Friday, September 30, 2016

Fan Art Friday: Alan Rickman

In keeping with the tributes to actors who have passed on recently, 
I want to spotlight Alan Rickman today. 
He was truly talented, and his voice was so iconic. He wasn't dashing in the traditional sense, but the way he spoke and carried himself made him attractive and charming in his own way.






























I was so happy to find SO many pictures of Alan. He had a lot of fans! I hope you enjoyed them.

The last two are my favorite. I like the colors and ethereal feel of the first one, and I just LOVE the scene of Snape and his patronus. I read the books before the movies came out, so I have my own vision of what the characters look like, but Snape will always be Alan Rickman to me.

Which is your favorite?
What was your favorite Alan Rickman character?

If you'd like to see more from a particular artist, or if you want to see the picture larger, click on them. They are all linked to the source.

If you have any requests for Fan Art Friday, please let me know!

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Still Alice

23280232Goodreads Synopsis:    Alice Howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build. At fifty years old, she’s a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned expert in linguistics with a successful husband and three grown children. When she becomes increasingly disoriented and forgetful, a tragic diagnosis changes her life--and her relationship with her family and the world--forever.

At once beautiful and terrifying, Still Alice is a moving and vivid depiction of life with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease that is as compelling as A Beautiful Mind and as unforgettable as Judith Guest's Ordinary People.







My Thoughts:

-    Wow! I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I thought for sure I wasn't going to like it, but I ended up liking it a lot. 

-    I loved that this was written from Alice's perspective. I was completely immersed in her story and struggles.

-    There were a few F-bombs that I didn't appreciate, but I think that was the only issue I had with the book.

-    No one close to me has experienced Alzheimer's disease, so I haven't thought about it much. I knew it was a horrible disease and what it did to people, but this book brought a lot of emotion and reality to the disease for me. It helped me understand how awful going through something like this can really be, and I love that about reading and books.

-    When I get immersed in a book, I think about it when I'm not reading, and it finds ways to effect my normal life. I panicked when I forgot something, and I started noticing how much I rely on my planner, Google calendar, and my phone. I started worrying about forgetting my daughter's names, and what will happen to me when I get older. I want to cling on to little moments more.

-    The writing was great! I didn't feel like I was reading at all. I was just absorbed into the story.

-    The copy I read had the movie cover, and I hate movie covers! Why do they even make these? Who buys them?

-    Great book! I'd recommend it to anyone. I'm really glad my book club chose this.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility

26591769From Goodreads:    Impulsive Marianne Dashwood and cautious Elinor are as different as two sisters could be, yet both are shattered by their father's sudden Death. Elinor's attachment to the reserved Edward Ferrars is torn asunder by family opposition and his own dark secret, while Marianne's brilliant romance with the dashing John Willoughby comes to a tumultuous end in a devastating public betrayal. Can the two sisters overcome these trials to find true, lasting happiness?

Jane Austen's beloved first novel, filled with romance, redemption and social critique, is brought to life for a modern audience in this gorgeous manga-style adaptation!






My Thoughts:

-    I like all of Austen's stories, but this one is probably my least favorite. The characters aren't as awesome.

-    This was a great adaptation. I loved the artwork and character design. Marianne and Elinor were picture perfect.

-    I've gushed over the previous Manga Classics I've read, but I'm at a loss for words with this one. I really liked it, but I just don't have much to say about it.

-    While I was reading, I kept thinking of the movie, and how tragic it is that Alan Rickman is gone. 
Image result for Sense and Sensibility gif

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall To Read List


Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR List

I've got some fun ones lined up! I'm excited!

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16219730 28503651
51428 25440127

Monday, September 26, 2016

A Great and Terrible Beauty

304306Goodreads Synopsis:    It's 1895 and, after the death of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped from the she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true. Gemma finds he reception a chilly one. She's not completely alone, though... she's being followed by a mysterious young man, sent to warn her to close her mind against the visions. 

It's at Spence that Gemma's power to attract the supernatural unfolds as she becomes entangled with the school's most powerful girls and discovers her mother's connection to a shadowy, timeless group called The Order. Her destiny awaits... if only Gemma can believe in it.



My Thoughts:

-    There were some slow moments throughout the book, especially in the beginning, but I still enjoyed it, and the story and characters kept me interested.

-    There were elements of A Little Princess and Dead Poet's Society which I really liked. 

-    At first the main girls weren't very interesting to me, but as I got to know them they really grew on me. I really like how each girl has her own flaws and qualities. 

-    The story wasn't what I was expecting at all. I didn't know there would be magic, and I really enjoyed it. 

-    The setting was wonderful. It was so vivid and real. Libba did some great world building.

-    I don't understand Kartik's purpose. I'm guessing the gypsies have a bigger role to play, and I hope I get to see more of that in the next book.

-    I'm hoping the next book picks up the pace a bit, and I'm excited to read it. 

Friday, September 23, 2016

Fan Art Friday: Christopher Lee

I did a Fan Art Friday for Gene Wilder a couple weeks ago because of his passing. I wish I had thought of doing Fan Art Fridays for actors that have passed sooner. I wish to remedy this, so I'm going to go ahead and start paying tribute to them now.

 I was very sad to hear about Christopher Lee last year. He is one of my all time favorite villains. He was always marvelous in any role. His voice was very iconic, and I loved all the voice acting he did. I'm especially going to miss him in Tim Burton's movies.






















One of the great things about movies is that these roles will be preserved forever, and generations of people will be able to enjoy Christopher Lee's awesomeness.

There were a lot of pictures of Dracula and Saruman, but I tried to get a variety of pictures. I hope you enjoyed them all. My favorites are the one showing his different iconic weapons and the illustrations of his roles through the years, including his Corpse Bride character.

Which one is your favorite?
What was your favorite Christopher Lee character?

The pictures are linked to the source, so if you liked a particular artist, you can go see more of their stuff.