Emily of New Moon Read-Along: The End!

Hello, again!

It is time for the last discussion on Emily of New Moon for the Read-Along Amber at Seasons of Humility hosted! I am a little late to the party, but I enjoyed it all the same!

For Amber's post click HERE, and for Julie's click HERE.

Watch out, Spoilers are about! If you haven't read Emily of New Moon - by L. M. Montgomery, read no more of this post!

Emily of New Moon ~ Chapters 25-31

Discussion Format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and five questions to answer for each week's reading

Favorite Quotes:

1.

'Great-Aunt Nancy and Caroline Priest were wont to colour their grey days with the remembered crimsons of old...'

2.

"And I can pray in my mind--I'm sure God can hear thoughts as well as words. It is nice to think that He can hear me if nobody else can."

(Oh, this is so true!)

3.

'The light on the water began to turn warm gold and rose.'

4.

'"I don't think it would hurt you to be as polite to me as you are to other people."

"I'm telling you your faults so you may correct them," said Aunt Ruth frigidly.

"It isn't my fault that my face is pale and my hair black," protested Emily. " I can't correct them."

"If you were a different girl," said Aunt Ruth, "I would--"

"But I don't want to be a different girl," said Emily decidedly. She has no intention of lowering the Starr flag to Aunt Ruth. "I wouldn't want to be anybody but myself even if I am plain."'

(Yes! I love this!)

5.

'There was on line in it she tasted two or three times:

The haunting elfin music of the air.

"I think that line is very good," said Emily. "I wonder now how I happened to think of it."'

6.

'Life was delightful, growing richer every hour, like an unfolding rose.'

7.

"'Dreams that seem too bright to die.'"

General Impressions:

We start off still at Wyther Grange. Things have turned to being the same each day until Emily's incident! There we meet Dean Priest. Oh, he is so great! I love how he is like a second father to Emily. He, unlike many others, understands her! I think he is incredibly sweet. And Tweed, I love his dog!

'"I believe," thought Emily, "that a dog is better than a cat when you're in trouble."'

I love different perspective and trying to understand people, but it is hard. For Emily, few people understand her: Her father and Dean. Others understand parts of her: Aunt Laura, Cousin Jimmy, Grea-Aunt Nancy, etc. We have to think about how many people might understand parts of us, and if we understand parts of others.

'To love is easy and therefore common--but to understand--how rare it is!'

Whoohoo! Miss Brownell is gone! It took long enough. Mr. Carpenter... I'm not sure what I think of him. I feel like I would take him too seriously on everything.

About Aunt Elizabeth. I can totally understand why she read Emily's letters to her father. Growing up with siblings you read their diaries, letters, etc., it's just what you do. My excuse was always, like Elizabeth, "I have a right to know what they are thinking." or "I'll know them better." One day, like Elizabeth, you realize that you were wrong, and you stop, as easy as that.

'"No matter. I'll keep my word to the child," said Aunt Elizabeth stubbornly.'

I'm glad that I can finally like her! But part of that makes me so, so, sad! I'm glad that Aunt Elizabeth loves Emily, it really makes me happy, but I'll miss the letters to her father.

These last chapters are all about growing up. Now, when it comes to that subject, either the author can do a great job, and I'll love and accept it, or the opposite. With this... I'm not sure yet. I want to read more in the series, so I'm not completely hating it, but I feel like L. M. Montgomery got some things incorrect. Like writing to her father. That was so sweet and special, and if it were the case with me I would never grow out of it. It just isn't possible.

That being said, I can see her getting rid of her old writings. It makes me so sad, because I know that if her mother was there then Juliet would save every last one.

'Every time she read her little hoard of manuscripts over she found some of which the fairy gold had unaccountably turned to withered leaves, fit only for burning. Emily burned them,---but it hurt her a little. Outgrowing things we love is never a pleasant process.'

Discussion Questions:

1. What did you think of Emily's first meeting with Dean Priest (and the near-death experience that brought it about)?


Honestly, that is the sort of thing that I would do. I'm kind of frustrated that it all happened just for some flowers, but I'm also glad of that because if those flowers hadn't been there Dean wouldn't have found her. Oh well.


2. How would you feel about having Mr. Carpenter as a teacher? Do you agree with his teaching methods and how he critiques Emily's works?


I love how he has the students act things out! Being homeschooled, that's what my mom would have us do and it is so much fun. You definitely remember things better! So yes, I guess I would have to agree with his teaching methods.


3. Were you surprised by the truth about what happened to Ilse's mother? How did this chapter ("When the Curtain Lifted") make you feel?


There were so many emotions in this chapter. Oh, what a relief about her! I mean, I am so, so, so sad that that is what happened, that my fears about the well came true, but it removed the tainted picture they had all painted of her. It is amazing how Emily thought of when she was delirious, without knowing the truth she spoke! And I am so happy that Dr. Burnley is now a better man.


