Return of the Blog

One of the things that I decided to do in 2014 was (surprisingly not "blog more") to buy a book every week for the entire year. As is the case with many of life's choices, one thing leads to another. I wanted to keep track of the books that I buy and blogging about them seemed like a great way to do that. Especially since a couple of people have expressed an interest in following my book choices. So here is post numero uno.

My first choice was The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward. I remember my mom reading this book aloud to us when I was younger and I still remember many of the stories from it. My clearest thought from the book is this: What a mighty God we serve! I cannot wait to read again of the ways that God taught and provided for Gladys.

Perhaps I will do a full-fledged review on this book after I read it again. For now I'm just chronicling my first choice. I am planning on purchasing a variety of books... and a new shelf to keep them all on. Some of my posts for the 52 books of 2014 may be short, but you're welcome to stay tuned!

Happy Inside Out

     I am so excited about how the next few months of my life are looking! In case I don't have opportunity to post much, here's the plan...

     On Monday I am boarding the bus for Wisconsin. I will be there in WI until mid-April and then... TATADA!!! I get to cross something off of my bucket list by taking the train to Virginia! I will be there for a few weeks to help a dear friend of mine prepare for her wedding. :) I plan to return to Colorado the second week of May. I won't be back for long, though! My travels will take me (almost immediately) to Arizona for another summer at Grand View Camp!

     So yeah... *very* exciting!

     By the way, I watched Dolphin Tale this weekend. It was a pretty good movie!

     There is something so magical about sea creatures. It must have been great for the actors to get to be with the dolphins! I quite envy them. Ish. =P

     Anyhow... I should get to bed. I hope to be able to post while I'm gone, but I really don't know what to expect. We'll see!

Sherlocked

I love Sherlock Holmes. Any time I hear his name, I perk up and wonder what might be new for his 21st century fans. It was over a year ago that I saw something online. "Sherlock BBC" Apparently Sherlock was coming to television... as a 21st century detective. I was skeptical. Oh, so skeptical. Yet very interested.

Finally, Masterpiece Mystery aired the episodes here in the states and I was able to watch them online. The first episode was amazing. I decided that Sherlock definitely worked in the 21st century and that Benedict Cumberbatch was the perfect choice to play him! Here are my reviews of the show:

[I took out some of the spoilers, but some are still there... FYI]

Season One Episode One: A Study in Pink

The police are investigating the deaths of a series mysterious suicides that are all linked by the same pill. Detective Inspector Lestrade turns to Sherlock Holmes for help in figuring out the strange deaths - deaths which Sherlock believes to be the work of a serial killer. Meanwhile, Sherlock is introduced to John Watson and the two decide to become flat mates. John starts to get to know and trust Holmes in spite of the consulting detective's arrogance. Sherlock eventually discovers the serial killer and goes to see him, careless of the danger he is placing himself in. John saves Sherlock's life by shooting the serial killer who reveals that the entire scheme was invented by a man called Moriarty.

Negatives: Foul language pops up here and there. I can't remember how many times because I edited it out. Though Sherlock and Watson are *NOT* gay, the gay lifestyle is mentioned and approved of in a couple of instances. Gross.

I was a bit disturbed by the gay references in this episode, but my relief that Sherlock and Watson are not gay themselves was intense. I had been quite worried about that aspect.  In any event, this episode was my favorite of the first season.

Season One Episode Two: The Blind Banker

Holmes is hired by an old friend to investigate a mysterious break-in at a bank in the City. He discovers that symbols spray-painted onto an office wall are a coded message intended for an employee of the bank, who is later discovered dead in his flat. The next day, a journalist is killed and the same symbols are found nearby. Holmes and Watson follow a trail of clues that link the two dead men to a Chinese smuggling ring, who are trying to retrieve a valuable item that one of them stole. Holmes eventually cracks the coded message based on Suzhou numerals and a book cipher, but not before Watson and a female friend are kidnapped by the criminals. Holmes rescues Watson's friend but the leader of the gang escapes. After escaping, the leader of the gang is in communication with her superior, who is identified by the initial "M".

Negatives: One or maybe two swearwords.

I felt like parts of this episode were a little darker than necessary, but overall I enjoyed it. I didn't think they showed Sherlock's abilities to their full potential, but it was still a good episode.

Season One Episode Three: The Great Game

Sherlock Holmes is commissioned by his brother Mycroft to investigate the suspicious death of a government employee who was working on a top-secret defence project: the Bruce-Partington Project. After apparently rejecting the case and handing it over to Watson, Holmes begins to be taunted by a criminal who puts his victims into explosive vests and sets Holmes deadlines to solve the apparently unrelated cases, which include a twenty-year-old cold case involving the shoes of a drowned boy, the disappearance of a businessman, the death of a TV personality and the death of an art gallery guard. As Holmes solves the cases, he finds links between them. After clearing up the original case of the civil servant, Holmes tries to force his unseen adversary to reveal himself. Near the end of the episode Holmes and Moriarty reach a standoff and Jim reveals that he is responsible for the crimes. [The episode ends on a cliffhanger mid-standoff. GAH!]

Negatives: Some language. Watson spends the night with his girlfriend. A few gay references.

