Monday, Feb 23, 2009
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I invite everybody to participate in the weekly MEME and write about any movies, television or big screen, that you’ve seen over the past week and write about it. Please feel free to use the above logo photo in your post and/or link back to the site. I will post every Sunday Night or Monday Morning on the movie I’ve seen from the past week. I’m hoping that there are other movie buffs out there who will enjoy the MEME as much as I’m hoping to! The only small request that I have is that you rate the movie out of 5 bags of popcorn (so, 1 bag out of 5, 2 bags out of 5, and so on).
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He’s Just Not That Into You
Today’s Monday Movie is featured at Literarily. Shana viewed & reviewed He’s Just Not That Into You. I read the book years ago and am looking forward to seeing the movie. I just love Ginnfer Goodwin! She’s my favorite on Big Love.
Please visit Shana’s review (HERE) and check out her thoughts on the movie. I mean… how bad can it be with Ginnfer, Scarlett, Drew and Jennifer? Not bad at all!
The Academy Awards
Click (HERE) for a complete list of the winners. I’ll share just a few thoughts on the Academy Awards last night…
I’m just thrilled that the two main categories that I were focused on turned out as I’d hoped. Kate Winslet won for Best Actress (Yeah… Clap Clap Clap) and Slum Dog Millionaire won for Best Movie (YEAH YEAH YEAH). I just loved watching the children who played Jamal, Salim and Latika on stage (so sweet)! I liked the Bollywood dance number to the music as well. I really dig that song… time to grab it off iTunes.
I’m a bit confused about Sean Penn’s speech. What in the world was he talking about when discussing Mickey O’Rourke? And, did he notice that he forgot to say “thanks” to his wife? Unless she is the “best friend” that he first acknowledges. She looked very pretty last night, BTW. Did anybody notice Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer sitting behind them? How long has it been since Brad/Angelina and Jennifer/John have been in the same room together? I read that Jennifer avoided the red carpet altogther.
Who’s dress was your favorite? I liked Marissa Tomei’s, Sarah Jessica Parker’s, and Kate Winslet’s.
I also liked the way that the awards were given for best actress and best actor. Although, I had trouble understanding what Anthony Hopkins was mumbling about. Overall, I think that it was a bit “over the top” with compliments to the actors/actresses. I mean, these are just human beings, people… not GODS! It’s acting, not heart surgery.
Another thing that I’m stewing on. Most of the best movies out there are based on books. Why don’t books get the same type of FANFARE as movies? It’s art. I’m wondering… maybe us bloggers should set up an annual awards event. It won’t be the Pulitzer… but, I’m sure many of the authors and publishers would be excited to win! Just a thought.
I have no movie to review this week, however here’s Mr. Linky. When I spot somebody’s review today, I’ll come back and highlight/spotlight them!
Please add your reviews into Mr. Linky!
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Posted in entertainment reviews
Monday, Feb 23, 2009
The twins’ team won their last game. The finished the season UNDEFEATED! My girls both made the “All-Stars” team (a first for them, EVER, in any sport). They are playing in a big “too-doo” game in March with an ESPN commentator. How cool is that? Such a proud MAMA Bear.
I’m a bit miffed at some of the parents on the team who live vicariously through their children. They acted rather immaturely about the “All-Stars” selections and involved the children. DUMB! Overall, a great basketball day and I couldn’t be happier for my girls.
Oh… and a little funny… Cole’s coach wrote her good-bye note to her stating… “Stop fighting with your sister!” Hee Hee… oh, how she caught onto them quick!
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Posted in Personal Blogs
Sunday, Feb 22, 2009
I am post-poning Misconceived, Part 4 until next Sunday. In the interim, I’ve still got my standard Sunday Salon Post to share. Today’s a big day for the twins. It’s their final basketball game of their regular season. Their team went undefeated! After the game, we’ve got a pizza party. So, it’s a day filled with basketball for the twins and I.
This week’s reads
This week, I read and reviewed:
Loving Frank
Of Mice & Men
The Triumph of Deborah
To Kill a Mockingbird
I am currently reading Something Borrowed by Emily Griffen.
