Monthly Archives: March 2011

Movie Reviews

Ondine

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This film is about a fisherman (named Syracuse)  who catches a woman (Ondine) in his net and then stumbles through strange events that come with her arrival.  I loved this Irish (even though Ondine is actually a German myth) fairytale.  I enjoyed the mix of magic and realistic drama and hardship, especially when it came to the poor fisherman’s daughter, Annie.  The three main characters were so natural together, I could almost swear they were actually family.

I was a bit torn for most of the movie because part of me wanted Ondine to actually turn out to be a mermaid, but then part of me didn’t want the movie to break the realistic element it was so good at bringing to the surface.  The ending, however, was perfect.  I sincerely liked the way they decided to go (and I honestly didn’t see it coming).  I’m trying my best to write this without giving away too much.  Things happen!  People say stuff!  Details!  Trust me, it was a fun time.

If you’re in the mood for a grand movie about mermaids, magic, love and sacrifice (also, hot fishermen), then check this one out!

Letters to the Universe
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Dear Diana Wynne Jones,

I knew you were going to die.  I remember realizing when I read that you had stopped treatment that one day I would also be reading an article about your death.  These thoughts, which terrified me and filled me with overwhelming sorrow at the time, could never have prepared me for that sudden drop of my heart straight through my chest when I read news of your ending.  Like beloved books that we’ve finished, your fans will clutch your memory to their chests and sigh with wonder and delight of the world they had just visited–a world you gave them.  Whenever we want to bring you back to life, we need only visit our bookshelves and read your words again.  May you forever be read to children at night, aloud to classes and be cherished in every way.  You are adored.

Love,

One fan

Everything Else

New Project

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have decided to start an art project (Brianna is to blame for providing the idea).  I am asking everyone to draw or make a picture of the way they perceive me.  This is the only rule–all other things are left open to your interpretation.  I need all pieces by the startish of May–everything must be ready and together by May 27th, 2011.  If you are interested in joining my project, please please let me know.  If you’ve already told me you’d like in on this, I have you down on a list.

Here’s some more details:

  • I will be featuring all pieces publicly, so by agreeing to take part in this project, you also agree to let me share your brilliant work.
  • Your art skill is not important to me.
  • I don’t mind whether you give your piece to me in person or mail it to me.  As long as it gets to me before the end of May, I will adore you for all of eternity.

If you have any other questions, please let me know!

Literature Reviews

The Lightning Thief

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The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan

I’m glad I finally got through this book–I can see now why so many kids have been asking for a copy.  I had a lot of fun with it, especially because the reader isn’t babied when it comes to the Greek mythology.  Many times Riordan just drops a name down and expects you to know exactly who it is.  Sometimes he gives some back story behind events and people, but it never felt awkward or stupid.  Need to feel like I know secret stuff while reading?  Totally fulfilled.

The one thing I want to bring up in regards to this book is the recent bunch of people attacking female narrators like Bella and Katniss for being about as self-aware as mossy rocks.  I never heard Percy Jackson make any of these sort of lists but if Katniss is clueless–this boy tops her by miles.  Bella Swan is just an unhealthy female period, so I don’t consider her lacking self-awareness.  I think she lacks a working mind completely.  Katniss and Percy, on the other hand, are teen (first-person) narrators and so I think they should be forgiven for any dumb thoughts they have.  I mean, after all, we are piggybacking on their journey of self-discovery.  This novel just got me thinking: Is Percy often forgiven as a clueless narrator because he’s a boy?  I hope not.

Regardless, I really enjoyed the book–I thought Percy was funny and I enjoyed seeing the way he struggled (and finally succeeded) to learn to be brave.  I liked the whole philosophy behind the camp, the quest and the modern spin on many Greek figures.  Finally, I thought it was refreshing to have a popular main character have both dyslexia and ADHD.  I sincerely look forward to reading the next one (I already checked it out of the library).  If you have a passion for Greek mythology, then grab this book.  You’ll love it!

Weight Loss

Week Forty-Three

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This week I lost 3 pounds, bringing my grand total to 53.6 big ones.  That’s a pretty heavy child!  Next week I’ll check my charts and see where I am in the ages.  And speaking of that, I’m nearly at ten whole babies–I can’t wait!  Soon I can start my own baby losing business, haha.

I don’t have much news because school has done an excellent job ruling my life.  Here’s something: Today I had a delicious sushi dinner and plan on repeating my great idea to have edamames as a side dish.

Beyond this I have nothing worth writing to tell.  I hope you all have a perfect week!

Literature Reviews

The Absolute Death

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The Absolute Death

Neil Gaiman

This was the last of my Sandman extras.  Well, for now at least.  To start off, this thing is huge–not just huge as in double the size of a normal book, but also massively heavy.  It was such a pain in the butt to keep on the shelf, and don’t even mention what happens when you try to transport it anywhere.  Just bringing it home from the library was an ordeal.  Despite all this, the book itself is beautiful (and worth about one hundred dollars), so if you’re looking to buy a Sandman collectible that won’t be lugged around, then this is the purchase for you.  This is a “sit on a shelf forever” kind of book.

