KWICK 6 #016: Fibroids, Avatar, and Percy Jackson

🤔 Let Me Catch You Up:

On February 2nd, I had a myomectomy, which is a surgery to remove fibroids. Before my surgery, I was trying to clear out my emails and reviews. I was reminded again that in a capitalistic society, work doesn't stop. While I was out, my section was understaffed for various reasons, but contracts still need to be reviewed. The work doesn't slow down, and team members must take on more. While not idealistic, it reminds us we are cogs in a moving society. Nothing slows the movement, and it'll run over you if you are not careful.

For the past few weeks, I have been recovering. I did not fully understand how invasive the surgery really was. I did not understand how much the stomach and pelvic area are used for everyday movements. I am just getting to a point where I can lay on my side or get out of bed without excruciating pain. Still, every movement, every sneeze, every cough makes me wince in pain. After sitting up for more than 30 minutes, I was unprepared for the tiredness. It has been hard, but I am so thankful my mom could stay with me for over two weeks. She took me to and from the hospital and generally helped me recover. 

I am progressing, but the journey isn't over. One week, I worked half a day from home and transitioned to full-time telework while I finished recovering. Sitting at a desk, looking at a screen, tired me out. On the first day back to work, I took an almost three-hour nap after work and went to bed around 10. It's been rough not pushing myself faster, but this short-term inconvenience will make a huge difference in my quality of life. 

💻 What I've Consumed:

The Creator

While my mom was in town and I wasn't taking as much strong medicine, we watched The Creator on Hulu. This movie is set in a world following a nuclear explosion over LA and follows Sgt. Joshua Taylor. A war happens between humans and AI because it is believed that AI set off the bomb. Sgt. Taylor is undercover with his pregnant wife, who is believed to be the daughter of the architect of AI advancements. This movie has the familiar troupe of a child being either the saving grace or destruction of humanity and a father figure getting them through danger and ultimately to the start of destiny. 

Sci-fi movies and books tend to pull from each other, so the fact that this movie does that doesn't bother me. The visuals were good, and the acting was decent. The plot moved extremely fast in some areas and slowed down in others, making the pacing feel off. The movie sacrifices building emotion to build the action. They didn't do a good job of selling the emotion to me. However, I would recommend the movie. 

Adaptations

What makes a great adaptation to me is capturing the overall feel and beats of the source material. I am okay with updates to the character and plot, but do the changes make sense? How does the current time affect the story? These questions affected my enjoyment of the adaptations I have watched recently. 

Percy Jackson

I have seen people go back and forth about this show online. While there is a lot of exposition, like many other movies and shows, I think it captures the book's essence well. The show updated some aspects of the book really well. Sure, it wasn't as mysterious or didn't build tension as much as the books, but I think that is because of the age group they are trying to capture. I don't think the show was made for adults who grew up with the books but for a new generation currently reading middle-grade books. I think some of the pacing could hurt for the age group, but I can see the intent not to binge-watch the show. If you watch it weekly, the pacing may seem better. While I wouldn't say I like aspects like Percy knowing too much way too early, I understand the changes made. I do enjoy getting more of the mom's story. I think this allows it to be a family show. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

I cannot finish this show right now, but maybe I can when season 2 comes out. I've also seen the discourse for this show, and based on a few of the episodes, I am not sure why this live-action was made. The political undertone seems watered down, the characters aren't as robust, and the show's pacing seems off. I will say this is a WAY better adaptation than the movie that was made; the bending alone looks cool, but I was expecting more. Disney seems like it started the animation to live-action trend, and I still don't understand the point besides a money grab if it is not an updated story. The show seems to want to capture legacy fans of the show and gather a new fanbase by being on the fence about whether they want to cross into the CW-type teen show. Based on what I've seen, I would still recommend the animation over the live-action, even with the animated series' issues.

📚 Currently Reading and Recent Reads: 

Freedom Is A Constant Struggle: Ferguson Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Davis

39% completed. The surgery slowed my reading momentum. So, I am slowly getting back into the habit. So far, the most interesting portion of this book was the section in which she talks about individualism vs collectivism. One thing that stood out is that systemic change cannot happen on individual levels. For example, if one officer gets indicted for wrongfully killing a black person, it does not mean those killings will stop. The "bad apple" rhetoric does nothing to get at the heart of the issue, but systemic change happens when we rethink policing on the whole. 

Memories Legion by James S.A. Corey

7% completed. This book is the bind up of The Expanse series of short stories and novellas. I will be reading this book throughout the year as I read through The Expanse series. I read "The Butcher of Anderson Station," where I got a back story on Fred, introduced in book 1. It was interesting to get his background. He was an interesting character, and learning why he was called the butcher and what made him the leader of OPA was interesting to read. It will be interesting to see where his character arc goes. 

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

1 out of 9 done. The Expanse series is a space opera science fiction that explores a solar system-wide conspiracy. It is a nine-book series that I want to continue to read this year. The book captured my attention from the start with an opening scene that helped show there would be a mystery that would need to be solved. The book is chunky, so the pacing isn't great throughout. However, I enjoyed reading it. The book was a mix of science fiction, horror, and mystery. The blend worked well. Both male characters were kind of irritating. Holden's sudden love for the only woman around and Miller's weird fascination with Julie, I could clearly see men wrote this book, and I hope the characters are fleshed out more in other books. But overall, I enjoyed it and can't wait to watch the TV show to see how it was adapted.

January Reads 

💡 Lessons Learned:

Take your health seriously. If you are blessed with sick leave and good health insurance, don't put your health on the back burner. I know I am blessed to be able to take the time off that I needed to start recovering. I know I am blessed only to have to pay around $500 out of pocket for my surgery. I know I am blessed to have that money and it not hurt me financially. So many people in our country don't have those blessings. Do not take your privileges for granted. 

If you need some recommendations, check out my Goodreads or StoryGraph. And then follow me on Instagram and Twitter. One of my favorite newsletters to read for current events is Morning Brew. Check it out.