Looking back at my most recent reviews, it appears as though I’ve been giving the Extra Credit grade far more often than I’d have you all believe. I keep bragging about how it’s a “rare grade” and I thought to myself…maybe it shouldn’t be. Maybe I shouldn’t be so picky when it comes to grading things I love. From this day going forward, the terminology I use for each individual grade (Extra Credit, Pass, Mixed, Fail, and Zero Credit) will be replaced with letter grades instead (A, B, C, D, and F). The word “pass” doesn’t have the same definition for every reviewer. I used to use it to mean “you passed the class” whereas others use it to mean “I’m passing on your project”. Also, two stars doesn’t really come off as true failure. That’s all I have to say for now: five-star reviews will come more often and letter grades will replace outdated terminology.
Showing posts with label Extra Credit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Extra Credit. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Saturday, July 8, 2017
"Reaching For the Light" by TL Katt and Marie Krepps
BOOK TITLE: Reaching For the Light
AUTHORS: Marie Krepps and TL Katt
YEAR: 2017
GENRE: Fictional Short Stories
SUBGENRE: Mental Illness Fiction
GRADE: Extra Credit
In a joint effort to promote acceptance and love for the
mentally ill, two back-to-back short stories are collected in this one volume.
Marie Krepps’ story is called “High Heels and Ice Cream” and focuses on
Brianna, an anxious, depressed, bisexual college student who struggles with her
attraction to her beautiful roommate Carla. TL Katt’s story is called “Bloom”
and takes a dark plunge into the world of domestic violence through the eyes of
traumatized wife Jen. In the end, you will cheer for Brianna and Jen to reach
for the light and live wonderful lives outside of their past traumas. If you or
someone you know is suffering from mental illness, don’t wait to get help.
Every second counts when it comes to healing fresh wounds.
High Heels and Ice Cream is clearly the more lighthearted of
the two stories, but it still tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. As someone who
is shy around beautiful women, I can relate to Brianna on a deep level. Hell,
there are many things I have in common with her whether it’s mental illness of
my own or aspirations to be a successful author. College was a lonely experience
for me, so watching Brianna curl up inside herself as she fights her urges is
heartbreaking to watch. I want her to find love and happiness with Carla, but
there’s always that small chance Carla isn’t gay and might actually be
homophobic. While I won’t spoil what happens at the end of this story, you will
believe in love once again and you will reach for the light one of these days.
And then we have the dark and dour Bloom, a domestic abuse
story that nearly drove me to tears. All Jen wants is a happy marriage with her
husband Cam , but the way he beats and insults
her is way too realistic of what goes on in these situations. Every traumatic
nightmare Jen has, the reader will have as well. TL Katt’s descriptive language
is so on-point that you have no choice but to squeeze your eyeballs dry at this
one. Even more frustrating is when Cam ’s
family blames Jen for everything rather than see him for the psychopath that he
really is. If they won’t help her through the PTSD, somebody else has to. Jen
needs her friends and family in the worst way. Will she reach for the light and
look forward to a better day? Read and judge for yourself.
I encourage all of my readers to pick up a copy of Reaching
For the Light and spread its message to everybody they meet. Proceeds from the
book sales will go to mental illness charities. Being mentally ill isn’t
something society should be afraid of. It’s not about “craziness” or “bats in
the belfry”. These people need love and respect just like any other member of
our community. Treat them well and end the stigmas surrounding mental illness.
As someone with schizophrenia and autism, I’m a proud supporter of this book’s
goals. An extra credit grade is in order for this beautifully-written
collaboration by two amazing authors.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Where to Invade Next
MOVIE TITLE: Where to Invade Next
DIRECTOR: Michael Moore
YEAR: 2015
GENRE: Political Documentary
RATING: R for language and nudity
GRADE: Extra Credit
As America falls behind in education, healthcare, employment, and overall happiness, Michael Moore sets sail to “invade” countries by “stealing” their ideas on how to run society so that he can bring them back to America. In Finland, there is no homework in school. In France, childhood nutrition is of utmost importance. In Italy, taking eight weeks of paid vacation is the law of the land. These, among other stress-relieving ideas, were originally American ideas, but somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten how to use them. Mr. Moore’s positive attitude toward bringing change to his home country with these now European ideas makes the educational experience that much more fun to watch on screen.
