Friday, February 28, 2014

Book Report - The Princess Bride

Title: The Princess Bride
Authour: S. Morgenstern/William Goldman
Length: 398 pages
How long it took me to read: 1 month, 1 week

What it's about: What happens when the most beautiful girl in the world marries the handsomest prince of all time and he turns out to be...well...a lot less than the man of her dreams?
As a boy, William Goldman claims, he loved to hear his father read the S. Morgenstern classic, The Princess Bride. But as a grown-up he discovered that the boring parts were left out of good old Dad's recitation, and only the "good parts" reached his ears.

Now Goldman does Dad one better. He's reconstructed the "Good Parts Version" to delight wise kids and wide-eyed grownups everywhere.

What's it about? Fencing. Fighting. True Love. Strong Hate. Harsh Revenge. A Few Giants. Lots of Bad Men. Lots of Good Men. Five or Six Beautiful Women. Beasties Monstrous and Gentle. Some Swell Escapes and Captures. Death, Lies, Truth, Miracles, and a Little Sex.

In short, it's about everything.

The ending is the most important part: I liked the end of the movie, the ending of the book was less than that.

Last word:  UGH. I love this movie, why was it so hard for me to read this book? The best parts were the back story parts of Fezzik and Inigo. I think this would be more enjoyable if you (unlike me) didn't have this movie memorized.

Spoilers after the jump

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Song of the Day - I Woke Up in Love this Morning


Alright, I know I post a lot of older videos, but this one's from DEEP in the archives.

David Cassidy and Davy Jones were easily my first crushes. All my friends were crushing on Shaun, but it was all David for me. That hair, the pucca shells....

Sigh, just watch.


Friday, February 21, 2014

Book Report - Buck up Little Buckaroo

Title: Buck-up Little Buckaroo!
Authour: Mary Ellen Edmunds
Length: 221 pages
How long it took me to read: 1 sitting

What it's about: It’s been a challenge to write a book about loneliness. I didn’t want to write one that would make someone who was lonely feel lonelier, or that would cause someone who seldom if ever feels lonely to say, “This isn’t my thing.” I have hoped to write a book that would help all of us—in our own loneliness, or in our desire to reach out to those who are lonely.

The ending is the most important part: I was very satisfied with this book.

Last word:  What a joy to read!! I recommend this book to every single human in the world. It will totally buck you up.

Spoilers after the jump

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Song of the Day - In a Big Country


Ahh, my people. I always loved Big Country, one reason being that they're Scottish and so am I. Sadly, I have never seen the Old Country - the home of my ancestors, but being from Canada, I am from a "big country".

This song is so great for so many reasons, but the bagpipes is what does it the most for me.


Friday, February 14, 2014

Book Report - Mary Poppins

Title: Mary Poppins
Authour: P.L. Travers
Length: 224 pages
How long it took me to read: 2 weeks

What it's about: It all starts when Mary Poppins is blown by the east wind onto the doorstep of the Banks house. She becomes a most unusual nanny to Jane, Michael, and the twins. Who else but Mary Poppins can slide upbanisters, pull an entire armchair out of an empty carpetbag, and make a dose of medicine taste like delicious lime-juice cordial? A day with Mary Poppins is a day of magic and make-believe come to life!

The ending is the most important part: The ending was just that, the end of a series of stories. I didn't get very much satisfaction out of the end of this book.

Last word:  There is fun in this book, and it would be a lovely read for someone who is not already familiar with Mary Poppins.

Spoilers after the jump

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Song of the Day - O Children


I feel like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are one of those hidden gems that once you've found them, you just can't forget about them. I love, love, love, lurve Nick Cave. Just listen to that voice!! It's so unique and so soulful.

Yes, this is the song that Harry and Hermione dance to in the tent after Ron leaves in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I. This song really spoke to me then, and then my niece posted it on Facebook therefore cluing me in to the fact that it was Nick Cave, and I was all 'no wonder it spoke to me so deeply'.

Since I discovered the song thanks to Harry Potter, I thought I would post a Harry Potter video. Hope you like it.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Book Report - Insurgent

Title: Insurgent
Authour: Veronica Roth
Length: 525 pages
How long it took me to read: 4 days

What it's about: Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

The ending is the most important part: The ending was just what it needed to be; a cliffhanger.

Last word:  I spent a good portion being mad at either Tris or Tobias as they acted really stupid in this book. Really interested to find out how this series ends.

Spoilers after the jump

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Song of the Day - The Sun Always Shines on TV

A-ha is one of those "lost bands of the 80's" here in America, but did you know that they still record and perform? I think that's pretty awesome.

This is my favorite song from the Hunting High and Low album, which I owned on cassette and listened to over and over and over.

Enjoy.