52 Books in 52 Weeks - 2016 Edition

Fucked up and accidentally deleted this blog post....

10 Reasons to watch The Family on ABC

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT! The Family premieres at 9/8c on ABC. This is the show I've been working on for the past 8 months! If you are wondering why you (yes, YOU!) should watch this show, I'll give you TEN great reasons! 

1. THE PLOT: 10 years ago, their youngest son disappeared. Now he's back...or is he? This show will have you on the edge of your seat every damn night. It's mysterious, scary, and heartbreaking, yet also thrilling, intense, and heartwarming (at times)! Secrets are everywhere. You will find yourself guessing over and over about what is really going on. By episode 6, you will know the truth!

2. LADY POWER: This show was created by a woman (the incredibly amazing Jenna Bans). A majority of the writers on this show are women. The show readily embraces and features strong female characters. The women on this show are badass, complex, and in CHARGE! If you like shows about strong women, this the show for you!

3. JOAN motherfucking ALLEN: Not gonna lie, Joan Allen absolutely KILLS it in the role of matriarch Claire Warren. She will tear your heart to shreds, leaving you to pick up the pieces. This Oscar nominee brings such gravitas and emotion to this role, it is almost unbelievable. If you liked her in the Contender, or The Bourne Series, or even Pleasantville, you will love her here!

4. RUPERT GRAVES: This beloved British actor plays P.I. Lestrade on BBC's Sherlock, but on this show, he brings a depth and raw emotion to the role of John Warren that is fascinatingly heartbreaking to watch. What happens after your child gets kidnapped and disappears for 10 years? In John, we all see our worst fears come true. 

5. ALISON PILL: If you weren't already blown away by her past performances in The Newsroom or Snowpiercer or any of her other roles, this will be the role to do it. Alison plays the ambitious Willa Warren, superbly peeling apart the many layers inch by inch. She is a stunning actress who you won't be able to take your eyes off of in this role.

6. The CREEP Factor: "I want the frosting. I want a big piece!" If that instantly iconic line doesn't make you shiver in fear (or separately crave a piece of cake), then I don't know what to tell you. Is Adam really Adam? What is really going on?! Every episode will leave you feeling disturbed but instantly craving more.

7. BADASS WOMEN: Oh did I already mention this? Well, let me take another moment to mention it again: BADASS LADIES!~! Outside of the Warren Family, we have the hard-nosed police detective played by Margot Bingham and the cunning and manipulative reporter played by Floriana Lima. Both of these ladies are determined to get what they want and no one will stand in their way! Step aside, haters!

8. BLAINE, er wait, ANDREW MCCARTHY: Your 80's heartthrob from Pretty in Pink is back and boy is he in trouble. He plays the complex and mysterious neighbor, Hank, who was put in jail 10 years ago for Adam's murder -- but now Adam is back. Soooo, uh sorry bro? Watch as Andrew brings depth and character to a man who lost it all.

9. ZACH GILFORD: AKA Matt Saracen aka "CLEAR EYES, FULL HEARTS, CAN'T LOSE!" He was our QB1 from Friday Night Lights, but now he plays the troubled older brother, Danny, who doubts Adam is really Adam. His life is falling apart, but the returned Adam gives him new reason to strive towards something. 

10. FAMILY: At it's core, this show is about a family. What happens to a family when tragedy strikes. How to live with the guilt and blame. How to cope and eventually move on. How to live with yourselves knowing one thing could've changed it all. It's hard stuff to see. It's emotional. It's necessary. In the face of such hardship, how does a family stick together or fall apart. You'll have to watch to see.

BONUS REASON: I worked on it. So, actually, that should be reason enough.  . 

BONUS REASON 2: Not since Jessica Fletcher's adventures on Murder, She Wrote has a TV show prominently been set in Maine. Let's all raise a glass to the easternmost state!

I hope that convinced you.

SO YEAH, WATCH TONIGHT. 9/8central. ABC. 

52 books in 52 weeks - 2015 Edition!

Oh, yes, I'm still blogging! It's 2016. Can everyone believe it? Because I can't. This post is more of a mini-update. I'm on the last chapter of my novel and I once again finished reading 52 books in just 52 weeks! Which means I've read 104 books in the last 2 years, which hurts my head. But, alas, it is time to update thee ol' blog again!

The first half of the year was going strong, but then in June, I got a new job and my daily readership spiked downward heavily. However, I managed to do it with only 5 hours to spare til the clock struck midnight on December 31st! Hooray! It was an interesting year for books and I didn't get to read everything I wanted. But there were some great books I read this year. Maaaan, I love reading. #NerdWinner2015.

Lists! Are! Fun! So here's some catorgorized facts about the 52 books I read this year.

Favorite Book: 

THREE WAY TIE:

1. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

2. Son - Lois Lowry

3. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Least Favorite Book: Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

 

Longest Book: World Without End - Ken Follett

 

Shortest Book: Burn Lake - Carrie Fountain

Biggest Letdown: The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett

Favorite Character: James Sheppard (The Murder of Roger Ackroyd) and Agatha Trunchbull (Matilda)

Least Favorite Character: Celeste Price (Tampa) or anyone in Catch 22.

Most Read Author: Agatha Christie, love that old broad!

Most Read Genre: Mystery & Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Favorite Author: Margaret Atwood, Roald Dahl, and, of course, Agatha Christie!

2016 should be an interesting year and I'm once again on to 52 more new exciting books. Let us all hope that The Winds of Winter is among them. COME ON, GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, we are counting on you! Cheers!

- ben 

52 books in 52 weeks (2015 Edition)

1. The Silkworm - Robert Galbraith

2. The Last Command - Timothy Zahn

3. The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie

4. The Murder on the Links - Agatha Christie

5. Messenger - Lois Lowry

6. The 13 Problems - Agatha Christie

7. Poirot Investigates - Agatha Christie

8. The Body in the Library - Agatha Christie

9. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

10. Son - Lois Lowry

11. The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

12. A House Like a Lotus - Madeleine L'Engle

13. The Moving Finger - Agatha Christie

14. The Turn of the Screw - Henry James

15. Sabriel - Garth Nix

16. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut

17. Red Rising - Pierce Brown

18. This Side of Paradise - F. Scott Fitzgerald

19. The Man in the High Castle - Philip K. Dick

20. The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett

21. World Without End - Ken Follett

22. Every Secret Thing - Laura Lippman

23. Paper Towns - John Green

24. A Murder is Announced - Agatha Christie

25. Meet the Austins - Madeleine L'Engle

26. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

27. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

28. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn

29. Leviathan Wakes - James S. Corey

30. The Steel Remains - Richard K. Morgan

31. Tampa - Alissa Nutting

32. The Big Four - Agatha Christie

33. The Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie

34. The Martian - Andy Weir

35. Room - Emma Donoghue

36. Fantastic Mr. Fox - Roald Dahl

37. The Princess, The Scoundrel, & The Farm Boy - Alexandra Bracken

38. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Tennessee Williams

39. The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

40. The Witches - Roald Dahl

41. The Moon by Night - Madeleine L'Engle

42. The Pearl - John Steinbeck

43. Castle - Garth Nix

44. The BFG - Roald Dahl

45. Aenir - Garth Nix

46. Burn Lake - Carrie Fountain

47. Look Back in Anger - John Osborn

48. The Stranger - Albert Camus

49. The Death Cure - James Dashner

50. Matilda - Roald Dahl

51. The Hedge Knight - George R.R. Martin

52. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline