The books of March 2013

March is gone. Easter was nice...and luckily, not nearly as snowy as the Sunday before it. Remember when snow fell in the winter? Yeah. Not this time.

Not even a week after the first day of spring.

That picture was about two and a half hours after it started snowing. This one is from the next day. I kept hearing some noises from outside, but I couldn't see anything on the balcony. Clearly because they weren't on the balcony, duh!

Put a bird on it!

Crafts:

So, I haven't really done a lot crafts-wise. I worked a little on a scarf I started in December or something. I started a friend's birthday present...her birthday came and went and I am still working on her present. I'm thinking maybe I just get a substitute gift and use what I'm working on for her Christmas gift. Way to underestimate time needed! But, here's the one I made a while ago for another friend's birthday...she actually got her gift early (I finished it at like the beginning of February).

Too bad the pattern called for sepia instead of sparkley.

Movies:

Gee, what *did* I do in March? Apparently, not much at all. I only saw two movies. I think maybe my brain is taking it easy and saving all the excitement up for the summer blockbusters (starting with Iron Man 3).

Jack the Giant Slayer wasn't the best movie ever, but I enjoyed it a lot. It was cast well and I enjoyed the new take on the fairy tale. Probably a very solid rental if you have kids who like these kinds of things. 

The other movie I saw was Oz the Great and Powerful...or is it The Great and Powerful Oz? I don't remember. I do not like James Franco. I extremely dislike The Wizard of Oz original movie. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Given the rules they had (for avoiding copyright infringements), I think they did great with the known factors: the munchkins, the yellow brick road, the flying monkeys, etc. The land of Oz was amazing to look at and the monkeys were actually a little scary. The special effects, especially on the wicked witch, were very cool. I liked this more than I expected and could probably watch it again.

Books:

So, yeah, I totally give up on telling you what books I bought. With physical books and eBooks, who can keep track anymore. 

But, I do remember what I read this past month: City of Dark Magic: A Novel by Magnus Flyte, The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates, Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Dream Dark: A Beautiful Creatures Story by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore, and Wolf Hall: A Novel by Hilary Mantel.

I read the back cover introduction for City of Dark Magic one day while browsing at Target. Prague, magic, devils, history, intrigue, mystery...of course I wanted it immediately. I got it on my Kindle for less money and when I needed something fluffy, it was there waiting for me. I really liked the book a lot...contrary to my BFF's opinion. I do believe that we agreed on one thing: the author totally used some old Lonely Planet Prague book or something to define the area and to represent the culture. Which is sad, but not everyone can afford to go to the place he or she is writing about...but maybe next time, grab the DK travel guide and the Rick Steve's travel guide. Between the two, it'll give you a better picture of the where and the what. Anyway, I did enjoy the fictitious background story on the author (I assume it's made up...because I assume the name is made up...what if it isn't? oh man, who would name his or her kid that? the questions never stop...). It's not the best book ever, but I found myself not wanting to put it down. It's a bit jumpy in plot and there might be a bit more subplot than needed, but still, kind of fun. 

I found out midway through reading The Accursed that I had not read the whole description. If I had, I'm not sure I would've checked it out from the library. It really dragged on and on. The story ties the devil, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), Sherlock Holmes, Jack London, Grover Cleveland, Upton Sinclair, and so many more into the time when Woodrow Wilson was president of Princeton University. It takes the elite white families of the times and tears them completely apart through use of devilry. It was interesting...this social commentary on women's suffrage, racism, and other political concerns...amidst the small, uptight world of privilege. I think I bought into it because of the supernatural aspect, but as I read it, I just wish she'd left that out and called people out for their mistakes. But the manners of the time hadn't gotten that liberal as yet. I don't know...it was tedious reading (that's two things on Wilson now...and I'm feeling no more) and not what I thought it would be at all. I guess if you like Oates and know what to expect, have at it.

Beautiful Darkness is the second of the Beautiful Creatures books. It was a much quicker read than the first one as I already knew most all of the characters and the town. The story continues with the introduction of a few new characters, the rewriting of some history, and further details about the characters and the town's underground. Ethan is still the viewpoint and he's coming into his own more..not just solely focused on Lena. I continue to like how these women collaborate and write together. These books bring that world alive for me...and that is always a good thing. 

Dream Dark is a short story based mainly on Link, Ethan's best friend. It takes place between the second and third books...probably more in the timeline of the second, but you learn about some things that are coming into play for the third book as well. Link was a full participant in the crazy light and dark showdown and got a little power to show for it. I think it's not necessary to read, but it's a nice transition and pretty short if you need some filler.

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat was an interesting read. I thought it sounded kind of good from the brief description I saw, but it was more layered than expected. The Supremes are three best friends who have been friends since high school and are now in their later years. One sees and talks to dead people, one has a cheating husband, and one married a man she didn't love, but they love each other and take care of each other like nobody's business. These are complicated women living sometimes completely different lives from what they show everyone in town. Earl's is the local hangout when they're teens and becomes their place for Sunday brunch after church for the rest of their lives. The townspeople are woven in and out of the story really well and enhance the main story lines without clogging up the reading superficially...every one has a purpose...dead or alive. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this by the end.

Wolf Hall. OK. I like British history that has been fictionalized with discussions and events that we have little to no recorded information about. It's my thing. First, I feel in love with King Arthur stories. Next, it was the Sharon Kay Penman stories of the wars between England and Wales and France. Now, it's pretty much anything I can find on the topic. What I'm saying is that this genre is my guilty pleasure and I am always going to like it. I do understand that not everyone does. This one in particular is named after Jane Seymour's home, Wolf Hall. But, Seymour ages from small child to eighteen or so during the course of the book and she is in no way a major player. This book is about Thomas Cromwell's role in the time Henry VIII is divorcing Katherine, marrying Anne, and trying to keep his kingdom all to himself. Cromwell is a major player for a long time and I like how he is written here. There's dialog that goes on too long and occasionally the details are overwhelming, but I still liked it. It's a lot like reading one of the not-best-selling books by Phillipa Gregory. You can see all the potential, but there's something just a smidge off. But it's still a good read and I'm looking forward to reading the follow up, Bringing Up the Bodies, when it comes out in paperback.