While Michael Moore was shooting footage in Italy, he said something that set the tone for the entire movie in terms of positivity and stress-relief: “I’m here to pick the flowers, not the weeds.” In other words, while he acknowledges that life isn’t perfect in these other countries, they at least got some things right. By “picking the flowers”, Mr. Moore is highlighting all of the positive things about these countries to give the people of America hope for a better day. The overall theme we’re dealing with is happiness among the citizens. When citizens are happy, they’re more productive, they’re more educated, and they learn to take care of each other in a civilized way. In Norway for example, the prison system focuses on rehabilitation and not revenge. They have only a 20% relapse rate while vengeful America has a whopping 80%. Holy shit!
There’s also a history lesson to be learned when it comes to American culture and it was highlighted in Michael’s trip to Germany, where the people take responsibility for their Hitler-tainted past and ensure it never happens again. In America, a country built on Indian genocide and black slavery, it took a few centuries to reinvent slavery and deny racism in the process. After the civil rights movement, black people and other minorities had equal rights. Years later, drugs marketed to the “urban folk” became illegal and minorities started getting locked up left and right. Many of the products we use today are thanks to free labor from the prison system. It’s disturbing as hell and Michael Moore has no problem shining a bright neon light on the problem.
Focusing on happiness and being taught history are both excellent traits to have in a movie, but the one thing that changed me as a human being was suddenly having the urge to travel to and maybe live in other places outside of America. I’ve been on vacation to Canada and I loved every minute of it. But what about Germany? What about France? What about Denmark? Now that I know what exactly is out there, the travel bug bit me like an alligator in the Florida Everglades. Yes, it would mean having to sit on a plane for hours on end, but I’m sure arrangements could be made ahead of time to make crossing the ocean bearable. Maybe there are airlines with beds instead of seats. Maybe I could book a private flight. Maybe I could take a cruise ship across the water. Rekindling my interest in culture and history was something that needed to happen since I’d been out of college since 2009 and I wasn’t taking in enough creative fuel.
Of course, there are going to be some Negative Nancies and Debbie Downers out there who will call Michael Moore’s cinema “bullshit”. I’m sure he’s heard that insult several times throughout his long and illustrious career. Hell, some directors tried to make entire documentaries slamming Michael Moore and his “scare tactics”. To those conservative critics who are so quick to judge, I have three words for you: “Look it up”. Get online and find out just how serene and peaceful Norway’s prison system is. Google just how much respect women have in Iceland since the worker’s strike in 1975. If you’re still steaming mad about what Mr. Moore talks about in his movies, maybe you should go to Italy and take an eight week vacation from work. Feel the stress and unhealthiness slipping away from your pain-wracked body!
DIRECTOR: Michael Moore
YEAR: 2015
GENRE: Political Documentary
RATING: R for language and nudity
GRADE: Extra Credit
As America falls behind in education, healthcare, employment, and overall happiness, Michael Moore sets sail to “invade” countries by “stealing” their ideas on how to run society so that he can bring them back to America. In Finland, there is no homework in school. In France, childhood nutrition is of utmost importance. In Italy, taking eight weeks of paid vacation is the law of the land. These, among other stress-relieving ideas, were originally American ideas, but somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten how to use them. Mr. Moore’s positive attitude toward bringing change to his home country with these now European ideas makes the educational experience that much more fun to watch on screen.
While Michael Moore was shooting footage in Italy, he said something that set the tone for the entire movie in terms of positivity and stress-relief: “I’m here to pick the flowers, not the weeds.” In other words, while he acknowledges that life isn’t perfect in these other countries, they at least got some things right. By “picking the flowers”, Mr. Moore is highlighting all of the positive things about these countries to give the people of America hope for a better day. The overall theme we’re dealing with is happiness among the citizens. When citizens are happy, they’re more productive, they’re more educated, and they learn to take care of each other in a civilized way. In Norway for example, the prison system focuses on rehabilitation and not revenge. They have only a 20% relapse rate while vengeful America has a whopping 80%. Holy shit!
