Media Notes: Aug/Sept 2026

In which I briefly comment on the books I read each month, so a few years from now when I’m trying to remember one of them, I’ll be able to find it here. Since I’m a media omnivore, it also includes games, movies, and any other media of note that I engaged with. (For the second time this year, I’m combining two months because it’s been that kind of year!)

Do we have similar tastes, or will you be questioning how we ever got connected? Let’s find out!

Books

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson

A delightful ramble through (mostly British and American) history, sparked by each room in a typical house. Bryson is an engaging writer who has a love for tangents and an ear for peculiarities — including way too many stories involving rats! — but his conclusion is unexpectedly (and correctly) ominous. Reading this during our chaotic move in August simultaneously made me grateful for the relatively modern luxuries we enjoy and sometimes take for granted, while also wondering how humanity survived industrialization at all!

The Coming of the Railway: A New Global History, 1750-1850 by David Gwyn

An ambitiously broad survey of the origin of railroads that’s not really written for neophytes like me. Moving the informative author’s note to the front of the book as an introduction would have made a big difference, but Gwyn accomplishes his primary mission, exhaustively documenting the people and innovations from the dawn of the railway age, ending on a surprisingly poetic and philosophical note I would have liked a bit more of throughout. (NOTE: A new deep dive begins via the library and my first-ever interlibrary loan checkout!)

All Aboard! Explore the World of Trains by Vicki Pipe and Joe Bucco

While I’m obviously not the audience for this, I purposefully chose it for a more simplified introduction to trains than Gwyn’s dense history, but I may have aimed too young! It’s more of a storytime book for kids with limited attention spans and a general awareness of trains. (NOTE: Also borrowed from the library.)

{STAR} Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton

My wife recommended this as an antidote to our rough summer and it was a perfectly timed delight. The high concept premise should have easily worn thin several times, and a couple of awkward exposition dumps should have derailed everything, but Buxton pulls it off — anchored by one of the most innocently profane leading characters ever! The sleight of hand at the end was the perfect icing on a delicious cake. Overall, it reminded me vaguely of one of my all-time favorites, Matt Ruff’s Fool on the Hill, which is some of the highest praise I can give any novel.

{STAR} Railroaded: A Motorman’s Story of the New York City Subway by Fred S. Naiden

An engaging memoir of working on NYC’s subways in the 70s and 80s (my own childhood era) supported by a conversational eye and ear for historical detail, Naiden’s voice reminds me a bit of Lawrence Block and Charlie Huston with a pro-union edge. Less technical and more focused than Gwyn’s history, Naiden is more interested in the people who make the subway run rather than the technology itself. (NOTE: Another library discovery, and I ended up buying my own copy for my nascent railroad shelf. Imagine that?)

Witch Hat Atelier 14 by Kamome Shirahama

Still so good, still my favorite ongoing series, not much to say anymore without spoilers, and I kind of understand why review journals tend to avoid reviewing later volumes in ongoing series. Now that I’ve caught up, though, the wait for the next one is terrible! Is this how I’ll end up buying the grimoire editions I don’t need but absolutely want?

Movies & TV

Lanterns (HBO)

With one episode remaining and a lot left to resolve, it’s not on the same level as The Penguin, but I’ve enjoyed it way more than I expected considering Green Lantern might be one of DC’s least interesting superheroes in a roster that is generally underwhelming beyond Gotham City’s borders. Chandler and Pierre have great chemistry together, and the supporting cast helps ground the relatively grounded story. I didn’t even hate Fillion’s appearance despite being one of my least favorite actors playing one of my least favorite characters. I still haven’t bought into Gunn’s take on the DCU, but this is the first true hit for me so far that isn’t related to Batman.

Games

Cyber Knights: Flashpoint (Steam)

I initially bought this for my Steam Deck because it was verified, and although it’s technically playable, it was not a pleasant experience and I almost quit after a few frustrating hours. Surprisingly, it plays pretty well on my aging ThinkPad, and it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for: a tactical, stealthy XCOM-like to hold me over until I can play Star Wars Zero Company on my gaming PC, which is still packed away. Cyber Knights has way more depth than I expected and it doesn’t really hold your hand through most of it, so I ended up needing a guide to understand the economy, but I’m still winging it on character leveling. Twenty hours in, it’s officially my main for the foreseeable future.

Mewgenics (Steam Deck)

Every time I think I’ve had enough and it’s finally settled into a repetitive rut, I have a great adventure with some impressive cats, and unlock something new and interesting that hooks me all over again. That I’m 65 hours in and have allegedly only played ~27% of the game is a little daunting, though. There’s no way it can stay interesting for another 120 hours… is there?

Sports

NY Mets (SNY)

Can an incredibly terrible season also be a hopeful one? After the trade deadline, the Mets looked like (and kind of were) a brand new team in a lot of ways, and were fun to watch again, particularly late in games they were losing because it always felt like they had a chance to pull off the comeback. Seeing how the Phillies and Red Sox turned their seasons around after proactively firing their managers early makes me wonder if Stearns waited too long to fire Mendoza after all, but that’s water under the bridge now. If he can pull off a couple of big signings in the offseason (starter and 1B/DH slugger), the 2027 Mets under Andy Green look poised to actually be what everyone thought the 2026 Mets would be. Hope springs eternal!

(NOTE: I probably won’t watch any of the playoffs, but Phillies vs Braves, winner plays the Dodgers is the ultimate Team Asteroid scenario! I guess I’m rooting for Tampa Bay overall, although I’m a little pissed about Peralta’s late revival.)

Gotham FC (Various)

It’s kind of sad that Gotham is having such a good season and I’m not fully enjoying it. Between the NWSL’s unpredictable broadcast schedule, Gotham’s awkwardly handled move to Queens in 2028, and the inexplicable discarding of promising young players every year — I feel less connected to them than ever. I’d love to see them win the Shield AND the Championship this year (literally, broadcast partners willing), but it won’t feel the same as that first inspired playoff run a few years ago when they were the scrappy underdog beating the odds.

Your Notes?

If you’ve engaged with any of these, let me know what you thought. And if you have any related recommendations, drop ’em in the comments or on the socials! Some of you prefer email, which is cool, too. You do you!