Alrighty...time for spring...and completely different allergies. Later!

The books of February 2013

So February went by quickly, but possibly not quickly enough? I don't know...I only just ended season five of Gossip Girl, so really, all I know about right now is the "scandalous lives Manhattan's elite".

Crafts:
I worked on two things this month, but only one can be shown at this time...the other will go up in the March post since I made it for a March birthday gift. This is a weelittle stitches pattern for the movie Hot Fuzz:

If you haven't seen it, you won't understand: SWAN!

Movies:
February is part of winter and winter is cold. That's going to be my excuse for only going to see two movies this month.

I finally saw Amour at our local one-screen theater, The Art. So very depressing. And sad. And, well, slightly nap-inducing if I'm totally honest. I get why it was nominated beyond just the foreign film category, but really, it's not my scene. I knew it was going to be a downer, but I didn't know it was going to put me in a complete sadness funk.

But on the brighter side, I saw Beautiful Creatures. I'd read the book earlier...and as I looked through my blog, I couldn't find anything about it...oopsie! Well, I bought it last year and I think I might have read it in January...maybe? Clearly I don't remember. I know that I loaned it out before the movie started on 2/15/13, so it hasn't been that long ago. Anyway, the book and the movie are different, but most of the big moments are the same (some left out though). Everyone was fantastic, as were the special effects. I really hope they make the rest of the books into movies...the rest of the books that I have not read yet. I did actually really enjoy the book...it was another fairly detailed teen drama, but you got a real sense of the characters and no one was sparkley...althouth I bet her cousin could've pulled that off. They are witches, but called casters (casting either light/good or dark/evil), but the book lets you see there's more to it than just that. There are always shades of gray (50 perhaps? see what I did there)...for those seeing the movie and not reading the book, I will tell you that it ends on the same note, but in a very different way. I also enjoyed that it took place in the south (both old south and modern day).

Books:
I think I did that thing again where I bought books on the Kindle and then forgot what all I got. I can't remember if I bought a physical book...I'm thinking maybe not...

Anyway, the books I read this month: Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster, Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling, Letters to Sartre by Simone de Beauvoir and Quintin Hoare, A Tangled Web (short story) by Mercedes Lackey, and Nighttime Tales Volume 1 by Clay Held.

Jen Lancaster just does not disappoint. With my own high school reunion looming ever nearer, this was just what I needed (and maybe repeated viewings of Square Pegs. Gross Pointe Blank, and Romy and Michele's High School Reunion). Mean girl learned nothing and was snotty to everyone all the time. Mean girl gets loaded at reunion and a chance to change some things. She goes back in time more than once...with butterfly effect repercussions. The story is of how she changes as she sees what she's done and said and how it affects people is really well done. Plus, with loads of 80s references thrown in, how could you not be lovin' every minute of it? (again, see what I did there?) Warning: you will have irresistible urges to listen to Whitesnake after reading this...give in to it...it's worth it.

The new Rowling book has had widely varied reviews. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, so I had to get myself mentally prepared to read this book as if it was by a new writer. In a way, it was. Rowling creates another world, but this world doesn't have wizards and magic...it has mistakes and lies, deaths and decisions, and most of all small town humans and all their dirty little secrets. If you are able to deal with just the muggles for a while, you'll find that Rowling is still a terrific writer who pulls you into a world that's familiar and not at the same time. You won't really like a lot of the characters, but I bet you'll be able to relate to them as people you may or may not know in different forms. I didn't think I'd be able to like it based on what I'd heard, but I was wrong. I did like it. It's hard not to like a good book, even if you don't necessarily bond with the characters.

Admission 1: I did not finish Letters to Sartre. Admission 2: I don't care that I didn't finish and I don't think someone could pay me to go back and finish it. This time it was not the writing...it's letters between a couple...I get that. It's their relationship that made me not want to read it anymore. I just didn't like how they presented themselves and frankly their day-to-day happenings weren't terribly exciting to read about...paying fees, eating, walking, getting sick...these are things I can find out about by living my own life.

A Tangled Web was part of the 500 Kingdoms series. I love different takes/twists on classic fairy tales and myths...this was a good one. It combined Greek and Norse mythology into the Kingdoms, with the Tradition pushing the heroes and heroines into all kinds of trials. This was the story of Persephone and a side story of Brunhild. Very well woven together. I actually recommend all of this series if you like fairy tales...and most of Lackey's Elementals series as well.

Lastly, I read Nighttime Tales Volume 1, a book of short stories by my friend Clay. I didn't really know what to expect, but I enjoyed this quite a bit. I read them over a couple of days when I had time. For those of you who don't like scary books/movies, this isn't like that...more of a thinking man's thriller type of thing. Bad things happen, but it's not so detailed out that you can't read through it...I felt like a lot of it was open to my imagination and interpretation and I appreciated that. The first two stories are the ones that stuck with me more, but mostly because of my own preferences on what to read about. If you like to be a little spooked and like good writing, you should totally check this one out. It's only $.99 cents for Amazon Kindle now.

Well, that's it. Hopefully I'll see a few more movies in March...and read lots of great books!

The books of January 2013

Took me a while to get around to this...no real excuse, just didn't feel as much like writing as I felt like watching TV on the internets. But, I'm taking a break in the midst of my Gossip Girl marathon to post this so I can quit glancing to my right and seeing the book list on my desk, taunting me for my sloth-like existence.

Crafts:
Not quite the frantic pace I had going, but I still managed to make a couple of birthday things. For my friend who likes Macintosh stuff, I did a Google search and ended up free-handing Susan Kare's happy and sad Macs:

So much better than the happy/sad theater masks.

