review: Memory, Sorrow and Thorn Trilogy (books)

if anyone can claim being the "tolkien" of the modern age - George R. R. Martin has nothing on Tad Williams. Not only was he first, but he's not nearly as dark as Martin and Tolkien's genre was not so black. Williams is just as prolific as Tolkien without being stupidly prolific with songs, poems, and awkward ending wars.

I first tried to read this series in 8th grade as a dare from my friends to read the thickest book we could find in our school library. i completely failed my first attempt.

the second however, was successful. but it was years in between the attempts - mainly because the first hundred or so pages are deadly dull. i know, not a ringing endorsement. BUT if you can solider past 100 or so pages of our main character "mooning" about, and the back story evolving usually involving the main character being somewhere he shouldn't be and over hearing things he doesn't understand, the story gets awesome.

There are technically four books to this trilogy.... i know... not quite what you're expecting but trust me it makes sense. Like HP movie #7 being split into 2 parts, book three of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is also split into 2 parts (but only for the paperback): part 1 - Siege, part 2 - Storm. So, ideally 3 books but technically 4.

The story begins with the sickening and death of the King of Osten Ard who gained his throne by slaying a dragon to unite the lands (not as... cliche as it sounds but can't really tell you anything as it is plot.... sorry!) With his death the united kingdoms start to argue among themselves, especially with two sons to possibly succeed him.

the story revolves around Simon, your basic a kitchen boy. because he is spacey and "moons" around, he gets apprenticed to Dr. Morgenes your basic druid/wizard who is a member of a secret society protecting a prophecy that will ensure the world's survival should darkness once again threaten it. see where i'm going here? anyways - will a power vacuum things become dicey and long story short, Simon ends up escaping from the castle with some of Dr. Morgenes secrets with him.

Through the series you can expect variations of dwarves, elves, magic, portals into lost realms, politics, a kingdom in flight, evil and sword fights. I give Tad Williams "Memory, Sorrow & Thorn" 3.5 out of 5 stars.

review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 (movie)

So. Here I am, returning after 6 months (give or take). and straight to the review!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 2!!!! The final installment of the Harry Potter universe is complete! *dies slightly inside* Now what will I agonize over??? Just kidding folks. (kinda)

The following review is going to be very difficult for me to accurately describe this movie... Not only have I only seen it once, which was a week a ago, but also because this movie stirred the emotions in me so much so that my memory of the actual movie plot is blurred. Don't get me wrong - i remember the plot perfectly... i'm just not quite sure if I remember the music or lighting or acting because this movie was so anticipated and lived in. I bounced from the highest peaks of euphoria to deepest depths of despair in spans of seconds. Sometimes I couldn't tell if I was crying because I was happy or sad.

I also don't expect many to have had or have the same reaction as myself... I grew up with these books. They defined so much of what I believed in and how I look at the world. My childhood was magical because of these books and the movies have only served to heighten the joy and bring another way of experiencing the story to life. So read on if you dare, brave soul - just be warned.

***SPOILER ALERT!!! don't read on if you don't want to know.... although if you don't know what happens you seriously must have been living with your head under a rock for upwards of 10 years.... congrats?***

The movie opens with a small recap of pt. 1, namely Voldy-pants finding the Elder wand or "death stick" - the undefeated wand - that will give him an edge over Harry Potter. Harry and the gang are at a safe house with the newly weds Bill and Fleur after having buried Dobby and rescued Griphook the goblin, Mr. Ollivander, and Luna Lovegood. The trio learn that Voldemort has the Elder wand, formerly Dumbledore's wand, and they formulate a plan with Griphook to break into Gringotts, the wizard bank to steal the Horcrux that they believe Bellatrix has in her vault. Wth this one attained, the trio only has two horcruxes left to find and destroy. however they must break into gringotts - something believed to be impossible. Here we insert a chase scene with the trio escaping on dragon back.