There’s also a history lesson to be learned when it comes to American culture and it was highlighted in Michael’s trip to Germany, where the people take responsibility for their Hitler-tainted past and ensure it never happens again. In America, a country built on Indian genocide and black slavery, it took a few centuries to reinvent slavery and deny racism in the process. After the civil rights movement, black people and other minorities had equal rights. Years later, drugs marketed to the “urban folk” became illegal and minorities started getting locked up left and right. Many of the products we use today are thanks to free labor from the prison system. It’s disturbing as hell and Michael Moore has no problem shining a bright neon light on the problem.
Focusing on happiness and being taught history are both excellent traits to have in a movie, but the one thing that changed me as a human being was suddenly having the urge to travel to and maybe live in other places outside of America. I’ve been on vacation to Canada and I loved every minute of it. But what about Germany? What about France? What about Denmark? Now that I know what exactly is out there, the travel bug bit me like an alligator in the Florida Everglades. Yes, it would mean having to sit on a plane for hours on end, but I’m sure arrangements could be made ahead of time to make crossing the ocean bearable. Maybe there are airlines with beds instead of seats. Maybe I could book a private flight. Maybe I could take a cruise ship across the water. Rekindling my interest in culture and history was something that needed to happen since I’d been out of college since 2009 and I wasn’t taking in enough creative fuel.
Of course, there are going to be some Negative Nancies and Debbie Downers out there who will call Michael Moore’s cinema “bullshit”. I’m sure he’s heard that insult several times throughout his long and illustrious career. Hell, some directors tried to make entire documentaries slamming Michael Moore and his “scare tactics”. To those conservative critics who are so quick to judge, I have three words for you: “Look it up”. Get online and find out just how serene and peaceful Norway’s prison system is. Google just how much respect women have in Iceland since the worker’s strike in 1975. If you’re still steaming mad about what Mr. Moore talks about in his movies, maybe you should go to Italy and take an eight week vacation from work. Feel the stress and unhealthiness slipping away from your pain-wracked body!
Thursday, November 5, 2015
"Love Me Today, Kill Me Tomorrow" by Marie Krepps
BOOK TITLE: Love Me Today, Kill Me Tomorrow
AUTHOR: Marie Krepps
YEAR: 2015
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Vampire Erotica
GRADE: Extra Credit
Alexus suffers from acute depression after living a life full of abuse and heartache. Her father and her older brothers Thomas and Brian were the worst offenders when it came to Alexus’ abuse. They tried to control every aspect of her life, tried to make her conform and fall in line. And now she wants to kill herself. She doesn’t know how until she meets a vampire named Artus who could easily bite her neck and drain her dry. Things take a much different direction when Artus can’t bring himself to kill Alexus. Instead, the two of them make love together and become that much closer to becoming a couple.
If you’re familiar with Ms. Krepps’ works, you know how much of a master she is at creating sex scenes. These scenes aren’t a bunch of bullshit from porn magazines or even Fifty Shades of Grey. These are real, love-making, penis-hardening, and vagina-wetting sex scenes. It’s more than just being on top and getting it over with. The variation in sexual acts keeps the love-making fresh in the mind of the reader. These two vampires can make every reader’s fantasies come to life with just their lust for each other. With that said, you might want to keep a box of tissues next to your e-reader for this one. You never know when Mt. St. Helen might erupt or how much of a mess it’ll create when it does.
The vampire logic is another thing Marie Krepps is passionate about. Every last detail having to do with vampires is planned out and well-researched. Everybody knows that vampires burn when they’re exposed to sunlight. But did you know that a vampire’s bite can actually feel like heaven despite the sharp fangs? It can also feel like you’re getting your body turned inside out if you piss off said vampire. And if you think you’re going to get in a slugfest with a vampire and live to tell about it, you’re bat shit crazy. Bottom line: even though this is a vampire story, everything in this book is believable. You actually want to get behind these characters because the author is holding a mirror up to society in the guise of fiction.
But then you have the primary reason why this book earned an Extra Credit (five-star) rating. At the beginning of the book, Marie Krepps dedicates the novel to everybody who has suffered from a mental illness. The struggles that Alexus faces as a depression victim are very real and make the story sound somewhat autobiographical. I know this because I’ve had my fair share of shitty people in my life and they all brought me into a darkened state in one way or another. Nobody takes as much abuse as Alexus has and comes out smelling like roses. Suicide is not selfish by any means. It’s what the mentally ill consider when they see no other solution to their demons. But when you finally see that glimmer of hope, suicide will seem irrational at that point. Let us all come together and be each other’s glimmer of hope. The world will be a better place for it.
