TV shows August - September Premiere Calendar

Hello readers!

The new school year is almost starting and all of us are begging for distractions and things to keep our minds away from the tragedy. Thankfully, this time of the year also belongs to the season premieres of all our favorite TV shows. Here is a calendar for the most awaited end-of-summer premieres of the year!

August 2015
Sun		Mon		Tue		Wed		Thu		Fri		Sat
												1
2		3		4		5		6		7		8
9		10		11		12		13		14		15
16		17		18		19		20		21		22
23 Fear the Walking Dead		24		25		26		27		28		29  The X Factor UK
30		31

August is the month almost all of us say farewell to summer and free time, yet, it’s also when the new show Fear the Walking Dead (AMC) premieres, and when the fan favorite The X Factor UK (ITV) welcomes its 12^th season with new and not-so-new judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw.

September 2015
Sun		Mon		Tue		Wed		Thu		Fri			Sat
				1		2		3			4		5
6		7		8		9		10			11		12
13		14 Dancing with the Stars		15 The Bastard Executioner		16		17			18		19 Doctor Who
20		21 The Voice Castle		22		23 Empire Law & Order: SVU Modern Family		24 Grey’s Anatomy Scandal HTGAWM			25		26
27 Once Upon a Time		28		29		30		31

September is the month of premieres on which, among others, we’ll finally have the opportunity to continue watching Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, because Shondaland Thursdays return the 24^th (ABC). Other ABC Long running shows like Dancing with the Stars and Once Upon a Time will have a premiere date, respectively, the 14^th and 27^th, and the British blockbuster Doctor Who returns for a 9^th season this Sept. 19. The Voice (NBC) shares the evening with Castle (ABC), while two days later we’ll have a busy night as award winning shows like Empire (FOX), Law & Order: SVU (NBC), and Modern Family (ABC) all premiere new and expected seasons. Also, FOX welcomes a new show with the Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter; The Bastard Executioner premieres its first season on Sept. 15^th.

-AMMG

My Favorite Music of 2014

My Favorite Music of 2014

Tove Lo – Queen of the Clouds

Swedish singer Tove Lo entered the music industry last year with her debut album Queen of the Clouds. As her single Habits (Stay High) acquired mainstream success, Lo received generally positive reviews from critics, filling a half-empty spot in the electropop scene.

QOTC is a record that deals with many youth related topics such as relationships, break-ups, and drugs, garnering a great deal of public attention uncommon to new artists of foreign origins. As Lo was welcomed into many music festivals and nighttime shows to perform, her second single Talking Body also conformed to sale expectations. It is a perfect track list wonder that everyone needs to buy.

My favorite tracks: Love Ballad, Out of Mind, This Time Around, Thousand Miles.

Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour

Another new artist that jumped to fame instantly is Sam Smith. While we wait for Adele’s ever coming new record, it’s safe to say that In the Lonely Hour is the perfect pop/soul album of our generation. The overall set is simply a vocal marvel that we only wish was more than only 10 songs long.

With many hit singles and tons of awards later, ITLH continues to be a highlight in the 2014 music library. Smith leaves us all hitting replay and waiting for new music to purchase, because if new releases are minimally close to his debut album, then it is without doubt worth a try.

My favorite tracks: Leave Your Lover, Lay me Down, Like I Can.

U2 – Songs of Innocence

After almost five years the American rock band U2 released its thirteenth studio album with a creative marketing strategy that sparked up controversy as well as praise. Songs of Innocence was added for free and automatically to every iTunes music library in the world, many stating that the move was not only uncalled for but also equivalent to spam. Yet, the track list is just right for the eminently pop scenario of the past year, and seeing as it was nominated for Best Rock Album in the 57^th Annual Grammy Awards, even the critics seem to agree.

My favorite tracks: The Miracle (of Joey Ramone), Every Breaking Wave, Raised by Wolves.

Hozier – Hozier

Another new artist became one of my favorite ones when he released his self-titled album in 2014. Hozier by Hozier is a compilation of the best genres with 13 songs masterfully written and sung. The Irish singer is better known for his single Take Me to Church that charted number 1 in 12 countries, and also open many music festivals to Hozier.

Hozier contains the best lyrics and tunes of the year, making us all wonder why it isn’t the best selling record of the year.

My favorite tracks: Cherry Wine, From Eden, Jackie and Wilson, Work Song, Sedated.

