25 February 2011

Worth the Price of Admission - Gone with the Wind

Ok, so it's not a new movie and it doesn't appear in a "regular" theater all that often, but it's still a great movie. Turner Classic Movies is celebrating Oscar these days and last night aired "Gone with the Wind." Most of the characters are strictly characters of their era, Scarlett, Mammy, Melanie, Ashley. What would they make of the 21st century world? And then there's Rhett, a character for the ages, can't you just see him as a modern day mogul? A good story, well told, well acted, with rich, textured sets...it just doesn't get much better. Watching "Gone with the Wind" on television just doesn't do the movie justice. This was a flick that was designed for the really big screen so if you ever get the chance to see it on the big screen. GO! It will blow you away.

18 February 2011

I'm reading - The Countess by Rebecca Johns

This book was a delightful surprise. It is not the type of fare that I typically go for, but I'm glad that someone asked me to read it. The Countess tells the fictional story of what may perhaps be the first female serial killer.  I'll admit I had my doubts in the beginning. There was one particularly graphic scene that left me wondering what I had a agreed to. But I was able to put that behind me, and found myself becoming increasingly mesmerized by the Countess's journey from young girl, to wife, mother, widow, prisoner. Set in the late 16th and early 17th century, Johns paints a vivid picture of how difficult life was then, even for the upper class and the pressure put on very young girls in part because of the passive role they were forced to play.

I think I'm going to have to go check out Rebecca Johns other work.