Forever, Interrupted - A Book Review

Forever, Interrupted - A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Forever, Interrupted is the first book written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and it came out in 2013. This was my first read of 2022 and I really enjoyed it. I would call the book adult literary fiction because it has romance in it but it is not the main focus. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: death, loss, grief, depression, car accident, medical trauma, family estrangement, infertility, cursing, death of a parent, and sexual content. The story follows a young couple, Ben and Elsie, who get married after only knowing each other for six months. One night a week after they eloped, Elsie is craving cereal and Ben takes his bike to go pick some up at a nearby store. When Elsie hears sirens, she runs down to the street to see the cereal she was craving covering the street and finds out the worst news of her life: Ben was hit by a moving truck and died on impact. She is in disbelief and goes to the hospital (as Ben was an organ donor). At the hospital, she meets a woman who does not believe that Elsie was married to Ben: her dramatic mother in law, Susan. The story alternates between chapters of Ben and Elsie’s short lived romance and Elsie and Susan’s budding relationship and grieving process and is very heartbreaking. 

Taylor Jenkins Reid is my favorite author. I have read all (except one) of her books. Her other books include the popular The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising, Maybe in Another Life, One True Loves, which I have read. The only one of hers that I have not read (but plan on reading soon) is called After I Do. In true Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion, Forever Interrupted is heartbreaking in the best way. There is one chapter that ends with Ben setting up his voicemail because a toxic ex-girlfriend kept calling him. The next chapter starts with Elsie listening to his voicemail message on repeat after she lost him. I really enjoyed how Elsie and Susan repaired their tough relationship and how they helped each other with their grief. I also really loved the character Mr. Callahan, a regular patron at the library that Elsie works at. Something I found interesting in the book is how the author would describe young adult books without outright saying the titles - it was almost like Taylor Jenkins Reid could not do it for copyright reasons. For example, Ben shows Mr. Callahan a book that was heartbreaking and had a blue cover - which I believe is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. 

I loved the message in the book that grief affects you no matter how long you knew the person. Elsie only knew Ben for six months and you see her entire grieving process compared to Susan’s, who knew Ben his whole life. 

One of my favorite parts of the book is how Elsie honors Ben and his reading legacy - he loves young adult books. So, when she got the inheritance from him, she went to a nearby bookstore and bought out their entire young adult book section. She then donated it to her library and called it the “Ben Ross Young Adult Section.” It was a very emotional scene that I loved. 

Overall, I really loved this book and I give it a strong 10/10! I cannot wait to read After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid and I hope she releases more books soon! 

10 Doctor Who Quotes To Inspire

10 Doctor Who Quotes To Inspire

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Doctor Who is the longest-running science fiction show (though not continuously) for over fifty years. The modern run of the show started in 2005 with the ninth Doctor. 

The Doctor has regenerated 13 times (Technically more if you count the Timeless Child storyline and the War Doctor). Each time they change, we are introduced to a Doctor who is trying to rediscover who they, but they know that they always help. 

The Doctor has adventured through space and time, met many people, traveled with numerous companions, loved and lost. Doctor Who has so many moments that sit with fans forever and even some make it to those who have never see the show. Doctor Who has a far reach for so many reasons. It's about love and hate. Loss and gain. Truth and lies. It's about exploring the universe and exploring ourselves. It's about adventure and helping others. It's about the infinite possibilities and realizing what is finite. It's about choices and why we made them. And it will forever be about running away with a Mad (Wo)Man in a Box.

These quotes are all from the modern run of Doctor Who. You don’t even need to know the show to take inspiration from the words of The Doctor. 

1. “Never be cruel. Never be cowardly. Remember, hate is always foolish, and love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.” – 12th Doctor.

2. “We all change, when you think about it. We’re all different people all through our lives. And that’s OK, that’s good, you gotta keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.” – The Eleventh Doctor.

3. “Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It’s not the time that matters. It’s the person.” – The Tenth Doctor.

4. “We’re all capable of the most incredible change. We can evolve while still staying true to who we are. We can honour who we’ve been and choose who we want to be next. Now’s your chance! How about it?” – The Thirteenth Doctor.

5. “You were fantastic. And you know what? So was I” -The Ninth Doctor.

6. “The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. Hey. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don’t necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.” – The Eleventh Doctor.

7. “I carry them [Family] with me. What they would have thought and said and done. Make them a part of who I am. So even though they’re gone from the world, they’re never gone from me.” -The Thirteenth Doctor

8. “You want weapons? We’re in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world!” – The Tenth Doctor.

9. “Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.” – The Twelfth Doctor.

10. “Love, in all its form, is the most powerful weapon we have. Because love is a form and like hope, love abides in the face of everything.” – The Thirteenth Doctor

Spiderman: No Way Home - A Movie Review

Spiderman: No Way Home - A Movie Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

The newest installment in the Spiderman franchise and the conclusion to Tom Holland’s Spiderman trilogy, called Spiderman: No Way Home, came out exclusively in theatres on December 17th, 2021. I saw it recently and LOVED it! This review will be SPOILER FREE. The movie stars Tom Holland (Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Endgame), Zendaya (Spiderman: Homecoming, Malcolm and Marie), Jacob Batalon (Spiderman: Homecoming, Let it Snow), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange, Avengers Endgame), and more. The movie follows the fallout after Spiderman’s identity is revealed. Peter goes to his magical friend Doctor Strange for help, and a spell goes wrong, causing a multiverse to open and cause generations of trouble. Trigger warnings for: violence, death, fire, grief, blood and gore, car crashes, and gun violence. 

This movie felt like a love letter to Spiderman fans with the three generations of villains, and I loved that! I recommend binge watching all the other Spiderman movies before watching No Way Home, because you get the full origin stories of all the villains. I also must note that there are TWO post credit scenes - so make sure you stay for both! When I saw it, there were people leaving the theatre before the first one and I was shocked! I highly recommend seeing No Way Home in theatres because the fan reactions to the movie added a lot of fun to the experience! I did not expect this movie to be so emotional, even though I have realized that most Marvel movies and shows are actually quite sad. Tom’s acting and stunts in this movie were really well done! I saw behind the scenes videos and was shocked to find out that the movie was not even filmed in New York City at all which shocked me! 

Overall, I had a blast watching this and feel like I need to rewatch it. I recently binge watched all the Spiderman movies with my sister and am so glad that we did! No Way Home was one of my favourite movies of 2021 (along with Tick Tick Boom). I highly recommend seeing it and give it a strong 10/10! I am so excited for future Spiderman movies! 

