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Literary TV Shows to Watch with Your Family on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and you know what that means. A long weekend filled with family and food. But after the Thursday afternoon festivities have wrapped and turkey for breakfast stops sounding like a great idea, you’ll be left wondering how to fill the time. Why not share your love of reading and bond over a new favorite television show all at the same time? It’s the gift that keeps on giving because you know your parents are going to want to hop into a group text and ask when The Handmaid’s Tale is coming back. Who knew a conversation about Gilead could be so much fun?
Posted by Danielle Mohlman
Unusual Philanthropists in Pop Culture
It’s National Philanthropy Day and while our bookish brains are automatically programmed to think about our loves First Book, a literary non-profit dedicated to providing books and quality education to young people in need, and Little Free Library, the non-profit behind all those bookish mailboxes in your neighborhood, we’re also thinking about the quirky philanthropists we see in pop culture. Philanthropists like Tahani Al-Jamil, who loves throwing parties for those in need, even in The Good Place. And Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek, who’s always looking to lend her image to a cause – in the hopes that it will encourage a higher turnout at whatever her philanthropic cause du jour happens to be. So, let’s celebrate with our favorite fictional philanthropists. Maybe we can sway them toward some literary causes while we’re at it!
Posted by Danielle Mohlman
From Novel to Film to TV: His Dark Materials and Other Stories That Should be Adapted
Everybody loves a good adaptation. It can be tough when there are so many movies and television shows being made out of fan favorite books, sometimes decisions are made that may not necessarily best serve the story. This was certainly the case with Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials Trilogy. That isn’t to say the 2007 film was no good, it just wasn’t quit the right adaptation fit for the story. To celebrate the release of the new HBO adaptation of His Dark Materials, we wanted to take a look at some stories which might have been better adapted as long form television series.
Posted by David Winnick
Book Recommendations for the Characters of She-Ra
The new season of She-Ra is finally here and that means the Best Friends Squad is getting back together again!
After the emotional events of season three, it’s a brave new world for the characters of She-Ra, as each takes on new responsibilities and challenges for season four. Judging by the trailer, there will be new characters, new adventures, and—gasp!—new haircuts.
We hope they’ve had some time to read a book or two since the finale ended. Here’s what we recommend they pick up when they have some spare time:
Best Friends Squad
Adora/She-Ra: The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston
Adora is just your average girl and former Horde soldier, but a chance encounter in the woods leads her to become She-Ra, defender of Etheria! In The Princess and the Fangirl, the stakes are a little bit lower, but we’re sure Adora can totally relate to average fangirl Imogen and superstar Jess Stone as they assume each others' identities for the weekend to save the day. . . For the honor of Starfield!
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Glimmer: Girl Squads by Sam Maggs
Glimmer has spent her whole life dreaming about reforming the Princess Alliance and spends most of the first season convincing the other princesses to join the rebellion. She’s supportive of all of her friends, including her newfound princess girl gang, which is why we think she’d be all about Girl Squads and its biographies of amazing groups of women who support each other and work together.
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Bow: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
Despite what his dads think, Bow. Loves. Pirates. Meeting shanty-loving buccaneer Sea Hawk? One of the greatest days of his life. Bow has spent years trying to protect his parents from his adventurous spirit, which is why we think he’d appreciate reading Daughter of the Pirate King. Not only is it about a totally badass teenage pirate captain (Bow’s dream job?), but one who doesn’t have to hide her real identity from her father.
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
The Horde:
Catra: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Catra is Adora’s ambitiously bitter (or bitterly ambitious) nemesis and former BFF. They have a love-hate relationship to end all love-hate relationships, with season three taking a real dark turn towards the end. But Catra needs to learn how to forgive and move on, which is why we’re recommending Rainbow Rowell’s hate-to-love fantasy novel Carry On. If Simon and Baz can make it work while simultaneously saving the world, surely Catra and Adora can learn to get along. Right?
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Hordak & Entrapta: The Martian by Andy Weir
One of the most pleasant surprises of season three was the newfound friendship between Hordak and Entrapta. Hordak is trapped on Etheria, just trying to survive (well, and also conquer the planet). Entrapta loves science—often prioritizing it over the relationships in her life. Both of them would find something in Andy Weir’s The Martian. Hordak would no doubt relate to Watney’s struggles to survive on a hostile planet after being accidentally abandoned by his crew, while Entrapta would surely get a kick out of the science behind Watney’s survival. After they finish reading, they can discuss their findings in Hordak’s lab over dinner and some casual interdimensional portal-building.
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Shadow Weaver: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Formerly a sorceress and mentor to Glimmer’s father, King Micah, Shadow Weaver’s attempts to graft magic with one of Etheria’s runestones have resulted in a powerful, but ultimately broken, version of her former self. Surely, she can relate to the struggles of the characters in Schwab’s Shades of Magic trilogy as they also are tempted to use ancient and forbidden magic to try and save their worlds from destruction.
Buy the book:
Posted by Kelsey Hoffman
Other Sci Fi Books and Movies to Watch Where Women Steal the Show
Photo by Skitterphoto from Pexels
With the upcoming release of Terminator: Dark Fate, we're thinking about how it's the first film in the franchise to give Sarah Connor her time to shine. And she isn’t alone; this film has several female characters that can kick some serious butt! If you enjoy Terminator: Dark Fate, you should check out these books, films and television shows where women steal the show.
Posted by Sandra Woolf
Philosophy Quiz: Which Character from The Good Place Are You?
The Good Place is back for its fourth and final season and we are so forking sad about it. But we love a good exit strategy and we trust Michael Schur with our hearts and our televisions, so we know that this is ultimately the right way to go out. We’re not happy about it! But we accept it.
Posted by Danielle Mohlman
