Welcome to Mays monthly digest! If you’ve been here a while, you know this space started as a cozy corner purely for book reviews. But as a journalist and visual storyteller, I’ve been craving a place to share the rest of my world with you, too.

This month I read a lot, i was able to really submerge myself in very incredible readings. I have traveled through time and dimensions this month and I also watched incredible films!

My top recommendations from this month's reading stack.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Vibe: Heartbreaking, Resilient women, Historical fiction, WW2

Thoughts: This was the best book I read this year. Everything else I have given 5 stars is good, but it is on a different scale than this one. I believe this is my first historical fiction novel that I have read out of choice and not because of school. I was transformed reading this novel. I knew a lot about the Second World War and have seen and read many things about it, but this novel transports you into a story in which you are in the bare bones of the French people who are in the midst of this war. How far would you go to help others? How far will you go to protect yourself? This novel puts so many things into perspective. It showed me how unprepared I am to face a situation like millions of people did in this atrocious war. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to venture into historical fiction. It is truly life changing.

Carl's Doomsday Scenario: Dungeon Crawler Carl

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Vibe: High Stakes, Chaotic, Dark humor!

Thoughts: This is Book 2 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and I must say this one is my favorite so far. There is so much world and character expansion that the whole story is starting to get along. Even as absurd as these novels are, it genuinely felt like a great addition to what I have read so far. The quests they have to go through are impeccable. As a gaming girl, one who loves quest based, open-world games, this book hit all the spots. The story finally felt expanded enough to understand more about what this insane world is. I can't wait to read Book 3!!

Days at the Torunka Café by Satoshi Yagisawa

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Vibe: Cozy, warm and healing!

Thoughts: Reading this book provided a beautiful escape from the chaos I was getting swept up in with the other reads. It has such a profound and touching connection to the various stages of grief and growth we encounter throughout our lives. The entire experience was deeply grounding, bringing the same quiet comfort as sipping a warm cup of coffee on a freezing autumn morning. I cherished every minute of the journey and honestly didn't want it to end.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Vibe: Family comes together, figuring life after losing a loved one.

Thoughts: This was my first audiobook, and to be honest, I am glad that I only listened to it instead of reading it. Even though the story is captivating and keeps you hooked for the most part, it was unnecessarily long. I did enjoy listening to it while I was working, and it went by smoothly. It did have some very scary, eerie moments, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you already have it or get it for free.

My favorite cinematic escape from this month.

Backrooms Directed by Kane Parsons

The Vibe: [Suspenseful, mind bending]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Why I Loved It: This movie was everything I expected and more. I grew up loving the Backrooms lore, and to be honest, my expectations were super high for this film and it delivered. I know it’s getting mixed reviews because of how different it is from the Roblox games, but I wish more people went in with a bit more knowledge of what the Backrooms actually entails.

As a film buff, I genuinely appreciate new filmmakers: a fresh mind that has nothing to lose and is willing to experiment with complex stories that Hollywood usually avoids. Kane Parsons did an incredible job expanding on a new type of horror that I know will be growing in cinema: the fear of the unknown that feels familiar, being lost in a maze, and the fear of introspection.

I can't wait for this film to come out on demand and Blu-ray; I will definitely be snatching a copy for my physical media collection. I see so much potential in the Backrooms universe and I am so excited to see what comes next. There is only one thing I wish were different: the ending felt a bit abrupt. I wish they would’ve added 20 more minutes to expand on it, because it truly felt like it missed out on a more epic finale. Still, I can't wait for movie two to come out!

If you haven’t watched any Backrooms-related content besides the Roblox games, make sure to check out these links:

The Perfect Pairing: very salty popcorn and a large soda!!!!

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Directed by Jon Favreau

The Vibe: [High stakes, Intersellar, forever friendship]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Why I Loved It: Oh man, what a time to be alive and be able to watch the new Star Wars releases! This movie hit all the right spots for a new fan of the franchise. I love Grogu and Mando so much, and this film absolutely fed that hunger!

I know some die hard Star Wars fans might find it a bit corny and wish for more expansion on other characters rather than just a Mandalorian and his adopted baby. However, I am thankful for these types of stories that are easier to watch and serve as a good preface for newer Star Wars fans like myself.

Cinematically, it was a beautifully made film. The puppets were insanely good, and I personally loved the color grading. When it comes to the storyline, I saw a lot of mixed reviews, but in my opinion, it felt like a cool side quest with our beloved characters. It was action-driven with cute interactions, and we got a lot of character development from Grogu, which I think will be important for whatever they do next with them. Finally, the soundtrack was impeccable. I have been listening to it constantly since leaving the theater!

The Perfect Pairing: chocolate and popcorn!! sweeet and salty mix!

Until next time, Pawxpi