This was just a funny family movie I watched with my mom when she was sick. However, it turned out to be much better than either of us expected. The balance of zany family, progressive parenting methods, technology illiteracy, genuinely funny jokes and heartwarming bonding moments was just right.
So I recommend this one for something genuinely light and funny, to watch with your family or by yourself, regardless of age.
I got this hardcover for some steal like $6 as a backup read for the plane home. However it had been so long since I read the rest of the wicked lovely series I was a bit lost through probably the first half of the novel. That said I liked this ending (unlike some, looking at your Divergent *glare*). I preserve that this is my favourite paranormal romance series. It reminds me of the old faery tales I read when I was young where faeries were tricky and magical but dangerous (and allergic to iron.)
P.S. I prefer the spelling fairy to faery but I used the latter anyways in ode to the series.
The effect of light
Gossip Girl gets a mention because it’s probably the worst thing I’ve watched on Netflix ever. (Unless the iSteve ‘documentary’ was on there in which case that was – but I didn’t finish that so it doesn’t really count).
However, I’m pretty far into it now, and I must say, no matter my low opinion I really want Blair and Chuck to end up together. They are definitely the most interesting part of the show.
I think in real life girls like Serena aren’t well liked but I don’t know if that’s because of their bad luck, or the way media encourages female animosity, or because they make the same mistakes over and over without learning and that wears on even the most patient friends and lovers. Maybe girls like her don’t really exist anyways.
P.S. I cheated and checked who gossip girl was like 6 episodes in and now I notice all the places it lines up and doesn’t and that’s probably the second best part of watching after antagonizing over Blair/Chuck.
P.S.S. I think what makes this show bad is that pretty much all the characters are unlikeable, often on a lot of levels.
Warning: This one is rambly and I didn’t feel like reading it over so I didn’t. Message me if you want clarification on this since I can’t really speak to its coherence.
I enjoyed reading this book on the airplane very much. I think my favourite thing was the way the characters describe each other. I read somewhere (I think in reference to Game of Thrones) that books are the last refuge of the unattractive love interest. However, I think something even more interesting is going on in this, and some of the other novels I enjoyed (Anna and the French Kiss, Divergent). Characters are loved, and in indeed fall in love with each other not in spite of their looks, but rather because of their individuality and the beauty that lies within that. I think describing individual beauty in all its complexity and simplicity is important and often over looked. I can’t even think of that many books that do this. Yet, I can’t think of any clearer demonstration of the huge diversity of beauty in the world. It’s true that love interests are almost always considered beautiful in the eyes of their loves, but the way that beauty is described varies greatly. For example, in Twilight, Bella is described as beautiful in a very conventional way, although she doesn’t believe herself to be. Which is the polar opposite of how Eleanor and Park describe each other. They don’t dismiss each other’s perceived flaws, but rather see the beauty in the unique parts of each other. I think that’s truly lovely and I wish I saw it happening everywhere in media and life.
I probably wouldn’t have watched this show if not for my parents. However, we were looking for something none of us had seen that had good reviews to watch over Christmas and this turned out to be it. I’ve spent several of the episodes organizing my computer and playing iPhone games but I enjoy the show none the less. It is sort of sad and weighty seeing the highlights (more often sad than not) of lives going by so quickly in a time that is not that distant and yet almost entirely unrecognizable from our own. Similar to the feeling I got walking around one of these grand old houses on a school trip one time. However, the characters are complex and interesting, and I enjoy their imperfections. Even those characters who you love to hate have redeeming qualities, whether wit, or patience or honour.
I probably like Anna best, though I am also, of course, taken with any handsome young gentleman that get screen time.
And I must admit Mary has grown on me throughout it all. (Then again so has Granny so maybe that doesn’t mean much).
I read these because I saw the trailer for divergent and I wanted to check out the movie, but not before reading the book (since the book is usually better anyways). I wasn’t disappointed. I think it’s an interesting world and I liked the characters. I was proud of myself for reading something that was upsetting and addressed death so much without becoming anxious or panicked. It felt like I had some control over what I could enjoy instead of being too fragile to watch or read anything that might be upsetting. However, I finished Allegiant two days ago and I still feel pretty heart broken. The last time I think I cried so hard during reading a book was my first time through TFIOS. I don’t know how they will make that last novel into a movie it’s so heartbreaking. I did find an interview with the author where she discussed her rational for the heartbreaking-est bit but I still tried to find fan fiction that ended it differently, to put my poor heart at ease (I normally don’t read fan fiction so this was stretching for me, I actually also did this with Life Unexpected).
My feelings are all jumbled up inside my throat still.
I really did enjoy divergent though, even if the other two were a bit upsetting.
I wouldn’t have written that ending though. I still don’t want to believe it.
