Happy Friday!
I recently read the second Percy Jackson book, "The Sea of Monsters," (by Rick Riordan) in "The Olympians" series. Once I got into it I found it difficult to quit reading at bedtime and so eventually I gave up on sleeping and stayed up to read until I'd finished the book. Percy is in the 7th grade at a new York prep school and it's been surprisingly quiet but near the end of the school year that all changes. Percy retreats to Camp Half-Blood then is off on another quest to save the camp and along the way he uncovers some family secrets.
I've been hesitant to start on Book 3 in this series - "The Titan's Curse" - until I catch up on the sleep I lost reading Book 2! Check out Riordan's web site at www.rickriordan.com or go to percyjacksonbooks.com.
Happy Reading!
pazt
Friday, April 30, 2010
"Gran Torino"
04/29/10
My husband and I didn't see "Gran Torino" when it was playing in the movie theaters and didn't really think we wanted to see it. However, when we attended our book club earlier this month, several members of our group were talking about what a great film it was. When we mentioned it to our daughter and son-in-law, they also praised it highly. Our son-in-law was willing to see it in the theater because he's a car buff and thought it was a show about the car -- He still thought it was a great movie.
Clint Eastwood plays the roll of Walt Kowalski, a retired autoworker and Korean War veteran. He finds his personal life changing as well as the make up of the neighborhood where he and his wife raised their family. It takes some adjustment for him to accept the Hmong immigrants from Southeast Asia who move in next door but his relationship with them changes his life and theirs as events force him to defend them from a violent local gang.
Caution: If you're easily offended by crude language and/or violence, this film does contain both.
I found this to be an amazing film, though, and highly recommend it.
Again, I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this film, too.
Happy Viewing!
pazt
My husband and I didn't see "Gran Torino" when it was playing in the movie theaters and didn't really think we wanted to see it. However, when we attended our book club earlier this month, several members of our group were talking about what a great film it was. When we mentioned it to our daughter and son-in-law, they also praised it highly. Our son-in-law was willing to see it in the theater because he's a car buff and thought it was a show about the car -- He still thought it was a great movie.
Clint Eastwood plays the roll of Walt Kowalski, a retired autoworker and Korean War veteran. He finds his personal life changing as well as the make up of the neighborhood where he and his wife raised their family. It takes some adjustment for him to accept the Hmong immigrants from Southeast Asia who move in next door but his relationship with them changes his life and theirs as events force him to defend them from a violent local gang.
Caution: If you're easily offended by crude language and/or violence, this film does contain both.
I found this to be an amazing film, though, and highly recommend it.
Again, I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this film, too.
Happy Viewing!
pazt
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Date Night: "As It Is In Heaven"
04/28/10
My husband and I have been back from vacation for about two weeks now and have had the opportunity to resume our Friday/Saturday night "date nights." What does our typical date night look like? It usually starts around 9 p.m. so, if we babysit one of those nights for our daughter and her husband to go out for their own date night, we can still enjoy our time together when we return home. Our grandson is also playing soccer on his high school varsity team again this year and, since he's a senior, we don't want to miss any games. That means some date nights start after his games end.
We put on comfortable clothes and grab our individual blankets or afghans for warmth and get cozy on the recliner together. Microwave popcorn is a must and depending on the weather we may fix some hot chocolate and fruit or cheese and crackers. Dessert usually follows -- most often ice cream.
We vary the type of films we watch taking turns choosing a film from our personal DVD library or finding one at our public library. We also subscribe to Gaiam's Spiritual Cinema Circle (https://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com)which sends out a monthly DVD that consists of 3-4 shorts as well as a feature length film or documentary and/or interviews. Sometimes we watch these over a couple of evenings and at other times we watch the whole Spiritual Cinema Circle DVD in an evening. We also spend some time talking about the discussion questions after each short or film.
This month I chose a film that had been recommended in a regular e-mail I receive that highlights films I probably wouldn't hear about otherwise. I learned that our city library had a copy of "As It Is In Heaven" and requested it. Kay Pollak directed this Swedish film (with subtitles) and it was nominated for the Best Foreign Film at the 2005 Academy Awards. It's the story of Daniel, a successful international conductor, who, for personal reasons, decides to return to his small childhood village in Sweden -- not particularly a place of pleasant memories for him. Since he was a child prodigy and has spent his adult life conducting orchestras, his relationship skills appear to be a little challenged. When he returns to the village, he seems to me to be quite shy and reluctant to become too involved in village life. However, the local church choir eventually prevails on him to direct their choir. A little romance also comes into his life and I'd guess it's his first one. Daniel's interaction with the villagers and theirs with him change all their lives and it's wonderful to watch it unfold. I highly recommend this film not only for its story but for its music. I know some of my family are a little put off by subtitles but I'd still recommend giving this one a try. My husband and I have discovered that it is helpful to turn the subtitles on when we're watching any film in case we miss the dialogue -- or it's too soft to hear.
If you watch this DVD, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it, too.
Happy Viewing!
pazt
My husband and I have been back from vacation for about two weeks now and have had the opportunity to resume our Friday/Saturday night "date nights." What does our typical date night look like? It usually starts around 9 p.m. so, if we babysit one of those nights for our daughter and her husband to go out for their own date night, we can still enjoy our time together when we return home. Our grandson is also playing soccer on his high school varsity team again this year and, since he's a senior, we don't want to miss any games. That means some date nights start after his games end.
We put on comfortable clothes and grab our individual blankets or afghans for warmth and get cozy on the recliner together. Microwave popcorn is a must and depending on the weather we may fix some hot chocolate and fruit or cheese and crackers. Dessert usually follows -- most often ice cream.
We vary the type of films we watch taking turns choosing a film from our personal DVD library or finding one at our public library. We also subscribe to Gaiam's Spiritual Cinema Circle (https://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com)which sends out a monthly DVD that consists of 3-4 shorts as well as a feature length film or documentary and/or interviews. Sometimes we watch these over a couple of evenings and at other times we watch the whole Spiritual Cinema Circle DVD in an evening. We also spend some time talking about the discussion questions after each short or film.
This month I chose a film that had been recommended in a regular e-mail I receive that highlights films I probably wouldn't hear about otherwise. I learned that our city library had a copy of "As It Is In Heaven" and requested it. Kay Pollak directed this Swedish film (with subtitles) and it was nominated for the Best Foreign Film at the 2005 Academy Awards. It's the story of Daniel, a successful international conductor, who, for personal reasons, decides to return to his small childhood village in Sweden -- not particularly a place of pleasant memories for him. Since he was a child prodigy and has spent his adult life conducting orchestras, his relationship skills appear to be a little challenged. When he returns to the village, he seems to me to be quite shy and reluctant to become too involved in village life. However, the local church choir eventually prevails on him to direct their choir. A little romance also comes into his life and I'd guess it's his first one. Daniel's interaction with the villagers and theirs with him change all their lives and it's wonderful to watch it unfold. I highly recommend this film not only for its story but for its music. I know some of my family are a little put off by subtitles but I'd still recommend giving this one a try. My husband and I have discovered that it is helpful to turn the subtitles on when we're watching any film in case we miss the dialogue -- or it's too soft to hear.
If you watch this DVD, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it, too.
Happy Viewing!
pazt
Thursday, April 1, 2010
"The Librarian of Basra"
"The Librarian of Basra" is a children's book written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. It is the true story of a woman librarian (in a country where women have little value and power) "struggling to save her community's priceless collection of books" and the lengths she went to to accomplish this feat.
I recommend this book as a gift for the children in your life and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to a fund administered by the American Library Association to help rebuild the book collection of Basra's Central Library.
pazt
I recommend this book as a gift for the children in your life and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to a fund administered by the American Library Association to help rebuild the book collection of Basra's Central Library.
pazt
"Steinbeck's Ghost"
"Steinbeck's Ghost" by Lewis Buzbee is another book I recently read. Although I located it browsing through the teen section of my library, I'd recommend it for anyone.
Travis Williams moves with his parents a few blocks away to a new subdivision but the change in his life is so drastic that he might as well have moved to the moon. He makes a new friend but his parents are always at work and he misses the family closeness they used to share in their old home and neighborhood and their regular visits to the library.
Without telling his parents Travis begins to return to the old neighborhood to visit the library and discovers the library, in John Steinbeck's home town with his statute out front, is going to close for lack of funding. A wise librarian helps him see that circumstances can be changed if you work towards a solution and he becomes involved with the committee working to save the library. As a result, his life and his friend and his family's lives are all changed -- for the better, I think. He also develops some strong friendships that span across the generations.
Interwoven in the story are the books Travis loves at the library -- the ones he's read over and over and he becomes involved in chasing down "ghosts" -- stories behind the stories written by John Steinbeck. There's a little mystery to be solved and an introduction to a lot of books I have yet to read!
pazt
Travis Williams moves with his parents a few blocks away to a new subdivision but the change in his life is so drastic that he might as well have moved to the moon. He makes a new friend but his parents are always at work and he misses the family closeness they used to share in their old home and neighborhood and their regular visits to the library.
Without telling his parents Travis begins to return to the old neighborhood to visit the library and discovers the library, in John Steinbeck's home town with his statute out front, is going to close for lack of funding. A wise librarian helps him see that circumstances can be changed if you work towards a solution and he becomes involved with the committee working to save the library. As a result, his life and his friend and his family's lives are all changed -- for the better, I think. He also develops some strong friendships that span across the generations.
Interwoven in the story are the books Travis loves at the library -- the ones he's read over and over and he becomes involved in chasing down "ghosts" -- stories behind the stories written by John Steinbeck. There's a little mystery to be solved and an introduction to a lot of books I have yet to read!
pazt
"HeartSick"
04/01/10
I recently read "HeartSick" by Chelsea Cain, an author who grew up in Bellingham, WA. (Her web site: www.chelseacain.com.) This book is about a female serial killer and I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart because, if you don't like graphic details, this book isn't for you. However, it's called an "addictive read" by Tess Gerritsen and I agree because I didn't want to put it down until I'd finished it. Although there are many strong supporting characters, the main focus is on Portland cop, Archie Sheridan, and Gretchen Lowell, the serial killer he put behind bars, but can't quite put out of his life. Woven throughout the book are relationships between parents and children, lovers, husbands and wives as well as friendships and the positive aspects of stonrg, supportive friendships -- those people who will be there for you no matter what -- the friends we all hope to share our life.
I recently read "HeartSick" by Chelsea Cain, an author who grew up in Bellingham, WA. (Her web site: www.chelseacain.com.) This book is about a female serial killer and I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart because, if you don't like graphic details, this book isn't for you. However, it's called an "addictive read" by Tess Gerritsen and I agree because I didn't want to put it down until I'd finished it. Although there are many strong supporting characters, the main focus is on Portland cop, Archie Sheridan, and Gretchen Lowell, the serial killer he put behind bars, but can't quite put out of his life. Woven throughout the book are relationships between parents and children, lovers, husbands and wives as well as friendships and the positive aspects of stonrg, supportive friendships -- those people who will be there for you no matter what -- the friends we all hope to share our life.
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