Alternate Oscars - Danny Peary

"The first Academy Awards were given out in 1929. In my view, they got it wrong then, and with few exceptions they have gotten it wrong ever since. Although it was declared that awards would be bestowed based on merit only, that does not always seem to have been the case."

Have you ever felt that an Oscar went to the wrong person or that an undeserving movie won Best Picture? If so, this is the book for you. Danny Peary takes the history of the Academy Awards from 1927-1991 and offers his take on Best Picture, Actor and Actress. He includes vintage photos as well as indepth descriptions of the movies plot and characters. Not only does he justify his choices, he also goes into detail about the history of the Academy Awards and why they made the choices they did. The truth behind some awards is far stranger than you might imagine.

The thing I love best about this book is the amount of detail Peary puts into each year. He obviously knows movies, even going so far as to offring runners-up to his choice of winner. He sees things the average moviegoer wouldn't, analyzes scenes and character, digs up the riches they're hiding and puts them on display for us. Take this excerpt about his choice for Best Actor 1946, Jimmy Stewart from "It's a Wonderful Life":

"Restless because he can't leave Bedford Falls, he does everything to expend energy, especially moving his hands and arms when talking. It's delightful when he finds Mary (Donna Reed) waiting at the house on their wedding night, amid a romantic setting, and is so stunned that he can't move his arms and must remain speechless. But at other times his arms swing wildly and he talks up a storm, makes speeches, argues with Potter, yells, screams, paces back and forth in front of Mary's house, runs through the streets, races up and down his stairwell, dances a wild Charleston with Mary, fights, jumps, dives into water, and on and on."

The drawbacks are few and far between. Peary's book only runs until 1991, almost twenty years of movies are begging for his opinion. As well, this book is currently out of print so good luck getting your hands on a copy if your local library doesn't have it.

Rating: 5/5

The Sunday Rundown

It has been a slow week for books at my house. I'm still working on "Little Women" and rereading "Fahrenheit 451" but I'm dreading an email from my library. No, it's not because I owe a huge fine or lost a book. It's because I'm about to go where I've never gone before: The Russians!

I've steered clear of those guys for years because I always saw them as giantic books full of heavy metaphors and a proliferation of characters I could never keep track of. Well, against my better judgement I am waiting to pick up "Anna Karenina" for my book club. I am excited but worried and not entirely looking forward to it, considering that the book was ruined for me years ago when someone spoiled the ending. Strangely enough I believe "Psycho" was spoiled in the
same year for me.

This is Wheezy Waiter and I think he's hilarious. He gets up early before he goes to work to vlog from Chicago. Enjoy!



This is from Matthew Barber's newest album 'True Believer'. Please to enjoy "Insanity or Death"

Cooking with Dog - Bento Box

I found this adorable cooking channel through YouTube. It's so cute and everything they make looks delicious. Francis (the dog) stays so still I forget he's there half the time. This is one of my favourite videos because the Bento Box looks so cute. I've never actually had a Bento Box before so it's on my to-do list.

Movie Quotes as Data

I found this little beauty through Neatorama about a week ago and love it! It's off a site called Flowing Data. I'm a sucker for old movies so this was right up my alley! Can you name all the movies mentioned?

Sloop of War - Alexander Kent

"Like a raked black finger the sloops long jib-boom swept out and over his head, and for a few more moments he stared up at the figurehead below the bowsprit. A man-size sparrow, beak wide in fury and wings spread as if to fight, its curved claws firmly gripping a gilded cluster of oak leaves and acorns. Bolitho watched until the boat had moved around and under the starboard cathead. He had never thought a mere sparrow could be depicted as being so warlike."

It's 1778 and Richard Bolitho has just been given his first command as captain of the sloop "Sparrow". The American Revolutionary War is in full swing and their French allies are eager to antagonize the Royal Navy. Bolitho revels in his fast, well-armed ship, hunting privateers and the French while patrolling the Atlantic coast. But he must contend with Tyrell, a first lieutenant who is an American loyalist and a senior officer consumed with gaining personal power and glory, no matter whom he must put in harm's way. Amidst the cannonfire and bloodshed, Bolitho also manages to develop a relationship with an aristocratic lady that may be more than she seems.

Kent addresses past events previous to the book, creating a larger world beyond the book and allowing readers to get a better idea of Bolitho's character and attitude towards his crew. "Sloop of War" also reads perfectly well as a stand-alone novel.

