A Bookish Miscellany

Reading Plans:

The first day of momcation was a success:  a bit of tidying, watching DVDs, organizing embroidery floss, stitching, baking a loaf of pumpkin apple bread that ended up sucking, exercising, and -- of course -- reading.  I read the first hundred pages of Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.  Today I plan on tackling some more of the Charles Dicken's biography.  I'm having a difficult time reading it; for some reason, Atticus doesn't want me to read it.  Every time I crack it open something is broken, thrown, or there is a mighty tantrum.  Also, I'm enjoying it, but in small bites.  I find myself wanting to look other things up while reading (mainly historical events and people). 

What I've Read:

I haven't updated you all on my reading because I haven't finished anything.  Okay, I finished one book this month, The Dead Alive and A House to Let by Wilkie Collins and Friends. It sucked.  I read a rather slim book containing two stories (one short story and one novella).  The first story, "The Dead Alive", was by Wilkie Collins.  *YAWN*  A mystery story set in America.  It was dull and predictable.  Then I started "A House to Let" -- this is a short story written in turns by Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens, and Adelaide Anne Procter.  I thought it would be a ghost story, but it isn't.  Each chapter was written by a different author and the result is a choppy story filled with choppy tales that ends in heights of ridiculousness.  I struggled through it -- after all Collins, Dickens, and Gaskell usually give me bookgasms.  There is even a chapter filled with abominable verse.  So I finished a book and then I was angry I wasted my time.  GRRRRRR.....

A Readathon:

Tomorrow is the last day in February and I've decided to do a Leap into Reading day.  I'll exercise, cook dinner, and spend some time with the kiddos in the evening, but the rest of the day will be devoted to reading.  I plan on taking a chunk out of the Dickens bio, finishing the Christie novel, and starting something new.  My goal is to spend twelve hours out of the day reading.  I'll probably check-in once or twice on Ye Olde Blog.  I'm going to clock my times and the number of pages read.  Here's hoping that March will be a better reading month.

The Woman in Black:

Did y'all see this movie?  I've seen it twice.  The first time I went with a friend and it SCARED THE LIVING BEJEEZUS OUT OF ME!!!  I saw it on a Thursday and managed to sleep fine that night because Sam was off work at the tattoo shop.  That Friday Sam was at work, Hope was at Grandma's house, and Atticus was asleep.  I was sitting at my dining room table reading and I happened to look up, across the room, and out of the sunroom.  I saw a ghostly white hand and a pale, scowling face.  I screamed.  Literally, screamed like a little girl.  Then I realized I need to clean the glass and get a tan.  I can't believe Atticus slept through that.  Speaking of Atticus, HE HAS A ROCKING CHAIR IN HIS ROOM.  Those of you who have seen the movie or read the book will understand the creepiness.  I've also banned winding up his owl music box and musical teddy bear at night for the time being. 

Sam decided to go with me to see the movie.  He is a horror movie fan and once he knew Hammar was involved and it wasn't "just a Victorian ghost story" he wanted to see it.  He promised to make jokes through the movie so I wouldn't be scared.  It wasn't as scary the second time around because I knew when there would be a "jump" scene and so I could hide my eyes at appropriate times.  I was still creeped out.  Then Sam told me whenever I get freaked out to just picture the Woman in Black as a muppet.  Try it.  Yup.  Not scary, just funny looking.

Hope wants to see the movie, but I think 12 is too young.  I showed her the trailer and I thought she'd be creeped out.  She was unimpressed.  Her only statement was, "why does the Woman in Black look like Darth Vader without his helmet?" 

Apparently I am the only wimp in the family.

I'm off to ponder a bookshelf quandary which I will ask you bookish folks about later and to assemble Readathon books. 

Charles Dickens Month -- Post the Second

Here is is, Charles Dickens Tuesday once again.  Let's get started!

I haven't read as much of Our Mutual Friend as I would like I'm on page 134 (and let me remind you it is over 800 pages long) and I am enjoying the story so far.  My problem is that a Charles Dickens is not an "on the go" type of book.  Dipping into it while on break at work, or in line, or while dinner is cooking isn't advisable.  One must plunge head first into a Dickens tome and expect to put down roots.  Atticus was ill this weekend with an ear infection (a temperature of over 102!) and I didn't have much time to get lost in Dickensian settings.  But this week will be different.  I'm determined to get a solid chunk read by next Tuesday.

I don't even know how to explain the plot to you thus far.  I've been introduced to a bevy of characters:  Noddy and his wife who adores Fashion have recently seen their place in society lifted due to an unexpected inheritance, the Wilfer family who have been disappointed in some finances they hoped to gain by their daughter's marriage, the Mr. and Mrs. Lammle who I believe are up to no good and a bevy of others in society -- low and high -- and they will all figure in the plot in some fashion.  I'm expecting money will truly be the root of all evil in this book.