In my mailbox for review
I received The Bouncing Boy by ILIA. It’s my first children’s/fantasy book review.
Challenges & Contests
THURSDAY’S THOUGHTS
We got a winner of Shaping History, Jennifer of Literate Housewife Review. I’ve asked her to contribute the next questions for Thursday’s Thoughts.
This week at Thursday’s Thoughts, we have a question from Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit:
Which author’s writing surprised you when you first read their work and what about it grabs you?
There are no longer weekly “prizes” (i.e. books, etc.). The weekly winner wins a slot on the WORLD FAMOUS Thursday’s Thoughts BlogRoll (great for expanding blogs) AND the winner picks out the next week’s Question of the Week. Once a month, I will run a giveaway with a prize. I started this MEME as a way to get to know more about the book bloggers that I read… what are those interesting tid-bits about their lives and what do they think on certain subjects? I think Serena’s question is a great one! Come on over and share your passion about the author you love!
OTHER CONTESTS
BookRoom Review’s Book Giveaway Carnival is coming up March 2nd through the 8th. I’m putting together a Reader’s Delight basket for the carnival. I’ve come up with some ideas for it and I’m hopeful that it will be a great contest!
READING CHALLENGES
I am almost finished with the Book Awards II challenge. I have only one more book to finish up before June. For “Just For the Love Of It Reading Challenge” and “J. Kaye’s 100+ Book Challenge,” I’ve read 23 books so far year-to-date.
For the participants of the Just For the Love of It Challenge, please remember to link your review posts for February HERE.
At Home
I have completed all of my tax preparation and it’s in with the CPA. It looks like I’m going to experience some blessings with the job front and mortgage front. Please keep praying! I’ll share more once all is set in stone.
A friend of mine suggested that I write a children’s book. I’ve been filled wtih ideas for one. I’m thinking about it, but am sure that field is saturated with authors. I’m going to pray about it.
Today was our local Girl Scout Council’s International Thinking Day… so cute to see the little girls carrying flags and sharing the “one-ness” of girls around the world.
I have enjoyed watching American Idol and The Bachelor this week. I don’t know what’s up with the “upcoming episodes” of The Bachelor. Chris Harrison makes it sound very strange. American Idol, the three that I voted for all made it. Hmmm…
Thanks, all, for reading not only this post, but the others as well. Your readership means the world to me!
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Posted in Personal Blogs
Saturday, Feb 21, 2009
Author: Harper Lee
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Warner Books/Hachette
Website: http://www.harperlee.com/
Type: Fiction: American History
ISBN #: 978-0446310789
Pages: 281 Mass Paperback
Purchase: $7.99 at Amazon.Com (HERE)
The Story Line
This is a book with a couple of different story lines maintained within it. The story is narrated by Scout Finch, an observant young girl living in Maycomb, Alabama. She lives with her older brother Jem, and her father Atticus. Scout’s mother has passed away, so she remains tight on the shirt-tails of Jem learning the way of the world from an intellegent viewpoint beyond her years.
In this small town, Atticus is a lawyer who has been appointed by the courts to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a poor, white girl Mayella. It becomes obvious during Tom’s trial that he was physically unable to commit this crime due to an injury to one of his arms. In addition, during this trial, it becomes clear that Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell, was the actual perpetrator of beating up Mayella after her sexual advances towards Tom. Despire Atticus’ convincing defense of Tom, a jury of twelve cannot acquit him simply based on the color of his skin. Bob seeks revenge towards Atticus for bringing to light the truths about his violence against Mayella, although he denies the truth of it. Bob’s revenge is eventually enacted upon Scout and Jem one night on their way home from a school pageant. Scout and Jem are saved from this attack by their neighbor with a mysterious past, Boo Radley.
Boo has lived inside his home since an incident with the law as a young man/teen. Rumors have surfaced about Boo’s craziness leading Scout and Jem to fear the worst about him looming within his home. In the earlier points of the story, Scout and Jem’s fascination with Boo have them attempting to draw him out of his seclusion, including leaving items for him in a tree.
