What To Read And Watch

When reading a book, you want to be not only interested in the book, but you’d also want to be connected to it. A lot of books can do this, some better than others. Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan has a very strong attraction that helps readers connect to the book, and stay connected throughout the whole thing. It has short to medium chapters that go by quickly, and they go even faster once you’re in the book. Archer’s Voice is a non-fiction, young-adult romance novel about a girl who goes through a traumatic experience. This girl meets a boy who also had a troubling past, and once they meet, they can’t live apart. These two individuals learn to navigate life together. At the beginning of this book, Bree, the girl, doesn’t know Archer, the boy, yet. The way they meet isn’t how you’d expect them to, and their backstories aren’t what you’d think. 

Bree and Archer don’t have the best start, but everything definitely comes together in the end. Bree’s past helps her to better understand and communicate with Archer, and they end up having a dynamic relationship. This book is a romance, fiction novel. Romance is the main focus of the book, but the tone is very serious. This book may not be for everyone, only mature people. Some of the topics in this book are serious or just use strong imagery. Although I have yet to read them, some of Mia Sheridan’s other books are Most of all You, Travis, and More Than Words. Though I haven’t read these other books, Archer’s Voice has intrigued me and made me want to read Sheridan’s other work. Throughout the book, readers learn more about Archer’s tough past. In the middle of the book, we learn about how he developed serious trust issues, and Bree and Archer go through many uncertainties during this period. Archer has to learn to face his past and live for himself. 

In the end, Archer does achieve these things, and he ends up accomplishing even more. The book also has an epilogue that shows five years into Archer and Bree’s life together. There’s also an extended epilogue and an extra chapter from Archer’s point of view depicting when he fell in love with Bree. One thing I love about books, specifically this one, is when the author alternates between the two main characters’ views of their story. It makes the book more engaging, and I don’t get bored because it’s not the same person constantly talking about their side of things. When the perspectives change, it allows for both sides to share their opinions and thoughts on the situation. In this book, the author did a very good job of switching the perspectives. This is the best book I’ve read yet, and I’d suggest it to anyone who wants a heavy read.

Gilmore Girls is a widely known and loved show by people of all ages. This show is about a young mom and her daughter navigating life together. Lorelai, the mom, and Rory, the daughter, live in a small town. Although Lorelai’s focus is her job, and Rory’s focus is school, they still have an amazing connection. Lorelai’s family relationships aren’t the best, so she makes sure she gives Rory everything. Throughout the show, Lorelai and Rory go through many ups and downs between themselves and other people. 

Season 1-3 of Gilmore Girls was great, and binge-worthy. After those seasons, the show had a slow decline in attraction. Rory goes to college in season four, and although she will grow and change because humans do that, the directors change her character. Rory starts participating in dangerous, risky activities; she doesn’t seem like herself anymore. Some of the things she does are things that people of this age typically do when they get some freedom. However, what’s wrong with Rory’s behavior is that the things she does are so unlike her. Those who haven’t watched the show may think it’s because she wasn’t allowed to, but Lorelai would have understood if she did these things in high school because she was in Rory’s shoes once. The director of Gilmore Girls is Amy Sherman-Palladino. She did a great job with the first few seasons of the show; not so much the last four. 

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was released in 2016 and directed by Helen Pai and Dylan K. Massin. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life gives an additional look into Rory and Lorelai’s lives years later. A Year in the Life consists of four episodes, one representing each season in that year. These episodes are each an hour and a half long. A Year in the Life shows how Lorelai and Rory are living years later, and how they maintain their relationship even though Rory is an adult now. A Year in the Life also shows some of Rory and Lorelai’s friends and family from the original show, and how they’re doing. 

Gilmore Girls and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life have different energies to them. While Gilmore Girls feels homey and calm, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life feels much more distant and final. This could very well be because they’re just different shows. The contrasting vibes could also be due to the shows’ different producers. Helen Pai, the producer for A Year in the Life, also helped produce Bunheads. While I haven’t watched this show, it was canceled because of low ratings. Dylan K. Massin co-produced Legally Mad and Rooftop Kisses, neither of which I’ve heard of. Amy Sherman-Palladino, the original producer of Gilmore Girls, also produced The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which is a very well-known series. Nonetheless, both productions of Gilmore Girls, reboot and original, are good. They are both very popular amongst the people. Many associate it with fall, and October specifically, due to the feelings that the show gives its audience. If you’re looking for a long, calm show to watch, Gilmore Girls is the show for you.

Although spooky season may technically be over, that doesn’t mean we have to stop watching scary movies. The Scream franchise is one of the most well-loved horror franchises out there, and it’s for a reason. The Scream series consists of six movies, and most are great. 

The first Scream movie was released December 20, 1996, and was directed by Wes Craven. If that name sounds familiar, it may be because Wes Craven directed various other horror movies such as Freddy vs. Jason and many of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. Scream is about a girl named Sydney whose past comes back to haunt her. She has to go through something similar to what her mom went through, and her friends and loved ones are dragged into it too. 

Scream 2, also directed by Wes Craven, was released on December 12, 1997. This movie was also good, though not as great as the first. Sydney remains the main character in this movie. The point of the Scream movies is that a masked killer, always referred to as Ghostface, goes on a killing spree. The audience typically has to find out who the killer is and what their motive is. 

Much like the previous two movies, Scream 3 was directed by Wes Craven. It was released on February 4, 2000. This movie was unsatisfactory, to say the least. The writers added a random, unnecessary detail to the plot, and it clashed with the previous two movies. 

Wes Craven saved the franchise with Scream 4, though. Scream 4 came out on April 15, 2011. The killer in this movie was unexpected, and their motive was the best. In addition, the way they killed and the people they killed was superior to any other movie before it. Sadly, this is the last Scream movie that Wes Craven was able to produce. Wes Craven passed away on August 30, 2015 due to a brain tumor. Although he is no longer with us, Craven still lives on through his movies. 

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett stepped in to produce Scream 5. This movie was released on January 14, 2022, and was beloved by fans. This movie also helped gain a new audience for the Scream franchise since it was released many years later than the rest. This movie also introduced new characters, and the acting was remarkable. 

Finally, Scream 6 was released on March 10, 2023, and was directed by the same two people. This movie is one of my favorites in the whole franchise. Some of the original and old characters are mentioned, brought back, or get what they had a long time coming in this movie. Neve Campbell did not return to play Sydney, but the movie was still good. 

When watching the Scream movies, pay close attention to the family tree and characters as they will be important in every movie. All of the movies in the Scream franchise are great; there is even good to be found in the third movie. I highly recommend this series to anyone, even those who aren’t fans of horror.