Book Review- Beloved

For the Literary Movement challenge and the Mount TBR challenge I read Toni Morrison's novel Beloved.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Staring unflinchingly into the abyss of slavery, this spellbinding novel transforms history into a story as powerful as Exodus and as intimate as a lullaby. Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. Her new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved. 

If it wasn't for me making the mistake of re-reading Gulliver's Travels this year this would be my least favorite book of the year. It was inappropriate and weird... really weird. It was very interesting though how the author slowly unfolded the plot and let out more and more secrets. Good writing there. I know this book is famous for revealing the horrors of slavery and yes it did a good job but that didn't make up for everything else. The book just bored me! Denver was my favorite character.... at the beginning I wasn't fond of her but I feel like she actually matures and becomes a little less whiney. Sethe is weird and that reveal about her was.... ugh! Beloved was ucky and everything with her is weird. Paul D isn't awful but he is pretty ucky himself.
I'm just not a fan of this book. If you liked it... what is it that drew you to this book? Maybe I need to reconsider my feelings on it but I just wasn't thrilled with it.

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Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is the top the books I wouldn't mind Santa leaving under my tree this year! :) I made purchases of my dreams the other day at the local used bookstore so a couple got axed off this list. :)

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer- I need to get around to reading this series and if I owned a copy it would be far more likely to happen. 
2. Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy- I realized recently I don't own this book and I really like it. 
3. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth- I want to read this so much after watching the show! 
4. The Martian by Andy Weir- I'm hugely intrigued by this book. :)
5. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery- I'm a huge Anne of Green Gables fan and I've heard rave reviews of this one so I'd love to get it and read it for myself. 
6. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams- Because I need to get around to this book too and as I said above.... far more likely to happen if I own it. 
7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling- The only one of the series I don't own yet. 
8. The Golf Omnibus by P.G. Wodehouse- This book is HILARIOUS! It's such a fun collect of classic Wodehouse stories. I used to pick it up at the library all the time and read a couple stories and never actually check it out. I obviously just need my own copy. ;)
9. Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara- I own Killer Angels and Last Full Measure but not Gods and Generals! I love it! 
10. Miniatures and Morals by Peter Leithart- So I can stop stealing my parent's copy all of the time. This is a great book about Austen's novels. :) I actually did ask for this for Christmas so hopefully I get it! 

There's so many more I want of course but these would definitely make me smile the brightest! 

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It's Monday! Reading Completed!

My Goodreads goal of reading 100 books this year is completed plus one and all of my reading challenges are completed as well! I have a very satisfied feeling right now. :) I'm ridiculously giddy about next year's reading. I start getting very excited when I being to plan out my reading year. I'm not a very organized person but somehow deciding what books I want to read for the next year gets me as close as I'll ever be. :)

Also, I SAW THE NEW STAR WARS MOVIE SATURDAY!!!!!! Insert a video of Lois giggling geekily for five minutes straight here... not that she did that or anything. ;)
I did liked it.... it wasn't the next best thing to sliced bread or anything but it was good. Better than the prequels... but that's not saying much. ;) Hopefully I'll have a review out soon. :)

Finished this Week

• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (re-read)

Currently Reading

• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (audiobook) (re-read)
• The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin (this is going to take me a very long time but I can already tell it's going to be worth it)

Coming Soon (A whole new year of reading!!!!!)

• Othello by William Shakespeare (audiobook)- My Classics Club spin
• Who knows!!!!! :) 

I participate in the Broke and Bookish secret santa this year for the first time and my package came in the mail this past week!  I got a copy of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone (now I have only one Harry Potter book left to acquire!), chocolate (very Lois approved) and real Tea... as in not even in a bag... loose leaf tea.... I've never had loose leaf tea before! :) 

I can't wait to celebrate Christmas with my family and I wish you all a very blessed Christmas! :) 

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Book Review- The Phantom Tollbooth

For the Hard Core Re-Reading challenge and the Author A-Z challenge I read Norton Juster's children's book The Phantom Tollbooth.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Milo mopes in black ink sketches, until he assembles a tollbooth and drives through. He jumps to the island of Conclusions. But brothers King Azaz of Dictionopolis and the Mathemagician of Digitopolis war over words and numbers. Joined by ticking watchdog Tock and adult-size Humbug, Milo rescues the Princesses of Rhyme and Reason, and learns to enjoy life.