For my friend who enjoys cooking, I did a little theme gift. Some fancy salts and a very cute pattern from weelittlestitches that I altered just a little bit because it made me laugh:

Ah, push it...push it real good!

Movies:

There were some good releases at the end of last year and the beginning of this one, so I kept taking advantage of that. 

This Is 40 was, to me, freaking hysterical. I tend to like Paul Rudd in just about anything and this did not disappoint me. I know that if you haven't experienced some of the things in this movie, you probably won't like it, but trust me, at one time or another, you will experience at least one of these things. It's one of the things Judd Apatow does well...finding the humor, and the unbelievable insanity, in every day life. Not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.

Zero Dark Thirty was a bit of a let down for me. I may have expected too much because I really liked Bigelow's The Hurt Locker. Also, as it was a true event that I knew the outcome, I guess it wasn't terribly surprising. I still jumped and gasped a little, but I had no where near the same reaction that I had with Argo, where I also knew the ending, but was completely freaked out and taken in by the intensity of it all.

Gangster Squad was some cheesy, mobster fun. Within the first five minutes, there's a medieval killing that is clearly meant to set the tone for the level of violence we should expect. It was brutal, and extremely over the top, but the acting was good enough, that I just enjoyed it for what it was. I don't know much about Mickey Cohen, but I do enjoy a good mob movie and a movie about old Hollywood. It was a win for me.

I love fairy tales. And I love that even at my age, someone's take on a fairy tale can still surprise the crap out of me. Hansel and Gretel definitely had some twists on the basic story as we've heard it. It was action-packed and lots of fun. For you watchful parent-types, it's also full of f-bombs, which was completely unexpected and really unnecessary to the plot. But other than the swearing, it was fun.

Books:

Again, I bought stuff on the Kindle (hurrah for holiday gift cards!), but I'll just list them as I read them. I also got the two cookbooks Plenty and Jerusalem by Chef Ottolenghi, The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan, Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster, and I rebought my favorite book that I keep lending out and forgetting to replace, The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.

The books I read in January: Vlad by Carlos Fuentes, The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe, Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, and Theodore and Woodrow: How Two American Presidents Destroyed Constitutional Freedom by Judge Andrew Napolitano. 

I also started a couple that I just couldn't read: Rasputin's Bastards by David Nickle and The Fall of the House of Dixie: The Civil War and the Social Revolution That Transformed the South by Bruce Levine. I got more than a quarter through the Nickle book before I gave up...the plot was very convoluted and the characters, at least a far as I got, were never themselves...they were always someone else inside their heads with memories that made no sense. The civil war book started out fine, but as I read, it became less intriguing. More of a filibuster-style retelling instead historical accounts...quotes from people alive at the time. I don't know...I might try it again later, but I clearly was not in the mood.

Vlad was a different take on the more recent vampire tales. Instead of cuddly, sparkly vamps, it harkened back to the original blood-thirsty, stop at nothing, evil vamp. Basically, evil vampire gets new place to live, completely destroys an entire family, and leaves you with the sense that the whole town will be dead as soon as he's done having his dinner. Not very uplifting, and more than a little sick, but a quick and frightening read.

The Poe short stories are the same as always...comeupance for the plotters and schemers. Never a tale that goes out of style. I don't think I'd read The Cask of Amatillado before, but it was good. I've always liked the red death tale. His short stories don't change too much and are always cautionary in their own way.

Notorious Nineteen sends main character Stephanie Plum out to catch skips, to continue to be confused by her feelings for both Ranger and Morelli, and to have more cars blown up. Evanovich has this particular genre down cold. I like reading these books...they are completely silly and totally fun. I can't even remember too much of what happened. I know there was a wedding rehearsal (and a hideous bridesmaid dress) she attends as a bodyguard while helping Ranger and an old-folks home scam that she helps resolve to everyone's benefit. Basically, the same old thing with different background stories. 

Gone Girl was decent. It's got a major twist, so I won't say much about the plot. I did catch on to it, but wasn't completely certain I was right, so it kept me reading. The ending wasn't nearly as fulfilling as I would've liked, but overall, an intriguing read. I can see why it's been on the best seller list for a while now.

I saw Napolitano on the Daily Show a while back. I was interested in what he was saying about Theodore and Woodrow, so I reserved the book at the library. His arguments are sound and his review of the laws that were ignored and broken are very interesting. This is definitely not what I learned about our ex-Presidents, and while I do take things with a grain of salt, I came away feeling that the Judge is probably one of the few clear-headed people working on Fox News. From a constitutional perspective, this book was pretty fascinating. Not an every day read, but if you've got some time, and don't mind getting kind of angry at how political events change things, check it out.

Alrighty, I feel that more Gossip Girl is calling, so to kind of quote Kristen Bell's narrative prowess, until next time, xoxo.

Oscar Nominees 2013

The nominees for the 85th annual Academy Awards were announced this morning. Y'all know how I feel about movies. I'm totally going to comment.

Best Picture:
Amour
I actually would love to this, but non-big-city-living apparently keeps me from doing so. There's still over a month until Oscar night, so maybe I will get to see it, but I'm not holding my breath. I've heard wonderful things about it though. The only thing I can be judgey about is that it's nominated for best picture AND best foreign language film. Do we need to repeat like that? I mean, if this stayed only in the foreign film category, maybe the academy could've put the highest grossing film of 2012 on the list...the film that had something for everyone...The Avengers. I wouldn't expect it to win...it's too mass market for the academy. However, it was awesome on so many levels that I'm really peeved they didn't even deign to think to include it.

Argo
In my opinion, this has a shot. It was so well done and so engaging that even though I knew the ending, I was still on the edge of my seat, panicked that everything would go wrong. Will it win? Probably not. Should everyone see it? Yes!

