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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
The much anticipated second film in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit Trilogy has arrived in time to reap box office gold much the way the previous films based on Tolkien’s works have. The film continues the adventure started in the previous film and finds the band of adventurers chased by a pack of Orcs and faced with the deadly and dark Mirkwood Forest as they attempt to reach The Lonely Mountain in time.
The journey is long and filled with peril as everything from Orcs to giant spiders stand in the way and should the group be successful in reaching their destination, there is the little matter of a giant and very nasty dragon named Smaug to contend with.
Undaunted the group press on despite finding danger a constant companion and once again give us a series staples of endless shots of them walking and walking in locales lifted from the Tourism New Zealand film room in between the amazing visual work that makes up the battle sequence and other-worldly visuals of the film.
Bilbo (Martin Freeman), is becoming more and more under the spell of the ring he obtained in the previous film and Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen), suspects that darker forces are growing and sets off to confirm his suspicions. This divides the film into two quest centric storylines that are sure to cause some division amongst fans of the series.
The film does manage to hold your attention throughout its 2.5 hr plus run time and does have a very enjoyable finale act as the arrival of Smug (Benedict Cumberbatch), for me has been honestly the most enjoyable of any of the four prior films in the series to date. His interactions with Bilbo and the group flesh him out to be more than a creation of CGI, but rather infuse him with a evil and complexity that make him a very compelling and dynamic character.
Despite the strong cast and amazing visual FX in the film that is captured very well by the 3D filming Jackson used, the movie does have it’s share of frustrations.
Jackson has once again loaded the film with tons of characters, scenarios, and padding that easily make up more than half of the film. The idea seems to be to show a greater connection to the original LOTR films and the inclusion of Orlando Bloom as Legolas and Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel is bound to cause controversy. On one hand it was great to see the two characters and the great amounts of action they brought to the film, but the entire time I kept thinking that there was no need for most of this extra stuff as it was included simply to stretch out the film in order to justify a third movie and ensure another big box office.
When the film reaches it’s conclusion it was very clear to me that they could have completed the film in two films had the removed all of the padding and fluff and stuck to the source material. Segments are drawn out or included that really do not need to be there no matter how exciting and visually appealing they may be.
When the film was first announced it was planned to be two films but was later expanded to three when Jackson took over as Director following the departure of Guillermo del Toro. If one film was sufficient to capture each book in the original series than three films for this one book is simply overkill to me and it undermines the source material.
That being said, I did enjoy the film as it works best for me if I look at it as “inspired by’ rather than a cinematic translation of the book and in doing so I was able to get caught up in the action of the film and the character’s.
In the end the film is a true delight filled with plenty of action and adventure and will keep fans old and new entertained as despite the issues I had with it, it was one of the better action/fantasy films of the year and is a great technological achievement.
http://sknr.net/2013/12/13/the-hobbit-the-desolation-of-smaug/
The journey is long and filled with peril as everything from Orcs to giant spiders stand in the way and should the group be successful in reaching their destination, there is the little matter of a giant and very nasty dragon named Smaug to contend with.
Undaunted the group press on despite finding danger a constant companion and once again give us a series staples of endless shots of them walking and walking in locales lifted from the Tourism New Zealand film room in between the amazing visual work that makes up the battle sequence and other-worldly visuals of the film.
Bilbo (Martin Freeman), is becoming more and more under the spell of the ring he obtained in the previous film and Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen), suspects that darker forces are growing and sets off to confirm his suspicions. This divides the film into two quest centric storylines that are sure to cause some division amongst fans of the series.
The film does manage to hold your attention throughout its 2.5 hr plus run time and does have a very enjoyable finale act as the arrival of Smug (Benedict Cumberbatch), for me has been honestly the most enjoyable of any of the four prior films in the series to date. His interactions with Bilbo and the group flesh him out to be more than a creation of CGI, but rather infuse him with a evil and complexity that make him a very compelling and dynamic character.
Despite the strong cast and amazing visual FX in the film that is captured very well by the 3D filming Jackson used, the movie does have it’s share of frustrations.
