How we're spending our leisure time.
Everyone has a bit of quiet downtime once in a while. Whether you're sitting quietly at home or trying to relax on a plane or just giving your busy mind and hands a break, it's important to relax.
A good way to do that is to read a book, listen to some music or watch a movie or show. See what's caught our attention for the week of September 29.
Daniel Bader
So, Star Trek: Discovery. I watched the first two episodes this week and, while visually impressive, the show left me a bit cold. Not that I don't like the protagonist Michael Burnham, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, but because it's a bit difficult to understand where the series is going to go. Set 10 years or so before the first Star Trek series, when Klingons and the Federation were on the brink of war, I feel like the series is purposefully giving us both a long-term antagonist and fuel for at least a season's worth of war. But that's it — I'm not sure how the series will be able to sustain itself given that it's being framed as a serialized, binge-friendly show.
I love Star Trek, and think Discover has a lot of potential, but I have this lingering feeling that it's going to end up disappointing me. I hope I'm wrong.
Ara Wagoner
This week, while I've been fighting off a sinus infection, I've been needing something light and cheery. I've been listening to the Deluxe Beauty and the Beast soundtrack and the Legacy Collection Pocahontas soundtrack.
Also, after mentioning it in this week's Wallpaper Weekly, I've been rewatching Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid again. It's hilarious, adorable, light-hearted, and makes me wish I had a live-in maid who could fly and didn't need a paycheck.
Tom Westrick
As far as content consumption, I've been mostly reading this week. The Play Store is having a sale on Batman comics for Batman Day, so I picked up the entire No Man's Land storyline as well as the first volume of the Rebirth series. I've started reading No Man's Land, and I'm enjoying it so far. I've also been reading Patton Oswalt's memoir, Silver Screen Fiend and listening to Satya Nadella's memoir, Hit Refresh on Audible.
I haven't been watching too much TV this week, but I did get Plex DVR set up, and I'm looking forward to watching my recording of West Side Story this weekend. For music, I've been listening to the Blues Brothers soundtrack all day today.
Jen Karner
This week I'm going for some throwbacks when it comes to my fiction addiction. This means some Ray Bradbury in the form of From the Dust Returned, and October Country. I'm also mowing through another Stephen King classic, Salem's Lot.
In terms of watching, I finally got around to watching Netflix's "History of Hip-Hop" which is brilliant, and just so much knowledge and history about how the genre was born and then evolved over the years. If you're a music fan, it's worth at least one watch, maybe two. I'm also finishing up my annual binge of The Walking Dead, before the show returns to air for the new season.
Jerry Hildenbrand
I went to the "real" bookshelf this week, where I found a nasty, yellowing paperback I picked up from a swap meet ages ago but never got around to reading. I hope those stains are coffee and not blood 😕.
Anyways, Richard Zacks' An Underground Education is turning into the best 30-cents I've ever spent. Knowing trivial facts about the legal war around the original sewing machine, the real history of erotica and how Benjamin Franklin might not be the saint that history paints him as is fascinating. Even if none of it's true. I'll sort that truth part out once I'm done reading.
Oh, grab Concrete and Gold from your music store of choice. Yes, it's not like a normal Foo Fighters album, and sometimes that means it's better. This is one of those times.
Your turn
What are YOU reading, watching, or listening to this week? Let us know in the comments!
Update, September 29, 2017: This is an occasional series where we tell you what we're into, so check back often!
