movie recommendation - I Swear

On a Saturday morning a few weeks ago, I sat with my coffee and started watching a movie. I had never heard of the movie. And I had no idea the movie was going to be so wonderful. I spent the two hours watching it in fits of laughter and tears streaming down my face. 

It's called I Swear. And, you can find it on Netflix. It is based on the true story of a Scottish boy, John, growing up in the 80's when he is diagnosed with Tourette's. The Syndrome is ver mis-understood and so he is severely bullied and it puts significant strain on his family relationships. The situations he gets in as he tries to navigate this new normal for him are heart wrenching, heartwarming, and also sometimes lighthearted. The movie was so incredibly done.

I found a number of other films on YouTube about his life throughout the years.

John's Not Mad is a half hour documentary filmed in 1989.

The Boy Can't Help It was a 2002 documentary follow-up to John's Not Mad.

Lastly, an interview with John about the movie I Swear.

book review: Blightfall by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  4/5

Thank you Random House Children's Books for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

I was first introduced to Brandon Sanderson through his writing lectures at Brigham Young University, but Blightfall -- a collaboration with Janci Patterson and Book 1 of the Riftwake series -- is my very first venture into reading his work. 

While Blightfall is classified as Young Adult (ages 12+), I found it thoroughly compelling as an adult. Its accessible world-building and streamlined plot depth actually made it the perfect, welcoming entry point to Sanderson's universe.

The story follows a diverse cast of humans from the Defiant Defense Force alongside aliens, Kitsen, and slugs. Tasked with escorting diplomats to a distant human settlement to re-establish contact after decades of alien oppression, what should be an easy mission quickly goes awry. Upon discovering a debris field and hostile forces surrounding the planet, the team must explore the surface to uncover its secrets and find a way home, taking the reader along on a mysterious, high-stakes adventure.

The fast pace and imaginative world-building made this a page-turner! The narrative strikes a perfect balance: it is accessible enough to enjoy as a light space romp, yet detailed enough to satisfy science enthusiasts who want to pause and ponder. I loved exploring what life would look like when interacting with alien species across the galaxy. The characters are diverse, and important themes -- like navigating relationships, effective communication, teamwork, compassion, and acceptance -- are woven naturally into the plot.

My only minor gripe was the overuse of slang like "star" and scud." While I appreciated the creative sci-fi profanity, these words were peppered so frequently throughout the narrative that they became a bit distracting. They would have carried much more impact if used sparingly.

I will definitely be continuing this series as new books are released! I highly recommend this to sci-fi veterans and general fiction readers alike. If you enjoyed the Bobiverse series, you will love this as well.

book review: Under Story by Chloe Benjamin

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  5/5

Thank you Putnam for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

This is easily one of the best books I've ever read - so much so that a single review can't fully capture why it's so amazing. It's also a story best experienced with limited information.

So, all I will say is if you love the accessible hard science of Cixin Liu, the atmospheric, philosophical prose of Emily St. John Mandel, and the deep character immersion of Sally Rooney, you will absolutely be drawn in with this blend. I am so excited that Warner Bros. and Heyday Films have acquired the screen rights -- I'm crossing my fingers for a cinematic adaptation styled after Netflix's Dark, which would be a perfect fit for this story.