So I am currently watching the British mini-series Downton Abbey. The show is amazing! Beautiful costumes, gorgeous sets, a juicy scandal-filled story, and a phenomenal cast of British actors make this an addictive ride. You can watch it online at the PBS Masterpiece website here. The second season will be filmed later this year, but for now I am loving the first season. Anyway, I highly recommend it!
I haven't seen a lot of new movies lately, but I did see the film Tangled twice over the holiday season. This is by far the best film that Disney has put out in quite a while. It was witty and genuinely funny without resorting to cheap bathroom humor. Can I describe how visually stunning it is? The lantern scene blew my mind--I saw it first in regular theaters, and it was gorgeous, but the second time I saw it in 3D and I almost forgot I was looking at a screen. Honestly, Tangled is so enjoyable. I will own it on DVD as soon as it comes out, but in the meantime, if you haven't had the pleasure of seeing it, go to the dollar theater and enjoy it!
Hmm. What else. Books! I read recently some fun YA fiction. Yes, I know, not very sophisticated, but nevertheless fun. First on the list is Matched by Ally Condie. It's kind of like The Giver meets The Hunger Games. It was a fun, easy read, but also made me stop and think. I'd give it a 7 or 8 out of 10--very enjoyable!
The next book is Pegasus by one of my favorite authors, Robin McKinley. I love fantasy books, and award-winning author Robin McKinley is a master storyteller. The story revolves around two races, humans and pegasi, who cannot communicate with each other without the aid of magicians. That is, until a certain princess finds she can speak with her assigned Pegasus companion. Their friendship is beautiful, and McKinley's world building is impeccable. The story ends rather abruptly, but Pegasus II comes out in 2012.
The final book I'll post about has been out for a while, but I finally got around to reading it. I'd been missing out! Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith is just what I like--swashbuckling fantasy, beautiful clothes, and a touch of romance. Could life get any better? The main character, Countess Meliara Tlanth, is a feisty young woman who despite her title was raised poor and ignorant. She has a mulish sense of standing up for what she believes to be right--the only problem is she isn't often right. She embroils herself in a scheme to overtake the throne of her kingdom, and finally is forced to leave the battlefield to battle it out in the kingdom's royal court. A bit fluffy at times, but enough action and intrigue to make a delightful read.
Okay, that's a really long post...I apologize. In the meantime, watch this YouTube video that cracks me up every time.
Have a great day!