So I forgot how much fun this book is but I was in love with it this time around! The plays on words are so clever and fun. I want a phantom tollbooth! This is the perfect children's book, though I imagine the kid would have to be a little bit older to get some of the grammar and math humor. If you missed this in your childhood somehow than take the time and read it now! You will not regret it!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book and yes there's a lot of them but this doesn't even begin to cover all of them! 

“The only thing you can do easily is be wrong, and that's hardly worth the effort.”

“Whether or not you find your own way, you're bound to find some way. If you happen to find my way, please return it, as it was lost years ago. I imagine by now it's quite rusty.” 

“It's bad enough wasting time without killing it.” 

“For instance," said the boy again, "if Christmas trees were people and people were Christmas trees, we'd all be chopped down, put up in the living room, and covered in tinsel, while the trees opened our presents."
"What does that have to do with it?" asked Milo.
"Nothing at all," he answered, "but it's an interesting possibility, don't you think?”

“Let me try once more," Milo said in an effort to explain. "In other words--"
"You mean you have other words?" cried the bird happily. "Well, by all means, use them. You're certainly not doing very well with the ones you have now.” 

“A slavish concern for the composition of words is the sign of a bankrupt intellect. Be gone, odious wasp! You smell of decayed syllables.” 

“Have you ever heard a blindfolded octopus unwrap a cellophane-covered bathtub?”

“Ah, this is fine," he cried triumphantly, holding up a small medallion on a chain. He dusted it off, and engraved on one side were the words "WHY NOT?" "That's a good reason for almost anything - a bit used perhaps, but still quite serviceable.”

“And now," he continued, speaking to Milo, "where were you on the night of July 27?" 
"What does that have to do with it?" asked Milo.
"It's my birthday, that's what," said the policeman as he entered "Forgot my birthday" in his little book. "Boys always forget other people's birthdays.” 

“I never knew words could be so confusing," Milo said to Tock as he bent down to scratch the dog's ear.
"Only when you use a lot to say a little," answered Tock.
Milo thought this was quite the wisest thing he'd heard all day.” 

“You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry. Most people do.”

“Do you think it will rain?"
"But I thought you were the Weather Man?"
No, I'm the Whether man, for it is more important to know whether there will be weather, whether than what the weather will be.” 


Did I mention that you need to read this book? 

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Book Reviews- Betsy-Tacy Series

I love this series! It's so sweet, so pink, so fluffy, so adorable! It's a little like Anne of Green Gables but younger and cuter. If you have a little girl this is the series for her! I read these books for the Women's reading challenge, the Hard Core Re-reading challenge and Betsy-Tacy Go Over the Big Hill I read for the key word challenge. I only re-read the first four books in the series because those are my favorites... after that they grow up too much. :(

Betsy-Tacy

Synopsis from Goodreads: There are lots of children on Hill Street, but no little girls Betsy's age. So when a new family moves into the house across the street, Betsy hopes they will have a little girl she can play with. Sure enough, they do--a little girl named Tacy. And from the moment they meet at Betsy's fifth birthday party, Betsy and Tacy becoms such good friends that everyone starts to think of them as one person--Betsy-Tacy. Betsy and Tacy have lots of fun together. They make a playhouse from a piano box, have a sand store, and dress up and go calling. And one day, they come home to a wonderful surprise--a new friend named Tib.

This is such a fun start to the series and I think the best. The girls' escapes are so adorable and the stories Betsy dreams up are sweet. I especially love her cloud story. 

Betsy-Tacy and Tib

Synopsis from Goodreads: Betsy and Tacy are best friends. Then Tib moves into the neighborhood and the three of them start to play together. The grown-ups think they will quarrel, but they don't. Sometimes they quarrel with Betsy's and Tacy's bossy big sisters, but they never quarrel among themselves. They are not as good as they might be. They cook up awful messes in the kitchen, throw mud on each other and pretend to be beggars, and cut off each other's hair. But Betsy, Tacy, and Tib always manage to have a good time.

The threesome can almost be more fun than the twosome! I love how Tib is the practical one and is always pointing out the obvious and Betsy and Tacy just ignore her. The everything pudding is one of my favorite stores but I also love when they cut off each other's hair. Such fun escapades!

Betsy-Tacy Go Over the Big Hill

Synopsis from Goodreads: Betsy, Tacy, and Tib can't wait to be ten. After all, getting two numbers in your age is the beginning of growing up—exciting things are bound to happen. And they do! The girls fall in love with the King of Spain, perform in the School Entertainment, and for the first time, go all the way over the Big Hill to Little Syria by themselves. There Betsy, Tacy, and Tib make new friends and learn a thing or two. They learn that new Americans are sometimes the best Americans. And they learn that they themselves wouldn't want to be anything else.

Another adorable addition to the series. I remember thinking pretty much the same thing about turning ten.... it was the beginning of being a grown up! Despite being "grown up" Betsy Tacy and Tib still manage to get into all sorts of messes and have tons of fun.

Betsy-Tacy Go Downtown 

Synopsis from Goodreads: Betsy, Tacy, and Tib are twelve—old enough to do lots of things...even go downtown on their own. There they see their first horseless carriage, discover the joys of the public library, and see a real play at the Opera House. They even find themselves acting in one! Best of all, they help a lonely new friend feel at home in Deep Valley—the most wonderful place in the world to grow up.

As another reviewer on Goodreads said, this is the last of the childhood of the three girls. It's interesting to see how people viewed with wonder the first "horseless carriage", something we take very much for granted today. I loved Betsy's trips to the library and her parents encouraging her to read Classic literature... though Lady Audley's secret is not trash... though it isn't high literature I'll admit.

It was so much fun to re-read this adorable series! Highly recommend. :)

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Book Review- The Chosen

For the Mount TBR challenge, the Hard Core Re-reading challenge and the Author A-Z Challenge I re-read Chaim Potok's novel The Chosen.

Synopsis from Goodreads: It is the now-classic story of two fathers and two sons and the pressures on all of them to pursue the religion they share in the way that is best suited to each. And as the boys grow into young men, they discover in the other a lost spiritual brother, and a link to an unexplored world that neither had ever considered before. In effect, they exchange places, and find the peace that neither will ever retreat from again.

This is such a beautiful and well thought out book. I learned so much about Judaism from it. It's also a sad book. Oddly enough I never really though much before about how Jews in America felt during World War II. As I was able to learn from this book it was hard for them not being able to help their comrades and hearing about what was basically their family being slaughtered over in Germany.
But that isn't so much what the book is about as much as it is about a father and his son and another father and his son and how they interact. I'm not sure I can even begin to describe their relationships but I think we can just say they're complicated. Reuven and Danny's friendship was the best thing that could happen for either of them and was probably the best relationship in the whole book, though  Reuven's and his Dad's relationship was pretty good.

I'd highly recommend this book as I'm not sure a review can give it full justice or really explain it.

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Movie Review- Star Wars: A New Hope

The greatest science fiction movie ever.... Star Wars!!!!! Well maybe that's a bold claim but in my humble opinion that's the truth. I actually watched this twice this year... once earlier in the year and then again just this week in preparation for STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS!!!! Not that I'm excited for it or anything. ;) Hopefully I have time to watch Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi too before Saturday (which is when I'm going to go see it!).

Synopsis from IMDB: Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a wookiee and two droids to save the universe from the Empire's world-destroying battle-station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the evil Darth Vader.

