Monthly Archives: June 2023

Emails I Can’t Send Fwd: Sabrina Carpenter (Album Review)

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Sabrina Carpenter is mostly known as an actress starring in the Disney show, Girl Meets World, and other movies such as Adventures in Babysitting, Work It, Clouds, and Tall Girl. Yet, most aren’t aware she is a musician at heart. She has released 5 albums and her newest one, in my opinion, is her best one yet.

The original album that was released in 2022, Emails I Can’t Send, consisted of 13 tracks in the pop genre. Leading up after the album, she went on tour and I was lucky enough to go to one of her concerts and sing along to all of her songs. But a couple months after she released the album, she came out with 4 more songs and added them to the album and included the word fwd: to the end of the album title. Emails I Can’t Send Fwd: consists of mellow yet upbeat songs with relatable lyrics. Her most popular song on the album is called, Nonsense, grew in potential and aspired to others through social media. It is now frequently played on the radio and has become well known by most. Sabrina talks about her love interest and how she tried to change for them, or lost herself in the process, along with other emotions. Some of the tracks and the meaning behind them are listed below:

Read Your Mind (track 3): This upbeat song compliments the idea of not being able to express one’s emotions or making up their mind. The frustration of giving mixed signals in a relationship and contradicting between their words and actions and their overall stance between their significant other.

How Many Things (track 7): This song recalls good memories in a relationship or friendship and putting the effort in. Giving more attention towards the person, compared to the other. One of her lyrics states, “I feel myself falling further down your priorities” expressing the loss of interest.

Feather (track 15): This newer song includes the sense of letting something go. Feeling the weight lifted off your shoulders and not having that person or thing on your mind anymore creating the idea of “feeling light as a feather”.

I would definitely recommend this album as each song is unique and different and dives deeper into Sabrina’s life.

Spoiler Free Review of Lockwood and Company Book 1: The Screaming Staircase

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I read the first book of Lockwood and Company after watching and liking the Netflix adaptation. The first book, written by Jonathan Stroud, is titled The Screaming Staircase. It is an urban fantasy novel with some horror elements.

The world is one where 50 years prior to the events of the novel (which takes place in an unclear time but may take place in a technologically-stagnant early 2010’s) a catastrophe referred to as the Problem caused ghosts to start appearing and killing many people, only requiring a touch to cause a kind of quickly-fatal spreading necrotic toxin. However, the only people that can catch more than a glimpse of a ghost are children, who lose their psychic powers by their 20’s. This, of course, means children have to work.

One such child is Lucy Carlyle, the narrator, who is an expert in hearing ghosts and telepathically communicating with them. She is the newest member of the group and is generally competent, but messes up due to a lack of knowledge on occasion.

The titular company is owned by Anthony Lockwood, who is arrogant but also the only person on the team who can talk to people. He is best at seeing ghosts and places where people died.

The last protagonist is George Cubbins, who is not particularly good at any paranormal power and gets in to fights with the other members over nothing, but he’s also the only one who bothers preparing for anything and do any research.

While Lockwood and Company may seem incompetent, the ghost hunting groups run by adults are even more incompetent, with added bureaucracy and a lack of care for human life. The children end up having to deal with adults who are incompetent but also extremely overconfident and condescending, which drives the half of the conflict in the story that is not caused by Lockwood and Co. themselves. The story is full of mystery and twists which is why I will not spoil it here. Lockwood and Co. is a great read for anyone who likes urban fantasy and can handle injury, death, peril, and horror.

– Alexander U.

Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Album Review: Your City Gave Me Asthma by Wilbur Soot

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You may know Wilbur from his presence on various social media platforms, such as Twitch and YouTube. But did you know that besides gaming, he also makes music?

I found this album when it was released back in 2020. From the first listen, I was hooked. The opening track, Jubilee Line, is such a creative song. I think it is such a great opening track to this amazing album.