Reading Marie Krepps’ writing gives me a newfound respect for her with every passing piece of literature. She shows new wrinkles to her game and is easily coached when it comes to taking advice from other writers. My friendship with her isn’t the biggest reason why she gets five stars. Her writing was what earned her the respect she so deserves. In spite of having a day job, four daughters, a husband, cats, and a mind full of demons, she actually finds time to write such beautiful stories and poems. The next time someone cracks a joke about millennials being lazy, be sure to give that person a kick in the groin. Marie Krepps is far from lazy. She’s the hardest worker in the writing business today.
AUTHOR: Marie Krepps
YEAR: 2015
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Vampire Erotica
GRADE: Extra Credit
Alexus suffers from acute depression after living a life full of abuse and heartache. Her father and her older brothers Thomas and Brian were the worst offenders when it came to Alexus’ abuse. They tried to control every aspect of her life, tried to make her conform and fall in line. And now she wants to kill herself. She doesn’t know how until she meets a vampire named Artus who could easily bite her neck and drain her dry. Things take a much different direction when Artus can’t bring himself to kill Alexus. Instead, the two of them make love together and become that much closer to becoming a couple.
If you’re familiar with Ms. Krepps’ works, you know how much of a master she is at creating sex scenes. These scenes aren’t a bunch of bullshit from porn magazines or even Fifty Shades of Grey. These are real, love-making, penis-hardening, and vagina-wetting sex scenes. It’s more than just being on top and getting it over with. The variation in sexual acts keeps the love-making fresh in the mind of the reader. These two vampires can make every reader’s fantasies come to life with just their lust for each other. With that said, you might want to keep a box of tissues next to your e-reader for this one. You never know when Mt. St. Helen might erupt or how much of a mess it’ll create when it does.
The vampire logic is another thing Marie Krepps is passionate about. Every last detail having to do with vampires is planned out and well-researched. Everybody knows that vampires burn when they’re exposed to sunlight. But did you know that a vampire’s bite can actually feel like heaven despite the sharp fangs? It can also feel like you’re getting your body turned inside out if you piss off said vampire. And if you think you’re going to get in a slugfest with a vampire and live to tell about it, you’re bat shit crazy. Bottom line: even though this is a vampire story, everything in this book is believable. You actually want to get behind these characters because the author is holding a mirror up to society in the guise of fiction.
But then you have the primary reason why this book earned an Extra Credit (five-star) rating. At the beginning of the book, Marie Krepps dedicates the novel to everybody who has suffered from a mental illness. The struggles that Alexus faces as a depression victim are very real and make the story sound somewhat autobiographical. I know this because I’ve had my fair share of shitty people in my life and they all brought me into a darkened state in one way or another. Nobody takes as much abuse as Alexus has and comes out smelling like roses. Suicide is not selfish by any means. It’s what the mentally ill consider when they see no other solution to their demons. But when you finally see that glimmer of hope, suicide will seem irrational at that point. Let us all come together and be each other’s glimmer of hope. The world will be a better place for it.
Reading Marie Krepps’ writing gives me a newfound respect for her with every passing piece of literature. She shows new wrinkles to her game and is easily coached when it comes to taking advice from other writers. My friendship with her isn’t the biggest reason why she gets five stars. Her writing was what earned her the respect she so deserves. In spite of having a day job, four daughters, a husband, cats, and a mind full of demons, she actually finds time to write such beautiful stories and poems. The next time someone cracks a joke about millennials being lazy, be sure to give that person a kick in the groin. Marie Krepps is far from lazy. She’s the hardest worker in the writing business today.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Grading System
You all have probably noticed when I review something I give it a generic grade of either pass or fail. Over the time I’ve been giving reviews, things have gotten more complicated than that. It’s suddenly not as simple as a P or an F anymore. In fact, here’s my grading system in a nutshell:
1. Extra Credit: This is an extremely rare grade that I give to a medium that I not only liked, but thought it exceeded expectations. Whenever I watch something, I usually expect that it will be likeable. When I give something an EC grade, it really blew me away and changed me forever. The only movie to get this grade so far is The Lego Movie, because it gave me the creative fuel I needed to get out of a slump of depression.
