The Scarlet Pimpernel

My Thoughts:

-    Oh my flamboyance! Percy's acting was too much. I couldn't handle it. 

-    What the crap does "Sink me!" even mean? It baffled me every time Percy said it.

-    Ian McKellen is SO young in this! I almost didn't recognize him. He was awesome!

-    I liked seeing Percy's disguises. They were really fun and clever. 

-    This didn't follow the book very well, but I could see why people like it.

-    My husband thought Marguerite was very pretty. I couldn't over her giant afro. 

-    The music was over dramatic at times and very absent other times.

-    The best part of the movie was the costumes. 

-    This movie was bit over the top for me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't enjoy it either. 

-    I wouldn't mind seeing a more updated version of this with less flamboyancy.

Cold as Ice

Goodreads Says:    The magical sixth installment in this NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series!

Brrrrrrrr. This fairy tale is FREEZING!

Even though my brother and I had decided to stay away from the magic mirror, our puppy had other plans -- he bounded right in. What choice did we have but to go in after him? 

When we land in a winter wonderland, we realize we must be in the story of The Snow Queen. And this fairy tale is nothing like the movie. This Snow Queen is super-mean, and she turns our dog into an ice sculpture!

To get home we'll have to: 
- Defrost our furry friend
- Ride a very chatty reindeer
- Learn to ice-skate
- Escape from a band of robbers

And if we're not careful . . . we could end up frozen ourselves!

My Thoughts:

-    I thought Beauty and the Beast was supposed to be next? I guess Frozen/The Snow Queen was too much to resist writing about.

-    I'm glad the fairy tale twists are based on the original fairy tales and not Disney's version.

-    As usual, this was cute, fun, and humorous. This was a clever twist on The Snow Queen, and I'm sure my daughter will enjoy this.

-    I love that Abbey admitted to being bossy! I complained about that in the last book, and she fessed up to it. Abbey is definitely improving in that department.

-    I liked the Frozen references, and I liked that Abbey and Jonah realize and acknowledge the differences in the Frozen and the original story.

-    I love that the goal in this story was to save the dog! 

-    I think I keep reading these because the characters are endearing, the lessons are good ones, and I find these a light, fun, and cute read.

-    I wonder what will happen in the next books, the ending had a little twist/surprise, and I'm not sure how this will play out. The fairy in the mirror intrigues me. I want to meet her! What is her plan for Abbey and Jonah?

Previous Whatever After Books

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

  
 

The Winner's Crime

Goodreads Says:    Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

My Thoughts:

-    I was obsessed with The Winner's Curse! I couldn't stop thinking about it, and I eagerly awaited the 2nd book. I read it, and I have so many mixed feelings!

-    I knew this would be an agonizing book, but I was not prepared for how agonizing. I don't mean agonizing as in this is a bad book. I mean agonizing as in the characters I love are being emotionally and at times physically tortured! 

-    Throughout the entire book there is so much tension and no reprieve. There was no moment to breathe or calm down. It was exhausting. Perhaps, I shouldn't have devoured this in an afternoon.

-    The lies and the deceiving were awful to endure! I wanted to scream and cry. I wanted to smack Kestrel and Arin upside the head! Isn't it apparent that you love each other!?!?

-    There were a few moments when I thought Kestrel and Arin would come to an understanding and my heart would rush and get excited, but then my heart would get ripped out and stomped on.

-    The ending . . . 

-    Please let the last book have a happy ending! Please let Kestrel and Arin be happy!! PLEASE!

Previous book in The Winner's Trilogy

(cover is linked)

Getting to Know You: Composers

This feature is hosted by Jenni! Each week she'll prompt us to list stuff we love. 
This week's prompt is:

Favorite Composers

#1 Most Favorite Composer

I LOVE Danny Elfman! I will purchase any movie soundtrack that has his name on it.
It is no secret that I'm a Tim Burton fan, and I just love that Danny Elfman always does the music for his movies. It was a match made in heaven. I also love that Danny Elfman wrote the Batman theme! Oh ya!

#2 Most Favorite Composer

Joe Hisaishi is the composer for most of Hayoa Miyazaki's films. I love the music in these movies. The music is so beautiful and fun. If you haven't seen a Miyazaki movie yet, you are missing out! It is my dream to get my band to play a Joe Hisaishi piece.

#3 Most Favorite Composer

My band geek side is about to show. Gustav Holst wrote some of my favorite band pieces EVER! I love 2nd Suite in F. It SO SO fun to play! I also love his 1st Suite.

#4 Most Favorite Composer

George Gershwin is AMAZING!! Someday I'm going to be able to play Rhapsody & Blue.

The rest are in no particular order:


Hans Zimmer cause he is awesome!


Who doesn't like John Williams? If you like movies, you like John Williams.


Frank Ticheli writes some really amazing things for band as well.