Jackson has once again loaded the film with tons of characters, scenarios, and padding that easily make up more than half of the film. The idea seems to be to show a greater connection to the original LOTR films and the inclusion of Orlando Bloom as Legolas and Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel is bound to cause controversy. On one hand it was great to see the two characters and the great amounts of action they brought to the film, but the entire time I kept thinking that there was no need for most of this extra stuff as it was included simply to stretch out the film in order to justify a third movie and ensure another big box office.
When the film reaches it’s conclusion it was very clear to me that they could have completed the film in two films had the removed all of the padding and fluff and stuck to the source material. Segments are drawn out or included that really do not need to be there no matter how exciting and visually appealing they may be.
When the film was first announced it was planned to be two films but was later expanded to three when Jackson took over as Director following the departure of Guillermo del Toro. If one film was sufficient to capture each book in the original series than three films for this one book is simply overkill to me and it undermines the source material.
That being said, I did enjoy the film as it works best for me if I look at it as “inspired by’ rather than a cinematic translation of the book and in doing so I was able to get caught up in the action of the film and the character’s.
In the end the film is a true delight filled with plenty of action and adventure and will keep fans old and new entertained as despite the issues I had with it, it was one of the better action/fantasy films of the year and is a great technological achievement.
http://sknr.net/2013/12/13/the-hobbit-the-desolation-of-smaug/
Hazel (1853 KP) rated Etta and Otto and Russell and James in Books
May 28, 2017
Underwhelming
This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Emma Hooper's novel Etta and Otto and Russell and James explores both the present and the past of three particular characters. Etta is an elderly woman suffering with Alzheimer's who decides to go for a walk and never come home. She first met her husband Otto in her late teens shortly before he enlisted in the army to fight abroad. Russell lives on the farm next to Etta and Otto and was also a childhood friend of Otto and quite close to Etta whilst Otto was away.
Etta's walk becomes public knowledge as she is observed walking through long grass in the company of a coyote whom she named James. She has very little on her, the most important being a note reading " Etta Gloria Kinnick of Deerdale Farm. 83 years old in August." This is to remind her of who she is in case she ever forgets.
The character's pasts are interesting to read about, in particularly the contrast between Etta's more comfortable upbringing and Otto's life on the farm being the seventh child in an extremely large family. The present day, however, was not as interesting. I never understood the significance of Etta's walk and the latter half of the novel became really confusing. At some points I was uncertain which character was being spoken about. Although the name Otto was used, the scene seemed more appropriate for Etta's situation. Whether this was intentional or a mistake I am unsure.
Another thing that made the story confusing to read was the lack of speech punctuation. Occasionally it was hard to determine who was speaking and who was replying; what was speech and what was not. I have read other books that use this structure and even though it's purpose may have related to the type of story being told, it does make it hard to fully comprehend.
This book gets off to a shaky start but I was always expecting it to improve. Unfortunately I was left disappointed.
Emma Hooper's novel Etta and Otto and Russell and James explores both the present and the past of three particular characters. Etta is an elderly woman suffering with Alzheimer's who decides to go for a walk and never come home. She first met her husband Otto in her late teens shortly before he enlisted in the army to fight abroad. Russell lives on the farm next to Etta and Otto and was also a childhood friend of Otto and quite close to Etta whilst Otto was away.
Etta's walk becomes public knowledge as she is observed walking through long grass in the company of a coyote whom she named James. She has very little on her, the most important being a note reading " Etta Gloria Kinnick of Deerdale Farm. 83 years old in August." This is to remind her of who she is in case she ever forgets.
The character's pasts are interesting to read about, in particularly the contrast between Etta's more comfortable upbringing and Otto's life on the farm being the seventh child in an extremely large family. The present day, however, was not as interesting. I never understood the significance of Etta's walk and the latter half of the novel became really confusing. At some points I was uncertain which character was being spoken about. Although the name Otto was used, the scene seemed more appropriate for Etta's situation. Whether this was intentional or a mistake I am unsure.
Another thing that made the story confusing to read was the lack of speech punctuation. Occasionally it was hard to determine who was speaking and who was replying; what was speech and what was not. I have read other books that use this structure and even though it's purpose may have related to the type of story being told, it does make it hard to fully comprehend.
This book gets off to a shaky start but I was always expecting it to improve. Unfortunately I was left disappointed.
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Hellboy (2019) in Movies
May 13, 2019
More like Hellno
#hellboy is an #abomination, a brain dead overlong shit show of bad decisions & sheer laziness. I can honestly say i was so pumped for this film but it was such a monstrosoty that i considered walking out after just 30mins. Lets kick this off so i can at least pretend i havent wasted my night with this dross. To sum the film up its a cross between #eastenders & #kingsman (no not the good kingsman either that dire sequel #kingsmanthegoldencircle) & as you can imagine it doesnt work at all. Its not gritty, its not #funny, its not #stylish & its not well made, in fact its also not even half as good as it seems to think it is either coming across so #happy & smug with itself its practically flipping you the middle finger the entire run time. Tacky is a great word i would use to describe this movie, tacky & childish with #humour that wouldn't go a miss in a kids tv program (eg burp jokes, dribble jokes & #jokes about kissing old ladies). Acting is poor everyone just looks & talks half arsed like they can't be bothered, delivering emotionless lines without conviction making dialog a bland back & forth chore. I hope you like bickering too because theres a #hell of alot of pointless bickering scenes that just feel unnecessary. Not one character is developed or likeable not even hellboy himself with the #villain #millajovovich feeling like a bad guy in a stage play just minus the hissing. Cgi is so woefully bad is downright embarrassing sticking out like a saw thumb ruining the forgettable action scenes. Camera work is choppy & the film is badly edited with disorienting quick cuts. Sets & #creatures are bland/unimaginative & prosthetics feel cheaply made (even hellboys face feels off round the eyes). Plot was so paint by numbers i lost interest midway & put my head in my hands when the terrible climax hit (Talk about build up with no pay off). Hellboy ultimatly prooves filling a film with #violence, swearing, popular #music & #popculture references doesnt make your film cool if everything else around it lacks. Lazy forgettable boring poorly made shite. Avoid. #odeon #odeonlimitless #superhero #ronperlman #strangerthings #dc #guillermodeltoro #demons #horror #gore #comic
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Alita: Battle Angel (2019) in Movies
May 13, 2019
Fighting fit
#alitabattleangel may just be the most #intense & visually splendid mature cgi fest I've seen in a long long time. Having not seen #anime that inspired this #movie i had no idea what i was walking into with this one. Upon leaving it i not only felt extremely satisfied but also like i had experienced something #breathtaking & full to the brim with #passion. To start I can't stress enough just how god damn #beautiful this #film is, cgi is staggering as well as jaw dropping. From the intricate inner machinery wires, dust particles & realistic lighting to the tiny blemishes on skin Alita simply knocks it out the park. Its locations are vast, immersive, claustrophobic, lived in, #depressing & full to the brim with story telling/world building so much so that they could each tell a story themselves. #Animation is slick, fluid & #natural with #human & cgi interaction weighty & almost flawlessly done. Story wise its extremely empowering as we watch #Alita grow from & innocent child like #girl into a tuff driven #woman. Seeing Alita emit such wonderful human emotions such as #love, excitement & #happiness is not only #heartwarming but also #magical. Starting so warm & ending so bleak we see Alitas innocence almost ripped away from her as she is forced to #mature fast letting her primal instincts & bad human traits (such as jealousy/#anger) take control tarnishing her other wise loving/careing inner self. Its tense, adrenaline inducing stuff & this mixed with well constructed action & your token damn right nasty at times #robertrodriguez death scenes its not always the happiest of films either. #Deep themes are explored but theres alot of them too so only surfaces are scratched. My favourite being how #society/entertainment glorifies/condones violence & uses it as a tool to control us all. Negatives - if anything #Battleangel is far to short, i feel i needed another hour of content in there somewhere especially the final act which felt rushed. If we dont get a sequel or 3 i will be very disappointed as this is a fantastic world i simply must know more about it. A must see for sure. #edskrein is an absolute joy to watch too. #odeon #odeonlimitless #robot #thursdaythoughts
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Widows (2018) in Movies
May 13, 2019
Perfection
