Becky's Book Reviews: Week in Review #37

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Week in Review #37

This week I read eight books.

99. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 1999. 435 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [MG speculative fiction]

Read this if...

You enjoy the Harry Potter series
You enjoy speculative fiction/fantasy
You enjoy audio books

100. We Are The Beatles. Brad Meltzer. Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [j biography, j nonfiction, series biography, 4 stars]

Read this if....

You enjoy children's nonfiction
You enjoy children's biographies
You enjoy The Beatles

101. The Other Side of Now. Paige Harbison. 2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [adult romance, 3 stars]

Read this if...

You enjoy light speculative fiction with your romance
You enjoy sliding-doors, what-if romances
You enjoy Irish settings

94. Rabbit Tea (Mouse and Spoon) (Ready to Read Level 2). Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, early reader]

Read this if...

You enjoy animal fantasy
You enjoy early readers
You enjoy Cynthia Rylant

95. Bob the Vampire Snail. Andrea Zuill. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]

Read this if...

You enjoy humorous picture books
You enjoy dark and silly picture books
You enjoy snails

96. Elvis and Romeo Visit the Vet. David Soman. Illustrated by Jacky Davis. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [animal fantasy, early reader, ready to read level 1, three stars]

You enjoy early readers
You enjoy dogs

97. Elvis and Romeo Go To Dog School. David Soman. Illustrated by Jacky Davis. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [animal fantasy, early reader, ready to read level 1, four stars]

Read this if...

You enjoy early readers
You enjoy dogs

67. The Steadfast Love of the Lord. Sam Storms. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, christian nonfiction, christian living]

Read this if...

You enjoy christian nonfiction
You enjoy christian living
You want to learn more about the love of God

Century of Viewing #37

1960s

1961 The Day the Earth Caught Fire. Do two wrongs make a right? How about six? This is a nuclear disaster movie. There is a framework to it. It begins and ends with a red filter. Most of the film is black-and-white. It's told from the perspective of newspaper reporters. The 'drama' occurs when two nations test nuclear devices at the exact same time. It takes days, weeks, months before just how catastrophic it is. A bold new plan emerges to detonate more nuclear bombs to 'even' things out a bit. The movie ends with a question mark. Will the world be saved? Or did the end come all that much sooner? This one has a HILARIOUS bus-fainting scene. Humor is hard to come by, for the most part. Though the banter is definitely quick and quick-witted. The dialogue is not at fault for this one being a little too much. I am sure this movie would have hit differently--pun perhaps intended--at the time it was released.

1970s

1973 American Graffiti. If driving around in circles is your thing--well, blocks, to be precise, perhaps American Graffiti is for you. Brightside: the soundtrack is fantastic. Truly the music is what makes this one worth considering. Set in the early 60s, I believe. It features a handful of friends preparing to go off to college--well a few of them are. Guys chasing girls. Girls wanting to be caught--or not. And racing cars. I didn't care for the ending--the reveal of what happened to these fictional characters. I would have preferred to either a) leave it as is or b) imagine my own endings.

1990s

1990 Edward Scissorhands. Second time to watch this movie (both this year). I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE many things about it. Particularly the music, the costuming, the dark humor. I didn't love the violence towards the end, but, this story is beautiful in many ways. And I'm not sure a happier ending could have been found.
1991 What About Bob? Second time to watch this movie this year (I discovered it last year or the year before, I think). I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie. Truly it is most favored. I love Bob. I love his Baby Steps. I love everything about the story. So quotable. So enjoyable.
1993 Jurassic Park. First time watching. I definitely liked it. Mad scientist at work? Maybe. Probably. A disgruntled employee? YES. Definitely. It was action-packed for sure.
1998 Truman Show. One of my favorite movies. It's not one I see often, but, when I do I definitely enjoy. I love almost everything about this one. Truman Burbanks has lived his whole life in front of the camera--unknowingly without his consent. He's the center of the universe--well, the domed universe. The world can't get enough of his story, but, things haven't been going well lately. A crisis is coming...