2. Pass: This is the most common grade I’ve given any movie, TV show, match, or book. When I watch something, I want to enjoy it, so I don’t intentionally pick out flaws or even dig very deep to find them. An example of a UFC match with a passing grade is the 2013 Fight of the Year, Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez. It was exciting, just like a UFC match should be.
3. Mixed: This is exactly how it sounds. I liked whatever I was watching or reading, but not enough to give it a passing grade. I liked it despite the overwhelming number of flaws in the medium, and these are things that are obvious enough to even the most brain-dead viewers. The only movie to receive this grade so far is Dead Man Down, where the lack of screen time for Bad News Barrett and the unresolved and overwhelming bullying storyline prevent it from being a favorite.
4. Fail: I’ve watched the show or read the book all the way through and I hated it. Very rarely will I finish a book or show that I hate, but it does happen, more often with TV and movies than with books. The last time I gave a failing grade was when I was reviewing a UFC lightweight bout between Clay Guida and Gray Maynard. While Gray was swinging away, Clay was evasive and timid, which made a brutal brawl an impossibility between these two. Clay Guida almost got points taken away by referee Dan Miragliotta for being a cowardly fighter. Almost is not enough.
5. Did Not Finish: In other words, the medium was so bad that I couldn’t stand to see it all the way through without having my brain explode. Normally when I can’t finish a book, I put it down and that’s the last you’ll ever hear from me. No reviews, just a brief show of frustration in a few characters or less. An example of a book I would give a DNF grade to is “Fifty Shades Darker” by EL James. Christian Grey is an unbearable asshole who doesn’t deserve to have a girlfriend in the first place, and yet, Anastasia Steele is so love sick that she’ll shack up with anybody at this point whether they’re nice or mean.
Five different grades for my reviews. Good Reads ranks books on a five star system. Coincidence? Probably not.
1. Extra Credit: This is an extremely rare grade that I give to a medium that I not only liked, but thought it exceeded expectations. Whenever I watch something, I usually expect that it will be likeable. When I give something an EC grade, it really blew me away and changed me forever. The only movie to get this grade so far is The Lego Movie, because it gave me the creative fuel I needed to get out of a slump of depression.
2. Pass: This is the most common grade I’ve given any movie, TV show, match, or book. When I watch something, I want to enjoy it, so I don’t intentionally pick out flaws or even dig very deep to find them. An example of a UFC match with a passing grade is the 2013 Fight of the Year, Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez. It was exciting, just like a UFC match should be.
3. Mixed: This is exactly how it sounds. I liked whatever I was watching or reading, but not enough to give it a passing grade. I liked it despite the overwhelming number of flaws in the medium, and these are things that are obvious enough to even the most brain-dead viewers. The only movie to receive this grade so far is Dead Man Down, where the lack of screen time for Bad News Barrett and the unresolved and overwhelming bullying storyline prevent it from being a favorite.
4. Fail: I’ve watched the show or read the book all the way through and I hated it. Very rarely will I finish a book or show that I hate, but it does happen, more often with TV and movies than with books. The last time I gave a failing grade was when I was reviewing a UFC lightweight bout between Clay Guida and Gray Maynard. While Gray was swinging away, Clay was evasive and timid, which made a brutal brawl an impossibility between these two. Clay Guida almost got points taken away by referee Dan Miragliotta for being a cowardly fighter. Almost is not enough.
5. Did Not Finish: In other words, the medium was so bad that I couldn’t stand to see it all the way through without having my brain explode. Normally when I can’t finish a book, I put it down and that’s the last you’ll ever hear from me. No reviews, just a brief show of frustration in a few characters or less. An example of a book I would give a DNF grade to is “Fifty Shades Darker” by EL James. Christian Grey is an unbearable asshole who doesn’t deserve to have a girlfriend in the first place, and yet, Anastasia Steele is so love sick that she’ll shack up with anybody at this point whether they’re nice or mean.
Five different grades for my reviews. Good Reads ranks books on a five star system. Coincidence? Probably not.
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