I know I keep talking about how time is going too fast, but it really, really, really is. I feel like there's no way it could even be close to October, and yet it's already October 5. Insanity, I tell ya!
Crafts:
Because I'm just now realizing that it's October, I am extremely behind on my crafts. This does not bode well for December.
Movies:
I only saw one movie in the theater in September, although, arguably, it was the best one I could've seen: Trainwreck. This movie is not for everyone, but it's more cross-generational than I thought. I saw it with a friend of mine and while we were sitting there, two other women came in who were 20 to 30 years older than us. They laughed at the same crude things we did and even sat and chatted with us briefly when the movie was over. It was a very hilarious movie, with quite a bit of heart. You really rooted for her to get it together and live life to its fullest. Well played, Ms. Schumer. Well played.
Books:
In September, I read a lot of books: How to Start A Fire by Lisa Lutz; Dangerous Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl; The Dark Heroine: Dinner with a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs; The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz (Continuing Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series); Fear of Dying by Erica Jong; Ally Hughes Has Sex Sometimes by Jules Moulin; and Only the Animals: Stories by Ceridwen Dovey.
How to Start A Fire was a good, solid read about three women who became friends in college and stayed friends, although not always in touch, over the following years. The book chronicles the ups and downs of their lives without keeping a straight chronological timeline - we go backward and forward in time and in their lives, getting to know who they are at different stages of their lives (and how their pasts shape their futures). This was a well written story and I'm glad I took a chance on it.
Dangerous Creatures picks up where the Beautiful Creatures series leaves off. The kids are out of high school and moving on to college, except for Ridley, the dark caster siren. But she and her boyfriend have other plans...although, he's not actually in on the entire plan. This time we follow them from the deep south to New York City and see even more of the caster's world through the different tunnels and traveling methods. We meet some demons we met before and not everyone is who he or she seems. This one was a great set up to reboot the series for another set, all from Ridley's (the dark side) point of view.
The Dark Heroine: Dinner with a Vampire is apparently the first book in a series. I do have the second book, but I haven't read it...nor have I seen the other books that will be in this series (I believe they discuss nine heroines), if they are continuing it. The book starts strong, as a single girl, waiting for her friends on a dark London night, witnesses a massacre of many people by vampires. They kidnap her and as the story unfolds, you find that the worlds have been entwined for a while, but this particular girl can cause no end of troubles for both sides. And then it gets even more interesting: love triangles, politics, supernatural tales, and much more. It was a fluffy book, but I was very entertained by it and once I finish up with all these books from the library, I'll get to the second title in this series.
The Girl in the Spider's Web is the latest in the Millennium Series.Once Larsson passed away, the last I'd heard was that the next book was tied up in legal troubles? I have no idea if this was that book or if a whole new deal was cut with this author? But in the long run, I didn't care. Getting back to these characters a few years down the road was actually nice. I'd missed them and all their messed up thoughts. This book is just as nuts as the others...just as calculated...just as disturbing...just as hard to put down. There were a few places where I thought the new author too some severe license, but for the most part, I was very happy with this new story and the turns it took that might just score us another book in the series. Long live Lisbeth Sander!
Fear of Dying is the latest of Erica Jong's books. It's been too long since I read Fear of Flying, and I'm fairly certain I didn't read Fear of Fifty (or was it Forty?). So I'm not sure I can give an accurate reporting of this without a lot of spoilers. Basically, she was an actress and she's on her third or fourth husband; her daughter is pregnant; her parents are dying; her dog is dying; her husband has a heart attack; and to take time for herself, she places a personal ad and meets a lot of insane men along the way. It was enjoyable, but I wasn't very into the ending. I guess it would work for a lot of people, but I just didn't buy into it.
Ally Hughes Has Sex Sometimes was kind of hilarious. By "sometimes", she means like twice. It's a cute story that made me laugh out loud a lot as you read the story of this young, single mother and the evolution of her and her daughter's lives. The characters are very real and you feel like you know them. It's quick, it's funny, and it just makes you smile.
Only the Animals was probably the only book that I wasn't really into as I was reading. Each story is told from the point of view of the animal in the story. A couple were ok, but for most the part, it was just enh, you know.
Well, that's September. I've already read one for October and I have GOT to plan out my craft projects better. More next month!
Monday, October 5, 2015
Saturday, September 5, 2015
The books of August 2015
I am completely ready for summer to be done...so of course, it's a heatwave outside. Ugh.
Movies:
Not many movies for August...I got a little burned out after the last two months, I think. But I did make it out to see two.
The Man from UNCLE was a great take on the old television show. I loved all the 60s clothing and music. It just looked so, well, groovy. It didn't hurt that the male leads were Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. It's nice to spend an afternoon that's easy on the eyes.
Straight Outta Compton was fantastic. The music, the story, the actors...everything was just perfect for this movie. I kept wondering how they found actors that looked so much like the members of NWA...especially Ice Cube. Turned out, that was his son. Makes sense. They did a really great job on this movie.
Books:
In August (and one day of September, so slight cheating), I read the following: Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes; The Marriage of Opposites: A Novel by Alice Hoffman; Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner; Uprooted by Naomi Novik; Coreyography: A Memoir by Corey Feldman; and The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory.
Barbara the Slut and Other People is a grouping of short stories by Lauren Holmes. They were good stories, but by far, my favorite was the one told from the dog's point of view from its adoption by a couple through the demise of the relationship and the dog's triumph in having things just as it wanted. Hilarious.
The Marriage of Opposites is loosely based on the story of the mother of Camille Pissaro (the first painter of impressionism). She grew up in St. Thomas in the 1800s and the story chronicles her life and scandal and follows young Camille as he escapes to Paris and returns to try and help the family and then continues to be different from them. I can see why this story caught Hoffman's interest. It's definitely got a lot of heart and adventure. It was a very engaging read.
Who Do You Love was another good book from Weiner. Two kids meet at the hospital and their lives continue to intertwine from then on. As teens, they meet again on a school trip. They begin to date and continue to do so through college, despite their differences. Success comes and go for both...as does the meaning of success to each of them. As they adult in their own ways, they begin to realize that they may have had it right the first time.
Uprooted is a new type of fairy tale. The dragon (a wizard) takes a girl from the local village to live with him for ten years...the girl, not the one everyone expected to be taken, has powers and he trains her to be a witch. The woods are evil and begin to encroach on the small towns and infect people. Between the wizard, the witch, and others in the kingdom, they must drive back the darkness to save their lives and homes. This was a very good book.
And now for the fluff of the summer: Coreyography. This was highly entertaining if you've ever seen anything Feldman has been in. I ended up being very happy that he was able to save himself from the destructive path he and others kept him on for so long. He talks about the Goonies and Lost Boys extensively...if you like anything he's been in, you should probably read this.
A new Philippa Gregory? Yes please! This one was about Katherine (Kateryn) Parr...the last wife of Henry VIII. My knowledge of her is limited, but I knew enough to want to see Gregory's take on her. She made her out to be kind of a proud and clueless intellectual who survived by finally getting some street smarts. I don't know that I can truly say I liked it, but I do like reading these types of books, so I don't feel like it was time badly spent or anything. I just don't think I came out really liking Kateryn Parr all that much. She just seemed a little full of herself...not on the Boleyn level, but still. Not bad, but not the best from Gregory.
