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Quarterly Look Back - 2nd Quarter 2025 by Todd Henson

Looking back at the second quarter of 2025

With the end of the 2nd quarter we’re now halfway through the year. Regardless of what we think about how fast or slow it’s gone by, it does provide a nice opportunity to take a look back at what we’ve done so far and to make any adjustments we might want to before the year ends. We have time to reflect a bit and then to refocus or to shift focus or to continue on our current path.

But first, please spend a little time with me looking back at the 2nd quarter. Below is a list of the posts I published as well as books I read, movies I watched and music I’ve been listening to. I’m hopeful you’ll find something of interest in the mix.

Photography

It’s felt like a decent quarter for photography. I think I managed to create a range of different photographs of various subjects. And I worked to write posts in various categories instead of sticking too much to a single category. I’ll work to continue that going forward, though the hot and humid months of summer do sometimes result in a slowdown as I just don’t feel as excited to get out and about in that weather. Thank goodness for air-conditioning in cars, though. Perhaps I’ll do more photographing from the road. 😃

Below are the posts I published this quarter. Please take a look back at any you missed or would like to see again.

Architecture

What Once Was Home

White Chapel Methodist Church – Fort Valley, Virginia

Views of the Abandoned Fairview Church of God in Woodstock, Virginia

Inverted Worlds

Polyhedral Dreaming

Mostly Photos

Spring Roadtrip Along Franklin Pike, West Virginia

On the Trillium Trail – April 2025

The Last Petals of Spring

Reviews

Daring to Look: Dorothea Lange’s Photographs & Reports from the Field by Anne Whiston Spirn

Trip Report

Fisher’s Hill Battlefield – Ramseur’s Hill

An Early Spring Drive Through Fort Valley, Virginia

Woodstock Tower

Variations on a Theme

Wild Geranium – Spring 2025

Reading

As has been the case for some time now, the majority of my book consumption was in the form of audiobooks which I sometimes listen to while driving, doing housework, and before falling asleep in the evening. But I also read some in paper form, one of which was from the library, the manga No Longer Human. One theme I noticed this quarter was listening to audio versions of books I’d read in paper when much younger, so long ago it was almost like reading them again for the first time. I had a general feel for each book but had forgotten most of the storyline. This was the case with Neverwhere and the Dragonriders of Pern books. I’d like to continue rereading favorites from my youth, while still finding both newer books and classics I’ve yet to read to add to the mix.

The books I consumed this quarter (paper, ebook, and audio).

Here’s the full list of books read in the 2nd quarter of 2025: Attack Surface by Cory Doctorow (2020), Diavola by Jennifer Thorne (2024), No Longer Human by Junji Ito (2017), The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (2024), For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming (1960), Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (1996), Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey (1968), Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey (1971), Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie (1937), The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey (1978), The Swords of Lankhmar by Fritz Leiber (1968), Three O’Clock in the Morning by Gianrico Carofiglio (2017).

And of those, my favorites were:

The Swords of Lankhmar by Fritz Leiber

This is the 5th book of tales featuring Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, the classic fantasy duo. The previous books had all been short story anthologies. This is the first full length novel and it was great getting a longer storyline featuring two of my favorite characters. Granted, for the middle part of the book the pair had been in different parts of the world on their own adventures before coming back together again for the grand finale where they must try to save their city of Lankhmar.

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey

The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey

These three books make up the first Dragonriders of Pern trilogy which I absolutely loved as a kid. Granted, this wasn’t exactly the fantasy dragons of other series I was used to, but instead the story of human settlers to a planet called Pern and how over the generations the settlers lost some of their history and slowly began rediscovering it. There are dragons, of course, but these are creatures of the planet the settlers called dragons because of their similarity to the mythic beasts of fantasy and mythological lore. I should note that I didn’t enjoy The White Dragon quite as much on a reread as it felt far more YA than the first two. But it very much appealed to the younger me, and it still has that special nostalgic power held by favorite books of our youth.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Another book I first read when younger, though not as young as when I started reading Pern. This might have been my first exposure to Gaiman’s fiction and I very much enjoyed it. I loved the reread as it was an audiobook narrated by the author, and he has the perfect voice for telling his stories. It tells of Richard Mayhew who, through an act of goodwill and charity, finds himself in London Below, a world under the streets of modern day London, and full of strange, interesting, and dangerous characters.

