"I don't need your love, all I need is SIX" // 6 Technical Reasons I Love SIX

Hi, friends!

One of my biggest obsessions from last year was not covered in my posts about favorite books or favorite movies because it didn't fit in either of those categories. Instead, it's a musical.

I've previously talked about it in the form of gushing, but today I wanted to answer this question: why am I so in awe of this show? The whole reason I critique stories is to explore what makes a story speak to a person and how we can learn from past art to continue making amazing stories in the future. Therefore, this list is to observe how the technical and structural aspects of this musical help to make the powerful story shine all the brighter. 

Along the way enjoy some fantastic fan art I found on Pinterest.

Because this is a historically based story, then there aren't spoilers if you know English history. In this post I will be going over the way the songs are set up, not talking about the story itself so even if you haven't seen the musical yourself, if you read this post you will be free to enjoy the musical for yourself with surprises still intact!

If you haven't seen the show, here's the basic idea:

Premise:

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"The one who was dealt the worst hand will be leader of the band."

This short musical is in a pop concert setting where the six divas who were the wives of King Henry VIII have come to tell their tragic stories. The consolation prize? Whoever was most unjustly treated by Henry will get to lead the girl group. Ready, set, SING.

Songs: "Ex-Wives", "No Way", "Don't Lose Ur Head", "Heart of Stone", "Haus of Holbein", "Get Down", "All You Wanna Do", "I Don't Need Your Love", and "SIX" 

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 #1: Branding

This show knows what it is and perfectly communicates it to its audience. You might've heard of a dance-off, but this is a sing-off. The opening slogan gives each character an identity that they will be backing up for the rest of the show.

"Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived."

Each of the queens get a different color for their outfits and their own style within the punk/rock + renaissance inspired costumes. Right when the movie Wicked came out I saw the Six promotional team playing with the idea of "pink and green going well together", which in this case, is Anne Bolyen and Katherine Howard, the two beheaded queens. Who knew it was going to work out so well.

Then, of course, is the musical influences themselves. Each character gets two pop stars who their songs and styles are based off of. This isn't a secret but fully part of the branding! And it WORKS. So well. This gives them the chance to play it up, too. For example, when Beyoncé's album "Cowboy Carter" came out I saw several pictures of Catherine of Aragon wearing a cowboy hat during the show, because Beyoncé and Shakira are her influences. It's an ode to those pop stars while also having the freedom to write a whole new remix, which is what this show is all about.

If anything is the epitome of my aesthetic it's this show.

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#2: Rhyme schemes

This show is a whole masterclass in how to use rhymes. Sometimes rhymes can feel confining and the word choices can fall flat because it doesn't add to the story at all. Here, however, the rhymes pack punches and contribute to the story. Part of this is because it is a story with limitations for what happened historically, and can't go just anywhere. But the writers were not daunted by this, but embraced it.

"My name is Catherine of Aragon // Was married twenty-four years, I'm a paragon // Of royalty, my loyalty is to the Vatican // So if you try to dump me // You won't try that again"

"Aragon" + "paragon"? "Vatican" + "that again"? GENIUS. Catherine of Aragon is just on fire because she also rhymes "funny" with "nunnery."

"Grew up in the French court // Oui, oui bonjour // Life was a chore..."

I know many people who have bragging rights to rapping Hamilton lyrics off the top of their head, but my goal is to be able to sing "Don't Lose Ur Head" because it is so snappy with the rhymes. When I saw it, I had also just figured out "prêt a mange" meant just in time for Anne to sing those words.

"Sittin’ here all alone, on a throne // In a palace that I happen to own // Bring me some pheasant, keep it on the bone"

Also, Anna of Cleves rhyming "castle" with "rascal" is iconic.

Part of how this works so well is that it's not just the last words of each line but many inner rhymes pilling up that as a listener you don't know what's hit you. Catherine Parr churns out a "true"/"you"/"new" rhyme while also filling in the difference with "toy"/"enjoy". 

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#3: Not saying things

I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing but I certainly am wowed by it. This is part of the set-up that happens so many times in the show I thought it was worth examining.

This show has some hard topics including illicit affairs and abuse and while it does want to tackle these subject, it also maintains the light-hearted nature of the show.

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I've been cackling ever since I found this.

It's not just me who has noticed this! My theology professor last semester used "All You Wanna Do" as an example of powerful double entendres. For that song specifically, while towards the end of the song there are some more direct lines about what is going on, a lot of the subtleties have been told through choreography.

But this goes beyond subject matter into the very words that are song. In "No Way" "SHHH" is rhymed with the same sound but meaning different things. Or words are stretched like K. Howard's "Outside of wed----lock up your husbands..."

"Don't Lose Ur Head" is the most that doesn't use this because it rhymes "excommunicated" with "X-rated" (though the show itself is only about PG-13). And "somebody hang you" with another insult.

But that's the thing, it's about showing who was the worst treated and some of them are more angry about it than others. I mean, their ways of expressing themselves are different.

Anna of Cleves is also not as censored because she doesn't have a reason to be because she's the queen of the castle. Unless it's rhyming "pic" but then K. Howard cuts her off with "prick".

It's very tongue-in-check and I'm impressed is all I can say.

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#4: Streamlined

There are no extra characters, not even Henry himself. Just the six queens. And that's all the show needs because they own the stage. Each of the characters are so unique and while they have similarities, they are themselves. For example, there are parallels between the two Beheaded queens (why they were beheaded) but they have different motivations.

Sometimes a musical's ensemble can aid to tell the story but sometimes for me it can feel too full of people and I want a closer look at each of the main characters without other distractions. 

Here, the main characters ARE the ensemble. They don't just sit around waiting for each queen to perform but helpfully back them up. But it also changes for each person's style! Anne Boleyn has lots of interaction with the other characters because she's a social butterfly ("Uh-oh." // "Here we go.") while Jane Seymour's song is more ballad-esque, so she gets her spotlight in a different way.

The characters who aren't telling their story do so much. Like the choreography I talked about in "All You Wanna Do." But they also add in stingers in other places. One-liners such as "Daughters are so easy to forget."

I love the layering in "I Don't Need Your Love." I can't talk about it or else I'll flip out, but it is GLORIOUS. It's six women singing the same words on again and again and it is so powerful in its simplicity.

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#5: Combining the eras

This show has such a unique blend of eras. While the set up is a very modern idea of a pop concert complete with flashing lights, it has roots in the historical period itself which is matched with the lyrics. This is again thanks to the wonders of rhyming and really shows through how it uses those as resources not limits.

There is a whole part with a dating app and profile pictures instead of portraits. Lots of modern slang and lingo in Anne Boleyn's song making it so fun and clever.