The remainder of the movie is the trio at hogwarts. here the trio is running around, trying to find a ravenclaw horcrux because this is where harry's visions take him. and then the battle begins. this was emotional for me because what most people forget is that hogwarts is a school... this is a war in a school... full of children. this is tragic and horrible... it just made me sad despite the fact that i knew this had to happen. and the battle is horrifying, and real (as can be when dueling with magic), and terrifying. for you, for the characters...

needless to say there's a happy ending. but you'll need to watch it to see how it goes.

favorite parts:
- Mrs. Weasley's slaying of Bellatrix "not my daughter, you bitch!" -- i've been wondering how they were going to do this cuz Mrs. Weasley is such a character and they made it quite restrained... more refined. well done, WB.
- ressurection stone's resurrection of harry's parents, god father and remus. i love this scene because it's so symbolic... they are there to lead him to die. it's... i've got no words.
- neville on the bridge. this guy's got two! neville has this awesome moment where the voldy's death eaters are charging hogwarts and they run into the erected magical barrier which... dissolves them (i guess?). anyway after they stop at the barrier neville jeers at them... and then the barrier falls. run neville!!!! good laugh.
- neville's second spotlight is his speech near the end. he talks about the moral of harry potter. how you continue to stand for the right thing regardless of how difficult it is. it's very fitting.
- ron and hermione's kiss... FINALLY! like most, i was waiting for them to get together. it's a much better couple that harry and hermoine which is depicted in their awkward dance scene in a tent.

parts that were just kinda weird:
- epilogue... oh, how we love awkwardness.
- hermione's impersonation of bellatrix lestrange in gringotts. this is odd just because it's not well explained in the movie as to why they don't just use Bellatrix's wand to verify her identity despite the fact that it's actually hermione. it's just awkward and pulls you ok of the movie.
- neville confesses at some point that he's got the hots for luna. this is not in the books at all, in fact j. k. rowling says she purposely didn't set them up this way so i was kinda disappointed

As promised for the folks still reading - a five out of five star review. How can I not give it a perfect rating? It gave me everything the previews and books promised and more... what the hell am i supposed to do now?

review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 (movie)

w00t!!!!!! i was soooooooo excited for this movie! like 99.999999999% of the people who read this blog know, I am a huge Harry Potter fan (I win trivia contest with my nerdiness, folks) so you can only guess how excited i am when the new installment comes out.

This premiere found me in a not so different situation from all the other premieres - standing in line, in costume, playing "who is the nerdiest harry potter fan?". suffice it to say: i won.

so, after waiting for a few hours for them to part the velvet ropes, carrie and i were finally, along with hundreds of other hard core fans, found ourselves flowing toward center seats in the theater. there we were kept entertained by a group of fans who had prepared dance numbers to "Harry and the Potters" music. they had the whole theater up dancing, singing, and laughing. displays like this are the reason i go to midnight premiers - there's an atmosphere of excitement, usually good cheer (unless someone commits some taboo), and a sense of camaraderie.

back to the movie!!!
*beware: spoilers ahead! - i won't reveal major plot points but if you haven't read the book this is all new and it's not my fault!*
this is the second movie where if you haven't read the books you might be a bit lost. this film is much darker than the previous films, although the forth was the first movie of the 8 to be grim and dark. and by dark, i mean sinister, depressing or dealing with more adult themes - at least, compared to the fact that these movies are supposed to be books/movies for children.

the movie opens focusing on figures in the dark. Snape and another death eater walk toward a house in the fog. upon entering it, Voldermort is holding court with his followers, making plans for taking over the ministry of magic and dealing with the menace known as Harry Potter. in keeping with the depressing beginning, we then follow the golden trio as they prepare for their seventh year... or what would be their seventh year, however, the are instead going to look for the horcruxes, or pieces of Voldermort's soul, so they can be destroyed as this was Dumbledore's last mission for Harry before he was killed by Snape in the last book/movie. the most depressing part of this opening is Snape's betrayal of a fellow hogwarts' teacher and hermione wiping her parents' memories of her so that they won't be in danger or used against her as she fights in the war.