#widows is this years biggest surprise. Just like a punch to the gut its full of #pain, suffering an overload of #emotion & shock. My goodness what an exceptional & #stunning piece of work this is. As soon as the film opened is was hanging off my seat, with an opening which not only sets the stage for what's to come but showcases just how talented #stevemcqueen is as a director. This calm before the storm style of directing works so well that it constantly lulls you into a false sense of security (by using #beautiful/unique camera work, a powerful score, subbtle #humour, interesting characters & deep character connections) to pull you in which are then followed instantly by incredibly tense action or scenes of #brutal #violence or shocking emotional breakdowns which hit you hard like a slap across the face. Long but never once #boring this is such a heavy, bleak & #depressing film not only about grief, loss, #broken trust & #survival but also about #racism, corruption, power abuse & the using of money & #religion as a control tool. I dont want to spoil to much because its best to go in blind here to feel the full impact of the #film & its twists. #Widowsmovie is so powerful & full of so much depth I felt like id been hit by a train walking out. Everything flows together so perfectly here from its pacing to its plot & its cinematography right down to its sound & set design. Theres also stellar acting all across the board here & i mean seriously impressive preformances by a good chunk of the cast which makes sure each & every characters pain, grief & struggle through #life is felt deeply, making it at times increadibly #heartbreaking & tuff to watch. This film overall was such an engaging/draining & absorbing thrill ride full of intelligent & current themes that I cant wait to see it again & delve deeper into its layers. Absolutely mind blowing & one of the most tense & well constructed #heist films ive seen in a long long time. #odeon #odeonlimitless #filmbuff #filmcritic #thursdaythoughts #violadavis #collinfarrell #liamnesson #danielkaluuya #love
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Revenge (2018) in Movies
May 13, 2019
Doin it for the kill
#revengemovie is without question the best looking movie of #2018, its so slick & #stylish I'd go as far as saying its this years #drive. #Revenge has a standard #rape/revenge plot we've all seen a million times before but you'd be greatly mistaken by passing up on this one believe me. Part #horror part drama Revenge has one of the most amazing visual styles ive seen in a while. Colours are blinding at times almost to the point of over saturation giving the film heat & vibrancy. This mixed with some insanely #beautiful cinematography had me literally sat with my mouth open in amazement. Every scene seems meticulously shot with such purpose & precision that its hard to not feel like your watching a piece of #art. Top that with a #comicbook/#80s feel & tone & what you have here is film that feels so fresh you forget that this genre hasnt been done to death already. #Soundtrack wise its pure perfection too with synth music pulsing throughout its intoxicating & keeps the films momentum flowing well. Metaphors are absolutely everywhere but the main one i picked up on is #femaleempowerment. At the start of the film #male character are chauvinistic & dominant treating her as a possession rather than a person but once she gets impaled by a tree roles seem to reverse & we see her become the man in a kind of #twisted rebirth (the tree implement scene i also see as a metaphor for the pain they put her through & even while walking around she has severed tree branch sticking out of her stomach almost like it represents that she's the man now with the tree branch representing male genitalia). Even the tagline suggests themes of fighting domestic abuse too. Acting is superb with #matildaannaingridlutz literally dominating the #film not only with her acting but with her incredible #beauty too. Right from the start i was sucked right in by its beauty, unnerved by its atmosphere & repulsed by its gore but theres not a second of it i didnt #love. Half #french subtitled half #english dialog Revenge is a #violent, unnerving, grisly & down right #gorgeous piece of #cinema that i cant recommend enough. Perfection. #odeon #odeonlimitless #filmbuff #filmcritic #fridayfeeling #gore
Kyera (8 KP) rated Anna and the French Kiss in Books
Feb 1, 2018
What happens when your nouveau-riche father decides that his daughter needs to be more cultures? Your entire world is flipped upside-down as you're sent to a boarding school in a country where you don't speak the language. That's exactly what happens to Anna when she's sent to the School of America, in Paris. She now must make new friends, try to stay in touch with her old ones and the most terrifying ordeal of all? Ordering her meals in French. She might want some nice fresh <i>pain</i> (bread) but ends up saying <i>paon</i> (peacock). Yum, <i>paon</i> and <i>fromage</i> for breakfast.
It may seem strange, but I enjoy the use of language in this book. I think accents, like St. Clair's are written very authentically. Bridge's love of words is a great way to introduce readers to new worlds. (And seriously inspires me to see if I can find a set of Oxford English Dictionaries for my personal library.) The use of foreign languages in books can be tricky to do well, but I think the author struck a balance brilliantly.
I find Anna very relatable - it doesn't hurt that she's a fellow lefty. But I also feel like she reads older than she is. Throughout the novel, I feel like she is at University (aged 19-20) rather than still in high school. Her desire to be a film ritic is how I feel about books and reviewing. She says, "I just like... expressing my opinion. That possiblity of turning someone on to something really great." Reading is my passion and I wan to share that with people. If I can introduce them to a book I've fallen in love with and it touches them in some way - I'm happy.
When I read the novel, I can feel myself walking along the Seine or admiring Notre Dame. Paris is a beautiful setting adn the author represents it wonderfully. It is one of those novels that gives you wanderlust and an undeniable urge to visit the places that Anna does.
It may seem strange, but I enjoy the use of language in this book. I think accents, like St. Clair's are written very authentically. Bridge's love of words is a great way to introduce readers to new worlds. (And seriously inspires me to see if I can find a set of Oxford English Dictionaries for my personal library.) The use of foreign languages in books can be tricky to do well, but I think the author struck a balance brilliantly.
I find Anna very relatable - it doesn't hurt that she's a fellow lefty. But I also feel like she reads older than she is. Throughout the novel, I feel like she is at University (aged 19-20) rather than still in high school. Her desire to be a film ritic is how I feel about books and reviewing. She says, "I just like... expressing my opinion. That possiblity of turning someone on to something really great." Reading is my passion and I wan to share that with people. If I can introduce them to a book I've fallen in love with and it touches them in some way - I'm happy.
When I read the novel, I can feel myself walking along the Seine or admiring Notre Dame. Paris is a beautiful setting adn the author represents it wonderfully. It is one of those novels that gives you wanderlust and an undeniable urge to visit the places that Anna does.
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated You Could Be Mine - Single by Berith in Music
Jun 17, 2019
Berith is a singer-songwriter and bandleader from North Askøy, Norway. Not too long ago, she released an evergreen love ballad, entitled, “You Could Be Mine”.
“In another place or time, I would hold you. In another world, you could be mine. Then I would know, how it would feel when you put your hand in mine. I want to see, love light up your eyes. I want to see you smiling to the world. Every child needs hope to trust the future.” – lyrics
‘You Could Be Mine’ tells an adorable tale of a young woman who sees a child walking down her street every morning.
From the look of things, the child seems unhappy because he never smiles. His dire appearance touches the woman’s heart and encourages her to want to get to know him.
Later, she admits that she dreams about him every night, and wants to show him that there are happiness and love in the world.
‘You Could Be Mine’ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and lush instrumentation scented with an evergreen fragrance of love.
“‘You Could Be Mine’ is a song about longing. About having so much to give, but none that special to give it to. This story includes a neglected child, a longing, and a wish to make a difference in the world through loving care of a child.” – Berith
Berith gathers inspiration from both her native Norwegian roots and Celtic and American traditions.
She lives where her family of sailors, fishermen, and farmers has lived for hundreds of years. The location is as far out into the North Sea as one can get without a boat.
With her acoustic guitar and melodeon, Berith has traveled the fjords and weather-beaten west coast of Norway since her teens.
Not too long ago, she partnered with a bunch of musicians to form her band. The members include Dag Atle Håland (mandolin, guitars, and backing vocals), Endre Aasebø (guitars, banjo, and backing vocals), Svein Henning Berstad (bass and backing vocals), and Anders Vengen Jensen (drums, percussion, and backing vocals).
