Five Friday Favorites: Five Favorite Films

It's been awhile since I've done five Friday favorites but since I'm back and at it blogging I'm excited to do it again. :) Five Friday Favorites is hosted by Amanda at Book Badger. The theme this week is five favorite movies and thank goodness I was just talking with my cousin about this the other week or I don't know if I could have come up with these on the spot like this. To start off, hands down my favorite film is the 1995 miniseries of Pride and Prejudice but I have been informed by people that it is not a movie but a miniseries so it doesn't count. Whatever! Therefore, without further ado, here are my five favorite films (not miniseries) in no particular order (and I really hope I didn't miss something obvious). :)

1. Charade- Considered the most Hitchcock like non-Hitchcock, Charade is a hilarious, fast paced mystery film starring Cary Grant and Audery Hepburn. 
2. National Treasure- An action adventure movie which I do not recommend you learn your history from but is tons of fun. It stars Nicolas Cage and Diane Kruger searching for a hidden treasure while being thwarted by the villain played by Sean Bean. 
3. Mclintock- A western film with one of my favorite duos John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara married and at each others throats. :) 
4. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers- My favorite musical starring Jane Powell and Howard Keel that draws from the Roman legend of the Sabine women. 
5. Singing in the Rain- My second favorite musical about when films turned from silent to talkies starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Conner. 

Honorable Mentions

1. Arsenic and Old Lace- A hilarious dark comedy with Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane
2. The Lord of the Rings films- If you're not familiar with these films I'd be surprised. Based off of the epic fantasy trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien and starring a lot of people but the first that come to my mind are Ian Mckellen, Viggo Mortenson, John Rhys-Davies, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom and Sean Bean.
3. The Avengers- Again, if you're not familiar with this film, I'd be surprised. Probably my favorite superhero film with lots of fun lines, a solid plot and good action scenes. Stars, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlette Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Ruffalo. 
4. Star Wars: A New Hope- The classic science fiction film starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. 
5. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back- The sequel to the classic science fiction film starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisehr and Harrison Ford. 

Just as I mostly read older books, I mostly watch older movies, though there are many newer movies I enjoy. These movies are some of the most quoted in my household and I pretty much never would grow tired of watching them over and over again. :) In fact, whenever someone suggests we watch a movie, almost 100% of the time I say "Let's watch National Treasure!" I'm a sucker for that movie. :) Everyone one of these, except The Lord of the Rings I suppose, is a comedy and has made me laugh countless times. Try them out! I promise you that you'll laugh at least once. ;) 

So what are your favorite films?

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Book Review- Little Dorrit

Little Dorrit just about my favorite of Dickens novels and I am shocked it is not more popular and as talked about as others of his works. To bring you up to speed with a little of what goes in the book here is the synopsis off of Goodreads. 

When Arthur Clenham returns to England after many years abroad, he takes a kindly interest in Amy Dorrit (Little Dorritt), his mother's seamstress, & in the affairs of Amy's father, William Dorrit, a man of shabby grandeur, long imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea. As Arthur soon discovers, the dark shadow of the prison stretches far beyond its walls to affect the lives of many, from the kindly Mr Pancks, the reluctant rent-collector of Bleeding Heart Yard, & the tipsily garrulous Flora Finching, to Merdle, an unscrupulous financier, & the bureaucratic Barnacles in the Circumlocution Office. A masterly evocation of the state & psychology of imprisonment, Little Dorrit is one of the supreme works of Dickens's maturity.

All of the characters have a great amount of depth in the story. I fell in love with Arthur and Little Dorritt and ground my teeth at Mr. Dorritt, his children and Mrs. Clenham. The story touched me and humored me at the same time. All in all it had everything that I want in a book. While it was long, as Dickens books often are, I was kept engaged throughout. Amy reminded me a lot of Fanny Price from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. I have always loved Fanny for her sweetness, patience and kindness and I love Amy for the same reasons. Arthur stuck with me as someone who always was trying to do the right thing by people and continued to love and visit his mother even though she rejected him countless times. The circumlocution office made me laugh several times and sometimes it humorously but sadly reminded me of my job at the pig farm. :)

I watched the 2008 BBC miniseries soon after reading the novel and I enjoyed it a lot as well. It differed but a little from the book and only once where it annoyed me. All in all it is a great adaptation and I would highly recommend it. It effectively brought to life the characters much as I imagined them and also showed me aspects of their personalities that I had missed in reading the novel. 

