Sketchbook: Alice (featuring The Nightmare-Verse by L.L. McKinney)

Comments: It’s been quite some time since I did something art related on the blog. As it so happens, I completely overlooked Our Thoughts Precisely’s blogiversary two years in a row, and so I decided to celebrate—belatedly—by sitting down and tackling one of the art projects that’s been on my mind for some time. I hardly ever draw fan art these days, but I’ve always wanted to make something inspired by Alice in Wonderland. I got a big dose of inspiration after I read A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney. I took my inspiration from various elements within the series instead of any one specific scene (so you don’t have to worry about spoilers). Some of my initial ideas were too cutesy for what I wanted. When my main goal was to capture more of the creepy-horror-action-aspect (the nightmares, the sword and daggers from the book covers), which are pivotal parts of the series. 

Materials for this project…

• Ucreate 75lb, acid-free, lignin-free drawing paper
• Artist’s Loft Necessities colored pencils in the color Light Orange
• Art Minds Permanent Marker

What are you working on this week?

I listened to Death Stranding: Timefall

Today, I want to talk about one of the albums I’ve been listening to: Death Stranding: Timefall. I haven’t played the game, but I have watched some playthroughs for it. Recently, I got in to the soundtrack again after listening to one of the songs from it, Ludens by Bring Me The Horizon. They’ve truly gathered a great ensemble of artists to feature such as Khalid, Major Lazer, CHVRCHES, Flora Cash, and more. As a result there was a wide range of sounds—from slower (and just as heavy-hitting) songs like Yellow Box, to pure instrumental tracks like Meanwhile…In Genova by The S.L.P (there are two version of this song, one with vocals and one without, I like both), and even to the high energy of Sing to Me by MISSIO (and Ludens). There was a mixture of R&B, Rock, Electronic, and everything else in between. Which brings me to what I liked most about Timefall: how much versatility it had. With so many artists and their distinctive styles on their respective tracks there was a lot to like, and I enjoyed all of the songs. It reminded me of some of my more recent favorite movie soundtracks—Birds of Prey, Black Panther, Spiderman Into the Spider-Verse, and Suicide Squad. Needless to say, interesting collaborations have, as of late, produced excellent and highly memorable results. So Death Stranding: Timefall is going on my playlist. 

What are some of your favorite video game or movie soundtracks?

Music Monday (111): Seinabo Sey, The Spiritual Machines, Jon Secada & Shanice, and Kirk Franklin

   Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: Recently, I’ve been listening to music by Seinabo Sey. One of my favorite songs so far is: I Owe You Nothing.

Adri: I've been listening to Spiritual Machine for a while, and was waiting around for new music. Well, that's why my pick for today is their new song Sleep Walk. It was released last week (which I missed). Needless to say, it's been on repeat ever since. I've caught myself humming the chorus often.

Andrea: I have been spending a lot of time at virtual clubs and have found some songs that are new to me. One song that really brightened my day was I Smile by Kirk Franklin. I heard this song while hanging out with Flexaforeal on Instagram. I have to say that I'm absolutely in love with virtual clubs. I have accomplished so much while listening to music over the past week. 

I've also been listening to If I Never Knew You/Spanish Version by Jon Secada & Shanice.

I hope you enjoy my selections and I can't wait to find out what everyone is listening to. Have a great week all and stay safe. --

Have you been listening to any new music? If so, leave your recommendations in the comments.

The Friday 56 (176) & Book Beginnings: The Case Study of Vanitas Volume 1 by Jun Mochizuki

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Step once more into the imagination of Jun Mochizuki, creator of New York Times-bestselling PandoraHearts! A tale of vampires and curses set in a whimsical and dark steampunk Paris unfolds! On the streets, rumors abound of a clockwork grimoire said to sow curses among the vampires. Now, guided by the Book of Vanitas, the gears begun to turn, and the story of two men, Noe and Vanitas, takes shape...

Beginning: "Listen well, mon chaton. You must never let anyone steal you're "true name."

56: "Me, a chasseur? A bourreau?? That's rich!"

Comments: I talked about the first volume of The Case Study of Vanitas in January. However, I realized I never selected it as my pick for The Friday 56. Well, I'm here to correct that. So far, I'm enjoying this manga series. It's shaping up to be one of my favorite takes on vampire lore. What are you reading this week?

Review: Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire

Title: Come Tumbling Down
Series: Wayward Children series #5
Author: Seanan McGuire
Source/Format: Borrowed from the library; Hardback
More Details: Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor.Com; January 7, 2020

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The fifth installment in Seanan McGuire's award-winning, bestselling Wayward Children series, Come Tumbling Down picks up the threads left dangling by Every Heart a Doorway and Down Among the Sticks and Bones 

When Jack left Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister--whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice--back to their home on the Moors. But death in their adopted world isn't always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome. Eleanor West's "No Quests" rule is about to be broken. Again...

**There are possible spoilers for the first four books in the Wayward Children series in this review. You have been warned…. **

Come Tumbling Down is a slight departure from some of the more hopeful themes of the Wayward Children series. But then again, nothing about Jack and Jill’s story has been anything but a dark trek through the Moors. Even so, Come Tumbling Down was one of the darker installments of the series. It also featured my favorite group of characters and setting from this series, and the overall story was good.

Jack Wolcott has always been one of my favorite characters. With each of her appearances throughout this series, she has always stood out. Even after her appearances in Every Heart A Doorway and Down Among the Sticks and Bones, there was always one lingering question left: What happened to Jack and Jill once they returned to the Moors? Come Tumbling Down firmly answered that question.

As I mentioned above, I liked the story. It was as fast-paced as the others in the series, and the ending left Jack’s story in a much more satisfying—and bittersweet—place. I also enjoyed seeing more of the Moors again. The setting—which is a prominent part of Down Among the Sticks and Bones—was expanded beyond the windmill and the town, most prominently by a couple of new locations.

Come Tumbling Down is one of my favorite sequel stories from the Wayward Children series to date. I’m already looking forward to the next book, Across the Green Grass Fields.