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/berith-you-could-be-mine/
“In another place or time, I would hold you. In another world, you could be mine. Then I would know, how it would feel when you put your hand in mine. I want to see, love light up your eyes. I want to see you smiling to the world. Every child needs hope to trust the future.” – lyrics
‘You Could Be Mine’ tells an adorable tale of a young woman who sees a child walking down her street every morning.
From the look of things, the child seems unhappy because he never smiles. His dire appearance touches the woman’s heart and encourages her to want to get to know him.
Later, she admits that she dreams about him every night, and wants to show him that there are happiness and love in the world.
‘You Could Be Mine’ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and lush instrumentation scented with an evergreen fragrance of love.
“‘You Could Be Mine’ is a song about longing. About having so much to give, but none that special to give it to. This story includes a neglected child, a longing, and a wish to make a difference in the world through loving care of a child.” – Berith
Berith gathers inspiration from both her native Norwegian roots and Celtic and American traditions.
She lives where her family of sailors, fishermen, and farmers has lived for hundreds of years. The location is as far out into the North Sea as one can get without a boat.
With her acoustic guitar and melodeon, Berith has traveled the fjords and weather-beaten west coast of Norway since her teens.
Not too long ago, she partnered with a bunch of musicians to form her band. The members include Dag Atle Håland (mandolin, guitars, and backing vocals), Endre Aasebø (guitars, banjo, and backing vocals), Svein Henning Berstad (bass and backing vocals), and Anders Vengen Jensen (drums, percussion, and backing vocals).
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/berith-you-could-be-mine/
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated You Got My Heart - Single by Charlotte Morris in Music
Jun 18, 2019
Charlotte Morris is a singer-songwriter based in New York. Not too long ago, she released a lovely sunshine-pop tune, entitled, “You Got My Heart”.
“I don’t always know what I wanna say when I look at you. And every time I think that I’ve made up my mind, you do something new. When I spend the whole day wondering if you’re ever gonna call, you never do. But as soon as I decide that I’m walking away, then I hear from you.” – lyrics
‘You Got My Heart’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who is head-over-heels in love with a guy who she shares a long-distance relationship with.
But she wants to know if her beau loves her the same way how she loves him. Also, the answer to that question kinda bothers her deep down to her soul.
Later, she admits that she doesn’t know if their relationship will last because she doesn’t know if she really has him as a committed partner.
‘You Got My Heart’ contains a relatable storyline, pleasing vocals, and guitar-driven instrumentation flavored with sentimental elements.
“‘You Got My Heart’ is a sunshine-pop take on the struggles of long-distance relationships. This isn’t your typical summer song about falling in love, but it has the upbeat, bop-along groove while expressing something that can be difficult to face. Instead of wallowing in a sad ballad, this became my pump up jam as I figured out where to go next. ‘You Got My Heart’ is a great song for summer, windows-down road trips, and anyone looking to find the silver lining in a less-than-ideal situation.” – Charlotte Morris
Charlotte Morris draws inspiration from many of her favorite artists including Delta Rae, Brandi Carlile, Christina Perri, and folk legends like Peter, Paul and Mary, and Simon & Garfunkel.
Her songs, which are mostly auto-biographical, also reflect her years in the theatre. Also, when she’s not writing and releasing music, Charlotte can be seen performing in theatrical productions across the country, playing with dogs, and eating cheese.
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/charlotte-morris-you-got-my-heart/
“I don’t always know what I wanna say when I look at you. And every time I think that I’ve made up my mind, you do something new. When I spend the whole day wondering if you’re ever gonna call, you never do. But as soon as I decide that I’m walking away, then I hear from you.” – lyrics
‘You Got My Heart’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who is head-over-heels in love with a guy who she shares a long-distance relationship with.
But she wants to know if her beau loves her the same way how she loves him. Also, the answer to that question kinda bothers her deep down to her soul.
Later, she admits that she doesn’t know if their relationship will last because she doesn’t know if she really has him as a committed partner.
‘You Got My Heart’ contains a relatable storyline, pleasing vocals, and guitar-driven instrumentation flavored with sentimental elements.
