Month: January 2020

The State of the Gamer: 1/30/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 6 Comments

<–The State of the Gamer: 1/16/20           The State of the Gamer: 2/13/20–>

A weekly post updated every other Thursday detailing my current gaming projects.  I have an account at Grouvee, which is a site you can use to keep track of your backlog, so please feel free to friend me there!

What I Obtained

  • Finding Paradise – $3.39 @ Steam

What I’m Playing

Title: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies
Series Title: Ace Attorney
System: Nintendo 3DS

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney -Dual Destinies coverDate Started: 12/27/19

Oh my god, something huge happened in the fifth and final turnabout.  I’m not sure if this is the DLC I saw or if there’s still another case I can download afterwards.  Most games have four cases with Rise from the Ashes as another notable exception with its five.

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The State of the Reader: 1/29/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 1/15/20         The State of the Reader: 2/12/20–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Books Purchased

Books Finished: 1

Title: Mirrorstrike
Series Title: Her Pitiless Command
Author: Benjanun Sriduangkaew
Date Added: December 5, 2019
Date Started: December 27, 2019
Date Finished: January 16, 2020

Mirrorstrike by Benjanun SriduangkaewMedia: eBook/Kindle

This is one of the best series I’ve ever read, and it absolutely captures Faulkner’s quote about the human heart in conflict with itself.  While I’m completely satisfied with the ending, I heard from the author herself that she’s working on a third, which I most certainly will read.

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The State of the Writer: 1/26/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 1/12/20         The State of the Writer: 2/9/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 252,930
Prior Word Count: 253,411
Word Difference: -481
Status: Editing
Progress: Second edit of Chapter 21

I spent about an hour on Friday going over one paragraph, trying to figure out how to make it work, finally consigning it to my next editing session.  Then when I went back to it yesterday, for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why the hell I didn’t just delete certain shit, and this is why it’s often prudent just to step away for a little while and come back with a fresh mind.  My problem is I hate unfinished business, and I hate leaving issues if I know they’re there, so it’s a tug-of-war between these two ideals.  This chapter will need a third edit, which isn’t surprising in the least.

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The Books of 2019

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Goodreads Challenge: 20
Books Finished: 20
Books DNF: 5

I lowered my challenge from 50 books to 20 in 2019, and I think this was a good idea.  I’m keeping that same energy in 2020, plus it goes with the number.  I still have book reviews from 2018 to write, so the lower number theoretically helps bring that down, too (not…really).

Because I only read 20 books, I’m going to list them all here in no particular order at first then the Top 10 after.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Classic)

You really have to keep your present sensibilities in check in order to garner what Fitzgerald was after.  It’s not a bad message about how we treat the very young vs. the very old, but it comes with a whole bunch of yikes.

Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare (Classic)

The question of Cleopatra’s betrayal is still up in the air, and the ruminations on the concept are far more fascinating than the answer.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (Classic)

Oh my fucking god, this was almost laughably bad in so many ways.  I’m glad I read it, but it was dry and plodding for so many chapters.  The most interesting parts involved the Persian who doesn’t even get a name.  Raoul’s character as well as Eric’s were greatly improved by Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical, which greatly improved upon many aspects of Leroux’s work.

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The State of the Gamer: 1/16/20

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<–The State of the Gamer: 1/2/20           The State of the Gamer: 1/30/20–>

A weekly post updated every other Thursday detailing my current gaming projects.  I have an account at Grouvee, which is a site you can use to keep track of your backlog, so please feel free to friend me there!

What I Obtained

  • Firewatch – $4.99 @ Gog.com
  • Virginia – $0.99 @ Gog.com

What I’m Playing

Title: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies
Series Title: Ace Attorney
System: Nintendo 3DS

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney -Dual Destinies coverDate Started: 12/27/19

So the prosecutor in this game has a hilarious and ironic status, which just goes along with the bonkers situations all the characters get into.  He’s apparently an ex-samurai with a pet bird that likes to terrorize the judge, and he uses the honorific “dono.”  I have one more case even after the one I’m still on, so there are more hijinks to look forward to.