Little Dorrit was one of the easiest of Dickens' novels to read actually so if you're looking for one to start out with I'd highly recommend it. 


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Beat the Heat Readathon

I must be in a super reading mood because I'm signing up for another Readathon! This is the "Beat the Heat" readathon that is hosted by Novel Heartbeat and Phantasmic Reads. 

Here are the rules for the readathon. 

• The readathon runs from August 11th at 12:01 AM to August 31st at 11:59 PM.
• There will be four mini challenges  - a cover guessing challenge, a book blending challenge, an unscramble challenge, and a book guessing challenge. They will start on different dates and the challenges will only be open for a week, so be sure to check the challenge schedule (right below this section).
• Feel free to tweet about it with us and start a discussion! Use hashtag #BtHReadathon when tweeting.
• There will be a grand prize drawing that will go live on August 31st and stay open until September 7th. This should allow you enough time to do a wrap up post if you choose to.
• Remember, to participate in the grand prize giveaway, you MUST be signed up for the readathon. Readathon signups will stay open until August 24th. Sign up HERE or HERE.
• Some sort of progress post will be required for the grand prize giveaway. You can add your progress to your sign-up post if you made one, or make a new post. (You’re welcome to use the format in this post!)
• All challenges are optional, but there will be bonus entries for participating in them in the final giveaway. Feel free to participate in as many (or as few) as you’d like. The main goal of Beat the Heat is to READ and enjoy yourself!

My Goals

I hope to read ten books during this readathon. I have a goal of five books for my Bout of Books readathon so that leaves five books for the remaining two weeks. :) 

My Progress

Week 1

Monday 8/11

Currently reading:
Time spent reading today:
Books completed today: 

Tuesday 8/12
Currently reading: Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Our Mutual Friend, Hamlet
Time spent reading today: Approx. 3hr
Books completed today: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Wednesday 8/13
Currently reading: Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Our Mutual Friend, Hamlet
Time spent reading today: Approx. 1 ½ hr
Books completed today: none

Thursday 8/14
Currently reading: Our Mutual Friend, Hamlet, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Time spent reading today: 1 1/2 hr
Books completed today: Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone

Friday 8/15

Currently reading: Our Mutual Friend, Hamlet, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Time spent reading today: 1 hr

Books completed today: none

Saturday 8/16
Currently reading: Our Mutual Friend, Hamlet
Time spent reading today: 1 ½ hr
Books completed today: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Sunday 8/17
Currently reading: Our Mutual Friend, Hamlet
Time spent reading today: 3 hr
Books completed today: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 

Week 1 summary

Total time spent reading this week: 11 ½ hr

Books I completed this week: The Diary of a Young Girl, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 

Week 2

Monday 8/18

Currently reading: Our Mutual Friend, Hamlet, Harry Potter and the Gobblet of Fire
Time spent reading today: 4hr
Books completed today: Northanger Abbey by Val Mcdurmond

Tuesday 8/19
Currently reading: Our Mutual Friend, Hamlet, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Time spent reading today: 1 ½ hr
Books completed today: none

Wednesday 8/20
Currently reading: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hamlet, Our Mutual Friend
Time spent reading today: 1hr
Books completed today: none

Thursday 8/21
Currently reading: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hamlet, Our Mutual Friend
Time spent reading today: 1 ½ hr
Books completed today: none

Friday 8/22
Currently reading: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hamlet
Time spent reading today: 1 ½ hr
Books completed today: Our Mutual Friend

Saturday 8/23
Currently reading: Hamlet, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Time spent reading today: 1 hr and 20 min
Books completed today: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Sunday 8/24
Currently reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Time spent reading today: 40 min
Books completed today: Hamlet

Week 2 summary

Total time spent reading this week: 7 1/2
Books I completed this week: Hamlet, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Our Mutual Friend, Northanger Abbey

