Do You Like Books?

I love books. I mean I LOVE books. If books were people, I'd marry them. ;)

And I have a LOT of books. Not as many as I would like to have...but lots.

I keep most of my books because, you know, they're like friends to me....but there are some books that I have two copies of, or I didn't really like as much as I thought I would, or that I know I just won't read again.

So I was thinking...how about giving those books away? Usually, I head on over to the local used bookstore and trade them in...but wouldn't it be great if I gave them away HERE, to my readers?

I'd like to know what you think of this idea! Would you enter giveaways for books? Most of the books would be secondhand, but once in awhile I'd hold a giveaway for a brand spanking new books from the Book Depository.

And all you'd have to do to enter is follow my blog...and perhaps share the giveaway on your Facebook page, Twitter or your own blog.
That's it!

So, what do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? Would YOU enter to win a free book?

Once Upon A Time 1.11-Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

We're getting closer and closer to learning exactly WHAT it was that Snow did to the Evil Queen to make her hate her so much!

This week's episode was full of twists and turns as we finally get to see how Gus Sidney became the Magic Mirror.
You knew when you saw the lamp in Mr. Gold's store that it was going to be in an upcoming episode...and THIS was that episode.

You see, the Mirror started out as a genie!

In Fairytale Land, we see how the Evil Queen's relationship with her Mirror began.
You know, just when I start to feel some sympathy for that woman, she goes and screws it up by doing something horribly EVIL!

You really do almost feel bad for her when you see the relationship between Snow and the King. It's obvious that Regina isn't really considered a part of the family...and that has to hurt, right?

We also finally see how the King died. Yep, Regina killed him with evil (and extremely fake-looking) snakes!
And then she goes and frames (Ha! Pun intended!) the genie, who, with his last wish, traps himself forever in her mirrors.

Over in Storybrooke, Sidney and Emma are working together to try and bring down the mayor. Of course, their plan fails miserably and Emma looks like a complete ass.
At the end we see that Sidney IS still working for Regina! *gasp*

And poor Henry lost his book. It's now in the hands of the mysterious handsome stranger! Oooooh.

So! What questions do we have this week?
-WHAT did Snow do to the Queen?
-WHO is that stranger?
-Why is he in Storybrooke?
-What does he want with the book?
-Why is Sidney working with Regina, considering what she did to him in Fairytale Land? (Yes, I know he doesn't remember)
-Is it possible Sidney is a double double agent?
-Is Mary really suddenly okay with David messing around on his wife?
-Why is Regina's name the same in both worlds? Does that even matter? :P

Remember, no new episode next week, Oncers! But in two weeks we get a HUGE treat! The beauty and the beast episode, which happens to be my favourite fairytale story, guest-starring EMILIE de Ravin as Belle! OMG, right?!?

Game of Thrones Teaser!

Have you seen this?? GOOSEBUMPS!
April can't get here soon enough!

Who else is crazy-excited?!

Hugo-My Thoughts

I knew very little about Hugo before watching the film.
I thought it was about a boy who lived in a train station after being orphaned who was trying to fix an automaton.
Well, that's not really what it's about at all

Directed by the brilliant Martin Scorsese, this is NOT your typical Scorsese film! The cinematography is stunning, the acting is wonderful and the end makes the movie.

It's the parts before that that I had a problem with. I wanted to love this film. I really, really did. And maybe I should have watched it BEFORE The Artist so I wouldn't compare all other Oscar nominated films to that one.

It took me a good hour to finally get into Hugo. I found that first hour slow-moving and my mind wandered often.
But after that, the story came alive.

Asa Butterfield (who plays Mordred in Merlin!) is wonderful as young Hugo Cabret, the young orphan who steals your heart.
Chloe Grace Moretz shines as Hugo's friend, Isabelle.
Ben Kingsley (who can do no wrong in my eyes) is brilliant as 'Papa' George Melies and Sasha Baron Cohen (who I'm not usually a fan of at all.) was hilarious in the role of the 'evil' station inspector.

In the end, this is a tale of wonder and adventure about a boy who transforms the lives of everyone around him as he attempts to unravel the mystery left to him by his father.
The end will leave you with a lump in your throat, warmth in your heart and a smile on your face.

I'll be very surprised if this wins the Oscar against The Artist...but I can absolutely see why it was nominated.

Have you seen Hugo? Id love to hear your thoughts! Comments are always welcome!

The Artist-My Thoughts

You've heard the buzz, you've watched it win the Golden Globe and now it's been nominated for an Oscar.
But have you actually SEEN the movie?

Not many people that I know have, and that's a huge tragedy in my eyes!

The Artist stars french actor Jean Dujardin as George Valentin, a silent movie star in a time where talkies are starting to dominate theaters.

The story that follows is magic.
Let me be the first to admit that I wasn't sure I would like this film. "What? It's a SILENT movie? How can a 2 hour movie hold my attention without ANY dialogue?!"
Oh, how wrong I was. The time FLEW by and after the first 5 minutes or so, you don't even realize no one is speaking.

Dujardin is flawless in this role and Berenice Bejo, who plays Peppy Miller, sucks you right into her world with just a few bats of her eyelashes.

