Getting to Know You: Bucket List

Jenni is not longer making this feature a meme, but I don't care! I'm participating anyway!
This week's prompt is:

My Bucket List:

I haven't actually sat down and made one of these, but I've always wanted to.

1.  Make a pilgrimage to South Korea to see where I was born.

2.  Learn to play the piano like Ben Folds.

3.  Play Tenor Sax in a concert for Wasatch Winds.

4.  Learn to do Amigurumi

5.  Visit every state in the USA

6.  Read every Austen novel

7.  Read every Dickens novel

8.  Design and build my dream home

9.  Play a solo on my clarinet for the Wasatch Winds

10.  Have another kid

11.  No debt! (including paid off house)

12.  Go on a cruise to Alaska and go fishing!

13.  Tour all of Europe

14.  Tour all of Asia

15.  Meet Buddy Valastro and buy a custom cake from him

16.  Visit the Smithsonian

17.  Cosplay!

18.  Visit Prince Edward Island

19.  Have a ball pit in my basement

20.  Only eat real food

21.  Become a master at making Korean food

22.  Become fluent in another language

That is all I have right now. There are a lot of other things I'd like to do, but this is what I remember this morning.

Cinderella

My Thoughts:

-    This a very cute and charming movie, but it wasn't as amazing as I thought it would be.

-    I loved the twist on Sleeping Beauty that Maleficent brought to the screen, and I was hoping for a great twist on Cinderella, but I was disappointed. This was a pretty classic Cinderella story. 

-    While charming, it was a bit corny. I was hoping this movie was for adults as well as children, but I felt it was geared more towards kids.

-    Since it was corny and nothing new, I kinda wish they had just done the Rogers and Hammerstein's version.

-    The whole movie was a feast for the eyes! The costumes, the sets, and everything was visually stunning.

-    The cast was perfect! I loved Lily James as Cinderella! She was perfect. The prince wasn't too shabby either. I love Helena Bonham Carter, but I wanted more of her! 

-    It has always bugged me that Cinderella forgets she is nobility. She isn't a servant! She is a lady! It doesn't matter what her stepmother thought. I wish she had walked up the prince and said her name was Ella and she was lady of the house.

-    Ella put up with a lot. I agree that is good to always be kind, but you shouldn't let others push you around either. 

-    The mice were cute, but again, a little corny.

-    I love how they used the song Lavender Blue. I remember that song from my childhood, and I've always loved it. They changed the lyrics a bit, but I stilled loved it. 

Captain Wentworth's Diary

Goodreads Says:    The retelling of Jane Austen?s novel Persuasion from the point of view of Captain Frederick Wentworth?by the author of Mr. Knightley?s Diary.

During his shore leave from the Navy, Frederick Wentworth falls in love with the elegant and intelligent Miss Anne Elliot?only to see his hopes of marrying her dashed by her godmother.

Eight years later, Wentworth has realized his ambitions. A wealthy captain, he has pushed his memories of Anne to the furthest recesses of his mind?until he sees her again. And though Anne?s bloom has faded, Wentworth is surprised to find that his regard for her wit and warmth has not.

My Thoughts:

-    Move over Mr. Knightley, Captain Wentworth might be replacing you as my favorite Austen hero! I still love you though.

-    This book was everything I'd hoped for. I loved seeing how Anne and Wentworth met and fell in love for the first time and broke off their engagement.

-    I loved reading Captain Wentworth's perspective, especially while he was writing the letter at the end. I loved reading about his indifference to Anne, and then learning that he still loved her. Oh the agony he felt!

-    I felt that Grange did a wonderful job staying true to the story and the characters.

-    I doubt any man would keep a diary as detailed as this, so I don't know if the diary angle was the right one, but I still loved it.

-    I devoured this book! I couldn't read fast enough! I can't wait to read more of these!

-    This is a must read for Persuasion fans! 

Dune Read Along: Book 1 Discussion

Jenni is hosting today's discussion, so pop on over there to link up!

Questions:

1.  Have you ever read a high sci-fi book before?

I've read a few sci-fi books, but I don't know how high or epic they were. I've read Ender's Game and the Ender's Shadow series. I think this is unique to other sci-fi books I've read. This one reads more like a high fantasy novel.

2.  Is this your first time reading Dune?

Yes, and I'm excited!

3.  If this is your first time reading Dune, is the book anything like you expected it to be? If this isn't your first time reading it, have you noticed anything different this time around?

I haven't had much exposure to what this book is about. I only saw the movie when I was really little, and I only remember blue eyes, sand, and giant worms. I don't think I have many expectations. I expect this to be pretty good though since Jenni has been pushing to read this for so long. 

4.  Were you surprised that you knew who the traitor was before everything went down at the end of this book? Did it help prepare you? Or, were you bugged by it?

I wouldn't say I was surprised. It made me anxious as to when the murder was going to happen, and it happened in a way I wasn't expecting. I think the author did a good job at giving away a little, but still surprising me. Even though I knew the Duke was going to die, it did not prepare me. I was still sad. 

5.  What do you think of the idea of recycling the water from your body to survive in such an arid climate?

They gotta do what they have to do to survive. I think it was a very smart way to preserve water, but it is kinda gross to think about.                                                                                                         
6.  What was your favorite part of this section? Why?                                                                                            
I loved the part when the Duke and Paul went out with Kynes and the worm came. It was when the book starting picking up for me, and I loved the way the Duke handled everything. I also like the description of the giant worm.

7.  Which character(s) do you find the most interesting? Why?

I really liked the Duke. I thought he was a great guy. I'm intrigued with Paul and Jessica. They have interesting "powers" and backgrounds. Kynes interested me too for some reason.

8.  Are there any revelations in this section that surprised you?

The whole ending of Book 1 surprised me. Dr. Yeuh's plan, Jessica's dad, Paul's "awakening" and other things were so fun. I'm SO happy the story picked up speed.

9.  What do you think of Dune so far? Are you having a hard time following what's going on? Is it engaging? Boring?

I was a little bored in the beginning. It was a lot of talking and politics, but then the action kicked in, and I'm excited to see what happens next. I'm hoping Book 1 was just a set up for the rest of the story. 

10.  Do you have any predictions about what's going to happen in the next section?

I'm thinking Paul is going to take the leadership position, and there will be an uprising and take over. I'm also hoping for more worm action.

Schedule:

Tweet Chat tonight @ 9:00 PM MDT!

We'll be using #DuneRAL

We are starting Book 2 tomorrow!

If you are reading the same edition as me, that is about 17 pages a day!

Not as much to read for this section!

Suey will be hosting the next Discussion Post on May 6!

Don't forget we are watching the Dune mini-series!

May 30 @ 6:00 PM

Let is know if you would like to come!

If you live too far away, or can't make it, find a copy and watch at the same time cause we'll be tweeting!

Wonder

Goodreads Synopsis:    You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside.

But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches forever, Wonder is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.

My Thoughts:

-    I started this not knowing anything about it, and it blew me away! I'm so grateful and glad that I read this.

-    Everyone should read this book! There is something for everyone! Young and older readers will love this.

-    The morals in this story are timeless and for everyone. This is a very feel-good book.

-    I want to know what Auggie looks like!!

-    I love how short the chapters were. They were like journal entries, but not. It was very effective for this story.

-    I admire Auggie a lot. He had a lot of courage.

-    I LOVED the Julian chapters at the end. Everyone makes mistakes, and it was great seeing Julian's side of the story. His parents were horrible people! But his grandma and her story were amazing!

-    I liked the different perspectives, especially from Auggie's sister and friends. It was neat and interesting to read from outside perspectives as well as Auggie's.

-    Great great story! I can't wait to share this with my daughter. 

Dune Read Along Kick Off

I apologize for being a day late.

We get to start reading today! . . .yesterday! Yay!

We are reading Book 1 between now and April 27!

Jenni will be hosting a discussion post on April 27, and she will be hosting a tweet chat that same day at 9:00 PM Moutain Time.

This is the edition I'll be reading:

If you started reading yesterday, that makes 22 pages a day! Not too shabby!

Make sure to use #DuneRAL for all quotes, thoughts, chats, etc.

Woo! Let it begin!

MIA

Sorry for my absence lately. Our house is under contract. We close this Friday. We moved this past weekend. We will be staying with some friends until we find a new home. Things are a bit crazy right now, and I don't know when I'll be back to my regular posting schedule. 

I promise to do my duties in co-hosting the Dune Read Along!

I also promise to return to blogging soon!! 

Dune Read-Along Sign Ups

Hey Friends and Sci-Fi Fans!

Jenni, Suey, and I are hosting another read along! This time we are tackling one of Jenni's favorite books! We had so much fun with our last read along, and I hope we can get the same participation!

Schedule:

Section 1: April 19 - 27

Section 2: April 28 - May 6

Section 3: May 7 - 16

Discussion Posts:

Section 1: April 27 on Jenni's Blog

Section 2: May 6 on Suey's Blog

Section 3: May 16 here on my blog

Twitter chats will be announced later! In the meantime, use #DuneRAL for quotes, thoughts, and other chatter.

We will also be watching the Dune mini-series! More info on that later!

Kick off post will be on April 19!!!

Tell you friends!!!