Although Ariana Grande, global popstar is experiencing some heat by the media for supposedly cheating on co-star Ethan Slater; I remain a fan of her music. I think it is big that we can identify an artist is a human beyond their music but the topics discussed in music can contribute to their image and should be proceeded carefully.
However, I came here to talk about Ariana’s re-recording of her debut album Yours Truly. This album is one of my favorites from her because of classics like Honeymoon Avenue, Daydreamin’, as well as The Way ft. Mac Miller.
I think the reason I enjoy this re-recording is how insane she sounds in singing. Not insane as in crazy but insane as in awe. She has immensely improved since the last time fans heard her sing I believe to be in 2020. However, she has been starring in Broadway musical Wicked which could be reason why her vocals have gotten better knowing she has gotten training and lessons guided to singing.
Everyone should give it a listen especially if you haven’t heard her debut album originally, it truly is beautiful. Also, for those who know Mac Miller passed away she inputted instrumentals during her part of The Way to exemplify his feature more prominently. I think even with all the backlash she is receiving people should still listen to the album regardless because the music is after all just a re-recording.
Most of you have probably listened to the single “Vampire” released by Olivia Rodrigo earlier in this month. Being an Olivia Rodrigo fanatic has led me to adoring this song but I also would like to elaborate on just the song.
If you haven’t heard Olivia Rodrigo is releasing her sophomore album “Guts” on September 8th, 2023. This was a change in the directive we originally saw in her debut album, SOUR where she was experimenting with a plethora of genres. I personally find it SUPER exciting she is branching away into other directives and not just sticking plainly to one thing. Ok now let’s get into the song.
If I’m being quite honest when I heard it the first time, I was a little conflicted on whether I enjoyed it or not. However, I definitely think the more times you listen, the better it gets. The general idea of song is applicable to a lot of things in life, which made it relatable and understandable for most people.
I think the range Olivia displays in this song is AMAZING. There were many different tones used throughout the song which in my opinion makes it so good. I like knowing the direction this album is heading and hopefully, she will be dropping another single before the release of the album to keep her fans entertained.
I would give this a listen despite your music taste. Many don’t listen to Olivia Rodrigo because her music is typically viewed as “overhyped” but it is for a reason. Knowing she’s a “newer” artist in the industry and YOUNG, is amazing. That’s another reason why I enjoy her music so much is that she’s super talented for her age and it’s nice knowing I’m listening to someone who grew up in the same sort of generation as us.
I would like to start by saying this movie felt like the OG Marvel, this is coming from a huge Marvel fan. I had high expectations going in walking in due to the hype surrounding this movie and when I left the theaters, those expectations were fulfilled. I would say I like the Guardians of the Galaxy but they wouldn’t be my favorite characters in the MCU but after this movie they definitely got higher up on that list.
This movie was oriented mainly on the character Rocket who in the past 2 movies was in denial about who he was. However, we see the backstory of this character and the environment he grew up in, which was harsh and demanding. We see that he was always cunning and smart in how he handled certain situations. It was nice seeing baby Rocket and how he grew up over the years.
The plot of the movie tied perfectly into his character and allowed for more details to pass through such as his previous friends before the guardians being Teefs, Floor, and Lylla. Also, I would like the mention the fighting sequences were AMAZING. This action kept me in my seat HOOKED to the screen whether it was them Starlord and Groot fighting on the High Evolutionary’s ship or the hallway of them all fighting, nonetheless all were amazing.
Usually, I’m a big crier when it comes to movies so I was expecting to cry and well, I did. So many moments when James Gunn really tied the scene together to make it more impactful. When Lylla told Rocket it wasn’t his time to join them yet that really got me and resonated that Lylla was a bigger impact in Rocket’s life then I had anticipated. Another moment was when Rocket went back to save the animals but specifically when he saved the baby raccoons. In that moment, when he read they were raccoons he finally was able to stop his denial and fully accept that he is Rocket the Raccoon.
I had to create a separate section just for this specific moment because it truly encompasses the ties between the Guardians and how they truly are each other’s family. When the audience hears Groot say “I love you guys” and not just “I am Groot,” that truly damaged me. It is said that James Gunn had Vin say it in that manner so that the audience is now a part of this collective “family.” Throughout the movies, the Guardians were able to fully understand what Groot was saying while us, the audience only heard “I am Groot.” I think this process of understanding what Groot is saying essentially means you are a part of the family. To back this up, this new Gamora had no idea what Groot was saying at the beginning of the movie but towards the end she easily catches on and understands what he is saying.
This film was so impactful on the way I understand the Guardians and it deserves the utmost attention. Phase 4 has produced some amazing films and this would rank high on there for me. I would recommend this movie to anyone, but you should first watch the other movies to get general knowledge on the dynamics of the guardians.
-Madison C.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.
I’ve recently been in a reading slump and haven’t been able to pick up a book and genuinely enjoy it until this read! Those who have read my other posts will know I’m an avid romance reader and it’s my preferred genre and let me say this book fulfilled my little heart. :”)
This story follows Liz and Wes or Libby and Wessy. They’ve grown up being neighbors for most of their life and they were presented as enemies every since childhood to their adolescent years. Whether it be hide-and-seek or stealing each other’s parking spaces, they’ve been at it.
However, the book takes a twist when Liz’s childhood crush, Michael comes back and she gains those same feelings for him that she felt when she was a kid. She isn’t quite sure how to grab his attention and fall for her and this is when Libby makes a “genius” plan to fake date Wessy. Our rival neighbors are bounded by this fake relationship for Liz to get the guy of her dreams and Wes to obtain the parking spot right outside their houses.
