Book Review: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

All right, let’s get this out of the way right now. There is no hot air balloon in the book. I know, I know, that was our favorite part ever, but it is not in the book. There is no hot air balloon. There is no Miss Zarves. I’m sorry. What we do have is…

Jane Austen Comparisons: Fanny Price and Anne Elliott

Featuring the only Fanny Price that doesn’t seem to be an alien clone. Continuing on with my Austen comparisons, here are two that are often grouped together: our favorite introverts, Fanny Price and Anne Elliott. It’s easy to see why. Both, as I said, are very introverted. Most of their character arcs take place internally….

Jane Austen Comparisons: Mary Crawford and Elizabeth Bennet

Apropos of nothing, I forgot that Hayley Atwell played Mary Crawford in the regrettable 2007 Mansfield Park. I now headcanon that after her heartbreak Mary went on to become a spy for the British government. ANYWAYS Much has been said about these two witty ladies of Austen’s creation. Both women are charming, intelligent, and chafe…

TV Review: The Queen’s Gambit

You know, this is the first time I noticed on the poster that some of the chess pieces are actually little flight bottles of liquor. The more you know, etc. As someone who enjoys playing chess casually (but not a prodigy in any sense of the word, unless I’m a prodigy at regularly backing myself…