I'm currently reading "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo. It's good. I was nervous - I still feel like I'm getting my brain back from illness. But I had a wonderful friend give me the unabridged edition and express complete faith and confidence in me a while ago and I finally decided it was time to give it a try. I've been very pleasantly surprised. I've found it much easier to get into than I thought. I am loving it. I finished book one last night - 300 pages down - 1100+ to go!
Showing posts with label Good Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good Books. Show all posts
Monday, November 2, 2009
30 Days of Thanksgiving #2
I'm still not used to blogging again! I almost forgot - and I'm totally brain-dead because I stayed up way too late reading last night. So, it seems appropriate that I express my gratitude for good books today. I've always been a reader - I basically slept through fifth grade because I'd stay up all night reading Nancy Drew - well, that and my teacher was an idiot so I felt no need to stay awake or pay attention (yes, I'm aware I was/am a total snob and very obnoxious!). But back to topic...I've read quite a few books this year. Some were good, some were very helpful, one in particular was down right awful. And two were wonderful - new favorites. I highly recommend "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and "My Life in France" by Julia Child with Alex Prud'Homme. I have read "Guernsey" twice this year - after reading it I lent it to my mom to read and when she was done, I picked it up and read it again. And was totally depressed when I finished it because I had looked forward to reading it so much every day! How many times is too many times to read a book in a year? Both books I found absolutely delightful. (The awful one is "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell. I do not recommend it. I do, however, highly recommend the movie. That recommendation is based on three things: 1) they were able to make the Julie Powell character much more sympathetic in the movie, 2) a lot of it is based on Julia Child's "My Life in France" which I loved, and 3) Meryl Streep. Really, though, #3 is reason enough - the other two are just frosting.)
Monday, March 17, 2008
Various and Sundry - Reviews
I have been meaning to do a review post for quite awhile now and just haven't been able to spare a minute to post. My life is uber-crazy right now. But in a good way (if crazy can be good...) However, last night we watched a movie that I absolutely just loved!! So, I had to make time today to post about it.
You must watch "Dan in Real Life." It was awesome. I cried. (Of course, I cried through the last 1/2 hour of "Two Weeks Notice" while on a plane flying to Virginia. And that's not a sad movie! You have to understand that I am a very emotional person and it gets exponentially worse when I'm tired and/or stressed - both of which I was yesterday/still am. I also have to admit that I still cry every time I watch the end of "Meet the Parents". Yes, I'm aware I need serious help. Back to the movie in question, which is "Dan in Real Life", which is really, really good!) Who knew that Steve Carrell could act not just wig out? (Although I do have to clarify that I enjoy his wigging - I enjoy "The Office" and I'll be addressing another movie he's in in the next paragraph...) The movie has definite funny moments, but it's mostly just a real, honest look at the pain and heartache of losing someone you love and trying desperately to find love all while being the best person possible for you kids. (OK, looking at it that way, it's no wonder I cried - those are all subjects very close to my heart!) The bottom line: I loved this movie.
This is just going to be a Steve Carrell post, because the next movie I want to talk about is "Evan Almighty." I also really enjoyed this movie. It is very much more geared toward children - and my brother was totally weirded out by it. But I really enjoyed it. It's about Evan Baxter (a character introduced in "Bruce Almighty") who just ran for congress. He moves his family to the DC area where God (Morgan Freeman) appears to him and tells him to build an ark. I went into this movie wanting to like it because Lauren Graham is in it (Yeah! Gilmore Girls!!) but even without that positive bias, I would have still enjoyed it. I really liked the faith promoting message. Something like this could very easily become a cynical, sarcastic poke at religion and faith, but it didn't go there. While it may be hard to believe, I thought it was very respectful and encouraging of faith. I was also impressed, after watching the bonus features, with how green the movie was. Now, I have to clarify that I'm not buying into the whole "we've destroyed the planet and we're all going to burn up in five years" mentality. In fact, here (thanks to BFF for the link) is a great article about all of that. But I do believe that we have an obligation to take care of what God has blessed us with and use our resources wisely. I also believe that anything we can do to become less reliant on foreign oil, the better off we'll be. The directors of "Evan Almighty" seemed to have similar feelings. Besides buying bikes for everyone that worked on this movie, and planting trees, they donated everything they could salvage from the homes on the set and the ark (which was a full-size, huge ark) and donated it to Habitat for Humanity. Cool. The bottom line: as long as you know this is suspend reality kids fare, you'll enjoy this movie.
Now, to a movie I wasn't so impressed with: "Becoming Jane." I really wanted to like this movie. And I have to say that I really liked Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen - excellent choice. But I just couldn't like the movie. I couldn't even get through it a second time - it just wasn't that important. I didn't think that Jane falling for LeFroy was believable. I couldn't see any redeeming qualities in him for her to be attracted to. And I was put off by the covert sexual references. The Jane Austen I know is based on her books, and plot and tone of this movie was so incongruous to her books. It just wasn't believable. Which is sad, because I really did want to like it. And Anne Hathaway was great - even with the non-Jane material she was given to work with, I thought she made a great Jane Austen.
On the Jane Austen topic, I have two books I'd like to share as well. From a previous post, you may have guessed that I was reading "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen. It was fabulous. And I must say that Emma Thompson's movie version was surprising true to the book. There were only a couple of things that, for trimming the story to 2 hours sake, were not absolutely correct. Good stuff! Also, my mom gave me a book for Christmas called "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" by Syrie James. The author takes the voice of Jane Austen and write her memoirs about love lost. Compared to actual Jane Austen, this book was definite fluff. "Sense and Sensibility" is a full five course meal featuring all your favorite foods while "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" is cotton candy. But cotton candy is still delicious. I really enjoyed it and if you're looking for fluff, this is a good read. "The Lost Memoirs" is much truer to the Jane Austen we know from her books than the movie "Becoming Jane." I could believe "Lost"'s version of Jane. I couldn't believe "Becoming"'s version.
On a final note, I have to spend a little time talking about another of my absolute favorite authors: Robin McKinley. She specializes in juvenile fiction/fantasy. I just finished rereading "Spindle's End", a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty faerie tale. Such good stuff! Every couple of years, I have to reread all of her stuff. I've discovered, though, that I can't start her other books until I get through more of my to-do list. I just can't put her books down! I also just purchased her newest book "Dragonhaven" and I've had to literally hide it! Maybe after my trip to Rochester, NY (more about that in another post...) I can pull it out! Ah, something to look forward to...
You must watch "Dan in Real Life." It was awesome. I cried. (Of course, I cried through the last 1/2 hour of "Two Weeks Notice" while on a plane flying to Virginia. And that's not a sad movie! You have to understand that I am a very emotional person and it gets exponentially worse when I'm tired and/or stressed - both of which I was yesterday/still am. I also have to admit that I still cry every time I watch the end of "Meet the Parents". Yes, I'm aware I need serious help. Back to the movie in question, which is "Dan in Real Life", which is really, really good!) Who knew that Steve Carrell could act not just wig out? (Although I do have to clarify that I enjoy his wigging - I enjoy "The Office" and I'll be addressing another movie he's in in the next paragraph...) The movie has definite funny moments, but it's mostly just a real, honest look at the pain and heartache of losing someone you love and trying desperately to find love all while being the best person possible for you kids. (OK, looking at it that way, it's no wonder I cried - those are all subjects very close to my heart!) The bottom line: I loved this movie.
