A Few of My Favorite Things (Blogoversary Post)

Dang . . . has it really been three years since I started blogging? I can very clearly remember that Friday. It was June 23, 2017. I had just finished typing up my first post and excitedly pressed the publish button. I had to race off to work (I was a gas jockey at the time) right after, but I was so ecstatic. This was a dream come true. I could hardly wait to go home and see what comments had been left.

We bloggers like to celebrate that first day, to remember our roots and remind ourselves of where we came from. It often involves fun things, like how I did a ten-part Q&A vlog series for my first blogoversary. (So much video editing and waiting for them to upload to YouTube . . .) For the second one, I wrote a giant mashup with a whole slew of my characters interacting and fighting and doing other epic stuff. But when it was time to start thinking about this year's post, I had no idea what to do. So in my update last month, I asked for suggestions, as I was stumped. The lovely Christine had the wonderful idea of sharing some of my favorite things (top favorite book, music, video game, etc.) So we can all thank her for saving the blogoversary this year!

But if you know me, you know I don't skimp on these celebrations. And with a lot of things in my life, if I can go above and beyond, I will. That means I won't just give you my top favorite thing in each category. No, what I'm going to do is give you a few of my favorite things!

Favorite Books

When asked what my favorite books are, I usually can't go with stand-alones. They tend to escape me if somebody asks. However, what I can always share and rave about are my three favorite book series of all time.

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You have not lived until you have the Artemis Fowl series. It's weird, and it might be a little hard to get into at first--but it's so, so good. Trust me, this is coming from a guy who thought the first book was strange. Well, some aspects of it, anyway. But I kept going because what I had read was interesting enough that I wanted to know more. I do not, in any way, regret my decision.

Character arcs can be fickle things. It's hard enough to write them well over the span of a single novel, but a whole series? That can take a lot of time, practice, and creative brilliance--which apparently Eoin Colfer had. Artemis's arc from criminal mastermind who cares for no one but himself to a genius, self-sacrificial hero is a stunning one. Little by little, book by book, he is reformed and shaped by his experiences and his friends and family. It's all so well-written and thought-out. And that's not to say that the side characters are flat. People like Holly Short, Mulch Diggums, and Butler all have arcs of their own (but obviously Artemis's is the main focus).

Did I mention the villains are fantastic? A recurring one is quite the thorn in Artemis's side, which is fitting since they end up being his final foe. The plots are intense too, with heists and chases and fights; they keep you hooked from start to finish. And the humor! It was always on point for me. I just appreciate everything about this series. I honestly want to go and reread it now.

Whenever I describe the Beyonders Trilogy to someone who's never heard of it, I never to fail to mention how it's one of the most creative fantasies I've ever read. Don't believe me? Read them and report back. I can almost guarantee that you will agree with me. An inn that spins around like a merry-go-round? A man who can detach his body parts and still live? A word that can destroy a malevolent emperor, but can only be said once before it's completely forgotten? A race of people with seeds attached to the backs of their necks that can be planted so that they are born again? Shadowy creatures that stalk you all day and fill your head with terror at night? Tell me this isn't imaginative, and I'll tell you that you're lying.

Honestly, what an epic series this is! It starts off so simply--Jason and Rachel must find the hidden syllables to learn the word that will undo the wizard who rules the land with clever cruelty--but it becomes so much more than that. I honestly can't go into the details without spoiling things, but seriously, the overarching plot of the trilogy is amazing. It's quite unlike anything I've read before. It might be classified as middle grade, but don't let that fool you. The books feel more mature (and not in a bad way) than your standard middle grade. Then again, a lot of what I read is classified as middle grade, and they tend to be better than much of what the teen section has to offer.

Do yourself a favor and read this trilogy. Everything from the plot to the characters to the world brims with creativity and imagination. You won't be disappointed. (Also, I love the covers of the books. Brandon Mull's got a lot of great ones! The picture I have here doesn't do it justice because it's kinda fuzzy, but it's the only one I found of all three books together.)

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The moment I picked up The Blackthorn Key at the library was the moment I knew I'd like it. Eoin Colfer's praise for the book was on the front cover, so considering that this was Kevin Sands's first novel, I figured it had to be a really good one. I was wrong. It was a phenomenal one.

The stories focus on Christopher Rowe, apprentice to an apothecary, and his friends Tom, who's the son of a baker, and Sally, an orphan girl. Upon the death of his master and as more apothecaries are shut down, Christopher uses the skills he has been taught--cracking all sorts of codes, creating medicines, concocting acids and explosives, and the like--to uncover the dastardly scheme. But that's merely the first plot he must foil. He battles both vile foes and the clock as he goes up against the black death and hellbent assassins. (I have yet to read Call of the Wraith, but it looks pretty terrifying.)