Spider-Man: Now Way Home Blowing Minds Before Theatrical Release

Spider-Man: Now Way Home Blowing Minds Before Theatrical Release

By Peter Parker, I mean Zach Roozendaal

When I started writing for The Quill, I started my first article covering the complicated rights situation between Disney and Sony and the resolution of that epic month. Then a year later, rumours of a multiverse crossover happening with Dr. Strange being confirmed to appear, and Jamie Foxx’s Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Since then, so much happened. Alfred Molina had apparently gone public with the fact that he would be reprising the role of Doctor Otto Octavius, AKA Doctor Octopus and we got an official name back in February, right around my birthday actually, and learned it would be No Way Home.

            During the first trailer, not only do we get hints of other characters, but we see a pumpkin bomb on a bridge and a very familiar laugh. That was Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin, then a set of metal tentacles pop up, only for Doc Ock to simply just smile and say “Hello Peter.”

            Doc Ock was the only villain seen visible on screen but in subsequent trailers we got to see Jamie Foxx as Electro with a bit of an upgrade with yellow electricity flowing around him instead of him looking like an evil zappy blue guy with a hood on shooting lightning. That was Palpatine’s thing, although some shot of Electro show a blue thing on him that looks like Tony Stark’s ARC Reactor attached to himself flowing with electricity. We also have seen The Lizard from the 1st TASM (The Amazing Spider-Man for short) pop up, and Sandman from Sam Raimi’s Spiderman 3.

I’d love to see the previous Spidermen all fighting side by side. The internet seems to agree with me, as Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield and most actors including Zendaya and Benedict Cumberbatch have been asked about the possibility of whether we might see that or not. I don’t know that we will, but if the Multiverse has taught us anything, it’s that nothing’s impossible.

5 villains are shown to us but the question is, will we see a 6th? That’d be amazing to see the Sinister 6 in live action. Think of the 6 as being like the anti-Avengers. Maybe Sandman is an elemental projection made by Mysterio after surviving Far From Home’s finale? Or Scorpion will break out of prison and use some weird tech or mutate? Venom 2’s post credit scene showed Venom and Eddie Brock in the MCU now so maybe Venom is the 6th member? Or Vulture? Or Kraven the Hunter? Or even just J Jonah Jameson himself?

The possibilities are endless, and it comes out this Thursday December 16th and will show Peter Parker trying to fix his secret that Mysterio ruined at the end of Far From Home, and with some help from Doctor Strange that Peter Botches, villains and potentially other characters from separate universes show up from films that weren’t even in the MCU at all, like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man.

Could Doctor Strange be the evil demon Mephisto in disguise? Could Mysterio still be alive? Could peter lose someone close to him during this dimensional deadly duel? Who knows?

But be sure to take it all in on Thursday when it comes out, and hopefully I won’t have had enough popcorn to make struggle with having NO WAY HOME!!!

And now, for my final thought and a Spider-Man quote:

Living too many lives at once can make you feel lost, but home is where you feel happiest and safest, and where you’re loved.

“With great power comes great responsibility” -Uncle Ben

Until next time, stay safe out there, and have fun and joy this holidays season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

For now, this is Zach Roozendaal, signing off, and reminding you to spread positivity, love and kindness as much as possible.

Goodbye everyone!

Sapph-Lit Book Club: An Online Queer Safe Space

Sapph-Lit Book Club: An Online Queer Safe Space 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Back in July of 2021, I was scrolling through TikTok, and I came across a video about young adult queer books, posted by Nina Haines. After watching the video, I went to the comments and saw that someone suggested that Nina start a book club...and the rest is history. The club is called Sapph-Lit and currently has approximately 1950 members (and counting!) Sapph-Lit is on the app Geneva, which allows for a group chat feel. We started off reading adult sapphic (queer women and non-binary characters and authors) fiction books, but we quickly added a queer theory non-fiction pick too. Our first pick in June was the brand new One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, who is the author of the (very popular) book Red, White, and Royal Blue (I loved both of their books). Geneva allows us to talk about life, queer books, queer popular culture, and of course our monthly books. There have been wonderful opportunities to attend Zoom interviews with some of the authors of our monthly picks! The very first author interview was with the author of the (very large) fantasy book The Priory of the Orange Tree (July, fiction), Samantha Shannon. I did not attend this one because I did not read the book, but this started a Sapph-Lit trend! The next interview was Shelley Parker-Chan, who wrote She Who Became the Sun (August, fiction). I attended the September non-fiction interview with the author of the 2000s Made Me Gay, Grace Perry! I had a lot of fun and I loved the book (and I highly recommend it if you want to learn about growing up as a lesbian). The next interview was Jen Winston, who wrote the October non-fiction book, called Greedy: Notes from a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much. The most recent interview was for the November fiction book called Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters. Sapph-Lit has become a highlight of my year and one of my favorite parts of every month is voting on the books - sometimes the races are tight! There are monthly Zoom chats about both books, and I attended the one for the November non-fiction book, which was The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson. I had a lot of fun with a few other members of Sapph-Lit. It is such a nice opportunity to have an accessible online queer safe space and queer community, especially while living in a small town in a pandemic where we must stay at home. Sapph-Lit has a very large number of members, so they all offer very diverse and interesting perspectives on the books we read. It is very interesting to me reading everyone's thoughts on the books, even if I did not read the book! We make sure our picks are as diverse as our members. Sapph-Lit allowed me to grow my reading horizons - before this year, I did not read much non-fiction, but I do now! I also tried to read my second ever fantasy book, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (but I decided not to finish it). I am so grateful for Sapph-Lit and I wish I had this community when I was in the closet in high school, but I am so happy I found it now! Our December picks are Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo for fiction, and In the Dream House my Carmen Maria Machado for non-fiction. I am so excited to read these now that I am on winter break! To join Sapph-Lit, go to the club’s Instagram page @sapphlit! 

All Too Well: The Short Film Review

All Too Well: The Short Film Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

On November 12th, 2021, Taylor Swift released the short film that she wrote and directed for the ten-minute version of her fan favorite song All Too Well. The film stars Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, Fear Street 1978), Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf, Maze Runner), and Taylor Swift. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: gaslighting, toxic relationship, sexual content, and an age gap. The song and film tell the story of Taylor and Jake Gyllenhaal’s three-month relationship and how he broke her heart. Sadie plays a young Taylor and Dylan plays younger Jake. 

