Mini-Reviews: Call Me By Your Name, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Jane Austen Book Club

Welcome once again to the portion of the blog where I talk about some movies I've been watching! Some movies I simply don't feel motivated to write a full review on (or life gets busy!) but I still want to share my thoughts with you. So, here are a few things I've seen lately and how I felt about them!

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Call Me By Your Name
Wow. I put off watching this one for a while because I thought it might have been popular because of the cast or subject matter rather than its own merit. Well, I was wrong. No, it's not perfect, but I definitely found it had a real impact on me to the point that I actually cried at one scene. My only previous experience with Timothée Chalamet had been in Lady Bird, and I hadn't watched anything with Armie Hammer in it, so this was a great way to get to know them better as actors. I would definitely recommend this one. It isn't overwhelmingly dramatic, and there isn't a lot going on in terms of action, but it's lovely nonetheless. I did have one or two moments where I wasn't really a fan of how they shot things/the content, but as far as I am aware they were true to the book for these things, so it's not really a fault of the film.

February/March 2020 Update

The funny thing about being in isolation during a pandemic...you think you would blog more, right? Nope. It's been very hard to find motivation. So, here's me trying - it's just a little late!

Started Watching:

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Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir - season 2 & 3, started and finished

I love this show. I would be lying if I said I didn't. They released the next seasons on Netflix, and I watched multiple a day every day until I finished it. I barely paced myself. Yes, I do regret that now...but it was also totally worth it. It's cute and it makes me happy.

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Maid-Sama! - started and finished

This one was cute. It took a little bit to get into, but I ended up finding it really fun, and overall relaxing. It switches between two animation styles a lot throughout the whole thing (the regular style, and the chibi style), which is effective in certain areas, but felt a little overdone to me.There were a few episodes that were a bit disjointed (and I was watching those while also playing on my phone), but overall well done. I got through the whole thing in a few days. The best part are the random fourth wall breaks, haha.

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Outlander - season 5
I started the fifth season, but I really wasn't feeling it. I missed one episode and all of my motivation left. I have some of them recorded, so I will likely just have a day where I blast through these, but I'm not sure. I might also just wait until it comes out on DVD. There's nothing wrong with the season (from what I saw...although my friend is further than me, and would disagree!), but I haven't read the book this season is based on, and I don't really care about this period in American history, so it's a double "meh" from me.

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Unrequited Love

The Chinese dramas are back! I'm about ten episodes into this, I think? So a little under halfway, and have really liked it. We're getting into rocky territory though, so if it gets too depressing, I'll need to take a break during quarantine! Overall, it's been good though (even if it has brought up some past feelings!)

Mini-Reviews: Clueless, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Age of Adaline, Then Came You

It's time for another round of mini-reviews! A few fun ones this time, I mostly kept things light except for the last review this time.

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Clueless
I actually watched Clueless! Although this was a huge cultural phenomenon for people of my age, I was never in the least bit interested in checking it out. When I heard it was actually based on Jane Austen's Emma, I thought about it briefly, but...Emma is hands-down my least favourite Austen work, so I still was hardly tempted. I decided to finally bite the bullet, and ended up enjoying it. It definitely wasn't my favourite movie, and there are some annoying aspects about it, but it also could be really cute (young Paul Rudd is a heartbreaker!). I likely wouldn't seek it out again, but I'm glad I checked it out. Basically, if you like Emma, then I would check this out, but if you despise it, then you're much safer staying away.

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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I remember hearing the title of this book a while back and thought it was just about the dumbest title I had ever heard. It sounded like a book that only the seniors were going to read, and that it would be about as dull as dust. And now I make my copious apologies. When I saw the trailer for the movie, I realized that I had gotten it 100% incorrect. I knew I wanted to watch it right away, and ended up really loving it! It's sweet and lovely, and both Lily James and Michiel Huisman are great to watch. If you're looking for a feel-good romance film that has some hardships along the way, then this is perfect.

TTT: Books I Wish Had Sequels

It feels like forever since I have participated in That Artsy Reader Girl's Top Ten Tuesday, but I do want to start getting back into it from time to time. It's a fun way to add some variety to the blog and connect with other book bloggers.
Anyway, this week's topic is all about standalone books that we wish had sequels. I've tried to avoid picking books that already have companion novels,  but I did sneak one in! Funnily enough, a few books that I would have put on this list did have sequels come out not too long ago...

Here's the moment when I became acutely aware that I read a lot of series.

1) The Chrysalids by John Wyndham - I would love to know how civilization is after this. Tell me all about Sealand!

2) North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell - Could they have children and for some reason be forced to move to the South? Then you can see the reversed prejudices in their children?

3) Lady Susan by Jane Austen - What antics will she get up to next? We all know this isn't the time she starts behaving herself.

4) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - No, I wasn't blown away by this book, but with the way it ended and the only brief glimpses into Offred's life that we get to see...we need a sequel. Guess what though? It's actually going to happen!

5) Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - Although there is a companion novel, Catalyst, that takes place in the same high school, I would really like to see Melinda after she starts coming to terms with what happened to her. Healing doesn't take place in an instant, and I really want to see more of her journey through this process.

Unpopular Opinions: Classic Literature

If you love classic literature as much as I do, you're bound to have some strong opinions about their content - and not all of it matches the most common opinions and perceptions that people have. So today I want to share a few of my "favourite" unpopular opinions that I have.

Spoilers, spoilers abound! For each book I'm talking about, the description might contain spoilers. If you haven't read these books, it's safe to read the titles in bold, but you might want to avoid the explanations underneath.

Lady Susan (Jane Austen)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the tenth one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge. I was thinking of giving up on this challenge in favour of getting through a few things that I was more interested in, but I'm still hoping I can make it!

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What it's about:

Lady Susan is a widow, a mother, a beauty, a liar, and a shameless flirt. Told entirely through letters, this story centers on Lady Susan's scheming to make a good match for herself and her daughter, while everyone else tries desperately to thwart her efforts. Around every corner lies deceit, persuasion, and endless familial frustration.

Haul-lelujah

A couple of months back I thought about doing a book haul post. I started making a list of all of the books I had bought over the past 6 months or so...and then promptly forgot about it. Stumbling back upon it last week, I decided now was the time! So, every year my city has a large booksale, during which I go on the best shopping spree of my life. By this point (it's nearing the next one), I don't remember everything that I got there and after, but here's at least some of my "recent" purchases, as well as a few gifts I've been given!

Crome Yellow - Aldous Huxley

The Hammer of God - Arthur C. Clarke

Sabriel - Garth Nix

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare

Jamaica Inn/Frenchman's Creek/Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

Vampire Knight volumes 1-19

Claylord vol. 1

Clover (CLAMP)

Top Ten Books That Have Been On My TBR the Longest

As you might know, I'm doing a challenge this year to work on items from my TBR, however I have decided to choose items for this TTT that do not already appear on there. There's a tiny bit of an overlap from last week's TTT where I did Ten Books I Can't Believe I Read...and Haven't Read, but I tried to mostly pick new ones. Anyway, thanks are in order for That Artsy Reader Girl for yet again another fun Top Ten Tuesday list.

1. The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
2. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
3. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
4. Emma by Jane Austen
5. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

2018 TBR Pile Challenge

Roof Beam Reader hosts The Official TBR Pile Challenge, and this year I've decided to take part. I have so many items that have I have been meaning to read for years now, and this will hopefully be a bit of a kick in the pants to get them done. 

So, how does this work?

Pick 12 books that have been on your TBR (to be read) list for at least a year and finish them by the end of 2018. Two alternate books can be chosen to replace any books in the challenge that are just "unfinishable". All of these books must be reviewed and linked back to the original post.  

For a full explanation of the rules for this challenge, check it out here.

Here's my list:

Top Ten Books I'm Thankful For

I'm at it once again - Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and the Bookish. I slightly missed out posting this one on time (silly me - I was mostly done it, but forgot to post). So, here's my list of books that I am thankful for, and briefly why.

1) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontё
Why: This was one of the first real times I felt my moral character was represented anywhere. The strength of character in Jane was something I admired, and loved.


2) Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Why: Being the odd one out myself, Charlie was a comfort. He saw the world in his own unique way, and appreciated things differently than everyone else, and that was something I could really relate to.

3) The Giver by Lois Lowry
Why: One of, if not my first dip into dystopian fiction - a genre which I quickly fell in love with.

4) The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco
Why: This book is so beautiful that it makes me cry. It is so simple, but sweet and sad, and I truly love it.

5) Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Why: Although I initially fell in love with Austen's stories through the 1995 Pride & Prejudice mini-series, this was my first Austen read. Although not often the popular choice of heroines, I have always loved Fanny for sticking to what was the right decision for her and her conscience.

Top Ten Book Boyfriends

Thanks to The Broke and the Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday series (TTT) for this great post idea: Top Ten Book Boyfriends. I had a lot of responses for this one, so...I tried to limit myself, but I still ended up doing two separate lists - one for books, and another for movies, TV, etc. I just couldn't help myself!

I'm sorry...once I saw this photo I couldn't resist using it

Books

1. William (Will) Herondale - The Infernal Devices (series), Cassandra Clare
2. James (Jamie) Fraser - Outlander (series), Diana Gabaldon

Fifteen Characters I'd Name A Child or Pet After - Book Edition

Inspired by this post from The Broke and the Bookish: Ten Characters We'd Name Our Children or Pets After, this fun topic is part of their Top Ten Tuesday series. This is absolutely perfect because a) I love lists, and b) I have actually thought about this more times than I would be comfortable admitting. It was so hard to pick just ten that not only did I choose fifteen, but at this point I am just going to go with book characters, and will likely do an entirely separate one for those in movies. Here we go!

1. Jonas - The Giver
2. Gabriel - The Giver
3. Eleanor - Ella Enchanted/Sense and Sensibility

Favourite Five - Jane Austen Characters

I've decided from time to time it would be fun to take a look at five of my favourites from various categories. So, what better way to start this new series than by looking at some of my favourite characters from Jane Austen novels? In no particular order, here are five of the characters I absolutely adore:

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1. Fanny Price

Although not always a popular choice, even among Janeites, I love Mansfield Park's Fanny Price. I may be a bit biased here, as Mansfield Park was my first Austen read, but I love her nonetheless. I admire her morality, her kindness, and her self-sacrifice. No matter what happens, or how people treat her, Fanny sticks to what she believes in - a truly commendable trait. It's a shame that there hasn't been a film version yet to do her justice.

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2. Anne Elliot

Oh, Anne, how I adore thee. Anne is probably the Austen heroine I most relate to. She truly is the black sheep of her family, and although feels very deeply, she rarely shares her feelings with anyone. Her feelings and struggles were ones I instantly connected with. She has a quiet brilliance and confidence that is rarely appreciated. I really like how Anne is portrayed in both the 1995 and 2007 versions.