Musical Empowered Sunday Funday

Sunday Funday

In two weeks, the local theatre company in my neighborhood will be putting on their annual musical. I've acted in it for several years, but this year I decided to take a break and just do stage crew instead. As we started some set construction yesterday, I was inspired to make this Sunday Funday all about musicals.

I compiled a list of some of my favorite songs from musicals. They will be based on what shows I've seen or heard (thanks to Spotify).

1. "Climb Every Mountain" - The Sound of Music
    The Sound of Music is my absolute favorite musical. This song is one of the best in this show. To me, it means to do what it takes to go after your dreams and don't let any obstacles along the way to get you down or give up.

For the rest of the list, they are just iconic songs.

2. "Circle of Life" - The Lion King

3. "Do You Hear the People Sing?" - Les Miserables

4. "Beauty and the Beast" - Beauty and the Beast

5. "Defying Gravity" - Wicked

6. "Tradition" - Fiddler on the Roof

7. "There's No Business Like Show Business" - Annie Get Your Gun

8. "Hello Dolly" - Hello Dolly

9. "This is the Moment" - Jekyll and Hyde

10. "Seasons of Love" - Rent
      This song, just like "Tomorrow" from Annie, has been overdone, but it still remains one of my favorites.

My theatre company is doing Man of La Mancha this year. While I'm not too familiar with the show/musical numbers, it is based on the book Don Quixote, which I read two years ago. Of course, I know the song "The Impossible Dream".

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

Meg

Luanne Rice Spotlight

Author Spotlight

Luanne Rice

 

Did You Know?

1. American novelist
2. Author of 32 books
3. Debut novel was Angels All Over Town
4. Received 2014 Connecticut Governor's Arts Award in the literary arts category
5. Crazy In Love, Blue Moon, Follow the Stars Home, Silver Bells, and Beach Girls have been adapted into TV movies and a mini-series for the last one.
6. Her books are often centered on family, love, nature and the sea.
7. New York Times bestselling author
8. Just recently published her first novel for young adults

I've read a few of Luanne Rice's novels. My favorite of hers is Follow the Stars Home.

 

For more information about Luanne Rice and her books, check out her website here.

 

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

 

Meg



A Separate Peace Review

Writing Tuesday

2016 Reading Challenge

8. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
    Topic: a book you haven't read since high school

Synopsis:
Set at a boys boarding school in New England during the early years of World War II, A Separate Peace is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens between the two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys and their world.

My Review:
Since I last read this in high school, my opinions and thoughts have changed. Back then, I remember I didn't really like it. I thought it was slow and boring, but then again, I was only a teen who knew I would be tested on it.

Reading it now, my perspective is different. I love reading for fun, choosing a book that I want to read on my own. Anyway, I found it to be more enjoyable. Phineas and Gene have a friendship like no other. Gene is more laid-back and studious, while Phineas is more adventurous and pushes the boundaries. I liked how Phineas takes Gene along an adventurous ride, letting him know that you can still have fun and get good grades at the same time. Then something happens (you know I can't give it away) and instead of breaking them apart, it kind of brings them closer together. Yes, they have their issues after that moment, but they conquer through until the end. 

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

Meg

Winter Wonderland

Sunday Funday

Although winter is over in just a few weeks, I've decided to do a winter tag. In my area, it's actually slightly warmer than normal.

All About Winter

1. Do you like the cold?
     Yes only because I don't tolerate heat well in summer.

2. Favorite Part About Winter?
     I've always liked a fresh coat of snow on the ground/ trees because it looks beautiful.

3. Favorite Winter Drink?
     Hot chocolate or tea

4. Do You Do Any Outdoor Activity's In The Winter?
     Not really. I've always wanted to learn how to ski. I like ice skating and even took lessons one winter - wish I could ice skate more.

5. Favorite Winter Scent?
     The crispness of a fireplace. I don't actually have a fireplace but there's a store down the street that always has a fire going to keep warm when people are outside of it.