One of the first things that you notice when watching the short film is the age gap, as Sadie is 19 years old, and Dylan is 30. This is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable - the relationship that the song is about had that same age difference. Taylor was 20/21 and Jake Gyllenhaal was 29/30 when they were dating. The film starts with the quote from Pablo Neruda, “Love is so short, forgetting is so long.” I feel like this quote summarizes the song, relationship, and film in a nutshell. The next scene is Sadie and Dylan cuddling in bed. Sadie says, “Are you for real?” and Dylan says, “What do you mean?” and then Sadie says, “I don’t know, I just feel like maybe I made you up.” This scene is more powerful when you know that Jake gaslit her, which caused her to question her own reality. After this scene, the song starts and we see that the film is literally following the song lyrics - the couple walks through the door as the line “I walked through the door with you, the air was cold” plays. We then see Sadie take off a red scarf, which is a significant part of the song and the film. She forgets it at his sister's house, and he keeps it and refuses to return it (still). There are sections of the film with titles on the screen. They are “An upstate escape”, “The first crack in the glass,” “are you real?” “The breaking point,” “The reeling,” “thirteen years gone,” and lastly, “The remembering.” A shot I love is when Dylan and Sadie are walking through a very scenic forest and stop and kiss, and the camera does a 360 so you can see every angle. Dylan looks a lot like Jake in the music video which is crazy to me. 

There is a scene with the two fighting without music in the kitchen that is heartbreaking. Sadie is mad because Dylan was ignoring her at a dinner with his friends, but Dylan is mad at her and gaslights her about it. This is when you first start seeing that their relationship is not as healthy as it seems. Also, in an interview, Taylor said that they had a script, but they improvised the scene. The varying emotions in the kitchen scene is powerful - Sadie goes from mad to sad to happy and then back to sad in a very short and brilliant way. Another one of my favorite scenes is when the two of them are “dancing in the kitchen in the refrigerator light.” I saw tweets about the lighting in this scene - Sadie is dancing by the window that uses yellow lighting, to represent her warmth, and Dylan is dancing by the fridge that uses blue lighting to represent his coldness. When the couple is breaking up, Sadie is asking him to look at her. He refuses, instead breaking up with her. We then see Sadie crying and then the camera pans back...and Dylan is finally looking at her. This is possibly referencing the fact that Jake called Taylor after they broke up and finally said that he loved her. Sadie shows off her amazing talent in the scenes where she is crying. The scene at her 21st birthday party is the scene that got me the most emotional - Jake skipped Taylor’s 21st birthday party and cheated on her instead. She wrote the song The Moment I Knew about it. Therefore, Taylor wrote and released the song 22: she was trying to make up for her ruined birthday. There is a reference to the iconic Spiderman kiss - which I believe is a reference to Jake being a villain in the current Spiderman movies. In the poetry reading scene, Taylor is reciting the first verse of All Too Well, which reflects her writing the song, releasing it, and performing it and how it became a fan favorite. The scene with Dylan outside watching the reading - while wearing the iconic red scarf - is powerful. It proves that he remembers it all too well too. 

Overall, I LOVED this short film. It provides an interesting look into the relationship in a beautiful way. The acting is phenomenal, and I love that Taylor both wrote and directed it. I give it a strong 10/10 and hope there are more short films to come! 

10 Great Netflix Holiday Movies to Watch

10 Great Netflix Holiday Movies to Watch

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

Photo Credits: Google Images

With final exams and winter break right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to start suggesting activities to do during the winter break. Personally, I like to unwind from a stressful semester during winter break and as a result I spend quite a bit of time binge-watching Netflix. With the holidays approaching I thought it would be a good time to start making holiday movies to watch lists and share them with you. While holiday classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol” are must-see movies during this time of year, you don’t need to stop the Christmas/holiday fun there. Netflix has everything you need to create a Christmas movie marathon. All you need to do is grab some snacks and hot drinks and you are set to go! I have compiled a list of the ten best holiday Netflix movies below with short summaries to help all of you plan a holiday movie marathon. Please feel free to suggest other holiday movies by emailing eic.thequill.com!

There are no spoilers!

1. Single All The Way

Photo Credits: Google Images

This new holiday movie rom-com stars a slew of comedy favorites (Michael Urie, Jennifer Coolidge, Jennifer Robertson, Kathy Najimy, and Barry Bostwick) as Urie’s character convinces his best friend to pretend they’re in a relationship together for the holidays to avoid his family’s pressure to find a mate.

2. A Castle For Christmas

Photo Credits: Google Images

Brooke Shields and Carey Elwes have a charming meet-cute over the purchase of a gorgeous Scottish castle in this new-this-year Netflix Christmas movie.

3. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Photo Credits: Google Images

Packed with big names and featuring songs by John Legend, this beautiful, playful Christmas movie follows a young girl on a mission to help her toy-making grandfather recover his greatest creation. The songs (and dance numbers) will play over and over in your head, and adults and kids alike will love the heartfelt story. For a joyful Christmas movie that feels fresh and creative, look no further.

4. Klaus

Photo Credits: Google Images

This delightful, animated Christmas movie follows a spoiled postmaster to his new station in a distant, unpleasant outpost, where he meets a certain woodsman with a fluffy white beard and a penchant for making toys. As a new retelling of the story of Santa Claus, this film is creative and interesting, with enough touching moments and heartwarming scenes to make any grinch smile. This Christmas movie was nominated for an Academy Award.

5. The Knight Before Christmas

Photo Credits: Google

This addition to Netflix’s growing collection of romantic Christmas movies tells the story of a medieval knight magically transported to modern-day Ohio, where a disillusioned teacher is preparing for a loveless holiday season. Predictably, PG-rated romantic antics ensue, but that doesn’t make this cheesy flick any less worthy of a watch.

6. Holiday Rush

Photo Credits: Google Images

A successful radio DJ (and recent widower) is ready to celebrate the holidays with his four spoiled children —until he loses his job and must cut back during the season of giving. This family-focused movie has a heartfelt, encouraging message about what really matters during the holiday season.

7. The Holiday Calendar

Photo Credits: Google Images

Yet another of Netflix’s sappy romantic Christmas movies, this one follows an aspiring photographer stuck in her small town in a dead-end job. An antique Advent calendar passed down from her grandmother arrives just in time to point her toward love—and a more fulfilling career.

8. A Christmas Prince

Photo Credits: Google Images

As Netflix’s first foray into the Christmas rom-com world, this sweet, goofy movie set a trend that the streaming service is continuing to follow, with a sequel produced the following year and a third movie released in 2019. The movie itself is reminiscent of Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas romantic comedies—a budding journalist sneaks into the castle to get the scoop for an article on a dashing, playboy prince. Romance ensues, of course.

9. The Princess Switch

Photo Credits: Google Images

Vanessa Hudgens stars as a pair of doppelgangers, Parent Trap–style, in this sweet holiday movie that combines mistaken identity, baking, royal romance, and more. If you’ve already watched every Hallmark Christmas movie available, this is the next best thing.