I think the best way for me to show this is just through the lyrics themselves:

"All you ever hear and read about // Is our ex and the way it ended // But a pair doesn't beat a royal flush // You're gonna find out how we got unfriended"

... 

"Every Tudor Rose has its thorns // And you're gonna hear 'em live in consort"

...

"Dancing to the beat till the break of day, once // We're done, we'll start again like it's the Renaissance"

...

"So you read a Bible verse that I'm cursed // 'Cause I was your brother's wife // You say it's a pity 'cause, quoting Leviticus // I'll end up kiddy-less all my life"

Guys, in my theology class last semester when we were going through Leviticus I got positively GIDDY when I came across the verse that this line is referring too. Sorry, just things that tickle a theology minor.

Anna of Cleves is unstoppable with combing jams on the lute, looking rad, Lutheranism, and reformation.

In addition to the back and forth from the past to the present through the lyrics, the music itself speaks to the different time periods. I'm no music expert but it sounds like there's some harpsichord? There's also cute and peppy strumming? I've lost the ability to talk and process it, so you should just listen to it yourself to know what I'm talking about.

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#6: Counting:

Technically this could be in branding but this is its own category because I'm a math major and numbers are my obsession. So this maybe partially explains why I love it so much.

"I think we can all agree I'm the 10 amongst these 3s."

Because the title is a number, numbers are a big part of this show. Especially in the song "Six" which counts but in a fun phonetic way, so the words themselves don't have to be numbers but just sound like numbers. That's artistry.

One song that I haven't talked about here yet is "Haus of Holbien" (which is so sarcastic and teasing). It fits this category because of the play on words, play on numbers, and play on language. Mixing German and math is very cool. This comes out in the form of rhyming "nine" with "nein" and "vier" with "fear."

Basically, you put numbers in things and I'm happy. So if the whole musical is named Six, I'm very very very happy.

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Those are all the technical/structural aspects that I've observed that are stunning to me. But as for the story itself it also has creativity, heart (both of stone and not), inspiration, power, and gives voices to those who don't have one. It is a tale of resistance and reshaping narratives and taking a vulnerable look at what life was like long ago. That's a whole post for another day.

To wrap up, this musical is snarky, a bit campy, playful, and totally my vibe.

This is my first entry into Hamlette's We Love Musicals Week! Thank you Hamlette for hosting and giving me an excuse to talk about this! 

She's got a tag and a giveaway and there are lot of other fun posts, so go check it out!

Thanks for reading! Does anyone else know this musical? A filmed stage version is coming out April 6th (get it? the sixth?) so I'm very excited to see that! What are some of the technical/structural aspects of stories that stick out to you? How do you feel about rhymes? 

Now that you've "Heard all about these rocking chicks" I hope you'll love "every song and each remix!"

Chloe the MovieCritic

Book Reviews Featuring World War II King Arthur Legends, A Boy Named Jinx, and a Skilled Dressmaker

Hello, there!

It is that time of the month for me to review books for your enjoyment! It is my goal to do this each month this year, and so far I have done well with reviews in January, February, March, and April.

This month is special as May is one of my favorite times of the year, despite the lack of snow. While some of the other months had reviews for books that I wasn’t too fond of, today I’ll be reviewing some of my favorites from last year! Each and every one of these books is a masterpiece, giving me a full range of emotion and suspense with the brilliant characters and dynamic setting. I hope that these reviews encourage you to read this fabulous works!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. I promise you that all three of these reviews are spoiler free! The endings or any surprises won’t be spoiled on my watch.

Review #1:

The Metropolitans - by Carol Goodman:

In 1941 four kids come together when there is an attempted robbery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What was almost stolen was a page from the Kelmsbury Manuscript, a book of the legends of King Arthur. These kids are united in a common quest, each linked to a character from this strange book. But, not the whole book is there and with the help of the curator they need to find the rest of the pages which are hidden in the museum. When Pearl Harbor is bombed, people of the city turn against Kiku and all other Japanese people and things. Will Madge, Walt, and Joe stand with her? Each have their doubts as connection to this book draws them closer to their biggest fears. Can New York be saved with their help?

‘The one thing she did know was that if the great wide world could come busting into HER life, then she could darn well bust into the world.’

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction. Middle Grade Fiction. Young Adult. Is there a genre for the best books ever? If there is, then this would be in it.

Characters: 10!! These characters were the most magnificent thing that I have read in a long time. They are all so distinct, and DIVERSE, and from the moment I met each one of them I knew their hopes and dreams. It was because of them that I could barely stand to put this book down!

My favorites: (in no specific order other than alphabetical because how can I pick favorites from our four heroes?)

Joe: A Native American boy on the run from the law and who can't remember his language. His insecurities are so well drawn. He has seen people hurt in the past so he knows anger, but he also is ashamed of hurting others. How his story rotated around language was amazing.

Kiku: A Japanese girl who has always been made fun of and wishes that people trusted her. She wants to earn the respect of her father, but he is so strict nothing she does is right. She is so happy to have found a home in her passion for art and doesn’t want that to go away because of her heritage.

Madge: A bossy Irish girl who has been stuck with responsibility her whole life. Madge is incredible. If you want a fantastic female character, look no further! I love how she takes charge because no one else is going to! Regret is a big word in her vocabulary based on her temper, and she wishes she could change things.

Walt: A German Jewish boy who wants to stand up to tyrants but is scared that the ones he loves will be hurt. My sweet precious scared boy. His fight with cowardice makes my heart ache for him because I have been there. He just wants to keep his friends and family safe!

You can see from my descriptions how this is such a hard time for all of them. But, what I’ve said is just the tip of the iceberg for each of them. They are phenomenal and you need them all in your life this instant.

‘When people treated you like vermin, you began to feel like vermin.’

Words/Writing style: 10! No bad words and on top of that the writing is jaw-dropping. I feel like I always use that word to describe prose, but I can’t find anything that fits better! With third person past tense you are so seamlessly put into the minds and hearts of each of the characters. I love how we get to see what is happening from each of their point of views. The prologue is a little confusing and disconnected, but it is important and will make sense very soon.

World building/Setting: 10! I’ve never been to New York (or 1941 because I don’t have a time machine readily available), but this book put me in the midst of everything perfectly. I felt like I was breathing the same air as all of them. In the museum, in train stations, in their homes, in the park, all of it was natural. I read this around Peal Harbor day without knowing that was a factor and I FELT all of turmoil happening in New York City. From the mentions of the clothing they wore to the candy and tea they ate and drank. The tea was Barry’s for anyone interested. Good choice as I’ve been drinking that my whole life.

