Reading/Watching Log #27

Thanks to my co-workers I'm devouring a whole bunch of graphic novels, as well as slowly-but-surely making a dent in my TBR pile, which includes some of my favourite childhood authors: Robin Klein, Terry Deary and Patricia Wrede. As for my nightly viewing experiences, it's been all about the female protagonists: a zombie trying to do the right thing, a monarch trying to do the dignified thing, and a red-headed dreamer.

Links and Updates

Happy Easter everyone! Whether you're celebrating the resurrection of Christ or the return of Persephone from the Underworld or just hanging out with Eostre (or none of the above) make sure you stay safe and eat sensibly. There's good news on my end, as I managed to secure the library position I was after at the community centre that's within walking distance of where I live – so there's a ton of petrol money saved, and a faster route to my sister in London. I'll get there eventually, guys.

And there's plenty of cool stuff coming up...

Xena Warrior Princess: Sins of the Past, Chariots of War, Dreamworker

So here we are, embarking on a Xena-watch for the second time (though reposting my reviews from the first time around, with a few additions). I only watched it sporadically when it first aired back in the Nineties, though that was mainly seasons two and three, and by the time I settled down for a full beginning-to-end watch I had forgotten most of the details.

So here goes...

From My Favourites Shelf: The Messenger

I've decided on a new series of blogposts (to go with the dozen or so I'm already juggling) and it's one that delves into some of my absolute favourite stories from childhood and beyond. Let's call it: From My Favourites Shelf.

Some of these are going to be a bit obscure (more than a few are long out of print) but they're essentially the formative books of my youth, which have managed to stay with me across the years and which I'm now re-reading as an adult to see if they've held up.

First up is Monica Dickens's The Messenger quartet...

Review: Gabriel Knight: The Sins of the Fathers

Back in the Nineties I was going through my "supernatural detective" phase. The Slayer was slaying, the Charmed Ones were charming, and in a point-and-click adventure game released in 1993, the Schattenjäger (German for Shadow Hunter) was hunting.

I first glimpsed pictures of Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers in computer magazines, and of all the images that intrigued me, it was this one that really captured my imagination:

The mausoleums, the angel statue, the strange lettering on the crypt, the trench-coat wearing hero... I wanted nothing more than to escape into the sheer atmosphere of that place. Then for one of my birthdays, I received the game as part of a special collector's edition (which also included a novelization of the story) and could finally delve into the mystery first-hand.

Woman of the Month: Shuri

Shuri from Black Panther

Before even seeing the film I knew I was going to showcase one of the Black Panther women in March, but ended up totally spoiled for choice. Nakia, Oyoko, Ramonda – all so regal, so intelligent, so fierce. Any one of them could have easily filled this space. Even Ayo, whose brief appearance here and in Civil War nearly stole the show.

But having watched the movie, my heart was stolen by Shuri, the spunky princess and tech-genius who equips her brother with all the gadgets he needs to be the Black Panther.

Perhaps her most important line is: "just because something works doesn't mean it can't be improved", as it easily doubles as a motto for all of Wakanda. It's perfect as it is: a beautiful, self-sufficient, culturally rich utopia, but there's room for improvement. And it's Shuri, in her youth, curiosity, intellect and enthusiasm, that embodies the opportunity for Wakanda to share its advancements with the countries beyond its borders, in pursuit of a better world for everyone.

It's a theme that follows her right to the post-credits scene: as she stands by the lakeside with Bucky he tells her he feels "good", but her response is that he still has much more to learn. Like Wakanda, Shuri is always growing, her mind expanding, her ideas multiplying, her reach furthering. What a great character.

(And let's not forget how she tricks her brother into attacking a kinetically-charged suit so she can record him flying across the room).