Femme Friday #11: Amanda Palmer

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Today I want to share my love for a very inspiring person, feminist, extremely talented singer, artist, and author, Amanda Palmer.

Cover for Amanda Palmer’s book The Art of Asking (source: amandapalmer.net)

I first saw her at a concert of her former band The Dresden Dolls, when I was a teenager. I lost track of her until I found out that she is married to the equally wonderful and talented Neil Gaiman who some of you may know as the author of American Gods and the Sandman comic books, for example. My love for Amanda Palmer was rekindled. I started to listen to her solo music, read her poems and follow her on Twitter. There’s a wonderful App which allows you to read her blog, listen to her music, and get in touch with her. Make sure to check it out.

Amanda Palmer’s book The Art of Asking was published in 2015. The idea originated in Palmer’s TED talk which is really worth watching. You will surely learn a thing or two. You can watch the talk here.

If you’re interested in her work, and found her speech as inspiring as I did, go and buy her book to learn more.

Comics Review #7: Black Widow #1 by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

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Black Widow Cover (source: comixology.eu)

Title: Black Widow
Written by: Mark Waid
Art by: Chris Samnee
Published by: Marvel
Year: 2016

Very short first issue with no dialogue to speak of. It’s an interesting start to a new Black Widow series. Very different from the Edmundson/Noto run which I absolutely loved.

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Movie Review #6: The Martian (2015)

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The Martian movie poster (Source: followingthenerd.com)

Title: The Martian (IMDb)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: Drew Goddard (screenplay), Andy Weir (book)
Year: 2015
Length: 144 min.
Rating: 12
My IMDb rating: 8/10

Mark Watney is stranded on Mars. His crew and NASA believe him to be dead. The next shuttle to Mars arrives in four years. His food supplies will last him about 50 days. In order to survive, Mark’s only solution is to grow food and establish contact with NASA.

After listening to the audiobook version of the novel by Andy Weir, I was really excited to see how the movie adaptation of The Martian looked. I was not disappointed.
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Book Review #3: The Mortal Instruments – City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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This review is for the audiobook version of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, read Mae Whitman.

Title: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Written by: Cassandra Clare
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Year:  2007 (2014)

This book exceeded my expectations – I had little expectations to begin with and was set on disliking it. So enjoying this book was a really nice surprise for me. I had previously watched the movie adaptation which was quite okay, actually, and I am currently watching the TV show Shadowhunters which is based on the Mortal Instruments book series.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones tells the story of Clary Fray, a 15-year-old girl who discovers a world beyond our own: the Shadow World. On a night out in the local club Pandemonium with her best friend Simon, Clary witnesses what she thinks is a murder. It turns out that she is the only one able to see the three Shadowhunters who killed what they claim to be a demon. That same night, Clary’s mother is kidnapped from their house, leaving Clary a voice mail on her phone, begging her to stay away from their appartment. Panicked, Clary rushes to their home to find it in ruins. It turns out her mother was kidnapped by a man who is searching for the Mortal Cup, an instrument that is used to create more Shadowhunters. Clary’s mother stole the Cup and hid it. Thus begins Clary’s journey into the Shadow World…

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