My 2019 Reading Wrap-Up

Over the past couple of years, I have documented every film that I have watched and reviewed them all using Letterboxd. As a way to motivate myself to read more, I thought I would do the same for what books I have been reading, using Goodreads as a way to set myself a reading challenge every year.

After doubling my goal of 10 books last year (since I went on honeymoon and managed to read a book a day!), I thought I would keep my goal to 20 books this year. However, just missed out on this target, but I was ever so close to making it.

Here’s how my 2019 challenge went, with a short review and rating for each of the books that I read:

Book Review: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (Original Screenplay)

“See, they’re currently in alien terrain, surrounded by millions of the most vicious creatures on the planet. Humans.”

Written by J.K. Rowling and a spin-off of her Harry Potter franchise, this beautiful hardcover edition captures Rowling’s screenwriting debut. Set in 1926 New York, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them follows ex-Hogwarts student Newt Scamander who travels to the city as part of a global study of fantastic beasts. But when he gets caught up in a conflict of a group of extremist No-Majs and a mystical act of destruction, some of the magical creatures in his case are accidentally released. With the help of a No-Maj named Jacob and two members of MACUSA (the American equivalent to the Ministry of Magic), he must find all of his creatures before they are blamed for the mysterious deaths that are adding up, causing magic and non-magic folk alike to panic.

My 2016 Reading Wrap-Up

Over the past couple of years, I have documented every film that I have watched and reviewed them all using Letterboxd.

As a way to motivate myself to read more, I thought I would do the same for what books I have been reading, using Goodreads as a way to set myself a reading challenge.

So, this year I set myself a challenge of reading 18 books, and for the first time since doing so, I have managed to exceed my target, hooray!

Here’s how my 2016 challenge went, with a short review and rating for each of the books:

Book Review: The Hogwarts Library

The Hogwarts Library is a collection of the popular stories: Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Written by J.K. Rowling, with additional notes from the esteemed Professor Albus Dumbledore, the trilogy of books is an essential collection for any wizard or Muggle home.

If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, then it’s always exciting to learn more about the history of Hogwarts and everything that it is included. And that’s why you’ll love The Hogwarts Library. All three stories are widely referenced in the original Harry Potter books and provide fun and imaginative content that allow you to step even further into the magical wizarding world.

Also, the collection of books is just simply stunning and will look beautiful on your bookshelf.

Film Review: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Written by J.K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them is a spin-off to her Harry Potter franchise. Directed by David Yates, who directed the last four Harry Potter films, the film is set in 1926 New York and follows ex-Hogwarts student Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) who travels to the city as part of a global study of fantastic beasts. But when he gets caught up in a conflict of a group of extremist No-Majs and a mystical act of destruction, some of the magical creatures in his case are accidentally released. With the help of a No-Maj named Jacob (Dan Fogler) and two members of MACUSA (Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol), he must find all of his creatures before they are blamed for the mysterious deaths that are adding up, causing magic and non-magic folk alike to panic.

You Should Be Reading: Books Being Adapted Into Films In 2016

Happy 2016! Earlier this week I wrote about 100 films that we have to look forward to this year, but now I want to look at which of these films are being adapted from novels. I always love to read a book before it is adapted into a film, so if you do too, then this is what you should be reading this year.

The following book adaptations are listed in release date order and have been updated halfway through the year to ensure that all information is correct.

More Casting News for ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’

(Written for Filmoria)

We’ve had quite a bit of casting news for the Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, this week.

A few days ago it was announced that Colin Farrell has joined the cast, and now comes news that Brooklyn actress Jenn Murray and casting call winner Faith Wood-Blagrove have come on board, too.