10. Love Hard

Photo Credits: Google Images

Nina Dobrev stars as an LA writer. After meeting her perfect match on a dating app, an L.A. writer learns she’s been catfished when she flies 3,000 miles to surprise him for Christmas.

Tick, Tick...Boom Review

Tick, Tick...Boom Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

The highly anticipated movie adaptation of the late Jonathan Larson’s first hit musical Tick, Tick...Boom recently came out in theatres (November 12th) and on Netflix (November 19th). The movie (and musical) is about Jonathan’s life and his process creating his first musical (that sadly did not become successful) Superbia. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: homelessness, homophobia, the AIDS crisis, discussion of drug use, alcohol, grief, death, and sexual content. The movie stars Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spiderman, Hacksaw Ridge), Alexandra Shipp (Love Simon, Dark Phoenix), Robin de Jesus (The Boys in the Band, Camp), and Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical, Beastly). The movie also has a TON of cameos from Broadway legends, so make sure to pay attention because some are blink, and you will miss it moments (especially make sure to watch the diner brunch scene!) Tick, Tick...Boom is Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut and he aced it! The casting (especially with Andrew Garfield as Jonathan) is exceptional: Andrew learned how to sing and play piano so he could completely BECOME Jonathan. Also, he looks a lot like Jonathan: at the very start of the movie, I thought they put in a clip of Jon, but I was wrong! Bradley Whitford’s portrayal of Stephen Sondheim blew my mind - I did not even recognize who the actor was until I looked him up! Robin de Jesus killed it as Jon’s best friend Michael – I cannot wait to see him in more movies, television shows, and musicals in the future! 

It is important to note that the adapted version of the musical is an adaptation of the one man show that Jonathan wrote, and there are differences with the full musical version (but the movie is fantastic, so it does not matter). 

While reading reviews for the movie, I noticed a theme: everyone is agreeing that the movie is a “love letter to theatre and theatre lovers.” I completely agree. It is filled with references to the musical Rent (which is my favorite musical). After Tick, Tick...Boom got successful, Jonathan picked up writing a new musical…. called Rent. Tragically, the night before Rent was premiering off Broadway, Jonathan died of a sudden aortic aneurysm. The movie discusses Jonathan’s fear of turning 30, which is emotional to me as he died at age 35. There is one line in the song Swimming that breaks my heart: “Will I make it to 40?” The line is in reference to Jon swimming laps at the pool, but I believe it has a double meaning. A similar spoken line is the one that his friend Michael says to him: “How many Jonathan Larson’s are there in the world? One.” 

Overall, I LOVED this movie. It holds a special place in my heart because Rent is my favorite musical. I watched the Rent movie before I started questioning my sexuality and it was very eye opening. Watching Tick, Tick...Boom felt like watching Bohemian Rhapsody, where I wish that Jonathan Larson/Freddie Mercury were here today to see their huge impact. At times the movie felt like a documentary (I say this in the best way possible). I give it a very strong 10/10 and highly recommend checking it out, and then checking out Rent if you have not!

Red (Taylor’s Version) - A Review

Red (Taylor’s Version) - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

On November 12th, Taylor Swift released the re-recording of her 2012 album Red. The album includes nine songs “from the vault” which are songs written while the original album was written but were not released. It also includes the long-awaited ten-minute version of the song All Too Well. Taylor also recorded her own versions of the songs Babe and Better Man, which she previously gave to other bands (Little Big Town for Better Man and Sugarland for Babe). Trigger warnings for cheating, gaslighting, grief, cancer, toxic relationships, mental health, suicide, and breakups. The album discusses relationships, breakups, cancer, and cheating. 

Majority of the album is about actor Jake Gyllenhaal (especially All Too Well). Taylor also released a short film (an extended music video) for the ten-minute version of All Too Well. The short film stars Taylor, Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, Fear Street: 1978), and Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf, Maze Runner). It follows Taylor’s toxic relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal when she was 21 and he was 29. The relationship was full of cheating, fighting, and gaslighting. The short film is amazing and provides a new perspective into the relationship that did not exist before. 

Taylor brilliantly blends pop and country, as Red was her last country album before fully moving onto pop with 1989. She shows this blend in the vault songs, where she goes from the upbeat, fun song Message in a Bottle to petty country bop I Bet You Think About Me (featuring Chris Stapleton). The song (which I believe is about Jake Gyllenhaal as it parallels All Too Well) calls out a toxic relationship and how Taylor believes that the man that she is singing about is still thinking about her after they broke up. It reminds me of her first ever song Tim McGraw. This song is one of my favorite songs from the whole album. I really loved all the vault songs on Red and cannot wait for the rest of the vault songs on the remaining re-recordings. 

Overall, I really love Red (Taylor’s Version) - I think I even love and appreciate it more than I did the original version! I give it a strong 10/10 and cannot wait for the remaining re-recordings! I highly recommend listening to the whole album (even though it is long!) 

You Season 3 - A Review

You Season 3 - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Season three of the Netflix show You came out recently and I loved it! The show follows a stalker from his perspective. Before I go any further, a SPOILER ALERT as I will be discussing season three of the show. Also, trigger warnings for stalking, murder, death, blood and gore, cheating, domestic violence, illness, kidnapping, missing people, arson, violence, addiction, grief, suicide, sexual content, and surveillance. I was able to watch a screening of the first episode of the new season a few days early with my family which was fun! 

Season three of You brings us to a new setting, a suburb called Madre Linda. Joe and Love are adjusting to life with a new baby, new town, and new people. They are trying and failing to get rid of their violent old habits. I loved trying to guess if people were going to end up as love interests, enemies, or victims, and loved how some were all three. I liked Theo as a character, but he made some bad decisions (some of them were understandable in his situation). I enjoyed Love’s fashion throughout the season. I made a connection at the end of the season with the book The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (which I will not spoil here). One of my favorite parts of the entire season was how Exile by Taylor Swift (featuring Bon Iver) was played near the end of the last episode. I also loved how the very end of the last episode set up for season four (which was announced before season three even came out). It bothered me that there was so much cheating in the season - a polyamorous relationship would have worked better for Love and Joe. There were plot twists, deaths, and relationships that I did not expect this season. 

Overall, I really enjoyed watching this season. I recommend watching this show, but do not recommend it if you fear stalkers. Also, this show is 17+ for graphic imagery and sexual content. I did not expect the ending and loved that it was unpredictable. I give season three of You a 10/10. 