No Longer Human by Junji Ito, Osamu Dazai

I should provide some warnings first off, this can be a somewhat graphic book, both visually and in subject matter. It’s based on the novel of the same name by the Japanese author Osamu Dazai. Here, Junji Ito has adapted it to manga form, similar to comic books in other cultures. It’s a bit of a sad story showcasing the life of the main character and all the problems he lives through, many, if not most times, the results of his own actions and inability to control himself. As time goes on it just spirals deeper and darker. A difficult but well told and well drawn story.

Movies, Shows & Anime

Favorite, or notable, films I watched this quarter.

I’ve not watched much in the way of movies or series this quarter. That’s not to say I haven’t watched any video-related content, just that most of it was probably YouTube, and unfortunately most of that was likely wasting time randomly clicking this or that, kind of like channel surfing, trying to relax but really just zoning out.

The newest movie I watched was The Watchers (2024), and I mostly enjoyed it though it hasn’t really stuck with me. But I thoroughly enjoyed my rewatch of a childhood favorite, The Sandlot (1993), about a group of kids and their experiences bonding over baseball.

Music

I’ve narrowed in on three songs I’ve enjoyed this quarter. One of them I’ve been aware of for a while now (The Islander) but have yet to feature here. The other two I only discovered this quarter. I tried to pick a range of styles so that if you don’t enjoy one you might enjoy the next, though I completely understand if none appeal to you. Give them a try, though, if you’re not already familiar with them, and let me know what you think.

Tommy Johansson - The Winner Takes It All (ABBA cover)

I first learned of Tommy Johansson when I stumbled upon his band, Majestica. Later he became a guitarist for the group Sabaton, another fantastic band. Lately, I’ve been watching a lot of the covers he posts most weeks on YouTube. In each cover he sings all the parts and plays all the instruments: guitar (electric and acoustic), keyboard, bass guitar, drums. Given he’s from Sweden I figured sharing one of his covers of ABBA would be appropriate. He gives the covers a metal feel while, in my opinion, staying true to the source. I love what he does both vocally and with the guitar riff at the very end of the song.

Nightwish - The Islander Live @ Tampere

I love Marko Hietala’s voice in this song, and this specific performance is incredible. He used to be Nightwish’s bass player, but here he shows he can also sing and play guitar. Troy Donockley shines in this performance playing the low whistle. And Floor, usually the lead singer, takes the role of backing vocalist and perfectly melds with Marko while allowing him to shine. Far more of a folk sound than typical of Nightwish, and perhaps that’s why it stands out so much to me. And if you’re wondering what Marko says during the short pause at the beginning of the song… I have no idea, but I know he’s speaking Finnish.

BABYMETAL - from me to u featuring Poppy

I’m not usually the biggest fan of screaming vocals, but I really (REALLY) like this song and how it goes back and forth between melodic and harsh, very similar to RATATATA, the collaboration between BABYMETAL and Electric Callboy that I featured this time last year. They’ve been doing really well with these collaborations lately. This one is a very catchy tune and I purchased the single so I can keep playing it on repeat. Great high energy workout song.

 

Life

As with last quarter, this one felt busier than I’d like. Looking back I realize it likely wasn’t as busy as it felt, I just let it get to me. I’m working to do better with that. What about you? How do you keep from feeling overloaded even when you know it’s really not that bad in the grand scheme of things?

Thankfully, also as with last quarter, there’s been lots of time doing things I enjoy, from going on short excursions with my father, practicing photography, reading some great books and just enjoying a simple cup of freshly ground coffee using beans from a local roaster. Increasingly it’s the simpler things I most look forward to and enjoy.

And speaking of doing things I enjoy, my father and I took a vacation up to New Hampshire in the latter half of June. In addition to my father’s 60th high school reunion and visiting relatives in both New Hampshire and Maine, we had time to explore much of the area and I took advantage of that to create a few photos here and there. The landscapes up there are absolutely beautiful with mountains all around. And some of the towns and buildings within them are very old, dating back in some cases to the 1600s. Some of the towns appear to be dying off and in disrepair while others have found a way to rejuvenate themselves with thriving main streets.

