Book Review: The Penderwicks

Hello Everyone!
I am going to review The Penderwicks by Jeanie Birdsall today! This is one of my favorite books, because the character Jane Penderwick made me want to be a writer. Here we go!

The Penderwicks by Jeanie Birdsall:

"A Summer Story of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy"
This is the story of four girls and their father on a normal summer vacation which turns out to be not so normal, they run into gardeners, bunnies, angry bulls, Mrs. Tifton, and a very unusual boy.
Characters: 8
Favorite Characters:
Rosalind: I was surprised that when I re-read it, how young Rosalind is! When I read it the first time I thought of her as at least 14, when she is really 12! Guess I wasn't paying very much attention there. I love how she takes care of all her sisters.
Skye: "Blue Skye, blue eyes." It is very relatable that people are always switching her with Jane. I look like Skye and my older sister looks like Jane, and people used to always call me her, and her me because I'm taller.
Jane: I already said that she inspired me to love to write. I actually wrote to Jeanie Birdsall for a writing contest. I didn't even get mentioned, but I did it! Back to thoughts on Jane. I love the way she thinks through the problem!
Batty: She isn't in the least! She always makes sure no one is forgotten.
Words: 9
Storyline: 8, There is a little kissing, so if you really dod not like that there is only a tiny bit, or if you are like Skye and just stick your tounge out, say, "Ew!" and just move along, either way I recommend it!!
Quotes: 8, "This I Swear on the Penderwick Family Honor."
Good For: Families, Sisters, Writers, Anyone.
Overall Score: 8!!

Sorry this is a short review, I really wanted to do this review of one of my favorite books!!!
Thank you for reading!!!

MovieCritic

The Book Sacrifice Tag

Hello!
Erudessa Arandruiel at The Flowering Vales has tagged me with this Book Sacrifice Tag, and my reaction was the same as yours Erudessa! But, this turned out to be really really fun! Thanks so much!

#1: An Over-Hyped Book

  Situation: You are in a bookstore when the zombies attack.  Over the loudspeakers you hear the military announce that over-hyped books are the zombies' only weakness.  What over-hyped book will you chuck at the zombies?

Mwa, Ha, Ha!!! I am generally biased if everyone likes it I don't see what is so good about it, but this book is really over-hyped. It took me awhile to think of it, everyone else had thought of such good ones, then it came to me!!!!

                                                                           

#2: A Sequel

  Situation: You are caught in a torrential downpour and you're probably the type who melts when you get wet.  What sequel are you willing to use as an umbrella to protect yourself.

Am I the wicked witch of the west? I have thought about this but I have no idea. I guess I'll say The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman. It is the sequel to The Golden Compass, and it was torture to read or at least it was when I was eight.

                                                           

#3: A Classic

  Situation: You're in English class and your professor won't stop going on about a classic that "revolutionized literature".  Personally you think the classic is garbage and you decide to express your opinion by hurling the book at his head.  What classic is that?

Well, I don't think I would ever throw a book at some one's head, (remember Jane Eyre?) and this was a very hard question because I like classics. But, I think I would have to go with The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, I never got through it. Now thinking about it, I don't see what was so bad about it, but I'm going with it any way.

                                                 

#4: A Least Favorite Book

  Situation: You're hanging out at a bookstore (where else would you be?) when global warming somehow manages to to turn the whole world into a frozen wasteland.  Naturally, your only hope of survival is to burn a book.  Which book would you not regret tossing into the fire?

Isn't it global warming? Now, I've read stories that when you toss a certain book into the fire, and you take it out it's secrets are revealed. But, since this is my least favorite book, I am not sure. Could I say one of the above? Um, I don't know what to say. I think I will go with Lambing Out and other stories by Mary Clearman it is a book of short stories, the first one, Lambing Out, was okay, but the others were blah! I would tear out the first story, then put the rest in the fire!!

                                               

I am also going to do this extra question:

#5: A Series

  Situation: There's a flooded stream you have to cross on your quest and you can't get your feet wet.  Which series (oh yeah, by the way, you brought your whole bookshelf and also probably local library with you) will you use as stepping stones?