4. Which scene in this book was the most adorable (or romantic) to you?


In the whole book? There are too many to count or decide!


5. What was your favorite part of Emily's story? What are you hopes or predictions for what will happen to her in the rest of the series?


One of my favorite parts was how she always writes, through everything that happens she writes. I can't wait to see where she goes with that! And, the romantic in me can't wait to see where the love triangles go! I know this will probably be wrong, but my prediction is that Perry will end up with Ilse, and Teddy will end up with Emily. Who knows?



Thank you so much for hosting this read-along, Amber! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

And thank you to all who read this! Do you have a favorite scene in this book?

MovieCritic

Emily of New Moon Read-Along: Chapters 18-24

Hello again!
I'm am here (late, but here) for Amber at Seasons of Humility's Emily of New Moon Read-Along! Technically, I should already be done with it because March is over... but I last week got away from me. Note to all of you: If you are feeling sick, like you have the flu, it is worth it to check with a doctor.

Make sure to check out Amber's discussion post HERE, and Julie's HERE.

Spoiler Zone! If you haven't read Emily of New Moon, things will be spoiled for you if you continue reading this. So for your sake, go no further.

Emily of New Moon ~ Chapters 18-24

Discussion Format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and five questions to answer for each week's reading

Favorite Quotes:

1.

'...down behind it the Blair Water dreamed in silver...'

2.

'Everything Emily had ever read of dream and myth and legend seemed a part of the charm of that bush.'

3.

"If you've brains it's better than beauty---brains last, beauty doesn't."

4.

'Through it Emily could see summer fields lying in the magic of a rising yellow moon.'

General Impressions:

We start this session off with some injustice. Lofty John is going to cut down the bush, and they are all blaming Emily! I really am so upset with Aunt Elizabeth for being so mean! I was really starting to like her, but then she was all horrid! This states my thought exactly:

'It was a cruel thing to say, even when all allowances were made,--cruel and unjust, since her own sharp tongue and Murray sarcasm had had quite as much to do with it as Emily.'

But, it was all fixed with Father Cassidy! That made me happy.

That "Romantic But Not Comfortable" chapter cracked me up! I knew that we would eventually run into a love triangle with Emily, Teddy, and Perry. It is just hinted here about what might come later in the series. Oh, it is so embarrassing for Perry! I'm just glad that Ilse wasn't there... I honestly don't know what she would've thought.

I like to continue learning about Emily's thought process. When talking about a snake (yikes!):

"It is hideous but fascinating."

About Wyther Grange: I love Great Aunt Nancy! She is so great! I had the impression all along that I wouldn't, but I was wrong! I mean, she seriously could be nicer to Caroline, but she is still so funny! At one point she said "tradish"! I like how she didn't get mad at Emily because she broke the lamp, but that she just laughed it off. I love the quote describing her:

'Somehow, she looked like an old fairy--and impish, tolerant old fairy, who might turn suddenly malevolent if you rubbed her the wrong way--only fairies never wore long, gold-tasselled earring that almost touched their shoulders, or white lace caps with purple pansies in them.'

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your impressions of Father Cassidy? What do you like or not like about how he interacts with Emily?

I like him! I really, really do. Though, there is something I can't pin down... huh. I like how Ms. Montgomery pointed out: 

'He was nice but ununderstandable.' 

Anyway, he was such a sweetheart to help Emily! And it said that she didn't seem him for a few years, so I will miss him, but maybe he is in the later books.

2. If you could pick a line from these chapters that resonates with you the most—that makes you think, That's me!—what line would it be and why?


This is hard because I tend to read it so quickly and only once in a while remember to type up my favorite quotes. Because of that, I'm sure that there is something much, much more accurate, but this is what I have to deal with:

"It is nice to feel so necessary."

This is me because (especially with spring cleaning), I get tired of it, but keep going because it is helpful, and I am "necessary"!


3. How did you feel about the Murray Christmas gathering described in chapter 20? How is it different from or similar to some of your own family Christmases (from childhood or more recently)?


I guess I blazed through that chapter because I don't really remember it. Ah, yes, now I do. Christmas for me is usually just my family for gift opening, but we sometimes have a lot of people over to dinner, like the Murrays. And yes, I always eat way too much...


4. What was something fashionable when you were younger that you really wanted, like Emily's desire for bangs? Have your tastes changed since then?


I honestly have never been "fashionable" in anyway and haven't really wanted to. But, this did remind me of The Little House Books, because Laura really wanted bangs, and Anne of Green Gables, when Anne really wanted "puffed sleeves".


5. If you were invited to visit Wyther Grange for a while, would you want to go? What might you think of the place and its occupants?

