shipwrecks and other stuff

[smilebackwards]

First two finished books of the year were both non-fiction (rare for me) and about shipwrecks (continuing my obsession with boats). It was interesting to read these back to back.

Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition by Paul Watson. I watched The Terror TV show--which is based on the Franklin Expedition--a few months ago so I was interested to read this book for additional historical context and because scientists and archeologists actually found the shipwrecks in the Arctic in 2014 and 2016 which is very cool. However, I found this extremely difficult to read because of a weird lack of transitions? Every few pages I'd feel totally thrown out because it was like a random fact and then another random but unrelated fact that I expected to be related because it wasn't put on a new paragraph. Idk, this was written by a Pulitzer Prize winning author so probably it was just me but I wish I'd just read the Wikipedia.

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann. Shipwrecked in Argentina instead of the Arctic! This one I had no context for but it read much smoother to me and I finished it in a few days.

I've watched a lot of random TV in the last few months.

• Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. I'm not really into Godzilla but I randomly tried this and I liked it so much! Like I watched on the night new episodes dropped. I wouldn't call it a critically good show but it was a fun show and it did not betray me with a dumb love triangle that I fully expected so extra points.
• The Dragon Prince (seasons 4 & 5). I didn't realize these seasons even came out because apparently they renamed the series Mystery of Aaravos? Why do this?? Anyway, light, enjoyable animation.
• My Happy Marriage. Watched this with Japanese subtitles before realizing there was an English dub, but after testing the English dub I found the original Japanese superior anyway. Kind of a Cinderella story with magic/ghost elements. Enjoyed.
• Bodies. GOOD SCI-FI! Time loop mystery across 4 different decades. Many thanks to colls for recommending this. A good weekend binge watch.
• Queer Eye (season 8). Feel good TV.
• Percy Jackson (season 1). I liked some of the books so I gave this a watch but it's a bit clunky and so faithful to the books that I don't really feel the need to watch it further.
• Ted Lasso (rewatch). I continue to love the soccer himbos. I continue to hate Apple for not releasing any of their shows on physical media.

In writing, I have completely failed to write my SGA fic for romancingmcshep this month but it just refused to come together and I think the premise is fatally flawed :( I am prepared to enjoy other people's fics though! And I'm writing some random other fics in other fandoms.

Comments

[mific]

Durn - it would have been lovely to have another SGA fic from you! Happy to beta-read and brainstorm if that'd help?

[smilebackwards]

Aw, thanks! It's honestly in just a bunch of random pieces at the moment and it's really a very silly premise so I don't know why my brain is so stuck but it's stressing me out. I think I'm just going to poke at it later and see if I can queue it up for next year!

[tribble_of_tarth]

Ooo, shipwrecks! After Titanic came out, I got a little obsessed with ships that sank and bought a book from the book fair about famous shipwrecks. I was just thinking about it yesterday too! It's too bad the book about the Franklin Expedition wasn't very good. I'd be interested in reading something about that.

[smilebackwards]

I love a shipwreck story! Sometimes I just do not vibe with a writing style and I think that's what happened with Ice Ghosts. Other people seem to have enjoyed it in reviews!