Midsommar - A Movie Review

Midsommar - A Movie Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I watched the disturbing cult movie Midsommar on Halloween night and have some mixed thoughts. The movie stars one of my favorite actresses Florence Pugh (Little Women, Black Widow), and stars Jack Reynor (Macbeth, Glassland), Vilhelm Blomgren (The Last Letter from Your Lover), and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place, Dark Waters). The movie follows a group of friends who go to Sweden to visit a colony...that turns out to have more terrifying cultish rituals than expected. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: cults, GRAPHIC suicide, murder, death, loss, grief, GRAPHIC blood and gore, animal cruelty, cheating, GRAPHIC nudity, sexual violence, drug use, fire, sacrifice, disturbing cult rituals, vomiting, toxic relationship, self-harm, anxiety attacks, gaslighting, flashing lights, discussion of incest, and ableism. This movie is very disturbing and unsettling, and the suicide scenes are extremely graphic, so please do not watch this movie if this is triggering or upsetting to you at all. 

I had heard that this movie was disturbing, but I was not at all prepared for just how disturbed and unsettled I was while watching. The “colony” that the movie follows is a violent, murderous cult that gaslights the friends who come to visit it. Two of the friends are there to research the cult, but they instead get traumatized. I loved the found family vibes and find it interesting how that trope can be explored in a cult narrative. I was uncomfortable pretty much the whole time watching this movie, and the movie is two and a half hours long. I was furious at Dani’s boyfriend Christian after he brushed off her sister’s concerning emails. My anger was justified after the reveal of her family’s fate (which I will not spoil here). Dani deserved a lot better than the cards she was dealt in the movie. She went through a lot and there were a lot of people that either gaslit her about it or decided that it was no big deal (when the opposite was true). My favorite part of the movie was the ending - in my opinion it made the disturbing events of the rest of the movie worth it. I loved the beautiful visuals, cinematography, and costumes in this movie, although there were some I did not see because I was either covering my eyes or answering the door for trick or treaters. 

Overall, I did enjoy this movie, but I do not plan on ever watching it again. One viewing was more than enough! Once again, please check the trigger warnings for this movie. I included some, but there are more details (and spoilers) at the website DoesTheDogDie.com. I give this movie a 9/10 because it was so unsettling. I also want to emphasize that this is strictly a 17+ movie because of the nudity and graphic imagery. 

The Turn of the Key - A Book Review

The Turn of the Key - A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently read the adult thriller book The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware and enjoyed it a lot! The book is based on The Turn of the Screw, a classic book that one of my favorite Netflix shows The Haunting of Bly Manor is based on. I bought The Turn of the Key with this in mind and was so happy that I did - it was basically “Bly Manor the book!” Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT! Also, trigger warnings for: death, child death, murder, gaslighting, cheating, incest, sexual assault, abandonment, drinking, poison, suicide, grief, forced institutionalization, sexual content, and homophobia. The book follows a woman, Rowen, who is applying for a nanny position in Scotland. She gets the job, and then learns that their previous nannies left under mysterious circumstances...and once she starts working, she starts to understand why: the house might be haunted. 

My critique for this book is the very British language, which resulted in the author using the homophobic F slur instead of saying “cigarette.” I was not given a warning about this before I read the book and was surprised. I understand that this is something that I may come across while reading from British authors, but I would appreciate the authors to recognize that a diverse group of people will read their books and to handle the language with care. 

The story is told in an interesting way: through letters to Rowan’s lawyer...while she is in prison for murder awaiting trial. She is begging her lawyer to believe that she did not kill one of the kids that she oversaw while on her nanny job. I found myself making lots of Bly Manor connections even though The Turn of the Key came out months before the show did. Three major differences were: the book takes place in current time (while the show takes place in the eighties), the book contains a “smart” house with all sorts of cool tech, and the book does not include a lesbian romance. There are so many twists and turns that I did not expect at all, and I fully did NOT see the massive twist at the ending at all. I love books with a huge plot twist, for example: The Silent Patient by Alex Michealides. I love the quote “People do go mad, you know, if you stop them from sleeping for long enough…” This quote is a good example of the spooky, Halloween vibe that I got from the book! 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for October. It is a great spooky book filled with a creepy house, suspicious children, a poison garden, red herrings, and murder! I give it a 10/10 and cannot wait to read more of Ruth Ware’s books!

Reasons to Write and To Write Well

Reasons to Write and To Write Well

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

(Image Credit: pixabay.com)

Writing is useful in so many ways. Yes, writing can be the cause of anxiety, but it can also create a lot of good things in our mind. Writing has been in our lives for ages. There are many reasons to improve your writing skills. Everyone writes messages, essays, or emails daily, so under no circumstances should the importance of good writing skills be diminished. Students are especially reliant on writing. Of all the tasks’, written assignments are the most common. They strive to improve learners’ analytic and critical thinking skills and most notably, they play a considerable role in students’ academics. 

Education puts a strong emphasis on writing. Students have to produce numerous written assignments, including but not limited to various essays, reports, case studies, reviews, and projects. And although such tasks are prevalent in academia, learners still face trouble composing impeccable papers. The main issue though is trying to find the time for it all. Without a shadow of a doubt, writing can be tedious, mainly in academia. And love it or hate it, you can’t hide from completing such tasks and submitting them on time. Thanks to solid writing skills, you won’t spend hours researching, outlining, and drafting a document. The ability to compose an essay and make it smooth-running will save you bags of time you can spend on activities you like more.

Good Writing Skills are Required Everywhere. Whether you decide to continue your academic path, delve into accounting, or become a designer, writing is necessary. Good writing abilities allow you to better express yourself, convey a message to the reader, and have all the leverage you need to satisfy your needs. Writing helps polish speaking and communication skills. Writing documents requires following a specific format and structure. Besides, many jobs require proving writing skills during the application procedure. Let alone writing personal statements when enrolling in a college or university program or applying for a scholarship.

Have you ever thought about why prolific writers always think outside the box? Writing stimulates the brain. Expert writers can generate unique ideas and concepts quickly because of their writing experience. They know how to kick off the writing process, what to focus on to come up with exclusive thoughts, and, most importantly, how to keep their content high-quality.

Additionally, writing speeds up brain function. We’ve all experienced that fatigue and stiffness upon waking up. Needless to say, our brains can barely work first thing in the morning. Writing helps accelerate the brain. By writing several paragraphs, you immediately become more productive and active.

Writing also can enrich the imagination. Being persistent with writing requires generating a variety of different content. Although numerous of topics exist, you will sometimes have to produce essays on familiar topics. Of course, everyone will want to stand out when working on such papers. Good writing boosts your imagination and allows you to come up with one-of-a-kind concepts. Besides, it enlarges your horizons and lets you touch upon various subjects you would never think of in the past.