This is just going to be a Steve Carrell post, because the next movie I want to talk about is "Evan Almighty." I also really enjoyed this movie. It is very much more geared toward children - and my brother was totally weirded out by it. But I really enjoyed it. It's about Evan Baxter (a character introduced in "Bruce Almighty") who just ran for congress. He moves his family to the DC area where God (Morgan Freeman) appears to him and tells him to build an ark. I went into this movie wanting to like it because Lauren Graham is in it (Yeah! Gilmore Girls!!) but even without that positive bias, I would have still enjoyed it. I really liked the faith promoting message. Something like this could very easily become a cynical, sarcastic poke at religion and faith, but it didn't go there. While it may be hard to believe, I thought it was very respectful and encouraging of faith. I was also impressed, after watching the bonus features, with how green the movie was. Now, I have to clarify that I'm not buying into the whole "we've destroyed the planet and we're all going to burn up in five years" mentality. In fact, here (thanks to BFF for the link) is a great article about all of that. But I do believe that we have an obligation to take care of what God has blessed us with and use our resources wisely. I also believe that anything we can do to become less reliant on foreign oil, the better off we'll be. The directors of "Evan Almighty" seemed to have similar feelings. Besides buying bikes for everyone that worked on this movie, and planting trees, they donated everything they could salvage from the homes on the set and the ark (which was a full-size, huge ark) and donated it to Habitat for Humanity. Cool. The bottom line: as long as you know this is suspend reality kids fare, you'll enjoy this movie.
Now, to a movie I wasn't so impressed with: "Becoming Jane." I really wanted to like this movie. And I have to say that I really liked Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen - excellent choice. But I just couldn't like the movie. I couldn't even get through it a second time - it just wasn't that important. I didn't think that Jane falling for LeFroy was believable. I couldn't see any redeeming qualities in him for her to be attracted to. And I was put off by the covert sexual references. The Jane Austen I know is based on her books, and plot and tone of this movie was so incongruous to her books. It just wasn't believable. Which is sad, because I really did want to like it. And Anne Hathaway was great - even with the non-Jane material she was given to work with, I thought she made a great Jane Austen.
On the Jane Austen topic, I have two books I'd like to share as well. From a previous post, you may have guessed that I was reading "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen. It was fabulous. And I must say that Emma Thompson's movie version was surprising true to the book. There were only a couple of things that, for trimming the story to 2 hours sake, were not absolutely correct. Good stuff! Also, my mom gave me a book for Christmas called "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" by Syrie James. The author takes the voice of Jane Austen and write her memoirs about love lost. Compared to actual Jane Austen, this book was definite fluff. "Sense and Sensibility" is a full five course meal featuring all your favorite foods while "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" is cotton candy. But cotton candy is still delicious. I really enjoyed it and if you're looking for fluff, this is a good read. "The Lost Memoirs" is much truer to the Jane Austen we know from her books than the movie "Becoming Jane." I could believe "Lost"'s version of Jane. I couldn't believe "Becoming"'s version.
On a final note, I have to spend a little time talking about another of my absolute favorite authors: Robin McKinley. She specializes in juvenile fiction/fantasy. I just finished rereading "Spindle's End", a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty faerie tale. Such good stuff! Every couple of years, I have to reread all of her stuff. I've discovered, though, that I can't start her other books until I get through more of my to-do list. I just can't put her books down! I also just purchased her newest book "Dragonhaven" and I've had to literally hide it! Maybe after my trip to Rochester, NY (more about that in another post...) I can pull it out! Ah, something to look forward to...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Updates, Reiteration, and Book Reviews
I had an amazing BodyTalk session yesterday. I was pretty immobile when I went (I have been since Friday.) I could walk - but only just and it looked rather amusing (I'm assuming) because there was no movement above my legs. But I was a completely different person when I left. I could twist (gently), bend, walk - it was amazing! The soreness is still there, but I can move! My practitioner has recently had some training in Matrix Energetics and she's been combining that with the BodyTalk with great success. I am just so grateful for being led down this path and having BodyTalk in my life. What a wonderful blessing.
I had my first physical therapy appointment today and was actually a bit disappointed. I'm not sure how to even describe it - whether my therapist was rushed, or not quite sure what I wanted or what my doctor wanted or what he should do - it was just not very satisfying. I don't know. It just didn't seem very thorough. He checked my reflexes, he asked me to bend back and to the sides as far as I could without pain. But that was it. He didn't feel my back - see if there was any swelling or bulging - nothing. And considering the wonderful treatment I've had from TOSH in the past, I was a bit baffled and disappointed. I do have an appointment for some pool therapy on Monday, so hopefully that will go better. And the therapist did get me started on some core strengthening exercises.