This episode shows Sherlock's character quite well in my opinion. He gets so wrapped up in what he's doing and he has a total lack of normal human emotion. This episode was better than the second one as far as showing off just who Sherlock is.

Overall, I was quite impressed with the show. The bad things were pretty easy to edit out for the most part. There is some violence in this show as well as a few intense moments, but I didn't put that in as a negative because, quite frankly, I don't see it as such. =) Anyhow... Ending the season on a cliffhanger was so cruel! I spent a year coming up with a hundred possibilities for how things were going to end. I didn't even come close to what actually happened in the first episode of season two.

Season Two Episode One: A Scandal in Belgravia

Mycroft hires Holmes and Watson to retrieve compromising photos of a minor royal held on the camera phone of Irene Adler, a ruthless and brilliant dominatrix who also trades in classified information extracted from her rich and powerful clients. Holmes obtains Adler's phone, but discovers it is booby-trapped and requires a code to disarm it. When Adler discovers that the CIA are on her trail, she disappears and is then apparently killed, only to reappear months later when the coast is clear. Adler manipulates Holmes into deciphering a coded message on her phone which she obtained from another well-connected client. She sends the message to Moriarty, who in turn uses it to foil a British counter-terror operation.

Negatives: This is by far the worst thing that was ever put in front of my eyes. There was some language. Strong gay references. Waaaaaay too much disrobing.

I cannot recommend that anyone watch this episode. It's a pity because there is so much potential in it. There are some great lines! If they could have just made Irene Adler a different person... In any event, after this episode, I was hesitant to watch the next one. A friend of mine said that she's going to give the show up altogether.

Season Two Episode Two: Hound of the Baskervilles

Sherlock and John are contacted by Henry Knight, a man plagued by the traumatic memories of the death of his father at the hands of a monstrous hound on Dartmoor years before. Investigating Dewer's Hollow, a local spot where the beast was allegedly seen, as well as the nearby Ministry of Defence testing site Baskerville, Holmes and Watson uncover a conspiracy wherein one of the Baskerville scientists, Dr. Frankland, is continuing the work of an aborted project to create a hallucinogenic gas for military use. The episode concludes with a confined Jim Moriarty being taken out of his cell.

Negatives: Foul language (increased from the first season). I can't remember any other negatives right now...

This was the creepiest episode as far as I'm concerned. I still really liked it, though! I think it could rate as one of the scariest things that I have ever watched, but that's because the hound kept bringing back memories of a nightmare I've had since I was pretty young. (That nightmare including the wolves from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) I want to see this episode again, though... I wasn't able to watch it all in one sitting because I got interrupted.

Season Two Episode Three: The Reichenbach Fall

After a series of high-profile cases lead Sherlock to fame, Moriarty launches a simultaneous heist on the Tower of London, Bank of England and Pentonville Prison, for which he allows himself to be captured and put on trial. He secures a not guilty verdict through blackmailing the jury and visits Sherlock, explaining he still intends to 'burn' him, taunting him with a "final problem" for him to solve. Soon afterwards, Moriarty arranges for the kidnapping of the children of an American ambassador, who are terrified of Sherlock once he has them rescued. This, in conjunction with the ease with which Sherlock solves the case, leads to Sherlock becoming a suspect. Sherlock escapes arrest and soon learns Moriarty has constructed a fake identity as an actor hired by Sherlock, and has seeded the press with the story. The two meet on the roof of a hospital, where Moriarty explains that assassins will kill John, Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade if Sherlock does not commit suicide; he wants Holmes to do this to cement his planted story of Sherlock being a fraud. After a tense conversation in which Moriarty realizes the two are enough alike that Sherlock could extract the code to call off the assassins from him, Moriarty shoots himself. Sherlock calls John and 'confesses' to being a fraud (which John refuses to believe) and then apparently steps off the roof. He is vilified in the press. John and Mrs. Hudson meet alone at his grave to say their goodbyes; the final seconds show Sherlock watching from afar, having faked his death in a manner unseen by the viewers.

I. loved. this. episode. It was done so well! And I think I have an idea about how Sherlock survived, but I'm most likely wrong. I was way off base when last season ended! But I'll write my idea down somewhere just in case I'm right... then I can tell everyone that I am a genius! LOL

In conclusion, here is something from Wikipedia:
"Steven Moffat felt that he and co-creator Mark Gatiss had outdone Conan Doyle in their version of Holmes' fall and Moffat added that, in that much-discussed sequence, there was still "a clue everybody's missed." After the end of the final episode of the second series, Moffat and Gatiss both announced on Twitter that a third series was commissioned at the same time as series two. Steven Moffat has said that he is hoping the series will be screened "hopefully before the year's out.", though this has been contested by executive producer Sue Vertue. Moffat aspires to tackle the details from the original stories that are rarely covered in adaptations, such as Watson marrying and living apart from Holmes. A part of the resolution to "The Reichenbach Fall" has been filmed."

I used Wikipedia for the plot synopsis, too. And got the pictures from google. So there's the credit where credit is due. I have high hopes for the next season... those hopes including an absence of Irene Adler.

Wrap-up

Well, here I am to wrap a couple of things up. I forgot to post the movie quote answers (nobody guessed on them anyhow...), I forgot to answer that last question in the literary character quiz, and I promised to tell you what I did with my book vase. 

