The Secret History was a big influence on The Likeness by Tana French, if you like depressing and very slightly supernatural Irish mysteries. Which, now that I've written that sentence, sounds like it would have very little in common with The Secret History, but it's there.

Life After Life is book club's book this month, at my suggestion. We're meeting on Thursday and I really hope nobody hated it. The more I like something, the more nervous I am to recommend it to others.

I have! I found everything about the circus to be absolutely gorgeous and fascinating, but I just couldn't get invested in the characters or the plot.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I was just tearing through it, but things unexpectedly picked up at work (the kinds of things that require a lot of work taken home) and my pace has slowed quite a bit, which is frustrating, because it's an excellent book.

"If you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for a beer."
"If you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for red lights."

Everyone should love "Thinking About Somethin" and it should not be a secret.

It sounded like something the Capitol would make.

I pictured Mindy as Korean. Apparently the movie doesn't.

I loved it when I was a kid. I read it every Christmas for years.

What, so he can pretend the title of the song refers to him? Canada's still not a state, Mr. Cruz.

The A.V. Club

"He said, 'What's next?'" as the final line of In The Shadow of Two Gunmen II makes me cry every single time I watch the episode.

It's a sequel to Life After Life! I haven't read it yet but I'm very excited.

There used to be one! Wrapped Up In Books. It inspired me to read Carter Beats the Devil, which I really enjoyed, and Cloud Atlas, which is one of my very favorite books.

Froi of the Exiles and Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta. I read Finnikin of the Rock a few years ago and it occurred to me that I never read the rest of the trilogy and I don't like leaving things unfinished. I finished Froi on Monday, and while I usually don't read two books by the same author back-to-back, I…

I enjoyed The Martian, but I think it helped a lot that I listened to it on my commutes instead of reading it. It eased the technical-heavy passages and the voice actor did well. I don't usually recommend listening instead of reading, but this time around I definitely would.

I've never heard of Babayaga but it sounds like a treat. I'll have to check it out.

Why not both?

When will they officially bring Helen Mirren on board? Because that needs to be done yesterday.

Was the other time in discussing Game of Thrones? Because it's definitely all I could think of during one scene…