I just love this synopsis. So simple but so true. :) My absolute favorite part of the Star Wars movies is Han Solo's and Leia's bantering. It's what makes the movies for me. Luke annoys me most of the time. I also like R2D2 and C3PO though C3PO can get annoying sometimes as well. And Chewy! Chewy makes me laugh too. :) I love how this movie introduces the Force and the whole world of Star Wars. The opening credits and introduction with the epic music are amazing!!!! John Williams' music may be the second best part of the movies. ;)
I just have to include a few (and by few I mean a ton) of my favorite quotes... which may or may not largely involve Han and Leia. ;)

Obi-Wan-Kenobi- These aren't the droids you're looking for.

Han- Sometimes I amaze even myself.

Leia- That can't be very hard. 

Han- Wonderful girl. Either I'm going to kill her or I'm beginning to like her. 

Luke (trying to convince Han to rescue Leia)- She's rich

Han- Rich?

Luke- Rich, powerful. Listen, if you were to rescue her, the reward would be...

Han- What?

Luke- Well, more wealth than you could imagine!

Han- I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit. 

Darth Vader- I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you I was but the learner, now I am the master. 

Obi-Wan-Kenobi- Only a master of evil Darth. 

C3PO- We're doomed!

C3PO (to R2D2)- This is all your fault. 

Leia- Aren't you a little short for a storm trooper?

Luke- So what do you think of her Han?

Han- I'm trying not to kid. 

Luke- Good.

Han (Baiting Luke)- Still she's got a lot of spirit. I don't know. What do you think? You think a princess like her and a guy like me...

Luke (quickly)- No! 

Luke (about Leia)- They're going to execute her! Look a few minutes ago you said you didn't want to just wait there to be captured. Now all you want to do is stay?

Han- Walking into a detention area was not what I had in mind. 

Luke- But they're going to kill her!

Han- Better her than me! 

C3PO- I suggest a new strategy R2; let the Wookie win. 

Leia- This is some rescue! You came in here, but didn't you have a plan for getting out?

Han Solo (indicating Luke)- He's the brains sweetheart! 

Leia (indicating the Millennium Falcon)- You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought. 

Han- Nice! Come on! 

Leia- Put that thing away (Han's gun) away, you're going to get us all killed!

Han- Absolutely your worship! Look, I had everything under control until you led us down here. 

Han (indicating Obi-Wan-Kenobi)- Where did you dig up that old fossil? 

Luke- Ben is a great man.

Han- Yeah, great at getting us into trouble. 

Leia- Looks like you've managed to cut off our only escape route. 

Han- Maybe you'd like it back in your cell, your highness. 

Han (about Leia)- No reward is worth this! 

And one final though... Han shot first. ;)

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Top Ten Best Books I Read in 2015

These top ten lists are sometimes killers! The best? Really? I have to chose? :( Since I read and I re-read a lot I'm making a list of the top ten books I read and the top ten books I re-read. These are in no particular order.

Read

1. The Valley of Vision by various Puritans 
2. Beowulf by Unknown
3. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
4. Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
5. The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde
6. That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
7. A Child's History of England by Charles Dickens
8. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky 
9. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque 
10. Mysterious Island by Jules Verne 

Re-read (And there are 11... I couldn't narrow it down!)

1. Anne of Green Gables and Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
2. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
3. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
4. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransom (the whole series really)
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6. Little Britches and Man of the Family by Ralph Moody 
7. Emma by Jane Austen
8. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster 
9. Betsy-Tacy and Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Lucy Maud Montgomery
10. The Chosen by Chaim Potok 
11. Carry on Mr. Bowditch

All of these books I'd recommend without reservation. Read them! :)

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It's Monday! Life After Crochet

This past Saturday there was a craft fair at my church that my little sister and I participated in by selling our crochet products. We spent a hectic amount of time preparing plus my normal work so I haven't really gotten enough sleep recently. However it was a lot of fun and we made more than I anticipated so all in all I'm glad we did it.

