Categories
Recommendations Watchlist

Clue (1985 Movie): Witty Snarky Parody

Are you looking for a screwball murder mystery comedy? The 1985 movie Clue is just the right answer.

Clue

Based on a board game of the same name, Clue tells the story of six guests who are invited to the castle of an unknown host. Well, it doesn’t go the way of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, but there are six murders before the dinner is through.

The first half is all about getting to know the weird guests and their weird behavioral quirks. Carry on and you’ll be rewarded in the second half. Because when the laughs come, they will be dragged out of you suddenly, and repeatedly. The last whacky hour just whizzes by, as our crazy guests get curiouser and curiouser.

The movie also doesn’t lose track of the whodunnit … And the award goes to the butler for revealing what “really” happened. In that final climax scene of the movie, our butler (Tim Curry) presents three scenarios, and I DARE YOU not to roar with laughter.

I have seen comparisons of Clue with Murder by Death (starring Maggie Smith). But Clue, IMHO, is vastly more humorous and well-orchestrated.

Rating: 8/10. Highly recommended.

Categories
Art & Illustration Memes To Be Read Books

Top Ten Bookish Gifts from Santa

Gifts from Santa

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every Tuesday, you pick ten books on that week’s topic. And this week we pick our favorite bookish gifts from Santa!

Categories
Books Memes Recommendations

Classic Remarks on Cordelia’s Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

I recently discovered the Classic Remarks meme, hosted by Briana and Krysta at Pages Unbound Reviews. I am very late to Classic Remarks, but it looks great and the topic for December 18 is very interesting:

Tell us about your favorite science fiction classic.

So, here it is: Cordelia’s Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold, my gateway read into science-fiction, way back in 2012. In many ways, it’s like stepping into the Star Wars world (the older Star Wars Episodes IV-VI, I mean). This is a repost of my review from that time, for this old favorite.

Categories
Recommendations Watchlist

Hitchcock Movies: Shadow, Suspicion, Stranger, Lady & Sabotage

I binge-watched several Hitchcock movies this week: Shadow of a Doubt, Suspicion, Strangers on a Train, The Lady Vanishes and Sabotage. Time well spent, and here’s a quick sum-up!

Categories
Art & Illustration Memes

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers for the Winter

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every Tuesday, you pick ten books on that week’s topic. And this week, we get free room to pick ten reads for the Winter season.

Here are the book covers that made me go Brrr…! with a Sigh this December.

All in all, Winter seems to denote so many things: #Christmas #snow #Rest&Relaxation #forgiveness #the never-ending pursuit of love #Santa Claus #mountainous adventures #gifts #irony #nostalgia #bottled memories #friendships in odd places #fairytales by the fireside #laughter #miracles, and of course, #moments of kindness.

Which bookish things does cold season remind you of? Would love to know!

Categories
Books Memes

Six Degrees: Judy Blume’s Margaret & Six Little Women

Six Degrees Judy Blume

It’s time for #6degrees. Start at the same place as other wonderful readers, add six books, and see where you end up. Inspired by the Six Degrees of Separation Meme hosted every month at Books are my Favorite and Best.

December 2020’s book is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume, a book that’s been around for 50 years.

Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink. She’s just moved from New York City to Farbook, New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with her new friends—Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When they form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong.
But none of them can believe Margaret doesn’t have religion, and that she isn’t going to the Y or the Jewish Community Center. What they don’t know is Margaret has her own very special relationship with God. She can talk to God about everything—family, friends, even Moose Freed, her secret crush.

Are you There God made me nostalgic for all those vintage childhood reads about important turning points in the lives of the protagonists — and of the readers. These cherished books were published long back but ring true for every age.

Categories
Best of List Long Posts Self-Help

Top 20 Ways to Get Over Reader’s Block

How to get over Reader's Block.

You may have heard of writer’s block, but have you heard of the reader’s block? There are some really funny descriptions over at Urban Dictionary. But simply put, the Reader’s Block is this perfectly incomprehensible state where a prolific reader’s bookish habits come to a screeching halt.

Sometimes, the Reader’s Block can go on for days, sometimes weeks. What are the triggers, and how do you cope with it? Read on to know more.

Categories
Books Recommendations

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater: Charming Regency Fantasy

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater was such a charming book, more so because it was so unexpected. I found it recommended on a recent Twitter thread on Regency era books about warlords and wizards, and knew I had to give it a try too.

Theodora (let’s just call her Dora) has always lived in a dream-like state, disconnected from her emotions, unable to fully grasp the rules of polite society. You see, when she was just a wee scamp, a sinister Faerie lord tried to abduct her (unsuccessfully), and ever since then, she’s been only living with “half a soul”.

Categories
Art & Illustration Books

Tam Lin by Jane Yolen & its Splendid Artwork

O I forbid you, maidens a’
That wear gold in your hair,
To come or go by Carterhaugh
For young Tam Lin is there.
Categories
Memes To Be Read Books

#NonFicNov Week 4 // New to My TBR

#NonFicNov

It’s #NonFicNov month: we’re encouraged to read non-fiction (or analyze past non-fiction reads). To ease the way, Shelf AwareDoing DeweyJulz Reads, and What’s Nonfiction have some cool weekly prompts to ponder.

This week we round-up all the wonderful book recommendations that we picked up in November from fellow #NonFicNov bloggers.