First up: The movie quotes

1. "Why can't they just say, 'go to this place, and here is the treasure; spend it wisely'?"

Riley Poole in National Treasure

2. "She batted them pretty little eyes at you, and you fell for it like an egg from a tall chicken!"

Tex in Charade

3. "I don't believe that intelligence can be accurately quantified, but I do have an IQ of 187, an eidetic memory, can read 20,000 words per minute.

[beat]

Yes, I am a genius."

Dr. Spencer Reid in Criminal Minds

4. "Just stop calling it a mushroom."

Victor in Letters to Juliet

5. Character one: "Look at that demure little head. And all of us wondering what's inside it."
 Character two: We'll find out soon enough. 

Duchess of Sutherland and Lord Melbourne in Young Victoria

~*~*~

Next: I forgot about number twenty-one in the quiz I did the other day. Oops!

21. Margaret Hale and Beth March reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by Inigo Montoya's sinister secret organization. Lady Catherine volunteers to help them,but it is later discovered that she is actually a spy for Inigo. Meanwhile, Inigo has kidnapped Edmond Dantes in an attempt to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of Molly Gibson, they seek out Jane Eyre, who gives them what they need to complete their quest. What title would you give this fiction?

The Wayward Spaniard 

~*~*~

Last: I found something to put in my vase! A collection of feathers that I found at Michaels. There were so many great things that were small enough to fit in the vase, but this is what felt right to me. =)

Hello, 2012!

One of my resolutions this year was to both journal and blog more. So here I am, practically a week into the new year, finally sitting down to type up a blog post. I'm *still* lost as to what to blog since I'm so far behind in everything I was blogging. So I'm just going to start fresh! Here are my blog goals for this coming week:

• Post at least three times
• Reply to comments that have been waiting here... forever
• Comment on all of my favorite blogs at least once this week

Not a lot, but something to look forward to, I suppose! =) And just for kicks, here's a few movie quotes for ya'll to guess. I'll post the answers on Saturday. 

1. "Why can't they just say, 'go to this place, and here is the treasure; spend it wisely'?"

2. "She batted them pretty little eyes at you, and you fell for it like an egg from a tall chicken!"

3. "I don't believe that intelligence can be accurately quantified, but I do have an IQ of 187, an eidetic memory, can read 20,000 words per minute...

[pause]

Yes, I am a genius."
4. "Just stop calling it a mushroom."
5. Character one: "Look at that demure little head. And all of us wondering what's inside it."
 Character two: We'll find out soon enough.

That's all for now, folks! 

It's a Good Life

I am SO blessed! Sometimes I forget... but I get reminded a lot, so hopefully things balance out somewhere along the way. =P

Anyhow, my wonderful friend Sarah came over for awhile to keep me company while Erica is visiting our grandparents in Florida. It was a blast!

After AWANA on Wednesday night, Sarah came home with me. That actually almost didn't happen because (thanks to me) we missed our exit and were headed towards Kansas for awhile before we could turn around! Yipes! We finally made it to my house, though... and the fun really began!

Brownies and ice cream and a movie. Great trio, if you ask me! We watched The Inheritance and then Enchanted.

When the movies were over, we talked for awhile and watched some youtube videos. A silly llama song, David After Dentist, etc etc etc. Around 4:45 we finally crawled into bed, planning to sleep in for  (quite) awhile in the morning.

BUUUUUUUUUUUUT... My mom woke me up at 8 and told me that she had free tickets to the Colorado Symphony. If Sarah and I wanted to go, we had to leave in 45 minutes. So we scrambled to get dressed and get some breakfast before going to the symphony. It was great! I love music!!!!! It was SO worth getting up in spite of lack of sleep. Sarah and I went back to bed as soon as we got home, though. =)

We woke up in time for supper (chicken chili... one of my favorites!!!!!) and after supper we left to go downtown to pass out tracts to people along the 16th Street Mall. It was great! I've never done something like that - just handing tracts out along the sidewalk. I have gone door-to-door, though. It was quite a bit different. Sarah said she thinks that doing it on the street is nicer, but I think (from my limited experience) that I like door-to-door better. Maybe that will change after going to the mall a few more times. =D 

Once we got home we watched the first episode of Sherlock. Sarah hadn't seen it before, so she was slightly (or should I say enormously?) creeped out at various points. In the end, she fell every bit as much in love with this show as I am. [NOT that I condone everything in Sherlock!!! The gay stuff makes me sick.] 

Anyhow... I've had a great couple of days! Thanks, Sarah!

Voyage

On Saturday I finally got to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After so many people going on and on about how different from the book it was and how HORRIBLE the movie itself was, I went to watch it with high hopes and low expectations, if that makes sense.

I. LOVED. it. Yeah... they really strayed in some areas. But I still liked it. The cast was (still) amazing! The colors! Oh. my. word. Love love loved!!! I hope they'll look as good on DVD as they did on blu-ray. Anyhow... I hope I get to watch it again soon! I might write a more specific review soon if I have the time.

On another note, I'm only one week away from my own voyage. A voyage into the unknown, of sorts. I'm leaving for Arizona next Monday. Wow, did that sneak up! I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post while I'm gone. I'll be back in August, but I sure hope I'll be able to blog before then!

