Literally Correct

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Written By: Ransom Riggs

Cover Artist:

About the Author: Ransom Riggs grew up in Florida, where he spent his formative years making silly movies with his friends in their various backyards, snorkeling, and complaining about the heat. He studied English at Kenyon College and film at the University of Southern California. He is married. He has a cat. He lives in Los Angeles. He makes films you can watch on his YouTube page: www.youtube.com/ransriggs. He enjoys traveling to exotic lands and complaining about the heat. He would like to thank you for reading this short biography.

Publisher: Quirk Books

Publication Date: June 7^th, 2011

Pages: 352 pages

Age Range: 13 and up

Buying Options: Amazon.com or BN.com

Genre(s): horror/mystery/fantasy/young adult

Synopsis: As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man’s unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs—alive and well—despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.

My Review: Before I get into my review I must first explain I had no intention of actually finishing this book. Prior to picking it up, while waiting for a Molly Ringwald book signing, I never heard of it. My intention, at the time, was to read something to pass the 2 hour wait time. Little did I know I would end up purchasing the book because in that 2 hour time I read nearly 100 pages. I was unaware of its NY Times bestseller list appearance. All I knew was it had a rather interesting title and cover. It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I noticed it was published by Quirk, one of my favorite publishing houses which brought us bestsellers like “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies” and “Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer” to name a few. It is no wonder I found myself finishing this book in 4 days!

I did do some research on the author and some background on where this book would be headed. I did this because nowadays YA books are normally series of 3 or more books. This story is no exception, its set up to be at least a 3 book series. I’m anticipating the next two books only because of the photographs (real by the way) used in this book. Just the amount of hunting and research that had to go into incorporating such real and yet peculiar photos into a well plotted story like this impressed me greatly.

If you were to judge this book by its cover you might assume it’s scary or a thriller of some sort? I mean, the girl is levitating. While I grant there is mystery and the children are peculiar by all definitions, it’s not as scary as I expected it to be on paper. Perhaps the movie (purchased by 20th Century Fox) will take up where the book left much to ones imagination? Otherwise, if you are looking for escape to another time and another world entirely, this book will easily put you in the shoes of one such man who does just that. And the pictures shared along the way only serve to better move the story along.

My Rating: ★★★★

Read In: 4 days

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Original Article

Top Ten Posts I Think Give You The Best Glimpse of ME

Learn more and check out the TTT schedule now available through November!

My blog is still pretty new. Although I imported my “more opinionated” blog that I kept from previous years, I’ve learned to enjoy the arts more and leave my troubles behind me. It’s been almost one year since I’ve decided to shed my old skin and embrace a new one which involves going to the movies, the theater, and reading a good book every now and then. I can’t say all the movies and theater and books I’ve attempted were great and worth enticing others to follow suit, but the journey has always been and will always be worth it. I figure, why not share my thoughts (albeit one sided from time to time) with an audience I hope to increase some day. Enjoy!

Book Reviews:

1. The Hunger Games - After reading the HP series I found myself becoming nostalgic for YA books. It turns out you’re never too young to read them. And while I will NEVER read the Twilight series, there are other “less popular” but just as great if not better YA series out there. The Hunger Games was my official stepping stone…

2. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened - I believe this is one of the best reviews I’ve ever written simply because this is one of the best books of 2012 I’ve ever read. I’d also go so far as to say it’s the best comedic true story I’ve ever read as well.

3. Cinder - A YA series I happened to come across one day while browsing in the book store. The cover caught my eye and the description was unforgettable. Had I known I’d have to wait a year before the next one came out I probably wouldn’t have read it. I still remember waiting for the next HP book to come out and needing to stand in line over night to buy it at the stroke of midnight. While this series probably won’t have that kind of pomp and circumstance I’m glad I read it and can share my thoughts on it with you. Just be aware book 2 (Scarlet) does not come out till February 2013.

4. The Little Red Guard - I enjoy reading autobiographies very much. My long list of book signings I’ve been to can attest to it. I don’t just buy them I read them. This story however differs from any autobiography you’ll ever read. It was, and I believe still is, a best-seller and a true story of a 3 generation family growing up in China. I read this book in under a week and appreciated the author for sharing this story.

Movie Reviews:

5. Rear Window - Just one of many movies I’ve seen growing up that now I get to see on the big screen!

6. TCM Presents… Julie - I’ve started this new section on my blog that will have me reviewing a movie I watch on TCM that I’ve never seen before. I just love Robert Osborne. Don’t you?

7. Snow White and the Huntsman - I have to give credit where credit is due to Kristen Stewart who proved to me sometimes it’s the movie not that actors that can give me the wrong impression. A slice of humble pie anyone?

8. Dark Shadows - Another reminder but this time in the reverse. Just because I love a particular actor doesn’t mean they’ll be amazing in any movie they do. Johnny Depp disappointment but lesson learned.

9. Titanic - A movie I avoided for as long as I could, then my brother dragged me, kicking and screaming. Here is my review of a movie I didn’t want to see, EVER!

The Greats:

10. Marlene Dietrich - Something else I’ve added to my blog is this segment known as “The Greats.” It doesn’t have to be related to movies. It can be anyone or any place. I like lists so I love this idea I started.

Original Article

TCM Presents… Kings Row (1942)

Director: Sam Wood

Screenwriter(s): Casey Robinson

Producer: Hal B. Wallis

Distributor: Warner Bros.

In Theaters: February 2, 1942

Run Time: 127 minutes

Starring: Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan & Claude Rains

Genre(s): drama/mystery/romance

Storyline: Five children in an apparently ideal American small town find their lives changing as the years pass near the turn of the century in 1900. Parris and Drake, both of whom have lost their parents, are best friends; Parris dreams of becoming a doctor, studying under the father of his sweetheart Cassie, while Drake plans on becoming a local businessman when he receives his full inheritance - juggling girlfriends in the meantime. As they become adults, the revelations of local secrets threaten to ruin their hopes and dreams. (from imdb.com)

Movie Trailer:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxmseMP9eFo&feature=youtu.be]

My Review: This is one of those movies you have to give some credit to for trying. In the 1940’s a lot of the movies made discussed controversial subjects but could never come right out and say what they were otherwise the movie would not be allowed an audience. I enjoy watching movies from this time period the most because it shows you just how clever the writers and directors had to be to get away with depicting certain subjects we still can’t quite get right today. Now, you might find this movie a bit juvenile with what the movie industry found untouchable back then, but the 1940’s was a very private time and a very tense time especially with WWII looming in the backdrop. A great movie had to be one that could distract you from what was going on in your own life.

Here we see a seemingly “good town” as it professes to right from the beginning when it shows you the towns motto. I think the word “good” is there about 5 times at least! Well good it is not. We all know there are skeletons in every families closet and this town was full of families with secrets. Some of which are insanity. This plays a big part in the movie since it’s around the time that psychiatry is being accepted by the medical profession and taught in schools in Europe. The medical profession is also delved into in a most diabolical way. Imagine a doctor who performs gruesome surgeries on patients he feels have sinned and therefore their penance is to go through life in pain, sometimes death? What if that doctor was highly respected by the community he serves, therefore his methods are never questioned?

I watched this movie on a day where Claude Rains was being showcased. Granted he isn’t in the movie for very long, his performance was stellar. He plays the dark and deceptive doctor who turns out to have done all he did for the betterment of his family.

My only criticism is the movie left me with a lot of “what ifs” as well as unanswered (or perhaps unanswerable) questions. I could see so many angles they could have taken in truly depicting this town as “sinful” (the description of the movie). Yet they played it safe and in doing so left me unsatisfied with the end result. If not for discovering (during the closing credits) that Ronald Reagan was in it (yes, this is the first movie I’ve seen of his) and Ann Sheridan as well, I probably would have given it a lesser grade.

My Rating: C-

Original Article

Step Up Revolution

Director: Scott Speer

Screenwriter(s): Jenny Mayer

Producer: Jon M. Chu

Distributor: Summit Entertainment

In Theaters: July 27^th, 2012

Run Time: 99 minutes

Starring: Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman, & Cleopatra Coleman

Genre(s): drama/music/romance

Storyline: The Mob sets the dancing against the vibrant backdrop of Miami. Emily arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer and soon falls in love with Sean, a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs, called “The Mob”. When a wealthy business man threatens to develop The Mob’s historic neighborhood and displace thousands-of people, Emily must work together with Sean and The Mob to turn their performance art into protest art, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause. (From IMBD.com)

Movie Trailer:

My Review: What can I say about a movie that has managed to completely dissapoint me on many levels? Let me start by my choice of movie posters you see above. I chose that poster specifically because 1. I can’t stand the one with the “love interest” as the main picture and 2. It’s a fabrication of the truth in order to get those of us who love Moose and the last 2 Step Up movies HE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN to go see this one. Well, SPOILER ALERT, if you’re planning on seeing this movie in hopes of seeing more Moose moves, I suggest you buy Step Up 2 & 3 because he’s in this movie for all of about 3 minutes. I actually think it’s less than that, but I’m rounding up here. He’s in the very tail end of the movie and gets very little camera time. While I love Moose and was very upset he wasn’t in the movie at all I was even more upset that neither was MSA or the Pirates. With the exception of 2 representatives from each crew, this needed all the help it could get!

What differed so much for me was also the lack of a competition mixed into the story. At least with the last two movies (I refuse to acknowledge the first Step Up movie) there was a true purpose and goal. This movie, while it did not lack in dialogue (more talking than dancing for sure) did not connect with me whatsoever. I did not feel their desire to make statements with their dancing, something I felt they did more of with their opening dance routine than when they decided (towards the end) to make statements through dance.

