50 Books Challenge 2013 - # 17: Mr. Pip by Lloyd Jones

Title: Mr. Pip
Author: Lloyd Jones
Story: On a copper-rich tropical island shattered by war, where the teachers have fled with most everyone else, only one white man chooses to stay behind: the eccentric Mr. Watts, object of much curiosity and scorn, who sweeps out the ruined schoolhouse and begins to read to the children each day from Charles Dickens's classic Great Expectations.
Start: May 1st 2013
End: may 9th 2013
Comment: When all of the teachers flee Bougainville to avoid the war that is coming their way, it is Mr. Watts, the last white man on the island, who steps up and volunteers to teach these young minds and begins to read to the children each day from Charles Dickens's classic "Great Expectations". The narrator of the story, Matilda, is totally captivated by the story and character Mr. Pip. In a way, "Great Expectations" saves Matilda's life. It is what gives these kids the power of imagination. As a teacher I loved reading this and I found it endearing and it made me think of all the reasons I want to be a teacher. The characters in this novel come to life and it is nearly impossible not to completely invest yourself in Matilda. And I wished I had a teacher like Mr. Watts myself in the early days. This is a book that will stay in my mind for a long time.
Rating: 5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Brad Pitt Movies

He’s turning 50 this year, yes 50! Brad Pitt has been in the business for quite some time and he’s still going strong. He has a nice résumé and I decided to pick my five favorites. Here they are.

5. Twelve Monkeys
I especially like Brad Pitt in this movie. He’s gone mad! I always thought it was a unique story and a very strong ending as well.

4. Fight Club
It’s one of my brothers all-time favorites and he would be very mad seeing this on number four. “Fight Club” is not a movie for just anyone, but I like it a lot.

3. Inglourious Bastards
When someone has been in a Quentin Tarantino movie, it’s almost impossible to not have this on the list. Tarantino has an unique way of telling a story and Brad Pitt does a fine job as Lt. Aldo Raine. Especialy when he's trying to be a convincing Italian.

2. Babel
It’s the way the story is told, or actually stories. How they unfold and eventually come together like pieces of a puzzle. Fantastic film, a piece of art.

1. Se7en
This is Brad’s best. When I saw it for the first time, I thought it was pretty f***ed up. At least the killer in this movie was. It’s such an awesome film. And that classic line from Brad: “What’s in the box”? and the way he says it.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Burn After Reading, Interview with the Vampire, Snatch, True Romance, Sleepers, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Weekly Photo Challenge - Theme # 18: Tree

Here is this weeks challenge.

This picture was taken last year, at an amusement park. The "Efteling" is, I think, the most famous amusement park in my country and everything is build around the theme of fairytales. This is the fairytale tree, he tells stories. So no, it's not an actual tree but I love this picture so much and it's perfect for this weeks theme.

In the Picture: The Characters from "The Lion King"

One of my favorite Disney movies and an amazing experience everythime I watch it. When i first saw it, it blew my mind and I loved the characters. Here they all are.

Simba
Voiced by: Jonathan Taylor Thomas (young) and Matthew Broderick (adult)
Simba means lion in Swahili and he is supposed to follow up his father Mufasa as king of Pride Rock. Simba can’t wait to be king, he is a very happy cub and he idolizes his dad. When his dad dies and he grows older, he doesn’t see why he needs to become king anymore.

Mufasa
Voiced by: James Earl Jones
Mufasa is Simba’s dad and the king of Pride Rock. He is righteous and wise and a real leader. He is also powerful and courageous. Mufasa wants to be a rolemodel for his son. He dies after an accident caused by his brother Scar.

Scar
Voiced by: Jeremy Irons
Scar is Mufasa’s brother and he can’t stand the fact that the young Simba is going to be king after Mufasa. With a devious plan, he makes sure he becomes king and the Pride Lands will never be the same.

Timon
Voiced by: Nathan Lane
Timon is a meerkat and he befriends Simba. He teaches him the lesson of Hakuna Matata, no worries. Timon talks a lot and has a good sense of humor.