6. Does It Snow Where You Live?
     Yep. My area had a blizzard a few weeks ago, part of winter storm Jonas. We also had a coating/couple inches not too long ago. When it comes to storms where I live, it's either hit or miss depending on the track of it.

7. Favorite Clothing Item In Winter?
     Just sweaters to keep warm.

8. Your Favorite Winter Memory?
     Don't really have one. When I do a play, rehearsals are in winter and they can be fun. I did like ice skating when I was a teen.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

Meg

Remembering Harper Lee

Author Spotlight

As I was preparing to start doing the author spotlight again yesterday, news came in of Harper Lee's passing. Even though I had another author in mind, I decided to hold off a day and dedicate this week's author spotlight to Harper Lee instead.

 

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books of all-time. I read it in 7th grade so I would have been about 13. Harper Lee brought to us Atticus Finch, Scout and several other good characters. Atticus Finch, in my opinion, is one of the greatest literary figures/heroes of all-time. Harper Lee published her second novel, Go Set a Watchman, last year even though it was written years ago. It was thought to be the sequel, but was later found out to be the first draft, of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Did You Know?

To Kill a Mockingbird Edition

 

1. Harper Lee's real name is Nelle Harper Lee.
2. Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 just one year after publication
3. Classic of modern American literature
4. Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
5. Deals with adult attitudes of race and class in the South of the
   1930's.
6. Based loosely on Lee's observations and an event that took place
   where she grew up in Alabama.
7. Gregory Peck is known for his role of Atticus Finch, of which he
   won an Oscar.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

 

Meg

 

Murder in the South of France Book Review

Writing Tuesday -

2016 Reading Challenge

7. Murder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
    Topic: a murder mystery

Synopsis:
Maggie Newberry is sheltered, privileged but also a whip-smart advertising copywriter who's fast on her feet and a little stunned to realize that she's 34 years old and still hasn't found "the one." When her long-missing sister ends up dead in Maggie's trendy Atlanta condo, Maggie finds herself flying to the south of France to find the little niece that up until then no one in the family even knew existed. Along the way, she finds handsome Laurent Dernier, a sexy if nefarious Frenchman who it's not clear is there to help or hinder Maggie's search for the girl. Meanwhile, her sister's murderer sets his sights on the little girl - and Maggie.

My Review:
I'm going to start this a little different. It's not really a secret, but the synopsis part of my book reviews are the book blurbs (you know the part on the back of a book that sums up what the book's about). Sometimes I'll redo it or what not and sometimes I keep it the way it is. Anyway, the synopsis of this particular book is a little misleading. I didn't want to adjust it because then I'll be basically giving the full story away.

I've got two words to sum up my thoughts: badly written. There were several discrepancies throughout the book, as well as inconsistencies. That combined made the story and plot drag on. I always try to come up with something positive about each book that I read, but I really can't think of anything that was good about Murder in the South of France. Even though the title suggests that most of the story takes place in France, it actually takes place more in Atlanta. I originally chose to read this book for a book that takes places in Europe, but had to change that theory after only reading the first couple of chapters. France isn't really described that well both times that Maggie was actually there - it seemed more fake. I had French in high school and learned a lot more about France than what was not even half decently described in the book. Setting and description are really important to the story, but it was lacking in that department. Choices made by Maggie and other characters were surprising and out of place.

I read this book on my Kindle app. One of the things that I most disliked is that the story ended around 85%. The remaining 15% of the book was a preview for the next book of the series. My problem is that it included four or five chapters before ending in a climax. To me, I want to be sold into a story in the first chapter or two. I did have another book in this series in my library (with Kindle) as well, but there's no way I'm reading it after how horrible this book was. Both were free when I got them and I now understand why.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

Meg

Valentine's Day Extravaganza

Sunday Funday

If you're single like me, it's just another day, but don't worry.

Let's show love for one another all year round instead of just one day.

Meg