Major updates

BOOKS

The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare
I had tried to read this first book several times in the past and decided to buckle down and I really enjoyed it this time around. Which led to the other two in the series.
This series has it all, Shadowhunters, demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and alot of action. I was riveted most of the time. There is a 4th book, a 5th on the way and a 6th in the works and a prequel series to go w/it. I've got lots more reading to do before this series is over.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffennger
She is the author of The Time Travelers Wife which was really good and this one is good too. Very different as its about two mirror twins that inherit a flat in london after their aunt dies but the aunt is still there in a ghostly state and towards the end is able to communicate w/them. It has a rather strange ending so I cant talk alot about the book but it was a good read.

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
This is sort of a biographical book about the authors struggle w/cancer and her dads struggle w/cancer even at the same time in parts of the book. It was interesting. Its not overly sad as most books about cancer can go and the family dynamic is really great.

 Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
2nd book to Austenland. Charlotte Kinder is getting over her divorce by going to Pembrook Park and find menace,mystery, love and even murder. I was excited about this book and it was good. I did feel a little like it was CLUE meets Jane Austen but Shannon is a favorite of mine so I can roll w/it.

 The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy by Carrie Ryan
Bk 1
I am really excited about this series. On IMDB I saw this book was being made into a movie so I ordered it and the other two and I'm so glad cause I breezed thru them.
Its labeled a teen Post-Apocalyptic romance. The world is basically in ruins due to a zombie  infection that happened which has taken over most of the world. This book starts out w/Mary who lives in a village surrounded by the forest on one side and the unconsecrated on the other. If you're bitten by one of these unconsecrated you will turn into one of them. Mary's grown up only knowing the village but after a breach in the fencing is forced to go into the forest to survive.There's excitement, danger, love and loss! Its really really good!!!!

        Bk 2                                                                                                                              Bk 3

I dont want to talk about these cause I dont want to give anything away!!!!

This is a really good series and I didnt want it to end. Erin found a prequel but its only available to download so far. 

 

MOVIES

 Tower Heist- Pay-per-view
All star cast and pretty funny!!
Not as funny as I thought, but it was fun and had a good storyline. Eddie Murphy was my favorite. Kind of back to the old Murphy movies.

 In Time- Redbox
Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Galecki, Cillian Murphy
This was pretty good. The concept of using time as money was interesting. I'd watch it again. 

 Restless- Redbox
Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper.
This was about a strange boy that crashes funerals because of some fascination w/death and meets the girl and they fall in love but she is actually dying from cancer and he has to really deal w/ death then. It was good. I like these quirky type movies if they're well done and this was.

 

Star Wars I, II, III - Blue Ray

We watched these one Saturday for old time sake.

 

   

 Back to Future Trilogy- Blue Ray
Dylan bought this as his last big purchase before he left. So we spent several night watching these. Brought back memories cause he's always loved these movies.

Abduction- Redbox
Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins
This was better than what I thought it would be. This teenager finds out his life isnt the truth and has to go on the run in order to stay alive. The ending was a little weak, but it was an ok watch.

 Contatgion- Redbox
Another all star casted movie. The one I like the most is Jude Law!!!
Its another flu story, wiping out millions of people and government officials and drug companies involved and people are still dying. It was pretty good!

 Courageous- Redbox
This is another Christian type movie that promotes Fatherhood and families. It was really good and even Dylan liked it.

 Jack and Jill- Redbox
LOVED THIS ONE!!!! I thought it was so funny and Adam Sandler playing Jill was hilarious. I will own this movie one day!!! A little slow in the story w/Al Pacino but overall, its great!

 Like Crazy- Redbox
Felicity Jones, Anton Yelchin
I was excited for this one cause I like Felicity(Northanger Abbey) but I knew I wouldnt spend theater money it, but it was rather disappointing. They are spoiled, selfish characters and I had to skip to the end. Typical boy meets girl, fall in love, things get to difficult so I'm going to sleep w/other people but its still all your fault that I'm unhappy, etc. etc.

 Hugo- Redbox
Jude Law, Ben Kingsly, Sasha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Emily Mortimer, Chrisopher Lee.
This movie was amazing. Good story, great visual and just really fun and interesting. It was also good seeing a movie w/ Sasha BC in it since I really dont want to see his other stuff. But I would like to own this movie as well.

Dreamhouse- Redbox
Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts
This was really good. Not too creepy and good storyline.

The Three Musketeers- Redbox
Well I didnt think this would be a great movie but it has ORLANDO BLOOM so uhm yeah....I needed to see it.
Orlando was great....absolutely gorgeous and his acting was stupendous and funny and it was really great to see him in something again.
oh, and the movie was OK!! and it also has Matthew Macfadyen of Mr. Darcy fame.





