Month: February 2020

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Top Ten Tuesday – Characters I’d Follow on Social Media

Today’s Topic: Characters I’d Follow On Social Media

Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl

Following people on social media is a bit like window-peeping. It gives you brief glances at the lives of others, so that you feel like you know them a little bit, without actually giving the full picture. Call me a Peeping Tom, but as someone who is always curious about people, I can’t help but find it rather entertaining. Here are a few book characters whose social media feeds would keep me intrigued. Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday – Characters I’d Follow on Social Media”

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Butlers & Maids Blogathon – Imitation of Life (1934)

Most of the time those who serve are over looked and underappreciated. This is true in both life and art. So, I am thrilled that for once characters in service are getting the attention they deserve thanks to Paddy of Caftan Woman and Rich of Wide Screen World who are hosting the Butlers & Maids Blogathon.

It’s not very often that butlers or maids are more than a background character in film. Such is not the case with Imitation of Life which explores topics of race and gender through the prism of relationships. In the friendship between a white businesswoman and her talented black maid as well as the relationships between the two women and their daughters we see how these issues impact each character differently. Continue reading “Butlers & Maids Blogathon – Imitation of Life (1934)”

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Top Ten Tuesday – Books that Gave Me a Hangover

Today’s Topic: The Last Ten Books That Gave Me a Book Hangover

Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl:

Originally, I didn’t think I had ever experienced a book hangover. But when I began looking at my book list, I realized that there were many books that left me emotionally bereft in more ways than one when I had finished them.

When a story gives me all the feels that stick with me long after I’ve read it, that is what I know I have a book hangover. And I wouldn’t have figured that out without this week’s prompt.

This week I’ve divided my entries into single titles and series. Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday – Books that Gave Me a Hangover”

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Classic Film Review -Soldier in the Rain (1963)

SUMMARY

Supply Sgt. Eustis Clay (Steve McQueen) idolizes his friend and superior Master Sgt. Maxwell Slaughter (Jackie Gleason). The two men couldn’t be more different in temperament, personality or skills. Eustis is the male version of a dumb blonde. He is not the brightest of men, but has no problem running swindles, even if Maxwell often has to rescue him from trouble. Eustis never fails to scrounge up hard to find items for himself and Slaughter. He is also always full of new ideas of how he and Max can make “a million, maybe even a billion” dollars rather easily. Eustis is close to retiring from the army and desperately wants his friend to join him in an idyllic civilian life. As he tells Slaughter, “Max with your brains, and my ideas…”

In contrast, Slaughter is an Army lifer and has no desire to leave his only family. However, Eustis won’t take no for an answer. To that end he fixes his buddy up with the beautiful but very young and ignorant Bobby Jo Pepperdine(Tuesday Weld).  Slaughter is not so easily convinced, especially since Bobby Jo is half his age. When she calls him Fatty and a host of other cruel names,  it brings up all his past insecurities.

However, time is running out for Eustis and Slaughter’s friendship and Eustis is determined. He can not imagine life without Maxwell in it. Through thick and thin these friends stick together and balance each other out.

Continue reading “Classic Film Review -Soldier in the Rain (1963)”

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Top Ten Tuesday – Memorable Fictional Meet Cutes

Today’s Topic: Love Freebie

Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl

I originally had a hard time settling on a topic for this week’s freebie. But then, a flash of genius! I realized that as much as I love a good meet cute on film (a topic I’ve written about a couple of times) I also enjoy them in fiction. So today, I’m sharing some of the more memorable and interesting meet cutes I’ve run across in my reading adventures. Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday – Memorable Fictional Meet Cutes”

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January 2020 Quickie Film Reviews

January 2020 BREAKDOWN
  • 30 films/series total
  • 10 new classic films
  • 5 foreign films/series
  • 5 TV series
  • 5 re-watches
  • 3 documentaries
  • 2 silent films
  • 1 new release

Biggest Disappointment – Noah’s Ark and What the Durrells Did Next

The Affairs of Martha

Favorite Discovery – This month was a win with multiple favorites; Wolf Hall, Orchard House, The Affairs of Martha, My Brilliant Career Continue reading “January 2020 Quickie Film Reviews”

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Top Ten Tuesday – Books On My TBR I Predict Will Be 5-Star Reads

Today’s Topic: Books On My TBR I Predict Will Be 5-Star Reads

Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl

I realized when I was making this week’s list that there is a common thread among my choices. Every single title was chosen because I know and trust the author having been impressed with their previous releases.  It is each author’s skill to pen an engrossing, addicting tale that leads me to believe every one of these will be five star reads.

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday – Books On My TBR I Predict Will Be 5-Star Reads”

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James Garner Blogathon – The Castaway Cowboy (1974)

I grew up with old school Disney. Though I never understood the appeal of Mickey Mouse, I adored Donald Duck. And thanks to a well-stocked local video store, I also watched many of Disney’s live action movies from the 1950’s on. Films like Shaggy Dog, Pollyanna, Swiss Family Robinson, The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Monkey’s Uncle and others offered wonderful family entertainment for a girl whose mother was very careful about what she was allowed to watch. To this day these films also hold a high nostalgia factor for me. Which is why when choosing a film for the James Garner Blogathon, I had to pick The Castaway Cowboy.

The Castaway Cowboy is a movie I’m certain I’ve seen before, but couldn’t recall a thing about.  It’s the rare combination of Hawaiian meets Western. Continue reading “James Garner Blogathon – The Castaway Cowboy (1974)”