The magic is so beautifully woven in! I could talk about it for ages, but I’m going to make you read the book to discover how it works.

Quotability: 10. The lines in this book are to die for! I wanted to write everything down. This category is a little trippy when it comes to books because the fact of the matter is that I don’t usually quote books. I loved it so much I’m giving it 10 anyway.

‘“Why, you’re children!” he said, ruffing the top of his head as if trying to activate the brain cells inside.’

Content: 9. There are some deep subjects here, but they are handled so well! Early on we have descriptions of someone committing suicide, but it is horrible and not saying it is a good thing by any means. There are racist comments against Kiku and her father, but that is shown to be bad! Mentions of abuse, fighting, injury, and death. There is one suggestive comment, mentions of body parts on statues, and talk about underclothing.

‘He clenched his hands, remembering the impact of knuckles on flesh. It had felt good---and then it had felt bad. And the bad feeling had lasted longer than the good.’

Originality: 10! This might be the most original plot in any book I’ve read! But that might just be me obsessing over it. I love how much Ms. Goodman used the King Arthur legends! It is stunning and keeps you on your toes. I guessed one element, but that wasn’t a bad thing, just good foreshadowing.

Good For: families, friends, anyone who loves historical fantasy, anyone struggling with “fitting in” or having courage or trying not to forget ones past.

Age Range: The characters are all 13, I believe, but you don’t have to be that age to read this. I think this is categorized as Middle Grade Fiction. It might be a little intense for super young readers, but it is so clean. It has no trouble captivating an older audience (like myself) as well!

Overall Score: 10!!!!

Worth reading?: Don’t doubt it! Of course it was. These characters and their struggles have stuck with me months after finishing it.

Will I read again?: Yes! I want to so badly! I have a bunch of required reading that I have to read, but I want to visit again. My younger sister introduced this to me and now I’m trying to get my older sister to give it a go. All of this is making me want to read it again!

Bonus thoughts:

“...How can we vanquish evil if we don’t help each other?”

The Metropolitans is really awesome and gripping from the start. A good book! Nay, a grand book. Nay, a great book! Nay, the best book! It is amazing X a million. I am struggling to convey the excellence of this book in the right words. The characters have amazing backgrounds that are never left out. They all of strengths and weaknesses and we see them used so well. They’re broken little babies trying to save New York!

If you can’t tell, I love it and recommend it 100%!

Review #2:

Moon Over Manifest - by Clare Vanderpool:

Abilene is sent to live in her father’s hometown for the summer. A rundown old place, it is murmuring with memories of the past. Ever since Abilene hurt herself, her father has been distant from her. Feeling like she is losing him, she is determined to find out what his childhood was like. While staying in the same place her father lived in she finds a box of letters, from someone named Ned to someone named Jinx. Through them and the stories the diviner, Miss Sadie, tells her, she begins to see what the town was like in its former glory. It is disappointing though, because no one will talk about her father no matter how she prompts them. She wants to spend more time in the past, but maybe some secrets are carried into the present. Most importantly, is there still a spy lurking in the shadows?

‘Memories were like sunshine. They warmed you up and left a pleasant glow, but you couldn’t hold them.’

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction, Mystery.

Characters: 10. More amazing characters! We have a big cast here, but they all of quirks that make them unique and recognizable. This town is full of a colorful crowd if I've ever read one.

My favorites:

Abilene: This girl. I love her so much. She’s always lived on the road and been ready to move on, so she doesn’t trust people easily. She’s figured out the world and the people in it: all except her father. She’s so sure that she knows what a person will be like based on her types that she’s established. Also, her name, Abilene Tucker, is gorgeous. Probably one of my new favorite fictional names.

‘Mind you, I don’t really say y’all, but it’s usually best to try to sound a bit like the folks whose town you’re moving into.’

Jinx: His conflict was spot on. He was afraid of being not needed or wanted and just being nothing but trouble. The hijinks that he and Ned get into are so great!

Ned: Ned was just an utter sweetheart! He made me smile anytime he was mentioned. He was brave, kind, and gracious. He doesn’t know his past in a town chockfull of everyone who has a distinct tradition to follow.

Lettie and Ruthanne: These cousins were great. They were so gracious and easygoing, down for anything that Abilene was up to. Their spooky stories heightened the mystery as they had an inside scoop on the town already.

The Preacher: I can’t for the life of me remember his name and it’s driving me crazy. I am very ashamed. If anyone can help me with this, please do! Anyway. His quiet presence is so mysterious and comforting and the same time. I love how the town looks to him for answers and he usually has a good one.

Words/Writing style: 10. The first person tense from Abilene was so great. In addition to that, the way things were told from Jinx and Ned’s perspectives through letters and Miss Sadie added touches that set everything off so nicely. Sometimes in stories with dual timelines I want to read more about one than the other. 1917 on the verge of war was just as fascinating as a dusty and boring (according to Abilene) 1936.

‘But as anyone worth his salt knows, it’s best to get a look at a place before it gets a look at you.’

Setting: 10. The setting of a sleepy little town in Kansas fits the story to a bill. The descriptions unfold so well that you can just see the town! It was vivid in my mind. The town itself is almost a character and you can distinctly feel the differences through the years. It is so rich in culture, too! Manifest is home to people from all over the world and it is striking to read about.

Quotability: 10. Why do I even have this when it is impossible to rate?? I don’t have anyone to understand the quotes! I’m giving it a 10 all the same. The lines were so carefree yet had a hidden wisdom to them. I adored the writing so much!

‘A typewriter sat on a cluttered desk, its keys splayed open with some scattered on the desk like it tried to spell explosion and the explosion happened.’

Awards: 4: Newbery Medal (2011), Spur Award for Best Western Juvenile Fiction (2011), Society of Midland Authors Award Nominee for Children's Fiction (2011), Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas for Mejor novela extranjera independiente (2011).

Content: 9. The Ku Klux Klan is in some parts but it is shown as being a terrible organization and nothing about it is justified. Nothing really happens with them, but I still appreciated that we didn’t shy away from it being a real thing. With World War I creeping up we have some descriptions of the fighting and losses it held, but it isn’t gory. There was quite a bit about the making and selling of alcohol illegally. Usually that would’ve bothered me, but since I am not interested in it at all and it fit what was happening in the story, I didn’t mind so much.

Originality: 10! Like the rest of the book, it was stellar in the creativity. I was getting a slight To Kill a Mockingbird vibe, but that was maybe just because Abilene calls her dad by his first name, Gideon, like Scout does for Atticus. Talk about respect and dignity for nations might also be a contributing factor for why my brain is making that correlation. (Wow, my vocabulary is going crazy on me today, haha!)

Good For: historical fiction fans, families, anyone who has moved to a new place, people interested in the time periods.

Age Range: Abilene is in some kind of middle school, I think, so she is relatable to that age. Don’t be fooled into thinking it can only be read for kids! This is an excellent book for all ages.

Overall Score: 10!

Worth reading?: Without a doubt the answer is yes. The mysteries in the town of Manifest are bewitching and capture your attention. I grew to love all of the characters more than I can say in a short period of time.

Will I read again?: Again, without a doubt! I had to read this really quickly for a challenge which wasn’t a problem because it was so fascinating, but I am looking forward to reading it again slowly and absorbing all of the details thoroughly.

Bonus thoughts:

This is an absolutely gorgeous book. It is about discovering the past and through that oneself. The foreshadowing was some of the best I’ve read, because you could see where something were going yet still utterly destroyed when they actually happened. I sat in my room sobbing for this book. Which I’m not sorry to admit, I just was surprised because I wasn’t expecting it at all.

Do you get the gist yet? (Shout out to Sam for convincing me to read it!)

Review #3:

Prairie Lotus - by Linda Sue Park:

While Hanna is sad about leaving her home in California, she is bravely ready for live in the frontier. Her father is opening a dress shop and Hanna’s dream is to make clothing for the store, but her father doesn’t think she is responsible enough. It is her passion as her mother taught her to sew and she loves it. Things could be good here. That is except for a problem that shouldn’t be one: Hanna is half-Asian. People out here are just as judgmental on how she looks as they were at home. Will that be a problem when she wants to go to school? How will she convince her father that she is ready?

‘A brand-new town, equal measures of promise and uncertainty, like the thin April sunshine in which it stood.’

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction.

Characters: 9. There aren't that many, but all the more time for our star to shine!

My favorites:

Hanna: While some were understandably one-dimensional, Hanna was far from that! I related to her in so many ways. Our personalities are quite similar. I have never dealt with how people treat her, but Hanna faces it with so much courage! All in all, I want to be Hanna when I grow up. I’ve never been fond of sewing, but her enthusiasm for it made me want to make something!

‘You stop thinking about yourself. That’s where the sadness is, inside you. You look outside instead. At other people. You do things for other people, it fills you with good feelings, less room for the bad ones.'

I can’t for the life of me remember anyone else’s name, but there were a plethora of interesting characters. Fear for the unknown rules a lot of their lives which is scary, but realistic. My additional favorites were a man who was helping Hanna and her father, as well as a boy Hanna’s age and his little sister. They were precious!

Words/Writing style: 10. If I were to describe this writing in one word it would be graceful. You are pulled so gently through the story it is very relaxing.

Setting: 10. Life on the prairie with Asian elements intricately mixed in as well as respect for Native Americans? *chef’s kiss*

Quotability: 9. Hanna has some great lines of encouragement and motivation for when she gets down. They should be my motto, too!

‘It seemed to Hanna that there were always a hundred reasons for disliking people and not nearly as many for liking them.’

Awards: So far nominated for: Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Children's Literature (2021)

Content: 10. There is a lot of bias against Hanna but that is shown in a negative light. Someone bumps into and grabs someone harshly causing some harm, but again it is shown as undesirable behavior.

‘Cruelty was painful. Thoughtlessness was merely exhausting.’

Originality: 10. This book is not fast paced. It is slow and steady which, to me, is one of its endearing qualities. It took a setting that so many of us are familiar with in books and movies, and somehow made it REAL. Everything that happens feels like it could’ve actually happened. Not too much happens, but what does is so realistic. I totally dug something so relaxing yet thought provoking.

Good For: Families, fans of the setting and historical fiction, anyone who has had to move, EVERYONE.

Age Range: If my memory serves me correctly, Hanna is about 14. I think it would be excellent for younger kids with the way it handles everything so well. And, it is something that adults need right now, too. Maybe even for a whole family!

Overall Score: 10!

Worth reading?: It is a new favorite, so the answer is yes.

Will I read again?: Of all these reviews today, this was the one that I read the longest time ago so I definitely want to read it again. Maybe someday with a friend to discuss the simple wonder of this artwork.

Bonus thoughts:

This is an ideal book for anytime, but especially now when hate is flying. The message of this book is KINDNESS. Hanna has such a pure heart and soul doing the best for people even though they are prejudiced against her. This is a message that needs to live forever and Linda Sue Park beautifully did that.

“For the person who is sour, do something sweet.”

It wasn’t until I finished it just now that I realized that all of these books are historical fiction. I guess you guys know what I read a lot of in 2020! These books were, respectively, my 2nd, 4th, and 5th favorites that I read in 2020. I’m thrilled that I got to review them for you today!

Thanks for reading! Have you read any of these? If not, you are missing out and need to fix this immediately! What are some of your favorite historical fiction books? Any with a magical twist? Tell me one that incorporates a legend of some kind. What about some books that promote kindness above everything? Or a book that takes place in two different time periods? I truly hope that you all enjoy these books as much as I did!

MovieCritic

Book Reviews Featuring a Colorful Castle, Fairy Tale Crocodiles, & a Lionhearted Math Genius, oh my!

 Hello book lovers!

I hope that you are all having a nice Monday! I’m continuing my goal of reviewing books as well as movies each month with bringing you three more reviews. Here’s what I did in January, February, and March. Since my last review post was such a hit, I’m following the same format! I’m still terrible at coming up with titles so you’ll have to tell me how well I did on this one.

While it’s been a while since I read two of these books, the third is fresh in my mind. Never fear, I took notes and remember enough to supply you with anything you would need to know.

Without further ago, onto the reviews!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. All three of these reviews are absolutely spoiler free!

Review #1:

The Blue Castle - by L. M. Montgomery:

Valancy Sterling has lived 29 years in a grey world when she gets a shock in the form. She’s not been feeling well which turns out to be a heart condition and the chances for her living out a year are unlikely. With determination she decides that she’s going to stop bowing to everyone else’s needs and make her own way in the world. Goodbye to her family who are always using her, goodbye to a colorless existence, and hello to life and experiences while she can have them. It might be hard, but she’s willing to make it work. What surprises away for her to take advantage of will she is living in this radiant new life?

“I’m sick of the fragrance of dead things.”

Genres: Classic, Fiction, Drama, Historical Fiction.

Characters: 8. We have quite an assortment! I love the little obsessive quirks of Valancy’s family that make them so laughable.

My favorites:

Cissy: Oh my goodness, I loved her. She was just a sweetheart who had gone through some dark times yet has such an air of goodness about her.

Abel: He was so well depicted that I just really liked him! I loved his relationships with people and how he processes his feelings is very realistic.

