Archive for May, 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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Movie:  Pride & Prejudice

Starring:  Keira Knightley,  Talulah Riley, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Simon Woods, Kelly Reilly, Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Friend, Tom Hollander, Judi Dench

Genre:  Drama

Runtime: 127 Minutes

MPAA Rating:  PG

Directed By: Joe Wright

As soon as I finished the book, I borrowed a copy of this movie from my friend Danielle.  The weird thing is that I was just talking to my friend Lori about the movie and she loved loved loved it.  However, Lori hasn’t read the book and Danielle has.  It’s interesting that they both love the movie equally, read or no-read.

And, I just read the book and was surprised how much I loved it.  My book review is HERE.

But, this is my movie review.  First off, I wasn’t thrilled with the casting except for Mr. Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet, Catherine, Mary, and Lydia.  For the rest of them, I want a re-cast!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Keira Knightley, however I didn’t think she was right for Lizzy.  I never pictured Jane being blonde and fair like that.  Mr. Collins was entirely too short… I wanted a chubbier Mr. Collins.  Mr. Bingley wasn’t nearly as handsome as I expected. 

Despite my boo-hooing on the looks of the cast, they all did a fantastic acting job!  Perhaps if I’d never read the book and formed these characters in my mind, I would have just loved the movie cast as it is.  However, I’m just so emotionally connected to the characters after reading the book that I was rather opinionated about their appearances. 

Onto Keira Knightley in the role of Lizzy.  What I didn’t care for was all of the smiling and “coy-ish-ness” that she kept putting out there.  In my opinion, Lizzy wasn’t the flirt that Keira portrayed her as.  Lizzy was more able to stand up for herself and I just didn’t see her with all of that nonsense that she puts out in this movie.  But, that is my interpretation of Lizzy and maybe other women have different views of her.  That’s the coolest thing about this story!

I loved loved loved Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet and thought he was perfectly cast!   I also rather enjoyed this Mr. Darcy… especially his legs.  I don’t know how Lizzy could have ever turned down this Mr. Darcy!  The scene in the rain is my absolute favorite of the movie and very memorable.  I just like the way that Mr. Darcy loves her!

I must admit that I am dying to see the one with Colin Firth.  Got to get my hands on that one!

Overall, this movie was a wonderful love story and strong drama.   I would recommend it despite my opinions about the casting.  Out of 5 bags of popcorn, genre drama (classics)… I give this:

For all of you who posted a Monday’s Movie post last week, please feel free to add them to Mr. Linky this week.  I, unfortunately, had to switch readers for the blogs I subscribe to and have lost the posts.  Thanks!

Please add your reviews into Mr. Linky!

This week’s Sunday Salon post has a ton of goodies on the new Summer Series television which aired this week and last.  If you’re a TV Junkie like me, you might like some of the links and videos below!

This Week’s Reads

This week, I read and reviewed: 

In My Mailbox for Review

I received The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns by  Elizabeth Leiknes, Live Relationally: Lessons from the Women of Genesis by Lenya Heitzig & Penny Rose, Live Deeply: A Study in the Parables of Jesus by Lenya Heitzig & Penny Rose, I’m So Happy For You by Lucinda Rosenfeld, and Hollywood is Like High School With Money by Zoey Dean.

Contests 

I’ve announced my winners for all contests.  Congratulations to my winners! 

I’ll be giving away a copy of Sunnyside Blues by Mary Carter this week and The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff in June.

Reading Challenges 

On J. Kaye’s 100+ Reading Challenge…  I’m at 72 books done.  Therefore, my statistical update for this challenge is that I’m 72% completed with 41.67% of the year completed.  This puts me ahead of schedule by 30.33%.   I have a feeling that I’ll have this challenge done by the end of summer!

I did get off my butt and pick my choices for The Classics Book Challenge!  I also joined the Book Awards III Challenge and have identified the books that I’m going to read.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Book Awards Challenge because it gets me to read incredible books that I wouldn’t have otherwise ever considered reading.  I’m going to read Gilead and Half of A Yellow Sun as well as Middlesex.  I’m excited!

Lainey Grace Update

Lainey Grace and Lori are back to the hospital for their 4th round of chemo.  This is an expected longer stay for them, however SO FAR things are going well for them.  Lori reports in her Caring Bridge Journal that they are eating and getting more rest than usual!   They got brownies in the mail and visitors… NICE!  My prayers have been for a better hospital stay for the two of them this time around and it never ceases to amazes me when The Lord answers your prayers, no matter how big or how small!  