Sorry this post is so short, but for whatever reason I can't seem to concentrate. I hope to do a better post soon.

Fun and Frustration =)

This week has been one of limited... of NO blogging. Sorry about that. I started a couple of posts on Monday and Tuesday, but they never got finished for one reason or another. So once again I find myself just throwing out a hodge-podge of stuff from my week for you to sort through.

My sister decided to start blogging again this week. =) So you should hop on over and say 'howdy' to her! =D

On Tuesday I logged into swagbucks and the first thing I saw was their Netflix promotion. Right there on the middle of the front page. "Sign up for a FREE month of Netflix service and get 1,000 swagbucks!" Well... as things were, I was already thinking about Tangled because Tuesday happened to be the day that it came out on DVD. Yippee! I was also thinking about how I'm still longing to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader... and it's out on DVD on the 8th. So... if I can get both of these DVDs to watch, plus 1,000 swagbucks, plus who knows what other movies to watch for free... the timing just felt right. =) So I signed up for a free month of Netflix and requested Tangled and Voyage. Happy day!

Well... I still haven't received any swagbucks for completing the offer, but I'm lovin' Netflix! Wish I could just keep getting free trials. lol I had some relative of (or maybe the actual) flu on Wednesday, so I just laid in bed and watched 17 Kids and Counting and 18 Kids and Counting. =) I also watched DisneyNature's Oceans. Some of it was really cool, but it was loaded with evolution and environmentalist stuff. Not as good as Earth was, all things considered. 

On Wednesday I got a new phone. I love a lot of things about it, but I admit that in some ways it seems like a downgrade from my old phone. Ringtones are all quieter and if it's over 20 seconds the sound quality is horrible. Other than that, I have no complaints. I just have to get used to it. The reaction time is also slower. But I guess nothing can be perfect. Oh, and it doesn't work with bitpim. Sad day. I'll adjust, though. I really will. =)  [For anyone interested, my new phone is the Samsung Intensity II and my old one was the wonderful LG Chocolate 3]

Along those lines, I'm also quite happy because Erica got a phone, too! Yay! =D

Last of all, I got another stuffed elephant in the mail. My dear friend JoAnna got it for me. It's so cute! I'll try to post a picture of it next week. Maybe I'll post a picture of my whole collection!

 

March of Books - Fireproof

I found this book at the thrift store one day and decided to read it. I had loved the message of the movie and was curious whether or not the book was exactly the same or a little different.

It was different in many ways, but without changing the story too much except for... Well, we'll get to that.

The thing I liked most about the book was getting a bit more into people's heads. Although the movie does an okay job portraying what a character is going through, everything is visual. Whereas in a book, you can read what someone is thinking.

Another thing I love about the book is that if I'm in the mood for some Fireproof, I can just read my favorite parts without having to stick in a DVD.

BUT... all of those good things were pretty much counteracted by the end. The end was awful. I can't even believe that something so cheesy and so-not-real-life even made it into this book! (This is your cue to stop reading if you don't want any spoilers.)

I assume that most of you have seen the movie. You know how Caleb was saving up for a boat? And how he finally communicated to his wife that his love really was back and there to stay was that he spent all of his hard-earned savings on medical stuff for her mom? Sweetest thing in the movie. Nothing touches me like self-sacrifice. Nothing.

And the book ruined that. Caleb wins the stinkin' boat on Wheel of Fortune! Maybe that won't bother some people. I probably am going way overboard with my dislike of this turn of events. But I hate hate hate it.

It's a good book if you leave that off, though!

[[March of Books]]

March of Books - Wild Orchid

Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army, each family must send a male to fight. Tomboyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself and answers the call...

     I haven't loved everything that I've read by Cameron Dokey, but most of it is pretty much amazing. And the set of "Once Upon a Time is Timeless" books have given me hours of pleasure. Wild Orchid was one of my favorites. 

     Hua Wei is a great warrior who loves his wife more than anything else in the world. When his wife dies in giving birth to their daughter Mulan, his heart breaks and he determines never to come home. So the infant Mulan is essentially left an orphan.

     Growing up, Mulan is a bit of a tomboy. She learns such unwomanly arts as swordsmanship and writing. So when the Huns come to attack China, it's only natural that Mulan feels that she should join the battle. 

In reading reviews done by other people, I saw that several mentioned or even complained about how similar this is to Disney's Mulan movie. The truth is, I read this book before I ever watched Mulan. And though they are kinda similar, they are *very* different. In fact, I suppose that I wished that the movie would have been more like the book. I hated Mushu (as in despised, abhorred, etc etc etc) the first time I watched Mulan. But he grew on me. =) Anyhow... I really didn't think that it was just a rendition of the Disney tale. And, as usual, Cameron Dokey wove an excellent plot around a familiar story.

Fun Things on Friday

Today I'm just going to name some random things that I think are fun/cool/whatever. Maybe you'll find something you like somewhere in my mish-mash of happiness!

First up: I got a card for a free birthday drink from Starbucks... so I finally got to use it yesterday. I got their passion tea. [For those of you who don't know this, I am not a big fan of coffee, but tea is my favorite drink ever! So it only makes sense that I get the cheapest thing at Starbucks even though I could have whatever I wanted.]