The routines were interesting and definitely showcased a lot of other dances that we wouldn’t normally consider cool and that worked. But being there was only 5 dances in this movie and each one was at most 5 minutes long that still left about 75 minutes of dialogue. Are you cringing yet? I sure was sitting in the movie theater. Now, I’ve been told there were the same amount of dances in the other two movies I happened to love. I have not verified if this is true. But if it is, I’d argue the element that was missing then was bringing back the old familiar faces. Cause as far as I’m concerned there was nothing memorable about The Mob. If you were to ask me to name let alone describe any of the dancers from this new crew, all I got for you is the smokin’ hot DJ, the graffiti dude, and Twitch (not his name in the movie I know). The latter also doesn’t count because he’s from Step Up 3-D, an original from The Pirates crew.

The love interest was even more corny than the first movie and her ambition to join that ballet company was a joke that shouldn’t even have been a story line since it falls flat in the end. The only mention we get of that whole unnecessary ordeal is when she, in passing, tells someone (probably her father or love interest) that she didn’t make it into the dance company. What?! After you made me suffer through Mia Michaels character acting like she’s all that and a bag of chips you left it like that? The least you could have done was had her among the crowd when Emily (I think that was her characters name) danced that dumb number with her love interest at the end of the movie. What was the point? it was an odd place and time especially since she wasn’t there to see it, love it, and open up a spot for her. That would have made the movie score a “C+” with me at least!

If they dare to do a 5th Step Up movie, I will need MSA and The Pirates to be in it and for more than just a few minutes before I’d even consider going to see it.

My Rating: C-

Original Article

TTT: Top Ten Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

While I’d like to switch places with these characters for 24hrs, I would not like to do it consecutively. You will see where I’m coming from when you see my list.

- Christopher Robin (The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne)

- Ike Stone (Just Like Martin by Ossie Davis)

- Lorraine (The Pigman by Paul Zindel)

- Biff (Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore)

- Candle (Son of a Witch: Volume 2 in the Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire)

I could only come up with 5 characters! I’m sure if I have more time I can come up with another 5 to add to this list. But seeing as I’m already 3 days late on submitting this I’m going to stop here. If you can figure out why I want to be those particular characters from that book, extra points for you!

Which characters do you wish you could trade places with?

Original Article

The Communist

Written By: Paul Kengor, Ph. D.

About the Author: (back of the book) Paul Kengor, Ph.D., is a bestselling author whose works include Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century; God and Ronald Reagan; God and George W. Bush; God and Hillary Clinton; and The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism. His articles regularly appear in publications ranging from USA TODAY to The New York Times, plus numerous academic journals. A professor at Grove City College, Kengor is a frequent commentator on television and radio. Kengor earned his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and his master’s from American University.

Cover Artist:

Publisher: Mercury Ink

Publication Date: 7/17/2012

Pages: 400

Age Range: 17+

Buying Options: Amazon.com or BN.com

Genre(s): biography/memoir/African-American/Black/Political

Synopsis: (dust-jacket) TBA

My Rating: B

My Review: The story of Frank Marshall Davis is not a pretty one, but it had to be told. Unfortunately, those who should know the story of this mans life will not read it. They are the ones who blindly voted Barack Obama into office for reasons other than the content of his character. If those who voted for Barack Obama bothered to take a small peek into the content of his character and where exactly he got his morals and sense of values from, they would have no choice but to look at the man behind the “Frank” our President so conveniently mentions in his first book about his own life. The MSM, as usual, chose to either gloss over this mans mention, so much so they did not even bother to investigate who he was. Why should the MSM have cared? Well, wouldn’t you be interested to know who was so influential that he needed to be mentioned over a dozen times in an autobiographical book written by a man who, at the time, was a shoe-in for being our President? Instead we left “Frank” alone, until now, when Paul Kengor, Ph. D. had the courage to stand and tell us the facts about a man who, at one point, was on the FBI’s watch-list! That is not an easy list to get on and once you’re on it you remain there till you die.

Why was he placed on such an exclusive list? Well, besides the fact that he became a card carrying communist? To me that was reason enough. If you want to know the rest of his life I suggest you read this book. And while I agree with the author that Frank Marshall Davis’ life was not the best lived by any means, I hardly consider the “obstacles” he faced warrant enough to behave the way he did. He, like any other red blooded American, is entitled to believe and think and express those beliefs and thoughts with words however he so chooses, until those words can be used to incite violence of any kind. Once your words become a weapon and an instrument for bad things happening it must be noticed and monitored. He was noticed. He was monitored.

Why was a man who was a card carrying Communist, considered by Obama himself to be his closest and perhaps longest mentor? What appealed to him about Davis? Aside from that, why was this question never posed during his campaign in 2008 or after he won the DNC nomination? Or even after he won the Presidency? Read the book to find out the answer to those questions and so much more you wouldn’t even think of asking or needing to know about the man who influenced our President profoundly.

Read In: 10 days

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