Yes! I would love to go! I don't know what it is, but I feel drawn to it!

Thanks to Amber for hosting this, and thanks to all of you for reading! I'm sorry that this got a little "rambly" today. Have a good April!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: STAR WARS I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Hello, everybody!
I am so sorry that I have been so absent. I had a lot of posts planned for last week, but I had to suddenly go out of town and am finally back.

Anyway, as this is a movie review blog, I should review at least once movie a month, eh? (My minimum is supposed to be three, but that didn't happen). As you can see from the post title, I'm doing a STAR WARS review, and since I only do those on rare occasions, today, March 31st, must be a special day! You are correct in thinking that: it is Ewan McGregor's birthday! He plays Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequels. Also, for some reason a lot of the reviews I've done this year have included him. Huh.

I am reviewing the STAR WARS movies in the way that they are made. If you haven't seen them, I cannot stress enough how important it is to watch them this way!! If you don't, some of the best moments in movies are spoiled. If you are to watch them, do it in this order: IV: A New Hope (1977), V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), I: The Phantom Menace (1999), II: Attack of the Clones (2002), III: Revenge of the Sith (2005), VII: The Force Awakens (2015), & VIII: The Last Jedi (2017). You don't have to watch I, II, & III, because they are not the best, but it is interesting to know the back story.

Enough blabber, I'll get to it! This review today will be a bit longer because I have a lot to say.

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

STAR WARS I: The Phantom Menace (1999):

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away..."
With trouble on Naboo, two Jedi Knights take Queen Amidala away from there to plead the Senate to help her. Their ship being damaged, they land on Tatooine to get supplies. There Qui-Gon Jinn meets Anakin Skywalker, a nine year old slave who is great with mechanics and offers his friendship to the Jedi. Qui-Gon gets himself into a trading agreement that all depends on whether or not Anakin can win a pod race. All the while there is a mysterious figure that seems to be controlling the Senate, who are they?
"You Jedi are too reckless."

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy.

Length: approx. 136 minutes.

Costumes: 8, there is nothing bad, but (and I think this is the first time that this has happened on this blog), they are a little over the top, but in the wrong places! I would love to see less CGI, but Amidala doesn't need fifteen different crazy outfits, see?

Script: 9,

'"Do you hear that?"

"Yeah."

"That is the sound of a thousand terrible things coming this way."'

Crew:

Directed by: George Lucas.
"There's always a bigger fish."

Written by: George Lucas.

Starring:
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn.

'"I have a bad feeling about this."

"I don't feel anything."'

Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Natalie Portman as Padmé.

Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker.

Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks.
Hugh Quarshie as Captain Panaka.
Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine.
Pernilla August as Shmi Skywalker.
Anthony Daniels as (the voice of) C-3PO.
Kenny Baker as R2-D2.
Frank Oz as (the voice of) Yoda.
Oliver Ford Davies as Sio Bibble.
Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu.
Ray Park as Darth Maul.

Peter Serafinowicz as Darth Maul (voice).
Terence Stamp as Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum.
Silas Carson as Nute Gunray, the Viceroy.
Keira Knightley as Sabé.
Richard Armitage as a Naboo pilot. (He isn't credited, but he's there!).
I was reading the credits and it said: "Jabba the Hutt as Himself". What does this mean?

Cinematography: 6, ugh, there is so much CGI! And it really isn't that good. I get so tired of it. The race is fun, though.

Cinematography by: David Tattersall.

Music: 10!! Oh, I love it!!

Music by: John Williams.

Quotes: 7, "What, do you think you're some kind of Jedi, waving your hand around like that?"

Storyline: 8, there is fighting, and death.
"Greed can be a powerful ally."

Age Range: A 6 year old boy that I babysit loves this movie. Seriously, he watches it all the time. So, he is fine with the violence.

Overall Score: 7.5.

Bonus thoughts:

"Are you brain dead? I'm not going in there with two Jedi." (This cracked me up!)

First off, I want to talk about Jar Jar Binks. I know that a lot of people really criticize him, and I understand that, but it is not Ahmed Best. He does a great job, the best he could have done with Jar Jar (I actually talk in his way a lot, mostly when I'm tired). I don't like Jar Jar Binks, because of the way George Lucas wrote him.
I usually like back story, but these prequels make me so sad! I just know all of what is coming. Speaking of, I hadn't seen this all the way through since the first time, which was in 2015 (and I was sick so I didn't remember a lot). When you rewatch it you cringe because you can see everything that is going to happen, it is so obvious! I know that I couldn't believe that I didn't see it the first time (but, as I said, I was sick, so I was a little foggy).
All in all, there are parts that I like, but I could just cut a lot out because it takes too long. And, I love seeing Ewan McGregor as a young Obi-Wan! He does such a good job.

Thank you so much for reading! Do you have a favorite of the prequels?