With their final year of high school left, the book follows along on Liz and Wes’ friends, hangouts, etc. The very predictable ending is that they fall for one another, or rather Liz falls for Wes.
Even though this book has a great deal of predictability, the main characters are easy to become attached to because of their charisma and personalities. This book can guarantee someone out of a reading slump! (PS. I finished it in a day) This was also my first read from Lynn Painter and it has be intrigued on her other novels, which are all relatively new. I would recommend this book for anyone trying to get into romance or just want a fun read!
-Madison C.
Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
I was on Netflix and saw this new movie and felt the need to watch it and let me say, best decision I could of made. I feel really enticed my projects that feature like a “crime/mystery”, it makes everything more exhilarating for the audience.
The movie is essentially a teenager, June who is home alone due to her mom and mother’s boyfriend leaving to go on vacation. When June goes to pick them up at the airport, there is no one there for her to pick-up and this is when she gets suspicious of things and starts investigating where her mom could be.
What made this movie so incredible is the organizational aspect and format it was presented in. The audience is taking this all from June’s perspective, more specifically, her MacBook. The movie is essentially a “screen recording” of what June is doing on her computer whether it be facetiming, texting, researching, etc. There isn’t anyone actually filming the actors but rather just the use of cameras from technological devices in how this movie is compiled.
I think what made this movie interesting for me is that there were plot twists every step of the way. I kept getting shocked from the amount of layers this movie had. I would recommend this movie to anyone but if you get scared of these “mystery” genre movies, I would stray away from watching.
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.
This isn’t the typical genre I read but I was essentially forced to for my English class. Surprisingly, I enjoyed reading this book because of the witty humor Adams uses throughout the book.
Following main character Arthur Dent and his sci-fi journey with best pal Ford Prefect and the countless adventures they go on and experience throughout the book. I would say the plot of the book was all over the place, like even after finishing the book I wouldn’t be able to tell you the main message that was conveyed. Adams jumps around A LOT throughout the book which makes it confusing but also ominous for readers to figure out what is going to happen next.
Like I mentioned earlier, Sci-Fi isn’t my preferred choice of genre but knowing I was able to effortlessly get through this book says something. If you want to try getting into Sci-Fi or something similar I highly recommend reading this book. The chapters are all typically pretty short so it’s an easier read. I hope to those that do end up reading this book that you enjoy this whimsical journey throughout the “Universe.”
-Madison C.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
This is my first post writing about something not book related which feels refreshing since I’ve kind of restricted myself in what to post. As some of you may have heard or even listened to The Weeknd posted a remix on one of his top hits being Die For You.
Die For You was originally released in his Starboy album in 2016 so no one really saw this release coming a solid 7 years later. Fans also knew of his performance last year with Ariana Grande doing a remix of Save Your Tears which made many fans go insane, including myself. Being a big fan of both artists definitely shows my bias towards this song but genuinely it’s just a good song.
The song includes components from the original but hints of differences hence it being a remix. Ariana Grande hasn’t released music for around 2 year so through this song we were able to see how mature her voice had gotten and the potential she’s reached. Although at first I had mixed opinions of the song and how I thought Ariana’s voice was too high in vocals, in the end my mind ended up finding a beauty within the song. I think what really influenced me to enjoy the song more was just listening it to it over and over again and also just the fact that these two artists came together to preform such a beautiful song.
I definitely think that everyone should at least give this song a listen and understand what I mean with being withdrawn at first.
This is actually my second time rereading this series but I felt inspired out of the blue to transfer myself into this dystopian world. The concept Collins portrays in this series is absolutely UNREAL.
Typically I don’t even like protagonists and usually root for the antagonist but in this case I enjoyed both Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. The chemistry between the two was executed perfectly within the plot of the story of the “Hunger Games”.
Essentially, the dystopian world, Panem is divided into 12 districts with a capitol which acts as their government. Annually there are these “Hunger Games” where 12-18 year olds are entered into and 1 girl and 1 boy are chosen from each district. Amongst the chosen, they battle out til there is only one survivor.
For the most part dystopian novels aren’t my liking but as of lately I’ve been seeking interest in reading dystopian novels. I also just think that Collins makes an effort to establish each of her characters with enough description and background that I feel connected to them. Books where you feel more bonded with the characters always sparks interest and that’s exactly what Collins did by creating Katniss and Peeta.
I honestly don’t understand how people come up with concepts like this, so reading the Hunger Games makes me giddy. I would recommend this book to anyone even if Dystopian/Fiction is not your preferred choice of genre.
-Madison C.
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
I had to read this book for my junior honors society and change book and surprisingly found it interesting. This book was outside my comfort zone but the dystopian society built within the book was intriguing and led me to analyze the true meaning behind the text.
It follows main character “Offred” and her journey into this transformed society and their way of life. People are ranked within certain classes which determine what they contribute to society. She struggles reconnecting with her “past” self and reminiscing about her husband and kid. Having to face a new society with strange workings and rules she expresses her feelings with the audience for them to understand what is going on in the world she lives in.
I think I typically enjoy dystopian realms because I feel immersed within the society and the systems portrayed within the book. I’m aware there is also a tv show for this book but the first episode essentially covers the entirety of the novel. I would say Atwood’s idea into creating this book is absolutely astonishing how someone came up with this idea. I would recommend to high schoolers but those sensitive to strong topics (suicide, sexual assault, violence) shouldn’t look into reading this book!
-Madison C.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 