The Book Lovers tag!

Hello!

I was tagged by both Rachel and Molly for The Book Lovers tag! Thank you, you two!!

Rules:
Answer the questions
Have fun (don't worry)
Tag some book loving bloggers

1. If you could rewrite the end of a book, which one would it be?

Um, David Copperfield - by Charles Dickens. I really liked it, but not the ending. I understand the ending, but I just don't like it.

2. Which fictional character are you most like?

Well, it this post, I told you four who I am like.

3. Do you have any signed books?

Well, it might be real and it might not be. I am not going to say unless it isn't, but my older sister always told me that it was real.

That was confusing. I also have Jackaby - by William Ritter, signed, but I haven't read it.

And a few books by Gayle Irwin I have are signed.

4. What's the best book you've read so far this year?

Ahhh!! Why do you do this to me!!??? I am going to say five:
1. Pride and Prejudice - by Jane Austen

2. Peter Pan - by J. M. Barrie
3. Summer of the Monkeys - by Wilson Rawl
4. The Q - by Beth Brower
5. The Lord of the Rings - by J.R.R Tolkien

5. Do you have any bookish pet peeves?

Don't put the book face down!!! It damages the spine!!!!

And, if you know that a movie is based on a book, read the book first!

6. Out of the books you have read this year, what has had your favourite cover?

*sneeks away* *gets pulled back* Okay, okay. I'll answer, but I get five!:

Five Enchanted Roses - by Kaycee Browning, Savannah Jezowski, Jenelle Schmidt, Dorian Tsukioka, and Hayden Wand.

Five Magic Spindles - by Rachel Kovaciny, Kathryn McConaughy, Grace Mullins, Michelle Pennington, and Ashley Stangl.

Esperanza Rising - by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Cloaked - by Rachel Kovaciny

The Tiger Rising - by Kate DiCamillo

7. Is there a book that releases this year that you cannot wait to read?

I am going to call "this year" 2018.
Five Poisoned Apples!

8. What is your favourite non-fiction book?

Uh... *looks at pile of non-fiction I need to read for school* I don't really read that much non-fiction. I'll go with what Rachel said and say The Little House on the Prairie books.

9. Do you have any favourite location and/or time period to have a book set in?

Not really, I mean, if it's a book I'll read it!!

10. Is there a book that reminds you of something else?

A lot. Way too many to say. But, Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle books remind me of my dad, because he gave two big collections of them to me!

I tag:
AGirlWithIdeas
And anyone who hasn't done it!

Thank you so much for tagging me, Rachel and Molly!!!

By the way, I went and saw The Last Jedi tonight!!!! Watch for a review (in a while...[like a few years]).

Thank you for reading!

MovieCritic

Book vs. Movie Review: Summer of the Monkeys

Hello!
Here I am for my third update for Heidi's Adventure of Reading Challenge! Here are update one, and update two.

I actually cheated here, I watched the movie first. But, which is better? Read on.

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

'"That's the place," Grandpa said. "I don't care what kind of a problem a man has, he can always find the answer to it in a library."'

Summer of the Monkeys - by Wilson Rawls:

'I got mixed up with a bunch of monkeys, and all of my happiness flew right out the window.'
Jay Berry is living with a poor family. His twin sister, Daisy, has a crippled leg and can't do all the things he wants to do. When he hears of a reward for 30 escaped monkey from a circus, he decides he wants to catch those monkeys and get the pony and gun he has always wanted. It's a good idea, but those monkeys don't want to be caught.
"Daisy says that the Old Man of the Mountains is taking care of everything in the hills. If he is, he must have worked a long time in painting that picture."
Note: Okay, before I get started on the review, can we just appreciate to beauty of this book? While the movie took out some of the "iffy" parts, they also took some of the good. This book is so amazingly beautiful, I cried at parts.
'It made me feel like I had just been born and had to live my whole life again.'
Genre: Fiction, (I'm not really sure, can anyone else come up with something better?)
'Even the little speckled tree frogs, the katydids, and the crickets were chipping in with their nickel's worth of welcome music.'
Characters: 10, they are so amazing, the lessons they learn and how they change... wonderful!
My favorites:
Daisy: She is amazing (sorry I keep repeating, but my vocabulary is low today), she is so kind. 'Her blue eyes were as bright as the morning star and a warm smile tugged at her lips.'
Jay Berry: I love how his character progresses.
Grandpa: I never got to meet either of my grandpas, but I feel like he would have been like my grandpa on my mom's side.
'Grandpa was having a hard time holding back a good laugh.'
Words: 9, uh, there is sort of a bad one. (I wrote this in my notes but don't remember what it means. Sorry).
'If you closed your eyes, and filled your lungs full of that sweet-smelling stuff, your head would get as light as a hummingbird's feather and feel as if it was going to sail away by itself.'
Quotes: 10!!! Read this, please:

'"There is one thing I know. All little children who are crippled can see things and hear things that you and I can never see or hear. I think the Lord has something to do with this. It could be His way of showing them mercy."

"That's what Mama told me," I said. "She thinks that the Old Man of the Mountains is a spirit, do you think he's a spirit?"

Papa thought for a second. "Your mother could be right," he said. "What Daisy is seeing could be the spirit of Christ. Lots of people have seen His spirit; especially, those in pain or deep trouble. It happens every day somewhere in the world."'

Isn't it so beautiful?
Storyline: 8, there is drinking(but it shows it is bad), smoking, and other blah. But, it is so incredibly wonderful.
'"If a fellow didn't dream and have hope," he said, "life would sure be miserable."'
Good For: Those who are different, those who want something, EVERYONE.
'Thousands of lightning bugs were dancing a flickering rhythm all around us.'
Overall Score: 9.5
'It was so still in our kitchen you could have heard a dream walking.'

VS.

Summer of the Monkeys (1998):

Based on the book by Wilson Rawls:
"I thought I heard you say you saw a monkey in the river bottoms."
Jay Berry dreams of getting a pony named Annie. Having to watch his sister, and help his father, he doesn't think he will have enough time to work at his grandpa's store. Hearing about four escaped monkeys and the reward for them, he sets off to the bottoms to trap them before Toby, the bully, does.
"You're only digging yourself a deeper hole."

Genre: Adventure drama.

Length: approx. 101 minutes.
Costumes: 8, they work well for the time frame. Those monkey's costumes are so fancy!

Script: 10, no bad words!
"I bet they did, that's why they print those ya know."

Crew:
Directed by: Michael Anderson
Produced by: David Doerksen
Written by:
Wilson Rawls (book)
Greg Taylor
Jim Strain
Starring: 7
Corey Sevier as Jay Berry Lee.

"What's it feel like?"

"Like I'm flying."

Katie Stuart as Daisy, she was a good actress for Daisy, but she didn't look like Daisy. She was too young and her eyes were brown.

Michael Ontkean as John Lee.

Leslie Hope as Sarah Lee.

Wilford Brimley as Grandpa.

Don Francks as Mr. Hatcher.
Music: 7.
Music by: George Blondheim
Cinematography: Michael Storey
Quotes: 7, they took out the really great ones from the book.
"You just grew ten feet tall in my eyes."

Storyline: 6, there is death, and drinking.
They did a lot of things to it, but the things that stick out are:
They cut:
Monkeys! In the book there are 30 monkeys, in this movie there are 4!
And they added:
Mr. Hatcher (who is he?)

Good For: Families, People who feel different.
Overall Score: 7

The book wins!


Thanks again to Heidi for hosting this challenge!! (And, on my sidebar, that game is still open!)

MovieCritic

Movie Review: Mirror Mirror (2012)

Hello!
Because of Rooglewood Press's Five Poisoned Apples contest, I am in a Snow White mood. I thought I would review one of my favorite Snow White retellings! Also, when I took a poll for what movie I should review next, this one got the most votes!

Time to review! ("Only if you say please.")