Beasts of the Southern Wild
Months after I've seen it, I still have no idea how to describe this film. It was beautiful and horrible and sad and happy and ALL OF THE THINGS! I really liked it a lot, but I don't think it will win either. (Side bar: When I went to Target not long ago, I noticed this was on display with the children's movies. Just because a child is in the movie, don't think that it belongs with the cartoons.)

Django Unchained
I was kind of surprised to this nominated. I mean, sure, I liked it. But it's not something I'd think would be Oscar-worthy? I don't know. It's very gory and foul and, well, Tarantino's hands are visible all over it. And yes, I'm biased, I don't like him, but I still see his work because it's good in it's own way. But winning? This one was just an instant gut felt no to me.

Les Miserables
So gloriously depressing. I really loved it. This reeks of Oscar. In a good way. This is what you expect to see for a win. However, I'm not holding my breath here. There's an ex-President who may have something to say about it.

Life of Pi
This is one I haven't seen yet. A friend highly recommended it, but I was not interested. It's not showing here anymore, so I may be out of luck. This won the AFI award. I don't know if that has any bearing here or not.

Lincoln
Normally I wouldn't root for a Spielberg film, but this one was really, really, really good. I felt there was only one flaw with the whole thing...but I understand why they filmed it that way. See? Look at how I won't give spoilers even when we've all studied enough history to know the story :) I'm feeling that it's probably this one or Les Mis FTW.

Silver Linings Playbook
I can not tell you how surprised I was with this film. I absolutely loved it. It was really witty and you actually cared about the people and what happened to them. Very well done and completely worthy of the nomination. Shouldn't win though.

Zero Dark Thirty
This one opens here tomorrow, so it will be seen before the Oscars. I fully believe that it will be just as awesome as The Hurt Locker. I'm just not sure that they'll give Bigelow her due again so quickly. If I change my mind, I'll update this post.

Actor in A Leading Role
Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook - He was so great in this. But there was someone better...

Abraham Lincoln Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln - If our late, great President doesn't win this, there is something really wrong with the electoral system.

Hugh Jackman for Les Miserables - Again, really great in this. Perhaps my favorite Valjean since I read the book. But, I still don't think he'll win...unless he busts out the Wolverine claws and takes it from the announcers.

Joaquin Phoenix for The Master - I love Paul Thomas Anderson, but this is easily one of my least liked films of last year. Phoenix did a great job of looking hideous and making me dislike his character a lot.

Denzel Washington for Flight - Didn't see it; don't think he'll win. The DVD comes out February 5th, so I might end up watching it in time.

Actress in A Leading Role
Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty - Since I've not seen this one yet, I'm not sure how she does. Hopefully she's good though.

Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook - She was excellent in this, but Katniss is going to have to wait a few years before she gets her statue.

Emmanuelle Riva for Amour - Again, haven't seen it but have heard wonderful things. Reserving judgment.

Quvenzhane Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild - Hmm. This could happen. She was amazing in her role. Again, reserving judgment.

Naomi Watts for The Impossible - This just started in town so I've not seen it yet. I will though. I don't know that I'll be able to comment on her performance since the trailer makes me cry...I've got a feeling I'll be a sobbing mess and miss a lot of the movie.

Actor in A Supporting Role
Alan Arkin for Argo - He had the best line in the whole movie! I thought he was great, but he wasn't actually in the movie that much. Not sure.

Robert DeNiro for Silver Linings Playbook - Good, strong performance. Don't think he should win for it though.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman for The Master - As much as I want him to have a statue, I do not want it associated with this movie. Ugh. Not sure about this one either.

Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln - If there's a sweep, it'll include Mr. Jones. But, if there isn't and things are distributed a tad more fairly, then my vote goes to...

Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained - At it's core, this movie is about slavery and brutality in the south before the Civil War. But you don't see the main actor, Jamie Foxx, up for Actor in A Leading Role. That's because this guy totally stole the movie. He was so charismatic and genius that I could watch the violence over and over just to see him. My favorite. Fingers are crossed.

Actress in A Supporting Role
Amy Adams for The Master - Please. Just. No. Was she good? Yes. Is this what she needs an Oscar for? No.

Sally Field for Lincoln - This might be her best role yet and she's been around forever. Her talent in this can not be dismissed...she became Mary Todd Lincoln, hoop skirts, crazy, and all. This is the clear winner to me, but she definitely has harsh competition from...

Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables - Wow. Her tiny voice pushing out that song. I don't even think I noticed how hard I was crying until my collar was soaked. I'm ok if she wins this over Mrs. Lincoln Sally Field. But just barely ok with it.

Helen Hunt for The Sessions - Helen Hunt is still in movies? Hunh. Who knew? Well, she must've been fairly good to get a nomination. I've not seen this one.

Jacki Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook - I'm not going to lie...I had to look her up to make sure I knew who she was in the movie. I was right. She played the mom. She was good. Not seeing the Oscar though.

Animated Feature Film
Brave - I totally loved this. It was very sweet and very cute. I followed all the Pixar rules...it will probably win.

Frankenweenie - I did not make it to this one, but I own the original short (it's on the The Nightmare Before Christmas DVD). I imagine it was great. But, I doubt it's winning.

ParaNorman - I did not see this one either...and I'm kind of sad about that because it looked really cute. Again, doubtful of a win.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits - Another no see that I actually really, really wanted to see. Oh well. I will rent it, but I'm seeing this winning either.

Wreck-It Ralph - This I saw. This I freaking loved. I would be ecstatic if it won...I do feel it's the main contender against Brave, and I don't think it's because those are the only two I've seen in this category. It was so funny and cute and had lots for kids and adults. I liked that the main character and supposed to be a bad guy. It was just as heart-warming as Brave, but in a different way. Come on, Ralph! (Plus, Buckner and Garcia theme song! That's retro gold people!)

Skipping Cinematography and Costume Design...even though I think there are some awesome nominees.

Directing
Michael Haneke for Amour - No idea..wish I knew :(

Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild - This is a definite maybe.