Sam Hunt - Montevallo

A new record from the country singing heartthrob Sam Hunt surprised me in a very positive way given that Country Pop is not my genre and that I had never listened to a song of his before Montevallo. 

The majority agrees that Hunt's is a very particular genre tilted more towards pop that country, but still managing to mantain rhythms and chords of the classic sounthern sounds.

My favorite tracks: Leave the Night On, House Party, Take Your Time, Break Up in a Small Town.

Lykke Li – I Never Learn

She’s another Swedish singer a little less known than most. Still, Lykke Li has a lot to offer with seriously other dimensional indie pop vibes and contagious songs for everyday life. The album is characterized by strong instrumentals and equally iconic vocals.

I Never Learn is music for the soul that I’d only share with people of similar tastes. It gives me a feeling of sadness because of its tunes, yet it is really a good thing for those moments when you seek those sentiments.

My favorite tracks: Gunshot, No Rest for the Wicked, Love Me Like I’m Not Made of Stone.

Damien Rice – My Favorite Faded Fantasy

The third record in Damien Rice’s discography is utter geniality. His tunes are folk and indie rock all over with many ballads and powerful songs, and no one can deny that the greatest thing about his music are his nigh notes and soft vocals. My Favorite Faded Fantasy is one of those albums you’d want to treasure alongside your most valued possessions, and after listening to it, it’ll surely become one of them for you too.

My favorite tracks: The Box, Trusty and True, The Greatest Bastard, It Takes a Lot to Know a Man.

-AMMG

Best TV Shows of the Moment

Best TV Shows of the Moment

A look at six of the best TV shows on air today, and another list soon to come with my all-time favorites.

Game of thrones

In a different world and times, kings and queens battle between each other with war, plots and secrets to sit on the Iron Thrones and rule the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

A TV adaptation of the famous fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones has been recognized as one of the best TV shows of late years since its premiere on 2011. Its costly production, large cast and complex plot keeps getting all the big awards and captivating mass audiences in cable TV network HBO. Great characters in beautiful settings with occasional cruelly raw scenes make this ten-episode-a-year show the most enchanting and magical one available. Already the most illegally downloaded, and the most nominated TV show at the Emmys two years in a row, Game of Thrones is set to dominate the rankings with its sixth season currently being filmed and its nomination for Best Drama at the 2015 Emmy Awards pending to become another win.

The Walking Dead

A virus has infected the human population, turning them into deadly undead creatures ravaging survivors for their flesh. Rick Grimes, a sheriff’s deputy, will lead a group of people into safety and as far as possible from imminent danger.

Boasting of being the most popular TV show today, TWD is watched by 14 million viewers around the globe. Its zombie apocalyptic theme attracts tons of fans into watching the thrilling series and even reading the comics from which the show is derived. Such frenzy it has caused that a spin-off of the show is already waiting to premiere on August 23^rd of this year, adding to the famous franchise of zombies whose sixth season comes out on October 11^th.

Downton Abbey

Beginning in the years before World War I, the Crawley family of the great Downton Manor will give us a taste of aristocracy and hushed scandal while their servants interact downstairs and serve with patience the biggest family of the English northern country-side.

With an outstanding script, historic events happening parallel to the story and lovely couples forming every now and then, Downton Abbey gives us action in its own passive way. Visually pleasing overall, and with a romantic music score to accompany it, the 2010 TV show is a piece of art of authentic value. Airing its final season on September 2015, the loved-by-all  series that brought back the 20s to fashion and trends is another contender for the 2015 Best Drama Emmy nomination with big chances to win the trophy.

House of Cards

A U.S. congressman and his wife find themselves betrayed by people they had previously trusted. Now, they plan to destroy the careers of the perpetrators while propelling themselves into political success.

This Netflix original T.V. show is everything any political drama fan would love. A touch of every kind of scandal and .House of Cards depicts life of the biggest leaders in the United States of America and of what they’re willing to do in the name of power and wrongly proclaimed greater good. Relationships between heads of state, co-workers in the White House, major news anchors and their reporters are the perfect combination for the TV show monopolized by the ultimate power couple Frank and Claire Underwood. Another heavily nominated series, its fourth season is set to premiere on 2016.