OK. Finally caught up from all the summer reading and movie seeing. It needs to be fall ASAP!
Movies:
Not many movies for August...I got a little burned out after the last two months, I think. But I did make it out to see two.
The Man from UNCLE was a great take on the old television show. I loved all the 60s clothing and music. It just looked so, well, groovy. It didn't hurt that the male leads were Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. It's nice to spend an afternoon that's easy on the eyes.
Straight Outta Compton was fantastic. The music, the story, the actors...everything was just perfect for this movie. I kept wondering how they found actors that looked so much like the members of NWA...especially Ice Cube. Turned out, that was his son. Makes sense. They did a really great job on this movie.
Books:
In August (and one day of September, so slight cheating), I read the following: Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes; The Marriage of Opposites: A Novel by Alice Hoffman; Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner; Uprooted by Naomi Novik; Coreyography: A Memoir by Corey Feldman; and The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory.
Barbara the Slut and Other People is a grouping of short stories by Lauren Holmes. They were good stories, but by far, my favorite was the one told from the dog's point of view from its adoption by a couple through the demise of the relationship and the dog's triumph in having things just as it wanted. Hilarious.
The Marriage of Opposites is loosely based on the story of the mother of Camille Pissaro (the first painter of impressionism). She grew up in St. Thomas in the 1800s and the story chronicles her life and scandal and follows young Camille as he escapes to Paris and returns to try and help the family and then continues to be different from them. I can see why this story caught Hoffman's interest. It's definitely got a lot of heart and adventure. It was a very engaging read.
Who Do You Love was another good book from Weiner. Two kids meet at the hospital and their lives continue to intertwine from then on. As teens, they meet again on a school trip. They begin to date and continue to do so through college, despite their differences. Success comes and go for both...as does the meaning of success to each of them. As they adult in their own ways, they begin to realize that they may have had it right the first time.
Uprooted is a new type of fairy tale. The dragon (a wizard) takes a girl from the local village to live with him for ten years...the girl, not the one everyone expected to be taken, has powers and he trains her to be a witch. The woods are evil and begin to encroach on the small towns and infect people. Between the wizard, the witch, and others in the kingdom, they must drive back the darkness to save their lives and homes. This was a very good book.
And now for the fluff of the summer: Coreyography. This was highly entertaining if you've ever seen anything Feldman has been in. I ended up being very happy that he was able to save himself from the destructive path he and others kept him on for so long. He talks about the Goonies and Lost Boys extensively...if you like anything he's been in, you should probably read this.
A new Philippa Gregory? Yes please! This one was about Katherine (Kateryn) Parr...the last wife of Henry VIII. My knowledge of her is limited, but I knew enough to want to see Gregory's take on her. She made her out to be kind of a proud and clueless intellectual who survived by finally getting some street smarts. I don't know that I can truly say I liked it, but I do like reading these types of books, so I don't feel like it was time badly spent or anything. I just don't think I came out really liking Kateryn Parr all that much. She just seemed a little full of herself...not on the Boleyn level, but still. Not bad, but not the best from Gregory.
OK. Finally caught up from all the summer reading and movie seeing. It needs to be fall ASAP!
The books of July 2015
Another movie filled month with slightly more reading than the month before!
Movies:
Magic Mike XXL was a funnier movie than the first. But then, it wasn't trying to cover the economic and housing issues while telling a stripper story. This one is more of a buddy reunion film with strippers. And I'm not sure if they did it wrong or not, but I left not wanting to see strippers, but wanting to learn those dance moves.
Minions was adorable! I need to be Scarlett Overkill for Halloween some year. Loved this!
Ant-Man was really, really funny. Probably more funny than people expect a superhero movie to be, but you can't put Paul Rudd in a movie and not experience that level of awesome. I mean, it's Paul Rudd. He's just great. The tie ins to the Marvel universe were pretty sweet. I'm excited for more.
Mr. Holmes was not an exciting film. It was a slow moving story of what could've happened to the greatest crime solving mind of a generation as his mind began to fail him with age. It was sad and thoughtful and very touching. A definitely rainy day afternoon type of thing.
Pixels is not good. That said, it's a great Adam Sandler movie. I'm a sucker for that...and for the 80s...and specifically 80s video games and music. I was extremely entertained the whole time. Spoiler: while the premise of the movie is hard to believe, I found it more believable than the thought that Kevin James would be president AND married to Jane Krakowski.
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation was very fun. It was definitely a great action film. As much as I dislike Tom Cruise, I will continue to see him in things like this (especially if Simon Pegg is involved) because he really does know how to do these types of movies right. (But seriously Tom, quit running like that...you know what I mean.)
Books:
In July, I guess I had a little more reading time...probably because of vacation. I read: The Rival Queens: Catherine de'Medici, Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal that Ignited a Kingdom by Nancy Goldstone; The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes; Shoot Don't Shoot by JA Jance; Younger by Pamela Redmond Satran; Gideon's Corpse by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child; I Regret Nothing by Jen Lancaster; and Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee.
I took a chance on The Rival Queens because I like history and I like that horrible, teen-angsty show called Reign on the CW. I still like the show and I have a slightly better understanding of the history of that particular time. However, I think I like the TV show better. It so overly fictionalized that they've basically rewritten history as a crazy soap opera. The real thing was more of a downer for the characters.
I never tire of Marian Keyes. The Woman Who Stole My Life is about a married woman who slips into a paralyzing illness and her recovery and return to the world. She becomes famous for a book that her doctor wrote of their conversations (made through blinking) and travels supporting the book. She falls for the doctor; her ex-husband, trying to grab his own fifteen minutes of fame decides to give away all the things; her best friend takes her life from her...much in the same way her ex claims she did to him. A comedy of errors, with a side of serious feels. Every book of hers is just a joy to read.
Shoot Don't Shoot was a book on the shelf at the house we stayed while on vacation. It was a formulaic thriller...not particularly entertaining, but until I could get to the bookstore, it was all I had. I did finish it...so there was something to it besides my own stubborn attitude towards it.
Younger is a short read about a divorced woman in her 40s who looks much younger and restarts her career and love life, letting people assume she is much younger. There is also a TV show of this...I think on TV Land or something? It was cute. A little predictable, but cute.
Gideon's Corpse was the second Gideon Crew book (I'd already read the first and third ones). This time Gideon and the team have ten days to find and disarm a nuclear bomb in the US. A good thriller...not as good as the third one which included completely implausible realities and was, therefore, more my speed. All three of these were pretty good though. You don't really want to put them down.
I Regret Nothing is another Jen Lancaster book about her life. As usual, it was hilarious and made me want to be friends with her all over again. She talked about getting her feels together and finally making changes in her lifestyle and starting a whole new side business. And of course, she talked about the dogs and cats that are truly her and her husband's overlords. Hilarious. Read it.