This movie will tear at your heartstrings, make you laugh, and make you weep,and I can guarantee that when it's all over and you leave the theater, you'll understand exactly WHY this wonderful movie will win the best picture Oscar this year.

In closing, GO SEE THE ARTIST! ;)

I would love to hear your thoughts when you do! Comments are always welcome!

Once Upon A Time 1.10 -7:15am. My Thoughts

Wow. WOW! They just keep raising the bar higher and higher, don't they?

This week was ah-MAZ-ing!

You know, I was worried they'd drag out the Mary/David story too long. I mean, there's only so much 'when will it happen?!' the viewers will take before it gets old, right?

But I never expected it to happen THIS soon!

This week we learned more about the Snow/Charming--Mary Margaret/David stories.

In Storybrooke we see Mary Margaret pretty much stalking David at Granny's Cafe every morning at 7:15am.

She still has feelings for him and when they finally do get a chance to talk, she finds out that he feels the same.

Over in Fairytale Land, David is two days from his wedding day and he writes a letter to Snow, telling her to come to him if she has feelings for him.

Meanwhile, Snow has gotten a magic potion from our favourite villain, Rumpy, that will make her forget Charming ever existed.

Thankfully, his letter reaches her in time and she sneaks into the castle to see him.

Alas, she's caught and tossed in the dungeon, where she meets a wonderful little man named Grumpy.

Now, I'm a big fan of the dwarves in the Snow White tale, but OUAT outdid any Disney story I've ever seen here.

Grumpy is played wonderfully by the awesomely talented Lee Arenberg and if you don't fall in love with him during this episode, you have no heart!

Luckily, Snow escapes with the help of Grumpy and the EIGHTH dwarf, Stealthy!

But sadly, Stealthy and Grumpy are caught, and Stealthy is killed in the escape attempt.

Snow saves Grumpy, who's released from the evil King's clutches, and she herself is taken to see Charming's charming father. 

He tells her that unless she goes to Charming and tells him she doesn't love him, he will KILL his fake son.

What a jerk!

Of course, Snow does just that, which is where my heart started to break.

Grumpy and his six friends find Snow and he tells her she's going home with them. She won't be alone anymore.

He also persuades her not to drink the nasty forgetting potion from ol' Rumpy....at least for that day.

A few days later, we see Charming looking for Snow. It seems he has LEFT the bitchy princess and is trying to find his true love!

Word gets back to Grumpy, who rushes in to tell Snow the wonderful news!

Snow's face is puzzled when she says, "Prince who...?" and the camera pans over to see the empty potion bottle on the table. 

ARGH!

But back in Storybrooke, after David saves Mary's life, he has a talk with Katherine and discovers that she's not actually pregnant.

They decide to try harder to get to know each other again, and the next morning, David skips his 7:15am coffee at Granny's.

As does Mary, who we see watching the clock as she sits with Emma.

At 7:45, Mary does go into the cafe for her coffee and WHO walks in? David, of course!

And finally...FINALLY...the two kiss! In public...with evil Regina watching on. Dun dun DUN!

Also, that stranger? He appears to be a writer of some kind. He's carrying a typewriter in that wooden box.

Veeeeery interesting!

So! Highlights for me?

-Rumple's giggling! I LOVE that guy!

-Grumpy whistling 'Hi Ho' in the jail cell!

-There were originally EIGHT dwarves!

-Grumpy: "It makes ME Grumpy." Yeah, I teared up! ;)

-Charming: "I'll find her. I'll always find her." D'awww.

Questions we have after this episode:

-What does Rumple want Snow's hair for?

-WHO is that masked stranger?! Er....that's not right, is it? ;)

-What is he writing?

-How does Snow eventually remember Charming again?

What did YOU think of 7:15am? As always, comments are most welcome! 

Until next week, Oncers! 

Once Upon A Time-True North-My Thoughts

Tonight's episode was Hansel and Gretel, and I loved it. There are so many questions raised with each episode, I wonder if they'll ever have time to answer them all!

Once again, Robert Carlisle is wonderful as Mr. Gold, and I still can't decide whether he's good or evil.

The gorgeous and talented Emma Caulfield (Buffy The Vampire Slayer),
plays the heck out of her part as the creepy blind witch with the oh so yummy house, and almost outshines the Evil Queen...almost.

Speaking of the Evil Queen, is it just me or does her wardrobe get more and more awesome each week? I can't help but wish they'd use some of her clothing budget to get better special effects, though. The scene with the vines was almost laughable.

But in my opinion, it was the end that made this episode. From the tow truck coming around the bend in the road (yeah, call me sappy, but I didn't see that coming!), to the mysterious man on the bike with the weird wooden box on the back.

So, what questions were raised this episode?

-Is Gold good or bad?
-Why did Gold lie about reading the name off the card?
-WHO is Henry's father?
-Why did the Evil Queen want Hansel and Gretel to live with her?
-WHO is the guy on the bike?!
-What's in the wooden box?!
-Why did he come to Storeybrooke?
-How is he able to stay when no one else can?

Many people are saying he's the Big Bad Wolf....and that's definitely possible! (I was wrong about the Sheriff being the wolf, remember?)
But I need another episode or two before I decide. ;)

So what did you think of this episode? As always, comments are welcome!