October 2024 Favorites

Autumn has given me a lot of heartbreak this year. Summer was a hazy dream that was fated to end. And to be honest, it's been hard to enjoy things the past two months. But I have tried. And here are the favorites that resulted.

Mario Wonder: Finally got back to this game, and finished it this month. And I'll say again: what a lovely and delightful game this is! The vibrant Wonder-filled art style alone makes this game worth playing. But it's also joyful to play. And let's just say that was something I really needed this month.

Eras Tour Film: I've been saving this for a special occasion, and I found just the right moment when my cousin went to the Eras Tour for real. I had seen plenty of pics and clips, but there was something magical about watching the whole performance in one go. I sang along to my favorites. Got teary several times. And had an odd moment of realization that, though I still have lived very little compared to most, I can now relate to Taylor's breakup songs more than before.

By the Orchid and the Owl: I won this book in a giveaway, and I've been taking my time with it over the last few months. (More my resistance to reading of late than the book's fault.) It definitely has a set up that feels familiar. Someone with special powers, getting sorted into a group, etc. I can understand if that doesn't feel fresh enough for some readers. But I'm really enjoying it. Rayna's main power is communicating with animals and nature. Which is very cool and even meditative to read about. And yes, I'm enjoying the romance quite a bit.

YouTube Favs: The Intricate Musical Storytelling of Final Fantasy 7 (The Art of Storytelling), Kingdom Hearts Breakdowns (2cphoenix), RobWords channel, Dungeon Chill channel.

Music Favs: Shake the Disease (Hooverphonic), Keeps (CLAVVS), The Tortured Poets Department (Taylor Swift), Still Here (The Perishers), Sour (Echosmith), World Without You (Ivy), Indecision (Shura).