Throughout the story, both Atticus and his black cook, Calpurnia, exemplify the true moral compasses to Scout and the reader. The bring light to the importance of equality for all men regardless of race, color, or creed. They are the voice of reason in this town’s ever-present injustice.
My Review
This Pulitzer Prize winning book (1961), has received numerous other awards over the years. After reading upon Harper Lee’s history, I find this book to be loosely based on her life growing up in rural Alabama. She is a descendant of Robert E. Lee and the daughter of a lawyer, who attended law school, herself. In 2007, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the truth in the content of this book. The truth I am speaking of is that no man, nor any woman, should be sentenced to a crime that he/she did not commit solely based on the color of his/her skin. In addition, no man or group of people should be locked up and judged based on their religious beliefs (as identified by Scout’s observations of Hilter’s actions against the Jews). For the time that this book was written, I find it brave of Harper Lee to speak such truths in a nation still filled with so much prejudice against the African-American population of our country.
This book has so many other characters and nuiances than as described in the story line above. There are many sub-stories about the internal prejudices of this town based on the breeding and wealth of its members. For example, Scout raises the question as to why she can’t play with a little boy just based upon who his family is.
Scout’s viewpoint, as well as Jem’s at times, represents how we should look at others and what true justice should look like. Atticus is the most patient and loving father that any girl could ever want. Dill, Scout’s childhood sweetheart, to me represented the innocence of love and joy and the naivety of the human’s mind. Calpurnia just enveloped me with warmth and integrity. The characters of this book are all key to the overall message of the story.
This book is written with southern dialects and maintains much in it about what the life was like in its time period. It maintains a high level of symbolism and leads way to study on meanings laid within the text of the book.
On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale”:
This is the part of my review that I regret. This is obviously a national literary treasure to our country. The content is important and I believe this to be a very good choice for American Literature studies in school. It is very well written and loved by, I’m sure, most or all. However, I just didn’t PERSONALLY find a connection to the book as I had hoped. Let me give an example, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, I was deeply connected to the narrator and the story and I loved that book. However, with Scout and Mockingbird, I didn’t feel that same connection. I did appreciate, however, the message of the book and couldn’t agree more whole-heartedly. For example, read this key passage:
“… As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it – whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.”
This book is filled with truths like this one that are relevant and timeless. For that, I appreciate this literature and respect it greatly. (Now comes the big “However”). However, I just didn’t really connect to this book emotionally. I appreciate it, but I didn’t love it. Therefore, strictly from my PERSONAL viewpoint, I am awarding this book for the genre Fiction: American History an 8 out of 10. I must add, however, that this is a classic. If you haven’t read it and you are interested in reading this content, I would definitely recommend it! Reading this work only would make you a more diversified, intelligent and well-read person.
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Posted in Books Books Books
Saturday, Feb 21, 2009
I’m Giving Away…
If y’all don’t know Tracy over at BookRoomReviews.com, let me just share that she is just a super nice person. She gives a lot back to the blogging community and has always been very good to me. I won the coolest gadget from her site… a PetCam. I’ve charged it, however have been awaiting a “rainless” day before I set it loose on one of the pups. Anyway, she is always hosting some cool giveaway or another but this is her GRAND-DADDY OF ‘EM ALL WEEK! So, be prepared for the carnival. I’ve seen several book bloggers signed up for the carnival already, so you guys who like entering contests are in for a real treat.
I always tend to giveaway the same ole’, same ole’. I’m trying to think about what I’d like to give. I’m thinking a Reader’s Delight basket. What would that include? I’m thinking….
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Cozy Slippers or Super Awesome Warm Socks
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Tea For One
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A fantastic book light
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A blankie
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A BookCharmer bookmark
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A pair of cute reading glasses
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A ChainCharmer reading-glasses chain (if you haven’t seem ‘em… bummer! they’re super cute)
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A couple of books
Yeah… that sound’s like a great prize. At least, that’s what I’d like to get in the mail. So, as I compile the goodies for my basket and prepare for the carnival, I’ll keep you posted.
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Posted in Contests
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