It's that time of year again...time to sum up my favorite new books, movies, and TV shows! If there are any books on this list that you haven't read, you need to read them. Final totals? 13 books. 5 movies. 4 TV shows. They are in no order. Let's go!
BOOKS
1. Grave Consequences by Lisa T. Bergren
2. Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon
3. Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd
4. Love at Any Cost by Julie Lessman
5. The Message on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson
6. Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith
7. Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
8. Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
9. Submerged by Dani Pettrey
10. Trinity by Ronie Kendig
11. The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey: Official Movie Guide by Brian Sibley
12. When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason
13. Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
MOVIES
1. Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, 2003)
2. Thor: the Dark World (2013)
3. Iron Man 3 (2013)
4. Man of Steel (2013)
5. Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (2013)
TV SHOWS
1. Merlin
2. Arrow
3. Once Upon a Time
4. Psych
There! Looking back over this list, I am amazed by how many wonderful books, movies, and TV shows I discovered this year! Now, I think that if you are interested, there are reviews up of all the books. And reviews of Hobbit and Merlin 5 and Arrow 1 are all on the way. Let me know if you'd like direct links to any reviews!
Note: this isn't an all-comprehensive list...ain't nobody got time for that!
Which books are making your best-of list and which ones from this list will you add to your to-reads or to-sees? :)
My overall
opinion: An enjoyable read! I’m so glad to finally get back to this series
– I read the first one about two years ago, and really liked it, but never
managed to finish the others. Until now. I’ll be reading the third one soon!
The touch of mystery and suspense in this one made it delightful, along with a
sweet romance. I was thankful that the romance wasn’t overkill, and was well
balanced by other story elements. The book had a good pace and kept me tied to
it. And the characters were great. I liked it!
Based on: The
classic movie with Julie Andrews – but I think this is the Broadway version?
Time period: 1930s
Rating: TV-PG
Year it came out: 2013
My overall opinion: I
did quite enjoy this movie! I went in not being quite sure what I should be
expecting, but it was a good way to spend my three hours! I watched the TV
musical, but it’s coming to DVD at some point. Carrie Underwood was a lovely
(though young) Maria, and her singing voice! Oh I loved it. She did a good job
with the songs, though I think that no one can ever beat Julie Andrews. The
head nun was a black woman, which is entirely inaccurate for the time in
history, and for the movie in general – it threw me off. However, she could
sing and very well! The kids were all cute and lovable and could sing. All in
all? I did enjoy seeing this, and I am not opposed to watching it again someday,
even though I didn’t love it.
My overall
opinion: One of the best things about this book for me? The fact that I
closed it reflecting that the heroine, Georgie, and I would’ve been good
friends in real life. She appealed to me a lot as a character, and while I
don’t have the same struggles she has, I understood her well and yeah – we
would’ve been friends. She’s lovely! John/Hutch wasn’t bad, though I didn’t
find myself falling in love with him. There are a lot of details packed into
this book, and they all added to the historical/realistic feel overall. There
was enough action to keep the story, but not let it get rushed. Another
highlight? Seeing Tom and Mellie, from “With Every Letter”! Good book, and I’m
glad I bought it.
Passage about
the book: Samantha Moore survived years of darkness in the foster
care system by hiding behind her favorite characters in literature, even
adopting their very words. Her fictional friends give her an identity, albeit a
borrowed one. But most importantly, they protect her from revealing her true self
and encountering more pain.
After college, Samantha receives an extraordinary opportunity. The anonymous
“Mr. Knightley” offers her a full scholarship to earn her graduate degree at
the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. The sole condition is that Sam
write to Mr. Knightley regularly to keep him apprised of her progress.
As Sam’s true identity begins to reveal itself through her letters, her heart
begins to soften to those around her—a damaged teenager and fellow inhabitant
of Grace House, her classmates at Medill, and, most powerfully, successful
novelist Alex Powell. But just as Sam finally begins to trust, she learns that
Alex has secrets of his own—secrets that, for better or for worse, make it
impossible for Sam to hide behind either her characters or her letters.
My overall
opinion: When Katherine contacted me asking if I’d be interested in writing
an endorsement for Dear Mr. Knightley, I
was ecstatic to say the least – and not just because I was writing my first
endorsement, but also because finally, a book was coming that would incorporate
Jane Austen and not be horrid (like the zombie and sea monster spinoffs – haven’t
read them but they sound awful). An early copy arrived in my mailbox this
spring, and I quickly made time to delve into it. And I was not disappointed.
Katherine managed to perfectly incorporate strains of Jane Austen and Jane Eyre into Dear Mr. Knightley while keeping the story moving at a good rate. I’ve
read books before that are rather annoying, when put into letter form. This
story is in epistle form and it only enhances the delightful story within! I
was so caught up in this one. It’s easy to read, easy to love, and most
decidedly a book that I highly recommend to all Jane Austen fans. It’s worth
buying, y’all! (and if you read it...look on the first page - my endorsement is there!) **The author sent me a free copy of this book in addition to the advance
manuscript, but I didn’t have to review it positively. I wasn’t paid for my
review.** (note: you can find and watch a book trailer on youtube by just looking up "dear mr. knightley" . I am unable to include it here for complicated reasons.)
Well, since it is now
post Christmas, there will only be three Christmas song comparison posts this
year – but that’s okay. Up now, “O Holy Night” – and the winner surprised me (pleasantly).
:)
Celtic
Woman – 9
Best words to
describe this version include clear, high, and light. As the song progresses,
it moves to a louder volume that is absolutely lovely, and full of power.
(After listening to multiple versions of this song, I realized that it requires
power – and some singers did better than others.) I really love the building
notes and volume. This version is one of my favorites!
Katherine
Jenkins – 8.5
One really neat thing
about this one is how Katherine rolls her notes. She keeps up a good pace – I love
her voice! It’s a flowing version. The stringed instruments (I think they’re
stringed…) are a lovely accompaniment. She has amazing volume and hits those
high notes wonderfully.
Scotty
McCreery – 9
Wow. He has such a
rich young voice. I love it. His notes are perfect, of course, and the words
are fully understandable. I love the even tempo. All in all? This is a
beautiful version.
Susan Boyle
– 8
This song definitely
showcases Susan’s voice! She sure can belt it out – I am very impressed. She’s
got a deeper voice than Katherine and Celtic Woman, but still beautiful. She’s
also got a lot of loud volume – I feel like this version would be most amazing
in person.
Il Volo –
9.5
Having never listened
to these guys before, I didn’t really know what to expect…but wow. I loved this
one. They’re kind of like Josh Groban or Il Divo. Smooth. Operatic. Powerful. I
could listen to this song many times (indeed, I intend to!). Their harmonization
is stunning. And I’m giving them an extra .5 for that held note towards the
end! Love.
Placido
Domingo – 8.5
I feel like he’s the
male equivalent of Susan Boyle. But he’s better with this song than she was. He’s
really loud and has amazing vibrato. A great voice. This is certainly not a
relaxing version. I love the building notes and abrupt stop of background music
there towards the end!
Favorite:
Oh dear. I have to
choose one. I had several version that I really liked! But I think. Having
listened to several again. That Il Volo really does deserve their 9.5 and they
win! Close runners up include Celtic Woman (who was winning until Il Volo came
along) and Scotty McCreery.
Your
thoughts:
Did I mention your
favorite version? If not, what version do you love and do I need to listen to
it? And if so, which is your favorite?
Series: This is
the fourth fairy tale Melanie has retold, and they all tie together with shared
locations and characters!