Another joy of mine has been grinding and brewing coffee. I’ve recently purchased a Hario V60 single cup brewer and have enjoyed experimenting with ratios, water temperature, grind sizes, and pouring techniques. While visiting a farmers market in New Hampshire I sampled a medium/dark roast sourced from Tanzania and roasted locally by Porcupine Coffee Roasting out of Bath, NH. I enjoyed it enough to purchase a bag, as well as one of a lighter roast sourced from Brazil which I’m thoroughly enjoying. And when we returned to Virginia we stopped by Central Coffee Roasters in Sperryville where I picked up a bag of Sulawesi Toraja, Guatemalan Antigua Los Volcanes, and the bean they said was currently their most interesting roast, Indian Monsooned Malabar. I can’t wait to try each of them.

I hope you had a great 2nd quarter of the year. And even more so I hope you have an equally great 3rd quarter. Spend a little time looking at where you are and thinking about where you want to be at the end of the year and try to identify some small things you can do to help get you there. I’ll be doing the same.

Thanks so much for all your continued support!


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Quarterly Look Back - 1st Quarter 2025 by Todd Henson

Looking back at the first quarter of 2025

So looking back to my intro to last year’s 1st quarter look back I reported it was in some ways a slow quarter. Well, it didn’t feel that way this year, at least not the latter part of the quarter. I continued struggling to do anything productive in the evenings after work, and some time on the weekends was taken away by work, prompting me to plan ahead enough to schedule some posts and emails in advance to assure I was still able to share something each week. Here’s hoping things slow down just a bit the rest of the year to allow a little more enjoyment intermixed with work.

Photography

My father and I continued our regular outings this quarter, something we both very much enjoy. Though we do still continue visiting some of the same locations we’ve also been purposefully choosing new directions to explore. Sometimes we don’t find much but other times we uncover another location that I turn into a blog post, some of which you may have read this quarter. If not, or if you’d like to revisit anything, then please take a look below at the posts I published. Click on any photo or link to read more and see all the photographs associated with the post.

Architecture

Grace Episcopal Church, The Plains, Virginia

A Visit to Occoquan Workhouse (2010)

Rector’s Warehouse and Station - Rectortown, Virginia

St. John’s Baptist Church and Moses Lodge - Hurleytown, Virginia

Best of the Year

My Favorite Books and Films in 2024

Best Photos of 2024: My Favorites of the Year

Field Notes Updates

Bullock’s Oriole Building a Nest at Barr Lake State Park

Mostly Photos

A Visit to the Office

Reflections at Pope’s Creek in Winter

Random Thoughts

Make Time For Playtime

Two Horses

Trip Report

Bunker Hill Train Club Open House 12/14/2024

Colonial Beach in Winter

Reading

There are so many classic books considered masterpieces and must-reads that I’ve yet to read. I’m working to integrate some of those into my regular reading, so this quarter I tackled The Iliad by Homer. I don’t know yet what I’ll try in the next quarter. I’m working on a list of books I’d love to read before I die, but I don’t want that list to become a shackle. I will continue reading new works as well as those that are simple entertainment, and rereading when the mood strikes me. But I’ll also continue tackling some of those masterworks, trying to round out my literary education.

The books I consumed this quarter (paper, ebook, and audio).

Here’s the full list of books read in the 1st quarter of 2025: Guitar Zero - The New Musician and the Science of Learning by Gary Marcus (2012), The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn by Tri Vuong (2024), Shareholder Yield (2nd Edition) by Mebane Faber (2013 / 2024), Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles 3) by Frank Herbert (1976), Venus in the Blind Spot by Junji Ito (2019), Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (2016), The Minority Report and Other Stories by Philip K. Dick (1987), Stormbringer (The Elric Saga 2) by Michael Moorcock (2021), The Iliad by Homer: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander (801 / 2015), Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror (Deluxe Edition) by Junji Ito (2000), Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree (2023), Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie (1936), Black Paradox by Junji Ito (2009), How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster (2003).

