MOVIE - Danny Collins

R (1:46)

Wide Release 4/11/2015 - but very difficult to find

Viewed on April 30, 2015, while I played hooky from work on my birthday

RT Critic: 78   Audience:   82

Cag:  6/Awesome  

Directed by Dan Fogelman

Bleecker Street Films

Based on the book by

Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer

My comments:  I think I've found a new favorite here.  The members of the cast were all terrific names and did a splendid job, especially Bobby Cannavale.   There was heart, there was humor, there was battling demons and addictions, there was sickness and health, there was family and the lack of it, and there was a whole lot of John Lennon.  Most of the music was his, and the turning point in the life of this aging rocker was a long-lost letter from him.  I was really into it. I just love the way the story was told, unfolded, a little bit of something for everyone!

RT Summary:  Al Pacino stars as aging 1970s rocker Danny Collins, who can't give up his hard-living ways. But when his manager (Christopher Plummer) uncovers a 40 year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon, he decides to change course and embarks on a heartfelt journey to rediscover his family, find true love and begin a second act. 

31. The Goblin Emperor - Katherine Addison

read on my iPhone

2014 Tor Books

446 pgs.

Genre/Audience: I've been calling it YA, but it actually may be considered ADULT Fantasy

Finished 4/29/2015

Goodreads rating: 4.10

My rating:    3/Liked it some of the time (see notes below)

Setting;  A fantasy goblin world

1st sentence/s:  "Maia woke with his cousin's cold fingers digging into his shoulder."

My comments:       I SO don't know how to rate this book.  I was reading it for my Young Adult book group, although even though it isn't, apparently, a YA, this was the chosen title.  I read it on my phone and got completely flummoxed after a very short time because the names of people and places are extremely difficult, long, and too similar to each other.  I went crazy!  So much of it wasn't making sense because I wasn't sure who the people were.  So at pg. 178 I started over and started taking short notes to remind who was who and what was what.  That really helped!
     I was happy to discover when my book group met, that I wasn't the only person who had difficulty with all the names.  And, I discovered that there is a sort-of-glossary at the back of the book to help with this.  Since I was reading this on my phone I hadn't a clue.  So when I checked it out, I discovered that my notes were WAY more helpful than the glossary, which doesn't clarify and differentiate enough between the characters to be anything more than superficially helpful.
     There are a zillion characters. The plot got more and more interesting. I ended up really, really liking Maia, the protagonist - what a sweet young man.  But I still don't know how to rate it, for I had too many ups and downs can't totally recommend it.  I can only partially picture this world.  Perhaps because this is only my first foray into this sort of fantasy?
     Okay....so 3 means "liked it."  I guess, all in all, that's what I'm going to have to say about it.

Goodreads book summary:  A vividly imagined fantasy of court intrigue and dark magics in a steampunk-inflected world, by a brilliant young talent.
          The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.
           Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.
          Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend... and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne – or his life.
          This exciting fantasy novel, set against the pageantry and color of a fascinating, unique world, is a memorable debut for a great new talent

Letterboxing #2 - My First Try in Tucson

Sunday, 4/17/15

Irish Bell

Tucson, Arizona

Gorgeous spring day, high 70's and super sunny, I headed down Pantano to Michael Perry Park - a small playground, a fenced baseball field, rest rooms, and access to the Pantano Wash bicycle/walking  path.  But it was on a short gravel path just beside the paved bike path where, under a pile of rocks at the base of some shrubs I found "Irish Bell."  Good directions other than one small glitch - the gate to go through is on the WEST side of the parking lot, not the east side as the directions claimed.  Took a few minutes to figure it out and try it anyways...so glad I did!

I settled down cross-legged, partially shaded by a different shrub, and stamped my book with the hand-carved Irish bell stamp and stamped their little book with my tree.  I've put all my stuff - and a bottle of water, into my black hiking bag and it worked out perfectly.  I plan to leave this in my car so that I'll always have it with me!
aa

I like that it was a short walk - only a little over 1300 steps - and that I actually found it!  The exposure to the sun was a bit difficult, so I'm thinking that now that summer's upon us, much Tucson trekking will kill me - if the snakes and scorpions and other various critters don't.  But I hope to try one or two more huntes before I leave for the summer!

30. Wonder - P. J. Palacio

Series information

Read on my iPhone through Audible

Audio read by Diana Steele, Nick Podehl and Kate Rudd

Unabridged (8:06)

2012, Knopf

315 pgs.

Middle School Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Finished 4/28/2015

Goodreads rating: 4.42

My rating:    (5) Awesome  

Contemporary NYC

My comments:  First let me say that I listened to this book, which gave additional voice to the four or five characters that had points-of-view. At times this was great, at others not-so-great. It gave a different dimension to the character of Auggie - a lightly gravelly tone that seemed to have a teeny, tiny bit feminine edge to it that every so often put me off.  August has (and will continue throughout his entire life) to see first hand reactions to a face that is grotesque, different, un-beautiful  in a world that has embraced physical beauty as a capstone. What would my reaction be when I came face to face with a ten-year-old with such a face?  OF COURSE I would want to get below the surface, but I am an adult.  I could go on and on with my thoughts about this, and that's what makes this book such a marvel.  It makes you contemplate deeply.  It makes you look at your own inner values and realities.  That is what makes this book stand apart from so many others that I've read.  And the best thing is that all this thinking comes packaged in a delightfully written story that is character AND plot driven.   A winner.

(This will have to be my primary read-aloud next year.)

Goodreads book summary:  I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.
          August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?
          R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

Hex-Crazy for 8 Weeks Now!

The quilt's getting bigger, and now I'm coming up with more and more ideas.  Whoa - why can't I do one at a time?  Never been that way!  And on I sew.....

What would I do without the back of my couch as a huge, giant pincushion?  SO handy!

So far:
5 single flowers
43 double flowers
1 triple flower
12 bulls-eye diamonds

1536 hexies made (up 106 from last week)
2167 edges sewn  (up 202 from last week)

Yup, my fingertips are a mess.

YA Series

(I realize the first two are out-of-order, but for some reason blogspot won't let me put Acevedo properly at the top....so like it or lump it, I guess)

Acevedo & Angell See BELOW Aveyard

Aveyard, Victoria
Red Queen
1 - The Red Queen (2015) 5
2 - Glass Sword (2016) 4
3 - King's Cage (2017)

Acevedo, Kristy
Holo Series
1 - Consider (2016) 4
2 - Contribute (2017)

Angell, Lorena

The Unaltered

1 - A Diamond In My Pocket (2011) 4

2 - A Diamond in My Heart (2012) 3.5

3 - The Diamond of Freedom (2013) 4

4 - The Diamond Bearer's Destiny (2013) 3.5

Barr, Ellisa
Powerless Nation
1.  Outage (2014) 3.5
2.  Voyage

Battles, Brett
(Rewinder Time Travel series....it may not be labeled at YA, but it's perfect YA)
1.  Rewinder (2014) 5
2.  Destroyer
3. Survivor

Brody, Jennifer
The Continuum Trilogy
1 - The 13th Continuum, The (2016) 4
2 - Return of the Continuums

Bowman, Erin
Taken
1 - Taken 4.5
2 - Frozen (2014) 3
3 - Forged

Cameron, Sharon
(The Forgetting)
1 - The Forgetting (4.5)
2 - The Knowing (coming Oct. 2017)

Cast, P. C.
House of Night
1 - Marked
2 - Betrayed
3 - Chosen
4 - Untamed
5 - Haunted
6 - Tempted
7 - Burned
8 - Awakened
9 - Destined
10 - Hidden
11 - Revealed
12 - Redeemed

Charbonneau, Joelle
The Testing
1 - The Testing (2013) 3
2 - Independent Study
3 - Graduation Day

Chima, Cinda Williams
The Heir Chronicles
1 - The Warrior Heir (2006) 4
2 - The Wizard Heir
3 - The Dragon Heir
     3.5 - Dead to Me
4 - The Enchanted Heir
5 - The Sorcerer Heir

Clare, Cassandra
The Mortal Instruments
1 - City of Bones (2007) 4.5
2 - City of Ashes (2008) 3
3 - City of Glass (2009) 3
4 - City of Fallen Angels
5 - City of Lost Souls
6 - City of Heavenly Firee

Tales from Shadowhunter Academy
1- Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy
2 - The Lost Herondale
3 - The Whitechapel Fiend
4 - Nothing But Shadows
5 - The Evil We Love
6 - Pale Kings and Princes
7 - Bitter of Tongue
8 - The Fiery Trial
9 - Born to Endless Night
10.  Angels Twice Descending

Collins, Suzanne
Hunger Games
1- The Hunger Games
2 - Catching Fire
3 - Mockinjay

Condy, Allie
Matched
1 - Matched (2010) 4
2 - Crossed (2011) 2
3 - Reached

de la Cruz, Melissa
Blue Bloods
1 - Blue Bloods
2 - Masquerade
3 - Revelations
4 -  The Van Alen Legacy
     4.5 - Keys to the Repisitory
5 - Misguided
     5.5 - Bloody Valentine
6 - Lost in Time
7 - Gates of Paradise

Dixen, Victor
Phobos
1 - Ascension (2015) 4.5
2 - Distortion (2015) 5
3 - Collision

Elliott, Kate
Court of Fives
1 - Court of Fives (2015) 5

Ethington, Rebecca
Imdalind
1 - Kiss of Fire, 2012 (3.5)
2 - Eyes of Ember
3 - Scorched Treachery
4 - Soul of Flame
5 - Burnt Devotion
6 - Dawn of Ash
7 - Crown of Cinders
7.5 - Ilyan: A Novella

Gier, Kerstin
The Red Ruby 
1 - Ruby Red  4
2 - Sapphire Blue  (2012) 4
3 - Emerald Green

Ireland, Justina
Dread Nation
1 - Dread Nation 2018 (4)
2 - Deathless Divide (coming 2020)

Jackson, Holly

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

1 - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, 2019 (3)

2 - Good Girl, Bad Blood, 2020 (5)

Johnson, Maureen

Stevie Bell/Truly Devious

1 - Truly Devious, 2018

2 - The Vanishing Stair, 2019

3 - The Hand on the Wall, 2020

4 - The Box in the Woods, 2021 (4.5)

Jones, Carrie
Need
1 - Need (2009) 3.5
2 -Captivate (2010) 4.5
3 -Entice

Khanani, Intrisar

Dauntless Path

0.5 - Brambles

1 -  Thorn 2020 (4.5)

1.5  The Bone Knife

2 -  The Theft of Sunlight

King, Emily R.
The Hundredth Queen
1 - The Hundredth Queen (2017) 4
2 - The Fire Queen
3 - The Rogue Queen

Laybourne, Emmy
Monument 14
1 - Monument 14 (2012) 4.5
2 - Sky on Fire
3 - Savage Drift

Lore, Pittacus
Lorien Legacies
1 - I Am Number Four
2 - The Power of Six
3 - The Rise of Nine
4 - The Fall of Five
5 - The Revenge of Seven
6 - The Fate of Ten

Lu, Marie
Legend series
1- Legend, 2011 (5)
2 - Prodigy, 2013 (4)
3 - Champion

Maas, Sarah J.
Throne of Glass
1 - Throne of Glass (3.5)
2 - Crown of Midnight
3 - Heir of Fire
4 - Queen of Shadows
5 - Empire of Storms
6 - Tower of Dawn
7 - Untitled coming 2018