There's something about Kevin's writing style that I can't get enough of. It's one of those that keeps you hooked and speeding through the pages, yet it doesn't feel minimalistic or anything. In my mind, I'd almost classify it as a perfect writing style. The way he writes is nothing short of amazing. The plots are always intense and gripping. Think of it as Indiana Jones mixed with Mission: Impossible, all in a historical setting. The characters are all interesting, and I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in their lives and adventures. The humor, again, was always spot-on for me. Honestly, there's nothing to not love about this series! I'd almost put it at the top of these three favorites? It's hard to say. In any case, you must definitely read all three!

Favorite Movies and TV Shows

It's so hard to pick just one favorite film or show. I have to go multiple, maybe even throw in a film series along with the TV series. I'll try to limit them here. Just know that this wasn't easy, and that if something was not included here, it's not because I didn't want to add it; it's merely because I wanted to focus on a select few and try not to make this post a complete monster in length. (I'm looking at you, Christine.)

Fury Road was guaranteed to make this list. One cannot deny its sheer brilliance that is utilized through its simple dialogue, imagery, music, action, and basically every other element of the movie. I absolutely loved it the first time I watched it, but I think I may have enjoyed even more the second time around. That's mainly due to one reason: the themes. Though it looks like one giant, epic car chase (which it is), the film aspires to be more than that. It wants to leave the viewers with some meat to chew on. As per usual, I can't really go into them without spoiling stuff, but trust me when I say that those themes have really resounded with me and that I think about them more often than a lot of other stories' themes. They just hit home in a way that made me unable to shake them loose. That's some solid work right there.

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If you know me well enough, you'll know that I simply adore the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. I can't get enough of it. It's deceptively brilliant. On a surface level, it looks like a convoluted mess of duels, ship battles, treasure quests, and confusing character motivations. But if you examine it closer, you'll see just how well thought-out everything is. Every character has his or her own desires, and how they go about trying to achieve those desires is really interesting. The crazy fight scenes or getaways are always the best. They're so over the top that it makes them amazing, like the literal bank heist in Dead Men Tell No Tales. And we can't talk about the Pirates series without talking about its music. The soundtracks have become so iconic that they determined what pirate music should sound like to us. Also, the special effects and CGI are actually super impressive. The older movies still look great even now, which is quite the feat. All in all, the Pirates movies are some of the best out there, and no one can change my mind.

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I'm not ashamed to admit that LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu is still one of my favorite shows, even if it's simply because of nostalgia. I've followed it for about 8 or 9 years, which means I've been a fan since the very beginning. That's not to say I've followed it closely the past couple years, because I'm only on S8 and they just released a trailer for S13. HOWEVER, I will eventually catch up, and I still collect at least one set from each season. So no one can acuse me of not being a fan.

Ninjago has been one of LEGO's most popular themes, and I feel like the show has helped a lot in that regard. It's action-packed and funny, with some nice themes and messages to boot. There've even been some surprisingly emotional moments, the most "infamous" one being the ending of S3. Ninjago has never been just a typical kid's show, in my eyes. It has some maturity to it--again, not in a bad way--that you wouldn't necessarily expect going into it. Take the soundtrack, for example. If I were to play you a song from the show's OST, you'd probably never guess where it was from. And I've also heard that from S8 on, they start gearing it toward a bit of an older audience, so I'm really interested in seeing what that means for the show. Definitely a classic, in my mind!

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C'mon, there was no way I could do a post about my favorite things without mentioning Attack on Titan. This has become not only one of my favorite shows, but also one of my favorite stories of all time--possibly the top favorite. I'm watching it six times within the span of a year (by myself, with my youngest two sisters, with a couple of friends I know in person, with all three of my sisters, with Preston, and with my dad), and that's not something I've done with any other show.

What's so great about it? I dunno, how about EVERYTHING??? The plot is so very intriguing, feeding you just enough information and answers to keep going while constantly throwing more questions your way. The stakes feel very real and grounded, with imminent death lurking around every corner. But there's always a glint of hope that, while often faint, makes you realize the heroes have the slimmest of chances. The characters are complex and fully fleshed out, with their own hopes and dreams and desires. Not one is uninteresting or unimportant. There are plot twists and turns like you wouldn't believe. Honestly, you shouldn't look up anything about the show; it's far too easy to step on a spoiler landmine. I went into it completely blind, and it absolutely thrilled me. I've laughed, I've cried--nay, even sobbed--and I've held my breath and literally sat on the edge of my seat at the really intense moments. I will proudly die on the hill that Attack on Titan is phenomenal, with my right fist over my heart in a firm salute.