For all of you who have kept this family in your prayers, I personally want to thank you, again!  In case you haven’t read Lainey Grace’s story, you can access it by clicking  HERE. 

At Home & On TV 

American Idol

I know that the show is over but… what is the deal with the daily news on Adam Lambert’s sexuality?  I thought that everybody kind of knew by now what was up with him.  God knows I’ve ranted about it enough.  Clay Aiken is getting involved and now Adam is publicly stating that it’s “okay” if Aiken “rides his coat-tails.”    Huh?  And, yet in more news, Ryan Seacrest is partying it up with a buxom blonde in Vegas and everybody is shocked that he’s a boob-guy.   Why?  He’s rich and famous… if he’s into hotties, well I say “go for it, Ryan!”   

The Spelling Chronicles

This week Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood aired.  Now, I am secretly addicted to that show.  I loved all the previous seasons and read her book sTori Telling.   However, now I’m all grumpy about Tori.  First, I can’t get a review copy of her book if my life depended upon it.  I guess she’s just too popular for little ole’ me.  I know that we all can’t get review copies just because we blog… but, I was really hoping.   I may avoid buying it and checking it out from the library.  Well, the season’s first episode was disappointing.  Let’s outline her problems:

These are problems?  She lives an enchanted life and if she continues to “boo-hoo” about it she will end up looking like a complete idiot.  Be careful Tor-Tor!

Although, I have to give her MOMMY HUGS for doing a charity event for The Ronald McDonald House at Build-A-Bear.  WONDERFUL, Tori!

Now with her mother writing her own book, Tori is freaking out just a bit.  Keep in mind that she continually bagged her mother in this first episode of the season claiming that she has absolutely no idea how to parent because she had no example to learn from.

So now, it’s all over the headlines that Candy Spelling is claiming that Tori’s absence from the family killed her own father.  She states, “My daughter one day decided that she wasn’t speaking to my husband, myself and my son, and that’s how it’s continued for the last, oh gosh, four or five years.”   She then goes on to say, “And it was sad, that’s what killed my husband, actually. He just didn’t want to live after that. He [had] just done everything he could possibly do for his daughter, and she wanted no part of him once he couldn’t do anything for her.”   Well, well, well. 

I sense this is just the beginning!

So You Think You Can Dance

I think that I’m in HOG HEAVEN!  Four hours of SYTYCD!  Oh, the pitter patter of my beating heart!  I love this show!  Since this is Season 5 and I’ve watched all prior seasons, one of the beloved contestants is this guy who has nick-named himself “Sex.”  He’s not a trained dancer and he brings his mother to auditions.  This week we saw a dance-off between Sex and Leo.  It was hysterical!  I think that Nigel is actually developing a soft-spot for him and he let Sex go to choreography.  And, although he didn’t dance it well, it looked like he really tried.  Good for you, Sex!  Check out this great video (below) for the Sex-Leo Dance off!  If nothing else, you’ll get some good laughs out of it!

This week is Vegas Week and I’m going to be glued to the tv watching the dancers try to learn the choreography, especially that of the talented Mia Michaels!

The Bachelorette 

I’ve held a little voting contest on the “hotties” and Jake is, by far, the leader.  Oh, he’s so cute!  Here’s my post on this week’s episode and please continue to visit me on Tuesday for weekly updates!

Here Come The Newlyweds 

This is just a sweet program.  It’s several couples competing for a boatload of cash.  It comes on after The Bachelorette and gives me a very well-rounded Monday night.  It’s just a fun, game-showish reality show that I like. 

Wipeout Wednesdays!

My daughters and I love THEM BIG BALLS!  This show is so completely brainless and we just love the commentators on this show.  DeeDee was rooting for “Cheap Date Guy” on this week’s season opener.  And, he won!   I actually think the commentary is funnier than the wipeouts!  I can’t even imagine trying to run these obstacle courses, especially with the new catapult in the $50,000 final round.  SCARY!

The Goode Family

ABC promoted the HECK out of this show.  Every time I was watching another show, they were advertising this show at the bottom of the screen (which drives me crazy).  But, I am a HUGE Family Guy person, so I thought I’d check it out. 

It’s about a vegan, earth-conscious family who are all about being politically correct, earth-wise.  It’s a dad (college professor), mom (wine loving wanna-be best mom ever),  teenage daughter (whatever, MOM!) and an adopted “African American” son (from South Africa and named UmBuTu).  The problem with this show is that they aired WAY too much of the funniest stuff in the promos all week.  So, there wasn’t much funny to watch in the actual episode.  I think I’ll give it another spin next week and see if it’s any better.  If not… I’m going to give it a thumbs down and ditch it.

