update, mostly books:P
Well, we got through J's uncle's wake and funeral. it was really hard, but we (and his family) are doing ok. Other than that, there hasn't been much going on. Oh! J did drop off a few resumes Friday and has an interview tomorrow, which is great:D *fingers crossed*
Mom and i saw The King's Speech today (i had coupons and a gift card!:D). We both really liked it!:) I really liked Helena Bonham Carter in a more serious, nice role. She's great as a meanie or eccentric, but i like to see her versatility and just acting, no extra props. I only have 2 complaints about the movie, and they both *can* be explained although never were: 1) David seems really weak and he and Wallace are both portrayed quite unsympathetically [which can be explained by the fact that we're seeing them with Bertie & Elizabeth's bias, and also that my image of them as being romantic and such probably isn't the whole truth:P], and 2) Lionel doesn't have an Aussie accent [explanation: i may not know enough about Aussie accents in the 1920 & 30's; they may have been closer to British accents than they are now. Or, since moving to England, through great effort or not, he may have changed his accent. Or my mom pointed out he might have had very British parents, and not have as strong an Aussie accent. The remarks when he auditions, and otherwise, make me feel like he should've had an Aussie accent though]. Other than that, it was great!:D lots of quick sly humour too, which had me giggling:P
so, i managed to hold off on spending the $60 in bookstore gift cards, for 10 whole day!;P i caved and ordered 6 paperbacks, after reading Soulless and really liking it and wanting the next 2. I also ordered the next(s) in a couple of other series:) However, i want it noted that i went to the bookstore yesterday with J's mom and did not buy anything, not even a $2 book:P so, one month in and i'm still keeping my resolution (since i said gift cards could be exceptions:P);)
i'm going to try to finish off at least one more book today, but
1/100 The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
This was fluffy, stupid, predictable fun, with heart, esp in the 2nd half:) It was a great way to chill out over the holidays/ after such a hard fall and beginning of winter. I do find Lizzie pretty judgmental and pushy, esp. with Ava.... but it quite like (and can relate to) the passage about being treated like an "angry kitten" and made to feel like her anger's not legit.
2 Wild And Wooly: Tales from a Woodland studio by Linda Johns
I read this to my friend (in fact, we only read about the last 25 pages in 2011:P), and we both found it really enjoyable and interesting. it was informative, but still approachable; sometimes sad, but also sweet:) Occasionally, it's a little TMI, but so matter-of-fact about it, i probably wouldn't have blinked about it if i hadn't been reading it aloud. I was glad my sis gave me this one, instead of one of her bird ones, coz my friend and i both really like all animals, but are more inclined towards mammals;P Plus, there's a rabbit in this one, and since i have 2 of those sweet creatures, i liked reading about Edna;)
3 Phantom by Terry Goodkind
Sadly, this isn't any better than the previous ones:( This one feels more contrived actually. i understand about bringing old characters back in, or at least introducing them early on and then using them as the writer "actually" intended, but it seemed like he had finished with the princess before, that she'd served her purpose. And how did the princess and the bad guy even meet up? unless the bad guy (who's actually a woman) sought the princess out? maybe it'll be explained in the next one.... in any case, i'm glad there's only one left;P
4 Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer
This was fun, cute and entertaining. At points, Darcy feels whingy, and Aylmer's writing is similar to Austen's, but seems more simplistic, less nuanced. I also don't think you could (or should) read this without reading P&P first. Also, Elizabeth in this reminds me of Jo March from Little Women, which i don't remember being the case with P&P (and i'm not sure is good, bad or neutral). Overall, it was an enjoyable light read:)
5 Soulless by Gail Carriger
I'd heard lots of great things about this series, so i had high expectations. I was a little disappointed at first - not that it was bad, just that it didn't seem like anything really special. the 2nd half however was awesome! and since it's the first in the series (and i think the author's first book), it's understandable it was a little slow at first. Overall, it was clever, saucy, fun and really really good:D
Mom and i saw The King's Speech today (i had coupons and a gift card!:D). We both really liked it!:) I really liked Helena Bonham Carter in a more serious, nice role. She's great as a meanie or eccentric, but i like to see her versatility and just acting, no extra props. I only have 2 complaints about the movie, and they both *can* be explained although never were: 1) David seems really weak and he and Wallace are both portrayed quite unsympathetically [which can be explained by the fact that we're seeing them with Bertie & Elizabeth's bias, and also that my image of them as being romantic and such probably isn't the whole truth:P], and 2) Lionel doesn't have an Aussie accent [explanation: i may not know enough about Aussie accents in the 1920 & 30's; they may have been closer to British accents than they are now. Or, since moving to England, through great effort or not, he may have changed his accent. Or my mom pointed out he might have had very British parents, and not have as strong an Aussie accent. The remarks when he auditions, and otherwise, make me feel like he should've had an Aussie accent though]. Other than that, it was great!:D lots of quick sly humour too, which had me giggling:P
so, i managed to hold off on spending the $60 in bookstore gift cards, for 10 whole day!;P i caved and ordered 6 paperbacks, after reading Soulless and really liking it and wanting the next 2. I also ordered the next(s) in a couple of other series:) However, i want it noted that i went to the bookstore yesterday with J's mom and did not buy anything, not even a $2 book:P so, one month in and i'm still keeping my resolution (since i said gift cards could be exceptions:P);)
i'm going to try to finish off at least one more book today, but
1/100 The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
This was fluffy, stupid, predictable fun, with heart, esp in the 2nd half:) It was a great way to chill out over the holidays/ after such a hard fall and beginning of winter. I do find Lizzie pretty judgmental and pushy, esp. with Ava.... but it quite like (and can relate to) the passage about being treated like an "angry kitten" and made to feel like her anger's not legit.
2 Wild And Wooly: Tales from a Woodland studio by Linda Johns
I read this to my friend (in fact, we only read about the last 25 pages in 2011:P), and we both found it really enjoyable and interesting. it was informative, but still approachable; sometimes sad, but also sweet:) Occasionally, it's a little TMI, but so matter-of-fact about it, i probably wouldn't have blinked about it if i hadn't been reading it aloud. I was glad my sis gave me this one, instead of one of her bird ones, coz my friend and i both really like all animals, but are more inclined towards mammals;P Plus, there's a rabbit in this one, and since i have 2 of those sweet creatures, i liked reading about Edna;)
3 Phantom by Terry Goodkind
Sadly, this isn't any better than the previous ones:( This one feels more contrived actually. i understand about bringing old characters back in, or at least introducing them early on and then using them as the writer "actually" intended, but it seemed like he had finished with the princess before, that she'd served her purpose. And how did the princess and the bad guy even meet up? unless the bad guy (who's actually a woman) sought the princess out? maybe it'll be explained in the next one.... in any case, i'm glad there's only one left;P
4 Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer
This was fun, cute and entertaining. At points, Darcy feels whingy, and Aylmer's writing is similar to Austen's, but seems more simplistic, less nuanced. I also don't think you could (or should) read this without reading P&P first. Also, Elizabeth in this reminds me of Jo March from Little Women, which i don't remember being the case with P&P (and i'm not sure is good, bad or neutral). Overall, it was an enjoyable light read:)
5 Soulless by Gail Carriger
I'd heard lots of great things about this series, so i had high expectations. I was a little disappointed at first - not that it was bad, just that it didn't seem like anything really special. the 2nd half however was awesome! and since it's the first in the series (and i think the author's first book), it's understandable it was a little slow at first. Overall, it was clever, saucy, fun and really really good:D