Howard Shore because LORD OF THE RINGS!

Top Ten Tuesdays: Spring TBR List

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR List

Since I'm moving, I'm not sure what library I'll be using, but I do have a giant pile of books I own and haven't read, so this is the perfect time to tackle that!

 
 
 
 
 

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Goodreads Says:    In the year 1792, Sir Percy and Lady Marguerite Blakeney are the darlings of British society—he is known as one of the wealthiest men in England and a dimwit; she is French, a stunning former actress, and the cleverest woman in Europe—and they find themselves at the center of a deadly political intrigue. The Reign of Terror controls France, and every day aristocrats in Paris fall victim to Madame la Guillotine. Only one man can rescue them—the Scarlet Pimpernel—a master of disguises who leaves a calling card bearing only a signature red flower. As the fascinating connection between the Blakeneys and this mysterious hero is revealed, they are forced to choose between love and loyalty in order to avoid the French agent Chauvelin, who relentlessly hunts the Scarlet Pimpernel.

My Thoughts:

-    This wasn't as good as I had hoped, but it was still good.

-    I wanted there to be more action and scheming. I wish the book had been from Marguerite AND The Scarlet Pimpernel's perspective. I really wanted to read about some of the rescues.

-    This was pretty easy to read for a classic. There wasn't a lot of the old English language and phrases. 

-    Even though the book was very predictable, I still enjoyed it, especially the end. I liked how Percy and Marguerite grew more as a couple.

-    Chauvelin was a fun villain. He reminded me of Javert from Les Miserables. 

-    I liked that the story didn't have a ton of politics in it. It was more about blackmail and love. I really appreciated that.

Getting to Know You: TV Shows

This feature is hosted by Jenni! Each week she'll prompt us to list stuff we love. 
This week's prompt is:

My Favorite TV Shows

This changes all the time because it is usually what I'm currently watching.
These shouldn't be a surprise since I'm a total Geek.

Currently:


I watched the first two seasons on Netflix, and I've been a devoted and diligent fan ever since.

Yup, I'm a Oncer! I've watched all the episodes on Netflix 2-3 times, and I always tune in on Sunday. Plus, I kinda have a little crush on Hook.

I'm a total Sherlockian! I love this show!!! Each episode has me glued to the edge of my seat. I laugh, I gasp, and I crave! Best of all is that I'm always surprised! I need the 4th season NOW!!!

Hubby and I are watching Continuum on Netflix right now. I'm hooked, but I wish it was more sci-fi and less crime/cop show. I think season 4 is going right now, 

but we are only on season 2.

Ended and Gone:

Yes I'm counting this!!! It is a BBC mini-series for TV, so I'm adding this!!
I LOVE NORTH AND SOUTH!

I'm really attached to Stargate SG-1. I love the characters and cast. I've watched all 10 seasons multiple times, and I'll probably watch it again in the future.

Same goes for this spin off. I loved it, seen it multiple times, and will watch again.

I'm still hoping for the movie (fingers crossed).

I am a die hard fan of the old 90s X-Men cartoon! It is were my love for Marvel started.

It is also were I fell in love with Gambit.

Don't even get me started on how epic this cartoon is! Kevin Conroy will ALWAYS be Batman to me, and no one will replace Mark Hamill's Joker.

This show is hilarious! I love Phil Hartman, and I'm still so sad he is gone. I also love Dave Foley in this show. The cast is great, and their interactions are hilarious!

First season is my favorite, and it is all I practically watch, but I do like the rest of the seasons, but it gets a bit perverted. I love to quote this show!

Honorable Mentions:

Tiny Toons

Animaniacs

Looney Toons

Talespin

DuckTales

Parenthood

Firefly

Drama

From Goodreads:    PLACES, EVERYONE!

Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

My Thoughts:

-    I love Raina Telgemeier books! They are so fun and so true to life in a humorous kind of way.

-    The illustrations are awesome! Raina is one of my favorite illustrators. Her characters are cute, and their facial expressions crack me up. The faces are SO expressive, the reader knows exactly how the character feels

-    This book almost made me want to work backstage for a play. It seems fun.

-    I love Callie's hair. It is a fun purple/magenta color.

-    I'm sure a lot of girls can relate to Callie. I know I had a few of her dramatic moments. 

-    I like how the story is told in different acts instead of chapters, like a play.

-    Callie's love for stage sets reminded me a lot of my love for architecture. They are very similar. I connected a lot with Callie.

-    I liked the twins. Their personalities complimented each other so nicely. You can't help but love them. 

-    Fun fun fun!!! I want more from this author!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Graphic Novels

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Ten Books For Readers Who Like _______

Normally I'd pick fantasy for this topic, but today I'm going to go with graphic novels!
If you've never read a graphic novel but would like to start, here are my recommendations.