As always, my thanks to all of you for reading not only this post, but the others as well.   Your readership means the world to me!  AND, your comments are invaluable to me!

Author:       Helen Humphreys

Publisher:    W. W. Norton & Co.

ISBN:          978-0-393-06720-0

Website:      http://www.hhumphreys.com/

 Type:         Fiction:Historical

Pages:        180 Hardcover

Purchase:    $13.89 @ Amazon.com (HERE)

The Story

“As darkness falls on the evening of November 14, 1940, Harriet Marsh stands on the roof of the historic Coventry cathedral and marvels at the magnificence of frost glittering beneath a full moon.  But it is a bomber’s moon, and the Luftwaffe is coming to unleash destruction on the city.  For Harriet; for the young fire watcher named Jeremy who stands beside her; and for his artist mother, Maeve, hiding in a cellar, this single night of horror will resonate for the rest of their lives.”

(Above excerpt is from the cover of Coventry)

The Review

This novel, which reads as quickly as a novella, spans the lifetimes of Harriet, Jeremy and Maeve and yet primarily occurs over the course of a bombing raid that fell upon them overnight.  In reading the story of the bombing of Coventry on November 14, 1940, I felt saddened as I watched a city be shamelessly destroyed and lives pitifully wasted in the name of “war.”   I viewed the bombings through the eyes of these characters and shook my head in disgust for what happened in our not-so-distant past. 

As horses ran free and buildings turned to ash, these characters made life-or-death decisions not evening knowing if those decisions would keep them safe from the bombs.  That kind of fear I cannot even begin to imagine.  How do you know if you stay.. and, if so, where?.. or to exile… and, if so, to where?  Viewing this story from there eyes was unsettling, to say the least.

In the aftermath of that fateful night, the reader accompanies both Harriet and Maeve as they assess their immediate losses in the wake of this WWII destruction and recall the great tragedies suffered at the hands of WWI.  Much of their lives and loves were lost to the senseless acts of war.  It makes me ponder such great loss… the loss of your lover or your child… how do you recover, if ever?

The most memorable quote of this book for me came in the form of a poem:

“For hours, for no reason that I could imagine, I drew black swans.  Hunched over a piece of cardboard on the floor of the hotel room, the coal softened to dust on this surface beneath me.

What I wanted was the simple pleasure of seeing you again.  But you didn’t come, couldn’t come.  I don’t know how to make you return to me.

But I did come to know the black swan.  I knew the long snake flex of its neck, knew the shape of the body was a leaf, a wing, an open hand, the human heart.  I fastened these images to paper, called them swan.  And then I rose, black dust dripping from my hands, my arms spread to the empty sky, as I walked out through broken sheets feathered with shadow-darkness lifting me home.”

There is another fantastic review of this book at Anna’s website… one of MY PERSONAL FAVORITES… Diary of an Eccentric.

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”

This book was a difficult story to absorb, yet very beautifully written.  The story is thought provoking and shadowed with sadness.  But, like other good historical fiction that I’ve read, I learned something from reading this book and I’m glad that I ventured to read this story.  For the genre Fiction:Historical, I am going to rate this book a 8.5 OUT OF 10. 

My thanks to Erica for this poignant and compelling story!

I recently attended one of those “naughty housewives” parties at my girlfriend’s home.  Over a terrific dinner and sangria, we learned about every type of “naughty accessory” one might have.  Now, had I attended such a party five years ago, I think that I may have had a different experience than this recent one.  I was a down-right party-pooper!  It seemed as though everybody was chatting up  their relationships with their husbands, boyfriends, or lovers… well, except for me and just one other gal.  Why? Because I’m a singleton.  And,  aside from the great company of gals, the party was just depressing me.  As we passed the (ahem, “toys”) from one person to the next, I didn’t even stop to look… I just handed it along.  You know, like when people are passing around cards at a party and it comes to your turn and you don’t want to read it at all, so you just pass it along like it’s the salt at the dinner table.  Except these were… well, you know!

Being single was something that I used to enjoy SOOO much in my early thirties.  “Too many men and too little time” was my motto.  Of course, I had to be terribly discreet in my dating habits so that it was never around my girls.  I did a good job of completely separating the two because I didn’t want “just any guy” around my children or in my home.  Dating was fun and adventurous and I craved the thrill of that first date and subsequent first kiss.  But, things have changed for me.  I’m not that girl anymore.