Monday evening I began watching the Daniel Radcliffe version of David Copperfield with Hope.  We just finished the first episode and it is quite good.  I haven't read the book since high school, but it is all coming back to me.  I love Maggie Smith's spunk as David Copperfield's aunt and Hope was tickled that "so many Harry Potter" folks were in the film.  We actually had a "teachable moment" while watching.  Hope was asking about the mistreatment of David Copperfield.  The idea of being flogged for not knowing lessons horrified her and she was also concerned when we discussed child labor and the Industrial Revolution. She really liked the film and wants to read the book one day (her ADHD can make large books quite a challenge to read).  Oh, yeah, I also forgot how slimy and creepy Uriah Heep is... shudder....


I keep telling myself quality not quantity... I hope you all have a terrific week.

M is for Movie and Meme

I found this meme here and changed it just a bit.  Something for a tired Thursday post!  

Name a film that you have seen more than 10 times.
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (I was 12, don't judge) 

Name a film that you’ve seen multiple times in the cinema.
The last few Harry Potter movies and all of the LOTR movies

Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a film.
Richard Armitage 

Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a film.
Nicholas Cage

Name a film that you quote from on a regular basis
Monty Python's Holy Grail, Fight Club, and the ork parts in LOTR

Name a film musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
The Sound of Music


Name a film that you would recommend everyone see.
The Uninvited.  No, seriously.  I'm surprised by the number of people who haven't seen this film. 

Ever walked out of a film?
Sin City.  I walked out because I was upset.  The people in front of us brought their little kids and the kids were crying.  I was about to beat the parents to death.

Name a film that made you cry in the cinema.
Up

Popcorn?
Yes, please


How often do you go to the cinema (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
4 times a year or so

What’s the last film you saw in the cinema?
Captain America


What’s your favourite/preferred genre of film?
book-based films (duh)

What’s the first film you remember seeing in the cinema?
The Empire Strikes Back


What film do you wish you had never seen?
The Accused (I had nightmares for weeks)

What is the scariest film you’ve seen?
The Accused (nothing is scarier than rape and close-minded, anti-feminist actions)

If you could be any character portrayed in a movie, who would it be?
Falcor

Total number of films you own on DVD and video.
a few dozen, books before movies!

Last film you bought.
a classic horror movie box set


Last film you watched.
Away we go

Five films that mean a lot to you.
LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring
LOTR: The Two Towers
LOTR: Return of the King
The Uninvited
Harry Potter 7, part 2

Library Loot: 08/17/11 Edition

I actually checked these books out over a week ago and I'm just now getting around to sharing:

• Black Hills by Dan Simmons
• Stories: All New Tales edited by Neil Gaiman
• The Story of Britain: from Romans to the Present by Rebecca Fraser
• Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott
• The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope

Pretty good haul.

I should provide a synopsis, but instead I'll let you click on the GoodReads links!  I'm tired and anxious to plop myself on the couch with a book.  Atticus has been sick all week and this mama is too sleepy to think.

I leave you with this link for the trailer to The Woman in Black.  I. CANNOT. WAIT.

If you can't say anything nice....

....blog about something random.  There's some life-changing decisions being made (no, I'm not pregnant) and I'd REALLY like to blog about it.  I know the prudent thing to do is keep quiet until all is settled and decided.  Also, my little sister is having her first baby right now in a hospital several hours away.  I wish I could be there, but with Atticus/nursing it isn't really practical for me to make a trip.  I'm nervous and excited for her.

So since mum's the word on all the thoughts assaulting my brain I thought I'd do something random.  I saw this meme on Facebook (in fact I think I told people I'd participate and I never did).

15 Favorite Fictional Characters:

Esther Greenwood from The Bell Jar

Addie Bundren from As I Lay Dying

Ash Fox from The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro

Lady Dedlock from Bleak House

Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird

The Wyf of Bath from The Canterbury Tales

Severus Snape from Harry Potter

Amelie Poulain from Amelie

Lydia Gwilt from Armadale

The little person with the switchblade knife in Freaks

Paddington Bear

Sir Bedevere

Persephone

Lucy Snowe from Villette

There we are, 15 favorite fictional characters and I've kept my mouth shut.  Go me.

In the words of Eddie Vedder, "I'm still alive"

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Wednesday!  The last half of my week off from work flew by.  I accomplished a great deal, but, alas, I didn't have the time, energy, or any real inclination to blog.

So what did I do from Wednesday evening until today?

• Started a biography of Mary Queen of Scots


• baked Snickerdoodle cupcakes


• had my friend, Meghan, over for dinner


• went to lunch with my friend Erin and Hope


• bought the new Arcade Fire album and obsessively listened to it


• purchased yarn for a baby blanket and began furiously crocheting


• watched several movies with Sam


• had a day at the pool with Sam and Hope (I'm slightly burned)


• went to dinner with Sam and Hope


• cleaned the house


• did massive grocery shopping


• reorganized the pantry


• finished back to school shopping


• packed Hope off for her first day as a fifth grader


• packed Sam off at for his new job


• went back to work after 9 days of vacation and tried to catch up on work

WHEW!  I'm tired and amazed that summer vacation has flown by so quickly.   Between the two of us, I'm a bit glad that I'm back to my regular schedule.  I miss my routine and I honestly feel like I get more done when I have some order in my life.  Alright folks, I've a busy week this week but I am determined to get some reading done.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age...

