[Christmas] Music Monday: #3

Why not?

Recap

While watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:

*Hopes this one is as good as The Prisoner of Azakban* 

*Is strangely reminded of a Calvin and Hobbes comic while witnessing Harry's dream* 

*Happens to be somewhat horrified of Ron's haircut* 

*Notices that guy actually looks a lot like David Tennant* 

*Ooh, blue fire* 

*Wait, remind me again: why is everyone so surprised that Harry is one of the champions?* 

*Has just come to the realization that fake eyes are actually very distracting* 

*Creepy how Tennant has such a look-alike* 

*Concludes journalist lady is creepy. But her floating pen and parchment are pretty cool.* 

*Wonders how Harry's glasses stay on while he's flying* 

*Seriously, that guy really does look like the tenth doctor* 

*Watches movie...watches movie...watches movie...* 

*Movie includes maze. Maze reminds me of BBC's Merlin* 

*Movie unfolds: Voldemort is disturbing* 

*Thinks either Harry of Voldemort should simply end the series now, rather than wait for four more consecutive movies to come out* 

*Could it possibly be Tennant?...Naw...* 

*Decides to wait until credits to find out*

*AHHHGHGG! The movie ended without credits! What on earth are you doing Megashare?!*  

*Movie ends* 

*Goes directly to Wikipedia* 

*Is it?...is it?...IS IT?????*

*DAVID TENNANT PLAYS BARTY CROUCH JR. TEN POINTS FOR K-MINTY FOR RECOGNIZING HIM!*

This is how it goes every time I watch a movie and think I recognize an actor from another movie/show/place in time. I'm very proud of myself.

Any movies that you've been watching lately? Any in particular that are Christmas traditions? I hope you all are enjoying this lovely month of Decemberness!

God bless,
K-Minty

Col. 2:6-10

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world rather than on Christ.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

A List of Ten

1. The Hobbit came out today. No, I didn't go to the midnight showing. Yes, I will be seeing it soon(ish).

2. Haphazardly Implausible, by Jack Lewis Baillot came out today. You should buy it. And read it. I'm getting a (signed!) copy of it. And I am excited about that.

3. Christmas is in 11 days, just in case you haven't noticed. Which is kind of a crazy thing, seeing as I have not decorated our house, bought presents, or worn my weird little fuzzy-sock things.

4. I need to take a math test today. But it's okay because algebra 2 is making sense.

5. A dilemma has presented itself to me: Do you like my new favorite French song that's on auto play on this page, or would you rather me change it to something more traditional? This is obviously a very important matter and requires much consideration.

6. Oh! Almost forgot: I watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (err---Philosopher's) Stone last night. Which seems really really wrong ('cause of The Hobbit), but it was still a sweet movie. For your information, I watch my movies before reading the books (yes, I see that knife in your hand, but I'll explain some other time).

7. The night before last I dreamed that there were alien-zombies-who-could-shape-shift-into-humans invading Phoenix as the beginning of the end of the word and I had to fend them off with whatever weapons I could find (including sharpened pencils). After a while, I finally found my sword (a movie replica of "Sting", which---in waking life---I happen to keep stored in my bed) and was able to throw a bit of swordplay in. It seriously rocked.

8. Listening to Owl City's "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" cover. I feel like I haven't listened to Owl City in a while. Probably because I haven't. However, it's all I listened to during NaNoWriMo.

9. (speaking of) Last night I wanted to write another book. Anyone have a plot idea?

10. I'm about to take a big breath an happily dwell on the fact that I have a co-op free four weeks. Joy to the world.

Pretension

Once upon a time, I stood on a cliff. I didn't look down. I looked up. And there were clouds. I wanted so badly to touch them, up there, were they flew without fears or cares.

And then I woke up. I was in my hobbit hole, snuggled in the thick fluffy bed sheets that shrouded me from the rest of the world. Sometimes waking up to a rainy day feels like a story book. And story books always end with "and they lived happily ever after". 

