Book Talk: I've Been Reading

The up and down weather continues on and my To Be Read piles continues going down which is probably a good thing considering how many books I've got waiting in my Christmas To Be Read pile.  And yes I have a separate pile just for Christmas theme books.  It's a thing.  And I'm owning it.

 

But before I get stuck into them here's what I've been reading lately...

You can never have too many blue covered books.  At least that's what I've heard.  Even better when they are chick lit, even if it's chick lit in graphic novel form.

 

As for the rest of my reading it was bright and colorful all the way.  And a ton of romance too.  Perfection.

After all that romance it was good to get stuck back into some non fiction and some great history reads, especially the one on Anglo-Saxons which was fascinating and about a period in history I only knew a little about.

And then there was crime and so many good ones including 3 by the same author.  Always good to do a binge.

 

Old favourite's Tim Weaver and Michael Wood also featured, both of them back with A+ books that I just loved. 

Book Talk: I've Been Reading...

Well the reading continues thanks to the crazy up and down weather that is lingering around.  Terrible for my plants but great for my To Be Read pile.

 

As always it's my usual mix bag...

Dating and broken hearts seem to be the theme with my Chick Lit.  Along with women shutting themselves away in their homes.  All of which for me means quirky, interesting reads about quirky, interesting characters.  Just the thing I love.

While my YA's dealt with love and friendship and being true to yourself.  Not an easy thing to do especially when your a teenager.

And finally some wonderfully glorious crime with 2 new authors and 1 of my fav's who so far never disappoints.

 

Even better one of these books, A Tidy Ending, was not only a crimey thriller but a quirky crimey thriller and I loved it.

The rest of my crime reads had a touch of the supernatural about them which I wasn't sure I would like but ended up enjoying.

 

And can I say how much I love the Something is Killing the Children graphic novel series.  It's seriously good in a Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Supernatural (the TV series) way.

And of course there are more audios and more Torchwood.

I have been very much impressed with how good these have been and am so glad they continued the TV series with these audios - even better they have ignored that terrible American 4th season which was just so not the show that we knew and loved.

 

Thankfully there are these excellent audio books which carry on the series and expand on it even more.  And the voice cast is just so good.

The Viewing Files: Animals Running Wild

Cute animal overload?  Yes please.  I mean seriously.  How can you not love cute animals?  Especially when they are in a movie.  Although some of these movies don't make it easy.  Though that's not the animals fault but the writers for writing some truly dire scripts.

 

Still cake makes everything seem a little bit better.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Starring: Cute chipmunks

Original release: 2007

Synopsis:  Singing chipmunks.  I kid you not.

 

Five year olds would probably enjoy it.  Everyone else just run for the hills.

Hop

Starring: Cute bunnies

Original release: 2011

Synopsis:  The Easter bunny.

 

I'm guessing most of the actors have tried to forget they were ever in this movie.

I know I would.

Happy Feet

Starring: Cute penguins

Original release:2006

Synopsis:  Singing and dancing penguins with a 'green save the planet' message

 

Probably one of the weirdest animated kids movie ever made.

Cats & Dogs

Starring: Cute dogs... and cats

Original release:2001

Synopsis:  Doggie James Bond

 

I am only watching this cause of beagle puppies and no other reason.

Shark Tale

Starring: Cute sharks

Original release: 2004

Synopsis:  A vegetarian... shark.

 

Worth it just for the shark doing the theme from Jaws.

After that it kind of all downhill and cutesy (and not in a good way)

Open Season

Starring: A bear and a deer

Original release: 2006

Synopsis:  Bears gone wild

 

If only Martin Lawrence wasn't so annoying.

Shiloh

Starring: Cute beagle puppy

Original release: 1996

Synopsis:  A boy and his dog

 

Oh My God it's a beagle puppy was pretty much my entire thought process for the whole movie.

Over the Hedge

Starring: Cute animals

Original release: 2006

Synopsis:  Forest creatures fight back

 

William Shatner voicing a possum is inspired casting and I'm so here for that.

All the lols.

Zootopia

Starring: More cute animals

Original release:2016

Synopsis:  Bunny police officer is on the case

 

"You're not fine.  Your ears are drooping"

I so want to live in Bunnyburrow and be a carrot farmer.