Now on to fun and fluff. I finished "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief", by Rick Riordan, a couple of weeks ago. It was fabulous! It was so much fun. It's about a sixth grade boy who struggles with dyslexia, ADHD, and school in general who discovers (after being kicked out of his sixth boarding school in as many years) that his problems can be attributed to the fact that he is the son of Poseidon (of Greek mythology.) He literally attracts trouble because he is a "half-blood." So he goes to Camp Half-Blood for the summer and ends up on a quest to recover Zeus's master lightening bolt. This book is very well written, has a ton of Greek mythology in it, and is very clever and witty. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it. I can't wait to read more books in the series. I believe that three books have been published and a fourth is due in May.
I'm currently reading "North and South", by Elizabeth Gaskell. I'm tantalizingly close to finishing it. I've seen the BBC movie and loved it (and no, it's not about the civil war - as I mistakenly thought when Angelfish told me I had to see it - it's about the difference between the Southern gentility and Northern manufacturing parts of England during the 1800's.) But I was a bit nervous to read the book. As mentioned previously, I was scared to try out my "new" brain and find it lacking. But, I was brave and was rewarded! I'm glad that I saw the movie first. It's pretty faithful to the book, and I think it helped that I was motivated to get to the good parts and that I can picture these characters so well. Of course, it's helpful to me in my first venture back into the Classics, but is totally unnecessary if you've never lost your brain! The only recommendation I would urge is to make sure you read a copy with a glossary at the back and be aware that there's a glossary at the back. I recently discovered it and had many dialect words explained that I'd been frustrated over. Some of the characters kept talking about "clemming" or not wanting their children to "clem" and I had no idea what that was. Turns out it means "starving" or "starve." There are a few others examples as well. So, the glossary is very beneficial. I'm going to have to add this book to my library (I'm borrowing Angelfish's copy - Thanks!)
I had my first physical therapy appointment today and was actually a bit disappointed. I'm not sure how to even describe it - whether my therapist was rushed, or not quite sure what I wanted or what my doctor wanted or what he should do - it was just not very satisfying. I don't know. It just didn't seem very thorough. He checked my reflexes, he asked me to bend back and to the sides as far as I could without pain. But that was it. He didn't feel my back - see if there was any swelling or bulging - nothing. And considering the wonderful treatment I've had from TOSH in the past, I was a bit baffled and disappointed. I do have an appointment for some pool therapy on Monday, so hopefully that will go better. And the therapist did get me started on some core strengthening exercises.
Now on to fun and fluff. I finished "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief", by Rick Riordan, a couple of weeks ago. It was fabulous! It was so much fun. It's about a sixth grade boy who struggles with dyslexia, ADHD, and school in general who discovers (after being kicked out of his sixth boarding school in as many years) that his problems can be attributed to the fact that he is the son of Poseidon (of Greek mythology.) He literally attracts trouble because he is a "half-blood." So he goes to Camp Half-Blood for the summer and ends up on a quest to recover Zeus's master lightening bolt. This book is very well written, has a ton of Greek mythology in it, and is very clever and witty. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it. I can't wait to read more books in the series. I believe that three books have been published and a fourth is due in May.
I'm currently reading "North and South", by Elizabeth Gaskell. I'm tantalizingly close to finishing it. I've seen the BBC movie and loved it (and no, it's not about the civil war - as I mistakenly thought when Angelfish told me I had to see it - it's about the difference between the Southern gentility and Northern manufacturing parts of England during the 1800's.) But I was a bit nervous to read the book. As mentioned previously, I was scared to try out my "new" brain and find it lacking. But, I was brave and was rewarded! I'm glad that I saw the movie first. It's pretty faithful to the book, and I think it helped that I was motivated to get to the good parts and that I can picture these characters so well. Of course, it's helpful to me in my first venture back into the Classics, but is totally unnecessary if you've never lost your brain! The only recommendation I would urge is to make sure you read a copy with a glossary at the back and be aware that there's a glossary at the back. I recently discovered it and had many dialect words explained that I'd been frustrated over. Some of the characters kept talking about "clemming" or not wanting their children to "clem" and I had no idea what that was. Turns out it means "starving" or "starve." There are a few others examples as well. So, the glossary is very beneficial. I'm going to have to add this book to my library (I'm borrowing Angelfish's copy - Thanks!)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Thankful Thursday
Spoiler Alert: In the following post, I discuss details from the Anne of Green Gables series including important plot details. If you haven't read these books (especially the last one, Rilla of Ingleside) and plan on doing so, you might want to skip this post. Fair warning...