The second track, Saline Solution, is so catchy in my opinion. I feel like the vocals are very raw and intimate. I love the guitar solo in the beginning, I feel as though it really grasped my interest.

My favorite song on the album, Your Sister Was Right, is so emotional; not only to me, but to the artist as well. The lyrics are so truthful and I really like that in a song. I definitely listen to the song at least twice a day because I love it so much.

As someone who constantly has their AirPods in, this album is always in my daily rotation of music. No matter the day, the mood, or the weather, I will always enjoy this album. I would rate it a 10/10. If you are into the indie or shoegaze genres, I would definitely recommend!

Animal Farm by George Orwell

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In recent times, people have often underestimated the value in reading classic novels and the lessons that can be learned from them. Animal Farm, by prolific writer George Orwell, is an essential classic that everyone must consider reading in their lifetime. 

Published in 1945, Animal farm tells the story of the farm animals who live on Manor Farm under the brutal restraint of their owner: Mr. Jones. In an attempt to seek asylum from Mr. Jones’ cruel ways, the animals congregate under the influence of an old pig on the farm, staging what’s reminiscent of a coup d’etat against Mr. Jones.

The simplistic diction displayed by Orwell throughout Animal Farm reveals the underlying complexity within his story. Animal Farm is an easy read, yet truly gets one thinking about how they perceive the world around them. 

While reading Animal Farm, I couldn’t ignore the similarity in the interactions of a few of the characters to the relationship between historical figures Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Orwell’s representation of these figures in Animal Farm is symbolic of his efforts to encourage the general public to educate themselves and to be cautious about believing everything told by those around them.

While being an older novel, Animal Farm is relevant in its content through an enticing story that has lessons applicable to the world today. I firmly believe that anyone, no matter their age, would appreciate the plot of this story and enjoy the book. Next time you find yourself looking for an interesting and easily digestible book to read, consider Animal Farm. You won’t be disappointed.

– Taylor O.

Animal Farm by George Orwell is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Knowing Brothers (TV Show)

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Knowing Brothers is a South Korean television show first released in December 2015 by the entertainment company SM C&C. It is also known as Men on Mission, or Ask Us Anything. The main cast of Knowing Brothers are Kang Ho Dong, Lee Soo Geun, Seo Jang Hoon, Kim Young Chul, Kim Hee Chul, Min Kyung Hoon, Lee Sang Min, and Lee Jin Ho as of now. The show is currently available on OnDemandKorea, Netflix, VIU, and DramaFever. There are currently 381 episodes of Knowing Brothers as of now. In the television show, different guests, mostly Korean celebrities, appear on different episodes and they discuss topics, some of which are personal, and they play games. 

I watched Knowing Brothers back in 2019 or 2020 when I watched it for this group I really liked and it was really enjoyable. I didn’t watch Knowing Brothers after that but I soon started watching them again recently and I really loved the episode where Seventeen, a Korean boy group, appeared for the second time on Knowing Brothers to promote their song, “Home; Run.” It was really chaotic and the main hosts were hilarious. I enjoy watching Knowing Brothers and watch it whenever I need to laugh. I recommend watching it if you’re bored or just need something to laugh at. 

The Dallas Cowboys’ Offseason Overview (So Far)

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With the NFL training camps approaching in over a month and the draft/free agency being over, I wanted to share some of my thoughts and opinions on the offseason of my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys.

I think most people would agree that the Cowboys had a solid offseason. They fixed their two biggest needs, wide-receiver and cornerback, by picking up Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore. These are two excellent pickups, especially for the price the Cowboys got them at. Cooks was acquired for just a 2023 fifth-round pick plus a 2024 sixth-round pick while Gilmore was traded for only another fifth-round pick. Brandin Cooks has six 1000 yard seasons in his nine year career, which is one of the most in the league. Quarterback Dak Prescott struggled with interceptions last year (15 in 12 games). The main reason for this is because of his lack of wide-receiver help. His number 2 and 3 receivers, Michael Gallup and Noah Brown, had some of the worse separation in the league. Not to say Prescott is not at fault for these interceptions, but Cooks should be a major asset in the passing game and help him thrive. Meanwhile, Stephon Gilmore is a five-time pro bowler and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. Pairing him with another elite cornerback in Trevon Diggs could be a nightmare for offenses. The Cowboys also resigned some essential players, such as LB Leighton Vander-Esch, safety Donovan Wilson, and RB Tony Pollard.