 

Love. 

Rio

Starring: Cute birds

Original release:2011

Synopsis:  Blu the macaw finds himself in the wild

 

The little sparrow warming up in front of the red traffic light is me every winter.  And can I say how much I love that bookstore. Even if it is animated.

Cute film with lots of cute characters.

Rio 2

Starring: More cute birds

Original release:2014

Synopsis:  Blu... the family man... ahem I mean parrot.

 

We've all had days where we've wanted to strap something to a sky rocket and set it alight so I can totally relate to the 3 junior blue's who were also seriously adorable.

More of them please and thanks.

The Viewing Files: Disney Blues

I love kids movies.  And Disney is pretty good at making them.  And yet...

There are just some that I don't get.  Or are just weird.  Or trippy.  Or silly.  Or, let's face it, just plain bad.

 

At least going by my latest viewing.  Thankfully though there's the odd one that manages to not be terrible and save my sanity from terribly bad movies.

101 Dalmatians

Starring: Cute puppies

Original release: 1996

Synopsis:  Dog kidnapping

 

Here just for the dogs and nothing else.

Aladdin

Starring:

Original release: 1992

Synopsis:  A genie, a thief and a princess...

 

I know, I know. Every one loves it but me.

 

But truthfully this really is my least favourite of the 90s era Disney movies. 

Alice in Wonderland

Starring:

Original release: 1951

Synopsis:  Down the rabbit hole can never be a good thing

 

Maybe I just like my movies a little less trippy...

Atlantis

Starring:

Original release:2001

Synopsis:  Under the sea

 

Milo looks like an animated version of Daniel Jackson from Stargate and on that a lone I am hooked.  If only someone else had voiced the character.

Bambi

Starring:

Original release: 1942

Synopsis:  A year in the life...

 

As old fashioned as it gets and yet it still has a certain charm.

Lady and the Tramp

Starring:

Original release: 1955

Synopsis: A dog rom-com

 

Is it just me that finds this boring?

Oh well another Disney dud.

The Lion King

Starring:

Original release: 1994

Synopsis:  Lions

 

Jeremy Irons was born to play a snarky sarcastic lion.

Peter Pan

Starring:

Original release: 1951

Synopsis:  The pirate was the real hero

 

Peter Pan was super annoying.  As was Wendy and pretty much every other character.

Pinocchio

Starring:

Original release: 1940

Synopsis:  The adventures of a puppet

 

It's kind of creepy and weird for a kids movie.

Casper

Starring:

Original release: 1995

Synopsis:  Can we just hug a ghost now?

 

Despite some silly bits there's also a real sweetness about this film.  Or am I the only one who cried when Casper became real.

G-Force

Starring:

Original release: 2009

Synopsis:  Guinea pigs and not as you know them

 

Probably meant to be cute but really it just makes you want to go out and buy your own guinea pig and hope like hell you never have to watch this movie again.

The Wild

Starring:

Original release: 2006

Synopsis:  Lost in the city

 

I didn't think it could get any worse... until it did.

Book Talk: I've Been Reading...

Spring generally means more gardening and less reading.  Or at least it normally would if the weather wasn't being so up and down and all over the place with snow, heat, wind and rain. Still on the bright side more time for reading and books.  

 

So what's been on my shelf...

No surprise here.  Cute pretty books featuring all the warm fuzzes and a library no less.  Heaven.

 

I also finally got around to reading The Midnight Library which has been on my wish list for absolutely ages.  And it's so good.  One of those rare books that actually lives up to it's hype.

As for my nonfiction reading I'm still plowing my way through the weird assortment that catch my attention.  Two history books.  Both about women living fascinating lives.  

 

And a lovely book featuring some of the costumes from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.  My only quibble is that it didn't feature every outfit she has worn page by page.  So I really hope that someone writes that book some day because I would buy it faster that you can say Mrs Maisel.

And yes more audio books.  What can I say except I have a really big collection.  Like really, really big.

Torchwood features again and OMG these were all so wonderfully good.  I'm actually amazed that I hadn't listened to some of these before because they were so good.

