Media – Avenue 23

Strange Weather by Joe Hill

February 28, 2018 by Avenue 23, posted in Media

Hey Guys!

I’m coming back at you with more books I have read! So I said last time that I was starting the book Strange Weather by Joe Hill. Well I am finished it and i have a lot of feelings!

Strange weather has four short stories in it, so it was hard for me to rate on Goodreads, because I loved some and some I was feeling rather “meh” about!

The first story is called Snapshot. This is about a young boy who runs into a very creepy guy, he names the Phoenician. When he gets ahold of the camera, he finds out that with each picture, it erases a memory of the person you’re taking a picture of. It’s an intense and interesting story that I absolutely loved. It was such a cool and unique idea! If I could rate all the stories from 1-4 on which one I loved most, this one would fall into second place.

The next story is called Loaded. I love this one. It’s my favourite out of all of them. It’s such a chilling story and hits too close to home. Basically, a security worker at the mall becomes a hero after a mass shooting. However, when a reporter begins to figure out the real story, his love of guns and sanity comes into question.

The third story, Aloft. Is about a man who goes parachuting with a girl he’s in love with. When their plane forces them to jump put early, he hits a floor of clouds and is stuck their with no way to get down. He begins to realize that almost everything his mind imagines, is created by the clouds around him. The story switches to his past and his present issue of being stuck on a cloud. Out of all the stories, this one was my least favourite, but I still enjoyed it!

Last story, was called Rain. This one I rated third, but it might even be tied with the second one! It was an interesting story about a crystal rain falling on people in Colorado! The crystals fell like nails, killing anyone who was left out in the rain. A young girl lost her girlfriend and began the walk to tell her family what happened. Along the way she runs into all kinds of chaos and trouble from people confused about the rain and even discovers the source of the rain in the end.

Overall, I gave this story three stars! Like I said, it was hard to rate it, because I felt so different about every story! I also based my review on Joe Hill’s last book few books. I loved Fireman so much, that this one was only three stars compared to this one!

My next read will be: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

The Snowman

February 8, 2018February 8, 2018 by Avenue 23, posted in Media

The Snowman

Hey Everyone!

I recently finished my book and thought I would do do a review on it! This book is by a Norwegian writer named Jo Nesbo! His books tend to be on the creepy side, and I’ve loved reading his books in the past! The Snowman was just as creepy.

I want to make one thing very clear- it’s not about a killer snowman! Everyone has been asking me this and I honestly picked it up thinking the same, but no there is no murdering snowman. Instead, there is a more realistic story.

The main character, Harry Hole (I’m so immature, I laughed for so long) is a detective who is in charge of the case of a missing woman. The only thing left is her scarf wrapped around a snowman outside one of the windows at her home. The case takes some twists and turns that makes it difficult to predict the ending. I won’t say anymore, because it might give away the ending!

I have something just to note here before concluding! This is the seventh book of the series. I picked it up, read it, and entered it into Goodreads! When I did this, it came up as the seventh book for this detective! I had no idea! Now looking back there is a few things that makes you realize it’s a sequel, but if you don’t want to read the first six that’s fine. You really don’t have to! He does a summary of the important things that catches you u tp speed! I would say that the end of this books gives hints for the next book which is really no big deal- maybe you’ll be sucked into reading the rest!

I actually really enjoyed this book! I only wanted to read it because of the Snowman concept, but it was one of the better mystery books I’ve read recently! Like I said, the story was hard to predict, I liked the main character, it was very gory at parts which made it intense! It also freaked me out because it snowed insanely in Canada during the creepy parts and I was like I’m going to die if I see a snowman outside my window!

I gave this story 4 stars on Goodreads: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

And now I’m onto the next book: Strange Weather written by Joe Hill!

Women & Power- Mary Beard

January 25, 2018January 25, 2018 by Avenue 23, posted in Media

Hey Everyone!

I recently just finished a new book! It’s called Women and Power by Mary Beard! Mary Beard is a well respected classics professor and is the author of SPQR. I hate to admit this, but I bought SPQR and have not even started it yet! My brother borrowed it from me and also hasn’t read it yet- whoops! I keep buying books and not reading them because I take out so many library books and have to finish those before I have to take them back! It’s a vicious cycle of having too many books!