Go Set A Watchman has gotten a lot of flack. After reading it, I'm not totally sure why. It's kind of like dinging JK Rowling for writing something that it's Harry Potter. Scout can't stay young and idealistic forever. She has to grow up. Family dynamics change with time. The only true constant is history. And that's where I felt Lee stayed true...and where people got mad. We were not there and we can not always be certain of people's thoughts and actions once out of the public eye. I felt this story was a very believable follow up. It took some of the heroism away from original characters, but that's to be expected sometimes. It was a slow read, but, I felt, a good one. Was it To Kill A Mockingbird good? No, but still good in its own way.
All right...that was it for July. On to August...
Movies:
Magic Mike XXL was a funnier movie than the first. But then, it wasn't trying to cover the economic and housing issues while telling a stripper story. This one is more of a buddy reunion film with strippers. And I'm not sure if they did it wrong or not, but I left not wanting to see strippers, but wanting to learn those dance moves.
Minions was adorable! I need to be Scarlett Overkill for Halloween some year. Loved this!
Ant-Man was really, really funny. Probably more funny than people expect a superhero movie to be, but you can't put Paul Rudd in a movie and not experience that level of awesome. I mean, it's Paul Rudd. He's just great. The tie ins to the Marvel universe were pretty sweet. I'm excited for more.
Mr. Holmes was not an exciting film. It was a slow moving story of what could've happened to the greatest crime solving mind of a generation as his mind began to fail him with age. It was sad and thoughtful and very touching. A definitely rainy day afternoon type of thing.
Pixels is not good. That said, it's a great Adam Sandler movie. I'm a sucker for that...and for the 80s...and specifically 80s video games and music. I was extremely entertained the whole time. Spoiler: while the premise of the movie is hard to believe, I found it more believable than the thought that Kevin James would be president AND married to Jane Krakowski.
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation was very fun. It was definitely a great action film. As much as I dislike Tom Cruise, I will continue to see him in things like this (especially if Simon Pegg is involved) because he really does know how to do these types of movies right. (But seriously Tom, quit running like that...you know what I mean.)
Books:
In July, I guess I had a little more reading time...probably because of vacation. I read: The Rival Queens: Catherine de'Medici, Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal that Ignited a Kingdom by Nancy Goldstone; The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes; Shoot Don't Shoot by JA Jance; Younger by Pamela Redmond Satran; Gideon's Corpse by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child; I Regret Nothing by Jen Lancaster; and Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee.
I took a chance on The Rival Queens because I like history and I like that horrible, teen-angsty show called Reign on the CW. I still like the show and I have a slightly better understanding of the history of that particular time. However, I think I like the TV show better. It so overly fictionalized that they've basically rewritten history as a crazy soap opera. The real thing was more of a downer for the characters.
I never tire of Marian Keyes. The Woman Who Stole My Life is about a married woman who slips into a paralyzing illness and her recovery and return to the world. She becomes famous for a book that her doctor wrote of their conversations (made through blinking) and travels supporting the book. She falls for the doctor; her ex-husband, trying to grab his own fifteen minutes of fame decides to give away all the things; her best friend takes her life from her...much in the same way her ex claims she did to him. A comedy of errors, with a side of serious feels. Every book of hers is just a joy to read.
Shoot Don't Shoot was a book on the shelf at the house we stayed while on vacation. It was a formulaic thriller...not particularly entertaining, but until I could get to the bookstore, it was all I had. I did finish it...so there was something to it besides my own stubborn attitude towards it.
Younger is a short read about a divorced woman in her 40s who looks much younger and restarts her career and love life, letting people assume she is much younger. There is also a TV show of this...I think on TV Land or something? It was cute. A little predictable, but cute.
Gideon's Corpse was the second Gideon Crew book (I'd already read the first and third ones). This time Gideon and the team have ten days to find and disarm a nuclear bomb in the US. A good thriller...not as good as the third one which included completely implausible realities and was, therefore, more my speed. All three of these were pretty good though. You don't really want to put them down.
I Regret Nothing is another Jen Lancaster book about her life. As usual, it was hilarious and made me want to be friends with her all over again. She talked about getting her feels together and finally making changes in her lifestyle and starting a whole new side business. And of course, she talked about the dogs and cats that are truly her and her husband's overlords. Hilarious. Read it.
Go Set A Watchman has gotten a lot of flack. After reading it, I'm not totally sure why. It's kind of like dinging JK Rowling for writing something that it's Harry Potter. Scout can't stay young and idealistic forever. She has to grow up. Family dynamics change with time. The only true constant is history. And that's where I felt Lee stayed true...and where people got mad. We were not there and we can not always be certain of people's thoughts and actions once out of the public eye. I felt this story was a very believable follow up. It took some of the heroism away from original characters, but that's to be expected sometimes. It was a slow read, but, I felt, a good one. Was it To Kill A Mockingbird good? No, but still good in its own way.
All right...that was it for July. On to August...
The books of June 2015
Yikes! So far behind! I will be, hopefully, cranking out three posts today. This one is for June.
Movies:
In June, I saw a lot of movies. A lot. More than I thought I would.
Spy, with Melissa McCarthy was really funny. Jason Statham was perfect. And Rose McGowan as the baddie was a great idea.
Pitch Perfect 2 made me pretty happy. It's not as good as the first one, but it still was a good way to spend an afternoon. The riff off section of this one is hilarious.
Full disclosure: I thought Jurassic Park was only ok. And the two sequels, well, I don't really even remember them except that I think the people changed? Sharks...they were jumped. However, Jurassic World? Freaking fantastic. I really loved this one.
Mad Max: Fury Road was the surprise of June. This movie was insane and I loved every second of it. I used to love the original ones, but this was a definite improvement and update given the times and technological advances since the original trio. I hope they make more. (Tom Hardy has a nice pair of lips, if that adds to your incentive to see this.)
Inside Out is a Pixar movie. It hits you in the feels more often than expected. It's very sweet and I think a useful movie for explaining emotions to kids.
Ted 2 was probably the least liked of all these, and I still laughed almost the entire time. I'm fairly certain that Seth McFarlane came up with the joke about Amanda Seyfried while making A Million Ways to Die in the West and realized he had to make another movie with her in it to use it. So that, plus Puddy from Seinfeld and Wharf from Star Trek Next Generation made this movie very enjoyable.
Books:
Apparently I spent all my time at the theater because I only read four books in June: The Italians by John Hooper, The Woodcutter by Kate Danley, The Crown of Ptolemy by Rick Riordan, and The Family by Mario Puzo.
The Italians is kind of a social history of the Italian people, tracing the fighting and politics that eventually formed the nation and noting how everything shaped the current culture. It was an interesting read, but not overly engrossing.
The Woodcutter is a fairy tale type book. The woodcutter, a job passed from generation to generation, is a man who helps keep the fairy tales progressing in the manner we've come to expect. He keeps the darkness from taking over each story. This was a pretty good read if you like new takes on fairy tales (and I do).
The Crown of Ptolemy is another short story cross-over between the Kanes and the Greek demigods. The crazy Egyptian magician is back up to his tricks and trying to get the crown so he can take control. The demigods team up with the Kanes to stop that from happening. We meet some new Egyptian characters in this adventure. Really, I think it was just a way to keep us fans mollified until the new Norse mythology series starts this fall.