Ang Lee for Life of Pi - He definitely deserved his Brokeback Mountain win, but since I've not seen this one, I just don't know. He's directed some really amazing movies.

Steven Spielberg for Lincoln - Fine. Ok. Just give it to him.

David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook - I wish he would win for this. But it's really hard to deny the glory of all that is Lincoln. Sigh.

Documentary Feature and Documentary Short aren't categories that we get to see the films here before the Oscars...sometimes afterward though. Skipping them.

Also skipping Film Editing, Foreign Language Film (I've seen zero of them this year, which is so lame that I can't even deal with it), Make-Up and Hairstyling, Music Original Score, Production Design (go Hobbit!), Short Film Animated, Short Film Live Action, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.

Music Original Song
"Before My Time" from Chasing Ice - I'd never even heard of this movie, let alone the song. I think that means I can in no way support it because of my ignorance.

"Everybody Needs A Best Friend" from Ted - Oh man, I really want this one to win. It would be even better if it was the thunder buddies song from Ted, but picking a longer song with less cursing is ok too.

"Pi's Lullaby" from Life of Pi - Listening to it just now...this is lovely. Could be a winner...but I think the winner is going to be...

"Skyfall" from Skyfall - I know people get tired of Adele, but this is a great song and was perfect for the movie. (Please note: If you have not seen Skyfall yet, you really need to do so. It was great. Should be out on DVD next month.)

"Suddenly" from Les Miserables - Wait. I forgot about this being nominated too. Maybe it wins. Who knows? WOLVERINE!

Visual Effects
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Normally I would root for this, but not this time. I gotta root for the one that needs to win awards...as well as all the cash prizes it has already amassed!

Life of Pi - I realize I've been typing over an hour, but I've still not seen this movie. I got nothing.

Marvel's The Avengers - This is the ONLY nomination for the BEST. MOVIE. OF. 2012. If it doesn't win this one award, I am going to be very saddened.

Prometheus - An excellent choice for this category. But I still want Avengers to win.

Snow White and the Huntsman - Really? Whatever. Not even Thor saved this movie for me. Actually, change a few words in this clip and you'll know how I felt about this movie.

Writing Adapted Screenplay
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook

I have no idea who will win this one. Of the four out of five that I've seen, I would be happy with any of them (actually, knowing my luck, that mean Life of Pi would win). Five way tie? Can we do that?

Writing Original Screenplay
Amour
Django Unchained
Flight
Moonrise Kingdom
Zero Dark Thirty

Oh my gosh! That's another one that got completely hosed. Moonrise Kingdom was one my favorites this year. Please, please, please let it win its only nomination!

Well, that's my thoughts and feelings so far. I'm already planning out my Oscar evening...this year I'll honor Les Mis and have French food while I'm watching. Tune in February 24th on ABC to see who wins! (You might hear me rant from wherever you are, depending on the outcomes.)

The books of December 2012

Well, that's the end of 2012 (wipes dust off hands). I'm ready for 2013. So ready that I already forgot I had plans this afternoon. Looks like I had a good idea to do this blog thing earlier in the day as opposed to later.

Crafts:
OK. Now I will post all of the items I made from about July through December that I gave away to friends as gifts. One or two may not have been opened yet...people, get on that! ;) So, no names, but lots of gifts!

I totally put a bird on it.

"Nobody ever suspects the butterfly!"

It's not a metal chicken named Beyonce, but it'll do.

Remember, I warned you last month, this part was going to be long. This next one is a pattern from weelittlestitches, who rocks.

Joss Whedon...a genius even in stitches. 

Say it with flowers...or one flower...on a dishtowel.

"I only lied about being a thief. I don't do that anymore."

Stay with me...just a few more. This is what happens when the craft store no longer sells the teeny frames I wanted that hang from the tree...a combination that has to be justified.

Invasion from space? I'd say ugh to that too.

This monster looks ready to par-tay!

Hoo can it be now? (I totally kept this one for me.)

"Santa?! I know him!"

Those meddling kids...

Tea time!

Another one from weelittlestitches...except that I took it from an assembled team...

Every day is Thorsday!

So that's it for the crafts section. Hurrah!

Movies:

This was a banner movie release month. I saw eight movies...and I'm going to see another one today (which I guess I should save for next month) and another one on Friday. Everything has been so good that I've not minded sitting in the theater for hours on end.

So the least liked film I saw in December was Killing Them Softly. I thought it looked interesting and I guess as a social commentary, it was. Everyone was just so filthy. No true redeeming qualities for them...and Brad Pitt delivering a speech about poverty and survival in bad economic times is a little unsettling since I'm pretty sure he makes more money in a day than most of the people I know.

Anna Karenina was very good. Yes, spoiler, it's a total downer. But, since it was expected, I wasn't as bothered. Jude Law was fantastic. And while it's not a ploy for everyone, I really enjoyed how they changed many of the scenes as if they were in a play (mobile scenery is always a good thing). I didn't quite buy the lack of carnage at the end, but it was still as dismal as expected. Yay Russian literature!

The Hobbit takes us all back to Middle Earth. And it's a fantastic place to be. As I watched, I wasn't as into it as I thought I'd be. I love the scenery and the additional places we'd not been before...and it was nice to see people from the other movies, but I didn't think I was affected by it. Until I found myself sitting on the very edge of my seat, biting my nails (not something I do), and sobbing...with about an hour left in the movie! It was very exciting toward the end and now I'm hooked and will have to sit through the other two parts. Peter Jackson is still a genius...don't think he isn't.

Hitchcock was a surprisingly good film. I love old movies and because this was about a maker of old movies, it had that feel to it. I didn't know much about the man himself...or the making of Psycho in particular, but I definitely want to know more. Watching this brought that love of older movies back and I ended up re-watching lots of films I'd not seen in a long time...mostly Stanley Donen pictures, but a couple of Hitchcock as well. (I prefer the Donen chatter...extremely witty.)

Silver Linings Playbook was another surprise. It kind of reaffirms that whole "there's someone for everyone" theory. Despite having characters with depression (and other issues), the whole thing was pretty uplifting and generally quite funny. I've not read the book, but I think this adaptation was wonderful.

So Les Miserables puts Anna Karenina to shame for being a downer. It's the first time I can remember seeing a musical in the movie theater that was actually a true musical...almost no talking at all...just singing. It's still a beautiful story and I completely loved it...but I kind of wanted to go home and bury myself in the covers and continue crying for days. Everyone was perfect for his or her part...which has got to be hard to cast for looks and actual singing talent. Very well done.

Jack Reacher was very fun. I hate when I end up liking a Tom Cruise movie. He irritates me, but he's a very good actor and always throws himself into the role. I've not read the books so I don't really know how it compares, but if you need a mindless action movie to cleanse your palette of all the depressing films that made you cry, this could be the right one for you. There were also a lot of very funny moments. It's a fairly typical action movie, but still entertaining with a couple of plot twists.

Lastly, I saw Django Unchained. I lump Tarantino in the people who irritate me list and yet I continue to see his movies. Like Cruise, he is amazing at what he does...and clearly willing to make an idiot of himself (Australian accent? Really?). The best part for me is that he usually gets killed off in the storylines including him, so it's kind of like he must know he's irritating on some level. The star cameos were pretty awesome and I laughed uncomfortably through many scenes. Tarantino is still very over the top with the killing scenes, so there's lots of blood...and, well, parts. I know he's getting some flack for making this one, but it's a good movie. 

Books:

I bought a lot of things on the Kindle...hurrah for gift cards! Awakened (Vampire Awakenings) by Brenda K. Davies, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E. M. Berens, Loki by Mike Vasich, All the Lonely People by Jess Riley, City of Dark Magic: A Novel by Magnus Flyte, In the Devil's Garden: A Sinful History of Forbidden Food by Stewart Lee Allen, Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman and Robert Chandler, Letters to Sartre by Simone de Beauvoir and Quintin Hoare, Everyone's Reading Bastard by Nick Hornby, Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie, and Joseph Anton: A Memoir by Salman Rushdie. I have a LOT to read...

The books I read in December were all on the Kindle except for the first one: Eight Women Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, All the Lonely People by Jess Riley, Everyone's Reading Bastard (short story) by Nick Hornby, The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry, and Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte.

I hadn't read a Whitney Otto book in a very long time, so I was looking forward to this one. Eight Women Taking Pictures is about eight women who were photographers going back to the first world war up through the late 20th century. Each woman takes different kinds of pictures and each type of work has different effects on the later photographers. Each story is somehow intertwined with the others...like Otto did with How to Make an American Quilt. This book manages to tell those stories while also covering history, politics, and women's rights. I really, really enjoyed it. The book also managed to cut my arm as I read quietly on the couch as well as hit me in the face as I was reading in bed. Thus my move to the Kindle for a while...it felt safer.

When I was in my early twenties in college, I read Wuthering Heights for the first time. I had great memories of loving this book. Add another twenty years to my brain and it was a 180 degree reaction. I really did not like the book this time around. I guess I grew out of my angsty phase where things like this sounded so terribly romantic. It was just a chore to read through all of the petty outbursts and true and perceived injustices. This time I found that I didn't care about any of the characters at all and didn't really need them to have a happy ending, so that part was ok. Ugh. I'm going to try and reread more classics, but I'll be steering clear of Miss Emily for a long time. I do remember that I liked one of the sisters better...possibly Anne? Yes, it was Anne. Maybe I'll retry one of hers.

All the Lonely People was a cheap buy on the Kindle...the day it dropped another dollar, I grabbed it off my wish list (put there because somewhere - Twitter, blog, Facebook? - another author recommended it). This was pretty entertaining and had me laughing out loud. Basically, the main character feels her family is crap after a huge, food-flinging blow up at Thanksgiving. So she places an ad on Craigslist to find a new family for Christmas. The wacky crew she assembles become good friends and she grows up enough to get that she misses and needs her actual family too. A nice read during the holiday season.

The Nick Hornby short story was about a couple who split and the woman wrote about all of it in her weekly newspaper article. The husband became known simply as Bastard to the paper's reading base. It's from the man's point of view and it's kind of funny. Typical Hornby fare. Read it if you like him.

I got The Columbus Affair thinking it was the next Cotton Malone book. Turns out, the next Cotton Malone book comes out this May. This was another stand-alone. It did mention people and operations from the other books. I ended up liking this one as well as the others. The main character here is a washed up reporter who was stripped of his awards and reputation by a false story...that was actually fabricated by others to bring his ruin. That's the "b" story in this. The main story is about the fabled lost mine of Christopher Columbus...only it's much more complicated...was Columbus a Jew? Was he really searching for a place for Jews to live freely? Did he carry with him the fabled treasures of Judaism? One of the books he read and cited in this book is now on my wish list. The book takes place in Florida, Austria, Prague, and Jamaica. I enjoyed reading it and didn't really want to put it down...although, I did really want to reach into the book and slap the main character's daughter a few times. She was an extremely naive character who did all the wrong things and wouldn't listen to anyone who told her she was wrong. It takes nearly the entire book for her to admit to her mistakes. Her storyline isn't necessary worthwhile, but it ties in and compels much of the action, so I guess she's needed. Overall, Steve Berry continues to write books that I really enjoy reading...whether he includes the main character I know or not.

