The Notebook

Rating: 4

Happy Summer!  Since my last review, I switched gears and was binge watching TV shows (Netflix) and Netflix originals.  I also have read a ton of unintelligent, brainless books because...well just because.  Now I'm back on the wagon and trying to raise my IQ points again.

I saw The Notebook when it came to theaters and was immediately sucked into the love story, more so because of the older Noah and Allie.  Yes, I was one of those who just thought Ryan Gosling was just too handsome (clean shaven or hairy)

In the Heart of the Sea Book and Movie Review

Rating: 4

by Nathaniel Philbrick

"The ordeal of the whale ship Essex was an event as mythic in the nineteenth century...this epic story inspired the climactic scene in Herman Melville's 'Moby-Dick'.  In 1819, the Essex was rammed and sunk by an enraged sperm whale.  It's twenty-man crew, fearing cannibals on the islands to the west, decided instead to sail their three tiny boats for the distant South American coast.  They would eventually travel over 4,500 miles.   The next three months tested just how far humans could go in their battle against the sea, as one by one, they succumbed to hunger, thirst, disease, and fear."--jacket cover

Before I Go to Sleep Update

Click for movie review update here.

Before I Go to Sleep Book/Movie Review

Rating: 4.5

Originally published on  6/21/13--movie review below

Hi everyone!

I loved this book!  Fantastic psychological thriller and mystery. I liked the intimacy of the book.  There were truly only three main characters, and one of those was not who I was expecting.  I felt the pacing was well done and kept me interested in Christine trying to discover who she is and what exactly happened to her to cause her two decade amnesia.

Child 44

Child 44 is set to hit theaters April 17, 2015!  It stars Tom Hardy, Joel Kinnaman, Noomi Rapace, and Gary Oldman.  I am very excited to see that it is finally coming to the big screen and may just need to brush up on my reading.

Let us know what you think!

Child 44 book review.

The Color Purple Book/Movie Review

Rating: 5

I just finished watching the film and this was me.  I can still feel the tears drying on my cheeks.  Damn.  What a movie AND book.

New Serena Trailer

In theaters November 27

Any thoughts?????

Gone Girl Book/Movie Review

Rating: 4.5

UPDATED
Originally published 1/15/14

(continued from yesterday)

Hi everyone!  I absolutely loved this book!  If you haven't had a chance to read it, please do.  It was very well written.  When it comes to mysteries, I hate when I can figure out "who done it" and with what and why before I'm halfway into the story.  With GG, I did not see the twists coming.

Argh! I hate falling behind!

Hi everyone!

So I fell off the planet due to summer vacations and moving the family.  I still have "Minority Report" sitting in my DVD player, waiting for me to watch.  I still plan on reading all the books for the rest of the year and will just have to get on it!  October is going to be a busy month.  Thank you for your patience!

Unbroken Book/Movie Review

Rating: 6--yes a 6 because this story is HOLY-FREAKIN'-AMAZINGLY-INCREDIBLE! But that's our humble opinion. 

Updated 12-26-14: Movie review towards the end

Bravo, Ms. Hillenbrand, BRAVO!!!

Serena Book/Movie Review

Rating: 4

Hi everyone!  I thought Serena was a very great read.  Ron Rash is a great storyteller.  He has an extensive vocabulary relating to the novels era and I found I did have to look up certain words because I was unfamiliar with the terminology.  You don't really use "jodhpurs" in your daily conversations nor "chifferobe" for that matter.

Fancy pantsy jodhpurs!

Before I Go To Sleep Trailer

What do you think???

The Monuments Men Book/Movie Review

Rating: 4

A great source of history regarding the history of the fine arts stolen by a lunatic dictator and restored by men and women who were willing to die to bring it all back in the name of freedom.

The Madman's Daughter Book/Movie Review

Rating...2.5/3

Ehhh...it was a good story.  Good enough that I finished it in a few days and went on to read its sequel.  I think the story has a great premise and a lot of potential.  I was very involved in the story, but there were elements that had me annoyed.

Heaven is For Real Book/Movie Review

In conjunction with our sister site, Linked in Hollywood, please join us for our discussion on Christian Films. 

Hi everyone!  I hope you all had a chance to read this book.  I can see why so many people felt inspired.  How awesome would it be to know there really IS a Heaven and that we get to be with our loved ones forever, especially in a perfect, young body?!

Join our discussion to share what you thought of the book and film!

Somewhere in Time Book/Movie Review

Rating...2

After two colds, two birthdays, a root canal, and a tooth pulled, I'm finally back.  Thank you for patience.  Now on with the review!

Heaven is For Real

by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
Adapted by Chris Parker

Mary Poppins Book/Movie Review

Rating...3.5

When it comes to children's literature, I have to remember that story lines and characters won't be as fleshed as YA or other adult novels.  With that in mind, Mary Poppins was a bit different than what I expected.

Happy 2014!

Happy New Year, readers!

I can't believe another year has come and gone.  I hope it was a great year for you and I wish you a wonderful, safe, healthy, productive, fun 2014.

This year, we have another great line up of books to review.  For new readers, comments and discussion from previous books are always ongoing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January

The Book Thief Book/Movie Review

Rating: 5

(Part 2 will be covered in the comments section, and I will be adding info and pictures periodically.  The holidays are no match for me!)

Roughly in the middle of this novel, I find this book very well written.  I was captivated by the first few pages and quickly guessed that it was Death who was narrating.  This, in my opinion, was Zusak's very unique and brilliant way to grab his audience.  Death did not come across as evil, dark, or gloomy, but a personage who is merely there to help carry the souls away when their time on earth is done.  It observes people and events by colors.  As we know, color has a great impact on all of us from how we paint the walls of our home to the use of colors in film to enhance emotions. I will discuss more about Death later on.