The Movie Review ~ About Time

Seen: 4th September 2013

Rating: 5++/5

GO AND SEE IT

THE END

TidyBoy wanted to be included on this review saying: 

"Curtain Call for Curtis"

The Book Review ~ Ghostwalk

Read: 11th August 2013

Rating: 3/5

Rebecca Stott creates a great web of details and plots and twists… but perhaps a little too many. The story builds and builds giving little to nothing away as to why these strange occurrences are happening. There are pop ups of courts rooms, and dead animals and reflected rainbows, and mediums that get the reader caught up in the world of Lydia Brooks, but also gets them highly confused as to what the heck is going on.

Everything is related and yet nothing is related. By the end of the book what is real, imagined and actually causing the problems and deaths are completely entangled. Was everything supernaturally caused, or governmentally caused? She had enough of a story without the animal rights angle and I really think that second plot ruined the book.

Everything wonderful and intriguing about the novel was found in the connection between Sir Isaac Newton, Alchemy, and the mysterious Mr. F. The manuscripts that make appearances are spell binding and beautifully written.

The tangled personal relationships between Lydia, Cameron, Sarah and Kit were fabulous too. The characters and situations were superbly written, and this surface plot kept everything moving in the realm of reality.

Then there was the animal rights, neuroscience, and government organization plot line that literally felt thrown in on top and in the end really didn’t need to be there at all! It just ruined the fantastic story of Newton and Lydia.

The first half of the novel is so focused on building these illusions and throwing the reader off that it becomes hard to get into the story. Luckily I waded through and found the last 25% off the book spellbinding enough to read it in one sitting. It is a real shame that Stott tries so hard to make the multilayers work, and keep the reader guessing to a point of loosing their attention when her core story is so brilliant!

The Theatre Review ~ Tosca

Seen: 14th February 2013

Rating: 4.5/4 

(Still not Aida though!)

After seeing the Welsh National Opera in the same theatre a few months before I was not expecting much from this Ellen Kent’s production of Tosca. But, Alberta and I had decided what better way was there than to celebrate a single gurls Valentine’s Day then with a completely depressing opera! (Of course by then TidyBoy had come along... another story). 

I was so mistaken though this production was just breathtaking!

For me the entire production was made by Maria Tonina who played the title role. Her acting, her singing, her stage-presence, her EVERYTHING! She was phenomenal. She was the production. 

The opening act saw a little shaky Baron Scarpia, but the second act as the part grew he became alive. It got to the point that as soon as the actor Vladimir Dragos walked onstage all my hair stood on end. 

Ellen Kent created this atmosphere with her staging that just made the whole production alive. Not to be poetic, but the production came off the stage and reached up onto the balcony and pulled you into it. It was fantastic. 

The Book Review ~ Touch

The Eighth Book Review is on...

TOUCH by Alexi Zentner

“Touch” by Alexi Zenter is a breathtaking adventure diving into the depths of pioneer Canada. There is nothing left untouched: the cold, the desolation, the tragedy and the myths. Zenter wraps everything of this primitive landscape into the lives of Stephen, our narrator. At the deathbed of his mother Stephen looks back over his life at Sawgamet through the stories he has heard from his father and grandfather.

The stories are unique and fully descriptive leaving nothing to the imagination. You can feel absolutely everything the narrators are telling you. Zenter is a true storyteller. His narration manages to keep the tradition of oral storytelling alive and relevant. His style also makes it impossible for you to put the book down.

As for the characters, Stephen is a truly gorgeous character full of innocence and hope. You cannot help but hope for the best for him. The same goes for his father and grandfather they are full 3D characters that a reader cannot help but absorb!

There is also the use of aboriginal myths. It is easy to see that someone could run themselves mad in these conditions. However, the subtly that Zenter enters these ideas into the story makes them real, and for a majority of the book had me believing as well!

However, this ends in the last section of the novel where these myths really distract from the story when a monster is seen in the woods. It is poorly described and as a reader really loving this book it completely pulled me out of the story and ruined the ending for me.

BUT altogether, I love this book!

ThePoshGurl Rating:

4 JimmyChoos out of 5

Celebrity Style Guru: Candidate 8

This weekend the first few pictures of the Season 5 Gossip Girl have emerged. So I have decided to move from The Royal Tour of the British Royals to The Royalty of the East Side...

BLAIR WALDORF

(Or Leighton Meester)

as this weeks Celebrity Style Guru!

“[Personal Style]Why change? Everyone has his own style. When you have found it, you should stick to it.”

Audrey Hepburn

Blair’s style is very classic, preppy, and polished. She always looks as if she stepped out of a High End department store window. Never a strand out of place her outfit is flawless. Blair’s fashion sense is definitely the quintessential upper-east-side stereotype, and she’s not ashamed of it!

Blair would never step outside with unwashed hair, wear an outfit that didn’t match, or buy anything “distressed” or “boho chic.” When Serena jumps around in her style Blair is always firm in what she likes and how she looks. There is never a pair of pants to be seen, or an unnamed outfit.

Blair is all about designer dresses and skirts. Looking “cute” is a main element of her wardrobe. Also the FIT is vital to her wardrobe. Tailoring is what makes Blair’s clothing stand out, each outfit looks like it was made for her. This is a good piece of advice for all fashionista’s. Tailoring is a major way of maintaining a chic wardrobe.

Although you always know what to expect from Blair she is never boring, no matter how subdued Blair’s outfit may be, she always incorporates a pop of color in some way. Whether it’s a bright red trench coat over a navy dress, a technicolor bag, or bright leggings. Blair keeps her look fresh with brights.

The main element of Blair’s wardrobe is Girly-ness!

There is always a touch of femininity with touches of lace, bows, or ruffles which are always uniquely Blair, subtle and perfect!

Blair’s style has moved from headbands to more educated looks in Season 4.

Her loose hair is now curled and delicate in features, her style is maturing and yet maintaining BLAIR!

I cannot wait to see Season 5 begin in the Fall as Blair begins her life as a REAL Princess... will she make it down the aisle with the Prince of Monaco?!

Royal Watch Day Eight

DAY EIGHT ~ KATE SHOWS COWGIRLS HOW ITS DONE!

After a quiet morning together... supposedly at Lake Louise before heading to Calgary. The airport was a little windy... Cate almost had an accident with the back of her skirt!

Catherine went to another staple wearing a Jenny Packham dress (she wore Packham to the ARK gala), paired with her LK Bennett pumps and clutch.

They met with Diamond, a stage 4 cancer fighter at the airport after “make a wish foundation” made it happen. Then they headed to University of Calgary.

Then it was time for the Stampede Parade, riding in on an old fashioned stagecoach, both Duke and Duchess looked surprisingly... cow-boyish!

Catherine was in bell-bottom jeans, complete with a belt and fairly large belt buckle! Her cowboy hat was the one presented at the airport with a Alice by Temperley shirt and Alberta Boot Company Cowboy Boots.