As stated above, these are only a few reasons in favour of the importance of writing. Yet, they prove entirely that outstanding writing provides a dozen benefits, like improved communication, enhanced imagination and creativity, and the ability to buckle down tasks faster without sacrificing their quality.

Midnight Mass - A Review

Midnight Mass - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently watched Mike Flanagan’s newest Netflix show Midnight Mass and I loved it! It is a seven episode limited series, and it tells the full story in a great way in such a short time. The show is a slow burn supernatural horror with an awesome cast. The show is about an isolated religious island community that experiences miracles and frights after the arrival of a strange young priest. It stars creator Mike Flanagan’s wife Kate Siegel (Hill House, Bly Manor), Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights, The Last Winter), Samantha Sloyan (Grey’s Anatomy, Hill House), Rahul Kohli (Bly Manor, Supergirl), and more. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: death, blood and gore, murder, jump scares, alcoholism, car crash, drinking and driving, animal cruelty, animal death, pet loss, poison, cults, suicide, arson, cannibalism, seizures, miscarriage, self-harm, gaslighting, racism, and gun violence. 

The show started slow and not very scary as you get introduced to the setting of the fictional Crockett Island and meet the characters. This made me think that I would not be too scared while watching (as I am not the biggest horror fan), but I was very wrong. The show gradually gets more disturbing, scary, and thought provoking. It focuses a LOT on religion, but do not let this turn you away, the show is great and takes twists that I definitely did not expect. I made connections with The Haunting of Bly Manor and The Haunting of Hill House, who were also created, written, and directed by Mike Flanagan. The acting in this show is phenomenal, and there are a lot of beautiful and emotional monologues throughout the show. I think that it is fun that Mike Flanagan had two cameos in the show (one that I spotted and another one I saw on social media). I loved how there was diversity in the show, with Rahul Kohli’s portrayal of a Muslim man on the very Catholic Crocket Island. Mike dove into his personal experiences to make this show, as he was an altar boy and was an alcoholic. He originally started writing a Midnight Mass book years ago but never finished (fun fact: there is an easter egg about this in his movie Hush with Kate Siegel and Samantha Sloyan). He then tried to get it made as a movie before finally landing on a television show. 

Midnight Mass is incomparable to his other projects of his that I have seen (Bly Manor, Hill House, and Gerald’s Game). The show makes you think about religion and how it can go too far very fast. Overall, I highly recommend watching it, and it is a very good weekend binge. I give it a strong 10/10! I am very excited to see more projects from Mike Flanagan!

Come From Away - A Musical Review

Come From Away - A Musical Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently watched the professional recording of the hit Tony Award winning musical Come from Away. It is an amazing musical, and it is about the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack in New York City, which caused 38 planes to be diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. The musical showcases Canadian kindness during a traumatic time. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: death, grief, trauma, terrorism, racism, anxiety, alcohol, claustrophobia, and 9/11. 

The show is a perfect mix of heartbreaking, funny, and uplifting. The found family aspect of it is beautiful. The cast are amazing and ace their roles. The Canadian jokes are very funny - I hope to see more popular musicals set in Canada in the future! I realized while I was watching the show the gravity of it being performed and filmed in New York City. The show came out on the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which is powerful. The performance is filmed beautifully, it gives you close ups when necessary and wide shots at good timing to show the sets and choreography. I loved how some actors played multiple small parts in addition to their larger roles, because it is impossible to have a cast full of 700+ people on a stage so small. I was born a few weeks before 9/11, and I cannot even imagine what it was like to be older during that time. Come From Away brilliantly gives me a peek into what people faced at the time, as the characters are based on real people. The music is catchy, emotional, and tells the story in a wonderful way. The musical is not entirely sung through, so there are some jokes and context you would miss out on if you only listened to the soundtrack. You would also miss out on the excellent props, sets, and choreography in the show. The accents in the show are hilarious - in the first song, the local Newfoundlanders sing, “You probably understand about a half of what we say.” I loved the diverse representation in the show, of races, genders, sexualities, and religions. 

Overall, I LOVED the Come from Away movie. I highly recommend checking it out! It is available to watch on Apple TV+. I give it a very strong 10/10, and I believe that it has become one of my favorite musicals. 

Candyman (2021) Review

Candyman (2021) Review

By Cedric Bell

Photo Credit: www.imdb.com 

A sequel to the 1987 horror film of the same name, Candyman (2021) is another film that follows the recent trend of half-reboots. While still acknowledging the original, it goes in a mostly original direction, while using some of the same ideas and characters as the original. It stands on its own and can be fully enjoyed without any knowledge of the prior films, but does not completely neglect them either. But what really sets it apart from them is the fresh approach that it takes to horror filmmaking, interlacing the horror elements with strong social commentary and a uniquely stylised direction.

Directed by Nia Dacosta and written by Nia Dacosta, Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld, Candyman (2021) follows an artist's deepening obsession with an urban legend in his neighbourhood of Cabrini Green, the Candyman. According to the legend, if his name is said five times in a mirror, he comes to murder whoever said it. This pursuit of the urban legend brings him back into the public eye, and starts a new chain of crimes that tears the neighbourhood apart. While the premise sounds a bit cheesy, it is handled in a very mature and reserved way that keeps it from seeming silly, and focuses on much more specific themes rather than just the horror elements. It goes surprisingly deep into social and racial themes such as gentrification, ghettoisation and police brutality, and naturally interweaves these ideas into the story in ways that make it much more interesting than it would be otherwise. It also brings up an artistic dilemma about whether or not using suffering as an artistic muse is taking advantage of that suffering, or is bringing to light an important issue. Aside from the subject of police brutality, the film never offers simple answers to these issues, and instead raises the question and argues for both sides, creating a horror movie that has more serious ideas than most of its contemporaries, and is more interesting as a result.

The film has a lot of very unique and positive aspects to it. The cinematography is excellent and has a lot of visually interesting and meaningful shots, the best among them being the shadow puppet sequences that are used to great effect. The acting, especially from the leads Teyonah Parris and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, is very strong and makes them both likeable. The themes and ideas that it brings up are interesting and thoughtful, and it relies on suspense and eeriness rather than jumpscares or obvious horror. In my mind, this film is almost a masterpiece. Almost.