2000s

2001 The Zookeeper. I chose it because I needed a "Z" movie for my alphabet viewing challenge. Set during an unspecified war in an unspecified eastern European country at an unspecified time, it features Sam Neill as Ludovic, an ex-communist who is now working at the zoo. The war has caused all the employees to flee. Ludovic alone is left to care for all the animals--now starving, dying, and in general doing poorly because of stressful, uncertain conditions. The zoo attracts a young boy, Zioig, and his mother, Ankica, who are desperate; the boy will do almost anything to survive. Both have experienced trauma and horror. Conditions worsen throughout the film to the point where the beginning almost looks like good times, fun times. (Not really). This one is about as gloomy and doomy as they come.

2020s

2025 King of Kings. Animated movie of Charles Dickens telling his son, Walter, and his cat the story of Jesus. The animated movie inserts Dickens and his son into the action--think of how Gonzo 'narrates' the Muppet Christmas Carol, only less humor and gimmicks. Walter is obsessed with King Arthur. Dickens tells his son that King Arthur is based on Jesus Christ. (Is it though?!?!) By the end of the story, Walter has come to faith in Christ. I absolutely detested the animation style of this one. It was very strange in places. But CAT.

Alphabet Viewing, Week #7
A Admirable Crichton
B Big Fish
C The China Syndrome.
D The Day the Earth Caught Fire. Do two wrongs make a right? How about six? This is a nuclear disaster movie. There is a framework to it. It begins and ends with a red filter. Most of the film is black-and-white. It's told from the perspective of newspaper reporters. The 'drama' occurs when two nations test nuclear devices at the exact same time. It takes days, weeks, months before just how catastrophic it is. A bold new plan emerges to detonate more nuclear bombs to 'even' things out a bit. The movie ends with a question mark. Will the world be saved? Or did the end come all that much sooner? This one has a HILARIOUS bus-fainting scene. Humor is hard to come by, for the most part. Though the banter is definitely quick and quick-witted. The dialogue is not at fault for this one being a little too much. I am sure this movie would have hit differently--pun perhaps intended--at the time it was released.
E Enterprise (Star Trek)
F First Contact
G The General.
H Home.
I Insurrection (Star Trek)
J -- Johnny Mnemonic.
K King of Kings. Animated movie of Charles Dickens telling his son, Walter, and his cat the story of Jesus. The animated movie inserts Dickens and his son into the action--think of how Gonzo 'narrates' the Muppet Christmas Carol, only less humor and gimmicks. Walter is obsessed with King Arthur. Dickens tells his son that King Arthur is based on Jesus Christ. (Is it though?!?!) By the end of the story, Walter has come to faith in Christ. I absolutely detested the animation style of this one. It was very strange in places. But CAT.
L
M Murder by Death
N Nemesis.
O
P Primeval Series 1 and 2 and 3, 4, 5
Q
R Return of the Caped Crusader (Batman).
S Slipper and the Rose
T Thursday Murder Club.
U
V Valley of Vision
W What About Bob? Second time to watch this movie this year (I discovered it last year or the year before, I think). I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie. Truly it is most favored. I love Bob. I love his Baby Steps. I love everything about the story. So quotable. So enjoyable.
X
Y You Can't Run Away From It.
Z The Zookeeper. I chose it because I needed a "Z" movie for my alphabet viewing challenge. Set during an unspecified war in an unspecified eastern European country at an unspecified time, it features Sam Neill as Ludovic, an ex-communist who is now working at the zoo. The war has caused all the employees to flee. Ludovic alone is left to care for all the animals--now starving, dying, and in general doing poorly because of stressful, uncertain conditions. The zoo attracts a young boy, Zioig, and his mother, Ankica, who are desperate; the boy will do almost anything to survive. Both have experienced trauma and horror. Conditions worsen throughout the film to the point where the beginning almost looks like good times, fun times. (Not really). This one is about as gloomy and doomy as they come.