So, I was going to put the whole Golden Compass series, but I didn't mind The Golden Compass and I never finished The Amber Spyglass, so I have no idea. Okay, how's this, I just use The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass and when I get to the other side I pick up The Amber Spyglass to glance through later. I mean, The Subtle Knife was wet already...

                                            

I tag: anyone who wants to do it.
UPDATE 1-26-2017: Okay, so I was in a rush when I did this and I didn't have time to tag anyone, and I had forgotten I didn't until now so, the people I tag are: Kara and Hamlette. If ANYONE else wants to, go ahead!!!!
Once again thank you Erudessa!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: A Christmas Story (1983)

Hello!
In my family we celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, and then Epiphany so each day we open one present and for us today is the last day of Christmas, so I can still review this Christmas classic, A Christmas Story. Each year in the 12 days of Christmas we all watch this. It is tradition, and it is really hilarious! "I think everyone should have a Red Rider BB gun." I mean that I think this should be a family tradition for all. Here we go!

A Christmas Story (1983):

I little boy's story of one peculiar Christmas where all he wants is a Red Rider BB gun and he tries to find a way to get one; Parents,

"They looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears."

Teacher,

Santa,

he tries them all. Through all of this he and his friends are getting bullied by the notorious Scut Farkus. Leg lamps, day dreams, kid brother, old man, bunny suit, all of this in A Christmas Story.
Genre: Christmas, Comedy.
Costumes: 8, they aren't spectacular, but they really do represent the 1980s. My favorites are:

Ralphie's imagination for Miss Shields.

"I can't put my arms down!"
Script: 6, there are a few bad words and some references.
"In every family there is a kid who won't eat."

Crew:
Directed by: Bob Clark
Produced by: 
Rene Dupont
Bob Clark
Written by:
Jean Shepherd
Leigh Brown
Bob Clark
Based on: In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd
Starring:
Peter Billingsley as Ralphie, so I also reviewed Elf for this Christmas, and Peter Billingsley is in that too! He plays the elf, Ming.

Melinda Dillon as Ralphie's Mother
Darren McGavin as "The Old Man"
Narrated by: Jean Shepherd. The cool thing about this is that Jean Shepherd wrote the book and we get to hear him tell it!
Music: 7, "Deck the Horls wit Bours of Haary."
Music by: 
Carl Zittrer
Paul Zaza
Quotes: 9,
"It says, FRAGELA."

"I think that's fragile, dear."
Storyline: 7, there are a few iffy places.
Good For: So this is a new thing I'm trying this year, where I will say who I think it is made for.
Families, Anyone.
Overall: 7!
"I pulled it off!"

Thank you for reading!!

MovieCritic

Movies I watched in 2016

Happy New Year!
2017 is here! And as I did a Books I read in 2016 I am here to do Movies I watched in 2016! Because I am Movies Meet Their Match. This will be a lot harder because I keep a book journal that I write down a book when I finish it. I should do that for movies too, and I think I will, but I don't have one yet. So, I have really had to use my brain. Because of that I will only be doing the movies I watched for the first time. Enjoy!

First Time:

HOME (2015) [I think we watched in 2015, but my sister insists.] (Yes, it looks very strange.)

  

An American in Paris (1951)

The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

  

Back to the Future - part 1 (1985)

  

Summer of the Monkeys (1998)

  

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix (2007) [blah!]

  

Schindler's List - part 1 (1993)

  

The BFG (2016)

  

Ghostbusters (1984) [I forgot to put this one!!]

  

Roman Holiday (1953)

  

The Music Man (1962)

  

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

  

Apollo 13 (1995)

  

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

 

Temple of Doom (1984)

 

The Last Crusade (1989)

 

Series:

Robin Hood BBC (seasons 1-3)

  

Downton Abbey (seasons 1-3 season 4 episodes 1-3)

If I think of any more I'll put 'em here.
Thanks for reading!!! Happy New Year!!!

MovieCritic