The Good Wife

Alicia Florrick was for many years the quiet and smiling wife of U.S. State’s Attorney Peter Florrick. But after a sex and corruption scandal lives her husband behind bars and her family disgraced, Alicia has no option but to go back to her working days as a litigator while also facing the critics and rejection of those who judge her for her husband’s mistakes.

The Good Wife is a TV show that got me hooked up from the minute I started watching it. With a strong leading actress, Juliana Margulies is the most awarded female of the Screen Actors Guild awards, and has already won a Golden Globe and an Emmy as Mrs. Florrick. The show has a touch of comedy and action; its strongest attribute, I’d say, is its supporting cast, several of them nominated for this year’s Emmys. The show that best portrays women strength is premiering its seventh season on October 4.

Sherlock

A modern version of the literary hero Sherlock Holmes and his partner John Watson as they solve crimes in the big city of London shows us previously unseen aspects of the duo’s relationship in the heart of Baker Street.

This version turns out to be every bit as tantalizing and mysterious as the book series. Benedict Cumberbatch is applause worthy in every scene of character eccentricity while Martin Freeman becomes the perfect awkward and fidgety Dr. Watson. A different format for those used to American TV shows, Sherlock is a mini-series of only three episodes per season that run for an hour and a half. Although waiting to air its Christmas Special on December 2015, Sherlock’s fourth season is expected to premiere on early 2017.

-AMMG

11 Best Movies of 2012 - 2014

11 Best Movies of 2012-2014

Hello readers!

Today I wanted to share with y’all a list of the best movies I’ve watched in the last three years. 2014 was a great time for cinematography, and because of that most of these were released that year. Enjoy!

Unbroken (2014)

This movie tells the real story of a young Italian-american man and his dream of becoming a successful athlete suddenly cut short by WWII. Louis Zamperini struggles with survival as a prisoner of war in a cruel Japanese camp, far away from his family and everything he loves.

Unbroken was for me a very surprising movie in a positive way. I heard about it a long time ago and how it’d be directed and produced by Angelina Jolie, and when I finally decided to watch it I actually regretted not going to the movie theater to enjoy it in a bigger screen. Unbroken was emotional, full of hope and beautiful characters; it made me rage and cry; it even has a great soundtrack, so I truly believe it was overlooked by the big awards.

Interstellar (2014)

Trying to summarize the plot of this movie is by far the hardest thing I’ve done today. I’ll only say that it deals with a space exploration mission to save humanity and its’ dying planet.

It just is one of the best movies I have EVER watched. With outstanding special effects and sound editing combined with a strong story, mind griping action and plot twists to keep you at the edge of your seat, Interstellar is in my opinion one of the greats films of the decade. It is emotional in so many aspects, and has a truly amazing cast! If you are looking for something worth your while, look no further.

Birdman (2014)

A one-hit-wonder actor plans a comeback through a Broadway play as he tries to recover his family and deal with his ego. Many emotional breakdowns and a lot of drama make Birdman an unforgettable flick.

Now with this one it would suffice to say that it won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Movie. Let me tell you that I did not know what to expect from it, I just knew it was this or the famously infamous Boyhood (thankfully I choose Birdman). Amazing portrayals by Emma Stone, Michael Keaton and Naomi Watts in a movie creatively filmed in a one shot technique are complements to the metaphor-filled story with by far the greatest concept of the year.

The Imitation Game (2014)

Peculiar mathematician Alan Turing is hired by the English Army during WWII to crack the Enigma Code with a group of fellow scientists. A battle against time to save lives would now lie in the hands of the stubborn man and his unwilling coworkers.

Another great cast with my favorite actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Allen Leech and Charles Dance. The story not only centers in the dangers of war and the complicated planning against every attack on enemy forces, but also on the life of Alan Turing and the unexpected math genius Ms. Clarke. It is emotional, exiting and thrilling in every way; truly unforgettable!

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Stephen Hawking is a young man discovering the wonders of universe and love. His heroic story of intellect and passion will give us all an insight into the most brilliant minds of our generation and how he came to be the most renowned physicist of the 21^st century.

Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones make one cute couple in this biographical film. If not a conventional love story, The Theory of Everything is a great recount of the amazing life and achievements of Mr. Hawking. The movie has a beautiful score, photography and costume design. Redmayne’s Oscar worthy performance is by far the most deserving one of recognition in 2014.

