Friday, November 7, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads

I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about? It is not nuclear physics. It actually has to give pleasure or it is worth nothing.
Stephen Greenblatt
Happy 71st birthday, Stephen Greenblatt! The Pulitzer Prize winner is one of the founders of New Historicism and wrote a popular biography of William Shakespeare titled Will in the World.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Quote of the Day------Goodreads



We are crayons and lunchboxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds.
Laurie Halse Anderson
Happy 53rd birthday, Laurie Halse Anderson! The novelist is known for her Young Adult books that tackle tough issues. Her most popular, Speak, focuses on a teen who stops speaking after she is raped by a classmate.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Haatchi and Little B


Animal lovers must read this tale of courage, bravery, loyalty and love.

Wendy Holden, author, gets the brutality of Haatchi, an Anatolian Shepherd, out of the way in the opening chapter, she also brings in the love and dedication of animal lovers to save Haatchi, both with medical attention and emotional attention. That Haatchi not only survived this ordeal, but also remained a trusting, loving animal to humans, is amazing. This becomes evident when he is finally introduced to Owen.

Owen, otherwise known as "Little B" has a rare genetic disorder that is very debilitating, he is extremely shy around folks that he is not close to, when Haatch enters "Little B's" life that all changes, not overnight, but gradually.

This is a beautifully written account of a dog and a boy who needed each other. This account is filled with love, compassion, humor and joy.

A must read for all animal lovers!

This is my review from Goodreads
Hope you will consider this wonderful "story".

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads




Do not read as children do to enjoy themselves, or, as the ambitious do to educate themselves. No, read to live.
Gustave Flaubert
October 1, 1856: The first installment of Madame Bovary appeared in The Paris Review, 158 years ago today.

Currently reading  "Haatchi and Little B".

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads



Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.
William Faulkner
When William Faulkner (born September 25, 1927) won the Nobel Prize, he donated part of the award money to establish a fund encouraging young writers, which became the PEN/Faulkner award, and the rest to a scholarship for black teachers as a Mississipi university.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Agatha, a film starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave



Watched this intriguing film the other night.   This was produced "many" years ago.

Who hasn't read, at least one, Agatha Christie book?  Her books are still very popular all these years after her passing.

This film is simply a "Tantalizing tale" of what might have occurred during her 11 day disappearance. 

Agatha's husband (played by Timothy Dalton) is in love with his "secretary", and wants a divorce.  Agatha (Vanessa Redgrave) is devastated and refuses, consequently her disappearance casts suspicion on her husband.  A very determined American reporter (Dustin Hoffman) is hot on the trail of this story.

Acting was interesting.

Worth the time spent.  Hope you will consider this.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Free Men, a French film



Another across the circulation desk return.  Looked very interesting, so I checked it out.
Once again, a winner of a film ----- Film Movement has a very good track record for picking independent films.

Set in German occupied Paris, Younes (young Algerian) dabbles in the black market, his cousin is part of the French resistance, which leads to Younes being picked up by the French police - he has the choice of becoming a "snitch" or remain in jail, not much of a choice, but in those times....
As he becomes acquainted with the devout Muslims at the local mosque, he quits helping the French police. 
Seen through the eyes of Younes, we discover how the Muslims of Paris not only joined the French resistance, they aided the Jews of Paris by giving them fake identification papers, and smuggled them to North Africa.

Once again, we found "learning" something about WW II, that was not taught in our history classes.

Although this is a "hard" story to watch, we "enjoyed" the film, the acting was almost "too real". 

If you have about an hour and a half, it is well worth watching.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Caramel, a Lebanese film



Caramel, a beautiful film from Lebanon.
Written and directed by, and starring, Nadine Labaki.
We watched this film, just mesmerized by the flow and beauty of the women, last night.
 
Set in a beauty salon in Beirut, Lebanon, the proprietors and the clients have a unique relationship, some with angst, some with humor.  Aunt Rose and Lili, from across the street, offer an unusual look at how two "older" ladies cope with aging.

At the end of the film, my husband stated that it was an interesting, and exquisite film.  My thoughts exactly.

Hope you will consider it. 

Monday, September 15, 2014

quote of the day-----goodreads




For to know a man's library is, in some measure, to know his mind.
Geraldine Brooks
Happy 59th birthday, Geraldine Brooks! The Australian-born novelist is best known for March, which imagines the wartime service of the March sisters' father in Little Women.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads




Good books tell the truth, even when they're about things that never have been and never will be. They're truthful in a different way
Stanisław Lem
Polish sci-fi writer Stanisław Lem (born September 12, 1921) was a fan of Philip K. Dick, but the American author thought that Lem was a composite character created by the Communists and reported him in a letter to the FBI.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Deserted Station, an Iranian film


Another film "caught" at the circulation desk.

You've seen her in other middle eastern films, and you know she is a wonderful actress.

This is a very poignant story about loss, in very many subtle ways.  Loss of family, loss of direction, loss of one's national heritage.

Filmed in a bleak area of Iran, yet the bleakness is the beauty of it.

The only "down" side to this film, the subtitles are sometimes impossible to read as they appear next to the sands of the desert. If you understand Farsi, it will be no  problem



Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads



Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Mary Oliver
Happy 79th birthday, Mary Oliver! The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet's daily walks in the woods and wetlands of Provincetown are a central inspiration for her work.

Many years ago, at a memorial service for a very dear friend, I heard Mary Oliver's poetry for the very first time. I simply "fell in love" with her work.  Every time a new book of her work is published, I purchase it.

Happy Birthday Mary.  Many more.  And thank you for wonderful words over the years.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Quote of the Day---Goodreads



People make mistakes in life through believing too much, but they have a damned dull time if they believe too little.
James Hilton
Novelist James Hilton (born September 9, 1900) wrote Goodbye, Mr. Chips for The Atlantic magazine, where it first appeared as an article before being published as a book. It was inspired by Hilton's father, who worked as a school headmaster.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads




One must live as if it would be forever, and as if one might die each moment. Always both at once.
Mary Renault
Mary Renault (born September 4, 1905) was known for her historical novels set in ancient Greece and her contemporary novels exploring homosexual relationships.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads




Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.
Frederick Douglass
September 3, 1838: Writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass escaped slavery by boarding a train dressed in a sailor's uniform and carrying borrowed identification. He wrote about his journey in his autobiography, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.

And your life will be filled with rainbows, sunrises, sunsets, and love.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads



There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.
Ray Bradbury
September 2, 1932: Science fiction master Ray Bradbury was a 12-year-old boy when he walked into a carnival tent and met Mr. Electrico—a moment that he credits with making him want to be a writer. The performer tapped him with an electrified sword and shouted: "Live forever!"

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads




One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
With his debut novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (born August 28, 1749) became an international celebrity. It was one of Napoleon Bonaparte's favorite books.

Especially, "to speak a few reasonable words."  Kind and thoughtfully said.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads



Nothing great in the world was accomplished without passion.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (born August 27, 1770) was an enormously influential philosopher who also had a knack for evocative titles: Phenomenology of Spirit, Science of Logic, and Philosophy of Right.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Quote of the day-----Goodreads

 
 
Puns are the highest form of literature.
Alfred Hitchcock
When director Alfred Hitchcock (born August 13, 1899) was five, his father dispatched him to the local police station with a note. The officer read it and locked young Hitchcock in a jail cell for five minutes, a move that bred his distrust of authority.
 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Quote of the Day-------Goodreads




I feel free and strong. If I were not a reader of books I could not feel this way.
Walter Tevis
The popular Paul Newman films The Hustler and The Color of Money, in which he stars as a pool hustler, and the surreal David Bowie film The Man Who Fell to Earth, were all based on books by author Walter Tevis. He died 30 years ago today.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads



These rough sketches, which are born in an instant in the heat of inspiration, express the idea of their author in a few strokes, while on the other hand too much effort and diligence sometimes saps the vitality and powers of those who never know when to leave off.
Giorgio Vasari
In his Lives of the Most Excellent Italian Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, Giorgio Vasari (born July 30, 1511) wrote artistic biographies and essentially created the first book of art history.