i can't describe the whole movie for you in this review but i will say that there are some amazing scenes in this movie:
- the initial flight from the dursley's is very well done - with comedy, great effects, suspense, and even despair.
- the ridiculous dancing scene in the tent between harry and hermoine which is too weird but very sweet and endearing.
- the weasley twins - enough said. but i'll elaborate - mainly george when his ear get blown off with his "holey" joke and when he walks in on harry and ginny making out in the kitchen.

there was one moment that truly bothered me. this was the death of hedwig. both the movie and the book kinda glossed it over, but especially the movie. the problem with doing this is that it is such a heart-rendering and important even because her death represents the death of harry's childhood. (i know that most people don't want to sit there and look below the surface of the book/movie but i look!) it's completely glossed over! seriously - they really don't mention it after she dies other than to say she died protecting harry.

all-in-all, this was an excellent movie, in fact the best out of the harry potter series so far. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars, not five because i have to save something for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2.

review: Mumford & Sons (music)

Another new favorite band!

this is another london based band - recently, i really seem to be liking the music that comes from across the pond. to me it is reminiscent of Norman Greenbaum's spirit in the sky, a folksy, rock song. Mumford & Sons tends to have more of a country/bluegrass twang to it... and it certainly does without the jesus references.

the band takes its name from the leader singer (guitarist and drummer too) Marcus Mumford. he and his three bandmates bonded over their shared love of "rootsy" music and after playing together for a bit over a year started booking gigs. they quickly became a part of London's underground folk scene.

they appeared on radio here in the states at the end of summer. their first hit state side was "The Cave" and their first hit in the UK "Little Lion Man" is now making it's way along US airways.

my favorite part about them is their great flair for the understated dramatics. their music videos (click on the songs above) feature all the band members usually performing with something random happening. in "the cave", they give their instruments to a mexican marching band and as the marching band lip syncs, the band bikes down a country road singing. their music has wonderful dramatic tension using crescendos wonderfully to really make the music swell.

they are a delightful respite to today's pop/rap music. i give Mumford & Sons 4 out of 5 stars due to not loving (or liking) every song on their album.

p.s. i actually have stuff to review so keep your eyes peeled for more updates!!!!

review: Birthday Dinner (food)

october is a busy month folks - sorry for the impromptu hiatus. hopefully now that i have some time, am no longer quite as sick, and have things to review - there will be a more steady stream of updates.

october was also a month of birthdays. two of my friends have their birthday's right next to each other and their wish was for me to cook them dinner. so this year i made them fava with pita, pork tenderloin, and green beans almondine.

fava + pita:
fava is one of my favorite dished that i learned to make while i was in greece. fava beans are better known in the states as butter beans. you mash the butter beans with olive oil to make a dip with the consistency of humus. then you dice red onions and put them on top, raw. drizzle it with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. the picture doesn't show this because it was attacked right as i put it out and before i could take a picture. dip pita in it and it's the perfect appetizer.

green beans almondine:
this is way favorite way to eat green beans. when your buying the green beans make sure there's no spoiled ones or brown ones! when you get home make sure you clean them and pull off the end that has the left over stem on it cuz it won't taste good. i would recommend diced or sliced almonds (whole ones won't really work). you then place a layer of green beans in a pan and sprinkle almonds on top. next drizzle olive oil and sea salt. then pop it all into the oven at about 400 degrees. make sure to check the oven periodically to see if the almonds are burning. if they are turn down the heat. after about 30 minutes you'll have perfectly cooked green beans with crispy almonds.