I just finished the final book in the Anne of Green Gables series. What a wonderful series of books! The final, eighth book, Rilla of Ingleside, takes place during World War I and is also a beautiful romance. It has prompted so many feelings in me. I cried over Walter - his courage, and beauty. I also cried with joy when Jem came home and was met by faithful Dog Monday. I was proud of Rilla, at how well she grew up and raised her "war-baby." It has also prompted me to ask "where is my Kenneth Ford, my Gilbert Blythe, my Mr. Knightly, or Mr. Darcy? Where is my Prince Charming? That one faithful man who loves me with all his heart? Who fights through a war or typhoid to come back to me, who is willing to patiently teach me to be a better person, who overcomes all obstacles just for the thought of loving me and earning my love in return? I must "keep the faith" as Rilla and "trust to Providence" as Susan and believe that he will come and find me someday.
These books have also highlighted so many things that I am grateful for. I am thankful for good books - for great authors who were willing to share their ideas and talents. I'm thankful for an education and parents who instilled in me a love of reading. I am so thankful that the Fibro-fog has cleared and I've got my brain back! I went through my own "Dark Ages" when the Fibro-fog was so thick that I couldn't swim to the top. I couldn't read because I couldn't focus. I am so thankful that I've come out of that period. I'm thankful for all servicemen of all times who were willing to sacrifice and fight for freedom. I'm so thankful for that freedom that I enjoy now. I'm thankful for my faith to rely on during hard times. There is so much good in the world, so much to be thankful for!
I have several new books I'm looking forward to starting now...the hard part is deciding which one! I recently purchased the second book in the Peter series by Dave Barry. I believe it's Peter and the Shadow Thieves. While purchasing it at Borders, the clerk highly recommended The Lightning Thief. I also have Inkspell to read. My BFF sent me a mystery novel for Christmas that looks intriguing. Angelfish let me borrow North and South and she also gave me Bleak House by Charles Dickens last year for Christmas. Do I go for more juvenile fiction/fantasy? Do I try the classics? (I haven't since I got my brain back...I've been a bit nervous to test it!) So many choices! Actually, I'm thankful for choices! How boring would life be without new things to try and without any choices?
I just finished the final book in the Anne of Green Gables series. What a wonderful series of books! The final, eighth book, Rilla of Ingleside, takes place during World War I and is also a beautiful romance. It has prompted so many feelings in me. I cried over Walter - his courage, and beauty. I also cried with joy when Jem came home and was met by faithful Dog Monday. I was proud of Rilla, at how well she grew up and raised her "war-baby." It has also prompted me to ask "where is my Kenneth Ford, my Gilbert Blythe, my Mr. Knightly, or Mr. Darcy? Where is my Prince Charming? That one faithful man who loves me with all his heart? Who fights through a war or typhoid to come back to me, who is willing to patiently teach me to be a better person, who overcomes all obstacles just for the thought of loving me and earning my love in return? I must "keep the faith" as Rilla and "trust to Providence" as Susan and believe that he will come and find me someday.
These books have also highlighted so many things that I am grateful for. I am thankful for good books - for great authors who were willing to share their ideas and talents. I'm thankful for an education and parents who instilled in me a love of reading. I am so thankful that the Fibro-fog has cleared and I've got my brain back! I went through my own "Dark Ages" when the Fibro-fog was so thick that I couldn't swim to the top. I couldn't read because I couldn't focus. I am so thankful that I've come out of that period. I'm thankful for all servicemen of all times who were willing to sacrifice and fight for freedom. I'm so thankful for that freedom that I enjoy now. I'm thankful for my faith to rely on during hard times. There is so much good in the world, so much to be thankful for!