As always, Kent's description and character developement are top notch. We not only get to experience Bolitho as a leader, we also see the world from first lieutenant Tyrell's eyes. While his fellow countrymen are fighting King George, Tyrell has remained loyal to the crown, making him despised by one side and mistrusted by the other. Caught in the lonely in between as an officer of his majesty, all he can do is follow orders and try not to get killed.

One part I took guity pleasure in involved Kent speaking well of some Canadian scouts brought along to aid Bolitho. I couldn't help but grin when Foley says, "Good men. If I had a regiment of them I could retake half of America."

This book is action-packed, fast-paced, filled with battles on both land and sea and is a great addition to the Bolitho series. This is a great place to start for those interested in historical naval fiction.

Follow Richard in his next naval adventure in Enemy in Sight.

Rating: 4/5

The Sunday Rundown

I've almost finished "Little Women" and I'm surprised at how short the book is. "Good Wives" is included in the same book but I understand it's a sequel that continues the story of the March women. I'll never agree with Alcott's decision about Jo and Laurie though.














This awesomenes brought to you by TheThinWoman's channel on YouTube. She's taken "Hey Ya" and partnered it with clips of people from old movies and tv shows dancing. It put a smile on my face and considering that it's now officially spring I think that's important.




This is Duffy with "Warwick Avenue". It's a little mellow, a little sad but I love her voice!

The Sunday Rundown

Reading: I'm about halfway through "Little Women" and while the movie adaptations I've seen follow the book more or less, it's interesting to see what they change or take out.

Meg is described as plump and her father's a pastor. I always thought of him as a fighting man in the Civil War but I guess not.














Watching: I found this while looking for Olympics footage on Youtube but I thought it was pretty funny, as impractical as it is.



Listening:

And now, a brilliant use of ukelele by Gene Raymond from "Sadie McKee".

The Day the Falls Stood Still - Cathy Marie Buchanan

"The landscape below is otherworldly - a massive clot of white-blue ice extending from shore to shore, frozen mounds of accumulated spray nearly sixty feet in height, sections of cliff face transformed by stalactities of ice as thick as the trunk of any tree. Yet there are children sledding on thehillocks, adults milling about, a path crossing the ice from shore to shore, also shanties with hand-painted signs advertising beef tea and sandwiches, coffee and cake."

Bess Heath lives near the mighty Niagara Falls where her father works as director of the Nigara Power Company. But when she returns home from boarding school for the summer she realizes all is not well. Her father has lost his job and her sister has taken to hiding in her room. Bess' only consolation in a world turned upside down is an encounter with a handsome green-eyed man who helps her load her baggage onto the trolley home. She's intrigued and later comes to know him as Tom Cole but society and her family seem set against their relationship. Cathy Marie Buchanan uses Niagara Falls as a backdrop to introduce a story of love and family, demonstrating how place can affect every aspect of a person's life.

It's obvious that Buchanan has put a lot of time and effort into the story. The amount of research and the level of detail when it comes to describing the setting and historical background of the area is staggering. There is so much packed into this book, especially when it comes to the setting that the reader really needs to pay attention to keep from missing anything.

Bess is forced to grow up too early when her family loses their status and position in society. Her struggle with the added responsibilities of adulthood make her a believable character. She has hopes and fears like anyone else but here they are front and center as she tries to hold her family together while developing a relationship with Tom. She makes mistakes, shows jealousy and loses her temper, all aspects that serve to make her more relatable to readers.

Peppered throughout the book are newspaper articles, photos and drawings that add depth to the story and really bring the history of the falls to life. The articles were especially entertaining as they were a great format for delivering backstory without the need for exposition.

I felt a bit mislead by the title though as I assumed the story would take place during the time the falls froze. Instead the story is set more than half a century later, only referencing the event in an article. I also thought the ending tied up too quickly. I wanted Bess' life expanded in order to create more of a contrast to the tense scene just before.

I should add that Cathy offered me a copy of her book, thank you! I had a great time reading it.

Rating: 4/5

The Sunday Rundown

Reading:

I recently picked up an old favourite for a re-read. I first read "Dragonflight" by Anne McCaffrey when I was very young. I was into dragons and castles and pulled the book off my parents bookshelf.

I'm surprised at how little I remember from the book but I do remember glossing over several points that didn't make sense to me when I first read the book.

Watching:

This is OK Go's latest music video. It's actually a giant Rube Goldberg Machine and is both amusing and fascinating to watch.



Listening:

I discovered Brith La Roux last week and love her! She's like a toned down British Lady Gaga. The song is "Bulletproof" and you just can't help dancing to it.

I'm Sad it's over but so very Happy because it Happened