Whiplash (2014)

A young drummer has only one dream, and that is to succeed in the music industry. An opportunity leads him into a music conservatory where he’ll compete to be the core drummer of the band and prove himself to the abusive instructor.

This movie is the pure story of a dedicated musician with his head to the future. Miles Teller bleeds through the commitment of his character while J. K. Simmons as the instructor scares us into never playing an instrument again. Such good performances and music turn this movie into an aggressively good film with a passive reputation.

Gravity (2013)

Dr. Stone and astronaut Matt Kowalksi aboard NASA’s shuttle Explorer escape a debris cloud in space that destroys their shuttle. Both Stone and Kowalksi are left to fend for themselves and find a way to get back to earth alive before their oxygen runs out.

Gravity was probably the best movie I watched in 2013. It is full of suspense like no other and is visually enchanting at another level; I’m sure that if they had only released the sound and music I’d still have paid to listen to it.

Sandra Bullock is known for her great comedies, but I assure you, this is a movie no one ever wants to miss, a fan of her or not. Some say it is overrated and not as good as claimed, yet I beg to differ in both aspects.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Ron Woodroof is an electrician and rodeo cowboy who lives life recklessly until he’s given 30 days to live as a result of an AIDS diagnosis. An illegal business is born out of the selling of a not approved drug that would improve his life and the ones of other infected patients, also bringing to the table a potential legal battle

Dallas Buyers Club is another movie that a little later than I should have. Once again Matthew McConaughey delivers an insuperable portrayal of a broken man, while Jared Leto gives us a taste of what a multifaceted artist he can be. A moving story of second chances and how unfair things can be for unlucky people is just the right movie for every film addict. It really is a piece of entertainment that demonstrates how unconventional love is just as powerful as any other.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Solomon Northup lives as a free and respectable man until a deceive leads him into being sold into slavery and ripped away from his family to an abusive life in the cotton fields of New Orleans.

This movie taught me how unfair the 1800s were for the black population in America. I watched with complete indignation as a learned and educated man was reduced to an enslaved servant in a household of complete sadists. How amazing the performances were is another story; Michael Fassbender stole the show with his portrayal of the evil Edwin Epps. Of course, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o were just as good and powerful. I cried as a baby for than once, and I tell you, displays of emotion come rarely to me.

Rush (2013)

Two Formula One rivals, James Hunt and Nikki Lauda, compete between each other to become the best at their field. With opposite ways of thinking and acting, Lauda and Hunt will face dangers and learn to accept adrenaline as their best friend.

This is the most underrated movie of 2013. It is highly intense and thrilling, with an amazing 1970’s setting and good new faces in the cast. I would recommend this movie to anyone because it is yet another one of those I, for some reason, find utterly heart wrenching. Some have said that not everything in the film was historically accurate, yet I think the essence of the famous rivalry was captured, and the entertainment factor was definitely not lost in the process.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Batman has gone under the radar eight years after the Joker almost destroys Gotham City, but when a new and never-dealt-with terrorist surfaces to threaten the peace and safety, Bruce Wayne will again wear cape of justice alongside Catwoman to put an end to the dangers of war.

The Dark Knight Rises was the best surprise of a superhero movie. It was intensely good with every minute; action filled with epic battle sequences and the most iconic villain out there. It struck me as fantastic how the movie was loosely inspired in Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities, with references to the book in various occasions. Honestly, the reason I watched it was because of Tom Hardy as Bane, yet afterwards I was convinced of Christopher Nolan’s superb talent as a director with all TDKR, Inception and Interstellar in his portfolio.

-AMMG 

After a break, here I am - Five must reads!

Hello to all my beloved readers!

My last entry consisted on a heads-up to what for long has been coming, the comeback of the blog. I promised I would expand my topics of discussion so that instead of only literature, my entries will also be about music, movies, and maybe even fashion! I want to keep writing about my academic life, my pursuits, dreams, and goals, and I want everyone interested to remember to visit the blog as often as they want to.

I've kept busy during all these months of absence, and I plan to tell all about it in the coming days.

For now, I'm going to share what I've been reading (and liked the most), the movies that have delighted me, and the music the keeps me awake at night. But today, read about 5 great books of different genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Non-fiction - History, Romance - Classics, and Dystopia - Sci-Fi.