Barney: There is so much mystery around him that I’m going to keep it that way and not say anything.

Valancy: I’m talking about her last because I have a lot to say. I’m sure she was quite a breakthrough when this book came out! Valancy knows what she wants and goes to get it without ducking to anyone. She is very determined, adventurous, and brave. Quite admirable! On the other hand, something rubs me wrong about her behavior at times. I support her in so many ways, but in others she seems a little mean. Independence and spite are not the same thing. I fully support her going out into the world and living, but she just seems unnecessarily rude occasionally. I feel like there could be a better balance between what she claims to have been her whole life and her new attitude. I don’t deny that her family are all horrible and condescending! It was about time that someone told them off for that because that is not how you treat a human being! Her nickname they gave her is horrid. Who would change a glorious name like Valancy?? Telling Valancy that she isn’t good and is weak when they are all TERRIFIC examples. NOT.  I get all of that! Like in this occasion:

‘“I think,” said Mrs. Frederick, “that if a person makes up her mind NOT to have colds she will not HAVE colds.”

So that was the trouble. It was all Valancy’s own fault.’

Poor Valancy! I have been in a situation like this and it is awful to have someone tell you that.

The thing is, I really related to Valancy in the beginning. My family is great, but all of her feelings are so similar to mine, and while I like her character, I don’t want to be like her. If that makes any sense (if it doesn’t then know that it doesn’t make sense to me either). I absolutely 100% get the attitude (I understand it WAY too deeply) that if people are only going to understand you in that way you might as well do that. Like this:

‘People who wanted to be alone, so Mrs. Frederick Sterling and Cousin Stickler believed, could only want to be alone for some sinister purpose.’

Those two are obviously not introverts. They assume that Valancy is thinking mean things about them so she finally breaks one day and goes ahead and says anything that comes into her head. This part hit me really deeply:

‘She had always been told, ever since she could remember, that she must hide her feelings. “It is not ladylike to have feelings,” Cousin Stickles had once told her disapprovingly. Well, she would hide them with a vengeance.’

Do you see how terrible Cousin Stickles is? Why would you tell that to someone! I relate to her repressing her feelings for so long that all at once they come out and are all over the place. While it was right in her case, I don’t encourage other people to lash out at their families.

Overall, I think that she is a very fascinating character I don’t understand yet. I want to read this again and again to understand more what’s going on in her head.

Words/Writing style: 10. I have two examples for this. There is some mild swearing but it is made fun of. I thought it was really funny where in exasperation Valancy suggesed to Uncle Benjamin that he might say a swear word to feel better and he replied, “I can express my feelings without blasphemy.” He is the one who was usually saying the d word which is why it is hilarious.

But, MC, if there are a few words then why did you give it a 10 instead of a 9? Well, this book has THE MOST GORGEOUS WRITING I’VE SEEN IN MY LIFE. I’m not kidding. Before reading this book I would always say that I don’t care about the writing style and just wanted a story, but this proved that writing can be amazing. Read this:

‘The garden was lying in the magic of the warm, odorous July twilight. A few stars were out and the robins were calling through the velvety silences of the barrens.’

Quotability: 8. I haven’t had the chance to quote them to anybody, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t thought about them a lot.

Content: 9. There are some scandalous things that happen! Oh dear! Not really! Valancy’s family thinks they are outrageous but it’s really nothing. Actually, the only things here are some drinking, a story of a girl having a baby without being married, talking about death, and someone being a little too friendly to a lady before he is stopped. I thought all of those things were handled really well so I don’t have a problem with any of it.

‘The only fault he found with her was that she did not sing at her word.

“Folks should always sing at their work,” he insisted. “Sounds cheerful-like.”

“Not always,” retorted Valancy. “Fancy a butcher singing at his work. Or an undertaker.”

Abel burst into his great brood laugh.’

Originality: 9. It is such a creative and cute story! I was just rereading one part of it now while looking for a line to put here and I couldn’t stop smiling. It follows one trope that is not my favorite, but other than that it is stellar.

Good For: Anyone looking for a new beginning in life, anyone looking for amazing writing, anyone who wants a pretty little story.

‘After the meal was over they would sit there and talk for hours---or sit and say nothing, in all the languages of the world...’

Age Range: One factor that I really love about this is Valancy’s age. She’s 29 so that gives it such a fresh and new take for a book! It’s not about your standard teenager, but at the same time anyone can enjoy this story. It would be fine for any and all ages.

Overall Score: 8.

Worth reading?: Yes! The writing makes me feel like I’m drinking sunshine. Totally worth it for that!

Will I read again?: This is a yes because I need to sort out my feelings on it. I go back and forth on what I think of it so I look forward to reading it again and again!

Bonus thoughts:

Basically everyone I know who has read this book loves it. If you came here expecting the same from me then I don’t know what to say to you: I don’t feel the same adoration that everyone else does. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it while reading it and the writing style is my go to example for spectacular writing, but thinking about it almost a year later I have some problems with it. It is super cute and lovely, but there is just one trope that I can’t stand. It had potential to be really inspiring, and while there are elements of that, it fell stale for me in a few places. A few things that were supposed to be surprising just felt thrown together. If you loved this then I am happy for you! I recommend it, but I’m still a little conflicted on my feelings in a few places.

“October—with a gorgeous pageant of color around Mistawis into which Valancy plunged her soul. Never had she imagined anything so splendid. A great, tinted peace. Blue, wind-winnowed skies. Sunlight sleeping in the glades of that fairyland. Long dreamy purple days paddling idly in their canoe along shores and up the rivers of crimson and gold. A sleepy, red hunter’s moon. Enchanted tempests that stripped the leaves from the trees and heaped them along the shores. Flying shadows of clouds. What had all the smug, opulent lands out front to compare with this?”

Review #2:

I, Coriander - by Sally Gardner:

Coriander has seven candles, just enough to last the night and tell her story. She had a happy and magical childhood with her parents. That was before objects came into her life: a stuffed crocodile, a pair of shoes, a set of pearls, and a mysterious raven. She didn’t know the significance of these objects at the time but now she does. Who is she truly and what was her story?

‘I wish I could unpick the stitches of time that have become all tangled and twisted together...”

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction.

Characters: 6. There were some that were monsters but they were the villains and not shown as good in any way. There were a few that I could get behind, but they didn’t really have memorable personalities that were cutting edge, you know?

My favorites:

Esther (at least, I think that was her name...): I love how she broke so many common tropes for people in her circumstances! The poor dear was so nice.

Gabriel: He was adorable! He was so caring and his relationship with Master Thankless was the best.

Master Thankless: From the beginning of when we meet him with the irony of his name I knew I would love him. His loyalty to his friends is so honorable and he is great all around.