The Family is Mario Puzo's take on the Borgias. Highly fictionalized and accepting rumor as fact, there were parts of this that definitely bothered me. Which is unfortunate because this could've been really good. But, to be fair, (I can't remember exactly since it's been two months) I don't think Puzo completed this one before his death, so whoever edited/finished this could be why I didn't like it.
That was it for June. It rained pretty much the entire month...that much I definitely remember.
Movies:
In June, I saw a lot of movies. A lot. More than I thought I would.
Spy, with Melissa McCarthy was really funny. Jason Statham was perfect. And Rose McGowan as the baddie was a great idea.
Pitch Perfect 2 made me pretty happy. It's not as good as the first one, but it still was a good way to spend an afternoon. The riff off section of this one is hilarious.
Full disclosure: I thought Jurassic Park was only ok. And the two sequels, well, I don't really even remember them except that I think the people changed? Sharks...they were jumped. However, Jurassic World? Freaking fantastic. I really loved this one.
Mad Max: Fury Road was the surprise of June. This movie was insane and I loved every second of it. I used to love the original ones, but this was a definite improvement and update given the times and technological advances since the original trio. I hope they make more. (Tom Hardy has a nice pair of lips, if that adds to your incentive to see this.)
Inside Out is a Pixar movie. It hits you in the feels more often than expected. It's very sweet and I think a useful movie for explaining emotions to kids.
Ted 2 was probably the least liked of all these, and I still laughed almost the entire time. I'm fairly certain that Seth McFarlane came up with the joke about Amanda Seyfried while making A Million Ways to Die in the West and realized he had to make another movie with her in it to use it. So that, plus Puddy from Seinfeld and Wharf from Star Trek Next Generation made this movie very enjoyable.
Books:
Apparently I spent all my time at the theater because I only read four books in June: The Italians by John Hooper, The Woodcutter by Kate Danley, The Crown of Ptolemy by Rick Riordan, and The Family by Mario Puzo.
The Italians is kind of a social history of the Italian people, tracing the fighting and politics that eventually formed the nation and noting how everything shaped the current culture. It was an interesting read, but not overly engrossing.
The Woodcutter is a fairy tale type book. The woodcutter, a job passed from generation to generation, is a man who helps keep the fairy tales progressing in the manner we've come to expect. He keeps the darkness from taking over each story. This was a pretty good read if you like new takes on fairy tales (and I do).
The Crown of Ptolemy is another short story cross-over between the Kanes and the Greek demigods. The crazy Egyptian magician is back up to his tricks and trying to get the crown so he can take control. The demigods team up with the Kanes to stop that from happening. We meet some new Egyptian characters in this adventure. Really, I think it was just a way to keep us fans mollified until the new Norse mythology series starts this fall.
The Family is Mario Puzo's take on the Borgias. Highly fictionalized and accepting rumor as fact, there were parts of this that definitely bothered me. Which is unfortunate because this could've been really good. But, to be fair, (I can't remember exactly since it's been two months) I don't think Puzo completed this one before his death, so whoever edited/finished this could be why I didn't like it.
That was it for June. It rained pretty much the entire month...that much I definitely remember.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
The books of April and May 2015
Yes, I know, I'm lame to combine two months worth of books, movies, and crafts. I have been busy though. Obviously not so much with reading, crafting, or seeing movies, but with work and life. So, everything's cool.
Crafts:
In April, I gave my friend her birthday present. I got the pattern off of etsy of course. She's the one who introduced me to Flight of the Conchords, so I felt this gift was only fitting:
In May, I sent my mom this cute little cross-stitch made from a pattern bought at Daily Cross Stitch:
Also in May, from the same site, I made a cute mom and baby giraffe for my friend's baby shower:
Crafts:
In April, I gave my friend her birthday present. I got the pattern off of etsy of course. She's the one who introduced me to Flight of the Conchords, so I felt this gift was only fitting:
 |
| A freaky dream... |
 |
| Come on! Let's make a break for it! |
 |
| They were just so cute...and went well with the giraffe themed gift. |
Movies:
In April, I saw only one movie: Woman in Gold. If you did not see this movie, definitely rent it when it's on DVD. Helen Mirren plays a woman who escaped at the last minute from Vienna when the Nazi's took over. Her family lost everything, including the Klimt painting of her aunt. This is the story of her suing for reparations and deciding the fate of Klimt's woman in gold. It's a really great story based on true events.
In May, I saw two movies: Tomorrowland and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Tomorrowland was fun...very fluffy, a little emotional, and interesting to see on a large screen. The movie kept my attention the whole time. Like I said, it was fun.
Age of Ultron was awesome. James Spader is a genius robot bad guy. The additions of Quicksilver (although you can't call him that in this movie) and the Scarlet Witch were well done. There were a few parts that dragged, but it's information we'll need to get us through the next phase of Marvel movies, so I'm ok with it. I know I'm biased toward loving these movies, so take it with a grain of salt. I had a great time and will see it again and own it.
Books:
In April I read: Patriot Threat by Steve Berry, Serena by Ron Rash, A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab, and The Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain.
Again a disclaimer: not everyone likes the political thrillers...I do. Steve Berry wrote another great book. The Patriot Threat has all the action of the other Cotton Malone books...but this time, no family drama or girlfriend drama. It's been a while since I read it, but I remember enjoying it a lot and that it read fast. My favorite is still the one about Queen Elizabeth I, but this one, for being based in American politics, was really good. I'd rank it better than the Lincoln Myth, but not as good as the Jefferson Key (of the mainly America-based mysteries).
Serena was about a husband and wife in the logging industry back when people became worried about public lands and parks and such. The story goes through their marital ups and downs, the characters involved in their lives for better or worse, and the downfall of their business and marriage. It was recently made into a movie with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. I can see this playing well on the screen...might be worth a rental if you're not up for reading it.
A Darker Shade of Magic was a book about magical kingdoms...how all the realms are magical, but some more than others. The base of the story is in London...gray London is regular London as we would know it (no magic), black London (bad magic) is sealed, red London is the purest and best run magical realm, and white London is the one trying to get more magic back and do bad things with it. The main character can travel between these magical realms and ends up involved in a plot to undo things done in the past and let loose the uncontrollable magic. He finds a friend who helps him along the way and learns more about himself during the journeys between realms. It was ok. In a world without new Harry Potter novels, sometimes I take magic-based stories where I can get them. I'm not sure how I found out about this one, but it did keep my interest.
Mark Twain wasn't someone I expected to write about Adam and Eve, but he did so very, very humorously. The story is diary entries from both Adam and Eve about each other and the animals and the beginning of time. I'd read somewhere in an article that Jarmusch was loosely influenced by this story when he was making Only Lovers Left Alive...which makes sense. It's not a play-by-play interpretation, but I could see where he read it and had ideas. It's short and pretty funny. The complaints of the original people were the same complaints men and women have about each other today.
In May I read: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris, The Lost Island by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, The Fatal Crown by Ellen Jones, and All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner.