Although everything I have said makes this offseason seem perfect, there were a couple moments that some people were not happy with. Dalton Schultz leaving in free agency to the Houston Texans could possibly be a problem in this upcoming season. The topic is controversial, however, as some believe it would make a major impact while others feel that it will not change anything at all. Schultz was definitely a solid tight end and a “security blanket” for Dak Prescott, but in my opinion, I don’t think it will be as bad as people are making it seem. Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, and newly acquired Luke Schoonmaker may be able to fill his role. Speaking of Schoonmaker, he was another addition that many Cowboys fans dislike. Coming out of Michigan, he was seen as a decent tight end that should be drafted in the mid-third round. However, the Cowboys decided to draft him with their second round pick, leaving many fans confused and furious. This move cannot be labeled as good or bad as he has not played a single snap of football yet but during the season, we can see how he plays and progresses to truly determine whether or not he was a reach.

Overall, the Cowboys had a successful and productive offseason and I am excited for this next season. It was the first time in a while that Jerry Jones made any significant acquisition in the offseason and the team has one of the best rosters in the league. However, there are still some question marks heading into the season. One of the biggest concerns is if Dak Prescott is capable of leading the Cowboys deep in the playoffs. He has all the talent around him, and Prescott is also a talented quarterback, but he will need to be consistent to get the Cowboys past the divisional round for the first time in almost 30 years.

BOOK REVIEW (SPOILERS) – Reverie by Ryan La Sala

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(spoilers!) 

I lost my sense of direction when I read this book. 

3/5 stars from me!

Reading Reverie by Ryan La Sala changed my life — in lovely, strange ways. Reverie, a story about superheroes, amnesia, and a DRAG QUEEN FOR AN ANTAGONIST, wasn’t the worst book I’ve read. 

The story follows Kane Montgomery, an out-and-proud gay teenager who recently lost all his memories. Throughout the story (spoilers), he finds out that he was a superhero… who can shoot rainbows out his hands. I mean, I love the representation, but I guess it feels forced. 

Additionally, there were other things that felt off that are included in this lovely, little list:

  1. The writing style wasn’t great. Many lines from the book were outright cringey, not funny, or just placed really strangely. Hard read.
  2. There was a lack of development both in the plot and characters. The start was long and unnecessarily overdeveloped… the end was bland and just strange (La Sala mentioned someone falling in love… and never brought it back up)… etc. 
  3. The novel felt so very close to an inclusive twist on a children’s superhero show. 
  4. I understand Kane, the main character’s confusion! But let’s not make the reader confused, alright?
  5. Cliffhanger after cliffhanger… and no resolutions.

There were positives from this read, however! Few. 

  1. I have to give props to La Sala for coming up with a wonderfully complicated magic system!! But actually, I really enjoyed the concept of Reveries and dreams, but I feel like it was poorly executed. With a new, broad world of magic, execution is key. The novel lacks development with worldbuilding.
  2. Inclusivity! I enjoyed knowing that Kane was gay every few pages. Overall, Kane is a lovely, somewhat 3D character, but the author was trying so desperately hard to show off this book. Overstating that a character is gay feels like you’re just fishing for money and/or fame. 
  3. The cover and the villain are the best parts of this entire story.

Again, 3/5 stars. The idea is cute, yes. The execution was horrendous, yes. 

Reading this book was like mindlessly wandering through a labyrinth. There was no escape with Reverie.