And of those, my favorites were:

The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn by Tri Vuong

I was fortunate to win a copy of this book through a goodreads giveaway. Before that I’d been completely unfamiliar with it and didn’t realize it started as a web comic. I ended up thoroughly enjoying this story of a floating skull in a trench coat going around solving supernatural problems. He has a heart of gold but there’s also something else about him, something more problematic. I’d love to read more.

Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror (Deluxe Edition) by Junji Ito

Long ago I watched the Japanese movie, Uzumaki, based on Junji Ito’s work and thoroughly enjoyed the strangeness of it all. I was pleased to find my local library had a copy of the manga and quickly checked it out. Far stranger than the movie, I absolutely loved the crazy story and artwork, all those spirals, spirals everywhere.

Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock

I’m continuing to enjoy my exploration of the classic Elric sword & sorcery stories, ones I wish I’d read when much younger. This second volume felt like it would be the final one, and yet there is still more to read, so I look forward to seeing what’s next.

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

This was a fun one. An eccentric host obsessed with murder has invited a group of people to a party and says he did so because each person is either a murderer or someone who investigates or writes about them. Of course, he is then murdered at his own party, leaving Hercule Poirot, Superintendent Battle, Colonel Race, and Ariadne Oliver to solve the crime.

Movies, Shows & Anime

Favorite, or notable, films I watched this quarter.

This quarter there was a mix of rewatches of old favorites along with some first time views of new-to-me movies. I also found enough time for a short anime series from many years back.

My favorite movie was Greyhound (2020), starring Tom Hanks commanding a destroyer escorting an international convoy of ships across the Atlantic. But before they make it across they encounter and are hunted by a pack of Nazi U-boats. A short and yet very impactful film that I felt did a great job portraying the difficult decisions made in times of war.

My next favorite was a rewatch of The Faculty (1998), a horror film I loved when it first came out and loved again this time around. I enjoyed how it paid homage to the literary science fiction and horror stories that came before.

Another great movie was Finch (2021), a science fiction post-apocalyptic film starring Tom Hanks and a couple AI robots he pieced together, along with a live dog he takes care of. Not many characters, but lots of depth.

On the animated front I finally watched the anime series Paranoia Agent (2004) by Satoshi Kon. What a wild and crazy ride, just as one would expect of his work. It spiraled deeper and deeper into paranoia as the series progressed, and by the end of the final episode (number 13) one is left wondering what they just watched.

Also on the animated front was a rewatch of the classic Rankin Bass production of The Hobbit (1977) based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book. This was a favorite as a kid and it was great rewatching.

I watched the highly acclaimed Martin Scorsese film, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), a very well made and impactful story, but one that felt far too long and didn’t fully capture my attention. And I watched Ghosted (2023) and Monster Hunter (2020), both of which I found very forgettable.

Music

This quarter I continued finding and listening to new tracks by favorite artists. The first two are different styles of rock, and the third is for those who prefer a softer sound. I love all of these songs and have listened to each multiple times this quarter.

The Warning - Hell You Call A Dream (Live From Time Square)

It’s so great to see the continued growth and success of this fairly young trio of sisters originating from Mexico. In this video they perform live from Times Square in New York.

AVANTASIA - The Witch (featuring Tommy Karevik)

Here’s another great new track from Avantasia featuring their typical catchy choruses and fantastic (and fantastical) musical storytelling. I never tire of this group.

華風月 -「悠久の地」(Eternal Land)

And finally, for something a bit softer, here is a beautiful composition by Yuko Suzuhana, with her on the piano, Daisuke Kaminaga playing the shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and Kiyoshi Ibukuro playing the koto. All three are also members of the group Wagakki Band, another favorite of mine.

 

Life

As mentioned in the intro this quarter felt a bit busier than I’d have preferred, at least busier with elements I derive far less enjoyment from. So I’m hopeful there’ll be a slight shift this next quarter, either in the mix of activities or in my perceptions of them. Sometimes all it takes is a mental shift in perspective, but of course that can be a challenge to implement.