[Christmas] Music Monday Wednesday: #2

Enter either drum rolls or trumpet calls

I have returned from a longish weekend of adventure, debating, and people wearing bathrobes that feel like dishtowels, smell funny, and have zebra print. And now it is time to post.
Today is especially drum-rollable (or trumpet-worthy), as I am writing my first, and hopefully not final, entry for Jack Lewis Balliot's give away. Learn the rules and how to get an entry in order to win a free, signed copy of her new book, Haphazardly Implausible (coming out December 14, 2012) HERE.

...*taps fingers and looks at clock nervously while figeting*

I guess I should write about a book that I've recently. Only problem is that I haven't exactly finished any fresh reading material lately. School work tends to suck the time of your life right outta you.

*begins to reconsider something*

And yet...school work does bring it's nice surprises (as far as literature goes), every once in the wild blue while.
And yes, I purposely mixed my puns.

Therefore, seeing as I have pray little newly-published novel, novella, or series to harp upon, I will begin with something of a classic. GK Chesterton's short story concerning Father Brown: The Hammer of God. 

(As a quick side note, you can read the full story, The Hammer of God, for free on this web page)

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To be honest, I stink at reviews. It's not that I don't have an opinion (Nooooo, not that at all). Instead, it's that I rant or rave. There's no in-between space. That is my struggle. 

The Hammer of God.What a curious name. One might wonder what on earth this book is delving into. Chesterton was known for his Father Brown mysteries, but when a mystery starts with a title that includes something bigger and better and beyond our own little minds and ideas (such as God), we start to wonder: how on earth is this supposed to make sense?  One of the crucial aspects that you must include if attempting to write a successful mystery is that each event that happens needs to be believable (to an extent), and not simply depend on chance or a miracle. 

And although one could argue that miracles happen every day, all around up, 24/7, that's a whole new can of worms that will be left to open another day.

As far as background information goes, Father Brown is a Catholic priest. Depicted as short and non-noticeable, this generally overlooked priest is not only a devout believer and leader of the church, but a Sherlock in disguise. 

The Hammer of God begins with the typical introduction to the characters of whom the story concerns itself with. Chesterton's collection of Father Brown short stories are...well, short stories, thus, most characters are not expected to make appearances in multiple adventures. Unlike Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown has no Watson, and his tale is told in third person rather than first person narrative. This allows for Father Brown's first appearance to maintain a more "incognito" feeling. His presence is not announced, instead Chesterton only makes a quick note about a "...little priest [who] was not an interesting man to look at, having stubbly brown hair and a round and stolid face."

The story takes place completely on church grounds. I loved the way this made it simple and aided in unfolding the tale, piece by piece, until all was clear and in place. It seems to me that not only does a limited location keep a short story simple and easy to keep up with, but keeps everything uncluttered and allows Chesterton to add a flourish on his character development, without confusing or losing the reader. 

In a way, this short reminded me of that board game "Clue". Quite entertaining to the very conclusion.

Though the storyline was good and captivating, I must confess to you that the most shining element of plot was the to-be-greatly-admired Father Brown himself. Though I'm quite new and unlearned so far as Chesterton stories are concerned, I've already grown extremely fond of the detective-priest, and I'm quite sure you would too. His easy-going nature, calm composure, and witty quotations are outstanding. I really cannot recall the last time that I read a story with so many thought-provoking remarks. I shan't share them with you in this post, as it would take me far too long to find and decide on the best, and also because I believe that quotes are more of an impact when reading them straight from their origination, yet I do urge you read them for yourself in the link above.

The beginning was enticing, the middle was compelling, and the falling out, satisfying. As far as I can tell, this is most definitely a short story worth reading. In addition to all of the obvious elements that cause this tale to run smooth and flawlessly, their are a handful of discrete foreshadowing techniques (the stained glass painting of the angel with the lilies) that make it an excellent read. 

As far as cons go, I can't find many. I do regret to say that Chesterton has such a flourish with words, that it can become overwhelming at some times, and a struggle to follow the train of the story at others. Taking this into account, it is probably not best to read Chesterton's collection at 11:00pm on a night before an early morning. However that may be, I'd still say that these works of literature (particularly The Hammer of God) are certainly works of art, and quite commendable ones at that. 

* * *

That is my entry Jack, I hope you enjoyed it! =)

On another note, I just realized that I've forgotten to do a Christmas Music Monday. Drat. 

*bounds off to find a good Christmas song to post*

K-Minty