The inside contains all the issues involving Death.  Since I read the Sandman series as well as her little extra volume, I had already seen most of this collector’s edition.  There were a few issues I had never seen before, so even though I nearly broke my back dragging this tome home, there was still a few surprises between its leather covers.  The storyline involving Hazel and Foxglove warmed my heart because I felt that we finally got to see the conclusion to their lives.  In a way, if was fitting for me to feel like they were finally done in a book devoted to Death.  Also, I really liked the bit when Death explains that she loves everyone very much.  That brought me great comfort.

At the end of this dictionary-sized volume are several dozen color pictures of Death in various outfits.  Since her fashion is one of my favorite aspects of her character, I was quite pleased to flip through all the collected illustrations.  If you happen to just casually read the Sandman books, then I wouldn’t bother snapping your arms off trying to bring this home.  However, if you are a huge fan of the series, then I think checking this out would make your day.  Just make sure to go to your local library for it–it’s way too expensive to buy(in my opinion).

Everything Else

Adorable Simon

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Lately Simon has been cuter than usually (especially since we removed his terrible cone of shame).  Here’s some photos of him from last week.  I never though I’d turn into one of those people who show off photos of her dog, but it can’t be helped.  Below is a photo of Simon when the eyebrow hairs over his right eye got stuck to his head and he kind of looked like Lady Gaga.  I hope you can see it in the photo.

And below are two photos of Simon carrying his favorite toy around on his back like a horse.  He mostly did this to try and tempt my brother and I to chase him, but instead we laughed and took photos.

 

Movie Reviews

Before The Rains

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I thought this movie would be a romance–the DVD cover showed a man and a woman embracing lovingly in what looks like a very relaxing spring.  The romance between the unsuspecting, naive, Indian maid and the selfish, ambitious Englishman interested in building a spice road lasts about a quarter of the film.  The rest is devoted to the consequences of their secret affair for both the maid and the Englishman.

At first, I was very angry with the Englishman’s wife.  She comes into the picture completely clueless and happy even though all Hell is breaking loose around her.  At first I couldn’t figure out if she was purposefully ignorant, or just stupid.  She redeems herself in my eyes when she finally realizes what happened to the maid, and leaves her husband.  And speaking of that scumbag, I wish the Englishman would have gotten a greater punishment.  By the end of the film, the people who suffered most were those around him–his wife, his maid, her family, and especially his right-hand man.  I suppose this is to show that the English never paid for their crimes, it was always those under them that took the responsibility for their selfishness.  While this may be true, I still wanted to see him get his rear handed to him.  As a whole, the film was too long and drawn out.  I didn’t like many of the characters, and I pitied any I didn’t constantly wish would hurl themselves off a cliff.  While somewhat interesting to watch, I don’t think I’ll ever have the need to watch this one again.

Literature Reviews

Death: The High Cost of Living

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Death: The High Cost of Living

Neil Gaiman

Ever since I finished the Sandman series, I’ve been holding onto these little extra volumes for whenever I feel I need a fix of some Gaiman.  Well, I needed to spend some time with the Endless again.  This volume tells the short tale of what happens when Death become a human (something she does for one day every hundred years).  Like I said with other extras, this is best enjoyed after you finish the series.  There are a few characters in the story that made their first appearance in the series.  There’s new characters as well, but I feel like we might have met them at some point already as well.  My memory is full of holes.  Anyway, while I was sad the blind man bit wasn’t really explained well, I did enjoy the finale very very much.

I find comfort in the knowledge that Death likes to know what it feels to live and then to die.  She even has to comfort herself after it’s all over.  At the end of the volume, there are some pictures of Death (she always has to coolest outfits).  While very short and only mildly satisfying when it comes to my Gaiman thirst, I really enjoyed the story.  The ending did not disappoint.

Writing

Liberation

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I was eight when I first did it.  I remember how good it felt when it was over–how afraid I was just before it started.  I was beyond terrified.  I was hold-me-because-my-knees-are-about-to-give-out scared.  I remember standing there, mouth slightly open because at that point I was gasping in a room’s worth of air at a time.  I held the key to my liberation in my hand.  Even then I knew I was something special and this would be the way I could finally leave my town forever. I looked at the old man standing a few feet away from me.  He was waiting for me to tell him I was ready.  I nodded my head to him, and that’s when everything changed.

The music started playing and I looked at the television screen to my left.  The words were scrolling across the bottom of the screen, but I didn’t read them.  I mean, I was only eight!  I pretended to take them into consideration as I belted out the lyrics to my song.  When I finished, the people began clapping and whistling.  Anyone still sitting got up, and anyone standing jumped in the air.  Even though I had stood completely still, I was out of breath.  They continued to applaud my voice until my father came to the stage and helped me down.  I knew at that moment that I didn’t want to do anything but sing for the rest of my life.  This perfect bubble of a memory follows me from city to city and stage to stage.  It is mine and now it is yours.