The Gospel of Loki is a book I've been waiting for a while to read. When I went to London last year, it had been released there and I had to wait for it to come here. Joanne Harris also wrote Chocolat and I love that book and the movie interpretation. Loki's story was very entertaining. It's the entire beginning and end of the Norse gods as told from only Loki's point of view. It didn't hurt that when I think of Loki, I think of Tom Hiddleston...that may have influenced my liking of the book a notch or two. If you like the Norse myths, it's just a fun read.
I picked up The Lost Island to take on a trip with me. It ended up being so good that I was halfway done before I even got off the plane. I had to go to a bookstore and find another one in the series to read...I chose Gideon's Sword since it was the first of the three. Gideon Crew has a terminal illness and changes from his life as a worker at Los Almos National Labs to using his former thievery skills to complete specific jobs as required by his new boss, Glinn, and his elusive company that works in failure management and pyschosocial engineering. Both books are fast paced and full of action and have plots that seem completely insane. Gideon's Sword has Gideon first tracking down and dispensing payback to the man who framed and murdered his mathematician father, then meeting Glinn and having to track down a Chinese invention while an assassin thwarts his every move. The Lost Island is the third book and Glinn sends Gideon and another employee to find a cure all off the coast of Nicaragua, based on a map hidden under the paint on a page in the Book of Kells, which was based on a map made by the ancient Greeks. This led them to tying a historical work of fiction to real life in the modern world...and massive destruction of said real life. They are very fun, completely implausible reads that you kind of wish could be true. After I finish up the stack of books I've got right now, I'm probably going to buy the one I've not read yet.
The Fatal Crown has been hanging around me for a while. After all the action/adventure, I needed a little history. This book focuses on Maud (who became the female head of the Plantagenet line) and Steven (House of Blois) and their fight for the English Crown after Maud's ver forward thinking father made her head of England when he died. Steven usurped the crown with help from others (mostly because people wouldn't be ruled by a woman, no matter how qualified). It also included an interesting twist of having the cousins be in love with each other and them siring a child that would one day become King of England. It was not overly factual, but most of the characters did exist. It was an interesting take on the story...and one I believe I've read before in a very different, more factual format. There are two sequels...I am not sure if I'll get to those or not.
All Fall Down is typical Jennifer Weiner. That means it's well written, I get a little bored about halfway through, but end up not wanting to put it down until it's done because the story itself is good and she doesn't always take the easy way out with her characters (ie, not always a every thread sewn up perfect happy ending). In this book, Allison and her husband have kind of a perfect life that is slowly deteriorating. Their little girl is sensitive to a lot of things; Allison's blogging job has become more than full time; her dad has developed Alzheimers; her mom is still not able to take care of anything on her own; and Allison has turned to prescription drugs to even get through an hour of a day. The story follows Allison ignoring all the signs, ultimately being put into rehab, and slowly pulling herself back together. It's a really good read.
Well, that's two months worth of stuff. Hopefully I'll get back on schedule now. Later!
Saturday, April 18, 2015
The books of March 2015
I have really been putting this off...sitting in front of the computer when I could be doing something else. Well, now I'm making myself do it. And on a beautiful day, if not a little too warm.
Crafts:
Just one birthday gift to show. Of course it's from another etsy pattern. If you've not seen Flight of the Conchords, it won't make much sense. So go watch the entire series...NOW!
Movies:
Crafts:
Just one birthday gift to show. Of course it's from another etsy pattern. If you've not seen Flight of the Conchords, it won't make much sense. So go watch the entire series...NOW!
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| A freaky, freaky dream... |
In March, I went to see two movies...I've just not been overly motivated to go to see things lately.
Cinderella (the new, live action one) was cute. I only went to see it because I knew Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter would steal the show...and they really, really did. Cate's outfits were amazing! So were Helena's...and her eyelashes were insane. I figure you all know the story by now...they played a little with the backstory of how the dad dies and delved in more to how the wicked stepmother became who she was. I also enjoyed the clothing on the stepsisters...the polka dot dresses were awesome. I probably could've waited to see this one on dvd, but I didn't mind spending the money.
Insurgent is the sequel to Divergent (there's one more coming...which I'm guessing, like all the other teen trilogies, they'll hack into two movies instead of one). When I saw Divergent, I left the theater feeling kind of like, "enh...that was ok"...which is kind of how I felt about all the books too. To prep for seeing Insurgent, I rewatched Divergent and actually enjoyed it quite a bit. So, hopes up, I went to see the second one...and left the theater feeling exactly the same as the first time. They did a really great job with casting, and I like the storyline. I guess maybe there are just too many dystopian futures out there in books and movies. A couple of the stunts did wow me though, so I'm glad I saw it in the theater.
Books:
In March, I read: Tower: An Epic History of the Tower of London by Nigel Jones, Turtle Face and Beyond: Stories by Arthur Bradford, Funny Girl by Nick Hornby, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Eric Larson, and The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors by Dan Jones.
Tower is a decent read. It has a lot of facts...and incorporates the fiction about the place as well...to give as full of a story as possible. I really liked visiting the Tower of London but this didn't really take me back to it. I do feel I know more about the structure now, but I didn't find it as interesting as I thought I would.
Turtleface and Beyond is a collection of short stories that are sometimes connected and very offbeat. I took a chance with this one. It was ok but did not make me want to read his other books. I like strange little stories, but this wasn't my cup of tea.
I thought Funny Girl was great! I think we all know that I like Nick Hornby's writing, so my feelings on the book shouldn't be a surprise. A girl from a small town in England moves to London to become a huge television star. Along the way, she meets the people who will form her urban family in the city and this is really their story as much as hers...she's just the glue for keeping them together. It follows them all (writers, actors, producers, actual family, random friends) throughout the run of the television show and to the reunion years later for the dvd release. Hornby writes characters that have plenty of flaws and make good and bad choices...this was just a really good read.
Erik Larson's books have been hit or miss with me, but the thing about all of them is that they stay with me and I find myself thinking about them long after I've read them. Dead Wake is no different. Before reading this book, all I knew about the Lusitania is that it was sunk by the Germans before the war around the UK and that some Americans died on it as well as many others. This book really showed the whole picture. History of the ship and the company who owned it; history of the captain of the ship; history of travelers on board; history of German submarines and the wartime set up that put everything in place for the sinking of the ship. I found this one to be interesting and hard to put down. I guess if I had to rank the books, I'd put this second behind Devil in the White City. You will learn something though, so if you're looking for fluff, this isn't your book.
The Wars of the Roses is something I've read about for years. Brace yourselves for this: I like books about the history of England. I keep reading them even if I've read a ton of books on the same thing. You always find something different in each author's research...or, in the case of fictionalized histories, you get a different viewpoint into what the author thinks of the cast of characters. What stood out here is that Dan Jones writes to engage the reader in the story of history and that's fantastic to me. I've got his book on the Tudors as well and I am looking forward to reading it.
Well, there's March done. We're over halfway through April and time is moving way too fast. More soon!
Saturday, March 7, 2015
The books of February 2015
Finally got the snow and ice...and now it's finally melting. I figure that despite the rising temperatures, we probably have one more wintery storm coming? I mean, we usually do since it's only March at this point.