5 Amazing Reads of Every Genre

And then there were none

A thrilling mystery about ten people that at first appear to be randomly selected, but that later on are revealed to have a striking similarity; They are all invited to a private island for different reasons, and after the faceless millionaire host fails to assist the reunion, they find each other at the mercy of an unknown force that for some reason conspires to rid itself of its guests before the weekend comes to an end.

This book is a relatively short novel that accomplishes a lot in few pages. If the reader doesn’t pay attention, the many characters may mix between each other and the plot becomes a disaster. My recommendation is to be patient and to try to remember little things of each of the ten, so as to be able to recognize them every time.

The brilliance of Agatha Christie’s most famous novel is not over-hyped, and is certainly not a forgettable experience.

A Storm of Swords

The war of the seven kingdoms is coming to an end, and kings are more in danger than ever. Daenerys Targaryen is discovering her strength and might as a queen, yet everyone will face life changing battles before the waters are calm again. Even though winter is coming, only in Castle Black, at the edge of Westeros, anyone seems to heed the signals of doom.

The third novel in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is just as good and compelling as the first two of the series. The book is the equivalent of the season’s three and four of the TV adaptation Game of Thrones. It contains scenes that we all wish the show had included, and tells us a bit more of the insight in every key moment and character.

Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World

This non-fiction historical book is a gripping recount of six months after the end of the Great War when even as times were unavoidably changing, no world leader seemed to be ready to let go of past ways. The peace process after the biggest war in history at the moment was complicated at best, and when every country had an idea of what it had lost, what wanted back, and what the others couldn’t get, Woodrow Wilson would become the star of the moment, and his vision would become the dream of a then-hopeless world.

This book taught me a lot about International Relations and of how the world came to be what it is today. Pure politics turned out to be incredibly entertaining and at times, funny. If there’s  one book I would advice everyone to read, this’d be it!

Far from the Madding Crowd

Bathsheba Everden is a young woman that stumbles upon an inheritance when her uncle dies. She is independent, stubborn and hard working; she wants to be respected as a farmer, and wants to keep her dignity intact as a woman. Three suitors come knocking at her door: one is a man she rightly deems too little for herself, then there’s the one with money and position, and she loves neither. The third would be the incorrect choice in every way, and she finds herself in the position of choosing which of the three would be the one to take away her independence. Ms. Everden will deal with many choices and hardships as she grows into a big landowner and admired employer.

Another masterpiece of Hardy’s, it not only tells the dilemma of a strong woman in the truly hard days for her kind, but it also shows how overcoming one’s troubles is always a journey with ups and downs. This Victorian novel will give you the truth about men and life while great characters and gripping moments will leave you wanting for more of the beautiful words of the British author.

The Fifth Wave

Cassie Sullivan is a sixteen year old trapped in a crumbling world of invasion and destruction. Waves of death and disease keep wiping humans off the face of the earth, and as the fifth one dawns, she must learn how to be strong and not look back at the memories of better and simpler days. But everything she loves is taken away, leaving her broken in the dusty floor. Evan Walker will pick her up and tell her a secret that may be the key to saving humanity and taking back what they’ve lost to the creatures that kill.

This YA novel is everything we love about dystopian, apocalyptic and romantic stories. It is one of those books that once you start you can’t really willingly put down until you’ve turned the last page. Simply put: many genres combined with a touch of Sci-Fi adapt into the perfect combination. And if with the book wasn’t enough, you also get a movie adaptation starring Chloë Grace Moretz set to come out on 2016. Cheers!

- AMMG

Sobre el futuro del blog!

Hola lectores! 

El blog atravesará ciertos cambios en las próximas semanas, lo que significa que publicaré mucho más contenido, de mayor diversidad, y con un formato ligeramente distinto. Como saben, el año pasado gané el concurso ''Qué Estás Leyendo?'' edición República Dominicana gracias a este blog, y aunque mi gusto por la lectura ciertamente no ha cambiado, quisiera desde ahora empezar a compartir mucho más con ustedes. Planeo rediseñar el blog, pues ahora el mismo no estaría limitado a la literatura, y además, lo convertiría en un blog bilingüe. Empezaré a escribir mis entradas en inglés, pues e a veces me siento más cómoda escribiendo en él. No abandonaría el español, mas el blog sería de aquí en más, eminentemente de habla inglesa. Compartiré opiniones sobre películas, libros, series de televisión, y otros temas de variedad. Espero recibir su apoyo para estos cambios que tanto me emociona llevar a cabo. 

Un beso!