Enslaved by Ducks is a cute read. Bob Tarte writes about a few different things here and there. This book is about him, his wife, and their pet menagerie. They have bunnies, parrots, doves, starlings, geese, ducks, turkeys, cats, and various other birds in and around their house. He has absolutely no power against the animals and while he occasionally says no to his wife, they generally end up with whatever animal she feels they need. I didn't really come away wanting a pet, but I am slightly interested in a duck. For more than eating. They seem kind of like fun pets...except when they get sick. Normally animal stories end up making me cry because it's generally the end of the lives of the pets. In this book, they did lose a few pets, but they always had more, so it wasn't as upsetting. If you've ever thought you need to own a flying or non-traditional, non-flying pet, you should probably read this book first. It's fun, somewhat educational, and definitely cautionary in its own way.

Well, that's it for the year. I ended the year watching Gone with the Wind...possibly my all-time favorite despite it's flaws. You can take the girl out of the south, but you can't take the south out of the girl. Happy New Year 2013!

The books of November 2012

November...I had so much to do and got so little of it done. Oh well. I'm grounding myself from reading until craft projects are done. Well, I say that, but I won't be able to sleep if I actually do it. Maybe I'll read a chapter a day, before bed, so I can sleep. Just until stuff is done, then bring on the reading material! Yay!

Crafts:
Y'all know that next month will be like the mother-lode of all craft uploads, right? In the meantime, here are a couple of things I can show you. This one will be a Christmas present, but it's not someone who reads this blog, so I'm comfortable putting it up.

You said you wanted something warm...

Next up was part of a friend's birthday present. She likes books too, and coincidentally, I had a book I wanted to get her. The first time she typed this out for me I laughed really hard...now I do it too sometimes (trendsetter!):

SRSLY? I know, right?!

Movies:

As we head into Oscar season, I get more and more happy seeing things. Previews are killing me. I want to see things now! 

Wreck-It Ralph was very, very cute! Little kids like it because it's bright and colorful and has a cute little story. Adults like it because we can probably name all the video games represented when they all gather in the station. I was particularly amused that even Pong went in there. The animation is particularly noteworthy in seeing how so many of the older video game characters moved in distinct patterns...if you watch it, pay attention to that in the party at the pent house. And I squealed a little when at the end, I noticed the theme song for the Wreck-It Ralph game was written by Buckner and Garcia. Don't know who that is? Watch here! (Watching that, I kind of miss the Bandstand.)

My BFF got us free tickets to the local premiere of Skyfall. And then I went and saw it again later. It is so good. Bond is back, with a real story. He's more light-hearted, like Bond of old. But, he's still Craig, Daniel Craig. Which is a Very Good Thing (TM). Javier Bardem as the villain is one of the best casting decisions of the last decade. Well played everyone!

This year was the final installment of the Twilight series. Breakfasting Dawn II included a savory bread pudding, chocolate filled croissants, and fruit with pumpkin dip. It was great! The movie threw us for a loop because we didn't remember exactly how things went down. But, that kind of made it more awesome. I enjoyed that more humor had been injected into the storyline...specifically I'm thinking of Jacob and Chief Swan's scene together. Afterward we had Lunching Dawn II and discussed and ate more good food. A very good day.

Later that same day, I saw Lincoln. No, I don't mean THIS Lincoln. I mean the one with President Daniel Day-Lewis. Luckily I knew the story, so no surprises...except for some of the cast. It was extremely well done and if the Oscars came out today, DDL would win. So would Sally Field. They were all just amazing. I think it could've ended a little different...just with the walking in the hall...with maybe a voiceover of the speech...but I'm not a filmmaker, so it wasn't my call. (Spoiler-ish if you have never read any history ever) One lady in our viewing clapped when the proclamation passed. We were concerned that someone in 2012 didn't know slavery had been abolished. I was scared for her to find out what happened to Lincoln later on...

After Thanksgiving, I saw the new version of Red Dawn. Did it need to be made? No. Was it still entertaining? Sure. Is Thor still massively awesome? Definitely. WOLVERINES!

Books:

I bought (I say bought, but really, unless it was free, I didn't download it...all the monies are going to being Santa for my family and friends right now) a few things on the Kindle, but I can't recall them right now...I'll catalog them as I read them.

This month I read I'm Kind of a Big Deal: And Other Delusions of Adequacy by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day by Ben Loory, Recalculating by Jennifer Weiner, Adjustment Team by Phillip K. Dick, The Stockholm Octavo: A Novel by Karen Engelmann, and Size 12 and Ready to Rock: A Heather Wells Mystery by Meg Cabot.

I'm Kind of a Big Deal was another series of humorous memoirs from Wilder-Taylor. I've enjoyed the two books by her that I've read, but I might be done. They are chuckle worthy, but when I want a humorous essayist to tell me about herself, I'll probably just re-read Jen Lancaster or Laurie Notaro. I think I get their humor better. Again, it's not a bad read at all...just not totally my thing.

I've had the short story book by Ben Loory on my nightstand for a couple of years. I finally noticed it again and decided to read it...I mean, clearly I bought it because there was an octopus on the cover and I love sea monsters, but still, I also love short stories. This book did not disappoint. I enjoyed all of the short stories in here...especially the octopus one (naturally). The stories were varied in topic, but all were funny, sad, and above all entertaining. The only part I didn't like was finishing.

Recalculating is a short story from Jennifer Weiner available on the Kindle. It seemed really familiar, so either I'm very used to her writing style by now (quite possible) or the character(s) can be found in one of her other books (also quite possible). It was a quick read and a satisfying one. I didn't want a deep, complex character study. I got just enough info to make snap decisions that were correct and get a good story that wrapped up nicely. She's really good at capturing how all types of female characters think and act...this was no different.

