Alex Claman

January 2020 Media Diet



What I’ve read and watched this month (January 2020), accompanied by a one-sentence review:

  • Books
    • The Vela (Season 1) (2019) by Yoon Ha Lee, Becky Chambers, S.L. Huang, and Rivers Solomon - A timely consideration of refugees, immigration, and crisis.
    • The Monster Baru Cormorant (2018) by Seth Dickinson - Superbly, beautifully brutal. Thornier and bloodier than Traitor.
    • The Cybernetic Tea Shop (2016) by Meredith Katz - An exquisitely quiet, caring story about grief and healing.
    • Mutiny at Vesta (2018) by R.E. Stearns - A fun romp through an intriguing universe.
    • Magic for Liars (2019) by Sarah Gailey - This one packs a stupendous punch.
  • Movies
    • Pokemon Detective Pikachu (2019) - Enjoyable enough, although I have no personal connection to the source material.
    • The VVitch (2015) - Visually spare, chillingly effective.
  • TV
    • Euphoria (S1) - Enjoyable and thought-provoking; not sure if there’s enough there to sustain a second season.
    • The Mandalorian (S1) - Baby Yoda. Baby Yoda. And an intriguing look at other parts of the galaxy.
    • When They See Us (S1) - Words can’t do this justice; it’s powerful, heartbreaking, and necessary viewing.