My rating
on a 1-10 scale: 9
Type: Fiction
Number of
pages: 302
Time
period: 1300s
Publisher
and price: Zondervan, $9.99
My overall
opinion: I was thrilled to discover that Melanie was writing a retelling of
Cinderella, since that has long been my favorite fairy tale. And when I saw the
cover, I really couldn’t wait to read it! It was lovely to return to the time
and place Melanie has so skillfully crafted, meeting up with old characters and
learning to know new ones, and the same with the places. The story had a
familiar and comfortable feel to it, giving new twists to the classic fairy
tale! I loved the changes that Melanie made. It’s easy to be engrossed in this
book, and it’s a quick read. In many ways, it’s the same as other books I’ve
read, but it’s different – and better. The whole story is adorable. I really
loved the heroine, Gisela – she was sweet, but strong. And it was a delight to
read about Valten too! I think it’s amazing how Melanie can make these fairy
tales into real-life stories and include God as a big part of it too. Highly
recommend her books, especially this one! Check out my sister Analiese's review - she read it too. :) Click HERE.
**Melanie Dickerson sent me a free copy of this book in return for
my honest review. I wasn’t obligated to post positively, nor was I paid in any
way other than the book for this review.**
NOTE: it's only $5.99 at this very moment on Amazon! Great deal, and I recommend that you buy it!!
Due to finals and
finally getting home for Christmas break, I’m later on getting this second post
out than I intended…oh well. So it goes. So, here we go with variations on “Blue
Christmas”! :)
Elvis – 8.5
{{Sadly, I'm unable to find a video of this version...weird, right? They won't work. So find your own!}}
He starts right away,
no waiting around for anything! It’s a song that you’ll want to bob your head
to. There’s a nice steady beat too. The choir is an interesting touch. A pretty
quick pace, and all in all, I’d describe it as cheery.
Michael
Buble – 9.5
This version just has
a newer feel than Elvis’ does. Michael has a super smooth voice, and his timing
is just uneven enough to be catchy without being annoying – does that make any
sense? And then that lovely instrument that has such a big part in this version
– a horn of some sort? I’m hopeless with identification. After you learn it,
and learn his variations, you’ll be singing along! Michael totally sings his
heart out and it’s awesome. Summed up? It’s crazy cool. Love this version!
Kelly
Clarkson - 9
A very pretty
version! The piano is a lovely touch. Kelly has a stunning voice and I really
like her tempo too! The song sways along in a beautiful way. This is a fresh
take on this song! The musical interlude is really neat too – and this song
alone makes me want to buy her newest album, Wrapped in Red! :)
Andrea
Bocelli - 9
This version, unlike
most others, actually sounds like Bocelli is feeling blue – which is
appropriate for the song. It’s also pretty slow. And of course, operatic. Then
too, Bocelli sings with Reba McEntire, and they have some cool harmonization.
It’s a peaceful version, quieter and almost calming. Very steady.
Blake Shelton
– 8.5
This one definitely
had a quicker pace, especially since I listened right after Bocelli’s. There
was some reflection of Elvis here (and also in Buble’s), but it was bad. I
really love Blake’s voice and accent. This version? Fun and light.
Celine Dion
– 8.5
I hadn’t listened to
anything of Celine’s before, and was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this
version! It has a very Christmasy feel from the very beginning. Celine’s voice
is older than Kelly’s, smooth and slower than most of the version (except
Bocelli’s), and easy to sing along to. I also really liked the background
music. Her voice is also lower. A good version.
Glee – 8
I know, I know, me,
listening to anything by the Glee cast? But several people online mentioned
this as a favorite, so I gave it a shot – and it wasn’t too bad. The guy had a
good steady voice, and I really liked the way the choir was done – barely noticeable
in the background. This version was almost sleepy. I also liked the variations
they included – fitting for the song.
Favorite:
Well. No way around
it. Michael Buble’s version won. I really liked Kelly Clarkson’s and would list
her as the runner-up, but Michael’s – it’s just so crazy and fun and I love it!
Your
thoughts:
Did I mention your
favorite version? If not, what version do you love and do I need to listen to
it? And if so, which is your favorite?
Primary actors: Ginnifer
Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Robert Carlyle
Length: 22
episodes, each 45 minutes (about 15 hours)
Based on: Classic
fairy tales. All of them.
Time period: Present,
fantasy
Rating: TV-PG
Year it came out: 2011
My overall opinion: Look
at this, y’all! I finally got to watch Once
Upon a Time and can now say, without any reservations, that...I’m addicted.
Totally, utterly, completely. Which is rather sad, but also entirely the truth.
What can I even say about this show? I don’t know where to start.
I loved every minute spent in the fairy tale land. Figuring
out what fairy tale was being retold was always fun, and for the most part, I
loved the unique spin taken on each. And then seeing the characters, their
similarities and differences, moved forward to present day was fascinating.
The evil queen was very evil and couldn’t have been cast
more perfectly. She had just the right evil smile. Emma, who wasn’t a fairy
tale character really at all, was also well-cast. I greatly enjoyed her as a
person, and I do admire her for the most part. She’s a really neat person. I
loved Mary Margaret aka Snow White - you don’t get many people sweeter than
her. And she managed to be super sweet yet not sickeningly sweet, which I
really appreciated. And then David aka Prince Charming - while I didn’t always
approve of how he handled his real-world relationships, I did all in all like
him.
Who else was of importance…oh! Henry, of course! A sweet
boy, though not the best of actors, I didn’t think. He did well overall though.
And Ruby aka Red – I really liked her too, strange as that may sound-seem-be.
Her fairy tale was really cool, and she’s so pretty! Mr. Gold aka
Rumplestiltskin - quite alarming, and a truly menacing and mysterious
character. I haven’t yet decided whether or not to feel sorry for him…he seems
good, and then he does something horrid and seems bad. So I don’t know.
Really, my only true problem with the show is the CG, which
stuck out even to me as being quite bad. Often the use of a green screen is
clear from the sloppy edges on the characters, and the animated beasts are also
pretty awful. However, if you can ignore this, the show is lovely. And also, I
love the music.
So, all in all? I love Once
Upon a Time and can’t wait to watch Season 2! I highly recommend it for
fantasy lovers, anyone with a lot of time (which I don’t have…yet I still
managed to watch this somehow), and anyone who wants to know just how the fairy
tales actually happened.
Rating: PG-13
(though IMHO, it deserves more of a PG rating)
Year it came out: 2004
My overall opinion: It’s
a heart-warming movie, that’s meant to be a comedy but is a little too
heart-touching to be that! It really ambles along quite peacefully, sprinkled
well with humor and moments to make your heart smile. There is a little
swearing, hence the rating, but for the most part, I’d recommend this one if
you need a relaxing, easy-to-watch film.
Primary actors: Mia
Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Sally Hawkins, Judi Dench
Length: Two hours
Based on: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Time period: 1800s
Rating: PG-13
Year it came out: 2011
My overall opinion: Now
THAT is a question. What did I think of this movie? Well, being me, I made
notes as I watched. So here they are. I’m assuming all my readers already know
this classic story.
Possible confusion: Starting
in the middle of the book (with St. John), then skipping a bit between that and
the beginning was vaguely confusing even for me, and I know the book very well.
I think that doing the story in order, or possibly just one skip, would’ve been
better. For someone who doesn’t know the story at all, this could possibly be
very confusing.
The girls: All
the girls in this are frightfully plain. I know, it’s simply dreadful of me to
judge them all on appearance alone, and their personalities were quite nice,
but St. John’s sisters and Jane herself were all very plain girls, not pretty
in the least.
The speed: I
mention this several times in my notes, things that are flown over. Jane Eyre is a large book of several
hundred pages, and needs a movie of some length, a minimum of three hours, I
think. A two-hour movie was a bad decision and entirely fails to include a few
pivotal scenes, and to really show how deep the friendship between Helen and
Jane was.
Mr. Rochester: In
a word, “overgrown.” And yes, I’m going purely physical appearance again. That
was my impression from the first time I saw him. Having him shave, and
regularly, would’ve greatly improved his appearance. At the end, too, he was
far too overgrown to be appreciated, so to speak. In general, he wasn’t a very
bad Mr. Rochester though, but like I said, the whole movie was rushed and we
never got to know him that well.
