Blog
Real Tigers (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Title: Real Tigers
Author: Mick Herron
Genre: fiction, thriller
Length: 369 pages
Format: ebook
Rating: 4 out of 5
My thoughts: It’s the third novel in the Slough House series. It’s a good book with good twists. The characters are such shitty people that it kinda bummed me out halfway through the book. That’s no different than the previous books in the series, but all that shittiness starts to add up.
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Thief (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Title: Thief (1981)
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Robert Prosky
IMDB rating: 7.4
My rating: 4 out of 5
My thoughts: Thief has a similar vibe to the also-directed-by-Michael Mann-film Heat, just switch out the bank robbing for safe cracking. Thief, however, is more character study than heist film. We only see two scores and they lack the suspense that makes Heat so great. James Caan plays the title-referenced thief in what is certainly his best role. Robert Prosky makes for an oddly terrifying villain. Jim Belushi desperately needs a haircut.
The List (⭐⭐⭐)
Title: The List
Author: Mick Herron
Genre: fiction, thriller
Length: 112 pages
Format: ebook
Rating: 3 out of 5
My thoughts: It reminds me of that episode of Friends where Rachel and Phoebe find out about Chandler and Monica’s relationship. “They don’t know we know they know we know.”
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Dead Lions (⭐⭐⭐)
Title: Dead Lions
Author: Mick Herron
Genre: fiction, thriller
Length: 347 pages
Format: ebook
Rating: 3 out of 5
My thoughts: Not initially the page turner the first book of the series was, but it picked up as it went along. I was frustrated when the protagonist was put in an easily escapable situation instead of being killed outright until it was revealed the antagonist wanted him to escape. I’m glad that cliche was avoided.
The White Lotus, Season 3 (⭐1/2)
Title: The White Lotus (2021–)
Show runner: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey
IMDB rating: 8.0
My rating: 1.5 out of 5
My thoughts: Each season of The White Lotus follows the same formula. Early on promises are made and plot lines are established. Theses promises are then milked for an entire season–one long, drawn out tease with little action and zero plot development. In the final episode some stuff happens, but not as much as you hoped. A few characters suffer consequences, but most don’t. Characters neither change nor learn. That formula worked for season one because it felt like the show was making a statement. By season three, nothing is being said at all. The White Lotus is all style and no substance.
The Seven Dials Mystery (⭐⭐⭐)
Title: The Seven Dials Mystery
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: fiction, mystery
Length: 375 pages
Format: ebook
Rating: 3 out of 5
My thoughts: It’s the second book in the Superintendent Battle series. I didn’t like it as much as the first installment, which has a few characters in relation but nothing plotwise. I’m a big, huge fan of secret societies in fiction, but the titular Seven Dials was a let down. Bundle is a fun character though.
⚾ 2025 MLB Predictions
Here are my predictions for the 2025 MLB season with thoughts below:
Playoff Teams
AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Rangers
AL Wildcard: Yankees
AL Wildcard: Orioles
AL Wildcard: Astros
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wildcard: Braves
NL Wildcard: Mets
NL Wildcard: Diamondbacks
World Series: Dodgers over Rangers
Awards
MVPs: Bobby Witt Jr. & Elly De La Cruz
Cy Youngs: Jacob deGrom & Paul Skenes
ROYs: Jacob Wilson & Dylan Crews
MOYs: Alex Cora & Craig Counsell
Thoughts
- The Dodgers have far and away the best team on paper, but can they stay healthy? Can another team get hot at the right time?
- Every year I overrate the Twins and Cubs. Every year I underrate the Guardians and Brewers. I’m mostly sticking to my guns (sorry, Minnesota).
- I almost picked the A’s as a wildcard team, but that rotation is rough.
- I didn’t like the Astros trading Tucker, but they had a decent offseason otherwise. I think people are underrating them going into the season.
- My NL playoff picks are boring so I almost dropped the Diamondbacks for the Giants. I don’t like the long-term outlook for San Francisco, but maybe they have enough devil magic left for one more competitive season.
- Five years ago the league felt top heavy with a few dominant teams. Now it feels like the league is filled with mostly mediocre teams. The AL Central and NL Central are weak divisions up for grabs. The AL East sports five competitive teams with no clear front runner. The only division on lock is the NL West.