Graphic Novel: Piper

Piper by Jay Asher and Jessica Freeburg, illustrated by Jeff Stokely, Razorbill and imprint of Penguin Random House, 2017.

This is a very interesting retelling of the story of the Pied Piper.  The illustrations are fantastic, and in color throughout.  In this retelling a young woman, hard of hearing, plays a part in earning the trust and love of the Piper.   And for a time, this affection is returned; until the young woman is able to see the heart of the Piper.  Someone who would kill rats, and lead children away, and use his flute to control others, was not someone with whom she could spend her life.

Book Review: Midnight for Charlie Bone

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo, Orchard Books, New York, 2002.
I have come upon a new universe of "endowed" children who are attending the Bloor's Academy.  When Charlie's Great Aunt discover that Charlie is endowed, they send him off to the academy.  Charlie can hear pictures, the voices of the people talking when the picture was taken.  He discovers his talent when he is given a picture by mistake, of someone talking about a baby girl.  This leads him on a quest, to find the niece of a book store owner who was sold away for something several years ago.  The man has since died, but left a case which holds the key; however there is no key to open the case. 
Bloor's Academy is not the fun place it should be.  It is a school for gifted children, either art, drama or music.  And then those who have special endowments.  The endowed are descendants of the Red King.  Some have evil intentions and others good.  It is among the students of the academy where the niece is found, in a half hypnotized state.  How can they open the box and restore her. 
This new universe is going to be fun.  I understand there are seven books in the series.  If they all are as entertaining as this first, this is going to be fun. 

Music Review: Aerosmith: Download Festival at Donington Park (2014)

Aerosmith at ****  I watched this concert of Aerosmith, and must admit there are still only two songs I like of theirs.  However these two songs are so extraordinary it makes the time spend watching the whole concert worth it.  These songs are “Dream On” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”  I can listen to them over and over.  Steven Tyler is quite the performer and singer.  No one can copy his style.  He is very unique.  However during the concert there was a time he used the "f" word too freely.  The band also features Joe Perry lead guitar and vocals, Tom Hamilton bass guitar, Joey Kramer drums, and Brad Whitford guitar.  Steven Tyler takes a turn at percussion and piano. 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne,   This is a new work from J.K. Rowling.  It is presented as a script for a play.  I would really like to see it performed.  Reading this scene to scene is very exciting.  It is one of those books you are compelled to keep going.  It is written in two parts with two acts in each part for a total of four acts.  Harry and Ginny’s youngest son, Albus Severus and Draco’s only son, Scorpius become fast friends at Hogwarts.  They are both in Slytherin House.  There is a rumor that Scorpius is the son of Voldemort.  He consequently has difficulty making friends.  But this story gets really interesting when the two boys decide to steal a time turner and go back in time to prevent the death of Cedric Diggory “the Spare.”  The are encouraged in this by Delphi, the nurse of Cedric's father who misses Cedric in his old age.  They find it is difficult to change the past, but more easy to screw things up.  They come back from two attempts to find the world entirely different.  In one universe Harry Potter died and Voldemort won.  This is a dark world.  In turning this seen right, they discover their accomplice is not who she says she is.  Turns out Delphi is in fact the daughter of Voldemort, whose goal is to change the past to make the present different.  Albus and Scorpius get sucked back in time with Delphi, to the time with Voldemort killed Harry's parents.  And she could have succeeded.  This book is about parenting, and being true to you friends.  It is family and friends that can help change the tide in the end.  In one of the alternate universes Harry Potter was a very bad father, driving his son away.  This story is terrific.  My only regret is that it had to come to an end.  I love these characters that Rowling created.

Movie Review: ***A Memory iIn My Heart (1999)

A Memory in My Heart (1999)  This is Jane Seymour in a made for T.V. movie.  Seymour portrays a woman with amnesia.  She has since remarried and decided to forget the past; until she runs into someone who knew her from the past, and even has a photo of she and her children.  She is able to travel to her hometown and reunite with her children.  However the story from her ex-husband is that she ran away and abandoned the children eight years earlier.  The children have been told that she died.  Could this be the real story?  Her current husband does not believe she would ever abandon her children.  However without her own memories what is she to do.  It just happens that scenes keep triggering flash back to her memories; and she isn’t the only witness to what took place.  Reportedly this movie is based on true events.

Movie Review: ***^Australia (2008)

Australia (2008)  This movie is delightsome in its totality. This is a movie which includes some history about WWII which is easily forgotten.  The story centers around Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman)  Ashley has inherited a large property after her husband has been murdered.  She employs Drover in an attempt to keep her property from a land tack over scheme.  The story is set in northern Australia, and they must drive the cattle to Darwin so as to be shipped to the military for use during WWII.  They are caught in Darwin during the Japanese bombing.  They have befriended an aboriginal boy, Nullah (Brandon Walters) who was left on an island for orphans during the attack.  Drover and friends go to rescue the orphans.  Drover and Ashley have become involved, and Ashley has adopted Nullah.  They are able to complete the rescue, but they must still deal with Mr. Fletcher (David Wenham), who is the ambitious murderer who is moving up by forcing others to sell.  Nullah’s grandfather is portrayed by David Gulpilil.

Movie Review: ***^Titanic (1997)

Titanic:  This is a classic movie, and the relationship between Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio and Rose (Kate Winslet) really makes this movie work.  And Rose's fiancé Cal (Billy Zane) is  such a jerk.  I am glad she ditches him.  But Jack is a lower class passenger, and does not have much chance of getting in a boat.  And the prized diamond the scavengers are looking for is all the time in Rose's pocket. Another classic scene is in the water, when Rose lets Jack go, and swims to a whistle to facilitate her rescue.  She portrayed one of the few that was fished from the water.  Kathy Bates is great as Molly Brown.  Word of warning, there is a nude scene as DiCaprio portrays an artist who draws Kate Winslet's character.