Daines: It was good to see a solid character! She was so reasonable when no one else was.

Coriander’s father: While he makes a lot of mistakes he didn’t surprise me with being unpredictable.

‘A silent man can seem many things until he opens his mouth.’

Coriander: She is way more likable than a lot, but I still didn’t love her. It could be that the narrator of the audiobook (Juliet Stevenson) wasn’t my favorite, making Coriander really annoying. But, maybe that was the point because she matured a lot! There were some parts near the end where she really stepped into herself and I got a little misty-eyed.

Words/Writing style: 7. There were a few bad words and some that were just poorly chosen. I liked the first person present tense, but I was so frustrated by the whole “candle” thing because I wasn’t paying attention at the start of the book and missed that. I finally had to ask my sister what it meant because she had read the book before. Besides that it was a unique writing style.

‘I have learned that there is a great power in words, no matter how long or short they be.’

World building/Setting: 7. Part of the beginning is in England in 1643, so the era of Cromwell and Puritans and Charlatans. Combined with that is a magical world. That magical world was really cool! I just wanted to know more about that I didn’t like any of the times that we were in the real world, which was so grey and didn’t compare to the colorful masterpiece. Was that they point, to show such a contrast? I think so, but I didn’t appreciate it. Just give me my happy fairy land!

Quotability: 5. Not terribly quotable, but I there were lines worth writing down. This was my favorite:

“We are but shadows that have a short time dancing in the light.”

Awards: 2: British Book Award (2006) & Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for 9–11 years (2005).

Content: 6. Yikes. Where to start? There is murder, disgusting things, suggestive things (including names), and abuse. So much abuse. Involving starvation and physical and mental beatings for children and elderly. It’s shown as bad and evil, but it’s still horrible to read about! I had to stop a few times because I couldn’t stomach it. I’m not saying that Sally Gardener should’ve glossed it over. I don’t know what I’m saying, okay? It gets graphic. I was not expecting that, so maybe if I was more prepared I could’ve handled it better. I wasn’t in a good headspace to deal with that at the time, but I forced my way through which might have made matters worse.

Learning about the things that happened with the times of the Puritans always makes me really sad but grateful that I didn’t live back then. There are evil preachers and while I realize that was accurate to the time, I wish there were some religious characters to contrast that. Not everyone who loved God was bad! The best example was probably Esther. My sister says I’m being too picky and I probably am.

Originality: 9. This gets this high of a score because of one element that came back around and made me extremely happy. From the first chapter it was worked in and it seemed random but it was involved at just the right times.

Good For: People who like history and fantasy combined.

Age Range: If you can’t tell from my content section, I was very triggered at certain points. This is probably PG-13 but it really depends on the person. I wouldn’t have been fine with it until I am as old as I am (Am I fine actually? *nervous laughter*) but my sister was fine when she was younger and she read it. I would tentatively set 15.

Overall Score: 6.

Worth reading?: Yes, it was. I really liked the glimpses of the magically world that we got  to see and will now imagine my own stories using all of the amazing factors.

Will I read again?: Nope. I can spare my time for something better. I listened to an audiobook version while doing the dishes which was nice, but I don’t need to do again.

Bonus thoughts:

‘When I was small I used to hide under my mother’s petticoats and listen to friends and neighbors as they brought their ailments to her like posies of sorrows, to be made better by one of her remedies.’

I was intrigued by this because my sister told me it had lots of fairy tale elements. Awesome, right? Basically, this book took everything that I don’t like in a fairy tale and put it together. It was dark, random things happened because “MAGIC. It makes everything better”, romantic relationships that had no basis for being there, gruesome deaths. There was a lot of potential! People being turned into animals? Mysterious fairy court dynamics? Medler (can we get a whole story about him??)? Instead the whole story hung on some weak and poorly explained plot points. Things were thrown in there to be convenient and for surprises that made no sense. As Abbie Emmons always says, “A confused mind always says ‘no’.” I was confused for the whole time and I just wanted to yell, “Why? WHY? WHHHHHHHHY?”. I did more that want to do it, I actually did yell. If my sister wasn’t the one who recommended it and I knew she would have answers I wouldn’t have kept reading it. My first reaction when I finished it was to call her and ask, “Are you kidding me?”

Now, she liked it a lot, so some of you may, too! I don’t discourage reading this, I only want to let you know how I feel about it, too. I didn’t get the point of it, but I would love to talk about it to see if anyone else got something out of it.

Review #3:

The Lions of Little Rock - by Kristin Levine:

In Little Rock, Arkansas, Marlee goes to school like everyone else. She likes doing math, but there are things that she doesn’t enjoy like being social and trying to make friends with her crush J.T. between doing his homework. When she meets Liz everything changes. She’s always struggled with talking, but she finally can with Liz who is nice, understands her, and brings her math puzzles. But Liz is harboring an illegal secret. Marlee starts to see the injustice in her hometown and wonders, can she be as brave as the lions in the nearby zoo to stand up to it?

“Let’s start solving the world’s problems. One step at a time.”

Genre: Historical Fiction.

Characters: 9. We get a diverse group! Besides Sally who was your typical mean girl, everyone had such interesting motivations.

My favorites:

Marlee: I feel called out here, but I am basically Marlee in every single way possible. Like math? Check. Has trouble with talking to people? Double check. Seeing her journey was really motivating to me because if she could do something, than I can, too, right? I’m not scared of heights, but that’s the only difference between us.

‘He shook his head. “It’s always the quiet ones who are the craziest.” But he was grinning again, and I knew he was teasing.’

(Paraphrase)

Liz: Marlee and Liz are such great friends because they are so different from her. Do I now want a friend like Liz? Yep, I do.

Little Jimmy: I don’t remember detail about him, but he was sweet!

J.T.: His character went somewhere I didn’t think it would go and it was a new take! I liked him a lot.

David: I want to hug Marlee’s big brother. He was great! Judy was nice, too, but I really liked David.

‘That night I lay in bed wondering how many other times David had grinned and fooled me, too, even though he’d felt awful inside. The idea that my big brother sometimes felt not good enough was strange, and a bit scary.’

Words/Writing style: 8. There is some name calling but it is shown as bad. It was super easy to read and I really liked the first person past tense. I am a sucker for first person. It puts you so nicely into the characters head!

Quotability: 8. I haven’t had the chance to quote it (seriously, MC, why is this such a big deal? I have no idea), but the lines are great.

‘Because all the words in the world won’t do much good if they’re just rattling around in your head.’

Awards: 3: Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Grades 6-8 (2014), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2014), & New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award for Young Adult (2015).