The movie The Adjustment Bureau was loosely based on Adjustment Team. The story covers a day and takes the main character through his viewing of things he shouldn't see, through his running away, getting caught, telling someone about it, and trying to cover it up. In the movie, that's Matt Damon over a series of days trying to be with the woman he loves. The story actually made me appreciate the movie even more because the screenplay, while definitely based on this short story, is very thought out and extended beyond what little info we are given. I liked both quite a bit...the movie possibly more. It's a short read if you're interested though. And cheap on the Kindle :)

The Stockhom Octavo is kind of complicated. Set after the American and French revolutions, this story takes place in Sweden. A fortuneteller and card shark work together to save their government's and society's complete demise from the political plot (and fan collection) of a bitter woman...as foretold by their two octavo tarot card readings. This book took a little bit to read because you had to pay close attention, but it was a very good read. I don't think I learned anything about Swedish politics from back in the day (although a little about how classes and women in different classes were treated), but I did learn a bit about the card layout and the geometric and theoretical meanings of such. I thought it was really interesting.

I saved the best for last as I knew I had a stressful week coming, so as the immediacy of it all wrapped up, I knew I needed something funny. Meg Cabot has yet to disappoint. This particular episode in the Heather Wells series did explore some harsher themes than before, there were still tons of laugh out loud moments. Heather Wells is an awesome character...I highly recommend the whole series, starting with Size 12 Is Not Fat, then Size 14 Is Not Fat Either, then Big Boned, and lastly Size 12 and Ready to Rock. Then when you're done with those, read all the other non-teen Meg Cabot books. They're so fun! 

Okay, that's it for now...I gotta get some sleep. Happy holidays!

The books of October 2012

October was a fast one! It's like time passed quicker than the temperature dropped...for once anyway. I'm still working on Christmas stuff most of the time, while watching different TV series on DVD.

Crafts:
Finally! Some of the events happened so I could give some stuff away!

I gave one cross-stitch away as a belated birthday gift. This particular friend and I often swap unicorn and rainbow thoughts and concerns, so I was thrilled when I found the pattern on etsy in Nerdy Little Stitcher's store:

Brings a bad meaning to the Skittles branding campaign...

Next up was the wedding of two friends. I found a very cute pattern from Lizzie Kate that I made for them:

Nothing snarky to say...cute gift for a cute couple.

Last, but certainly not least, probably the pattern I picked out the longest time ago. This one is from the Subversive Cross Stitch site...a gift for a friend who moved away from us to remind him of what he's not actually missing:

'Nuff said.

Movies:
I only made it to one movie that wasn't on DVD in my living room. I went to see Argo. It was really, really, really well-done. I remember the hostage crisis, but since I was in elementary school, I was pretty fuzzy on the details. And even though I knew the ending, I was still on the edge of my seat, freaking out, and hoping their plans worked. If you didn't make it to the theater to see it, make sure you rent it.

Books:
I bought something else on the Kindle that I don't remember, but I also finally read something on the Kindle again, so I'm okay with the forgetting. I also bought myself an early birthday present, In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran by John Taylor. I've not even started it and typing that made me squeal a little.

In October I read The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan, Sutton by J. R. Moehringer, High on Arrival: A Memoir by Mackenzie Phillips, Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography by Rob Lowe, The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure, and Total Recall by Phillip K. Dick.

The Throne of Fire is the second book of the Kane Chronicles series. In case you've forgotten, it's the teen series with Egyptian mythology. It was kind of long, but still entertaining. Sadie and Carter Kane are once again pitted against evil and used as the pawns of the ancient gods in order to raise Ra the Sun God from his slumber and keep the world from falling to Chaos. It's as entertaining as the first book and  introduced new teens to their story to help with the fight. Sadie still has a crush on Anubus and their parents are still in the Underworld. Not ideal, but with a basketball-playing ape, a powerful magician-uncle, and a cat god as their protectors, it definitely keeps you interested.

Sutton was another what-if, not-totally-history-based work of fiction. As old man Sutton leaves prison, a young writer and photographer pick him for an exclusive newspaper article about his past and his newly free present. No one found quite what he expected. It was essentially the author's re-imagining of living this gentleman-robber's past through a reporter who didn't expect that the subject matter might not feel like cooperating. That he might have had his own agenda for his first days of freedom. It was very interesting to read what the old man remembered and to hear the contrasting news clips the reporter had. Nothing completely matched up, but the story kept me very hooked.

High on Arrival was a little more than I could handle. I knew Phillips had led a drug-fueled, completely screwed up life and had somehow lived to write a book about it. What I didn't count on was the incest...it wasn't just once, people. It was many, many times. If you've got a weak stomach, this is not your book.

Rob Lowe's book was my next read. As biographies, these were VERY different. Lowe was an alcoholic, but he didn't feel the need to rehash every detail of his alcoholism or his very public arrest over a sex-tape...back when sex-tapes were just. not. done. I liked his descriptions of forging friendships with the guys in The Outsiders. I also was very interested in the part about The West Wing. It was a fluffy, fast read. Nothing horrifying, nothing outstanding.

The Wilder Life is one I've had on my shelf for a while. I totally loved the Little House books when I was a kid. I remember my sister and my mom reading them to me...and then getting to read them on my own...again and again and again every summer. I don't think I've picked them up in about ten years, but reading this book makes me think that I might. Wendy McClure found the books again and they took her to a time when she loved believing that all of it was real. She set out, as an adult, to recapture some of the Little House feeling by visiting sites around America. I really enjoyed this book and her tales of trying things from the cookbooks and frontier life. I get that she had to wrap it up and share why she wrote it...that's fine. I just found that I enjoyed her adventures a little more than the self-discovery part. I also learned some things: I could churn butter while watching a TV show, but I don't want to can butter...also, end times people can be a little scary when you're camping on the wild prairie.

Total Recall was just a short story, but I've seen both movie representations now, so I figured I should give it a whirl. It's not like either movie. It was quick and definitely takes another philosophical bend if you're inclined to read it yourself. I think I'll stick to the movies though. I know I downloaded a few things by Phillip K. Dick. I hope I don't spend too much time comparing them with their movie counterparts.

Well, that's it for October. November is going to have loads of stuff: new Bond, first Christmas craft fair, last Twilight movie, the Lincoln movie, a major holiday (no, I didn't dress up for Halloween this year...I was sick...and still am), and lots of crafting.