Week 3

Monday 8/25

Currently reading: The Bridge on the River Kwai, Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Time spent reading today: 1hr

Books completed today: none

Tuesday 8/26
Currently reading: The Bridge on the River Kwai, Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Time spent reading today: 1hr
Books completed today: none

Wednesday 8/27

Currently reading: Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Time spent reading today: 1 hr

Books completed today: The Bridge on the River Kwai

Thursday 8/28
Currently reading: Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Time spent reading today: 2 hr
Books completed today: none

Friday 8/29
Currently reading: Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Time spent reading today: 1hr
Books completed today: none

Saturday 8/30
Currently reading: Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Time spent reading today: 1 hr
Books completed today:

Sunday 8/31

Currently reading: Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Time Machine

Time spent reading today: 1hr

Books completed today: none

Week 3 summary

Total time spent reading this week: 8hr 

Books I completed this week: The Bridge on the River Kwai

Final Summary 

Total Time Spent Reading: 27hr

All Books Completed: The Bridge on the River Kwai, Hamlet, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Our Mutual Friend, Northanger Abbey, The Diary of a Young Girl
TOTAL OF NINE BOOKS!!!! 

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Top Ten Books That I'm Not Sure I Want to Read

This week for Top Ten Tuesday the theme is "books I'm not sure I want to read". Most of these are more modern books and I tend to be wary of modern books. 

1. Wuthering Heights- Unfortunately it's on my Classics Club list so I'll have to read it eventually. I even bought it for fifty cents at Goodwill so I had no excuse. :)
2. Fangirl- There was a lot of hype about it in the book blogging world in the last few months and I thought it might actually be a new book worth reading but then I heard a few negative reviews about it so then I couldn't decide. Still haven't decided whether or not I want to pick it up or not. 
3. Eleanor and Park- Same as above. I figure if I read either of the two it will be Fangirl and then if like it I'll read Eleanor and Park. 
4. Atlas Shrugged- Another book on my Classics Club list. It's so long and more modern. 
5. The Fault in Our Stars- A modern favorite that just got adapted into a movie that is incredibly popular. It sounds interesting but I think I would disagree it on a theological level. 
6. War and Peace- Because it is so long I'm just not sure I want to get started on it. :)
7. The Help- A modern book I've heard lots of good things about but I'm normally wary of modern books but I think I'll give it a try. 
8. The Luthier's Apprentice- A modern historical novel that I heard good things about. I think I'll try it out as well. 
9. Memoirs of a Geisha- Another modern novel that is quite popular and I think will be safe for me to try out. It is historical and I always like history. 
10. Howl's Moving Castle- A more moderne fantasy novel I've heard great things about. I love good fantasy and I hope this proves to be one. 

If you've been keeping up with the blog you'll know that I'm participating in my first "Bout of Books" coming up soon, which I'm super excited about! Also, I got myself a pet pig! Read about my Wilbur here. :)

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Bout of Books Goals

As I mentioned earlier today I'm going to be participating in the Bout of Books and you can check the blog out for more information here.  So here are my goals for my very first bout of books!

Time Devoted to Reading

Two hours a day hopefully. It's my first week of school so I can't just douse myself in reading like I'd love to be doing. :) Some of the books on my list I have as audiobooks so that might make it easier. 

My Goals

To read/finish five books. 

Books I Hope to Read

• Hamlet (finish) by William Shakespeare
• Macbeth by William Shakespeare
• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
• Bridge on the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle
• Our Mutual Friend (Finish) by Charles Dickens
• Harry Potter (not sure how many) by J.K. Rowling
• Time Machine by H.G. Wells

Updates 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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Signing up for Bout of Books!

A while back was the last "Bout of Books" and a bunch of my fellow book bloggers were doing it and at the time I thought it sounded really cool so now that there is another one I'm going to join in! Sure it runs through my first week of school but I don't really need to study. ;)
Here's what "Bout of Books" is all about.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I think this is going to be tons of fun!

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It's Monday and I'm Back and Reading!

After a two month or so hiatus from doing the "It's Monday and I'm Reading" posts with Book Journey I'm back kicking and reading! As I mentioned last week in a blog post my last day of work at the pig farm was last Friday and next week I'll be starting school up again. I did get a good amount of reading done this summer and if you have been following me on Goodreads (which I encourage you to do! Follow this link!) then you'll have seen all I've been reading. However, here's what is going on with me and my reading right now.

Currently Reading

1. Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
2. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
3. Hamlet by William Shakespeare (audiobook) 

Coming Soon (Hopefully)

1. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (audiobook)
2. Macbeth by William Shakespeare (audiobook)
3. The Bridge on the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle

What I read this summer

1. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
2. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
3. Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens
4. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
5. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham (re-read)
6. The Book of Lost Tales Part 1 by J.R.R. Tolkien
7. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
8. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (audiobook)
9. World War 1 by Richard J. Maybury
10. As You Like It by William Shakespeare (audiobook)
11. The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang
12. Henry V by William Shakespeare (audiobook)

I got sick one day at the pig farm so I lay around all that day sleeping, reading or listening to audiobooks so I got a good chunk done then. Overall it has been a pretty good summer for reading and I'm only a little behind on Goodreads for my year's goal. If you haven't been keeping up with me summer be sure to check out this post about my new pet
Hope y'all had a great summer and I look forward to hearing about what you've been reading!
P.S. The number spun for the Classics Club spin was a 17 so I'll be reading H.G. Wells' book The Time Machine, a book I am intrigued to read. :)

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Classics Club Spin #2

Time for another Classics Club Spin! I'm going to make a list of twenty books off of my Classics Club book list and then on Monday the number that is spun I'm going to read that book off my list. I'll then have to read that book by October 6th. We'll see how it goes!

Books I'm excited about! 
1) Pygmilion Bernard Shaw
2) Armadale by Wilkie Collins
3) The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope
4) The Importance of Being Ernest by Anthony Trollope
5) Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring
Book's I'm Neutral About
6) For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
7) As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
8) An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
9) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
10) Bridge on the River Kwai Pierre Boulle
Books I'm Dreading Reading
11) Shirley by Charlotte Bronte
12) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
13) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevesky
14) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
15) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Books I'm Intrigued to Read
16) Dracula by Bram Stoker
17) The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
18) Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
19) Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
20) The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Piggy Peeps Post #5- The Last One!

Today was my last day of work at the pig farm! I have one week off and then I'll be starting back up at school for my last year of nursing school. Towards the end I was actually really coming to enjoy the work. I finally decided that pigs can be cute sometimes. I loved the little Dalmatian piglets. :)
My last day I mentioned to my cousin that I wanted to ask and see if I could get one of the baby piglets to take home. I loved cuddling the little newborn piglets so I wanted one of those. However, as my cousin reminded it was unlikely they would let me take home a piglet. We went and took our break a little earlier and while we were sitting in the break room in walked one of the employees just randomly holding a pig. Turns out that it had climbed out of the truck when we were weaning and had been running outside ever since. However, because it had been outside and could have been contaminated we had to kill it. A quick phone call to the boss and the piglet was mine! It was incredibly providential how it came about and I'm still shocked that I'm currently the owner of a piglet! My plan is to raise it until it is old enough to butcher and then send it to a meat locker. It's name is Wilbur Laszlo Psmith (the P is silent as in psychology). Wilbur because of Charlotte's Web, Laszlo from Doctor Who, and Psmith from Leave it to Psmith.
We'll see how it goes. :)

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Top Ten Books I'd Give to Readers Who Have Never Read...

Top Ten Tuesday's theme this week is the top ten books I'd give to readers who have never read X genre. I'm going to just give a couple for each of my favorite genres. :)

Science Fiction

1. Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
2. Dune by Frank Herbert

Fantasy

1. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
2. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Historical Novels

1. The Cat of Bubastes by G.A. Henty
2. Coronation of Glory by Deborah Meroff

Classics

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens

Mystery

1. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
2. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

I know The Lord of the Rings isn't an easy read for many people but it is the defining fantasy work of literature and in my opinion an amazing book! :) I would recommend these books to any and all. They are some of my favorites and I hope they become some of your favorites too. :)

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