“‘You Got My Heart’ is a sunshine-pop take on the struggles of long-distance relationships. This isn’t your typical summer song about falling in love, but it has the upbeat, bop-along groove while expressing something that can be difficult to face. Instead of wallowing in a sad ballad, this became my pump up jam as I figured out where to go next. ‘You Got My Heart’ is a great song for summer, windows-down road trips, and anyone looking to find the silver lining in a less-than-ideal situation.” – Charlotte Morris
Charlotte Morris draws inspiration from many of her favorite artists including Delta Rae, Brandi Carlile, Christina Perri, and folk legends like Peter, Paul and Mary, and Simon & Garfunkel.
Her songs, which are mostly auto-biographical, also reflect her years in the theatre. Also, when she’s not writing and releasing music, Charlotte can be seen performing in theatrical productions across the country, playing with dogs, and eating cheese.
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/charlotte-morris-you-got-my-heart/
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Buttermilk Sky in Books
Jan 2, 2019
From the moment I opened the pages of Buttermilk Sky I was transported to 1913, and I didn't want to leave.
We follow the story of Mazy Pelfrey and her journey of discovering not only who she is, but what is truly important in life. Mazy is from a small town in the mountains of Kentucky. We begin the book with her attending secretarial school in Lexington. She is swept off her feet by wealthy Loyal Chambers who expresses interest in her. Chanis Clay is the local sheriff back home in Skip Rock and even though they are not formally engaged, he is preparing a home for Mazy. She is unsure of the direction that she wants her life to lead. Mazy encounters many people. From high strung, snobby Eva who is jealous of Mazy and determined to always have her own way; to Cinnamon Spicer, a girl with next to nothing that works day in and day out to support her father who is ill. The choices Mazy makes will determine the rest of her life. Sometimes our path in life is not always obvious at first. Even through prayer and relying on wisdom from the Lord, there are times that we need to step out in faith even if we can't see where the road leads. Trusting that the Lord will cover and protect us, even if it means having to turn around and start again.
Jan Watson did a fabulous job of making me feel like I was experiencing life in Kentucky in the year 1913. The entire book encompasses the feel and effect of the era. The title is mentioned more than once in the book, and the description was warm and homey feeling to me. Envisioning a "buttermilk sky", breathing the clean mountain air, walking the streets of Lexington, I feel like I was there every step of the way in Mazy's journey. The book has good Biblical principals without being "overly spiritual". I am looking forward to reading more from Jan Watson.
As a part of their Blogger Review program, I received a free copy of Buttermilk Sky by Jan Watson from Tyndale House Publishers. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
We follow the story of Mazy Pelfrey and her journey of discovering not only who she is, but what is truly important in life. Mazy is from a small town in the mountains of Kentucky. We begin the book with her attending secretarial school in Lexington. She is swept off her feet by wealthy Loyal Chambers who expresses interest in her. Chanis Clay is the local sheriff back home in Skip Rock and even though they are not formally engaged, he is preparing a home for Mazy. She is unsure of the direction that she wants her life to lead. Mazy encounters many people. From high strung, snobby Eva who is jealous of Mazy and determined to always have her own way; to Cinnamon Spicer, a girl with next to nothing that works day in and day out to support her father who is ill. The choices Mazy makes will determine the rest of her life. Sometimes our path in life is not always obvious at first. Even through prayer and relying on wisdom from the Lord, there are times that we need to step out in faith even if we can't see where the road leads. Trusting that the Lord will cover and protect us, even if it means having to turn around and start again.
Jan Watson did a fabulous job of making me feel like I was experiencing life in Kentucky in the year 1913. The entire book encompasses the feel and effect of the era. The title is mentioned more than once in the book, and the description was warm and homey feeling to me. Envisioning a "buttermilk sky", breathing the clean mountain air, walking the streets of Lexington, I feel like I was there every step of the way in Mazy's journey. The book has good Biblical principals without being "overly spiritual". I am looking forward to reading more from Jan Watson.
As a part of their Blogger Review program, I received a free copy of Buttermilk Sky by Jan Watson from Tyndale House Publishers. All opinions expressed are mine alone.