Pumbaa
Voiced by: Ernie Sabella
Pumbaa is Timon’s best friend and he is a warthog. He also befriends Simba. Pumbaa can eat and fart all day, but he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. He does have a big heart.

Zazu
Voiced by: Rowan Atkinson
Zazu is a red-billed hornbill and he’s Mufasa’s right hand. He looks after Simba when Mufasa isn’t around. Zazu is very proud of his position and acts very dignified, though he is not always taking seriously.

Nala
Voiced by: Niketa Calame (young) and Moira Kelly (adult)
Nala is Simba’s friend and always in for an adventure. When she’s older, she sees Simba again who she thought was dead. Simba and Nala fall in love and she tries to get Simba back to Pride Rock.

Rafiki
Voiced by: Robert Guillaume
Rafiki is a mandrill who lives in a baobab tree somewhere in the Pride Lands. He’s a friend of Mufasa and later of Simba. He’s the one who shows Simba he’s a true king.

Shenzi
Voiced by: Whoopi Goldberg
The only female hyena in the trio, but confident, self-controlled and the smartest of the three.

Banzai
Voiced by: Cheech Marin
Banzai is the most aggressive and excitable of the trio and the one who gets into a fight easily. He also talks about food very often.

Ed
Voiced by: Jim Cummings
Ed does never really ralk, but he communicates mainly through crazed laughter. He has a permanent idiotic grin with his tongue usually lolling out, and his eyes never seem to focus on anything properly. Not the brightest hyena in the crowd.

Favorite Character: Zazu

Movie Trailer Sunday (86)

Here are this weeks trailers.

Tiger Eyes
Description: Davey (Willa Holland) is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange atom bomb town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father, the displaced Davey no longer knows who to be or how to fit in. Everything that once mattered suddenly seems insignificant. But when she meets Wolf, a mysterious young Native-American, while exploring the surrounding canyons, she feels he is able to see past her pain and into her true self. The connection they make brings Davey back from the edge and sets her on a journey from heartbreak and confusion to life and love after tragedy.
Director: Lawrence Blum
Starring: Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, Cynthia Stevenson, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle, Russell Means
Trailer: Trailer "Tiger Eyes"

Aftershock
Description: In Chile, an American tourist's vacation goes from good to great when he meets some beautiful women travelers. But when an earthquake ravages the underground nightclub they're in, a fun night quickly turns to terror. Escaping to the surface is just the beginning as they face nightmarish chaos above ground.
Director: Nicolás López
Starring: Eli Roth
Trailer: Trailer "Aftershock"
Comment: Somehow I Always liked Eli Roth.

Girl Most Likely
Description: Imogene (Kristen Wiig) was once a promising young New York playwright whose promise has fizzled, thanks to a crisis of confidence. Heavily in denial about being dumped by her society boyfriend, Imogene uses her skill for drama to stage an elaborate fake suicide as an appeal for his sympathy. But her attempt backfires when she's put into the custody of Zelda, her estranged gambling addict mother (Annette Bening), and must return home with her to the Jersey shore. Desperate to get back to her Manhattan circle of so- called friends, Imogene must finally deal with her family, including her unique brother (Christopher Fitzgerald), Zelda's new boyfriend The Bousche (Matt Dillon), plus a cute young lodger (Darren Criss),who together help Imogene sort out her place in the world.
Director: Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Christopher Fitzgerald, Darren Criss
Trailer: Trailer "Girl Most Likely"
Comment: I just love Kristen Wiig.

Violet & Daisy
Description: Violet and Daisy are two teenagers (Saoirse Roann and Alexis Bledel) on a surreal and violent journey through New York City. The two young assassins face a series of opponents, including one unusually mysterious man (James Gandolfini), in a life-altering encounter.
Director: Geoffrey Fletcher
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Alexis Bledel, James Gandolfini, Jean-Baptiste, Danny Trejo
Trailer: Trailer "Violet & Daisy"
Comment: Only shared it because I like Saoirse Ronana. Can't stand Alexis Bledel. The movie poster is cool by the way.