Jane: Was plain.
Not that Jane is supposed to be pretty, though. Considering that she’s the
title character, she did a good job with the part. I neither loved nor hated
her.
Gore: At one
point, a surprising amount of blood was shown, and while that really didn’t
bother me all that much, it did seem like a rather surprising amount
considering this is a period drama. That may be just me though.
Scene skipped: I
wasn’t very happy that they skipped one of the most memorable scenes from prior
movies and from the book. Remember when Bertha visits Jane’s room shortly
before her near-wedding and tries on her veil? Here, we hardly saw Bertha,
except for one scene. But I think that the scene I’ve just described is quite
an important and mysterious one in the book, and definitely shouldn’t have been
cut. Then too, there’s the fire scene. While it is true that in the book, Jane
is told about it after the fact and wasn’t present there, there are often
flashbacks in other movies to the scene so that you, the viewer, can fully
picture it. Here, Mrs. Fairfax simply told Jane about it. I think this was
perhaps a part where they attempted to save money, when spending a little and
doing the scene would’ve resulted in a better movie.
The ending: I wrote
down that it was slightly abrupt, unexpected, inconclusive, and all-around
unsatisfying. I wasn’t very happy with it, I’m afraid. It left a good deal more
up to chance than I should have preferred, and came around altogether too fast.
Soundtrack: It was
lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to such a beautiful soundtrack for a
couple of hours!
So. My overall opinion? It wasn’t really a bad movie. I
didn’t love it though, and was a little disappointed. And it was definitely way
too rushed to really be one I loved. If you’re a Jane Eyre or a period drama fan, yes, watch it. I’m glad I did.
However, I am far from desperate to go out and buy it.
Primary actors: Hugh
Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens
Length: 7
episodes, each 45 minutes (except two that are about 65 apiece)
Based on: A real
life story, at least in part, I believe…y’all probably know better than I do?
Time period: Early
1900s (just before World War I)
Rating: Unknown…prolly
PG-13 in movie ratings
Year it came out: 2010
My overall opinion: I
enjoyed it! I always knew I would, but sure enough…I was right. All in all, it
was a good show and I enjoyed getting to know all the characters. And I’m
definitely excited to watch Season 2! There was a little homosexual content,
specifically in the first episode, that kinda ruined that whole episode for me
– it was disgusting. Nothing explicit, but still enough to be stomach-turning
in a horrid way. Other than that, for the most part, it’s fairly clean. Mary is
an interesting leading lady, and getting to know her, and indeed, all of the
family was a lot of fun. I’m definitely excited to see where it all goes in the
next season! And it ended on such a cliff-hanger with the beginning of World
War I – ooo yeah. Anyway, so yeah – good show! Not perfect, didn’t love it, but
worth my time.
Primary actors: James
Roday, Dule Hill, Timothy Omundson
Length: 16
episodes, each 45 minutes
Time period: Present
Quote(s): There
was that awesome moment when Gus’s head was described as a chocolate covered
honeydew… ;)
Rating: TV-PG
Year it came out: 2007
My overall opinion: Honestly,
who doesn’t love Psych?! This season
was no exception. We watched a dozen episodes in two days and it never got old,
at least, not to me. Gus and Shawn have the best friendship ever, and they’re
comical. Jules is delightful, and really – all the episodes just make me happy.
:) Look out, there are occasionally a few swear words, crude jokes, or slightly
inappropriate scenes thrown in – however, these are fairly rare and this show
is well-worth your time.
My overall opinion: Not
bad! Hmmm. I guess what struck me most was the way Zac walked – it was kinda
weird. But that’s probably just me. Overall? I liked it, other than a few
scenes. The ending was a little melo-dramatic, I thought, but it was a sweet
story and moved along at a good pace, while still being laid-back and peaceful.
A good movie for filling an extra evening.
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