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

Mirror Mirror (2012):

Based on: Snow White by the Brothers Grimm
"Apparently no one had a job back then, just singing and dancing all day and all night."
Snow White is a girl who's father, the king, was killed by a terrible beast in the forest and she is living with her stepmother, the queen, who hates her. After learning the truth about her cruel stepmother she tries to plead with a visiting prince to help her, but is taken into the woods where she finds seven bandits! They decide to teach her their ways and fight against the queen.
"I think it's time to change that ending."

Genre: Adventure, Fairytale retelling, Comedy.
Length: 106 minutes.
Costumes: 8, there are some amazingly impressive ones! But there are bits where people are just in their underclothes or are not wearing shirts.
My favorite: "Is this about the dress?"

Script: 9, um, I don't think there are any bad words!
"It's important to know when you've been beaten."
Crew:
Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Produced by:
Ryan Kavanaugh
Bernie Goldmann
Brett Ratner
Kevin Misher
Written by:
Marc Klein
Jason Keller
Story by: Melisa Wallack
Starring:
Lily Collins as Snow White. "Anyone know how to break a spell?"

Julia Roberts as Queen Clementianna. "They're not wrinkles, they're crinkles."

Armie Hammer as Prince Andrew Alcott. "Tree's are just wood."

Danny Woodburn as Grimm.
Martin Klebba as Butcher.
Sebastian Saraceno as Wolf.
Jordan Prentice as Napoleon.
Mark Povinelli as Half Pint.
Joe Gnoffo as Grub.
Ronald Lee Clark as Chuckles.

Nathan Lane as Brighton.

Mare Winningham as Margaret.

(On the left.)

Michael Lerner as the Baron.
Robert Emms as Charles Renbock.
Music: 9! It is pretty good!
Music by: Alan Menken.
Quotes: 10!
"I don't fight girls......perhaps I should reconsider."

Notes: Where do they get strawberries in the middle of winter?
Storyline: 7, there are some suggestive things, and frightening images.
"Some one's been taking their confidence pills."
Good For: Anyone who likes fairytale retellings, Everyone!

Overall Score: 9!
"Should I lock up, guys?"

(Also, this is really funny because it is true, and the actor is Armie Hammer!):

I have had this header up since August, and I really like it for several reasons. 1. It is awesome. 2. The lovely Olivia made it!!!!! Thank you so much!!! The picture in the lower right corner is from Mirror Mirror!

Thanks so much for reading!!! Also, today STAR WARS: The Last Jedi came out!!!! Woohoo!

Have you ever seen this movie? What do you think? If you haven't seen it, please do! It is one of my favorite movies!

MovieCritic

Adventure of Reading Challenge ~ Update 2

Hello!
Here is my second update/book reviews, for Heidi's Adventure of Reading Challenge! My first update was my review of The Jungle Book, here.

Thank you, Heidi for hosting this challenge! I had no idea what these books were about at first, and I had a lot of fun reading them!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

1.

Dave at Night - by Gail Carson Levine

"Tell for you your fortune?"
When Dave's father dies, his step-mother sends him to an "orphanage." The teachers, and everybody are not nice, only the art teacher, Mr. Hillinger, is. Dave learns about art, music, and the world. With the help of the other boys he is able to get out at night, and he meets some interesting people.
'If I could have painted it, I would have used bright colors and straight lines.'
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction.
'I was going to get caught because of The Song That Went On Forever.'
Characters: 8.
'"Where do you live?" I said.
"Why? You're planning to send me flowers?"'
My favorites:
Dave, Irma Lee, Solly, Mike.
'Mosquitoes are small but they bite.'
Words: 8, only a few bad words. Reference to Through the Looking Glass ("Twas brilig...") and Robin Hood.
'The music didn't know about locks and iron fences---it would blast through anything.'
Storyline: 6, there is a mention of bathrooms, fights, smoking, sneaking, and nude statues.
'The music got inside me. It felt like my bones were humming and bouncing along.'
Good For: Those who feel alone and scared.
Overall Score: 7.5
"Your son, Dave the rascal. Dave the gesture artist."