pork tenderloin:
this is my mom's recipe that she would always make. it's so good if a little odd. you can find pork tenderloin at most stores and the best thing about it is that it is a very lean cut of mean so you really don't need to trim it. next we make the marinade - you don't need to make it before hand cuz it really need to marinate for only 15 or 20 minutes. mix 1/2 a cup of molasses with 1/2 a cup of soy sauce. the mixture of the soy sauce and molasses makes the sauce sweet, salty and tangy - basically, delicious. after marinating the meat you can toss it in a pan in the oven at 450 degrees to cook and brushing the rest of the marinade on the meat every 10 minutes or so. cook it until there's a nice bronze glaze from the molasses. about 45 minutes. let rest about 10 minutes or all the juice and flavor will run out when you cut it. to keep it hot cover it with a towel.

serve and enjoy with wine and friends!

review: Florence + the Machine (music)

w00t! on a roll with reviews!

the next one is a band that i have fallen in love with over the last couple of months - ever since i heard their song on the tv show "V". this band is Florence + the machine. the lead singer is flo (florence) who knew, right? she is a brit and has a great voice. her music is genre bending spanning rock, blues/soul along with topics surrounding love, drunken brawls, murder and pagan sacrifice.

Lungs is there debut cd which was released in the UK in 2009, making it to the states in 2010 after they held the #1 spot on the charts for 28 weeks straight.

their music is fairly simple, instrumentally wise, focusing on a guitar, drums, tambourine, and sometimes piano and clapping. Pandora says that their music has rhythmic syncopation, acoustic rock instrumentation, vocal harmonies, repetitive melodic phrasing, and minor tonality... but i really don't know what that means other than i seem to really like it.

similar genre-bending artists include: Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Lily Allen. so if you like them give Florence + the machine a try.

and for your listening pleasure: a you tube clip of my favorite song Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up!) which mixes alice in wonderland with pagan sacrifice.

review: In the Woods (book)

sorry for the wait folks. having a social life, a full time job and being sick does not an updated blog make. sorry.... but i've got a lot of stuff to review so hopefully i'll get back on track with one update or more a week!

and now we return you to your regularly scheduled blog:

In the Woods by Tana Woods

this book was really good. in fact it's one of the few i actually bought that is not science fiction, fantasy, political satire or historical fiction.... wow, i need to branch out. however it is a crime drama. and not some crappy one like Jim Patterson. in this book there's a lot of psychological drama lots of psychological drama in this one: from major freak outs for Det. Rob Ryan, bouts of memory loss, and straight up sociopathic behavior.

The story takes place central Dublin, Ireland and one of Dublin's rural suburbs. Detectives from Dublin's murder squad are sent to investigate the death of a young girl who was killed on an archeological site right outside the suburb. the murder generates a lot of press due to the girl's age, skill in ballet, the horrific details of her murder and due to the previous deaths in this sleepy suburb. Over 20 years ago, the town felt the shadow of death pass by on a hot summer evening where three children went to play in the woods and only one emerged but without his memory. Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox are two detectives sent to investigate. and lo and behold Det. Ryan is that same boy who emerged from the woods over 20 years ago.

Det. Rob Ryan is the protagonist and narrator throughout the whole book, focusing only on what he can see and know. and he warns you that this book doesn't portray him in the best light which is sad but true. Cassie is the brains out of the two (she almost completed her degree in psychology... although that means she's probably as learned as i am.... and she's a detective.... now, i'm uncomfortable) while Det. Rob Ryan often just stands there and is menacing which in itself can be useful. the two have a great dynamic often sounding like teenage siblings rather than partners on Dublin's murder squad.

Is there a connection between the recent death and the deaths over 20 years ago? who killed them? will they be able to prove it? and will rob and cassie hook up?! *sigh*

so if you're down for an intelligent thriller with lots of twists and an ending with many levels you might enjoy Tana French's In the Woods. i'm only giving it 3.5 out of 5 stars because i really enjoyed the book up until the very end. it left me unsatisfied but that's only becuase it didn't end the way i hoped. however the ending was good.