Content: 9. This is talks about true stories of murder and the Ku Klux Klan. It all shows that racism is a terrible thing! It is handled so well. It also has vandalism and explosions which are both dealt with just as well.

Originality: 10. This is such a good setting for historical fiction! The characters are unique and have good fears and things to face. Between referencing true events and having experiences like riding in an airplane for the first time it makes you really believe that you are there in 1957.

Notes: It mentioned the book Heidi and I had just finished reading it the book before! It also briefly mentions the movies The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Dumbo (1941).

Good For: Everyone, anyone who loves math, anyone who wants a good book about racial justice, anyone who is afraid of using their voice.

Age Range: A great book for all ages! The main characters are in middle school so it is relatable to kids that age, but it also ties in important historical events that are good for anyone to know.

Overall Score: 9!

Worth reading?: Yes! It was perfect for me personally because of how much I relate to Marlee, but it was also valuable for an in depth look at the things that were going on at that time.

Will I read again?: I’m looking at my sister’s trusty copy (which I bought her, by the way) as I write this and am thinking it’s about time to read it again, so the answer is definitely yes.

Bonus thoughts:

“Maybe they’re tired of being seen as second best.”

Of all of the books that I’ve read today this is my favorite! I like it a lot and have no reason to write a long rant about it. Try it yourself!

Whew, I’m done! Another full day of writing reviews done. It looks like I’ll barely get this in on the 19th because of that. It’s better than what I did yesterday when I decided to ram my face into the sidewalk resulting in a swollen face (long story). How are all of you doing??

Thank you for reading! Have any of you read this books? Do any of them look interesting to you? What is your favorite writing style you’ve ever read? Has a book had potential but fallen short? Who are some book characters that you relate to? Good night!

MovieCritic

Book vs. Movie Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Hello, everyone!

A while back I did a mini review of the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It was only a mini review then because I was hoping to watch the movie and compare the two sometime. Well, I had that chance a few months ago and here we are! Enjoy!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows:

"I think you learn more if you're laughing at the same time."
Now that the war is over, there are no more worries. When writer Juliet Ashton receives a book that used to belong to her and a letter from a man on Guernsey island, her curiosity is aroused. She learns that the man, Dawsey Adams, is part of a literary society that was started during the occupation of Guernsey during World War II. She writes letters with other members of the book club, trying to know everything that she can. Without realizing it she finds herself living their lives, as they recall the occupation. She wants to be part of Guernsey, too, but with pulls in London, will she ever know where she belongs?
"Didn't matter then who started in it the first place. Not to me, anyway."
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, epistolary novel.
Characters: 7. My only complaint is that two characters are mentioned as being homosexual. I don't think that anyone who identifies with that is a bad person, definitely not, but I just don't support their way of living. In this book I was really frustrated with it because it seemed like such a convenient thing. Instead of developing and making other plot points stronger, they went for the easy way out. It isn't a big deal, they are just side characters, and after mentioning it once it never does again.
My favorites:
Juliet: I love her passion for living and her curiosity to always know more.
Isola: She is such a sweetheart!
Amelia: She went through a lot, but is still strong and helps so many people.
Dawsey: I'll admit, I didn't like him at first, but he is quiet and patient and lovable!
Kit & Eli: They are adorable!! I love Eben, too.
"Our faces are always a dead giveaway. A lifted brow or curled lip reveals that it's a poor excuse for a book, and the clever customers ask for a recommendation instead, whereupon we frog-march them over to a particular volume and command them to read it."
Words: 6, there is some swearing and name calling. But, can we talk about how cool it is that it is an epistolary novel? It is completely written in letters! Sometimes that can be a little hard to read, but all the effort into writing it makes up for it. And personally, I had a hard time putting this one down.
"When I got up this morning, the sea was full of sun pennies--and now it all seems to be covered in lemon scrim."
Quotes: 9, there are so many great quotes about literature and reading!
"That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically progressive--all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment."
Content: 6, there are mentions of drinking, crude humor about bathrooms, descriptions of violence, death, and a suggestive thing involving a character that happened. On the notes that I took I wrote down, "Some of the discussion not pleasing" but I don't recall what that was.
"Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books."
Originality: 10! This was a very educational book for me because I had no idea about the occupation of Guernsey, and I would never have thought of writing a book about it! The story is so good. I didn't like it at first, but after thinking about it for two years, I have decided that I do!
"At the start, we tried to be calm and objective, but that soon fell away, and the purpose of the speakers was to goad the listeners into wanting to read the book themselves."
Good For: fans of historical fiction, for people who are looking for a different perspective, anyone who has lost people who mean a lot to them.
Age Range: I would say anyone over 13, because otherwise the story wouldn't be interesting to them. To most people older than that I would day it is very fascinating!
Overall Score: 7.5!
"You write charming little notes."


VS.


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018):

Based on: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
"Yes, yes, we are book lovers."
After the writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a man who is returning a book that used to belong to her, she becomes fascinated with his literary society that he tells her about. He lives on the island of Guernsey, and was there during the occupation, when they formed the society. Juliet visits the island and never wants to leave. She decides to write a book about it, but there is some kind of secret involving one of the founders. Where is Elizabeth McKenna and what was her part in the occupation?
"But I don't need to tell you this, you already know what books can do. That is something we share, different as our lives may be."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Period Drama, Romance.
Length: approx. 124 minutes.
Costumes: 9, they did a great job with setting them all for the time period!

Script: 8, we hear God's name in vain a few times, but that's it.
"I'm older than time and I understand nothing."
Crew:
Directed by: Mike Newell.
Written by: Kevin Hood, Don Roos, Tom Bezucha, Mary Ann Shaffer, and Annie Barrows.
Starring:
Lily James as Juliet Ashton.

Michiel Huisman as Dawsey Adams.

Penelope Wilton as Amelia Maugery.

Jessica Brown Findlay as Elizabeth McKenna.

Katherine Parkinson as Isola Pribby.
Glen Powell as Mark Reynolds.
Matthew Goode as Sidney Stark.
Tom Courtenay as Eben Ramsey.
Kit Connor as Eli Ramsey.
Florence Keen as Kit McKenna.
Nicolo Pasetti as Christian Hellmann.
Bronagh Gallagher as Charlotte Stimple.
Cinematography: 10! Ah, Guernsey is so gorgeous!!!

Cinematography by: Zac Nicholson.
Music: 7, um, I was so wrapped up in the story that I didn't notice it? I remember that it was good, but I couldn't tell you what it was.
Music by: Alexandra Harwood.
Notes: There are a lot of differences from the book, like scenes got cut, fewer characters, and a few things tweaked to fit in, but I loved all of the changes that they made! It was so good. Bravo!

