Film Review: East of Eden

A good friend of mine is a film enthusiast and got me to join Letterboxd (like Goodreads for motion pictures). If you like movies and want to log and review them then check it out.  If you join (or already a member) then find me here and let's follow each other because I only have one follower :(


East of Eden, 1955, Directed by Elia Kazan, DVD, 115mins, Stars: James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, My Rating=5
Source: gifted to me

Of what a girl did . . . what a boy did ... of ecstasy and revenge!

Two brothers compete for their father's approval and a woman's love.

I absolutely love this film! James Dean and Julie Harris took my breath away. The story line pierced my soul. I'm speechless. This motion picture now ranks as my favorite movie these lovely eyes have seen. James Dean is now also my new McDreamy :)


THE BOOK:

Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. Here Steinbeck created some of his most memorable characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity; the inexplicability of love; and the murderous consequences of love’s absence.

Wow! $2, what a deal!!!

Review: Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by Kimberly Dean

Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by Kimberly Dean, James Dean (Illustrator), YR, 2013, 40p, Hardcover, My Rating=4
Source: own

Pete the Cat is back in New York Times bestselling artist James Dean's picture book Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses, written by Kimberly Dean. Pete the Cat wakes up feeling grumpy—nothing seems to be going his way. But with the help of some magic sunglasses, Pete learns that a good mood has been inside him all along. Fans of Pete the Cat will love watching him take his positive outlook and transform a grumpy day into an awesome day!

My nursery kids (18mos-3yo) that I teach at church enjoyed this when I read it to them. They like the illustrations, especially the turtle on its back. But they're attention span is usually low (particularly with the 18mos) so we don't seem to get to the very end, a bit too long for them. I caught on so I split the story when we meet. However, they always get a kick out of taking turns wearing the blue magic paper sunglasses that came with the book! :)

Review: Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher

Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher, Sue Hellard (Illustrations), YR, 2008, 144p, Hardcover, My Rating=4
Source: library

Madeleine must work in her horrible Uncle Lard's restaurant, The Squealing Pig, every summer. Though a fairly good cook herself, Madeleine is only allowed to wash dishes and stay out of the way. But one evening while on an errand for the chef, her luck changes. As she wanders through the streets of Paris, she happens upon a tiny shop. Not just any shop, but Edibles owned by Madame Pamplemousse.

When Uncle Lard learns of the extraordinary and delicious ingredients brewing in Madame Pamplemousse's kitchen, he decides to steal her recipes and he'll use his niece to do it. Lucky for Madeleine, Madame Pamplemousse may not be the only chef capable of culinary magic….

A charming little book that I read in one sitting. The intriguing and mysterious characters made this a quick and delightful read. It was the ending that disappointed me, though it had a happy ending. Can't get my finger on exactly why.

Review: When Bob Met Woody: The Story of Young Bob Dylan by Gary Golio

When Bob Met Woody: The Story of Young Bob Dylan by Gary Golio, Marc Burckhardt (Illustrator), YR, 2011, 40p, Hardcover, My Rating=5
Source: own

"Hey hey, Woody Guthrie, I wrote you a song..." When Bob finished, Woody's face lit up like the sun. Bob Dylan is a musical icon, an American legend, and, quite simply, a poet. But before he became Bob Dylan, he was Bob Zimmerman, a kid from rural Minnesota. This lyrical and gorgeously illustrated picture book biography follows Bob as he renames himself after his favorite poet, Dylan Thomas, and leaves his mining town to pursue his love of music in New York City. There, he meets his folk music hero and future mentor, Woody Guthrie, changing his life forever.

Beautiful illustrated story of Bob Dylan's youth ...beginnings of his climb to fame. I foresee many children who come across this book would be inspired to live their dream. Dylan fans would certainly treasure this and share with their children.