There are two major issues that this movie has. The first is that there is a pretty major reveal towards the end that didn’t work very well. Without going into specifics, a character makes a heel turn into a villain that feels rushed and forced. They explain it well enough, but it is explained with a flashback that comes far too late in the movie, and makes the twist seem sloppy and a little ridiculous as a result. The second issue this movie has is more of a matter of preference. Unlike Jordan Peele’s other two horror movies, the themes and ideas that are brought up in this movie, while interesting, are used very bluntly and obviously. There is little room for interpretation because these ideas are often just stated outright by the characters, which can make it feel like the audience is being beaten over the head with them. While I personally didn’t mind it, because the movie has a lot it has to say in a very short time, some might find it a little jarring. It is by no means a worse approach than the more subtle way Get out or Us addresses issues of race, but it is noticeably more direct.

Overall, the 2021 reboot of Candyman is an incredible, thoughtful horror movie, and though there are a few issues that hold it back from being perfect, it is a movie I cannot recommend highly enough that combines skin crawling horror and meaningful social commentary in a movie that I will be thinking about for a long, long time.

Solar Power by Lorde - A Review

Solar Power by Lorde - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Lorde finally released her long awaited third album called Solar Power on August 20th (which was the day before my 20th birthday). The album is full of summery vibes and fun songs, while also having her classic emotional punch. The album weaves intellectual lyrics about love, relationships, fame, heartbreak, family, nature, politics, and growing up all together in a beautiful way. 

The first song, The Path, is about fame and growing up. In the song, Lorde says, “Caught in the complex divorce of the seasons/Won’t take the call if it’s the label or the radio.” She also says, “Now if you’re looking for a savior, well, that’s not me.” I love this line. The second song (and title track) is called Solar Power and is the perfect song to blare on the beach. The song is about using nature and the outdoors as escapism. In the song, she sings, “Forget all of the tears that you cried, it’s over.” She also says, “And I throw my cellular device in the water/Can you reach me? No, you can’t” I like this line because Lorde does not use social media and it feels fitting. But my favorite line in the song (and possibly whole album) is “I’m kinda like a prettier Jesus.” Moving on to track 3, California is once again exploring fame and how Lorde does not like it. Lorde sings, “Goodbye to all the bottles, all the models/Bye to the clouds in the skies that all hold no rain. /Don’t want that California love.” Lorde slows it down for the emotional fourth song on the album called Stoned at the Nail Salon. The song is about growing up, nostalgia, and disassociation. My favorite lyrics in this song are, “Cause all the music you loved at sixteen you’ll grow out of/And all the times they will change, it’ll all come around.” The fifth song is called Fallen Fruit and is about remembering those who came before us. In the song, she sings, “To the ones who came before us/All the golden ones who were lifted on a wing/We had no idea the dreams we had were far too big.” Track six is my favorite song on the whole album. It is called Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All), and it is about nostalgia, grief, and growing up. It reminds me of songs that would be in early 2000’s movies. In the song, she says, “Couldn’t wait to turn fifteen/Then you blink, and it’s been ten years/Growing up a little at a time, then all at once.” She also sings “‘Member what you thought was grief before you got the call?” Track seven is called The Man with the Axe. She sings “I thought I was a genius, but now I’m twenty-two.” The eighth song on the album, Dominoes, is a petty reflection on an ex-boyfriend. It reminds me of the song Mr. Perfectly Fine by Taylor Swift. In the song, she sings, “Fifty gleaming chances in a row/Then you flick them down like dominoes/Must feel good being Mr. Start Again.” Lorde slows it down again for the heartbreaking ninth song called Big Star which is about her dog Pearl that passed away. She sings “But every perfect summer’s gotta take its flight.” Track ten is called Leader of a New Regime and is a short song about politics. She sings, “Won’t somebody, anybody, be the leader of a new regime?” In the eleventh song, Mood Ring, Lorde satirizes people who are spiritual and use crystals. She sings “Don’t you think the early 2000s seem so far away?” and “Ladies, begin your sun salutation/Transcendental in your meditations/You can burn sage and I’ll cleanse the crystals/We can get high, but only if the wind blows.” The final song on the standard album is called Oceanic Feeling, which is a whopping six minutes long. In the song, Lorde says “Slidin’ the knife under the skin/Grateful for this offering/And all the livin’ things under the sun.” 

Overall, I love this album and I am so happy that Lorde finally released a new album after not releasing anything for four whole years. My favorite songs are Secrets from a Girl, Solar Power, and Stoned at the Nail Salon. I give Solar Power a strong 10/10 and highly recommend checking it out! 

Ace of Spades: A Book Review

Ace of Spades: A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson

Ace of Spades is a young adult thriller mystery book by Faridah Abika-Iyimide (it is her debut book!), and it came out on June 1st, 2021. The book is described as “Get Out meets Gossip Girl” and that is the best way to describe the story. It follows Chiamaka and Devon, the only Black students at the prestigious Niveus Private Academy. But...when the anonymous “Aces'” starts exposing secrets, they realize that they're the only people being targeted. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for racism, homophobia, outing, murder, a car accident, blood, death, racial slurs, gun violence, fire, bullying, stalking, gaslighting, toxic friendships, suicide, drug abuse, sexual assault/harassment, incarceration, and sexual content. 

Ace of Spades is a thrilling mystery that is very fast paced as you try to figure out who Aces is. I recommend watching the movie Get Out first and having a basic understanding of the show Gossip Girl. The story is hard to read at times, as it deals with racism and homophobia. There are twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The secrets that were exposed shocked me and I was in for a fun ride with this book. A quote from Ace of Spades that I love is “At the end of the day, I had to learn to protect my heart above everything, at all costs. If I didn’t protect it, no one else would.” On the very first page of the book are these two quotes: “they say life is full of surprises. That our dreams really can come true. Then again, so can our nightmares.” from Gossip Girl, and “All I know is sometimes, if there’s too many white folks...I get nervous.” from Get Out. It is not just readers on social media making connections to Gossip Girl and Get Out while reading, this book is literally Get Out meets Gossip Girl. I recommend this book to white people who want to learn more about the horrors of racism but who still want to read fiction books. I am glad that I watched the movie Get Out before reading because I got the full impact of the story. There is a huge plot twist at the end of the book that I didn't see coming at all, which I love. 

Overall, I loved reading this book, and I highly recommend reading it! I love reading books with good, diverse representation and this book definitely did that. I give Ace of Spades a very strong 10/10 and cannot wait for more books from Faridah Abika-Iyimide!

