Fortunate Land Mass

Book 38 - A book that became a movie

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

A couple weeks ago, I took a tour through the book area in our local Value Village. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, when I happened upon this delightful tale.

Rather than refer back to my lovely book challenge list, I decided to purchase the novel knowing that one day I would eventually read it; book challenge or not. Much to my enjoyment, I hadn't used this very challenge yet.

The movie to which I am referring to is not any ordinary Treasure Island, but rather the spectacular Muppet Treasure Island. Well done, Disney, I must say.

We could sit here and make a case that the movie is a wonderful example of how great Hollywood is at ruining good books; but you really can't go wrong with Muppet Treasure Island. I am quite leery about all those other Muppet movies they've been producing in the last few years, but this one is the creation of pros.

If you haven't already guessed, this novel is based around an island that is said to hold buried treasure. This treasure was hidden on the island by Cap'n Flint oh so many years ago.

The trouble all starts when an old drunkard of a pirate, Billy Bones, calls home an inn that Jim Hawkins (our dear narrator) and his mother own and operate. This old drunkard is handed a Black Spot by a blind pirate and soon after falls over dead. Jim retrieves a treasure map from Mr. Bones' garments and then begins the journey that will take him to Treasure Island and return him in much larger fortune.

As is always the case, the Disney movie had all the characters enjoy a happy ending, where the good guys won and the bad guys lost. The novel however, was rather full of murder and mutiny galore. If someone wasn't dying, was the chapter really worth reading? I say yes, but that's just one persons opinion. 

The movie also took on a somewhat musical element. During the hour and 3/4 length film, we are treated to many wonderful tunes brought to you straight from the mouths of the Muppets (and the humans). Now I generally love musicals so it wasn't difficult for me to rekindle the love that I had for this movie as a youngster. The score was also by Hanz Zimmer, how can you go wrong with that?

I can't say that this novel is one of my most favourite stories. If you have been relying upon the tale told in Muppet Treasure Island, you might want to consider reading this novel, because you are missing a lot of the story.

Seasons are a-changin', this is t-bear signing off

The Eternal Ocean

Book 37 - A book you own but have never read

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

If you are a book lover, like myself, then you will have no trouble looking at your bookshelf and observing all the books that you own but have never read. Somethings I just sit and pass the time by looking at my bookshelf. People will look at you funny when you proclaim it in public. They obviously aren't book lovers. It must be hard for them.

With this novel (which is the sequel to The 5th Wave, a story that Hollywood has taken into its "care"); we are once again taken into an era where most of earth's population has been disposed of, and only few "humans" remain. 

Through the cold, pain, loneliness, and yes, love, the characters are taken on a journey of mind tricks and failed allegiances to the set-up-for-a-third-novel "happy" ending. I followed them the whole way, even when I regretted it, for my heart had trouble taking it in. 

It has been a rather long time since I read the first novel and I suppose I forgot how wonderfully the author describes every day emotions and actions.

I'll be putting these novels in the "you will want to read this again" section of my library. I guess it's a good thing that's the whole library!

this is t-bear signing off

Will the Temperature Shake?

Book 36 - A play

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

tempest [tem-pist]

noun

1. a violent windstorm, especially one with rain, hail or snow.

2. a violent commotion, disturbance, or tumult.

3. Propero, the right Duke of Milan.

Though I previously read that wonderful book on Will Shakes' life and works, I was not sure which category this play would fall under. As it turn out, it is a comedy. 

Remember in high school when you entered the English class and the teacher handed you a copy of one of Mr. Shakes' fine works of art, and you made a disgusted face and held the book like it were infected with the plague? Well, I would have to say that I started out with a similar opinion of the man; until I came to have a better understanding of the language. 

As a high school student I had some trouble deciphering the tongue better known as Shakespearish. This is one of the reasons that I was rather hesitant to pick up this particular book.

With little in my way, I began the tale of The Tempest and soon found out that I understood quite well what the characters were saying in their weird "English".

Assuming I read the story correctly, here is a brief account of the events:

As per usual, we find the trodden-on-family-member on an abandoned island (with his daughter), left to his own scheming. When what to his wondering eye's should appear, but a ship carrying the King, his son and many fancy pants fellows with names in high places. This is when the trodden-on-family-member takes his revenge with the assistance of a spirit. 

A little shipwreck, some invisible spirit spells and a few drunken fools bring the group together; right into the grasp of the trodden-on-family-member who feels it's time they recognized who he is and reinstate his place in society.

I'm not exactly sure what kind of humour Shakespeare was privy to when he wrote this play. I must say, there were no literal LOLs from me. 

Comedy, it may be; while misunderstanding, I probably am. 

this is t-bear signing off

The End

Book 35 - A book set in a different country

finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

You may have seen the title with annoyance, then moved onto the author only to close the browser. If you're still with me then I'm going to assume that you're okay with me talking about this series...again. 

I went with dear M and the sister to our nearest and dearest Chapters a couple weeks ago. "I had no intention of buying any books" those famous last words before a book lover enters a book store. Alas, I escaped with only three books and thoughts of many more. This book was one of them. 

Even though you are still with me, I don't pretend to assume that you are still excited about my current book choice. But, really, I had to finish the series. We all knew this was going to happen sooner or later. 