I have been out of the “love-of-my-life relationship” for nearly 3 years now.  In such time, I can count on one hand the number of dates that I’ve been on!  What happened to spicy Scorpio girl?  Where did my MOJO go?  I ponder about the reasons why I’m just not interested in pursuing an active dating life.  Insecurity?   Age?   Still hung up on the “Ex?”  Yeah, maybe all three.  But, that’s never stopped me before!   Nothing helps you get over a lost love like a new one, right?  I often wonder, what has happened to the outgoing creature I used to be?  I want her back!

Most days I don’t bother with makeup.  When I run errands, I could careless if I looked “cute” or not; comfort is my new M.O.  The hair is colored, nails are done, and eyebrows are waxed… but, despite the fundamentals being done, there’s not that certain somethin’-somethin’ in my energy anymore.  I’ve put on and taken off weight and it doesn’t seem to make a difference in my approach to wanting to date.  Although, when I am at the gym I admittedly get caught up staring at all those fine male creatures sweating around me!  (Note to self:  Go there more!)   Yet, nothing ever comes of the gym trips nor my runs to the grocery store.

Internet Dating… uh… NOOOOOOO!  I am horrible at it!  I take things way too personally.  These 40-something year old  ”men” in Southern California are all looking for those hard-bodied, no-children, and no-past-relationships arm-pieces.  They’ve reached their financial success goals  and are now ready to settle down with that “perfect” one.  God knows, I’m NO 20-Something-Year-Old-Barbie!  Besides, these guys prescreen your profile just on what you’ve filled in the blank and on your photos.  I’m convinced that I am so much more than my ”body type,” “religion,” or “turn-on’s!”  So, I can date older guys, right?  Truthfully, I really don’t want to date somebody much more than five years older than myself.  I’ve dated older guys in the past and it just wasn’t as fun as dating somebody my own age.   

So, what are my options?  I guess I can move to Alaska.  Maybe the men up there won’t be so caught up in meeting Miss. Perfect-Twenty-Something and I can meet a down-to-earth mountain man!   I can fish and I like salmon.  Yes, this sounds like fun… but, I think the twins would outright protest and Claire’s thin coat would keep her locked permanently indoors.  So much for Alaska!

Or, perhaps I can pursue a mail-order husband from The Soviet Block.  But, I can’t afford him.

Maybe I should move to a rural, country area where there are cowboys.  Yes, I like cowboys and I can learn to love more country music.  But, would this city girl ever really adjust?  And, what job would I have?   

My fears settle in…

Will I live out the rest of my days alone?

Will I become that born-again-virgin or scary spinster that I so fear? 

Many of my married friends say, “the grass is always greener.”  I retort, “yeah, but YOU can have sex any time YOU want to!”   You married ladies, don’t undervalue that asset you have!    

More than anything, when will my MOJO return to me?  Or, is it gone forever?  Maybe it’s time for a reinvention of myself… a new me with a different somethin’-somethin’?    Is it possible to lose all of my fears and just “go for it?”   Well, why not?   I think I should set a goal… perhaps 5 dates by the end of the year.  That’s do-able, right?  If anything, my disasterous dates would make great blog posts to keep you all in stiches!  Yes, that’s it… my goal is set… 5 dates by 12.31.09!  And, at least 1 great kiss!

Any dating tips?  Suggestions for meeting men?

Wish me luck!

We’ve Got 3 Winners Of April & Oliver!

First, congratulations to Gaby at Starting Fresh!

There were 205 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Gaby317
2. Gaby317
3. Tea
4. Tiffany S.
5. Melissa Ssh
6. Kim V.
7. Jessica Marie
8. Nomad
9. Melanie
10. Christina B

(The list is 205… so, I am just showing the top 10 on the first draw.  It looks like you were meant to win this one, Gaby!)

Timestamp: 2009-05-29 06:00:36 UTC

Next, congratulations to Kim of Page After Page!

There were 205 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Kim (PageAfter)
2. Kim (PageAfter)
3. Victoria
4. Vasilly
5. Jo-Jo
6. Heather M
7. nfmgirl
8. Vicki (ilratb)
9. Vera
10. Wrighty

(How often does this happen on Random.Org?  Wierd!!)

Timestamp: 2009-05-29 06:07:49 UTC

 

Finally, congratulations to Kitten22!

There were 205 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Kitten22
2. Wrighty
3. SarCraw
4. MJ Coward
5. Kim V.
6. Jo-Jo
7. Indigo
8. Mishia
9. Anna Diary
10. Sandy

Timestamp: 2009-05-29 06:09:21 UTC

 

 

Please join me for another wonderful giveaway of The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff in June!