This week I read five books.
102. Hansel and Gretel. Stephen King. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 4 stars]
Read this if...
- You enjoy fairy tale retellings and adaptations
- You enjoy Maurice Sendak
103. The Fairy Tale Fixers #1: The Fairy Tale Cinderella. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Jorge Lacera. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [graphic novel; j graphic novel; fractured fairy tales; 5 stars]
Read this if...
- You enjoy fairy tale retellings and adaptations
- You enjoy graphic novels
104. The English Masterpiece. Katherine Reay. 2025. 302 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, adult fiction, general fiction, art appreciation]
Read this if...
- You enjoy historical fiction set in the 1970s
- You enjoy art, art museums, artists, etc.
- You enjoy books with dual narration
98. Magical Map #1: Pirates of the Caribbean. Ridley Pearson. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, children's fantasy, j fantasy]
Read this if...
- You enjoy early chapter books
- You enjoy series books
99. Magical Map #2: Jungle Cruise. Ridley Pearson. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, children's fantasy, j fantasy]
Read this if...
- You enjoy early chapter books
- You enjoy series books
Century Viewing #38
1910s
- 1918 Out West is a Roscoe Arbuckle and Buster Keaton short. In this one, Buster Keaton is a saloon owner and Roscoe Arbuckle is a drifter...who becomes his bartender. When Wild Bill Hiccup comes to town, these two will have to make a stand....but does Wild Bill have a weakness??? 97% of this one was absolutely hysterically DELIGHTFUL. 3% was just distasteful. If you see it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
- 1954 Lucky Me. Doris Day musical. Fairly typical Doris Day musical. BUT Doris Day. If you love her musicals, this one works. She plays a singer in a troupe; the troupe is looking for their 'big break' they need someone to finance a new show. They're down on their luck. Meanwhile, she's falling in love--and hate--with a songwriter. Does he, does he not love her too? Is she lucky or unlucky in love.
- 1961 X-15. The most boring movie that also happens to include an extremely insensitive scene about miscarriages. Do NOT recommend because essentially there is little character development, little plot, just ALL planes all the time. If you get a thrill from watching old footage of airplanes flying, and are interested in the whole test-pilot era, then this one might be a fine choice.
- 1965 Help is one of my favorite films. (Is it really???? It is when I remember it.) I first discovered it in November 1995 in the midst of the Beatles Anthology documentary debuting on ABC. I believe it was PBS that aired Hard Day's Night and Help the same week. Both the album and the movie are SO INCREDIBLY good. I stand by that for the album for always. The movie is 100% slapstick.
- 1974 Dark Star. Is it ridiculous? YES. Is it hysterical? Yes. Depending on your company and your mood at the moment. Is it a laugh a minute? Probably not. Is it over-the-top silly and almost whimsical in its oddness? Fair enough description. Four men [astronauts] are on board a ship that is absolutely falling apart. Their mission? Well, it may or may not be necessary. But with A.I. bombs that have become self-aware what could possibly go wrong?!
- 1996 The Cable Guy. One guy is desperate to get his girlfriend back. (He proposed, she kicked him out.) The Cable Guy is desperate for a friend, a buddy, a pal. And he'll do anything, everything, all of the above to make sure that you need to keep him around. Is there any way to get rid of him?! Maybe. Maybe not. But it may cost you everything.
- 2000 U-571 is an action-packed World War II movie. Once the mission starts, almost every minute is an edge-of-your-seat moment because they are constantly in danger. Not just a little danger. BUT DANGER, DANGER, DANGER. So compelling.
- 2012 Quartet is set at a retirement village for opera singers and musicians. Two exes are brought back together when she moves into the retirement village. She wants forgiveness and civility. He wants to avoid her at all costs. Meanwhile a gala is forthcoming, and everyone is trying to prepare their performances. Will coming together as a quartet bring this couple back together?
- 2025 Leanne, season 1. This one is so similar to Reba. But since I enjoyed Reba, I didn't mind. A woman's marriage is over--her husband has cheated on her with a dentist, she's pregnant. She's got two children--both grown. A son with a controlling wife and a perpetually single daughter who is fiercely independent. What makes this one fun for me is her family. Her sister (played by one of my favorite actresses) and her parents. This one has plenty of community scenes as well. It's enjoyable and pleasant.
Alphabet Viewing, Week #8
A Admirable Crichton
B Big Fish
C The China Syndrome.
D The Day the Earth Caught Fire.
E Enterprise (Star Trek)
F First Contact
G The General.
H Home.
I Insurrection (Star Trek)
J -- Johnny Mnemonic.
K King of Kings.
L Lucky Me. Doris Day musical. Fairly typical Doris Day musical. BUT Doris Day. If you love her musicals, this one works. She plays a singer in a troupe; the troupe is looking for their 'big break' they need someone to finance a new show. They're down on their luck. Meanwhile, she's falling in love--and hate--with a songwriter. Does he, does he not love her too? Is she lucky or unlucky in love.
M Murder by Death
N Nemesis.
O Out West is a Roscoe Arbuckle and Buster Keaton short. In this one, Buster Keaton is a saloon owner and Roscoe Arbuckle is a drifter...who becomes his bartender. When Wild Bill Hiccup comes to town, these two will have to make a stand....but does Wild Bill have a weakness??? 97% of this one was absolutely hysterically DELIGHTFUL. 3% was just distasteful. If you see it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
P Primeval Series 1 and 2 and 3, 4, 5
Q Quartet is set at a retirement village for opera singers and musicians. Two exes are brought back together when she moves into the retirement village. She wants forgiveness and civility. He wants to avoid her at all costs. Meanwhile a gala is forthcoming, and everyone is trying to prepare their performances. Will coming together as a quartet bring this couple back together?
R Return of the Caped Crusader (Batman).
S Slipper and the Rose
T Thursday Murder Club.
U U-571 is an action-packed World War II movie. Once the mission starts, almost every minute is an edge-of-your-seat moment because they are constantly in danger. Not just a little danger. BUT DANGER, DANGER, DANGER. So compelling.
V Valley of Vision
W What About Bob? Second time to watch this movie this year (I discovered it last year or the year before, I think). I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie. Truly it is most favored. I love Bob. I love his Baby Steps. I love everything about the story. So quotable. So enjoyable.
X X-15. The most boring movie that also happens to include an extremely insensitive scene about miscarriages. Do NOT recommend because essentially there is little character development, little plot, just ALL planes all the time. If you get a thrill from watching old footage of airplanes flying, and are interested in the whole test-pilot era, then this one might be a fine choice.
Y You Can't Run Away From It.
Z The Zookeeper.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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