Anyhow... I got my tea at a Starbucks near King Soopers and then sipped on it for awhile. We ended up in Target and my tea was gone. I was really sad 'cause it was so good! Then I had a thought: There was a Starbucks in Target, and I can get free refills with my registered gift card... The only problem would be that I was in a different location. But I really wanted more tea, so I went and asked. And they gave me the refill! Totally made my day!

Item numero dos: 

Anybody read Terri Blackstock? I love her books! Most of them, anyhow. My dear friend Bailey has a job as a receptionist, which gives her some time to read. BUT... since she's working all the time, she can't get to the library a lot. Enter moi, her library-addicted friend with similar reading passions... I check out books for both of us. (It makes me feel a little bit better about have nearly 40 items checked out when I know it's between two people!) Anyhow... enough of the background. The simple fact is this: Bailey said that she wanted to read Terri Blackstock's Restoration series. So I checked out the first two. I stayed up til one this morning reading the first one. It grabbed me from the very beginning. I wish I'd just checked out the whole series at once, but I suppose that wouldn't have been good for me health-wise. lol Anyhow... if you like suspense, survival stories, or maybe even sci-fi, give this series a shot!

Next up! This post is waaaaay cool. Hayden's blog is one of my new favorites! I love finding kindred spirits online! Anyhow... I am going to have to find The Art of Tangled at my library. =) The art for Flynn Rider? I am SO glad they made him the way they did! Some of the concept art was pretty awful!

More happiness? I got a $10 off coupon for Kohls --- for a minimum purchase of $10! And I still have half of my Kohls gift card from Christmas. Do I sense some shopping coming on? I hope so! 

This week I wore sandals and flip-flops! Winter used to be one of my favorite seasons when I lived out in the country... but since we've been in the city? Not so much. So I'm really looking forward to more warm weather! I was going to post this video right onto my blog, but embedding has been disabled. LAME. But that's a song I've had stuck in my head at different points this week. Hmm... I should watch that movie again. =) Love it! 

Aaaaaand last, but not least:

Today we are celebrating my sister Erin's birthday. Her actual birthday is tomorrow, but we've got some things going on, so we're celebrating tonight. I got a Papa Murphey's gift card 1/2 off from Plum District, so we're going to have pizza! And then us girls will probably have a movie night and watch Tangled. Assuming, of course, that we can find out why the audio on divxstage isn't working. 

Anyhow... That's some of my life's happiness right now! I hope ya'll are finding lots of little things to cheer you up, too!

Toodles!

**All images courtesy of Google

March of Books - Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue

Lady Carliss faces the challenge of her life. Can she save the kingdom before it’s too late?

Determined, smart, and a master of both the sword and the bow, Lady Carliss has proven herself as a veteran Knight of the Prince. Returning from a mission of aid, Carliss is plunged into adventure once again as she searches for the marauders responsible for kidnapping a friends’ family. Along the way she is reunited with Sir Dalton and discovers that the struggle in her heart is far from over. When Dalton falls to the vicious attack of a mysterious, poisonous creature, Carliss finds herself in a race against time. As Dalton clings perilously to life, she must find the antidote in the distant and strange city of Moorue.

While there, Carliss uncovers the master plot of a powerful Shadow Warrior that will soon overtake the entire Kingdom. Her faith in the Prince and her courage as a knight are tested as she faces evil Shadow Warriors and a swamp full of dreadful creatures. The lives of many, including Dalton’s, depend on Carliss. But she cannot save them all, for time is running out.  She faces an impossible choice: save Dalton, or let him die so that others may live.

I have really enjoyed reading Chuck Black's books. I loved the Kingdom Series and was eager to read more of his books. My library took their time, but they finally bought all of the Knights of Arrethtrae books. I've only read the first four so far, but I hope to read the last two soon. 

One of my favorites of the Knights of Arrethtrae books was Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue. I not only enjoyed having a female knight, but also loved the message of the book. Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart and Lady Carliss are probably my two favorites of Mr. Black's books.

The message in Lady Carliss was really good. I love how Mr. Black can write books that hold convicting messages without making them so overpowering that they belong in the religious self-help section. Lady Carliss reminded me so much of the way that Satan takes "innocent" things to distract us from our true mission. Something we would never consider to be wrong or dangerous can end up destroying our usefulness to God.

The great message of this book is only part of the reason I love it. Lots of action, suspense, and fantasy --- and all of this without the sorcery and witchcraft that stain so many of today's fantasy/adventures.


March of Books: =D

March of Books - Secret of the Golden Cowrie

When I was younger our closest neighbors lived a half mile down the road. Their dad worked at the same place as my dad and we went to the same church, so we knew each other pretty well. It was so much fun to be able to ride my bike to their house to play... and to get books. 


They had loads and loads of books. It was the bookworm's delight, let me tell you! One of my favorite books, which I borrowed over and over again, was Secret of the Golden Cowrie by Gloria Repp.

"Connie Lawrence loves secrets, and when Aunt Laura shares one with her, it leads them both to a puzzle connected with a beautiful golden cowrie shell. Connie plunges eagerly into the mystery. 


Figuring it out will be fun, and besides, it will give her a chance to prove herself to her big brother, Dan.

But who is the prowler that knows so much about Aunt Laura's house? What secrets does the strange little set of diaries hold? And what should she do about the letter that she found in the desk?