Anyways, this is the first Mary Beard book I have read, and it was a very good read! If you want to learn about women’s rights, especially now after the women’s march and times up, this is a great book to read! It’s very short, only like 100 pages and talks about the mistreatment of women from ancient times to current. She talks about the misogynists and the attacks against women throughout time. It’s a short, modern, feminist book that will leave you wanting to underline everything she says. So much of it is so true, you just want to express it to everyone! I kept putting the book down and telling my mom about all these different parts that I could relate to or that made me shiver because it just made sense!

I do believe that this book is important to read. It’s important to learn and understand so we can make our society a more peaceful, and equal one. Always read! Keep Learning! Adjust your perspective, and try to understand other’s views without shutting them down! When you do this, you can compare the arguments and make yours stronger, or you may learn something new you hadn’t even considered! It’ll make you more open minded and more understanding. I learned a lot with this book, but I still have further to go, so this will not be the last feminist book I read.

I rated it 5 stars on goodreads!

My next book is drastically different and is called The Snowman! I’ll let you know my ratings next time! 🙂

1999

December 11, 2017December 11, 2017 by Avenue 23, posted in Media

Hey Dear Readers!

One of the newest posts I’m starting is called “Record of the Month.” It’s just exactly what you think it is! Every month I want to feature a new record that I’ve been listening to lately. PLEASE leave me comments and recommendations! I would love to hear about ANY new albums. It does not matter what it is! I love all genres of music, so don’t worry about suggesting something I won’t like! Whether it’s rock, country, folk, pop, rap, classical, whatever else! I will listen! Music is an amazing form of expression, and I love listening to whoever, especially if I have a back story about the album, or the artist. It makes me appreciate them so much more!

I love records. The best Christmas gift I ever received was my record player. I actually don’t even remember asking for one- I think I casually brought it up one day without thinking too much on it! So, my parents went out and bought me one. I was SO shocked! SO thrilled! They bought me Steve Miller Bands greatest hits (one of my favourite bands) and I’ve been collecting ever since! My records range- one year I bought Adele, another Alice Cooper’s Schools Out, Buddy Holly, Guns and Roses, Pink Floyd! The list goes on!

My love for music and records is shared by my Uncle/ Godfather. We’ve always had a very different relationship and we are pretty close! I go to all of his band gigs and we trade records whenever I get the chance to see him! This last time I got SGT Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Styx, and he loaned me Led Zeppelins concert video. So, it’s safe to say that my rock history lessons still continue and I’m grateful for them!

Anyways, my first record this month is different from most of the ones I’ve been talking about. The Record of the Month goes to one I have been listening to all month long! You know when you listen to a song and you like it, but then one day you’re just in the right mood and listening to that song and something just clicks and you are like THIS IS AN AMAZING SONG! This is me with Prince’s 1999 album!

I bought 1999 from Sunrise Records in West Edmonton Mall. I was at the store for Lady Gaga’s Joanne record, and I stumbled across their “used” records section in some random part of the store. I kind of just grabbed it without thinking. I saw Little Red Corvette and was like I’m down. When I got home, I listened the shit out of Lady Gaga’s, so I finally decided to listen to it after having it a week. When I did, I was like ok why haven’t I listened to this sooner!! It is soo fun to listen to!

My two favorites on there are Little Red Corvette and 1999. I love the rest, but there’s just something special about 1999 that just wants me to get up and dance! I always think, imagine the New Years parties in the year 1999- it makes me think of them. I mean I was like 6 in 1999 so I never got the partying aspect then obviously, but imagine celebrating the year 2000 when you’re of age! Amazing.

The record came out in October 1982- when Prince was 24. What’s cool about it, is its more of a pop/ funk feel from his usual rock albums. The album is just fun and upbeat and from what I’ve read is Prince’s breakthrough album. What I love about Prince, is his entire band, and all the parts they play in these songs. In 1999, there’s like three different singers along with Prince’s voice throughout the whole song. Also, watch the music video, it’s just so ‘80s great. The whole band does a whole dance sequence while playing instruments! I LOVE IT!

I recommend this album! It’s such a fun album to listen to before going out! I always find myself dancing to it- thank god my record player is in my room! Prince- We miss you, I wish I could’ve seen you perform live. Rest Easy.

Here’s the list of songs on the album:

Feel free to leave comments and suggestions!