Walking With Dinosaurs
Description: Two brothers looking to follow in their father's footsteps leads to a showdown with dinosaurs in the Arctic North.
Director: Barry Cook, Neil Nightingale
Starring: Charlie Rowe
Trailer: Trailer "Walking with Dinosaurs"

In My Mailbox (95)

Eight postcards this week and two private swaps. The first postcard is actually one I already have, but it's very cute. It's from Hrodno, Belarus.

Sent: april 22nd 2013
Received: may 2nd 2013
Distance: 1,240 km (771 miles)
Travel Time: 10 days

From Chengdu, China I received this amazing landscape. What a view! Sadly enough the sender only wrote 'happy postcrossing'.

Sent: april 7th 2013
Received: may 2nd 2013
Distance: 7,935 km (4,931 miles)
Travel Time: 25 days

I want this library! it's a card from Leiden, Netherlands. The sender is also an avid reader.

Sent: april 29th 2013
Received: may 2nd 2013
Distance: 149 km (93 miles)
Travel Time: 3 days

My favorite of the of the week came from Kiev, Ukraine. I think this is such an adorable postcard, I just love hedgehogs. And I complimented the sender to her handwriting.

Sent: april 13th 2013
Received: may 3rd 2013
Distance: 1,722 km (1,070 miles)
Travel Time: 20 days

From Haarlem, Netherlands I received this extraordinary postcard. How amazing! I think it's really beautiful.

Sent: april 23rd 2013
Received: may 3rd 2013
Distance: 162 km (101 miles)
Travel Time: 10 days

Every card with a dog can make my day. It's from Ljubljana, Slovenia. My first card from this country. Really nice card.

Sent: april 22nd 2013
Received: may 3rd 2013
Distance: 816 km (507 miles)
Travel Time: 11 days

I finally got a "Where's Waldo" postcard. From Newcastle, Australia. I found Waldo by the way. On the back there are also other items you need to find.

Sent: may 23rd 2013
Received: may 4th 2013
Distance: 16,563 km (10,292 miles)
Travel Time: 11 days

And this wonderful deer came from Minsk, Belarus. What a beautiful animal is this, right.

Sent: april 29th 2013
Received: may 4th 2013
Distance: 1,458 km (906 miles)
Travel Time: 5 days
And some swaps. The first swap is from Gatchina, Russia again. A very cute squirrel. And thanks Anton for reading my blog!

And a swap from Essex, Great Brittain. She wanted to swap cards with me because she liked a goose card I once send to someone else. So I send it to her and I got this in return.

Thanks Veronika, Ke, Chantal, Elena, Maarten, Jozica, Sally, Uliana, Anton and Vicki for your amazing postcards this week!

Top 5 Thursday: Scene Stealers

Everybody knows this: supporting actors or actresses that just happen to steal practically every scene they’re in. Here are my five favorites.

5. Chloë Grace Moretz in “Kick-Ass”
As Hit-Girl, Chloë Grace Moretz gives away a classic scene stealing performance. Coolest hero without superpowers ever!

4. Emily Blunt in “The Devil Wears Prada”
I think everybody stole all the scenes away from leading lady Anne Hathaway in this movie. Poor Anne. Most people prefer Meryl, but I’m team Emily! Great role, perfect scene stealer.

3. Jack Black in “Orange County”
I simply love this movie, but Jack Black’s character is just unforgettable. He steals all the scenes, especially the ones where he is in his undies.

2. Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Bastards”
Let’s be honest, Christoph Waltz made this movie. What a wonderful performance, by an actor that we didn’t know at that time. A real scene stealer.

1. Tim Robbins in “Mystic River”
Tim Robbins knows how to steal a scene. His performance is so amazing and I just felt for him. He got an Oscar for this role and he totally deserved it.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Kevin Spacey in “Se7en”, Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”, Robert Carlysle in “Trainspotting”, Michael Clarke Duncan in ‘The Green Mile”,Louis Gossett Jr. in “An Officer and a Gentleman”, Sean Penn in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, Brad Pitt in “Twelve Monkeys”, Christian Bale in “The Fighter”, Mark Wahlberg in “The Departed”, Christoph Waltz in “Django Unchained”