You Signed Up for This by Maisie Peters - A Review

You Signed Up for This by Maisie Peters - A Review  

By: Mallory Johnson 

Maisie Peters released her debut album on August 27th, and I have been listening to it on repeat ever since. It is a pop breakup album, and I am obsessed with it. Maisie is on Ed Sheeran’s new record label, Gingerbread Man Records, which is super cool. The album weaves lyrics about heartbreak, growing up, driving, family, friendship, love, and mental health together in a beautiful way. The songs are very catchy and fun while also being sad if you dig deep into the lyrics. The smart yet heartbreaking lyrics pull you in for a journey. The first song and title track “You Signed Up for This” is very relatable to me, especially the opening lyrics “I am 20 and probably upset right now/I still haven’t got my driver’s license.” The second song called “I’m Trying (Not Friends)” discusses heartbreak after a breakup and trying to move on while trying to be the bigger person. The lyrics “Well I might be bitter and twisted and broken and petty and lying/But at least I'm trying” show the diverse range of emotions that are caused by breakups. The third song on the album, called “John Hughes Movie”, is one of my favorites. It references 80s romantic comedies made by John Hughes (think The Breakfast Club). It discusses a love that is not meant to be. I love the lyric “Cause if you don’t want me/then you're not the one.” The fourth song called “Outdoor Pool” goes back to high school young love and breaks your heart. Maisie sings, “We went swimming in an outdoor pool/and you wouldn't tell a soul at school/I’m just fifteen, I just want you, so that’s cool.” The fifth song is called “Love Him I Don’t” and is all about finally moving on from a bad breakup and toxic relationship. My favorite lyrics in this song are, “Now it’s coming up roses/Kicking up snow/What a long winter/What a bad joke.” and “Everyone else can have him but I won’t.” “Psycho” is the sixth song and another one of my favorites. Maisie calls out a toxic ex who cheated on her. My favorite lyrics in this song are “All kinds of ghosts down in your basement/You made me feel so useful, then so used.” I also love the bridge. My third favorite song on the album is the seventh song called “Boy,” where Maisie iconically calls out a toxic, serial-cheating ex. It is hard to pick a favorite set of lyrics from this song, so here are a few: “In love is something that you’ll never be/And you should take this personally.” and “When I told you you were funny I lied.” and “If I was the last girl on earth/You’d still be weighing up your options.” and finally, “I could be a grown-up/But baby you know what?/Maybe I’ll release this song instead.” Ed Sheeran co-wrote this song with Maisie which I think is fun! The mood shifts completely in the next song called Hollow, which is a heartbreaking song. My favorite lyric is “The casualty of love is the price of being free.” Maisie talks about how heartbroken and hollow she feels after a relationship ends. The ninth song, “Villain,” is equally as heartbreaking as Maisie talks once again about heartbreak. She says that she feels like the villain in the story, and says, “If she’s the girl of your dreams/The best thing you’ve ever seen/Well, what does that make me then? /I’m your villain.” Maisie switches gears for the tenth song called “Brooklyn,” which is about her lovely relationship with her sister Ellen (who she mentions in the first song). My favorite lyric from this song is “If you want to take her out, you're gonna have to ask me first/Come on, have you seen those eyes? /It’s nothing but the best for her.” This song makes me think of my own sister. In the eleventh song, “Elvis Song,” she talks about good memories from a relationship. She says, “In my mind, I hear it and I know nothing’s changed/In my mind, we share earphones on the midnight train.” Maisie sings about feeling bad about not committing to the relationship and how she was the one responsible for ending it. Another one of my favorite songs is the acoustic “Talking to Strangers.” In the song, Maisie sings about how she keeps talking to strangers about her lover. She sings, “Oh, I can’t stop, I can’t just not/Tell the whole wide world and this room/No, I can’t stop, even if I wanted to talking to strangers about you.” The second last song called “Volcano” once again talks about a toxic relationship and is very sad. My favorite line is, “I’ll throw you in a volcano, hope death is sudden.” The last song, called “Tough Act,” is a heartbreaking breakup song that reminds me of the song Fine Line by Harry Styles. She says, “Saying goodbye to a best friend/Is the bad part of the right thing to do.” and “Everybody knows that a breakup/Is better when there’s someone to hate but/You were my favorite way to stay up, and I’d say that still.” 

Overall, I am obsessed with this album and believe that it is a very solid debut. My favorite songs are Psycho, Boy, Talking to Strangers, and John Hughes Movie. I give this album a strong 10/10 and highly recommend checking it out! This was the perfect album for the end of the summer. 

Unpregnant - A Review

Unpregnant - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson

Unpregnant is a movie based on a book of the same name that came out in 2020. The movie is funny and very enjoyable. It is available to watch on Crave and HBO Max. I love how it was written and directed by a woman. The movie follows a seventeen-year-old Veronica who accidentally gets pregnant, and then must travel across the country to get an abortion with her childhood friend, Bailey. It stars Haley Lu Richardson (Five Feet Apart, The Edge of Seventeen) and Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria, Divorce). The movie discusses abortions, the right to choose, and issues with abortion access. I am pro-choice, and I really enjoyed how this movie was also pro-choice. Before I go any further, I want to put in place a spoiler alert. I also want to put in place trigger warnings for: abortion, sexual assault, stalking, flashing lights, and a toxic relationship. 

The acting, directing, and cinematography were excellent and made for a fun watch. I loved the soundtrack, the road trip adventure aspect, and the friendship in the movie. I found it very awkward when Veronica’s boyfriend proposed to her when he found out she was pregnant. I loved how organized and planned Veronica was about the whole trip. One of my favorite parts of the movie was the LGBTQ2+ representation in it, and how it was not a big deal in the movie; it did not change much of the plot. I loved that Bailey was so supportive and called to book the abortion appointment for Veronica. I loved when they were at the carnival on a ride, when they were screaming their secrets; specifically the line “We’re gay and pregnant!” I did not trust the family that gave the girls a ride from the carnival, and I was correct. 

This movie reminded me of the movie Booksmart, where two teenage girls must go on a big adventure to get to a party. But instead of a party, the teens are going across the country to get an abortion. I liked how Bailey reunited with her dad, and that Veronica supported her when he was rude to her. I found it hilarious that they pulled up to the abortion clinic in a limousine, and that the driver, Bob, walked them into the clinic and said that they are great friends. I really appreciate how they showed the abortion process and explained it in a good, healthy, honest, and unbiased way. I was glad that Veronica thanked Bailey when they got home from their big trip. 

I found it very powerful and important that Veronica said that she did not feel bad about the abortion, and the whole conversation that she had with her mom was powerful. I loved how Veronica told her other friends about the pregnancy test being hers, and then went to sit with Bailey. I enjoyed that there was a post credit scene. 

The movie took a difficult subject and handled it in a brilliant way. Abortions and abortion access is something that is very important to talk about. Overall, I loved this movie and give it a strong rating of 10/10. I definitely recommend checking it out!