Thankfully, though, there have been many opportunities to enjoy things that bring me pleasure: outings with my father; dinner and time spent with family; a bit of quiet time with a hot cup of freshly ground coffee; time spent staring at words on a page or screen, transforming those words into images, videos, sounds, scents, emotions, knowledge; exploring the local area and discovering all sorts of new places and locations, researching and learning about these places and past events, creating photographs to show what still remains; creating photographs of anything and everything that catches my attention; listening to some great music and watching some entertaining movies and shows; and putting these very words down for you to read along with any interactions we’re fortunate to have with one another.

In parting, I want to thank you for all your support throughout this quarter. There’s a good chance I’d continue doing this just for myself, even if no one read any of it. But it makes it so much more meaningful knowing there’s even one person out there who finds this interesting enough to share a little time reading what I write and viewing the photos I create. So thank you!

Have a great 2nd quarter!


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My Favorite Books, Films and Anime in 2024 by Todd Henson

My favorite books, movies and anime in 2024.

Photography is the focus of my website and blog, but it’s not the only activity that brings me joy. I also love reading and watching great movies and series, and I enjoy sharing some of that with you in hopes you may find something you’d enjoy, or perhaps discover we both enjoyed the same thing. Take a look below to see which of the books, movies and series ended up my favorites in 2024.

Some of the links below are affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links. This is at no extra cost to you.


Favorite Photography Books

As with last year, I only read two photography books in 2024 so it made it easy to pick my two favorites. 😊 On a positive note, I did really enjoy them both, each about older buildings.

Backroads Buildings - In Search of the Vernacular by Steve Gross & Susan Daley

This was a great portfolio-type book on the theme of old buildings along the backroads of the eastern US. It’s a book for those who love traveling those backroads and finding all those old everyday buildings of yesteryear, often now in disrepair and frequently abandoned. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the photographs in this book, one I checked out from the library.

Abandoned Virginia: The Forgotten Commonwealth by Joel Handwerk

Similar to the previous, this book also focuses on old abandoned buildings, this time focusing on those found in Virginia. It’s a short book but especially fascinating if you happen to be familiar with any of the featured locations. For me it was the remains of the Virginia Renaissance Faire, which I was fortunate to visit a couple times before it closed down.


Favorite Non-fiction Books

The Happiest Man on Earth - The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor by Eddie Jaku

What an extraordinarily powerful book. In it Eddie Jaku introduces himself and tells of his life, how he was a captive of the Nazis and of the events he witnessed. What makes this book really stand out to me is how he came out of those experiences with such a positive outlook. He was determined to survive, and if he did he vowed to become the happiest man alive. And when he did survive he followed through on that vow, telling his story, sharing the power of family and friendship, and how choosing to be happy can help us get though so many hardships. Well worth the read.

Night by Elie Wiesel

This was another very powerful read, one that was difficult to get through, telling of Elie Wiesel’s experiences as a captive in multiple Nazi concentration camps, and what happened to his family. A heart wrenching story, but one worth reading. We can’t forget these events. We can’t let ourselves be lulled into allowing them to repeat. We need to keep learning our lessons, over and over again, for however long it takes.

A Middle-earth Traveler: Sketches From Bag End to Mordor by John Howe

And finally, a non-fiction book with a much lighter topic: the artwork of Middle-earth by John Howe. If you’re a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and his works you may be familiar with John Howe’s work, even if you don’t recognize the name. He has created some of the very iconic artwork now associated with Tolkien’s Middle-earth, and I loved looking through all of it within this book.


Favorite Fiction Books

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This classic may be one of the greatest books I’ve ever read. I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to get around to trying it, though perhaps it’s for the best. Perhaps it resonated more now than it might have when I was younger. Though a work of fiction, it incorporates so much history and shares so many valuable life lessons. I would like to reread this book one day.