Mahurin, Shelby

Serpent & Dove

1 - Serpent & Dove (5)

2 - Blood & Honey

3 - Gods & Monsters

Mead, Richelle
Bloodlines
1 - Bloodlines
2 - The Golden Lily
3 - The Indigo Spell
4 - The Fiery Heart
5 - Silver Shadows
6 - The Ruby Circle

Meyer, Marissa
The Lunar Chronicles
1 - Cinder (2012) 4
2 - Scarlet (2013) 4.5
3 - Cress (2014) 5
4 - Winter

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert
Dairy Queen
1 - Dairy Queen
2 - Off Season
3 - Front and Center
4 - Heaven is Paved with Oreos

Noel, Alyson
The Immortals
1 - Evermore (2009) 3+
2 - Blue Moon
3 - Shadowland
4 - Dark Flame
5 - Night Star
6 - Everlasting

Oliver, Lauren
Delirium
1 - Delirium (2011) 4
2 - Pandemonium 2012 (5)
3 - Requiem

Patrick, Amy

Crimson Accord

1 - Crimson Born, 2020 (3)

2 - Crimson Storm, 2020

3 - Crimson Bond, 2021

Raasch, Sara
Snow Like Ashes - Meira of Winter
1 - Snow Like Ashes (2014) 3
2 -  Ice Like Fire
3 -  Frost Like Night

Reintgen, Scott
Nyxia Triad
1 - Nyxia (2017) 4.5

 Roth, Veronica
Divergent
1 - Divergent (2011) 4
2 - Insurgent (2012) 4
3 - Allegiant

Salerni, Dianne K.
Eighth Day
1 - The Eighth Day
2 - The Inquisitor's Mark, 2015 - DNF, but probably will someday....not in the mood right now (4) (got to page 93)
3 - The Morrigan's Curse (coming 2016)

Sanderson, Brandon
1.  Skyward 2018(4)

Schwab, Victoria
Monsters of Verity
1 - This Savage Song (2016) 3
2 - Our Dark Duet (June, 2017)

Shusterman, Neal
Arc of a Sycthe
1.  Scythe (2016) 4.5
2.  Thunderhead (2018) 5
3. 

Shusterman, Neal
Unwind Dystology
1 - Unwind (2007) 5
2 - Unholy
3 - Unsouled
4 - Undivided
5 - Unbound

Stiefvater, Maggie
The Wolves of Mercy Falls
1 - Shiver
2 - Linger
3 - Forever
4 - Sinner

Taylor, Janet B.
Into the Dim 
1 - Into the Dim (2016) 5

Taylor, Laini
Daughter of Smoke & Bone
1 - Daughter of Smoke & Bone
2 - Days of Blood & Starlight
     2.5 - Night of Cake & Puppets
3 - Dreams of Gods & Monsters

Yancey, Rick
The First Wave
1 - The Fifth Wave (2013) 4.5
2 - The Infinite Sea
3 - The Last Star (May, 2016)

Young, Suzanne
The Program
1 - The Program (2013) 4
2 - The Treatment
     2.5  The Recovery

Armentrout, Jennifer L. - Obsidian (#1 Lux) 2011 (2.5)

Bracken, Alexandra - 1 - Passenger (#1) 2016 (2.5)

Dyer, Madeline - Untamed (Untamed #1) 2017 (1)

Fitzpatrick, Becca - Hush Hush (Hush Hush #1) 2009 (3)

Forrest, Bella 1 A Shade of Blood (Shade of Vampire #2) 2013 (1.5)

Forrest, Bella - A Shade of Vampire (A Shade of Vampire #1)  2012(2)

Lu, Marie - Warcross (WArcross #1) 2017 (3)

Pearson, Mary E. - The Kiss of Deception (2014) 3

Simmons, Kirsten - Article 5 (#1) (2012) 2

Stradling, Rita - Colorless 2