There's a lot of darkness in these but also weirdly enough some glorious humour.  Especially the one featuring James Marsters aka Spike from Buffy who you could tell was just having so much fun making these.

 

As you can imagine these are all going in my keep folder.

The Viewing Files: The Fairytale Version

I've  never really gotten the fairy tale thing.  Spells and magic and a handsome prince who rides in to save the day and marry you into a life of being bored out of your mind while you try to give him the much needed heir.  Seriously not my idea of happily ever after in any universe.

Still watching all these movies I can now perhaps see some of the appeal.  Walking around in pretty floaty dresses while singing about true love with a bit of magic on the side to give you endless cake and books...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Starring: Cute animated animals

Original release: 1937

Synopsis:  Snow White becomes a housekeeper to a bunch of miners

 

When Snow White used the cute animals as slave labour she started to lose some credibility.

Seriously though this is surprisingly cute and sweet with very much 1930s feel to it.  The animals are what totally made it for me.

Cinderella

Starring: Animation

Original release: 1950

Synopsis:  A fairy godmother and some glass slippers

 

Romance fairy tale style where some guy chooses you because you dance well and have small feet.

Cinderella

Starring: That girl from Downton Abbey and that guy from Game of Thrones

Original release: 2015

Synopsis:  The non animated version

 

Magical.

Which is just what you want and need from a fairy tale.

Ella Enchanted

Starring: Anne Hathaway

Original release: 2004

Synopsis:  She just can't say no...

 

To be honest the 8 year old me probably would have loved it.

Then again 8 year old me had no taste.

Enchanted

Starring: Amy Adams and 'Dr McDreamy'

Original release: 2007

Synopsis:  A princess finds herself in a strange land

 

It's kind of silly and cheesy but what the hell, Amy Adams is just so giddy and fluffy and adorable that you can easily forgive any flaws.

Ever After

Starring: Drew Barrymore and a rather sexy Scotsman

Original release: 1998

Synopsis:  Cinderella if she was a medieval peasant girl

 

Would have worked better with a different actress in the lead role (sorry Drew) but major swoony feels for Dougray Scott who is just perfect as the Prince.  I also loved the banter between the 2 leads and how you saw their romance grow.  

On the whole a pretty decent version.

Stardust

Starring: A bunch of familiar faces

Original release:2007

Synopsis:  A star falls from the sky

 

Mark Strong and his ghost brothers made this movie bearable.  Just.

Snow White and the Huntsman

Starring: The Twilight Girl and Thor

Original release:2012

Synopsis:  Snow White the love triangle.

 

The serious YA version we never wanted.  There's even a love triangle.  Thank God all involved went on to better things.

The Huntsman: Winter's War

Starring: Thor... again

Original release:2016

Synopsis:  Do we really care?

 

You think I would have learnt from the 1st one.  But no.

Maleficent

Starring: Angelina Jolie

Original release:2014

Synopsis:  The Evil Fairy is really just misunderstood

 

Angelina Jolie being evil is the only thing good about this movie. Unfortunately it's only for about 5 minutes.

This time I'm definitely not watching the sequel.

Labyrinth

Starring: Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie

Original release:1986

Synopsis:  She's just a girl looking for her brother...

 

I'm not much of a fan of fairy tales so this was never gonna to be my kind of movie.  Even more disturbing is that JC looks about 13 instead off 16 so it's just a tad icky that the Goblin King wanted to romance her.

On the plus side: The main song that Bowie sings is great and the whole look of it is very magical.

One for lovers of fairy tales but not for me

Hansel & Gretel

Starring: Hawkeye and some English chick

Original release:1986

Synopsis:  Hansel and Gretel... Monster Hunters Incorporated

 

Mildly entertaining.  Which is saying something considering.

Red Riding Hood

Starring: Pretty people

Original release:2011

Synopsis:  The big bad wolf

 

Not even the 5 minutes of Michael Shanks being on screen can make this movie bearable.  And don't get me started on the male romantic lead who was just the worse.

Into the Woods

Starring: Meryl Streep

Original release:2014

Synopsis:  The other side of the fairy tale

 

Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen singing Agony and ripping their shirts open should have been the entire movie.

  

That it isn't is a travesty and a serious disappointment.  

Excuse me why I replay that scene again and again