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

For a long while I’d seen the many books by this author, and this year I decided to give one a read, and what a read it was. I loved this first in a series taking place in the time when England was a series of warring kingdoms, and when the Danes invaded and began taking over. Such a great story and so well told. I very much look forward to continuing the series and trying others by the author.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

A beautiful story taking place in Japan about a girl who seems to have lost her way in life, so she goes to stay with her uncle who runs the Morisaki Bookshop, a used bookstore. He’s able to slowly bring her back to life as she begins helping around the store, meeting new people, building a new life for herself. And all that time she unknowingly also helps him with his life, dealing with his ties to the past. A wonderful book. I hope to read the next in this series.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

I won an advance reader copy of this book through a goodreads giveaway, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. I loved this story, full of magic, whimsical landscapes and experiences, characters drawn together and pulled apart, a quickly growing love story weaved into the other plot lines as the two mains characters run from creatures that could mean their end if ever caught. A story about the choices we make, and about destiny and what kind of control over our lives we give that idea. Perhaps this fits into the cozy fantasy category so popular today. A beautiful story.

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

This children’s book was a reread for me. I first read it in grade school and I’ve always remembered it fondly, so when I found the audiobook on sale I grabbed it, and I’m glad I did. The story held the same adventure, wonder, loss, hope, happiness and mystery that it did when I was much younger, telling the story of Mrs. Frisby trying to survive in the farmers field, but also telling the story of the incredible rats of NIMH. A wonderful read for a child or an adult.


Favorite Graphic Novels & Comics

Saga Volume 3 by Brian Vaughan & Fiona Staples

I don’t have a lot of commentary on this one, other than to say I continue to love this comic series. This one is squarely aimed at adults, tackling topics like trying to raise a young child in a violent and out of control world (or universe), hatred between different groups of people, friendship and loyalty, romance in many forms, and just the general topics of life. In this case, though, that life is lived in a fantastic universe with interesting races so often at conflict with one another. Great series and I look forward to the next volume.

Hokusai: A Graphic Biography by Guiseppe Latanza & Francesco Matteuzzi

This was a fascinating biography of the great Japanese artist, Hokusai, who created that famous woodblock print of The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Look it up, you may recognize it. This biography is told graphically, so it may appeal to a wider audience. And I loved the explanations at the end of how the graphic novel came to be and the challenges of sorting through all the stories about Hokusai, some which may be true and some false, though we’ve no way to know which are which these days.


Favorite Movies

The Lord of the Rings

What can I say? Anytime I rewatch the Lord of the Rings movies they will be favorites that year, just as anytime I reread the books. At this point most folks probably have at least heard of them, even if they haven’t seen or read them. But if you haven’t yet tried them, maybe consider it. The story is so very good, and for me it keeps giving me something new each time I watch or read them. There’s such richness to it, such history and backstory.

Dune Part Two

I watched part two of Dune, finishing up the retelling of the first book, and what a retelling it was. As with The Lord of the Rings, this ranks as one of the best movie adaptations of a science fiction / fantasy book or series. It included all the political and religious undertones and took full advantage of todays state of the art special effects to bring the world of Dune to life. A fantastic set of movies.

The Creator

I thoroughly enjoyed this science fiction movie, far more than I expected to. It tackles the topic of advanced robotic artificial intelligence and such issues as sentience, what rights an artificial intelligence should have, biases and prejudices, and conflicts that could surface between various groups. I thought the movie handled these topics really well and told an engaging story full of emotion and excitement.

Stranger Things Season 1+2

I am very much a latecomer to this series. I’ve heard about it for years but never had access to it so I largely ignored it. Then I discovered my library had the first two seasons on DVD so I checked them out. And now I’m hooked. Just as with the book, Ready Player One, I seem to be perfectly within the target market for this series having grown up in the ‘80s playing Dungeons & Dragons, hanging out with friends, and imagining all sorts of crazy things. But of course, in my life it was all just imagination, whereas in this series it’s real. I loved it.


Favorite Anime & Animated Movies

Suzume

I think it was almost a foregone conclusion that Suzume would end up my favorite anime watched in the year. I tend to love anything Makoto Shinkai creates, with each new movie a masterpiece. This one is about doors that open to another location, and the people who can see through them, and a young girl who gets caught up in all of this.

Planetes

Planetes was a great series about a serious topic, that of orbital debris and the great risks it poses to any who venture into orbit around our planet. The series takes place a little ways in the future when debris has become a much bigger problem with permanent manned stations, and so some of those people have the job of cleaning up that debris to prevent any catastrophic and deadly mishaps.


So what did you read or watch in 2024? Did any of your favorites match my own? And if not, what were your favorites? Let me know in the comments below.


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