As I was getting low on challenges that would apply for this book, I picked this delightfully easy challenge. Not difficult to achieve on any given day. There are actually few times when I come upon a novel set in Canada. Am I maybe reading the wrong books as a citizen of the Great White North? We'll, come back to that later.

This conclusion to the series was a rather suspenseful one.

We have discussed the basic story line before so I'm sure you know that most of the characters are not human, including our protagonist. She is of superhuman abilities and if I'm being rather honest, annoyingly stubborn and jealous habits. 

The two reoccurring lovers are ever present in this installment and are again faced with problems that threaten to tear them apart forever. Don't worry, they were able to pull through till the end. 

After a battle as big as a cemetery which involved the deaths of a much loved character and a much hated character; all is put to right in the world and we can go home happy. The story ends with a *spoileralert* wedding. I didn't say whose. 

Though I was getting bored of the novel at one point, I was able to reenter into the story to enjoy the intensity that brought on the finale. (See what I did there?)

If you have come this far with me, why not finish the series? I did and look how productive that made my day!

this is t-bear signing off

PS - Don't be afraid of the new design. After all, seasons are changing!

Like Peer Pressure

Book 34 - A classic romance

Persuasion by Jane Austen

When the topic of classic romance is discussed, there is only one author that I think of; Jane Austen. So it is no surprise that I would choose one of her novels for this particular challenge.

For many years now I have been reading and rereading four of Jane's lovely creations. My favourite will always be Pride & Prejudice but I have a rather fondness for Persuasion. As I read Pride & Prejudice most recently, I felt that it would be rather wonderful to mix things up a little. 

If you take the time to sit and read Jane's novels you will start to notice common story lines. Though the characters are all different from book to book, the basic goings on are quite similar.

The story...

Anne Elliot, in her twenty-eighth year is not only unappreciated by her father and older sister, but she is growing older without a husband by her side. Frivolous spending on the part of her father forces the family to let the homestead and move to the south. Not wanting to leave, Anne stays behind with her younger sister who married into a family of young spirits and welcoming hearts.

While with her sister's family-in-law (if that's the correct term) she comes into contact with Captain Wentworth whom she had loved about ten years ago. Don't worry, the attachment was/is mutual.

As per usual, Father Elliot didn't approve when they met many years ago, which is the reason they aren't married already when the story takes place. 

After a few hundred pages of emotional struggles between Anne and Captain Wentworth, they are able to reestablish the never lost love and decide to get married. It only took the whole novel for this to unfold. Typical.

Some say that Jane's stories are hard to read because if the language but I rather adore the way that people talked back then. It's quite pleasing to the ear.

Only two books behind, this is t-bear signing off

A Truly Magical Novel

Book 33 - A popular author's first book

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

"...there will be books written about Harry - every child in our world will know his name!" - Albus Dumbledore

I feel this is a very excellent quote to use to describe such a series of novels, because isn't it true? I dare you to find a person who has never heard of the name Harry Potter. You could do it, but it would be difficult.

As I studied my book shelf for a novel to use for this challenge, I was delighted to have my eyes fall upon this particular tale.  The only problem now is that I would like to continue to read the next 6 books in the series to complete the beautiful story.

I always love rereading a series because there are so many wonderful tidbits of information that you know will mean something once you get to the later novels. This is how I felt traveling through the wonderfulness that is this first novel.

I would take the time to give you a recap of the story but that would be rather unacceptable, in my humble opinion.  Harry Potter is not something that can be paraphrased and then passed along; it must be experienced first hand by the readers themselves.

If you have never read the novels before and decide to take yourself on the lovely journey; please feel free to let my sister know how truly spectacular they are. One of these days I'm going to get her to read them all and enjoy the experience.

BRB, off to pre-order books, this is t-bear signing off

AWOL Woman

Book 32 - A book that scares you

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

AKA - What not to do in a relationship 101

91 - Scary. I suppose some of you who have read the novel are wondering what part of the story would make me scared. Not a BOO! scared but a psychologically afraid for my life.

92 - I sat down to start reading and couldn't stop. There is something about the story line, as insane as it is, that drew me in. I just couldn't stop reading it.

93 - Just as I was getting used to the craziness that surrounds the two main characters, I was hit with a plot twist that changed everything. At least three times this happened. I had so much warning and yet I continued to travel down a doomed path.

94 - I have to admit that I was able to identify with the characters at a few different times during the story. Both main characters had been writers in another life and this writing seemed to creep up again when I least expected it to.

95 - A large part of the psychoticness of the main characters that got to me is that they would pretend to be one person at one point and then completetly changing their personality the next moment. Scary.

96 - Gillian Flynn is an amazing author.

97 - I would definitely read this novel again. Though next time I would be much more prepared for the mental strain.

98 - I'm going to watch the movie and probably hate it. But I'm going to watch it. I'd like to see how those lovely two main characters are portrayed.

99 - There is exactly one thing about me that Oma spends hours stewing over, daily; the fact that at my ripe young age of 21, I do not yet have a boyfriend. This novel did not make me want to go out into the world and seek a boyfriend.

100 - This is the exact type of novel that makes me love and hate an author. The writing style and the story line are perfect works of fiction, but the reality that sits just under the surface is jarring.

101 - The marriage between the two main characters is not what one should strive for with the idea of a healthy realationship in mind. Read this novel if you're confused as to what a healthy relationship looks like, this is not it.

Mani, latte, dfreeze, keeping it real, this is t-bear signing off