RVW - Read/View/Watch Rec List - 12/22/18

Hey! It's the inaugural post of RVW (get it, it's pronounced "review" but its an acronym???) aka Read (words), View (pictures/graphics), Watch (moving pictures that usually have accompanying sounds associated with them...) my ... weekly? bi-weekly? recommendations list. I'm trying to keep it to things I consumed/am consuming this week (instead of focusing on old favorites) and would recommend to people... who were tempted enough to subscribe to me I guess.

In fitting with the "review" aspect of the title, I'll try to write up a short review as well, and link to where these things can be R/V/W'ed.

(I miss being able to reblog stuff, so this will have to do for now lol)

---

Read-
The House That Spied on Me - Article, Kashmir Hill and Surya Mattu, (Feburary 2018)
A humorous recounting of turning Kashmir's apartment into a "smart home" of wifi/internet connected devices, where the data is all being sent through a router monitored and analyzed by Surya, to see just how much (as in the size of the data, not necessarily the contents as... "most" of the data was encrypted) information was being sent and shared with the cloud brains of these smart objects. Personally, I've read 1984 and the "home assistants" that are becoming increasingly popular just freak me the heck out, especially when embraced by my baby-boomer parents who at one time wouldn't even use their real names on the internet due to privacy concerns. There's already been instances of severe "accidental" privacy breaches thanks to these machines, and that's not even taking in consideration all the intentional ones and inevitable security risks of bugging your own home. 

Only Ever You - Book (kindle unlimited), Natasha West
Lesbian Romance Novel, about a woman who's wife died and another who's parents both recently passed and how they meet in group grief counseling. The main characters are both a bit outside the normal range of heroines, "flaw" wise, and yet they stil balanced each other amazingly. The cast of characters were fun, even I never could remember who was who. Definitely cried some. Set in the UK. Shifting POV (my favorite).

Looking for Eagles, Book (kindle unlimited), Savannah Swan *read in progress*
WLW Romance Novel, about two women who had been first loves over the summers when they were in middle/high school and both attended a church camp, until they lost touch when one was kicked out when she came out to her parents. Nearly twenty years later, they happen to run into each other at a (Philadelphia Eagles themed) bar and instantly rekindle that flame that never died. The queer and poc found family in this one is great, lots of diversity that less frequently discussed in the genre, and introduced quite well. I especially love genderqueer Reagan, and how the book handles their pronouns based on who- and when- is the POV. Refreshing take on the main characters differing stances on religion, at least so far. Shifting POV and non-chronological chapters (flashbacks to their youthful summers together).


View-
The replies to this highly misleading tweet. (the graphic is about one specific atypical person, but the graphic/tweet don't do a good job explaining that.)

Artkat on Patreon who has done a lot of commissions for me, and is a super fun person and great friend. She has lots of great perks on her patreon page if you are looking for more artists to support!


Watch-
Dumplin' on Netflix
An actually good movie that deals with being a fat teenage girl. But also about dealing with grief, a parent you have to parent, texas, forever friends, first loves, new friends, revolutions, drag queens, stage magic, dolly parton, found families, and of course... beauty pageants? Okay so this isn't a movie I would have thought I was going to like, but I'm glad I took a chance on it. I mean, I wept buckets watching it, but it was so freaking good. Lots of familiar faces. Hannah is my fav. Bo a close second.

thank u, jeff, Ariana Grande Parody, James Corden

Nailed It Holiday Edition on Netflix *watch in progress*
So funny. So stupid. At least it knows what it is and plays to it. Wes cut his hair.

---

Okay! That's it for the first RVW, I'll see how quick I gather items and then figure out how often I'll be releasing these.
Thanks, and enjoy! (and feel free to leave suggestions of your own)