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:

On Wednesdays, we wear pink!

Second, for an old friend who enjoys various video games, another Nintendo themed gift to add to his collection:

It's just good advice.

Movies:

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...