When time begins to run out for Aunt Laura, however, it is to Dan that Connie must turn. As they work together on the deepening mystery, she comes to a better understanding of God and learns something about her own self as well."

Okay. First of all, I loved Connie. And envied her. How come I never got to solve a mystery? I also loved some of the lessons that Connie learned along the way. Trusting God is something that I need to work on now as much as I did when I first picked this book up. 

Ricky was a pretty cool character, too. I loved his pet raccoon. I felt for him as he was lonely but was still trying to go it alone. I think I used to pretend that Ricky was real and that he was the little brother I wished I had. (This was obviously before Seth!) 

Dan was cool. I always wanted an older brother even more than I wanted a younger brother. Even though I know he was wrong to not be a better big brother from the start, I justified it by saying that Connie must have been a brat and deserved it. I was sure that no big brother could ever make mistakes. Older brothers were meant to be trusted guides and leaders, so they'd be perfect, right? =)

Stella was a great character, too. I think that Gloria Repp totally gets the desire that younger girls have for older girls to notice them and to care about them. I wished I could be more like Stella with her independence and all, but some of that just comes with age. ;)

Well... we ended up moving away, so there was no more going over on my bike to pick out books at the neighbors'. 

So...

 I started duplicating their library for myself. Now I own over fifty of the books that I used to borrow all the time. =) Those, of course, include Secret of the Golden Cowrie. 

I brought Secret to AWANA a couple of weeks ago so that my girls could read it if they wanted to. I was happy that one of them has already read (and loved!) it. =D I always like having books in common with people. 

I still enjoy reading this and many other books from my childhood. I can't wait to share it with my own kids some day!


YLCF's March of Books

March of Books - Phantom of the Opera

SCENE ONE:

It all started a long time ago. With a piano CD mom got. It had All I Ask of You on it in a beautiful arrangement. When I found out it was from Phantom of the Opera I listened to the real song.

I decided that I loved Phantom of the Opera.

SCENE TWO:


A movie was coming out. Phantom of the Opera. I thought it would be cool. I watched the trailer. The darkness of it kinda creeped me out. And it seemed so... wrong. Sensual.

I decided that I was adamantly opposed to all things Phantom.

SCENE THREE:


The thrift store. I couldn't find any books. Any clothes. Any anything that interested me. My mom? A cartload of stuff to try on. What was I to do? I picked up a book. I actually felt guilty even looking at it. Even the book looked dark and foreboding. [I love the word foreboding! Anyhow...]

I fell in love with it. I checked it out at the library to finish it. And I ended up with my own copy to read and re-read.

Erik, or the OG (Opera Ghost), or The Phantom, or whatever you want to call him, is one of those characters like Edward Fairfax Rochester. They are SO wrong... but you absolutely love them and feel for them.

Here is a quick summary that I stole... BORROWED from allreaders.com:

""The Phantom of the Opera" is a hideously deformed musical genius who hides in shadow, living beneath the Paris Opera house (which he himself designed some years earlier). Forced to live this way due to the fact that he has become a killer, his motives in life are changed when he falls in love with a young prima donna named Christine, a girl he has secrety been giving singing lessons.
But when a young man named Raoul DeChagny vies for the love of Christine, a deadly rivalry ensues- which will determine the fate of not only Christine, but of the entire Paris Opera House."

Someday I hope to be able to see a performance of Phantom. I now completely understand it's status as a classic. It has everything I love in a book. Strong characters, some historical value, love, mystery.

Conclusion? I should have gone with my first impressions on hearing All I Ask of You. Phantom is one book that'll be on my shelf through every renovation.


http://ylcf.org/2011/03/march-of-books-2011/

March of Books - Rose in Bloom

I have a confession to make.

I'm really bad at book reviews.

See, it annoys me sometimes when I go to read a review and it completely spoils the story for me because someone comments on so many of the details. So I try to steer clear of doing that. Which means that I usually end up 'reviewing' a book by saying, "I loved this!" or "This was awful!"

A few years ago I decided to sit down and read everything by Louisa May Alcott that I could get my hands on. It was a great month! Everyone knows about Little Women, some people know about Little Men, Jo's Boys, and Eight Cousins, but it seems that the two least-known books of Miss Alcott's are An Old Fashioned Girl and Rose in Bloom.

Rose in Bloom is the sequel to Eight Cousins, following the cousins as they grow up. There's no end of trouble as the cousins try "high society", fall in love, and forge new and life-changing friendships. No matter what troubles the clan face, they stick together while Dr. Alec tries to steer them right. And in the end, almost everyone is safe and happy. I won't say who ends up *not* safe and happy, only that the first half dozen times I read the book I found myself dissolving into tears.

Though I just said that I hate reviews that spoil things, I have to share this little passage from the last chapter. It makes me so happy! If you have plans to read the book, don't ruin it for yourself by reading this. =)

The room was a blaze of sunshine and a bower of spring freshness and fragrance, for here Rose had let her fancy have free play, and each garland, fern, and flower had its meaning. Mac seemed to have been reading this sweet language of symbols, to have guessed why Charlie's little picture was framed in white roses, why pansies hung about his own, why Psyche was half hidden among feathery sprays of maidenhair, and a purple passion flower lay at Cupid's feet. The last fancy evidently pleased him, for he was smiling over it, and humming to himself as if to beguile his patient waiting, the burden of the air Rose had so often sung to him:

"Bonny lassie, will ye gang, will ye gang
To the birks of Aberfeldie?"

