Thursday, April 30

Movie Review: Schindler's List (1993)

Length: 3 hr & 16 mins
Released: 1993
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Where I Got It: My shelf (Parents gave it to me) 

SUMMARY:
Based on a true story, Oskar Schindler, a German businessman in Poland who sees an opportunity to make money from the Nazis' rise to power. He starts a company to make cookware and utensils, using flattery and bribes to win military contracts, and brings in accountant and financier Itzhak Stern to help run the factory. By staffing his plant with Jews who've been herded into Krakow's ghetto by Nazi troops, Schindler has a dependable unpaid labor force. For Stern, a job in a war-related plant could mean survival for himself and the other Jews working for Schindler. However, in 1942, all of Krakow's Jews are assigned to the Plaszow Forced Labor Camp, overseen by Commandant Amon Goeth, an embittered alcoholic who occasionally shoots prisoners from his balcony. Schindler arranges to continue using Polish Jews in his plant, but, as he sees what is happening to his employees, he begins to develop a conscience. He realizes that his factory (now refitted to manufacture ammunition) is the only thing preventing his staff from being shipped to the death camps. Soon Schindler demands more workers and starts bribing Nazi leaders to keep Jews on his employee lists and out of the camps. By the time Germany falls to the allies, Schindler has lost his entire fortune -- and saved 1,100 people from likely death. 

TRAILER: 








REVIEW:
Such a good movie. I have watched this a handful of times and I've read the book twice. However, I gave it a re-watch with Boyfriend after the Holocaust Museum, because I was upset that Mr. Schindler was not on the list of saviors and good men. I think its because he did not save any one who settled in Michigan and I think the wall is for those that saved a person who would come to Michigan. That is my theory. It's the only thing that makes sense. 

Anyways.

I love, love, LOVE the black and white that they used. Once in a while a color would appear. Like the little girl with the red coat or the flame of the candle. It is simply beautiful. Like I told Boyfriend, this is a visual film more then an auditory film. There is not a whole bunch said. This only worked so well is because of the actors they got. All of them where fantastic. Especially Liam Neeson. He is fantastic of course. And he was younger in this film...a lovely, handsome man. 

Oh man...even after so many times of watching this, it still gets me. I still tear up and it makes me feel feelings. It has such a good message. Just one person can MAKE so much difference. Even a rich businessman who didn't at first mean to do something nice; after he seen what was going to happen to the innocent he decided to spend every last cent he had to save as many people as he could.

I loved the ending. It was a beautiful and gave the world hope. It was the perfect ending. 

The only negative about this film is the length (I felt there was some scenes they could have cut out, so I'm thinking about 2 hr and 30 min). Also, the beginning was very slow. However, it was needed to get to know Oskar. 

In the end, I loved this movie. One of the best films I think I've ever seen. It is for sure one of the best movies about the Holocaust. I highly recommend that anyone who has any interest in a human story. Out of five stars, I stamped this with 5 stars.


Re-watch?: Yes! 














Wednesday, April 29

Book Review: Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith



Author: Keri Smith
Title: Wreck This Journal 
Genre: Nonfiction & Art
Pages: 192
First Published: June 2007
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

For anyone who's ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book that features a subversive collection of prompts, asking readers to muster up their best mistake- and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book (and destroy them). Acclaimed illustrator Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in "destructive" acts-poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting with coffee, and more-in order to experience the true creative process. Readers discover a new way of art and journal making-and new ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process.

I have been working on this since September 2014. A year is slowly around the corner and I finally consider myself done with this little project. There is still about 10-15% to do, but those last pages are things I will NOT do, cannot do, or someday might do, but not now. 


This was a lot of fun! There are a lot of hilarious things to do in this book. SOME of the things you need to do alone or with someone who will not judge you. Like wearing the book as a hat or throwing down the hallway. OR sewing the page. If someone catches you (I was caught putting fruit stickers in there) they may judge you or get jealous. LIKE I did. Reece had this and I seen her put something in it, so I asked what she was doing. For about a week I contributed to her journal, but then I got jealous and wanted my own. I got a cheap copy on Amazon. WHICH I highly recommend not spending a lot of money on it. It is not worth over 5 bucks. For one....you are destroying this book. Two, its not worth that much money. 

My only negative thing about this journal...book-thing....is the fact that there is some stupid things they want you to do. *rolls eyes* I also wish it was shorter...cut out some of the overly ridiculous things....like collecting dead bugs. UGH no way man. >__> 

Another short review....but there is only so much to say for this type of book. 

In the end, this was a lot of fun. I highly recommend this as a gift for yourself or for another book lover in your life. JUST make sure to get it for cheap. Do not spend a lot of money on this. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 3 stars. It is more like 3.3 stars, but I rounded. 




*Here is a couple pictures and a video I made with me talking about the journal and showing some the pages I did or did not do. It took 5 takes to make this little video. Forewarning, I hate my voice. >___<


Rei and Toki playing with the book 

The finished journal 






 If you are having issues hearing or seeing the video, click HERE to see it on youtube. 

Tuesday, April 28

Book Review: Mr Darcy in Want of a Wife by Jack Gunthridge


Author: Jack Gunthridge 
Title: Mr. Darcy in Want of a Wife (Pride and Prejudice Revisted #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, & Retelling
Pages: ebook
First Published: December 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)

Before Edward Cullen and Christian Grey, there was Mr. Darcy. 

When the young, handsome, and wealthy Mr. Darcy moves into the neighborhood, all of the single ladies think they will be the one woman to finally make him their husband. They soon find he is an extremely proud man, who is not into casual dating or giving the appearance of being in a relationship with just any woman. When he starts to develop feelings for the most unlikely of women, Elizabeth Bennet, he must decide if his feelings for her will overcome his pride and prejudices of what he is looking for in a relationship


Gah. I am upset. I expected this to be set in Mr Darcy's POV. However, it is pretty much a copy and paste of the original story with some edits here and there. Yes, it was nice to touch up on my Pride and Prejudice and re-read some great scenes, but alas...that was what it was....a retelling. However, I short version of it.


I guess this is suppose to be the first of 3? IDK, but it left off right after Mr. Collins proposed and Lizzie politely told him he was a creep and no way in Hell she would marry him. Fantastic. One of my favorite scenes from PP. However, bummer the author didn't just shove it all into one book. 

Meh.

Can't win them all. 

In the end, it was a nice retelling (aka copy and paste with some paraphrasing) of the original PP book. I wish that he would have focused on Mr Darcy's POV...that would have been fun! I recommend this because it is a free way to get a quick refresher of the original story. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 2 stars. 


Favorite Character(s): Lizzie, Darcy, and Bingley
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Bingley's sister (snots) 





Monday, April 27

Blodeuedd Reviews: Scandal by Carolyn Jewel

The earl of Banallt is a reformed rake determined to win the heart of the only woman he’s ever loved. 

Two years after the death of her husband, Sophie Mercer Evans still has no use for Banallt. It’s true she knows him better than anyone, and that’s why she'll never forgive him his past and the mortal insult he dealt her. And yet, when her life is falling apart, it’s Banallt who stands by her. 

My thoughts:

Sophie was different in a way. She was a widow, ok nothing new there. But the thing was that she was really in love with her husband. Ok nothing new there. BUT he husband seduced her at 17, they eloped, her family cut her off. He constantly cheated on her and was away all the time. He used all her money, and still, she loved him. Ok, you were kind of an idiot there, but then again love makes fools of us all.

Banallt was a scoundrel. He was a womanizer. He said he was in love with his wife and he still cheated on her.Ugh. We will get back to that later.

What I did not like about this book was the flashbacks. Fine, there were dates, but when I am reading I am reeeeading, so I was all what, is this the past, future, present? Arghhhhh. They did not work, and they made no sense. It would have been better if they had all been at the beginning, or when we met them both.

But if I do not think about them I did like the story. She did not want Banallt. He wanted her from the first time they met. She was married then, he wanted to F everything that walked.

There was tension, and I even almost, only almost, cried at a time. I had not expected that.

When they did finally end up together I felt it was too fast, the HEA, not the stuff they did before. Also sure he said he had changed, but why for her? He said he loved his dead wife too. Do I believe he wont stray? Not really. Does she, not really.

But I enjoyed it, though I could totally have done without the flashbacks. 

Kindle Edition, 388 pages
Published May 31st 2012 (first published January 23rd 2009)

Sunday, April 26

Joint Review: The Heresy Within by Rob J Hayes


For this post, B and I will be reviewing 'The Heresy Within. Like normal, I will have a little conclusion of my personal thoughts':


Author: Rob J. Hayes
Title: The Heresy Within
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Sci-Fi, & drama
Pages: ebook
First Published: November 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf (B let me borrow this book) 

Thanquil Darkheart is an Arbiter of the Inquisition, a witch hunter tasked with hunting down and purging heretics. Thanquil Darkheart is also something else, expendable.

When the God-Emperor of Sarth tells Thanquil there is a traitor operating among the highest echelon of the Inquisition he knows he has no choice but to sail to the city of Chade and follow the Emperor's single lead.

The Black Thorn is a murderer, a thug, a thief and worse but he's best known for the killing of six Arbiters. These days he travels with a crew of six of the most dangerous sell-swords in the wilds. 

After a job well done they find themselves on the run from the law once again but the boss has good news; a new job, the biggest any of them have ever pulled. First, however, they need to evade capture long enough to secure travel to the free city of Chade.

Jezzet Vel'urn is a Blademaster; a swords-woman of prodigious skill but she knows that for a woman like her in the wilds there are two ways out of most situations; fight or screw. Truth is, all too often for Jezzet's liking, it comes down to a combination of the two.

Jezzet is chased half-way across the wilds by a vengeful warlord until she makes it to the free city of Chade. Instead of sanctuary, however, all she finds are guards waiting to turn her over for some quick gold. 

B: Helooooooooo


C: Hola!!!!! So...shall we begin? I fear this will be a short-ish review. o.o


B:Yeah, I did NOT finish this one. How far did I make it now again? I have a feeling it was p 20 or something.


C: I “finished” it. hahaha I stopped actually reading about 25 and then skimmed it. 0.0 BAD! YOU NO FINISH!!!!! *points finger accusingly* hehehe just kidding.


B: Says the girl who skimmed the rest. But goooods, wasn’t it dreadfully boring!


C: It was, it was. Even the “exciting” parts could barely catch my attention. I just skimmed and skimmed and then actually read the last couple of pages - I felt bad.


B: I just checked my dnf review. It seems I made it to p 50! Wohoo me ;) But I could not remember anything about those first 50 pages. because I was bored from page 1. Everything was bad, characters, story, nothing fell into place for me.


C: Same. I just couldn’t grasp feelings for the book. Its something I should’ve liked! It was a mix of Lord of the Rings & that ‘Witcher’ series (I have not read the series, but I played the one game and I loved the storyline and main guy). However, it fell FLAT with me. Bleh.


B: The religious stuff seemed semi interesting, the girl just taken could have been interesting. The men, no. The woman who did something at the beginning...I got a feeling I would have been so annoyed by her if I read on. Ohh look at me, strong warrior woman, whatever. See, I did not like anything. Even the interesting bits failed to catch my attention. That book would have needed one big re-write.


C: I couldn’t agree more. The girl WAS annoying. And not even being “strong warrior woman”, it was because she liked to solve issues with sex. Gah, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at all the sex. There was a lot more sex than I expected.


B: Ok, then my feeling about her was right, maybe she said something. Like I said I was bored and did not pay attention. But omg, can’t she even be strong on her own!? Why make her solves issues like that? Can’t she just fight. But no, she is a weak woman who uses sex. So written by a man. I never got to any sex parts so I can’t say about that, but sometimes in fantasy sex is just there for ohh look at this, they have sex *eyeroll*.


C: t was annoying because she WAS a strong woman! She could easily fight her way out, but nah, sex is more fun….whatever….like you said….obviously a man wrote this. I don’t mind the sexy scenes, but I want there to be meaning behind it. NOT just filler. WHICH there is A LOT OF FILLER IN THIS BOOK!

B: That reminds me of another book. The sex was only there to make it all grim *eyeroll*. I have HR to read if I want that, not grim, but you know, lots of passion. In  my fantasy I want more. So a big fail for both of us?


C: A HUGE big fail for both of us I am assuming. haha


B: And I picked it, by LOKI! ;) Sigh, better luck next time.


C: *pats back* Can’t win them all. hahaha Want a cookie?…*hands plate of cookies*


B: I so need cookies after  my big failure


C: *crunches on cookie* I bet my big failure is on the horizon. Good review!!!!!


B: aye, that reminds me, we got nothing picked for May *music of doom*


C: CRAP! Emergency MEETING!!!!! *blares alarm*


B: Your turn…. ;)


C: 0.0 *crunches on cookie*



**In conclusion, this was a huge let down. I was really expecting so much more. I just could not connect with the characters or with the story. The main girl was annoying and the other two mains weren't TOO bad, but still....no connection for me. Can't win them all I guess. Our of five stars, I stamp this with 1 star. 

Favorite Character(s); No one really. 
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Jezzet (*sighs*) 












Saturday, April 25

FitReaders Week #17



This challenge is organized by Geeky Blogger's Book Blog & That’s What I’m Talking About

Saturday: Nada
Sunday: 3 mile bike, 1 mile run/jog, & 5 mins weights 
Monday:  1 mile walk
Tuesday: 2 mile bike & 1 mile walk/jog
Wednesday: Nada 
Thursday: 2 mile bike, 1.25 mile walk/jog, & 5 mins weights 
Friday: .5 mile walk 
Conclusion: Pretty good week! Boyfriend has been accompanying me to the gym lately due his job. He pretty much was unofficially "promoted" so now he does the majority of paperwork so he sits for the majority of the day. He is worried about gaining weight, so he is joining me now. It's very motivating not going alone (sometimes he forces me to go when I don't wanna go or when I feel like a having a light day). I still need to convince him to go to Zumba or Yoga with me...hahaha. Stubborn boy. 

Friday, April 24

Book Review: The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

Author: Angie Fox
Title: The Accidental Demon Slayer (Demon Slayer #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, & action
Pages: ebook
First Published: Jan 2008
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)

It's never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl. For Lizzie Brown, that's just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she's seen it all, Lizzie learns she's a demon slayer -- and all hell is after her.

Of course, that's not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you've never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn't work, how dangerous could a little seduction be...

First....I must comment and say that I love the cover. Why? I love that skirt, those boots, that sword, Pirate is a cutey, and I am jealous of those legs! *sniffs* I have ugly legs *eats carrot*

ANYWAYS

What a fun adventure! Poor Lizzie! All she ever wanted was to meet her biological family, but no...that would be too easy. Her family are witches that are on the run from demons and other things that want their powers and souls. Damn evil Vlad. The worse part is....Lizzie is the only one that can actually slay demons. They are born into the family every few generations. So now she has X amount of time to train and kill Vlad. Again...poor girl. Buuuuut she now can talk to her dog and a sexy Griffin is there to help her out. And she gets to feel loved and like she belongs. So its not all bad. 

I was not a huge fan of Dimitri. I don't know why, but I didn't trust him from page one. Also, he bugs me. He does get better, but I still....I don't know....he still made me mad and if I was Lizzie I don't think I could forgive and forget. Thats just me though.

I wish there was more action and I wish the fight scene at the end was longer. Some parts felt like fillers to me. Alas, the majority of the book she is just being introduced to the world and training, so I get the need for some fillers. Kuddos to her for learning quickly. There was some major drama and intensity with the werewolves. I wish JR got more spotlight. Maybe he will later on in the series? I liked him a lot. :)

In the end, this was fun. It was super funny and kept me entertained. There were some fillers and the action was minimal. I would like to read the next one. Hopefully JR makes an appearance. *fingers crossed* I totally recommend this to those looking for a funny, but still serious urban fiction novel. Its a good, quick fix. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 3 stars. 


Favorite Character(s): Lizzie, Grandma, Pirate (I want a puppy who can talk), & JR
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Vlad & Ant Eater (yes...that is her name *sighs*) 



Thursday, April 23

Movie Review: Child 44 (2015)

Length: 2 hr & 17 min
Released: 2015
Genre: Mystery & Drama
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Seen it in theaters

SUMMARY:
A politically-charged serial killer thriller set in 1953 Soviet Russia, CHILD 44 chronicles the crisis of conscience for secret police agent Leo Demidov, who loses status, power and home when he refuses to denounce his own wife, Raisa, as a traitor. Exiled from Moscow to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with General Mikhail Nesterov to track down a serial killer who preys on young boys. Their quest for justice threatens a system-wide cover-up enforced by Leo's psychopathic rival Vasili, who insists "There is no crime in Paradise." 



TRAILER: 






REVIEW:
I am really upset because there is such horrible reviews on this movie. I was almost disheartened to go and see it. However, my love for the book and the story itself drove me to the theaters to see it on opening day. Of course, I dragged Boyfriend along with me. 

First....I must note my excitement about Tom Hardy playing Leo. *drools* He was the perfect man for the part; I had wanted him or Chris Hemsworth (the guy who plays Thor). I am glad one of my choices had been picked. Tom Hardy, besides for lacking blonde hair, was perfect. His acting flawless and his accent perfect. 



I AM SO GLAD THEY MADE ALL THE ACTORS HAVE RUSSIAN OR UKRAINIAN ACCENTS! That is rare in movies. They normally go with a British accent or such nonsense. But yes, they remained accurate with accents and even the costumes. Very nice and very accurate for the times.

The whole cast did a good job. I was annoyed with the guy who played Vasili though...he didn't seem as much as a threat as he was in the book. Perhaps they didn't give him enough screen time? Meh. But I was not as worried about him getting Leo as I was in the book.

ANYWAYS

This was certainly a fun (fun is not a good term for Soviet Russia and child murder) adventure. The only thing I am really upset about is that they left out two major plot points. I can't really say, because they both are major spoilers in the book. It WORKED without those two points, but I am a huge fan of the book and so I felt bummed when I realized they cut them out. Boyfriend seemed to like the movie enough and understand the movie without those two points, but when I explained to him what was left out he agreed saying at least one of them should have been put in. BUT again the movie worked without them. 

Awwwwe, I loved the ending. I knew what was going to happened, but I am glad that they put it in. It made me happy and it gives that world hope. :3 I cannot say, but it always makes that dark story a wee bit lighter. 

I really want to re-read the book now. So good. I still need to read the sequel. 

In conclusion, I really, really liked this movie adaptation. I am kinda pissed that it has been given such crappy reviews. Did they not read the book? Gah. I thought it was really good. Yes, there were a couple key story points I wanted in the movie, but it didn't need it to make the story work. The acting was done well, besides for Vasili (but I blame the screenwriters for not including him more). I highly, highly recommend the movie AND the book to those that like Historical Fiction and some drama. Soviet Russia was a scary place and throw in some child murder on top and its a crazy, scary ride. Out of five stars I stamp this with 4 stars. 


Favorite Character(s): Leo & General Mikhail
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Raisa (I get why she did what she did, but still....Leo loves you too death), Vasili, & the child murder (I will not say) 
Re-watch?: Yes. 










Monday, April 20

Blodeuedd Reviews: Ruthless Heart by Emma Lang

Blurb:
He led her astray, and she never wanted to go back. . .Sheltered all her life, Eliza Hunter never imagined herself alone in the vast Utah plains, much less trailing a mysterious, rugged man hired to hunt down her beautiful younger sister. Unable to reveal the truth about her pursuit of him, Eliza plays student to his teacher, transforming herself in the process. And when she finds herself sharing the warmth of Grady's campfire, wrapped in his arms, hypnotized by his power, soon she is a naïve spinster no more. . .Grady Wolfe is more than a loner, he's a man forever on the run. With a body and soul finely honed from living off the land, Grady knows he should leave the irresistible woman alone, but she stirs something in him he hasn't felt before. Now he's lost in the woods for the first time in his life--with a dangerous job to do. And no one--not even the luscious Eliza--is going to stop him. . .


My thoughts:
*coughs* Too much smexy times. Haha, yes that got your attention didn't it. So yes if you want your historical with lots of passion then this is the book for you. For me, eh, if I have read one scene I have read them all, I do not need several pages, and then again, and then again. I want to see them fall in love instead. But they wanted to do it like rabbits.


Great and now I forgot his name..Grady? *checks* Ok yes Grady is a bounty hunter, bad and bad. Eliza is a mormon who runs away after her sister runs away, and since Grady is the one after her sister...well she just tags along and he lets her..right. But then she does have lovely breasts as he likes to tell her a lot. And the money he spends on her, yikes, are you made of money!?


Eliza was a bit naive, but duh! She was raised that away.
Grady was tough and yes I did like that he showed it. He is not nice. Even if I would have kicked him in the nuts after a certain thing but still....


It was a good book, I could have done with less passion and more on the trail though. They were somewhere? What? She did skinnydip. That is all I learned about nature. I am in such a mood today. Yes smexy scenes bore me. There I said it. Whatever.


Kindle Edition, 273 pages
Published July 1st 2010 by Kensington Books
Heart #1
Historic al romance
Freebie

Sunday, April 19

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

Author: JK Rowling
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Sci-Fi, & Classics
Pages: 310
First Published: June 1997
Where I Got It: My shelf (From my parents? Its been sitting there for ever)

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.


This is my second time reading through this book. It has been YEARS since I read it. I think I read it a couple years after it came out. I wasn't much into fantasy in my youth, but I heard good things from my fellow youth, so I decided to give it a chance. I liked it then and I liked it even more my second time reading it. I gave it a re-read because it was selected for the book club. :) 

I forgot how much was left out in the movie. There is many other characters and little plots that was left out. Bummer. Especially the bank scene, they cut that by 90% in the movie. 
Whenever I think of Harry Potter, I oddly think of the bank. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps its because I was amazed by it and the author certainly brought such an odd thing to life. 

JK Rowling certainly does have a talent for bringing this world to life. It doesn't seem "fantasy"-like...it feels real. I wish it was real. haha. That would be a lot of fun. It felt so weird at starting at the beginning after reading the last book and knowing the ending. So many things seemed so ironic (she prolly didn't mean it to be), but there was a lot of foreshadows as well. However, it felt nice to go back to a more "simpler" time in the Harry Potter world. Harry was so innocent and happy. Yes, there was action and some scariness, but it was simple and the baddie was easily beaten at this stage because he was just finding his footing too. 

Dawwwwe, I can't wait to re-watch the movie at the book club meeting. :3 

 In the end, I think I liked this better then the first time I watched it. Is it because I knew the ending? Or do I like fantasy more so now then I did back then? I have no idea, but for some reason I flew through this and liked it a lot more then I did in my youth. I totally recommend this for everyone who likes fantasy or is new to fantasy. I also recommend all kids should read this. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4 stars.

Favorite Character(s): Snape, Harry, Ron, & the owl
Not-so Favorite Character(s): The main baddie (duh) & Hermione (she still bugs me for some reason in the first book)



Saturday, April 18

Book Review: The Other Side and Back

Author: Sylvia Brown 
Title: The Other Side and Back 
Genre: Non-fiction, Religion, & Fantasy
Pages: 304
First Published: August 1999
Where I Got It: My shelf (Christmas gift from Reece)

World-famous psychic and New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Browne takes readers on an unprecedented and comprehensive "tour" of the afterlife—a world-changing revelation that has helped millions live for today, tomorrow, and forever...








This is my second book I've read by Sylvia Browne. The first one I read was solely about reincarnation and near-death. That was really good and it reaffirmed my belief in reincarnation and spirit guides, so I've always been interested in Sylvia Browne's work since that book. Reece found this for me recently and I'm glad she did.

In this book she does talk a bit about spirit guides and reincarnation, but she mainly focuses on the "Other side" which is a form of heaven, but not your a-typical heaven with clouds and harps. Bleurgh. Who wants that? BORING. She talks about how the Other Side is much more in-tune in your interests and so forth. It is also on Earth, but its considered a different dimension. Better then the old tales of heaven and I can get behind something that doesn't involve me being naked on a cloud playing a harp. *nods*

She also does talk about talking the dead, ghosts, angels, and even the future. I've had my far share of ghostie encounters, but as for the future? I can't take her serious. No one can predict the future in my mind. Maybe you can predict a general thing that is set in stone, but I don't know if if "God" or whoever would curse anyone with that knowledge. Plus....it's like reading the end of a book. Leave well enough alone.

Now I have of course had my future told to me from many different psychics. They've been 20% right. I also do divination cards and tarot cards to give me direction or help or whatever (they've been more right then psychics), so I believe in those more so. However, the future is too fickle in my mind. 

Now...reading the past is more set in stone. I totally believe in reincarnation and all that stuff, because I've experienced a couple of my past lives through regression. Its spooky and explains a lot about why I am the way I am. It also explains why I am here and trying to "better myself". I won't go into details about my stories, because I am shy and I don't really want people too know that. I rarely have told any friends or my parents (I oddly feel embarrassed and I don't want people to look at me like I am crazy - I know, I know.....I should not be ashamed in my beliefs). 

This was a quick read and it was interesting. Do I believe in everything Sylvia Browne says? Hell no. Do I believe in some of it? Yes, but I've experienced some it and I'm a "have to see it to believe it" type of gal. THUS why I don't believe in aliens completely, because I have not had an experience with an alien or UFO or whatever. 

I do recommend this to those with an open-mind. It's an interesting belief on the world. Is it any more crazy then any other religious theories? Nope. Some of it makes sense, some of it seems out of this world. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4 stars. More like 3.5 stars, but I rounded. 









Friday, April 17

FitReaders Week #16



This challenge is organized by Geeky Blogger's Book Blog & That’s What I’m Talking About

Saturday: Nada
Sunday: 3 mile walk & 20 crunches 
Monday:  1 mile walk 
Tuesday: .1/4 (.25) mile jog, 1.5 mile bike ride, 10 mins yoga, & 5 mins weights
Wednesday: 1 mile walk 
Thursday: 3 mile walk with pallios & then played at the local park. hahaha (we are lame)
Friday: Nada
Conclusion: Not a bad week. Thursday was suppose to be Zumba day with the girls, but alas, it was cancelled so went for a walk in nature and played at park. Honestly, some of those toys were a workout!!! haha

Trying to get a pic on the swing
Reece managing to get a good one of the three of us on swings. 

LOOK at Ciri go!

How in the hell did I manage to do this toy in the past?????? SCARY!


"Oh dear" face

Another scary toy!
Reece and Ciri