New To the Queue is a sporadic thing around here wherein I give you a tiny glimpse into some of the books, movies, tv shows and bands I’ve recently added to my never ending queue of things to read/watch/listen to. For past posts, go here!
Girl At War by Sara Novic (Amazon // Goodreads)
Publication Date – May 2015
Why I Added It To My To-Be-Read list: I rarely look at my “recommendations” on Goodreads but this one showed up and I was intrigued! Looks like a good coming of age story and interested in the setting (Croatia) and the civil war the character experiences.
What It’s About: “Zagreb, summer of 1991. Ten-year-old Ana Jurić is a carefree tomboy who runs the streets of Croatia’s capital with her best friend, Luka, takes care of her baby sister, Rahela, and idolizes her father. But as civil war breaks out across Yugoslavia, soccer games and school lessons are supplanted by sniper fire and air raid drills. When tragedy suddenly strikes, Ana is lost to a world of guerilla warfare and child soldiers; a daring escape plan to America becomes her only chance for survival.
Ten years later Ana is a college student in New York. She’s been hiding her past from her boyfriend, her friends, and most especially herself. Haunted by the events that forever changed her family, she returns alone to Croatia, where she must rediscover the place that was once her home and search for the ghosts of those she’s lost. With generosity, intelligence, and sheer storytelling talent, Sara Nović’s first novel confronts the enduring impact of war, and the enduring bonds of country and friendship.”
You’re Never Weird On The Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day ( Goodreads // Amazon)
Publication Date- August 11, 2015
Why I Added It To My To-Be-Read list: I keep seeing everyone reading this! I don’t really know much about Felicia Day, just a little bit, but I’m intrigued!
What It’s About: “From online entertainment mogul, actress, and “queen of the geeks” Felicia Day, a funny, quirky, and inspiring memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to Internet-stardom, and embracing her individuality to find success in Hollywood.”
Swords & Verse by Kathy MacMillan (Amazon // Goodreads)
Release Date: January 19, 2016
Why I Added It To My To-Be-Read list: I’ve been craving fantasy more and more and this one looks interesting! Love that language is a huge part of it!
What It’s About: “Raisa was just a child when she was sold into slavery in the kingdom of Qilara. Before she was taken away, her father had been adamant that she learn to read and write. But where she now lives, literacy is a capital offense for all but the nobility. The written language is closely protected, and only the King, Prince, Tutor, and Tutor-in-training are allowed to learn its very highest form. So when she is plucked from her menial labor and selected to replace the last Tutor-in-training, who was executed, Raisa knows that betraying any hint of her past could mean death.
Keeping her secret guarded is hard enough, but the romance that’s been blossoming between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground rebel army—to help liberate the city’s slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.”
Just Visiting by Dahlia Adler ( Amazon // Goodreads)
Release Date: November 17, 2015
Why I Added It To My To-Be-Read list: It sounds sooo like a me book! Plus I really enjoyed Dahlia’s debut!!
What It’s About: “Reagan Forrester wants out—out of her trailer park, out of reach of her freeloading mother, and out of the shadow of the relationship that made her the pariah of Charytan, Kansas. Victoria Reyes wants in—in to a fashion design program, in to the arms of a cute guy who doesn’t go to Charytan High, and in to a city where she won’t stand out for being Mexican.
One thing the polar-opposite best friends do agree on is that wherever they go, they’re staying together. But when they set off on a series of college visits at the start of their senior year, they quickly see that the future doesn’t look quite like they expected. After two years of near-solitude following the betrayal of the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, Reagan falls hard and fast for a Battlestar Galactica-loving, brilliant smile-sporting pre-med prospective… only to learn she’s set herself up for heartbreak all over again. Meanwhile, Victoria runs full-speed toward all the things she thinks she wants… only to realize everything she’s looking for might be in the very place they’ve sworn to leave.
As both Reagan and Victoria struggle to learn who they are and what they want in the present, they discover just how much they don’t know about each other’s pasts. And when each learns what the other’s been hiding, they’ll have to decide whether their friendship has a future.”
Men, Women & Children
Why I Added It To My Netflix Queue: I was watching another movie and it was a preview (I am a weirdo and really like watching previews for other movies…also I couldn’t figure out how to work Will’s Xbox controller).
What It Is About: “This insightful social drama examines the countless ways the online landscape affects the relationships, communication and self-images of digital-age adolescents, whose parents try to contend with the pitfalls.”
Empire
Why I Added It To My Netflix Queue: I hadn’t heard much about this when it premiered but then all of a sudden EVERYONE was talking about it! Plus I definitely think Will would dig this one!
What It Is About: “Lucious Lyon has ruled the hip-hop universe for years, first as an artist and then as a savvy businessman and the head of Empire Entertainment. But Lucious’s life priorities are overturned in an instant when he learns he has a crippling disease.”
Girlhood
Why I Added It To My Netflix Queue: I believe I heard this documentary talked about on the Call Your Girlfriend podcast and I was intrigued!
What It Is About: “Liz Garbus created this powerful documentary film that tells the story of two teenagers, Shanae and Megan, and their dramatic journeys through the juvenile justice system and back out on to the bleak streets of East Baltimore, Maryland. With unprecedented access to the system and to the complex interior lives of the protagonists, the film provides shocking insight into the world of young women struggling just to survive teenhood.”
New Politics — Vikings
Why I Added It To My Musical Rotation: I’ve loved their past two albums (especially their last one) and Will and I got to see them live this year and they were sooo fun! I have been listening to all the singles they have dropped for this album and knew I would dig it.
Melanie Martinez — Cry Baby
Why I Added It To My Musical Rotation: Honestly? I LOVED her during her season on The Voice. She was just totally my style of music and I adore her voice and how unique she was! Digging it so far. It’s pretty true to the kind of music I thought she’d make!
Rayland Baxter — Imaginary Man
Why I Added It To My Musical Rotation: I saw the album on Paste’s website I think or listened to a single there…something..and was digging it!
If you want to catch what I’m listening to…follow me on Spotify! Let me know who you are so I can follow back and check out youuur music!
YOUR TURN! Tell me one book you added to your TBR list recently! Tell me a movie/tv show you added to your must watch list! Tell me a new band/singer you just added to your musical rotation! Also, have you read/watched/listened to anything on my recently added list? Or did I make you add something to YOUR queue? Tell me, tell me!
Heather H says
I just added the Felicia Day book to my TBR list this week too! I also came across a post somewhere about podcasts for book lovers, so I’m going to check out Bookworm and Night Vale, but I haven’t yet! Your netflix choices look good!
Jamie says
Ooh I’ve heard great things about Night Vale! I haven’t ventured into any bookish podcasts just because I am so book heavy everywhere else in my life so I needed a break but AH I LOVE PODCASTS.
Danielle says
OMG, Empire is SO great. I was skeptical when it first came out, but my mom and I binged it this summer and it’s fantastic. The music is perfect, too!
Jamie says
I’m so happy to hear this!!
Kate @ Mom's Radius says
I’m number two on the hold list for Felicia Day’s book. I’m looking forward to it.
This week I added Between the World and Me to my TBR list after reading John Green recommend it as a book all teens should read (on his Reddit AMA).
Jamie says
I’m scared to see what my library’s hold wait is for it! Definitely checking out Between the World and Me!! I generally enjoy the books John recommends!
Crystal @ Bookiemoji says
Ah I keep seeing about the Felicia Day book everywhere also. I think I’m going to download the audio of it! i started watching Empire when it first came on but haven’t caught up, what I’ve seen of it was good though!
I added Mindy Kaling’s books to my TBR this week! I recently became, slightly, okay…SUPER, obsessed with The Mindy Project (if you haven’t seen it add that to your queue also), so when I saw she narrates her two audiobooks I downloaded one and pre-ordered the other! I recently added The Fosters to my queue of shows to watch and The Office, which I started last night.
Oh also, Sword and Verse is one I’m excited for too!!
Jamie says
Right?? All of a sudden it was just everywhere! I always am hesitant to pick up ~celeb-ish~ books from celebs I don’t really know but it sounds great! Maybe audio is the way I’ll go with this one!
I REALLY need to read the Mindy Kaling book because it’s been on my TBR for forever. And yesss I feel like everyone is obsessed with The Mindy Project and I’m so left out…must watch soon!! The Fosters I always catch bits and pieces of when I watch other shows and it looks SO GOOD.
Erica says
I’m interested to see what you think of Men, Women, and Children. I read the book–his stuff is very . . . envelope-pushing.
I’m thinking about binge-watching the first season of Jane the Virgin. I’ve heard it’s good, plus I would love to be watching a funny, 30 min show!
Jamie says
I’m even more intrigued now!! And yes! I just added Jane the Virgin to my queue last month when I did this post for the same reason! I’m also so intrigued bc HELL YEAH CW SHOWS REPRESENTING AWARDS SHOWS! Will and I rarely watch sitcoms but like I WANT a sitcom to love. We totallyyyy love Baby Daddy on ABC Family which I’d put in the guilty pleasure category if I believed in guilty pleasures but OMG IT IS SO FUNNY. And Fresh Off The Boat!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
I’m listening to the Felicia Day book now, and it is WACKY, but I can’t stop listening. She’s SO geeky…but really inspirational, too – how many people do you know who made a career out of something they totally love that no one else was doing? It’s just…amazing. But just an FYI that you might have to get used to her narrating style, because it can be grating.
I’m going to listen to a preview of the Melanie Martinez album now! Thanks for the notice =) My personal fave Voice contestant album is Caroline Pennell’s – it’s like late 90s Chantal Kreviazuk, which is a bit cheesy, but I LOVE it.
Empire is my next watch-on-my-own show – Evan won’t touch it, but I just heard some of the music on So You Think You Can Dance and it’s pretty awesome.
Jamie says
Ah good to know re: narrating style! So should I audio it or read it??
OMG CAROLINE CAME OUT WITH AN ALBUM AND I DIDN’T KNOW IT?!?!? She was one of my all time faves too!!
Rachel Writes Things says
EMPIRE is SOOOO fantastic. It gets a teeny cheesy but it IS a soap and it’s on Fox (which did The O.C.) but it is really interesting. It talks a lot about musicians, hiding your sexuality when you are in a certain type of business/how that could affect you and people you love, and the biz in general. Also just some cray family drama as expected. Also love that the cast is all black.
My recent new to the queue is that I took out LAGGIES from the library – you recommended the movie on one of these posts and I am so excited to watch it soon! I also just read RED RISING which I wouldn’t have normally and liked it. Can’t sadly rave about it like everyone else. Now reading some middle grade (since I don’t read a lot of it).
have a wonderful week!
Jamie says
OH THE OC <3 One of my faves. I'm down for a bit of cheese and a good soap. Is it kind of like Nashville because I love the shit out of that haha. Loving your description of it bc I really don't know much at all!
OOH you will have to let me know what you think about Laggies. I think I added that last month to my queue but haven't gotten to it yet. Have you seen Rudderless (can't remember if you tweeted me when I tweeted about watching it recently)? I had added that on one of these posts awhile ago and I just got to it but OMG!
Hayley @ Bookblogher says
I’m so excited to watch Empire! One of my friends was an extra, so I saw her talking about it a lot. I hope you like it!
Jamie says
Oh that’s so fun! That is one of my bucket list items — to be an extra on something!!
Holly J says
I also have Sword and Verse and Just Visiting on my to-read list! They both sound SO good. I always love a new fantasy, and man, I still need to read a Dahlia book but I haven’t yet! Gah. Also I completely forgot about Empire after hearing so many people talking about it. I really should try it. I think it’s about time for a new TV show obsession.
I recently added Stone Field to my to-read list after a bunch of people were talking about it. It’s set in the Civil War era, and the cover is so awesome! I already can’t wait to read it. As for TV shows, I’m still on Friends (season 7) and trying to complete the series before I start something new. I did just add If I Stay and Leap Year to my watch list. They just got added to Netflix and I’m super stoked about If I Stay especially because I haven’t seen it yet. I want to read the book first though, and this totally gives me an excuse to do that. 😀
Jamie says
Dahlia’s books are SO wonderful! And omg yes I’ve been craving fantasy so Sword and Verse is so tempting to me right now. I’m like SELF BE GOOD AND WAIT.
Ooh must check out Stone Field. I rarely see Civil War era stuff so I’m done. FRIEEEEENDS. One of my all time faves.
Chrystal says
I added Felicia Day’s book to my wish list last week. Don’t know much about her but it sounds like a good read to me.
Jamie says
Yes I feel the same way! Like I legit don’t know much about her but it sounds soooo good!
Alex @ Booksy Daisy says
Girl At War has been on my TBR list for a while. It sounds really good! I’ve never heard of Sword and Verse, but I’ll be adding that to my TBR as well. I became a Game of Thrones addict this year, so I’ve been desperately trying to find other fantasy series to feed my addiction until season six starts up (SO far away!). I got to see New Politics this summer as well! They opened for Panic! at the Disco, and I’d only ever heard their song “Harlem.” They’re pretty great live! And, oooh, I love Melanie Martinez! Her music is so unique.
Jamie says
YES same re: fantasy except for me it was Throne of Glass like last summer when I got addicted to it. I just want ALL THE FANTASY NOW. It’s not yet out but you MUST check out Truthwitch when it comes out. It’s honestly incredible. I JUST started watching GoT recently (like 5 episodes in) and I’m obsessed. I am sooo conflicted on reading the books or just watching.
YAS love New Politics! I had loved quite a few of their songs but was blown away at how good they were live!