"Yes, Mac, anywhere!"

He had not heard her enter, and wheeling around, looked at her with a radiant face as he said, drawing a long breath, "At last! You were so busy over the dear man, I got no word. But I can wait–I'm used to it."

Rose stood quite still, surveying him with a new sort of reverence in her eyes, as she answered with a sweet solemnity that made him laugh and redden with the sensitive joy of one to whom praise from her lips was very precious: "You forget that you are not the Mac who went away. I should have run to meet my cousin, but I did not dare to be familiar with the poet whom all begin to honor."

"You like the mixture, then? You know I said I'd try to give you love and poetry together."

"Like it! I'm so glad, so proud, I haven't any words strong and beautiful enough to half express my wonder and my admiration. How could you do it, Mac?" And a whole face full of smiles broke loose as Rose clapped her hands, looking as if she could dance with sheer delight.

"It did itself, up there among the hills, and here with you, or out alone upon the sea. I could write a heavenly poem this very minute, and put you in as Spring–you look like her in that green gown with snowdrops in your bonny hair. Rose, am I getting on a little? Does a hint of fame help me nearer to the prize I'm working for? Is your heart more willing to be won?"

He did not stir a step, but looked at her with such intense longing that his glance seemed to draw her nearer like an irresistible appeal, for she went and stood before him, holding out both hands, as if she offered all her little store, as she said with simplest sincerity: "It is not worth so much beautiful endeavor, but if you still want so poor a thing, it is yours."

He caught her hands in his and seemed about to take the rest of her, but hesitated for an instant, unable to believe that so much happiness was true.

"Are you sure, Rose–very sure? Don't let a momentary admiration blind you–I'm not a poet yet, and the best are but mortal men, you know."

"It is not admiration, Mac."

"Nor gratitude for the small share I've taken in saving Uncle? I had my debt to pay, as well as Phebe, and was as glad to risk my life."

"No–it is not gratitude."

"Nor pity for my patience? I've only done a little yet, and I am as far as ever from being like your hero. I can work and wait still longer if you are not sure, for I must have all or nothing."

"Oh, Mac! Why will you be so doubtful? You said you'd make me love you, and you've done it. Will you believe me now?" And, with a sort of desperation, she threw herself into his arms, clinging there in eloquent silence while he held her close; feeling, with a thrill of tender triumph, that this was no longer little Rose, but a loving woman, ready to live and die for him.

"Now I'm satisfied!" he said presently, when she lifted up her face, full of maidenly shame at the sudden passion which had carried her out of herself for a moment. "No–don't slip away so soon. Let me keep you for one blessed minute and feel that I have really found my Psyche."

"And I my Cupid," answered Rose, laughing, in spite of her emotion, at the idea of Mac in that sentimental character.

He laughed, too, as only a happy lover could, then said, with sudden seriousness: "Sweet soul! Lift up your lamp and look well before it is too late, for I'm no god, only a very faulty man."

"Dear love! I will. But I have no fear, except that you will fly too high for me to follow, because I have no wings."

Rose in Bloom online edition.
Find out more about March of Books here!

March of Books - Acts of Faith

I know that March is almost half over, but I've really wanted to join the March of Books on YLCF, so I thought I'd jump in now. =)

The first books I'm going to review are the Acts of Faith series by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke. I just read these and I *loved* them!

The Centurion's Wife
     I had seen this book at Barnes and Noble several times, but I just shrugged it off. It really didn't interest me. One of my favorite books, The Robe by Lloyd Douglas, was set around the same events. Why bother reading another book that could in no way match up? Warped thinking, I know. But that's the way I felt.

     Then one of my favorite people in the world told me I should read it. That she would bring it to church for me. And that I must hurry with it because other people wanted to borrow it from her. I didn't want to hurt her feelings and say, "Not interested!" So I took the book and started it. And finished it. And wanted more.

     I loved the historical information. I loved the characters. I loved everything about the book. So off to the library I went to find the sequel...

The Hidden Flame

When I first started this book I was somewhat afraid that I wouldn't like  it. The focus is shifted to new characters. But in the end, I still loved it! In fact, I think that the character shift was a great idea! I "got to know" some of the people better through the change in perspective, but everyone I loved from The Centurion's Wife was still there. 

This book also inspired me to begin reading through the book of Acts in my Bible. I wanted to check and see just how much was being made up and how much was really scripture. Characters such as Ananias and Sapphira, Stephen, and Peter, are given time in this book. I wanted to make sure that they didn't get fixed in my mind the wrong way. =D 

After reading The Hidden Flame, I decided that I'd better get on paperback swap and put the whole series on a list of books I want. I went to my library's website and requested the third book...

The Damascus Way

     I went to the library soon after finishing The Hidden Flame, so I was able to get The Damascus Way right away. Several days and many many books had passed between The Centurion's Wife and The Hidden Flame, so the former isn't as firm in my mind right now... But I'm pretty sure that The Damascus Way is my favorite of the three books. 