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The State of the Reader: 1/15/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 1/1/20         The State of the Reader: 1/29/20–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Books Purchased

Books Finished: 2

Title: Star Trek: Picard – Countdown #1
Series Title: Star Trek: Picard – Countdown
Author: Kirsten Beyer
Artists: Mike Johnson & Ángel Hernández
Date Added: January 5, 2020
Date Started: January 5, 2020
Date Finished: January 8, 2020

Star Trek: Picard - Countdown #1 coverMedia: eBook/Kindle

I don’t know if this is common knowledge, but I try to live my life in a way that Captain Picard would be proud.  He is best captain (don’t even @ me), my favorite one (sorry Steve Rogers, you’re second though), and only the most English man to ever English playing a French man.  I’m so stoked for the Picard series and this comic is a precursor to that.  If you’re into Star Trek and are planning to watch the Picard series, I highly recommend.

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The State of the Writer: 1/12/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 12/29/19         The State of the Writer: 1/26/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 253,411
Prior Word Count: 253,632
Word Difference: -221
Status: Editing
Progress: First edit of Chapter 21

I may just finish the first edit this week.  Usually when the first edit takes a while, the second one is easier…usually.  If I add a lot I still have to smooth that out with the next edit.  If I get it posted by the end of the month, I’ll be happy.

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Black Butler, Vol. 1 by Yana Toboso (Kuroshitsuji #1)

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Title: Black Butler, Vol. 1
Series Title: Kuroshitsuji
Author: Yana Toboso
Translator: Tomo Kimura
Date Added: January 8, 2018
Date Started: July 26, 2018
Date Finished: August 2, 2018
Reading Duration: 7 days
Genre: Manga/Graphic Novel, Young Adult (YA), Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror

Black Butler, Vol. 1 coverPages: 192
Publisher: Yen Press
Publication Date: February 27, 2007
Media: Paperback (Library)

In the Victorian ages of London The Earl of the Phantomhive house, Ciel Phantomhive, needs to get his revenge on those who had humiliated him and destroyed what he loved. Not being able to do it alone he sells his soul to a demon he names Sebastian Michaelis. Now working as his butler, Sebastian must help the Earl Phantomhive in this suspenseful, exciting, thriller manga.

This is one of those books where the blurb tells you more than the initial chapters.  I didn’t realize Sebastian was a demon Ciel sold his soul to until I neared the end, though I did peak at the chapter titles and the last one is called “The Butler Most Evil.”  I spent the entire book wondering about the Earl of Phantomhive’s eye patch and wondering if that had anything to do with his dark deal.  Sadly, I doubt I’ll even find out unless I watch the anime or look up the wiki.

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The State of the Gamer: 1/2/20

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 2 Comments

<–The State of the Gamer: 12/19/19           The State of the Gamer: 1/16/20–>

A weekly post updated every other Thursday detailing my current gaming projects.  I have an account at Grouvee, which is a site you can use to keep track of your backlog, so please feel free to friend me there!

What I Obtained

  • Final Fantasy VIII – $13.39 @ Nintendo eShop
  • Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey – $15 from Trash
  • The Way – $0.99 @ Nintendo eShop
  • Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – Christmas gift from my big brother
  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies – $8.99 @ Nintendo eShop
  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice – $11.99 @ Nintendo eShop

What I Finished

Title: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Series Title: Ace Attorney
System: Nintendo 3DS

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney gameDate Started: 11/29/19
Date Finished: 12/27/19

I enjoyed this, and the only reason I can think for it’s lower rating than the orig trig is it’s different?  But it’s not really different?  It has a different main character, but Apollo is just as adorable, goofy, and unlucky as Phoenix lol.

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The State of the Reader: 1/1/20

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<–The State of the Reader: 12/18/19         The State of the Reader: 1/15/20–>

A biweekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Books Finished: 1

Title: The Nutcracker Curse
Series Title: Cursed Fairy Tale
Author: Margo Ryerkerk
Date Added: May 24, 2019
Date Started: December 9, 2019
Date Finished: December 25, 2019

The Nutcracker Curse by Margo RyerkerkMedia: eBook/Kindle

Blatantly obvious conclusion but still an oddly enjoyable novel.  It’s not the type of story I’d gush about, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading.  I do think it would benefit from some better editing, nor do I think I’m going to rush to get the author’s next book, but I wouldn’t necessarily say no to reading another.

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