Favorite Music

And I thought things couldn't get any more impossible. Y'know how much music I listen to on a regular basis? Choosing but a few of those to showcase is extremely difficult--yet somehow it also feels really easy. Kinda like how the Music Monday Awards can be. So instead of talking about hundreds of albums and soundtracks, I'm gonna talk about four.

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If there's ever been an album that was meant to inspire stories, Divisions by Starset is a surefire choice. With music being described as cinematic rock and lyrics that are super cool and poetic, it's hard to not see why I'd think that. You could seriously take any song from the album and fashion a whole story from it. It wouldn't be all that difficult. Yet I've also found the lyrics oddly . . . relatable, I suppose. That's not to say I've experienced what's actually being sung about all the time. It could just be the overall tone and emotion that I'm connecting to. Whatever the case, I'm so glad I was recommended Starset, because their music--Divisions in particular--has become some of my favorite lyrical stuff.

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Have you ever listened to an album and thought, "I was meant to listen to this now and not a moment sooner or later"? Because that's what I thought when I heard The Search by NF. I was really struggling with personal issues earlier this year, and I decided during that time to listen to the album, which Preston and Megan gave me as part of my Christmas gift. I hadn't heard it before save for a song or two, so when I did then . . . it just hit home so much harder. It was like NF knew what I was going to go through and wrote the entire album just for me. It was nothing short of a Godsend for that season of life. It honestly makes The Search a very personal album, and I'm almost . . . cautious about who I share it with. If you won't get it or understand, you probably won't ever hear the songs with me around. It's almost hard to even talk about here, but it wouldn't be fair of me to not share it when it's one of my favorite lyrical albums--possibly the top in that category. No other artist has come close to putting out music that feels so relatable.

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If someone were to come up to me and say, "Josiah, when you think of gorgeous music, what's the first soundtrack that comes to mind?" There's no question that Ori and the Blind Forest has some of the prettiest music in existence. It's just that good. You'd only have to listen to the very first song to realize that--but you should obviously listen to the whole thing. Both it and its source are extremely beautiful, and there's no denying it. I think the instrumentation has a lot to do with it. The piano with the various string and wind instruments make for a very different soundtrack in terms of what it sounds like. I don't really know how else to explain it. Also, the use of leitmotifs is excellent throughout. I'm a sucker for hearing themes at key moments, which is another reason why I love this particular OST so much. I'd be hard pressed to not mention it as one of my favorites.

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You may have noticed that when I was raving about Attack on Titan, I failed to mention its music. That's because I had to do so here, in its own special spot. Just like the anime might be my top show of all time, the same can be said of its OST. I don't know what inspired Hiroyuki Sawano to combine orchestral music that leans heavily on the choral parts at all the right moments with fierce electric guitars, gritty electronic beats, and Asian instruments, but it somehow works, and it is absolutely mind-blowing. And since we were just talking about leitmotifs, I should mention that Hiroyuki is very strong in this department. Themes crop up all over the place in different ways; it takes several listens to catch them all, but it's so satisfying to go, "Oh! I've heard that before! I know what that theme is!" The show's OST certainly captures all of the right moods too, and it does so perfectly. Need something heroic as the good guys turn the tide of the battle? Is something creepy and downright chilling unfolding before them? Is someone crying out in fear, or witnessing loved ones die? Are the characters living out their normal lives--well, as normal as they can get? Need to convey the emotions of a scene by alternatively using a lyrical song? The soundtrack does all of this, and it does it in a spectacular fashion. I can't praise the music enough. There's a reason why I can listen to it day in and day out while not growing tired of it.

Favorite Video Games

I feel like these last two categories were the hardest to narrow down. There are just so many stand-alone titles or series that I could mention. Sharing a mere few is no easy feat. I could honestly ramble about my favorite games for hours on end, but I don't want to keep you here that long. I suppose I'll attempt to narrow it down, but obviously this is nowhere near a complete list.

Could I probably list the entire Kirby series? Yes. I definitely could. I have loved every game I've played (well, the really old ones I've enjoyed more out of an appreciation of how far the franchise has come). But if I were forced to pick a favorite title, I wouldn't have to think about it too hard. Kirby's Return to Dream Land would be my nearly-instantaneous response. I distinctly remembering purchasing it from a Best Buy store and excitedly going to home to try it out. When I sat on the couch and put in the game, I was blown away. Even today, I'd still say the graphics are really great.