Quotes: 8, "I don't care for everyone to see me cry. I will later."
Content: 7, there is drinking, violence, death, images of blood, gross things, smoking, mild kissing, and then the suggestive thing that I talked about as well as several other suggestive comments. I knew that the writers couldn't take out the homosexual mention, but it was only one person, and very, very, very, brief. It wasn't a big deal, and I appreciated that.
Originality: 10! Once again, this is such a creative idea! Both inspiring and informational.
Good For: anyone who is a fan of the actors, people who have been through hard times, anyone interested in history.
Age Range: This is pretty open to any age. Once again, kids under 13 might find it boring, but it totally depends on the individual.
Overall Score: 8.5!

Bonus thoughts:
Alright, so I thought that the book was okay, but I loved this movie! So good! When I heard that they were making a movie I thought, "How can you make a movie of a story told in letters?" The answer: they didn't use the letter format and it worked out anyway. I was so excited to hear that Lily James, Penelope Wilton, and Jessica Brown Findlay were all in it (I told my sister, "Downton Abbey reunion"!)! They all did amazing jobs! The story really gripped me even though I already knew it, the scenes were gorgeous, Kit and Eli were so adorable, Dawsey was precious, and just everything about it was so good. It even gave me a better appreciation for the book. If you have read it, then I definitely suggest that you watch this, too!!
Sadly, I couldn't find photos of my favorites, so you'll have to watch yourself to see what they look like!


The movie wins!


If you have seen or read this, I would love to know your thoughts! Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Adventure of Reading Challenge ~ Update 4

Hello!
I am here for my fourth and last update for Heidi's 2017 Adventure of Reading Challenge! Here are update one, update two, and update three.

Thank you so much for hosting this challenge, Heidi! I probably wouldn't have read them otherwise!

Wonderland Creek - by Lynn Austen:

"It's the little things that make all the difference in the world. The kind words we speak and the simple things we do for people."
Alice Grace Ripley loves to read. After getting a lot of books to donate to a library in Acorn, she decides to bring them down there herself! Alice finds several things she wasn't expecting, one of them being the fact that the librarian gets severally hurt and she has to take over. Most people don't even read, but they love the books.There is a big secret, but no one will tell her! What with gardening, cooking, and doing the librarian's will, she learns that maybe the world is better than a book, and she should get into her own story.
'It was just a pile of old wood and scraps of metal, but in their imagination it was a schooner that could sail all over the world searching for buried treasure.'
Genre: Historical Fiction, Period Drama.
"...Will it take her very long to get here?' 'Well, it depends on which horse she's riding--"
Characters: 10, there are so many and they are all so different!
'It seemed that I had baked myself into a jam tart, as Mother would say.'
My favorite:
Alice, she and I are very alike, and this is so true: 'Sometimes I hated being a fair-skinned blond. People could read my distress like a thermometer as the color filled or drained from my cheeks.'
Miss Lillie, she is amazing.
Words: 9, there are a few bad words.
'She may as well have been speaking another language. I was so frightened that her words of advice fell all around me without sinking in, as forgotten as raindrops in the creek.'
Quotes: 10, seriously, this is my favorite! It describes me sssoooo well!
"'...I didn't cause a scene. I don't know why the usher asked us to leave.'
'Gordon said it was because you started talking very loudly in the middle of the movie, saying it wasn't at all like the originally book...Gordon is still mad because he didn't get to see how the film ended.'
'He didn't need to see the end. I told him how the book ended and it was so much better than the movie. They even changed the hero's motivation. Can you imagine? That movie was such a travesty that I couldn't help getting upset.'"
Storyline: 6, there is death, blood, kissing, suggestive, smoking, drinking.
'Fighting injustice seemed to carry a very high price tag.'
It has references to these books, which I thought was pretty cool:
Sherlock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland, Macbeth.
Good For: Anyone who likes to read.
"Weeds are just like hatred and greed, you know. If you ain't careful, they'll choke all the love and compassion out of a person."
Overall Score: 8.
"That's absurd,' I said with a little laugh. 'Nobody can read too much. That's like saying someone can breathe too much."

(Well, that was definitely a mini review ;) )

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows:

(This will actually just be a mini review, because I want to do a longer post on it in the future. In other words I forgot where I put my notes, and as there is maybe a movie of it coming out, I want to compare it to that.)
It's post World War II, and Juliet gets a letter from a Dawsy Adams, a man on the island Guernsey who happens to own one of Juliet's old books. A correspondence ensures, and Juliet gets to know the people of Guernsey and their literary society.
Genre: Historical Fiction,
Characters: 7, two of the characters are mentioned as being homosexual, so that kind of put me a little bit against the book, because I don't support that.
My favorite:
Isola & Kit.
(They are the best!!)
Words: 6, there are a few bad words, and swearing.
Storyline: 7, suggestive stuff happened, smoking, discussion unpleasing, name calling, bathroom, and mention of drinking.
Good For: History fans.
Overall Score: 7!


The Headless Cupid - by Zilpha Keatley Snider:

(Also know as, A Witch in the Family.)
'Walking through the door was like walking out of a bright morning into midnight.'
The Stanley kids can't wait to meet Molly's daughter, Amanda, who will become their new sister! But when she comes, they find she studies witchcraft. Because they don't have anything else to do, David, Blair, Janie, and Tesser want to do it too! Strange things start happening and they wonder if it really is, or is Amanda some how making it all up?
'He was remembering that she believed in good omens, like rainbows and church bells.'
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction.
Characters: 8,
My favorite:
Janie & Tesser.
'Janie always asked questions faster than anybody could possibly answer them.'
Words: 9, only one bad word.
'The sun was warm on the steps, but the air still had the night-freshened cool of summer mornings.'
Quotes: 9, '...he started having that good, slightly excited feeling that a library always gave him.'

(SPOILERS from now on.)

NOTE: I definitely don't believe in witchcraft or do I support it but it is all fake in this book. Amanda was making it up to get attention and to make her mom mad. There are some scenes where they are doing "ceremonies" that I don't approve of, but it was a made up.

'David had never heard of anybody taking up stocking robbery as a career.'

Storyline: 7, Stealing, divorce, and witchcraft though it is just to get attention.
Good For: Those who are going through a hard time, those who have experienced change.
Overall Score: 8.
'He kept it closed because he had a feeling that if he started talking he'd say a lot.'


So, I read 9 1/2 out of 11! I really was going to read Orange & Green, but I read all these other ones first, so when I went to get it out from the library they said I could get it on the first of the year! Oh well. And, I admit I was a little scared of reading Frankenstein, but I did read most of it, and I will finish it in 2018!

Thank you so much for hosting this, Heidi! It was very fun!!

MovieCritic