Betsy and I at the craft fair. Yes she's taller than me. :(

But on to reading because though I've been crocheting like crazy I've also kept up with my reading

Currently Reading

• Beloved by Toni Morrison (I really dislike this book and want to be done with it) 
• Charlotte's Web by E.B.White (re-read)

Finished this Week

• Betsy-Tacy Go Downtown by Lucy Maud Montgomery (re-read) 

Coming Soon

• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
• Othello by William Shakespeare 

Rebecca is the last book I have to "officially" finish in 2015 to complete my ridiculous number of reading challenges but I want to get a couple more books in after that. Othello is for the Classics Club spin.
I am trying to get all of my book reviews completed and published before Christmas. There's a lot in the stacks that just need to get brushed up a bit. 

To top off this post I have a couple funny memes I collected. :) 

Additionally I have a picture of some beautiful and unique bookmarks a friend of mine made for me. One has a Jane Austen quote and the other a P.G. Wodehouse quote. I use them all the time. :) 

Alright that's it for this post. I hope you all are having a great time preparing for Christmas and I hope and pray that you and I continue to keep our focus on God during the business of the season. :)

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TV Review- Doctor Who Season Nine

After a rocky last season, it was great to see a more solid season in season nine of Doctor Who. For the 42 Challenge I'll be reviewing it. Since several of the episodes this series were two parters I'm reviewing the two parts together.

The Magician's Apprentice and the Witch's Familiar

These episodes sees the reappearance of Missy (aka the Master) along with of course the Doctor and Clara. Davros, the creator of the Daleks along with is creations show up for a classic episode. I love how this episode showed the Doctor giving mercy to Davros as a child which caused Davros to instill a sense of mercy in the Daleks. A solid beginning to the series. 

Under the Lake and Before the Flood

I really enjoyed these episodes and that they had a deaf person and sign language! Very different but lots of fun. Plenty of scare as well. :) And the notecards that Clara made for the Doctor are so perfect. He needs them... he never says the right thing... much to our enjoyment. :)

The Girl who Died and The Women who Lived 

I preferred the Girl who Died over The Women who Lived but they were both enjoyable. The introduction of Ashildr (aka "Me") is interesting. Personally I'm not a fan of Ashildr but I do find her interesting. She's so sad and angry... I pity her. I think the Doctor is right on not taking her with him in the T.A.R.D.I.S. and I hope she doesn't become the next companion.

The Zygon Invasion and The Zygon Inversion

Maybe my favorites of the series, especially The Zygon Inversion. I love the Doctor's speech in it. Clara as Bonnie is well done and you can really see Jenna Coleman's acting talent in it. 

Sleep no More

I'm so-so on this episode and it seems the general opinion on this episode is all over the place... some love it some hate it. I'm in the middle somewhere. It was kind of boring but the concept was quite... original... and the twist at the end was unexpected. I am interested to see if they'll continue on with where the end of the episode left off.

Face the Raven

What to say about this episode? It was a good episode, great plot... but.... SPOILERS!!!

Massive spoilers below!!!

Clara died!!!! I mean we all knew she was going to leave sometime this series and my guess was that she would die but still... it was sad. Her speech to the doctor at the end was beautiful. Overall though I did feel like there was something lacking in her farewell. The question is though... is she really dead? I guess we'll find out. :)

END SPOILERS

Heaven Sent

What a cool episode! Very different then the others with mainly just the Doctor appearing in it the whole time. Quite chilling as well. And the reveal at the end! Ahhhh! I couldn't wait for the next episode! :) 

Hell Bent

Not what I expected. I do feel like after so much build up about finding Gallifrey when he actually found it he was just focusing on Clara... not on Gallifrey. It was a little anticlimactic. I'm not sure how I feel about the Clara twist either. I think it worked for the most part though. The Doctor really needed to let go of her and how they concluded that was pretty well done. Overall I enjoyed it. :)

There's my thoughts! Now I'm excitedly anticipating the Christmas special and the return of River Song!!!!! :) 

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