TV

 Malcom

Dylan watched Malcolm in the Middle on Netflix and really liked it so I thought I'd give it a try. I loved it.....7 seasons, over 200 episodes and I wasnt ready for it to end. All the boys were so little when it started and young men when it ended. The story lines were funny, the parents were funny and always in love which I liked alot. It was good fun and I was very sad when it ended.

 How I met your mother- Netflix

I had seen this show advertised of course but never watched it and after ending Malcolm I wanted another long series to watch and decided to try this. Though some material is rather adultish, I fell in love w/it. The characters are so funny and addicting especially Barney and I was even more sad when this ended. Its still on air of course but its mid season and I dont want to start in the middle of the season. So I have to wait.

Grimm- TV
This showed up at the beginning of the fall season and it keeps going. I like it actually and hope it continues. I like the fairytale mixed in w/the evilness.









 Awake- TV
This show started in March and it has a really good premise.
He is a man in two dream like states one w/his wife, one w/his son where the other of the two are dead in the other life. I hope it continues to hold my interest.

Downton Abbey Season 2- TV PBS
This should really be at the top of my list since it is my favorite show on tv right now. Season 2 started at the end of January and is now over but it lives on inside me.
This time around there was more about war than I liked and Mary seemed so docile since last season but it was like watching a bunch of old friends every sunday and I have missed it every sunday since its finale. Now just to wait for January to roll around again for
season 3!!!

MUSIC

Bon Iver

I first heard Bon Iver from the New Moon soundtrack w/ Roslyn but Dylan also listened alot to them/him recently so I got interested after hearing more. He downloaded a few albums for me (what am I going to do for music w/out that kid here) and I've really enjoyed them. Plus w/dylan gone right now, It reminds me of him.

Bookclubs x3

Once again time has eluded me! So I'm going to catch up starting w/ January's Bookclub.

This was Sylvia's book and we met at Anna's house. Most were in attendance and most had read the book and liked it.
The stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor. Burnham's challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous "White City" around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair's incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, and Thomas Edison. The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World's Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims. Combining the stories of an architect and a killer in one book, mostly in alternating chapters, seems like an odd choice but it works. The magical appeal and horrifying dark side of 19th-century Chicago are both revealed through Larson's skillful writing.
  Everyone seemed to enjoy the book and the discussion was really good. Sylvia picked a good book.

Marlys was chosen to pick February's book and she chose:

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
I read this book before and its in my past blogs.
From the moment she's struck by lightening as a baby, it is clear that Mary Anning is marked for greatness. On the
 windswept, fossil-strewn beaches of the English coast, she learns that she has "the eye"-and finds what no one else can see. When Mary uncovers an unusual fossilized skeleton in the cliffs near her home, she sets the religious fathers on edge, the townspeople to vicious gossip, and the scientific world alight. In an arena dominated by men, however, Mary is barred from the academic community; as a young woman with unusual interests she is suspected of sinful behavior. Nature is a threat, throwing bitter, cold storms and landslips at her. And when she falls in love, it is with an impossible man.Luckily, Mary finds an unlikely champion in prickly Elizabeth Philpot, a recent exile from London, who also loves scouring the beaches. Their relationship strikes a delicate balance between fierce loyalty, mutual appreciation, and barely suppressed envy. Ultimately, in the struggle to be recognized in the wider world, Mary and Elizabeth discover that friendship is their greatest ally. 
I wasnt able to go to this bookclub which was held at Rebecca's house but everyone seemed to enjoy it!! And as always, Rebecca's is always a fun place to meet so I was sad to miss this night.

So the March book was decided on by the group. They threw out ideas and the chosen book or books I should say, was Austenland and Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale.

 

These books are about a place in England where you pay an extreme large amount of money and can go be one of Jane Austens characters for 3weeks. The main character in each book has some sort of personal crisis going on ther lives which by going to Austenland, helps repair her.

 Anyone who knows me knows how much of a Hale fan I am and the funny part was I had texted Marlys that night at Rebecca's to see what the book was and had just finished Midnight in Austenland the day before. It had been released on that Tues.
So we met at Gabby's house this time and it was a good attendance and everyone had read the books. yay!! love it when that happens. Very good discussions and everyone seemed to enjoy them.
Now I personally would love to go to a place like this. To live and be in the Jane Austen world would be a dream come true for me! But alas, no place does exist so I'm stuck in my droll life!!!
After discussion, it was time to reveal the next book but Gabby didnt really know what to pick, so once again ideas got thrown out there....but I prevailed and the book for April is Very Valentine by Adriani Trigiani. So excited!!!