"Box of Delights" by John Masefield

Recently, on NPR, John Masefield's book "Box of Delights" was being discussed by an author. Naturally, I needed to see why this book, written in 1937, was being discussed, so........

I am nearing the end of this "delightfully" told story. Kay Harkin has been "given" a box to protect from the evil doers, a box that can make him small or take him on very speedy trips of his choice. Magic is involved in many aspects of this book - which precedes Harry Potter by so many decades, and the writing is so much better than J.K.'s (s0rry if you are a big fan).

This is one that should become a holiday classic, but will probably fall by the wayside in our current scheme of things.......

Hope you will give it a look-over.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be careful as you travel, enjoy yourself in moderation, and remember someone less fortunate.

Have already watched my favorite Thanksgiving film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", oh how I miss John Candy!

Gobble gobble!

"The Burmese Harp" a film

"The Burmese Harp" a film by Kon Ichikawa, produced in 1956. Recently re-released. Glorious Black and White photography, and beautiful music.

A Japanese platoon, in Burma at the end of WWII, find themselves in the Mudon prison camp awaiting their return to their homeland. Self taught lute player, Mizushima, is sent by the British Army to convince a group of Japanese soldiers, "holed up" in a cave, to surrender. They believe that he is a traitor, a coward, and refuse to heed his warnings. The British follow through with force, the only survivor, as luck would have it, is Mizushima. As he attempts to return to Mudon, he comes upon so many of his fallen Japanese comrades that have perished and are left lying where they died. He is so moved by this, that he decides to become a Buddhist priest, even as his platoon hopes for his return.

This is a Long movie, and just having seen several Akira Kurosawa films, I was concerned that it was going to be another "downer" of a story, but this was a movie so thoroughly enjoyed by James and me. You will need about 2 solid hours of your time to view it, but please consider this film........

If I were going to give it a star rating, it would be a 5 star rating......

Mistress of Spices a film

"Mistress of Spices" a film.

This film is visually one of extreme beauty, colors of the spices are incredible. Since James and I thoroughly enjoy Indian dishes, this film did appeal to our visual senses. I am sure that if there were aroma movies, that I would have felt like I had died and gone to Heaven. Oh, how I wish we had a spice bazaar in Stanwood, or on Camano Island. I would spend many hours in a store such as this, when I am not at the library.

Story-wise it is a bit weak.

"Well Done Abba" a movie

"Well Done Abba"

Naturally, if you see "ABBA", you might think the singing group...... Just forget that.

This came through the circ desk, saw the cover and just had to check it out.

James and I watched this the other evening, and I decided that I need to purchase this one.

Armaan Ali, a driver works for a young Senior Executive in Mumbai, is trying to save his job. His boss has just fired him, because Armaan took more time off then he was allowed - 3 months!

Armaan gets in the car and proceeds to explain to his boss exactly what had happened. Armaan has gone back to his village to find a match for his unmarried daughter, who is in the care of his twin brother and wife. His village suffers from a lack of water, and Armaan decides to obtain a government permit to dig a well. What happens can only leave one laughing, and wondering if this is how things really work in his country.

James and I really enjoyed this one. It is in Arabic with subtitles, but well worth it.

Give it a shot.

"Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman" a novel by Elizabeth Buchan

"Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman" a novel by Elizabeth Buchan

Oh, She had it ALL! A good marriage, a great job, grown children and a home filled with......... But Nathan can't compete with the long ago memories of why Rose had married him, so when Nathan tells Rose he wants out of their marriage with, of all people, her younger assistant, Minty, Rose is sure she really can't be hearing him correctly, and when her boss, Timon, informs her that the paper no longer requires her services, she is doubly sure she is hearing Timon incorrectly, but that is indeed the case.

Rose's life, as she has known it, is over or so she thinks. Her grown children, however, force her to put one foot in front of the other, and so Rose starts reinventing her life. Her former beau reappears in her life, but is he and that what she wants? Muddling along, Nathan and Minty start having their own problems, and Rose finds that she doesn't care, and she really doesn't want Nathan back. And then Rose has that "light bulb" moment and realizes that she has become a better person without him.

A Revenge is SWEET!

Elizabeth captured all the emotions one would face in this type of situation. There are two books that follow these folks.

Hope you enjoy.

"Bliss" a movie

"Bliss" a middle eastern movie, can't seem to get away from them.

Young Meryem is found unconscious by a local shepherd, from her appearance, it would seem that she has been sexually violated. In her small village, she is expected to take her own life, as she is no longer considered "pure". Meryem is unable to name her assaulter to prove her innocence, however, she refuses to submit to the village's pressure to end her life. Her distant cousin, Cemal, has just returned from military service, and is given the task of executing her. Taking her to Istanbul, he visits his brother and an old childhood friend, neither of them believe in the "old ways". The friend has place that he suggests Cemal and Meryem go to, a fish farm on a huge lake. The current caretaker leaves and they take over his chores. A professor, on a fantastic sailboat, arrives and convinces the two to come on board and become his crew, he is unaware of the situation, believing them to be husband and wife.

This is a rather unusual film - it begins in sepia, and then turns to fantastic color, due in part to the locale and the water, then has a few moments in black and white. Story was interesting, the actors were believable. Some of the images keep coming back to me at odd moments.

Based on the novel by Zulfu Livaneli. Hope you will give it a try