... or "the Top Ten Reasons to Scoop Your Eyeballs Out with A Searingly Hot Spoon Rather Than Be Subjected to Such Obnoxious Twaddle"

10. Clive Owen -- Normally, Clive Owen with his dark looks and chiseled chin is a good thing. In this movie...meh...not so much. Oh sure he is rugged and handsome and looks lovely as Sir Walter Raleigh, but historical inaccuracies abound making Clive Owen look like the court jester with a better codpiece. He says morose things with dead eyes that stare wistfully at the sea and when he gets all sexy over a lady-in-waiting he looks as turned on as PETA activist in a slaughterhouse.

9. Bad Poetry, Oh Noetry -- One of the major historical inaccuracies is Queen Lizzy falling in love with the dashing Raleigh. What makes this even more far-fetched is that Lizzy's lust is heightened by long boring scenes of Raleigh pontificating on the beauty of discovering the new world. And the wind. And the land. And the albatross...(okay there is no albatross). And Queenie squirms, SQUIRMS, listening to Raleigh describing land looking like a "smudge."

8. Female Hysteria -- We all know that even though she is the spawn of Henry the Eighth, Elizabeth is, unfortunately, plagued with having a vagina. Having a vagina means that she is completely unfulfilled by power and wealth and would rather have Raleigh in a cottage with some brats running about. This is evidenced by her bipolar like behavior towards Raleigh. She loves him so much she commands him to not go back to the new world but to stay in England with her (eyelash flutter). In actuality, Raleigh stayed because of impending war and not so that Lizzie could get her "quaint honor" all worked up over him. Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Elizabeth is embarrassing. There are plenty of shrieks, tantrums, agonized expressions, blank stares of despair, and the classic Blanchett "I'm-covering-my-mouth-dramatically-to-stifle-the-screams" move.

7. Bad Montage -- This sapfest climaxes in a really bad montage about midway through the movie. Basically, the director took scenes from the first Lizzy movie. It is the part where she is dancing with her Duddikins (a.k.a Dudley, Earl of Essex) and takes out the Dudley to replace the scene with WALTER RALEIGH. Really, REALLY?! Oh, poor Lizzy. She hasn't been properly laid and all that sexual tension from Dudders has given her blue balls. She is unable to even think about her duties as sovereign when she is pining over her past loves (Duddy) and her new interests (Raleigh).

6. Assassins Running A-Muck -- So everyone knows that there are plenty of folks who would love to off Lizzy and get a good ole' Catholic queen. Security is increased; the council is on alert and Lizzy is .... off riding horses alone with Raleigh, walking into churches with nary a guard and only her gleaming purity to save her (apparently, when the queen wears white she glows like that chic from Touched by an Angel). Towards the end, Lizzy stands on some cliffs looking out to sea at the burning Armada in her nightie with the wind whipping round her. So much for royal propriety.

5. Mary Queen of Scots WTF -- In this film Mary Q. is portrayed as a vile trollop. Okay. I can buy that, depending on which interpretation you read of MQ's bio she was a bit haughty. What is completely effed up is that MQ is executed in a sort of throne room, wearing a scarlet dress and the entire execution is screwy from a historical standpoint. Oh, yes, it is all very dramatic. But not right and frankly since mostly nerd watch these sorts of historical movies I think that directors have a duty to nerding-types.

4. Not giving Drake his due -- Drake gets a slight nod mid-way through the Armada sequence, but he definitely doesn't get the mad props he deserves. Raleigh is credited with the piracy that pissed off Spain (that was Drake) and Raleigh has the brilliant idea for fire ships (Drake again). Raleigh was present during the Armada show-down, but didn't play a large part in the ass kicking.

3. They Fucked up the Armada Scene -- According to this film Raleigh (Clive Owen) saves the day by kicking the Spanish Armada's ass nearly single-handedly. In addition to Drake only being mentioned in passing, John Hawkins (the leader of the English fleet) doesn't get mentioned at all. And Raleigh certainly didn't dive into the flaming waters of the Atlantic nor did he scale burning ships.

2. Overt Symbolism -- At the end of the film King Philip of Spain is praying to God about this defeat. He says to his Jeebus that he (Philip) is the light and wishes to lead England out of damnation. Then the candle blows out. And rosary beads sink into the flaming ocean and a cross dips under a wave. (Rolls eyes). All this while Lizzy stands in her nightie looking into the night with a look of quick victory on her face. Painful. Oh so painful.

1. Stupid -- it was stupid.

The ONE REDEEMING QUALITY -- according to roommate (a.k.a. Fashion Design major) they used lovely brocades.