Reverie by Ryan La Sala is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Martian by Andy Weir

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*this review may contain spoilers

I had to read this book for my English class and I actually enjoyed it which was surprising because I’m rarely interested in anything sci-fi related. However, I would say it is a generally long book, so I would only read it if you are dedicated to the storyline/plot.

Astronaut, Mark Watney and his crew mates travel to Mars but essentially he is abandoned alone on Mars due to his crew mates believing he had died. This book follows his journey of staying alive and the various challenges he faces on Mars. Through log entries, readers are able to encompass his thoughts and feelings and really feel connected to him throughout the book.

The book is mainly written in Mark’s POV but fluctuates between workers at NASA and his fellow crew mates. The structure that Weir presents, makes the book enticing and urges the audience to continue reading to know what happens next. I found myself continually rooting for Mark to survive and his comedic and witty personality makes him relatable amongst readers and build a connection amongst the protagonist (Mark Watney) and the audience.

I would first and foremost recommend this book to any sci-fi enthusiast because the entire book is pretty much set in the lonely Mars atmosphere. Another thing, a movie about this book has been made which I thoroughly enjoyed because it helped me envision the characters a lot better. I would say to read this book if you plan on branching out to new genres or wanting to get into sci-fi readings.

-Madison C.

The Martian by Andy Weir is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

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Tangerine is a young adult novel by Edward Bloor.  The story revolves around a middle school-age boy named Paul Fisher.  Paul has just moved with his family into a spacious home in Tangerine, Florida.  Paul always needs to wear thick glasses because of an eye injury he suffered when he was younger.  The injury is mysterious because Paul cannot remember how it happened.  He has an older brother named Erik, but they do not get along.  Erik is a star high school football player, and he receives most of the attention from their parents.  Paul wants to play on the soccer team, but he does not make the team because of his visual impairment.  To make matters worse, Paul suffers from various strange occurrences and flashbacks. He seems to be haunted by his past.

This book had a much darker tone than I expected.  The story deals with some difficult themes, including the mistreatment of young people.  The modern setting is highly realistic, although some events are quite extreme.  I think many teenagers could relate to the characters on a personal level.  The heavy emphasis on sports would be relatable for anyone involved in athletics, although it may be boring for someone less interested in sports.  The story is very dramatic, with various mysterious subplots.

Paul’s gradual recovery of his memory regarding his eye injury is particularly gripping.  I enjoyed the mystery and suspense of this book, even though the overall tone was quite dark.  The book is surprisingly long for a young adult novel, but the story was engaging enough to keep me interested throughout.  This book might not be appropriate for younger readers because of the difficult themes, but I can see how many teenagers could appreciate it.

Tangerine by Edward Bloor is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

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A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass was a fantastical read. Princess Annika, who is much more than just a pretty face, and closed-off Lennox were an unplanned pair that reminded me of my childhood wonders of princesses and true love. But Annika and Lennox’s story is somewhat different than most fairy-tales.

I appreciated how Annika’s life as a princess did not change her brave, composed character. Throughout the story, Lennox’s softer side comes out when the narrations are told from his perspective.

This fiction novel was unlike the stereotypical fantasy story. Instead, Annika and Lennox almost entirely party ways and were initially unfriendly towards each other. In fact, the two met when Lennox and his band of men kidnapped Annika.

To add to the plot of the story, Cass included Nickolas, a practical man whom Annika’s father has chosen for her to marry for the better of their country. Annika and Lennox’s obvious feelings for each other are prevented by duty, fear, and family.

While Annika and Lennox have their own problems and pains, they both help each other through it all; Annika’s warm light helps the shadow of Lennox’s past fade away and Lennox’s encouragement gives Annika the hope she needs to lead.

In the end of the novel, after having braved many hardships that test their love for each other, Annika and Lennox’s love is sealed. The tender moments and intense times they have had together all come together in a beautiful ending. I especially enjoyed reading the epilogue of A Thousand Heartbeats, where the reader gets a glimpse of Annika and Lennox’s blissful futures.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.