Review (Spoiler Alert): Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder by R.J. Palacio, YR, 2012, 320p, Hardcover, My Rating=5
Source: library
**SPOILER ALERT**

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

I came into this book with anxiety so the read felt drawn-out. See, the only thing I had to go on about this book was the word, "bully", from a friend's book review while browsing my Goodreads friends' updates. I didn't read his review but that word caught my eye and the next thing I knew I was checking out the book from the library. I was anticipating a very harsh roughhousing (prior to a happy ending) and that made for a tense read. How crazy am I? Anyway, I'm glad Julian or others didn't beat August to a pulp like my crazy head was fearful of. Instead Ms Palacio truly humanized and embraced the wonderment of perspective. Through the point-of-views of several characters, I, the reader got the whole story. I learned most because I was in everyone's thoughts and I had all the lessons to take away. By book's end I was in tears ..both from relief of my anxiety and the powerful lesson of the beauty of kindness. Never fails, stories about good people being good to other people gets me all the time!

My Quote-ables:
"But really believe, and Daddy really believes, that there are more good people on this earth than bad people, and the good people watch out for each other and take care of each other." pg. 279

"And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God." pg 301

Review: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans, AF, 2015, 300p, Hardcover, My Rating=4
Source: library
Content: clean romance

The second holiday love story in New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans' Mistletoe Collection.
At thirty-two Kimberly Rossetti, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author. Dreading another holiday alone, she signs up for The Mistletoe Retreat, a nine-day writing retreat in Savannah, Georgia. Deep inside Kimberly knows she's at a junction in her life and it's time to either fulfill her dream or let it go. The other reason she decides to attend the conference is because famed romance writer, H.T. Cowell, once the best selling romance writer in America, and the author whose books instilled in her the desire to be a writer, will be speaking in public for the first time in more than a decade.
In one of her breakout sessions Kimberly meets another aspiring writer, and one of the few men at the conference, Zeke, an intelligent man with a wry wit who seems as interested in Kimberly as he is in the retreat. As Kimberly begins to open up to him about her stories and dreams, she inadvertently reveals her own troubled past. As Zeke helps her to discover why her books fail to live up to their potential she begins to wonder if he's really talking more about her life than her literature. But as she grows closer to him, she realizes that Zeke has his own darkness, a past he's unwilling to talk about.
The theme of The Mistletoe Inn is that like literature, relationships must be lived with passion and vulnerability to succeed.

RPE novels like this one, helps me to relax. My mind doesn't feel the pressure to be overly used ...just my heart. And since I'm a heart girl, this is my kind of read. I just want to enjoy a good love story and this delivered. I can nitpick here and there but overall, I'm content with the few hours of break it gave me from "real" life.

Oh, I almost forgot. I often find the sidekicks my favorite part in his books (actually, in any good book) because it's when I get those sweet-good laughs. Samantha was that girl for this book. Friends rock!

Review: The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom, AF, 2015, 512p, Hardcover, My Rating=5
Source: library
Content: Adult-- language/drugs (appropriate for story)

This is the epic story of Frankie Presto—the greatest guitar player who ever lived—and the six lives he changed with his six magical blue strings
Frankie, born in a burning church, abandoned as an infant, and raised by a music teacher in a small Spanish town, until war rips his life apart. At nine years old, he is sent to America in the bottom of a boat. His only possession is an old guitar and six precious strings. His amazing journey weaves him through the musical landscape of the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, with his stunning playing and singing talent affecting numerous stars (Duke Ellington, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley) until, as if predestined, he becomes a pop star himself.
He makes records. He is adored. But Frankie Presto’s gift is also his burden, as he realizes the power of the strings his teacher gave him, and how, through his music, he can actually affect people’s lives. At the height of his popularity, tortured by his biggest mistake, he vanishes. His legend grows. Only decades later, having finally healed his heart, does Frankie reappear just before his spectacular death—to change one last life. With the Spirit of Music as our guide, we glimpse into the lives that were changed by one man whose strings could touch the music—and the magic—in each of us.
A lifelong musician, Mitch Albom’s passion shines through on every page. Written with an ear for rhythm and cadence, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is a classic in the making. Heartrending and inventive, Albom’s latest is infused with the message that “everyone joins a band in this life”—and that music, like love, has the power to affect us all.

I love Mitch Albom books. His characters are out of the box and they have thoughts and adventures that are very intriguing. This book is no exception. I feel happy after reading Albom books because my mind is bent with good wonder. :)