Week in Review #28

This week I read four books. (One was a Bible).

53. Fox Catches a Wave. Corey R. Tabor. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, I Can Read Book, early readers]

54. Cat's New Book. Nathalie Belhassen. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, cats, friends]

55. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. Al Perkins. 1969. Random House. 36 pages. [Source: Bought]

5. KJV (King James Version) MacLaren Large Print Reference (Thomas Nelson). 2021. 1504 pages. [Source: Gift] [5 stars, Bible, King James Bible]

Century of Viewing #28

1940s

• 1946 Magnificent Doll Ginger Rogers stars as Dolley Payne Todd Madison. I'm not sure how accurate this historical drama is. I'm guessing a lot of liberties were taken. But the emphasis is on the love triangle between Aaron Burr, Dolley, and James Madison. It was enjoyable enough
• 1947 It Had to Be You. WILD, wild premise. Victoria, the heroine, has jilted three grooms...and is engaged to another. She goes away for a month to prove that she is absolutely, totally serious about marrying this fourth guy. Except she dreams up a guy (dressed as an Indian of all things) who interrupts her wedding, and turns her life upside down. This magical element isn't super explained. Anyway, she realizes that HE is the conjured up grown up version of a boy she met as a party (also dressed up as an Indian). She tracks down the real boy--now a MAN--a fire man. But for some odd reason, he's not madly, madly in love with her and dreaming about her, and wanting to marry her! HE is uninterested. So she pursues him....with extremely mixed results. Her wedding to fourth guy...is still on....but will he interrupt it in real life????

1970s

• 1978 Movie Movie. George Burns opens this movie introducing the "double feature" of the olden days of thirty to forty years ago. Two 'movies' and a 'movie trailer'. "Dynamite Hands" is a boxing 'movie' that I thought was AWESOME. I loved the story and it was a great blend of satire/tribute. The writing was great fun. "Baxter's Beauties of 1933" was less enjoyable. It was a musical. It was over the top. It does remind me a lot of the 1930s musicals. I enjoyed this overall. Definitely the first movie more than the second. Each movie is about fifty minutes.

1980s

• 1982 Enigma. Martin Sheen and Sam Neill star in this cold war HOLIDAY drama. I don't know if there are other spy thrillers set during Christmas, but this one definitely is. It's also a ROMANTIC drama. If only Hallmark would expand their tropes for Christmas movies.

1990s

• 1991 Hook. I've always wanted to watch Hook because the premise sounded interesting. Plus I did enjoy reading Peter Pan--I've read it several times actually. So I thought it might be good. I wasn't prepared for how dull and lifeless it was. The premise is that Peter has grown up and forgotten he was Peter Pan. When his own children are taken by Hook, he must remember so he can save them. Sounds interesting on paper, I think, but definitely felt like it was 800 hours long.

2010s

• 2017 Lego Batman Movie Is this the *best* Batman movie? Maybe. In the same way that Galaxy Quest is the best Star Trek movie. I love, love, love this movie. It is fun. It is funny. It is quotable. This is a movie that had me at hello. Batman narrates the opening credits, and it's just SO fun.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews