Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Personal: Busy in 2017.

Oh me, oh my. I'm so sorry about that.

Apologies for going MIA, things have been... busy. 2016 came to an end and I was met with a 2017 that came fast and furious, and I'm not sure it's going to slow down anytime soon..

Hold on to your butts kids.

In the coming months my posts are going to be erratic,

At least four moves are going to be happening in 4 months, OH JOY.
Roommate moving out (THIS WEEKEND), helping the mother-in-law clean out her mother's house in Texas (DONE), helping mother-in-law out of her current place (NEXT WEEK), and finally hopefully my partner and myself are moving.

Top that off with having the children for Spring Break, we literally get them the day our roommate leaves.
I expect my stress level to be a roller coaster.

While I try to keep my personal life separate from my blog, once in awhile a life update is bound to happen.
I have a few reviews to post and I'll do my best to get right on that.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Follow Friday: Holiday Reads


Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read, to help gain new followers and make new friends!
Please see here for rules and more details if you're interesting in joining in!

Show us your holiday reads! via Charlie


Now I know for many holiday reads could just be something you plan to read this month, theme'd holiday reads, or something you gravitate towards when the winter winds blow in.

As I'm not strictly a book blog, I have a mixed list. As well as a mixture of the above statement.
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This time of the year makes me want to watch Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Both the 1966 TV special and the (questionable good/bad) 2002 live action version with Jim Carrey.

With that I want to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas. As much as I hate Oogie Boogie. *shudders*


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Mostly I just think of all the Christmas/Holiday specials from TV shows. I know it's dorky and cheesy, but I love stuff like that.

For some reason the third season of Psych comes to mind. They did a themed intro and everything.

I've also added a few quick Christmas reads to my Kindle library.
A Snowy White Christmas by Josie Riviera
Blame the Mistletoe (Love in Montana Book 2) Dani Collins

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Movie Review: The Revenant

I apologize for all of my R rated movie reviews recently.
That said, this is the goriest, heaviest, adult movie to date on my blog with a review.
I make this note so that no one takes this R rating lightly in any way shape or form.

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The Revenant (2015)

Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Producer: Arnon Milchan, Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mary Parent, Keith Redmon, James W. Skotchdopole
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: December 16, 2015 (TCL Chinese Theatre), December 25, 2015 (U.S. Limited Release), January 8, 2016 (Worldwide Release)
Running Time: 156 minutes
Country: United States
Language: Arikara, English, French, Pawnee
Rating: R

Trailer

Inspired by true events, in an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald. Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption. (Source)

Movie Tags: Historical, Man vs Wild, Survival, Drama, Western, semi-biographical

Note: Please note rating.

This film may be, by far the goriest grittiest movie I've seen in years, but it was worth watching.

I'm going to be honest.. I saw this over two weeks ago and still have no idea how it makes me feel.
It's a story about real people's lives, it's history. It's gritty, unpleasant, cringe inducing, insightful, beautiful, ugly, raw...
I loved it but I also hated it... unsure of where that leaves me. Conflicted. Confused.

I feel the need to consider it given me a different view on my life, the value of how easy life and death came almost 200 years ago. The idea that I came from those that survived those conditions, ones I can't even imagine, always blows me away. Something I try not to think too hard about because it might blow my mind away too much. 

This movie dances around the entire reality that lives hanging in the balance. Struggling with the ideas of if you are able to change your life or if you are meant to let things be.
That partnerships, friendships, relationships, life and death, all come and go so easily and quickly. While some.. last longer than you'd ever expect, but let's dive in.

Hugh Glass was real. His story is true, this version however, not entirely. You may have no noticed the "semi-biographical" tag.
Hugh Glass was a mountain man and beaver fur trapper in the American West in the 1820s and 1830s.  On his first trip up the Missouri River in 1823 he was severely mauled by a grizzly bear, left for dead by his companions, survived, and struggled on his own for about six weeks and 200 miles back to Fort Kiowa. This feat was legendary among his peers almost immediately and the story has been retold (and elaborated on) ever since. (Source)

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What I enjoyed the most, were the little details this movie touched on. Actual research into the lives, culture, and practices of indigenous tribes.

There's a scene where a Pawnee man dies and a piece of moss is placed in his mouth. This is something they actually did to respect their dead.
The person I watched the film with pointed it out to me, I noticed it, but hadn't really thought much of it. It's such a simple, but beautiful moment which only adds farther depth to the complexity of this film.

Along with that, there is a meeting of chance, which leads to Hugh being kept alive by someone solely for their consideration and kindness. The effort they put into building shelter is beyond amazing and authentic to the times.

There's the hunting techniques, the Pawnee hunt with fire. There's a moment when you see fire rage up and take over a flat area and wolves running off. A Pawnee man is taking a kill from the wolves since they fear fire, as most animals instinctively do.

As I've already discussed, some of the facts have been altered an that effects my feelings and review of the film. Mainly because it's disappointing. While I understand there are issues of entertainment and different version of memoirs of the events. The heaviest point, some characters did not die, those that somewhat impacted the story line, as well as the driving force of the film doesn't hold against the facts of the journey. But I'm trying to avoid spoilers.

If you are interested... Farther reading... Fact checking...


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-me Authors 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Where we take part in sharing our top ten of the featured prompt that week. For the list of past topics and future schedule, click here.

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read For The First Time In 2016

Umm err... ugh. It's been a rather uneventful year. All I can think of are re-reads or books for authors I know and like. Aside from that, over half the year was spent working 10+ hours at the office, that only recently changed.

I'm not sure that I've had a top ten new-to-me authors I read for the first time this year, but I will try!

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata, which I reviewed here.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, technically my "next to read".
Fledgling (Afterlife Book 1) by Katrina Cope, which is what I'm currently reading.
The Accidental Hero (Jack Blank Adventure #1) by Matt Myklusch, which I ended up not finishing.
Temping Fate by Esther M. Friesner, a cute easy read.
And of course, Rainbow Rowell. I read both Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, then promptly fell in love.




I started using Spottoon this year (Android) and started reading a bunch of new comics/manhwa.

Here's a few of my favourites...
Imitation by Kyung-ran Park (Author & Illustrator)
My Beautiful World by Maru (Author & Illustrator)
Dating 101 by Tuna Can (Author & Illustrator)
Romanian Gynmastic Society by Ji-Sang Shin (Author), Ga-yan (Illustrator)

That's ten!

Any good reads this year? New authors that surprised you!

Sunday, December 4, 2016

FTW: Find This Week

This is my own version of a "Books/movies/things I've recently acquired" meme. It's not expected to be a regularly scheduled blog entry, only when it's relevant. Please enjoy my play on FTW, "For the win!"

Inspired by related weekly memes that revolve around sharing in your excitement of your newest titles!
Such as; Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Mailbox Monday.

"Deals FTW!"


This week has been a little hectic. Every day a new project, decorating stocking, making wreathes, then having to juggle my dryer suddenly not working right in the middle of it. Ugh! This week as been poo!

Hopefully, it hasn't been that way for everyone.

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Still managed to grab some free Kindle books. Sadly there's a few that are no longer free.
Don't forget there's a Top 100 List of Paid and Free Books to check out!

If The Shoe Fits (Once Upon A Romance Book 1) by Laurie LeClair
A Hidden Fire (Elemental Mysteries Book 1) by Elizabeth Hunter
Someone Else's Fairytale (Someone Else's Fairytale #1) by E.M. Tippetts
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Dying for a Living  (Jesse Sullivan #1) by Kory M. Shrum
Kissed (The Thorn Chronicles Book 1) by Kimberly Loth
The Girl In Between (The Girl In Between Book 1) by
Laekan Zea Kemp
Fledgling (Afterlife Book 1) by Katrina Cope
A Love That Never Tires (Linley & Patrick Book 1) by Allyson Jeleyne

Getting Wilde (Immortal Vegas Book 1) by Jenn Stark


Find anything good this week? Read any of these before?
Don't forget to comment and share your two cents!