I have several new books I'm looking forward to starting now...the hard part is deciding which one! I recently purchased the second book in the Peter series by Dave Barry. I believe it's Peter and the Shadow Thieves. While purchasing it at Borders, the clerk highly recommended The Lightning Thief. I also have Inkspell to read. My BFF sent me a mystery novel for Christmas that looks intriguing. Angelfish let me borrow North and South and she also gave me Bleak House by Charles Dickens last year for Christmas. Do I go for more juvenile fiction/fantasy? Do I try the classics? (I haven't since I got my brain back...I've been a bit nervous to test it!) So many choices! Actually, I'm thankful for choices! How boring would life be without new things to try and without any choices?
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thankful Thursday
Today I am so thankful that I don't have whooping cough!! There have been at least six diagnosed cases at Tergaso's work. Apparently it can incubate for 3-12 days and then can present as just a cold for 2-4 weeks before the awful cough begins. So, Tuesday night, Tergaso's supervisor called to tell her that everyone that had any cold or cough symptoms couldn't come in to work until they either had a negative test for whooping cough or had been on antibiotics for it for at least five days and that it was all covered under workers' comp. Well, Tergaso and I have both had colds and I've started having a cough. We've both been immunized but apparently if you haven't had the immunization or a booster in the last eight years, you can still get whooping cough! So we both went in yesterday to get tested. The test is a truly horrible experience. A scraper thing is threaded up your nose and then scrapes the inside to get a sample to test. It feels like a needle is poking your eye from the inside and my sinuses are so sensitive anyway, and they were already not happy, that I was just aching the rest of the day. If it came back positive, we were looking at a five day quarantine and 2-3 months of awful coughing. Fortunately, Thankfully, Gratefully the test results came back negative! Hooray! No whooping here!
My bell choir conductor is also exceedingly grateful because we have a commitment to play a Sunday service and our annual Christmas concert, both this Sunday. He wasn't sure what he'd do if I was quarantined. And I didn't want to miss both that concert or the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert for which we have tickets on Saturday night. This is The Count's last Christmas Concert, he is retiring in April, and the King's Singers are the special guests and I really didn't want to miss it!! So, today, I am very grateful that I don't have whooping cough!
In other, semi-related news: my test results (both blood work and ultrasound) have come back normal. I don't know what the lump in my throat is, but it's not a problem with my thyroid. So, I'm also grateful that my thyroid is healthy!
In other, totally unrelated news: I'm grateful for good books. I'm almost done with Anne of the Island, and thoroughly enjoying my trip back to Prince Edward Island and L.M. Montgomery's fantastic world. I'll probably have to invest in a second set of the books soon, as I've read this set to pieces. I'm also grateful that L.M. Montgomery responded to her fans' requests for more Anne stories and the resulting 7 sequels to Anne of Green Gables. I still have five delightful books ahead of me, to be enjoyed while snuggling under warm blankets while it's snowing outside. Can life get any better?
My bell choir conductor is also exceedingly grateful because we have a commitment to play a Sunday service and our annual Christmas concert, both this Sunday. He wasn't sure what he'd do if I was quarantined. And I didn't want to miss both that concert or the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert for which we have tickets on Saturday night. This is The Count's last Christmas Concert, he is retiring in April, and the King's Singers are the special guests and I really didn't want to miss it!! So, today, I am very grateful that I don't have whooping cough!
In other, semi-related news: my test results (both blood work and ultrasound) have come back normal. I don't know what the lump in my throat is, but it's not a problem with my thyroid. So, I'm also grateful that my thyroid is healthy!
In other, totally unrelated news: I'm grateful for good books. I'm almost done with Anne of the Island, and thoroughly enjoying my trip back to Prince Edward Island and L.M. Montgomery's fantastic world. I'll probably have to invest in a second set of the books soon, as I've read this set to pieces. I'm also grateful that L.M. Montgomery responded to her fans' requests for more Anne stories and the resulting 7 sequels to Anne of Green Gables. I still have five delightful books ahead of me, to be enjoyed while snuggling under warm blankets while it's snowing outside. Can life get any better?
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