Enough said.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

"Wadjda" a Saudi film


Wadjda, 10 years old, living in Saudi Arabia, only wants ONE thing a NEW bicycle.  Hard to believe that in our world today, a young girl would be denied the right to own a bicycle, yet that is just a small thing denied women in Saudi Arabia. 

If you listen to NPR, you will hear, from time to time, stories about Saudi women protesting the fact that they are denied the "right" to drive automobiles - listening to a news story is one thing, seeing their plight on film is truly an eye-opening experience!  One you might ponder for quite some time, especially if you are a Western woman who takes life for granted with issues such as driving a car!

Wadjda lives with her mother, who depends on a not-so-nice driver to drive her to her job.  Wadjda's father does not live at the family home, late in the movie it will become clear as to the standards that do divide men and women in this culture.

Besides having to wear the "veil", women's outer garments are always Black, while men's garments are generally always white ----- in an area of the world where heat is a major issue, this difference truly does deliver the separation of the two.

Wadjda's desire for a bicycle leads her down a very sticky path, both at home and in her girls' school, where the head mistress is highly intolerant.

The one shining light in the movie is Wadjda's "boy" friend, who is willing to let her ride his bike, even though he knows it is highly forbidden.....

The young actress portraying Wadjda is exceptional, she has a sparkle in her eyes, sometimes a wickedness in her eyes, but always her eyes are a major part of her on screen performance.

This is a must SEE film for everyone. Hope you will consider this one.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

The Girl in the Cafe, film by Richard Curtis


Bill Nighy is one of my favorite British actors, so when I saw this one I checked it out.  Kelly Macdonald plays opposite him.

Bill portrays "mild mannered Lawrence" who works as a civil servant, dedicated to his work, known for his knowledge of "facts and figures", but with no life outside of his work.  At lunch one day, he wanders over to the only table he might be able to sit at with a "quiet" young woman, he politely inquires if he might sit at the table with her as all the other tables are full - she does not refuse, so down he sits, and away this story goes. 
Lawrence is "smitten" over Gina, his antics are quite humorous, especially considering his lack of "woman knowledge".

As a member of the group representing the British government attending the G-8 summit in Reykjavik, Iceland, Lawrence is allowed to invite a guest to travel with him, so invites Gina. Co-workers' eyebrows go up, when Gina boards the plane with him.  Little does Lawrence know that Gina might be his undoing at the summit.

Bill and Kelly are really well paired in this film.

This film was well worth watching - one sitting, non-stop - and VERY thought-provoking, as the subject matter is World Poverty. Richard Curtis, obviously, made a very thorough attempt to have his facts and figures pretty accurate.  Makes one wonder what it will take for the "have" countries to really make a difference for the "have-not" countries. 

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads




How much does one imagine, how much observe? One can no more separate those functions than divide light from air, or wetness from water.
Elspeth Huxley
Her childhood on a coffee farm in colonial Kenya provided writer Elspeth Huxley (born July 23, 1907) with background for her memoir, The Flame Trees of Thika.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads




I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.
J.D. Salinger
July 16, 1951: The iconic tale of teen angst, Catcher in the Rye, was published 63 years ago today


I find this one especially true!  
Happy day to you all.


Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads




In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.
Thurgood Marshall
The first black justice on the Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall (born July 2, 1908) was part of significant civil rights decisions

Monday, June 30, 2014

Quote of the Day (Sunday June 29,2014)-----Goodreads



And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
In the beloved French novella The Little Prince, a pilot who has crashed in the desert encounters a young prince visiting Earth from his home asteroid. The premise was inspired by author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's (born June 29, 1900) own desert crash. After three days without water, he was saved by a passing Bedouin.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads



Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.
Pearl S. Buck
Novelist Pearl S. Buck (born June 26, 1892), author of The Good Earth, was raised in China by her missionary parents and spent most of her first 40 years there. Fluent in the language of her adopted country, she says classical Chinese novels like Dream of the Red Chamber shaped her understanding of storytelling.


Seems to me that currently, our society has its eyes ON BIG stuff and not the small things that link us together.

Monday, June 23, 2014

"The Tree" an Australian film by Julie Bertuccelli



A library patron suggested this film.   She thought it reminded her of someone that we both knew, and that I would see that.   Well, I didn't see the comparison.

However, it was a very interesting film.

This revolves around a "young" family in drought stricken Australia, husband dies suddenly and unexpectedly.  We understand grief when death comes this way, or do we?  Mother bogs down in her grief, her children must make their way, when suddenly she is hired to work in a "plumbing" store in the local town. Along the way, THE TREE takes on a life of its own, and begins to drag the family with it.

Beautifully photographed, interesting characters and situations.

Was a good film to watch on a Saturday evening.

Friday, June 20, 2014

"Museum Hours" a film by Jem Cohen



One day working at the circ desk, this film passed into my hands.  The cover and title intrigued me, so I placed a hold on it.  Several weeks later it came in for me, we passed it over several times to watch "Vera" and "George Gently", and then it came time to either return or watch.

What a surprise!   If you like ACTION or VIOLENCE in films, well, this film is NOT for you.  If you enjoy visual imagery, art and "real life" type situations then please give this one a consideration.

Shot in Vienna and the Kunsthistorisches Art museum in Vienna, we meet a museum security guard who befriends a Canadian woman (she has come to Vienna as the last family member of a cousin in hospital in a coma).  Jem has artfully filmed not only this unusual relationship, he has filmed inside this museum with great care and insight.  The art of Bruegel, the elder, is discussed and viewed through the lens and one docent at the museum ---- one sees and "looks" differently after hearing her thoughts regarding this artist's works.  Many other works of art are thoughtfully viewed, none are discussed in great length.  Also, we are taken to an underground lake, a local pub and other points of interest in Vienna.

This is a Slow moving, yet highly exciting visual film to enrich the senses.

Hope you will consider it.   Remember if you like action and violence, this one ain't for you!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Quote of the Day------Goodreads





The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear
Aung San Suu Kyi
Happy 69h birthday, Aung San Suu Kyi! The Myanmar opposition leader was under frequent house arrest over the past three decades, but remained a potent political figure. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and plans to run for president in her country's 2015 elections.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Quote of the Day ------ Goodreads




I want to understand you,
I study your obscure language.

Alexander Pushkin
Russian poet Alexander Pushkin (born June 6, 1799) was part of the country's literati from age 15. By 26, he had begun publishing the serialization of Eugene Onegin, his novel in verse. By 37, he was dead, killed in one of the 29 duels that he fought in his short life.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

George Gently, a dvd series




Several weeks ago, I noticed someone with this series.  I had never heard of George Gently previously, so I was interested in trying the series out.

We very much enjoyed "Foyle's War", so I was hoping that this series would be as enjoyable.  Boy, it exceeded my expectations ----  this series is set in the 1960's  ----- and I am really hoping that there will be a 7th season, as we just finished watching season 6, which after watching season 5 it might not have been filmed (that ending was certainly a cliff hanger).

Hope you will give it a try.

Delicious, a novel by Ruth Reichl

Ruth Reichl's first novel, Delicious, is a "delight".

If you are a "foodie", then the opening pages will have you drooling over them. I could just smell the orange rind, the cinnamon, the crushed cloves, the cardamom, not to forget the ginger!
Billie Breslin leaves her home state of California heading east to the "Big Apple" in hopes of finding that perfect job. What a job she lands, after a very interesting day wandering around with Sal, a well-known figure in certain food arenas.

As Ruth Reichl's career as editor in chief of Gourmet magazine for ten years, she writes with a flair for what running a major magazine must have been like, of course, we all know the demise of Gourmet magazine, she relies on that to bring abrupt changes to the fictional "Delicious" magazine, and what happens to all the employees who are no longer employed, and the disgraceful way they are informed of the closure of the magazine. 

World War II is brought into play with a series of "letters" found from a young girl in Ohio to the one and only James Beard -- just her letters, never his replies. This was a very interesting twist to the story, as it brought the history of food creations of many time frames. And then there is the architectural point of view of an "historic" building, the one and only that Delicious has had for its place of operation for all these years.

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads




Perhaps the rare and simple pleasure of being seen for what one is compensates for the misery of being it.
Margaret Drabble
Happy 75th birthday, Margaret Drabble! The British novelist is involved in well-known literary feud with her sister, the writer A.S. Byatt. It seems that Byatt took offense when Drabble wrote about a family tea set—as a result, the two do not read each other's books.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads




Remain true to yourself, child. If you know your own heart, you will always have one friend who does not lie.
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Best known for The Mists of Avalon, a Camelot retelling, Marion Zimmer Bradley (born June 3, 1930) also wrote LGBT pulp fiction as well as several fantasy series, including the popular Darkover series. She began her writing career by publishing fanzines as a teenager.


Currently re-reading for the 4th time  "Mrs. Queen Takes the Train".

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Oranges & Sunshine, a movie based on true events


We watched this film last night, if you recently viewed the film Philomena you are probably aware of children in the United Kingdom, and Ireland, being taken away from their birth mothers (during a time when pregnant unwed women were treated less than humane), this wonderfully portrayed film, based on true events, is 130,000 times worse(!) as that is the approximate number of children taken away from their families in the United Kingdom and sent to Australia - both government kept this "dirty little secret" hidden from the world for decades. 

The film is definitely worth watching, just get a hankie or tissues handy for the end.....  
I have taken the liberty of copying then Prime Minister Gordon Brown's apology speech, I googled the text.  It is as follows:

Gordon Brown's apology: From BBC Democracy Live

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has apologised for the UK's role in sending more than 130,000 children to former colonies where many suffered abuse.He expressed regret for the "misguided" Child Migrant Programme, telling the Commons he was "truly sorry".
He also announced a £6m fund to reunite families that were torn apart.
The scheme sent poor children for a "better life" to countries like Canada and Australia from the 1920s to 1960s, but many were abused and lied to.
'Deportation of innocents'
Mr Brown said: "To all those former child migrants and their families... we are truly sorry. They were let down.
"We are sorry they were allowed to be sent away at the time when they were most vulnerable. We are sorry that instead of caring for them, this country turned its back.

HISTORY OF UK CHILD MIGRANTS
UK is the only country with a sustained history of child migration - over four centuries
In 1618, 100 sent from London to Richmond, Virginia
In total 130,000 sent from the UK to Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and Australia
Post-war, 7,000 shipped to Australia and 1,300 to New Zealand, Rhodesia and Canada
Source: Child Migrants Trust
 
                                            
 

"And we are sorry that the voices of these children were not always heard, their cries for help not always heeded. And we are sorry that it has taken so long for this important day to come and for the full and unconditional apology that is justly deserved."





These children were told their "mums" and families were either dead, or did not want them.

The courage of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham, was beyond belief.  The courage of the "children", now adults, was even more amazing, considering the brutal abuse they were subject to from people who should have known better. 

I know this is not an easy film to watch, I was weeping by the end, but it is an important film to watch, and consider all that occurred to these innocent victims, however, it is done with grace and love, and well deserved to be watched.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads




Never say 'no' to adventures. Always say 'yes,' otherwise you'll lead a very dull life.
Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming (born May 28, 1908) may have achieved everlasting fame as the creator of the dapper James Bond, but he was also the author of a popular children's book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.


Take the road of life and see the sights around you.

Currently reading "North of Boston"

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads



It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own.
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (born May 22, 1859) created the observant and skeptical Sherlock Holmes, but later in life Doyle became interested in the supernatural. He had a falling out with Harry Houdini when he refused to believe that the magician's illusions were not real.

Don't know if he would approve of all the books that surround us in our home, however, I believe a home without books is like a body without a soul.

Currently re-reading for the 6th time,  "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson.  This one stays on my bedside night table all the time, for comfort and joy.

Monday, May 19, 2014

quote of the day-----goodreads




It is thanks to my evening reading alone that I am still more or less sane.
W.G. Sebald
W.G. Sebald (born May 18, 1944) was a German writer whose elegiac works of history and memoir explored the physical, political, and emotional fallout of World War II.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Quote of the Day-------Goodreads

In secret we met
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
George Gordon Byron
May 17, 1824: Before dying in Greece, Lord Byron entrusted a friend with his memoirs. Other friends, worried that the memoirs would be scandalous, fought to destroy the manuscript—190 years ago today, they succeeded, tearing it up and burning it in the office of Byron's publisher.

What a shame about his memoirs!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

"Blue Jasmine" a movie

So, we watched this last night.  Hmmmmmm.......

So, she was awarded the Oscar. Hmmmmmmmm.......

About halfway through the film, I stated to my husband "If you had seen any of Woodie's previous films, say with Diane or Mia, and suddenly you lost your eyesight, and someone offered to take you to "see" a film (but they didn't tell you what film it was) you would know it was a Woodie Allen film.  Same cadence of dialogue, same music (which I really love) and same dysfunctional characters."  Just different faces and places.

I would rather Judi or Emma have taken the Oscar home.



Quote of the Day----Goodreads



No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire.
L. Frank Baum
What do Capt. Hugh Fitzgerald, Schuyler Staunton, and Edith Van Dyne have in common? They were all pseudonyms used by Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum (born May 15, 1856) for his non-Oz books. Before he found success as a writer at age 44, Baum raised fancy chickens, edited trade publications, ran a newspaper, and owned a general store.

"Knowledge is understanding". 

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

"My Afternoons with Margueritte" a French film

 
We have watched several films that were up for Oscars recently, and I have written my impressions of them.

Then along comes "My Afternoons with Margueritte", a French film starring Gerard Depardieu and Gisele Casadesus. 

This was by far the most beautiful film, easy to watch even with subtitles. 

Not much to say, except this was a "Love story of a different kind" ( to paraphrase Jimmy Buffet ).  I loved this more than any of the others I have recently written about!

Hope you can find it and check it out.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Philomena, a movie

We watched this one just the other night.  Although I was aware of the story behind this, I was not prepared for the impact of the film.....  
Once again, we watched non-stop as the story was so gripping.
Judi did an incredible job, too bad she didn't win the Oscar.
.

Captain Phillips, a movie


After watching "Saving Mr. Banks" with Tom, we watched this one a night or two later.  Tom and I share the same birthday (July 9th) and I have always enjoyed his films, so let me just say, that this film was just another example of his talent as an actor. 
A long film (by today's standards), we were truly glued to our seats watching this ----- no pausing to get water or other types of breaks, just non-stop watching.  I did get fidgety towards the end with all the action revolving around the rescue.
This one topped "Saving Mr. Banks" hands down.

"Saving Mr. Banks" a movie

We recently watched this film.  It was very well done, Emma was marvelous as Mrs. Travers.  Of course, one cannot really imagine her singing and dancing as portrayed in the film.  After all, she refused to ever let Disney to make an sequels from the rest of the Mary Poppins books.  Tom Hanks was really "top on" in this film.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads

O, ah! The awareness of emptiness brings forth a heart of compassion! Gary Snyder
Happy 84th birthday, Gary Snyder! The Pulitzer Prize winning writer and environmental activist was the inspiration for Japhy Ryder in Jack Kerouac's novel, The Dharma Bums.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Quote of the Day------Goodreads



Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.
Rabindranath Tagore
Influential Bengali poet and thinker Rabindranath Tagore (born May 6, 1861) was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.


What an interesting vision this is.