what anime we're watching and what episode we are watching through), and listen to the podcast here or on iTunes (see link below) to join in on the discussion. And don't forget to read along!

In the 13th episode of All in Good Storytime we begin reading Acceptance, the final book in the Southern Reach Trilogy (previous books: Annihilation and Authority). We discover that Cynthia, the psychologist/former director grew up in the town that was to become Area X and was close with the lighthouse keeper. We see Control and Ghost Bird's journey through Area X paralleled with flashbacks of Cynthia's undercover travels to Area X with Whitby. We discuss what it means to be a clone versus an original, why the Forgotten Coast may have been the epicenter of Area X, and what the Séance & Science Brigade was up to in the lighthouse.

Next week we will be reading chapters 9-14 of Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer.

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"Look What You Made Me Do" music video by Taylor Swift 🔊 Music News

Written by Tia

Taylor Swift's new video for her latest single is out! You can watch the music video for "Look What You Made Me Do" off the album Reputation below:

All in Good Storytime 📚 Episode 12

All in Good Storytime is an interactive, bookish, book club podcast hosted by Alanna, Katya, and Tia. To join the club, make sure you're following us on Twitter to get updates on what book we're reading and to what chapter we are reading through (or what anime we're watching and what episode we are watching through), and listen to the podcast here or on iTunes (see link below) to join in on the discussion. And don't forget to read along!

In the 12th episode of All in Good Storytime, we finish reading Authority, the sequel to Annihilation. We learn that Lowry, the only survivor from the first expedition, has been Control's handler all along. We analyze the latest terrifying incident with Whitby, talk about the biologists clone, and travel to the former director's house. Finally, we discuss the fall of the Southern Reach when Area X breaches its borders. We end by broadly discussing the pace and content of Authority in contrast with Annihilation.

Next week we will be reading chapters 1-8 of Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer.

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A Doll's House, Part 2 👪 Theatre Review

Written by Thelonia

When she left her family years ago, Nora didn’t know what would await her. In this continuation of the 1879 Norwegian play A Doll’s House, A Doll’s House, Part 2 picks up 15 years later as Nora returns to straighten affairs and inadvertently reunites with her family in this lighter, more comedic re-imagining of a family dealing with social upheavals and new roles for women in the late 19th century.

"Take Me" by Aly & AJ 🔊 Music Video

         

Written by Tia

Aly and AJ Michalka (of Disney Channel fame) are back! This is not a drill. Three days ago, the sisters/musical duo released a new song on their YouTube channel. They've been teasing for a little while now that they would be coming back as Aly & AJ, but this is the first glimpse we've seen so far of proof.

The song, "Take Me," is good pop fun—a real "scream along down the highway" type song that promises their upcoming music will be just as good as their Into the Rush, Chemicals React, and Insomniatic albums. Listen to "Take Me" (UPDATE: and watch the new music video) below!

No Improvement Podcast 👯 Episode 25

No Improvement is a sort-of-funny talk show that explores the vast, untapped potential of TV shows, books, films, and more. Quill & Slate blog runners Thelonia and Tia review—and then reimagine—the stories you know and love until you can barely recognize them anymore. Hopefully in a good way. And if not, well, we hope you are still entertained.

In the 25th episode of No Improvement, we take a look at the seventh episode of Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (check out the book as well and our podcast on that) and talk about what we liked, what we didn't like, how we would improve it, and where we hope the story will go.

Subscribe on iTunes!

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All in Good Storytime 📚 Episode 11

All in Good Storytime is an interactive, bookish, book club podcast hosted by Alanna, Katya, and Tia. To join the club, make sure you're following us on Twitter to get updates on what book we're reading and to what chapter we are reading through (or what anime we're watching and what episode we are watching through), and listen to the podcast here or on iTunes (see link below) to join in on the discussion. And don't forget to read along!

In the 11th episode of All in Good Storytime, we continue reading chapters 9-18 of Authority, the sequel to Annihilation. We make further predictions about the identity of the Voice, this time investigating the Psychologist, Whitby, and Control's grandpa. We discuss the big reveal of Control's shameful past mistake, which cost an innocent woman her life, analyze the footage from the first expedition, and question whether or not Control is really the biologist's husband in disguise. Finally, we suggest that Whitby may be growing a plant from Area X inside of his body.

Next week we will be reading from the section labeled "Hauntings" through the end of Authority by Jeff VanderMeer, finishing up the book.

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Emma in the Night 😥 Book Review

 

Written by Thelonia

Three years ago, teenage sisters Emma and Cass went missing. Now, Cass has returned to her childhood home – and the story she’s telling about where she and Emma have been is one filled with intrigue and salacious details – but how much of it is true?

No Improvement Podcast 👯 Episode 24

No Improvement is a sort-of-funny talk show that explores the vast, untapped potential of TV shows, books, films, and more. Quill & Slate blog runners Thelonia and Tia review—and then reimagine—the stories you know and love until you can barely recognize them anymore. Hopefully in a good way. And if not, well, we hope you are still entertained.

In the 24th episode of No Improvement, we take a look at the sixth episode of Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (check out the book as well and our podcast on that) and talk about what we liked, what we didn't like, how we would improve it, and where we hope the story will go.

Subscribe on iTunes!

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Dream Daddy 💖 Game Review

Written by Thelonia

Well, here we are.

If you have read the title of this review, then you already have an impression of what this is going to consist of. And I am here to tell you it's not what you'd think of at first, but it also is 100% what you think it is. To be honest the worst part about Dream Daddy is having to say the name out loud to people when you want to recommend they play it (which they should, it's cute and funny and deserves the love it's getting).

Nemesis by Bridgit Mendler 😙 EP Review

      

Written by Tia

Bridgit Mendler is known to many of my generation as one of the girls from Lemonade Mouth, but for me, it was Nemesis that really caught my attention. I stumbled upon the song "Atlantis" while perusing suggested YouTube videos, and I recognized her face enough to give me pause.

Although the music video was weird (I've linked it below and I'll go into that more later) and the rapping wasn't particularly notable (sorry, Kaiydo, I just feel this wasn't your best work), there was something about the song that intrigued me. Maybe it was its sound—which reminded me of audio played in reverse—or its message—a story of sleepy heartbreak—but something about it compelled me to keep listening to her other new releases. And I'm so glad I did.