MovieCritic

Emily of New Moon Read-Along: Chapters 11-17

Hello, again!
Sorry that I have been really absent this month, I have some things planned to make up for it. Anyway. it's time for the second discussion in Amber at Seasons of Humility's Emily of New Moon Read-Along!!

It has been so much fun to read this, I hope you all enjoy my thoughts on this next part! For Amber's thoughts this week, click HERE. And, for more thoughts, click HERE for Julie's post!

Spoiler alert! If you haven't read Emily of New Moon, don't read any more of this post! It is a really sweet book and I don't want to spoil it for you.

Emily of New Moon ~ Chapters 11-17

Discussion Format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and five questions to answer for each week's reading

Favorite Quotes:

1.

"The little clap-boarded house topped a small hill, over which tansy grew in a hard, flaunting, aromatic luxuriance, rising steeply and abruptly from a main road."

2.

"Life tasted good to her again---'Tasted like more,' as Cousin Jimmie said."

3.

"It is raining tonight and it sounds like fairies feet dancing over the garret roof."

(Emily's spelling, not mine.)

4.

"I think God is just like my flash, only it lasts only a second and He lasts always."

(Oh, this is so beautiful!!)

General Impressions:

I love reading Emily's letters to her father, they are so sweet and innocent. I love how everything flows for her and how she is so happy when she is writing. She has such lovely, beautiful thoughts, it is a delight to read, even if her spelling is a little off sometimes. Hey, I struggle with that, too (Spell check is really helpful).

She does get a little over dramatic about some things, but I can understand that being that way myself. I hope that with all of her little adventures and "tragedies" she will learn some things, but that she will always stay true to herself.

"...but I am sorry---or ought to be---to have to state that Emily's conscience never worried her about the matter at all."

(See what I mean...)

It has almost been a year since she has been at New Moon! I'm glad that she finally has found some real friends in Ilse, Teddy, Perry, and even Jennie. I love how she is helping Ilse to grow in her faith and Perry in his manners. They are such a fun "rag tag band".

Cousin Jimmy continues to be my favorite! He reminds me a lot of some people I know. I love this quote about him:

"For a little while he was strong and young and splendid and beautiful, accredited master of song to a listening, enraptured world."

Aunt Laura is such a dear, and she really is trying to understand Emily that even at times when she doesn't I love the effort that she puts in. Aunt Elizabeth... I feel like she is coming around. She is so proud of being a Murray, sometimes I wish she could just forget about that for a moment. Emily claims that Elizabeth doesn't love her, but I think deep down she does.

Oh, what is the matter with Miss Brownell!? She is a horrible person. Why does she pick favorites? Why does she hold grudges over tiny things? I do not understand her. I was hoping that in these chapters she would redeem herself, but my new hope is that they just get a new teacher.

Discussion Questions:

1. If you could have Ilse, Teddy, or Perry as your friend, which one do you think you would get along with the best? Which one do you think would help you grow the most?

Wow, this is a really hard question! I feel like Teddy would help me the most. I often fell really insecure about anything that I do, that I am not good at it a therefore shouldn't be doing it, where Teddy loves to draw and it makes him happy so he does it. I feel like that could rub off on me.

2. What did you think of Emily's response when Lofty John suggests she's eaten poison? How might you have reacted similarly or differently?

To be truthful I would probably have thrown up, even though it wasn't poison my mind would tell my stomach to get rid of it ASAP.

3. Which scene did you find the most humorous in these chapters? What part particularly made you laugh or smile?

Aunt Elizabeth telling Perry to come down right away when he said he couldn't. I don't know why, but it surprised me into laughing out loud!

4. Imagine yourself as a student in the classroom when Miss Brownell is reading Emily's poetry—or in the house when Miss Brownell comes to speak with Aunt Elizabeth. How would you feel, and what might you do to come to Emily's aid during or after the incident?

Being home schooled I haven't ever been in many classes, but in the few I have been in (even though I am an introvert) I find myself very talkative. In this class I might be nervous because of Miss Brownell (who wouldn't be?), but I would have done something to help. Either help Perry throw things at Rhoda or distract Miss Brownell in someway (I am very good at this.)

I always want to hear both sides to the story, so at New Moon I feel like I could have gotten Aunt Elizabeth to listen to Emily.

5. If you lived at New Moon, which season would be your favorite to experience?

Winter!!! As I will never stop saying I love snow!!! This made me want to be there even more:

'To-day the sand-hills were softly rounded and gleaming white under the snow, but beyond them the gulf was darkly, deeply blue with dazzling white masses of snow like baby icebergs, floating about in it.'

But, that said, I would love to see Cousin Jimmy's garden.


Thank you to Amber for hosting this! Have any of you read this? If so, tell me your thoughts!

Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic