Ok. I just lied to you. I know I said this was going to be a list of my favorite things from 2010 but since this is my first year blogging, I might back list just a tad. (Don't worry, I promise not to go as far back as The Chipmunk Adventure movie, that was third grade. Ok, maybe sixth, and now I'm totally embarrassed. Moving on.)This a list of books and movies that I would not only recommend, but bring a smile to my face on a cold blustery day when one just wants to curl up with a throw, a good book or the remote control.
Books:
Anything by Liz Curtis Higgs. (LOVE her Scottish Series: Thorn in my Heart, Fair is the Rose and Whence Came a Prince. Buy it now. And a box of Kleenex.) Her newest book, Here Burns my Candle, also set in Scotland, is fabulous.
Anything by Susan Meissner. (I read The Shape of Mercy and just finished Lady in Waiting. I'm currently in the middle of A Seahorse in the Thames and its really great. I was hooked by page two and that's hard to do. Susan is so good at what she does. Required: no social life for about two days. And I wish I had thought of this one: Pizza + paper plates= more time to read.) The woman has a gift. I've never read a title by her that I haven't loved.
Under the Tuscan Sun. (It was so much better than the movie. Sorry, Diane Lane. I still really like you. But the book was completely different and oh so good. And considering I got the paperback at a yard sale, it was a very inexpensive vacation. Pick up some Italian takeout or your rumbling tummy will have you clamoring for plane tickets to Italy, ASAP.)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Yes I had to check the spelling on that one. It was such a great read. Clever. Heartwarming. Truly captivating and entertaining. Checked it out from the library and upon completion, bought a copy of my own.)
Ok...onto Movies:
Persuasion ( Note the picture above. The version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds is soooo lovely. The first time I watched it, I wasn't sure if I liked it--it's a rather slow movie--but, something about that story made me start it over. And after the second time through, I was hooked. The. Best. Love Story. (The book is Lovely.)
Sense and Sensibility (I don't mean to be on a Jane Austen trip, but the girl was good. Really good. I love the version with Emma Thomson, but recently discovered the newest BBC version made for television. Such a beautiful film. (I really want to list Emma and Pride and Prejudice as well, but I will restrain myself. Just know that they are brilliant.)
Lord of The Rings (I could have mentioned this with the books, but I was part of the second generation of Ring fans when the movies came out. I devoured the books during my days of eating lunch in my high school art class with all my nerdy Tolkien friends. You know who you are :) But we had fun. And its still a great flick.)
Robin Hood (The one with Russel Crowe. My husband and I went on a date and being an archer himself, he really liked it. I loved the message of faith and conviction behind Robin Hood's character. )
Ok, I'm sure you're sensing a theme. I'm just the Les Mis and King Arthur kind of girl. Give me a bowl of popcorn, a bubbly drink, and a knight in shining armor any day :)
And I'm excited to see what good reads and flicks the new year will hold!
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1 comment:
I love your choices. Reading is such great pleasure and you find yourself in another world with a good book in hand. I have so many favorites. What comes first to mind is "Secret Life of Bees" a beautiful story of rising above adversity and that there is love in unlikely places. Also I love Marcia Davenport's Valley of Decision. I've read everything written by Janice Holt Giles. Then there was that series you had me read set in Rome and Greece about the sweet Jewish servant girl. Gorgeous books!! Can't think of the author off the top of my head. Also sweetie - Cry of my Heart! What a blessing that was to read!!
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