2.

Liesl & Po - by Lauren Oliver

"That is the strangest thing about the world: how it looks so different from every point of view."
Liesl's father has died, and her stepmother has locked her in her attic room. She meets Po, a ghost who loves her drawings. After talking to him she decides that she wants to put her father's ashes in her old home, with her mother is buried.
Will is an apprentice who has gotten two boxes mixed up.
Together they learn what it really means to die, what is on 'the other side', and how beautiful it is to live.
Genre: Fantasy.
Characters: 9, they are very well written.
My favorites: Liesl (she loves to read!), Will "The boy should really have a hat.", and Mo.
Words: 8, very good! Only one bad word.
'As ridiculous and deluded as a frog trying to turn into a flower petal.'
Storyline: 5, there is a description of body parts, death, ashes, and ghosts. There is magic.
Good For: People who are mourning those who have died, those who are afraid of death.
Overall Score: 7!
"Life is a very funny business indeed."


3.

Esperanza Rising - by Pam Muñoz Ryan

"No hay rosa sin espinas. There is no rose without thorns."
Esperanza is a happy girl living in Mexico. But,  disaster after disaster strikes her family, and she and some friends must escape to America for a better life. After being the daughter in a rich family, having to work is not easy. Working conditions are bad, and there are angry strikers who could hurt you. She has to learn to be kind, stay strong, and continue to hope (esperanza).
'It was quiet and peaceful here, the sweet silence broken only by the swish of dried grass from the wind.'
Genre: Historical Fiction.
Characters: 8.
'He seemed as happy as Esperanza was irritable.'
My favorite: Esperanza, Miguel, Isabel, Hortensia.
'The words stopped her as if someone had slapped her in the face."
Words: 9, I love how there is so much Spanish, and that each chapter begins with food, it measures the time by the seasons.
'It looked as if someone had taken a giant comb, dipped it in black paint, and gently swirled it across a huge canvas.'
Storyline: 7, there is mention of bathroom, blood, death, fire, and deviousness.
'Sometimes she felt as if she lived in a cocoon, protected from much of the indignation.'
Good For: Those who have to change, people who have lost someone.
Overall Score: 8!
"I think my heart is dancing!"

4.

Pegasus - by Robin McKinley

"'Sculptors don't sculpt, you know,' Ebon said. 'They set things free.'"
On a royal's twelfth birthday they get bound to a pegasi, but on Princess Sylvi's something happens that is different then all the other bindings. A connection is formed that leads to an amazing friendship, but magicians and others are scared, and will do anything to stop it.
"'There's always a next time,' said the king, 'unfortunately. You just don't know what it's going to be about.'"
Genre: Fantasy.
'They moved, gently, gracefully, so that their heads were toward her as she passed them: cream and gold, brown and copper.'
Characters: 8.
'There was something almost miraculous about this bead; it shone like a tiny moon.'
My favorite: Sylvi, Ebon ("...royal pain in the pinfeathers."), Hirishy, Glarfin.
'Imagine learning to swim by being thrown into a lake in perfect darkness, never having seen water before.'
Words: 6, there are a few bad words.
'You could never quite say what you wanted to; your mind seemed to slip from you, like a sled on a snow-slope, and the language seemed to writhe away from you like a small wild animal you had inadvertently caught: let it go, or it might bite.'
Storyline: 5, there are some suggestive stuff, mention of bathrooms, magic, taking bath, "gods". It is confusing at first.
"Your history is only what someone remembers or has written down."
Good For: Those who feel different.
Overall Score: 6.
'It was like...the warmth of summer with the endless skies of a cold winter day; the bursting greens of spring and the rich russet-gold of autumn.'

(These were supposed to be mini reviews. Oh well, I got excited.)

So, some exciting news. I have finished my first book. On Monday I wrote THE END. It was fabulous. We are working on editing now!

And, all the way back in JUNE, I put out this game and only one person has guessed so far, so if you are interested, check it out!

Thanks again to Heidi!!

MovieCritic