Crafts:
Not too many crafts this month. A couple of gifts, but I've also been working on other projects. As usual, both patterns came from awesome sellers on etsy. First, for a new friend who loves the movie Mean Girls as much as I do:
Second, for an old friend who enjoys various video games, another Nintendo themed gift to add to his collection:
Movies:
Crafts:
Not too many crafts this month. A couple of gifts, but I've also been working on other projects. As usual, both patterns came from awesome sellers on etsy. First, for a new friend who loves the movie Mean Girls as much as I do:
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| On Wednesdays, we wear pink! |
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| It's just good advice. |
I didn't make it out much with the sub-zero weather and the laziness combining forces. But I did manage to see two really fun movies.
Jupiter Ascending could've gone either way. The directors are hit and miss with me: hits being The Matrix and V for Vendetta; misses being everything else they've touched. I went in expecting the worst, but I was extremely entertained. The story is okay-ish...and at times, too slow. And I can not stand Eddie Redmayne, despite his acting chops. He really squicks me out...which is a good thing for a villain so I guess the casting decision was wise. Some of the costumes were fabulous and the alien machinery...I still think about it. The machinery from the movie...the delicate, gracefulness of the movements from these huge mechanical things...it was really beautiful in a way. I read an article after I saw it that kind of sums it up...overall, it's not a great movie, but I loved it anyway because it had everything I wanted to see in a movie. I'm planning to own it when it's released so I can watch it over and over...probably much to the dismay of many who know me.
Kingsman: Secret Service might be one of the best spy movies I've ever seen. In no way is it serious like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy or the Debt. In no way is it overly campy like some of the old Bond films. In every way it is utterly entertaining! Explosions! Fireworks! Colin Firth! Bespoke tailors! London! It's actually been hard to keep me from going to see it again. I completely loved this violent little movie and will also own it one day for repeated viewings.
Books:
My reading list was fairly short this month (although it doesn't count the other history book that I'm still trying to finish up): Yes Please by Amy Poehler; Tudor: Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England's Most Notorious Royal Family by Leanda de Lisle; As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden; Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division by Peter Hook.
Do you like Amy Poehler? Do you think she's funny? Then read this book. I like her and I think she's funny. My feelings are unchanged after reading. No spoilers...but you will laugh out loud.
If you read this blog even every once in a while, you've noticed that I'm a bit into history...specifically history of the United Kingdom. Tudor is about the Tudor family and all the things they did (good and bad) trying to keep the seat of power. There's a lot in this book that I've read in other books, but since I clearly don't tire of the topic, I kept reading. It's not the best of these books that I've read, but it did cover a lot of ground, people-wise. If you like reading about the Tudors, it's a decent way to pass some time.
As You Wish was great! I love The Princess Bride and reading this brought it all back to me. I loved all of his insights behind the scenes and once I was done, I re-watched the movie...something I hadn't done in a long time. It really does stand up...and now that I know the secrets, I can see the things he talks about in the book as they happened in the movie. It's a fun read...parts of it made me laugh so hard, I cried. The interviews with other cast and crew members were a nice addition to the memoir. Every one clearly loved working with each other and making such a timeless movie.
After reading Mad World, I wanted to read more about the music scene. Unknown Pleasures is about how Joy Division came about and it's demise with the lead singer's death...and a little about them becoming New Order. These people came together without much in common to make some of the best music to come out of Britain in the 80s and beyond. Their sound is still very recognizable today and as Hook points out, in retrospect, the lyrics are just the lead singer's inner torment spilling out into the music for our consumption. Ultimately this is a pretty sad, messed up book. But so was the band, the individuals, and the time. It's a good read despite the bias of the former band member against other band members.
Back to reading...
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The books of January 2015
Is it me or is time speeding up? As usual for January, it was cold and I was indoors a lot. Well, that indoors thing never really changes in any season.
Crafts:
Leftover from the holidays, three more cross-stitched jewels. All patterns found on etsy. Glorious, glorious etsy! This first one is for my friend who has "had it up to here".
Another friend loved Fraggle Rock back in the day, so she got a little homage to that show.
And since Arrested Development is always the gift that keeps on giving, I gave this to another friend who I knew would understand.
Movies:
I actually went to several movies in January. I started out strong on the first day of the year seeing Whiplash. It's hard to put into words how amazing this movie is. It's a very focused and driven piece, accentuated by great acting and a stellar beat. I've loved J.K. Simmons for a long time and even though he's playing a character that I'd not like to meet, he is still amazing and I want him to win all the awards. This also has a great soundtrack and you'll be very tempted to buy some jazz after seeing it. See it if you can...it's a really awesome guy flick that chicks can also enjoy.
The Gambler was ok. It was no Departed, which is what they were advertising it to be-ish. It was also no John Wick (out on DVD yesterday if you missed it). I like Marky Mark, I mean, Mark Wahlberg, so I wasn't disappointed. It was just something that I probably would've liked more sitting on my own couch in my own place.
The Imitation Game was quite good. I've since been told, by sciencey people who know things that I never will, that it wasn't as factual as people are believing it to be. You know what? I'm ok with that. It was a good story, even if parts are made up. Unless I'm seeing a documentary, I'm willing to let my brain believe what it's being given on the screen. So, I enjoyed it...I get that it's not 100% true and that's cool. What's even cooler is that it was Benedict Cumberbatch for a couple of hours. And while yes, there's truth stretching, it's also not completely wrong what Keira Knightly's character said at the end about what Alan Turing did...on some level, he did make computers a tangible thing for some people and when you think about all the tech we surround ourselves with today, that's amazing.
Inherent Vice is not for everyone. I really enjoyed it, but I went in understanding that (a) Paul Thomas Anderson still had The Master stink on him (yes, I know people liked it, but I did not...it seemed not like a PTA movie at all to me...which was sad) and (b) it's a Pynchon novel. The people sitting behind me on a double date did not have that information. They were stunned and confused and had no idea what to make of it. So, if you think maybe you want to see it, be prepared...it's gonna get strange, but if you're open for it, you'll like it.
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb was a cute movie that made me have too many feels. I don't know what my deal was, but wow, I was clearly in need of a good cry...and the lighthearted family movie did it. I loved seeing all the things in the British Museum come to life though...it made me feel like I was walking around there all over again. It was truly sad to realize that was the last new movie I'll see Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney in...such great actors and they're just gone. There were a couple of things thrown in there for my generation that the grandparents and grandkids in the audience didn't get, but me and the lady two rows down thought they were hysterical. Definitely watch it if you like the other ones...it's a good wrap up of Ben Stiller's character development.
The last movie I saw was Cake. Sometimes, in all the Brangelina-related dramas, I forget that Jennifer Aniston is actually a good actress. She's been in a couple of little indie movies that I've really enjoyed and this one, while quite the downer, is really good as well. Her character's super dark sense of humor and over the top sarcasm are excellent coping strategies and she does them well. See this if you can. It's got a lot of sadness to it, but there's a teeny, tiny glimmer of hope at the end that makes you leave thinking it might be ok.
Books:
I didn't read too much in January...clearly I was busy going to see movies. I read: Bagthorpes Liberated by Helen Cresswell, The Secret Journal of Ichabod Crane by Alex Irvine, Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs that Defined the 1980s by Lori Majewski and Jonathan Bernstein, The Watchers: A Secret History of the Reign of Elizabeth I by Stephen Alford, and Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid by Wendy Williams.
I loved, loved, LOVED the Bagthorpe series when I was younger. They're difficult to get hold of now, but Helen Cresswell created an extremely eccentric and competitive English family. The grandmother is conniving and unrepentant; her husband is selectively deaf in that he only hears what he wants to hear; her son, the head of the family is a cantankerous writer who is forever fighting and plotting and failing to get what he wants; his wife is benevolent but often loses her temper; their children consider themselves highly evolved and accomplished...except for Jack, who is by al counts quite ordinary...and his dog, who is called Absolute Zero; the ethereal aunt who can't bear anything untoward; her adoring husband who enjoys driving like a maniac; their precocious little girl Daisy who is a fire-starter (literally); and the housekeeper, who thinks they're all insane. I went looking online around the end of December and found out that there were another 4 books beyond what I owned. EXCITEMENT! I got this one from the library and immediately fell back into their world. Bagthorpes Liberated picks up where Bagthorpes Haunted leaves off. They're returning from their trip to find that a vagrant has taken up residence in their home...and they forgot to tell the milkman they were away. Hijinks ensue...pretty much for the entire book. I love this family! It was nice to revisit them...now I need to find copies of the other three books I've missed.
The Secret Journal of Ichabod Crane is pretty much a brain dump of the plot lines of season one of Sleepy Hollow. It went very quickly for me since I'd seen season one and already knew everything that happened. There are some cool little additions to the text, but this is one you can skip unless you're a diehard fan of the show.
Mad World? Pretty much written specifically for me. Small interviews with amazing bands from the 80s. I think I'm going to have to own the book...it was a great read! It's always cool to get the inside story on your favorite bands and song...that's part of why Behind the Music was such a great series. I hope they write another one...there are still a lot of 80s bands that need recapping and in the words of Depeche Mode, I just can't get enough!
The Watchers sounded promising. It's about the spy network during the reign of Elizabeth I. Unfortunately, it didn't translate into anything terribly exciting in book form. It was interesting, but kind of dull at the same time. I learned more about plots to kill Elizabeth, but I wasn't shocked by anything I read...no spy named was a surprise. I don't know...maybe I expected more Bond than factual reporting. It's always good to learn more history though, so my time wasn't wasted.
I waited a long time to read Kraken...and given my obsession with Clash of the Titans, that should come as a shock to you all. Again, kind of a disappointment. Many years ago, I read The Search for the Giant Squid and loved the way it was written, including mythology and pop culture along with fact. This book was just fact really. I liked the chats the author had with the field experts...they seemed to be interesting...and the history parts were interesting, but again, despite my interest, I felt it to be a bit dull. No spark. I think this one can be skipped.
Up next, more reading, more crafts, more movies, and THE OSCARS! Happy February!
Crafts:
Leftover from the holidays, three more cross-stitched jewels. All patterns found on etsy. Glorious, glorious etsy! This first one is for my friend who has "had it up to here".
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| Ho, ho, no. |
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| Like the Muppets, but not. |
And since Arrested Development is always the gift that keeps on giving, I gave this to another friend who I knew would understand.
Movies:
I actually went to several movies in January. I started out strong on the first day of the year seeing Whiplash. It's hard to put into words how amazing this movie is. It's a very focused and driven piece, accentuated by great acting and a stellar beat. I've loved J.K. Simmons for a long time and even though he's playing a character that I'd not like to meet, he is still amazing and I want him to win all the awards. This also has a great soundtrack and you'll be very tempted to buy some jazz after seeing it. See it if you can...it's a really awesome guy flick that chicks can also enjoy.
The Gambler was ok. It was no Departed, which is what they were advertising it to be-ish. It was also no John Wick (out on DVD yesterday if you missed it). I like Marky Mark, I mean, Mark Wahlberg, so I wasn't disappointed. It was just something that I probably would've liked more sitting on my own couch in my own place.
The Imitation Game was quite good. I've since been told, by sciencey people who know things that I never will, that it wasn't as factual as people are believing it to be. You know what? I'm ok with that. It was a good story, even if parts are made up. Unless I'm seeing a documentary, I'm willing to let my brain believe what it's being given on the screen. So, I enjoyed it...I get that it's not 100% true and that's cool. What's even cooler is that it was Benedict Cumberbatch for a couple of hours. And while yes, there's truth stretching, it's also not completely wrong what Keira Knightly's character said at the end about what Alan Turing did...on some level, he did make computers a tangible thing for some people and when you think about all the tech we surround ourselves with today, that's amazing.
Inherent Vice is not for everyone. I really enjoyed it, but I went in understanding that (a) Paul Thomas Anderson still had The Master stink on him (yes, I know people liked it, but I did not...it seemed not like a PTA movie at all to me...which was sad) and (b) it's a Pynchon novel. The people sitting behind me on a double date did not have that information. They were stunned and confused and had no idea what to make of it. So, if you think maybe you want to see it, be prepared...it's gonna get strange, but if you're open for it, you'll like it.
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb was a cute movie that made me have too many feels. I don't know what my deal was, but wow, I was clearly in need of a good cry...and the lighthearted family movie did it. I loved seeing all the things in the British Museum come to life though...it made me feel like I was walking around there all over again. It was truly sad to realize that was the last new movie I'll see Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney in...such great actors and they're just gone. There were a couple of things thrown in there for my generation that the grandparents and grandkids in the audience didn't get, but me and the lady two rows down thought they were hysterical. Definitely watch it if you like the other ones...it's a good wrap up of Ben Stiller's character development.
The last movie I saw was Cake. Sometimes, in all the Brangelina-related dramas, I forget that Jennifer Aniston is actually a good actress. She's been in a couple of little indie movies that I've really enjoyed and this one, while quite the downer, is really good as well. Her character's super dark sense of humor and over the top sarcasm are excellent coping strategies and she does them well. See this if you can. It's got a lot of sadness to it, but there's a teeny, tiny glimmer of hope at the end that makes you leave thinking it might be ok.
Books:
I didn't read too much in January...clearly I was busy going to see movies. I read: Bagthorpes Liberated by Helen Cresswell, The Secret Journal of Ichabod Crane by Alex Irvine, Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs that Defined the 1980s by Lori Majewski and Jonathan Bernstein, The Watchers: A Secret History of the Reign of Elizabeth I by Stephen Alford, and Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid by Wendy Williams.
I loved, loved, LOVED the Bagthorpe series when I was younger. They're difficult to get hold of now, but Helen Cresswell created an extremely eccentric and competitive English family. The grandmother is conniving and unrepentant; her husband is selectively deaf in that he only hears what he wants to hear; her son, the head of the family is a cantankerous writer who is forever fighting and plotting and failing to get what he wants; his wife is benevolent but often loses her temper; their children consider themselves highly evolved and accomplished...except for Jack, who is by al counts quite ordinary...and his dog, who is called Absolute Zero; the ethereal aunt who can't bear anything untoward; her adoring husband who enjoys driving like a maniac; their precocious little girl Daisy who is a fire-starter (literally); and the housekeeper, who thinks they're all insane. I went looking online around the end of December and found out that there were another 4 books beyond what I owned. EXCITEMENT! I got this one from the library and immediately fell back into their world. Bagthorpes Liberated picks up where Bagthorpes Haunted leaves off. They're returning from their trip to find that a vagrant has taken up residence in their home...and they forgot to tell the milkman they were away. Hijinks ensue...pretty much for the entire book. I love this family! It was nice to revisit them...now I need to find copies of the other three books I've missed.
The Secret Journal of Ichabod Crane is pretty much a brain dump of the plot lines of season one of Sleepy Hollow. It went very quickly for me since I'd seen season one and already knew everything that happened. There are some cool little additions to the text, but this is one you can skip unless you're a diehard fan of the show.
Mad World? Pretty much written specifically for me. Small interviews with amazing bands from the 80s. I think I'm going to have to own the book...it was a great read! It's always cool to get the inside story on your favorite bands and song...that's part of why Behind the Music was such a great series. I hope they write another one...there are still a lot of 80s bands that need recapping and in the words of Depeche Mode, I just can't get enough!
The Watchers sounded promising. It's about the spy network during the reign of Elizabeth I. Unfortunately, it didn't translate into anything terribly exciting in book form. It was interesting, but kind of dull at the same time. I learned more about plots to kill Elizabeth, but I wasn't shocked by anything I read...no spy named was a surprise. I don't know...maybe I expected more Bond than factual reporting. It's always good to learn more history though, so my time wasn't wasted.
I waited a long time to read Kraken...and given my obsession with Clash of the Titans, that should come as a shock to you all. Again, kind of a disappointment. Many years ago, I read The Search for the Giant Squid and loved the way it was written, including mythology and pop culture along with fact. This book was just fact really. I liked the chats the author had with the field experts...they seemed to be interesting...and the history parts were interesting, but again, despite my interest, I felt it to be a bit dull. No spark. I think this one can be skipped.
Up next, more reading, more crafts, more movies, and THE OSCARS! Happy February!
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
The books of December 2014
It's already January and it's already snowy and super cold. Hurrah? I'm thinking about how I'd like this year to go...and I'm hoping it's a good one.
Next, a pretty little snowflake:
Continuing the snowflake theme:
One friend got some helpers in various states of stress:
Simple math:
Another kind of tree:
This one is a nice life lesson stitched with a kitty who is not to be messed with:
And for my brother-in-law who can not stop repeating this quote:
Crafts:
All the Christmas gifts have been given except three at this point...two of those include craft projects that will have to be on the January blog. Sad. Oh well. All patterns came from different stores on etsy.com. If you don't use etsy yet, you should. It's like a miracle shopping mecca for people who craft!
First up, a wee owl dressed as Santa:
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| Christmas crafting is always a hoot! |
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| I think if snowflakes were all colorful like this one, people might like it better. |
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| Snowflake tree! |
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| That last really sums up how I feel on certain days. |
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| This is the kind of math we can all enjoy! |
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| It's a tree! Made of gears! That are green! |
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| Unikitty is unimpressed with your inability to be nice! |
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| It is! Everything is a trap all the time! |
Movies:
I saw three movies in December. The first was, of course, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. This was a lovely end to the trilogy and set us up nicely for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The battle was really cool. There was a lot of emotion in this. I kept waiting for Luke Evans to control those bats like he did in Dracula Untold, but it never happened. Shame. I think they really missed an opportunity there. Anyway, it's one of those that if you like them, you'll see it and like it as well.
Next up was Big Eyes. This was a nice little movie. I went in knowing nothing about it except it was about the artist who painted the "big eyed" paintings and had Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz playing the main characters. It's based on the story of the artist Keane, and how her husband took credit for her work and after years of what basically appeared to be emotional abuse, she left him and ended up suing him after he tried to blackmail her into creating more art for him. I really liked this movie a lot.
My last theater viewing of the year was Into the Woods. I've heard a lot of differing opinions on this, but I really, really liked it. It was ridiculous and over the top and all fairy tales! It was lots of fun. I think the funniest part to me was the song with the two princes complaining about who has it worse. But I also enjoyed Red Riding Hood's songs. It had a lot more laughter than I expected...perhaps more than it was meant to have? Anyway, I enjoyed it and that's what I wanted from it.
Books:
In December, I read: Prince Lestat by Anne Rice, Revival by Stephen King, Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett, Texts from Jane Eyre and Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters by Mallory Ortberg, and I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star by Judy Greer.
Prince Lestat was an all around surprise. I was browsing the book section in Target when I saw it and added it to my library request list. Apparently, not a lot of people around here knew about it, so I got it quickly. As you probably remember, Anne Rice and I have a troubled relationship...she keeps working through any crisis of faith through her writing and I keep getting really annoyed that she tries to cram her viewpoints down my throat through her words. In any case, the vampire books, that's what set off the initial rift. I loved the first and second books. Book three was horrible until exactly halfway through where it became the best book ever. Then books four and five started the cramming of beliefs. I got frustrated and didn't read anything else by her until the wolf books came out fairly recently. I liked the first one of those and the second one was pretty boring. So, that's why I chose a library request instead of buying the book...I wasn't willing to take the chance of spending money on something I wouldn't like. That said, it was kind of great. I loved catching up with all those characters. The cramming of beliefs was tempered somewhat by having written the wolf books before this. It was just a nice homecoming for all the vampire characters. I enjoyed it and since she left it open ended, I kind of hope there are more that follow. If you liked Interview with a Vampire and The Vampire Lestat, I think you'll enjoy this one as well.
Stephen King is another hit or miss writer for me. Of the more recent books, 11/22/63 was amazing...Doctor Sleep was a great sequel to The Shining...Mr. Mercedes was just not good to me. I was bored and didn't like the characters. Revival, though? Just a really, really great book. I don't think that I've read anything quite like it before. Preacher man turned carny turned faith healer turned obsessive, murdering freak...and the coming of age story of the boy whose path was intricately tied to him. It was engrossing and I didn't like putting it down to do things like work and sleep. I highly recommend this one.
Edge of Eternity was the third book of Follett's Century Trilogy. It was just as good as the other to books. The focus this time was civil rights, the rise and fall of the Soviet Bloc, the Vietnam War, the Kennedys, and there was an epilogue of the Obama inauguration. In other words, it covered the last third of the century. It was good...I got a little confused at the beginning as to which family lines were being followed, but I caught on pretty quickly...probably because the second book had been a recent read. If I'd waited a year or something, no way would I have remembered them all this time. The trilogy as a whole was good, but it's a definite time commitment from readers.
Texts from Jane Eyre was extremely silly, but that was the point. The author created conversations between literary characters in text form. Some of them made me laugh out loud. For the most part though, this was complete fluff.
Judy Greer is an actress I've liked for a while, so I'd been meaning to read her book since it came out. I'm really glad I finally did...she's even more hilarious in book form. If you like laughing and know who Greer is, you'll want to read this. She's a very normal person with a great perspective on being an actress and all the insanity that comes with it.
That's it for 2014. I've already seen two movies in 2015 and I'm on my second book. More to come!
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