There are a few Wii games that I can replay over and over again without getting tired of them. Every time I play, I still feel that thrill of excitement that rushes through you the first time you play a really good game. There're so many things I love about this particular title. The world themes, level designs, and abilities all work together to make each and every level a blast to play, no matter how many times. The story is really entertaining and actually has a really great twist or two. One of the things I love most, though, is the music. If I ever found a physical copy of the OST, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. There's just something about it that I can't get enough of and love to bits. Okay, let's be honest: I love the whole game to bits. If you have a Wii, you need to buy and play it. It's such a fun experience, one that's stuck with me ever since I first inserted the disc.

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I'm not always the biggest RPG fan, generally speaking. It needs to do something really special to keep me coming back for more. One such example is the Mario & Luigi series. After the wild success of Super Mario RPG, Nintendo had a company known as AlphaDream develop all the five titles in the series and the two remakes. However, AlphaDream has since filed for bankruptcy and was shut down, and even though Nintendo filed for a new trademark for the series, I have to wonder if we'll ever see a new entry. Which is unfortunate, because I've thoroughly enjoyed the games!

I haven't played all of the games yet, but the ones I did play were varying degrees of superb (I have yet to play Paper Jam and the remakes of Superstar Saga and Bowser's Inside Story). My two favorites in particular have been Bowser's Inside Story, which served as my first foray into the series, and Dream Team, the game that I bought so that I was "forced" to get a 2DS XL. Each game has had some staples, which I love: there's always a plot that gets dark somewhere along the line, a star or crown or some other item of immense power, and loads of hilarious lines and moments. Seriously, the comedy alone should convince you to try these games out. They're seriously such a good time. Also, Bowser has a character arc spanning all five titles, something you don't see often. So my advice is to definitely play 'em if you ever get the chance. Trust me, you won't regret it.

(Did I also mention Yoko Shimomura, composer for the Kingdom Hearts games, did all the music in this series? Because she did, and she's is phenomenal, and so are the OSTs.)

This is another case of where I could say, "Oh, I love the whole series," but if I had to pick a single favorite, I could. There's something very special about New Leaf, and I'm not sure what it is. All I know is that I've put a lot of hours into it, and I don't regret a minute of it. Nothing gets me relaxed quite like this game does.

There's something to be said about forgetting the real world for a while and living another life where all you do is decorate your house, go fish or catch bugs, take a trip to an island full of fun games, celebrate birthdays, holidays, and other special events, set up projects for your town as mayor, visit Main Street and hit up the stores . . . or pay your mortgage. But even that's chill, as you can take as long as you want to repay it! There really isn't anything to not like about the game. You can play by yourself or with a friend; you can run around doing a bunch of stuff or you can do nothing. Animal Crossing has always been about you playing the way you like, and New Leaf is no different.  If you have any of the 3DS systems, buy this game--right now. Believe it or not, it's a really great game for your mental health. At least, it has been for mine. That's more than enough reason for me to keep coming back to it.

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It'd practically be a sin for me to not include the Ace Attorney series. They're legit some of the greatest games out there, not a word of a lie. From the main series to the Miles Edgeworth spinoffs to the Professor Layton crossover, not a single Ace Attorney game I've played has disappointed me.

What makes the games so darn great? Well, I personally find the whole setup really appealing. The combination of investiagations and trials in a visual novel style just works super well. Each case is interesting on its own, with all sorts of murders and plots and twists, but they all build up to a final extravagant case that'll tie them all together expertly. The slew of characters you meet, a number of them recurring ones, are colorful, to say the least. I mean, just look at the picture above and tell me that those aren't interesting characters. And the music! It's just amazing in every way. I love seeing how it's evolved from a more retro, chiptune-ish style to sounding fully orchestrated. That doesn't mean, however, that it gets bad at any point. The music is fantastic in each game, no matter how "new" or "old" it sounds.

Honestly, if it wasn't so late as of the time I'm typing this up, I could rave about Ace Attorney for a lot longer, and I feel like I'm not doing the games justice--pun intended. They're nothing short of phenomenal, and they definitely deserve a chance. The original trilogy is available on a lot of systems and consoles now, even on your phone, so there's really no excuse to not play them. Do it, or I'll have to raise an objection.

My Favorite People

Obviously I can't list all of my favorite people because that would take too long, and I won't because I wouldn't want to incite jealousy or anything. However, I will say that you are all included on my list. Whether you've stuck it out with me since day one, or you just joined a month ago, or you've come and gone--you're awesome. I'm so thankful that anyone even reads my posts at all.

I know that I've made some promises that I haven't kept. I wish I hadn't. I'm trying to improve and not overpromise, or overextend myself. Blogging can be difficult some days. It can feel like a grind, a chore even. But seeing your reactions and comments always remind me that it's worth it. So thank you. You are all very appreciated.

Here's to three great years, and to even better ones in the future!