Long-Awaited Tolkein Blog Party Coming (and I'm finally joining)!

Rachel at The Edge of the Precipice is hosting her 8th annual A Tolkein Blog Party. I've been on Blogger for 9 years (10 years next June) and have always wanted join this blog party, but something else always came up. Plus, having not read The Lord of the Rings I didn't think I could contribute anything. However, I've been wanting to review the Peter Jackson films for ages and a blog party is always a decent incentive to finally get those long awaited reviews written. 

Edit: This blog party will be followed up by Heidi's Lord of The Rings Read Along, starting September 28. Finally a good reason to get the series read!

Flashback Friday Post

 

In which I randomly select a year, a month and a post 

to look back upon

January 8, 2016

Words of Wisdom (From Cinderella Week 2016)

Something pretty for Cinderella Week.

One Night with the King

     One of the most beloved stories in the Bible is brought to life in this stunning production. One Night with the King recounts the life of Queen Esther of Persia, who was once simply Hadassah of Susa, and her journey to preserve God's people from destruction. An orphan who became a queen, a queen who became a legend. Esther's story was so profound that she has the honor of having her own book in the Old Testament of the Bible. Esther's story is still remembered and celebrated through the traditional Jewish holiday of Purim. 

Goodreads Reviews: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was initially disappointed when I found out that this book was just the screenplay and not an actual novel. However, within the first few pages I was immediately intrigued. The idea of reading a screenplay may sound boring at first, but actually proved to be quite a different experience.

In December of 1927, a young man arrives in the New York harbor wearing a dark blue coat and carrying a battered, ordinary looking suitcase. Newt Scamander may give the appearance of a shy Englishman that's visiting New York for the first time. However, beyond that sweet smile is an extraordinary man who is anything but ordinary and within that old suitcase is whole world unto itself. 

Newt Scamander is a wizard who hails from the hidden Wizarding World. He's also a magizoologist with a deep love and respect for all creatures, even the ones that other people might despise. Newt's trip to New York is to release a Thunderbird (Frank) into the Arizona desert. Yet, his animals residing in his suitcase have other plans. 

In a span of 24 hours, Newt's creatures wreck havoc all over New York. The trouble leads Newt to cross paths with Jacob Kowalski, a non-magic or no-maj (American term for muggle) who is struggling to open his new bakery, Tina and Queenie Goldstein, witches who work at MACUSA (The Magical Congress of The United States of America), the governing board of American witches and wizards, and Credence Barebones, a scared young boy who is abused and hated for his hidden magical nature. 

Prior to Newt's arrival in America, New York's no-maj community has been experiencing strange attacks from a manic and deadly force. The notorious dark wizard and anti non-magic persons protester Gellert Grindelwald is rising to power, his followers streaming from all over the world. No doubt that Grindelwald is behind these bizarre attacks, but MACUSA is at a loss to know how to find and stop him. 

Newt, his creatures and his American allies are caught up in this twisted mystery and must stop this deadly force before it exposes the Wizarding World. Yet, MACUSA's enemy has been closer than they expected and he will stop at nothing to complete his mission of magical supremacy.

If you've seen the movie as many times as I have, then reading the screenplay is an absolute delight. You are literally reading the movie! The screenplay also adds in details that you may have initially missed in the film and then upon rewatching, you catch them immediately. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was such a great film and being able to relive it while you read it makes you feel like you can carry the movie with you anywhere. 

Grifter, Hitter, Hacker, Thief....Are Set To Steal (Or the return of Leverage!!!)

I can't believe it!

It's actually happening!

Leverage is coming back!!

We Love Lucy Blogathon: Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)

In honor of Lucille Ball's 109th birthday, Musings of an Introvert is hosting the We Love Lucy Blogathon. I grew up watching Lucille Ball. First with the classic show, I Love Lucy which she starred in with her then husband, Desi Arnez, The Lucy Show which also co-starred her children, Lucie and Desi Jr. Arnez. Two of her most classic movies are some of my favorites, The Long, Long Trailer (which also starred Desi Arnez) and my personal favorite Yours, Mine and Ours which she co-starred with Henry Fonda. 

 Based on the true story of the marriage of widowed father of ten, Frank Beardsley and  widowed mother of eight, Helen North and how they brought together two families and made them one.

Goodreads Reviews: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It all comes to an end. Life is meant to come to an end. Harry James Potter's life has never been an ordinary life. Even before his birth, Harry was destined to be above the ordinary, the normal and the acceptable. For the last seven years, Harry has spent his life learning, preparing, discovering and understanding the destiny that was mapped out for him. Harry's time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry set him on a path of expanding the image of 'the boy who lived,' to be 'the chosen one.' And anyone who must bear the title of being chosen, must bear a life of uncertainty, sorrow, and sacrifice. 

The Wizarding World is at war. Voldemort and his Death Eaters have risen to extreme power. The Order of The Phoenix remain ever vigilant and faithful toward their primary goal of protecting Harry Potter, no matter the cost. However, wherever Harry goes, he and those around him become the immediate targets of violence and destruction. Unable to return to Hogwarts, which is now under the maniacal control of Severus Snape and the Death Eaters, Harry, Ron and Hermione set out to finish one final task given to them by Dumbledore. A task that, with any hope, will finally put an end to Voldemort once and for all.

Harry must find and destroy the remaining five of the seven horcruxes. Two have already been destroyed, one by Harry and the other by Dumbledore, but where the rest are is up for the trio to figure out. In the midst of this ever evolving and complex mystery, Harry comes across a symbol with historic significance. This symbol known as the Deathly Hallows is a fairy tale that has more truth behind it than originally believed. The Deathly Hallows can be the balancing point between life and death for Harry, but also the use of ultimate power for Voldemort.

As the war progresses and Voldemort's hunt for Harry Potter increases at an insurmountable pace, The Order of The Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army (now headed by Neville Longbottom) are willing to risk their lives and challenge the darkest powers of evil. No longer able to run from Voldemort, the sacrifice of the most unlikely person opens Harry's eyes and his heart to the understanding of what he was meant to live for and what people are so willing to die for.

It all comes to an end.

The last and final chapter of the cannon Harry Potter series leaves the reader with an intense amount of emotion, both happy and sad. Harry himself is not a perfect person. He's flawed, arrogant, hot tempered, judgmental and is forever finding himself at odds with people who disagree with him. Yet, it's Harry's flaws that make him so real and relatable. Beyond those flaws, there is immense goodness to be found. After years of abuse, Harry has a heart for the lost, the lonely and the misunderstood. He won't stand by while injustice is dealt out and has no fear in going to the dark unknown.

And into the dark Harry goes. Again and again and again. And each time he returns, maybe a little more broken, but also wiser, stronger. Strong enough to heal, strong enough to fight and strong enough to believe that all will be well in the end.

Currently

June

     Summer has completely flown by! In June the gym opened back up and I returned to my job. I thought it was going to start of slowly.

I thought wrong.