     The characters were still great. The history was still so much fun. I had expected the series to start to take a down turn as many series tend to do. I'm thrilled to say that there was definitely no down turn. At all. I'd recommend this series to anyone without hesitation, though I would also recommend reading your Bible alongside. 

I've heard conflicting reports on whether this is the last in the series or not, so I'm going to try and find a reliable source to tell me. =)

Go here to join the March of Books.

Wise Girls in a Wild World

Is it really possible to be wise in our world today? Discretion, modesty, purity, etc. have all been thrown out the window in our society. In her book Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild, Mary Kassian talks about how God wants us to live. I haven't had an opportunity to read this book, but I'm hoping I'll be able to soon as I have entered this giveaway! I'd encourage you to peek at the giveaway, too. =)

Fine Eyes Answers

Here are the answers to the Fine Eyes quiz that I did the other day. I think these were too easy, so I'm going to have to do another one. ;)

The scoring system is: Name the movie for 1 point, the character for 2 points, and the actor/actress for 3 points. 

Picture #1: 

Colonel Brandon 

Sense and Sensibility (2008)

David Morrissey

Guessed by: Mary (6 pts.), Erica (6 pts.), and Erin (3 pts.)

Picture #2:
Mia Thermopolis
The Princess Diaries (specifically The Royal Engagement)
Anne Hathaway

Guessed by: Bailey (3 pts.), Mary (12pts.), Amber (6 pts.), Erica (12 pts.), Lindsay (4 pts.), and Erin (9 pts.)

Picture #3:
John Thornton
North and South
 Richard Armitage

Guessed by: Bailey (9 pts.), and Erica (15 pts.)

[LOL Both Lindsay and Erica told me that they could name the exact scene... Memorable moment, for sure!]

Picture #4: 

Elizabeth Swann/Turner 

Pirates of the Carribean (Specifically Dead Man's Chest)

Keira Knightley

Guessed by: Bailey (15 pts.), Mary (18 pts.), Amber (9 pts.), Erica (19 pts.), and Erin (15 pts.)

Picture #5: 

Annie James or Hallie Parker 

The Parent Trap

Lindsay Lohan.

Guessed by: Bailey (21 pts.), Mary (22 pts.), Amber (15 pts.), Erica (25 pts.), Lindsay (10 pts.), and Erin  (18 pts.)

Accusations flew with that last one, my friends. WHY did you all think I was setting you up for failure? LOL I'm not even sure which twin the picture is of, truth be told. Anyhow, fantastic job everybody! I think I'm going to have to do this again. =) You should do it, too... let me be on the guessing end. ;)

I thought about different prizes I could award... Anyone want Lindsay Lohan's signature? L.O.L. 

TaTa!

Fine Eyes

I know some of you are tired of my movie stuff, but others are enjoying it... so I'm going to do a movie-ish post today. =)

I saw this idea this morning and thought I'd take a whack at it myself. It's a quiz based off of a line (or three) from Pride and Prejudice.

[N]o sooner had [Mr. Darcy] made it clear to himself and his friends that [Miss Elizabeth Bennet] hardly had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.

Which leads to his saying to Caroline Bingley...

"I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."

And so on... Caroline mercilessly teasing Darcy about "fine eyes" at several intervals throughout the book.

After that rather long prelude, we finally come to the point. How many of these "fine eyes" can you recognize? Whoever has the highest score on Saturday morning wins.

Scoring as follows: Name the movie for 1 point, the character for 2 points, and the actor/actress for 3 points.

There you have it! Toodles!

Twenty-second Time's a Charm

"If at first you don't succeed, try try again." - A phrase as familiar to me as my own name.

Titles (Exact Matches) (Displaying 22 Results)


1. "Jane Eyre" (2006) (TV mini-series)

2. Jane Eyre (1996)
aka "Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre" - USA (complete title)

3. Jane Eyre (1943)
aka "Jane Eyre - Die Waise von Lowood" - Germany (DVD title)

4. "Jane Eyre" (1983) (TV mini-series)

5. Jane Eyre (1970) (TV)

6. Jane Eyre (1997) (TV)

7. "Jane Eyre" (1973) (TV mini-series)

8. Jane Eyre (1934)

9. Jane Eyre (1910/I)

10. "Jane Eyre" (1956) (TV series)

11. Sangdil (1952)
aka "Jane Eyre"

12. The Mad Lady of Chester (1910/II)
aka "Jane Eyre"

13. Jane Eyre (1914/I)

14. Jane Eyre (1914/II)

15. Jane Eyre (1915)

16. Jane Eyre (1921)

17. "Jane Eyre" (1955) (TV series)

18. Jane Eyre (1958) (TV)

19. Jane Eyre (1961) (TV)

20. "Jane Eyre" (1963) (TV series)

21. Jane Eyre (1968)

22. Jane Eyre (2011)

That's what I see when I look up one of my favorite novels on IMDB. TWENTY-TWO titles, folks! I've only seen a half dozen of them.

Why am I bringing this up? Look at the last one in the list. The year? 2011. Yup... they're making another one! And I have to admit that I have pretty high hopes for this one! You can view the trailer here. There are a couple of things that I have questions about. Like the whole deal with the fireplace. But overall, it looks like it could be a very good adaptation. What do you think?