And the winner is...

The winner of Two Brothers: One North, One South by David H. Jones is...

DARBY!!!

Congratulations! I've sent you an email to get your mailing address!! I hope you (and your husband) enjoy it!!!

I also want to give a shout out and thank David H. Jones for stopping by the blog and leaving a fabulous comment:

Thank you for hosting "Two Brothers: One North, One South" on your blog and for your thoughtful review. I appreciate the statement that your tastes might be totally different from others who read this book. "Two Brothers" is very closely based on real people and events. The historical characters lived in difficult times and, in my view, their memory should be honored and respected. For this reason, I minimized "character development," hoping that readers would become emotionally involved with the characters given their authenticity. Thanks again for hosting my book on the TLC Book Tour and for conducting the book giveaway.

David, you are a rock star!!!

Congrats again to Darby!!

**winner chosen by Random.org**

The List of Fabulous Movies

Well, I've promised and promised, but I'm finally going to post The List. If you don't know what The List is, well, then you haven't been reading my blog very long. First, let me give you a rundown of what The List is. My friend A and I have been watching movies together for YEARS. It all started when we were just hanging out, and he asked if I had seen this movie or that movie, and the answer was usually no. This morphed into Fabulous Movies Real's Never Seen or FMRNS. We would get together every Tuesday and watch a Fabulous Movie. We've been calling it my movie education, and it really was. All decades, all genres, tons of big named movie stars, and a bunch of not so huge stars. Plus, we always had TONS of fun!!

But now, since I've moved away from Nashville, FMRNS is over. **sniff** Fortunately, I have something that I can pass along to my friends, and YOU!! True to form, the list is color coded by genre. There are 299 movies on the list. Feel free to turn this into a meme or post it on your blog, or leave a comment here letting me know how many of these movies you've seen, or which ones are your favorites, or pretty much whatever you want to do with it. If you do post it on your blog or turn in into a meme, please, leave me a comment and let me know!!

And without further adieu... THE LIST!!!!

Drama
The Color Purple
Chocolat
Frida
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Gone With The Wind
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Miracle Worker (1962)
The Red Shoes
All About Eve
Mask
Dead Poets Society
Iris
Life is Beautiful
Casablanca
The Lion in Winter (1968)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Immortal Beloved
The Red Violin
The Pelican Brief
Silkwood
Gorillas in the Mist
Little Man Tate
Tea With Mussolini
Sunset Boulevard
On Golden Pond
The Graduate
Elizabeth
Mommie Dearest
Twelve Angry Men (1957)
The Women
Stage Door
Thelma and Louise
The Fisher King
Like Water for Chocolate
The Sting
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
Suddenly Last Summer
Day of the Dolphin
Chinatown
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Dangerous Liaisons
What’s Love Got To Do With It
Night Mother
JFK
Rebel Without A Cause
The Children’s Hour
The Three Faces of Eve
Of Mice and Men (1939)
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Heaven and Earth
Quills
Backdraft
Charlotte’s Web
The African Queen
Brian's Song
Sybil (1976)
National Velvet
Shine
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958)
Nell
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan the Ape Man
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
The Turning Point
Cocoon
Lawrence of Arabia
Old Yeller
Tales of the City (all of them)
The Godfather I
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
Jackie Brown
La Strada
The Last Temptation of Christ
Lassie Come Home
Sister My Sister
The Quiet Man
It’s A Wonderful Life
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Bill: On His Own
The Corn is Green
The Maltese Falcon
The Godfather Part II
The French Connection
Girl With A Pearl Earring
Blackboard Jungle
Escape To Witch Mountain
The French Connection II
Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?
Bill
Torch Song Trilogy
Iron Jawed Angels
Awakenings
The Little Foxes
Gilda
True Grit
Children of a Lesser God
Hotel Rwanda
The China Syndrome
Vatel
Places in the Heart
Brokeback Mountain

Comedy
Auntie Mame
Desk Set
Harold and Maude
Some Like it Hot
Moonstruck
Arsenic and Old Lace
Adam's Rib
Sabrina (1954)
Arthur
9 to 5
Soap Dish
When Harry Met Sally
Death Becomes Her
To Wong F00 Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
Roxanne
A Fish Called Wanda
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best in Show
Coming to America
Gentlemen Prefer Blonds
Young Frankenstein
Ball of Fire
High Anxiety
All Of Me
Postcards from the Edge
The Philadelphia Story
Outrageous Fortune
What’s Up Doc
Topper
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Thank God It’s Friday
Tootsie
Bell Book & Candle
Splash
The Simpson’s Movie
Seven Year Itch
Superstar
The Jerk
The Canterville Ghost (1944)
Airplane
Harvey
Innerspace
The Gods Must Be Crazy
Private Benjamin
Blaze
The Golden Child
Lair of the White Worm
Monte Python’s The Meaning of Life
Duck Soup
Queens of Comedy
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
The Original Kings of Comedy
Revenge of the Pink Panther
Monte Python’s Life of Brian
But I’m a Cheerleader
Strictly Ballroom
Laurel and Hardy Shorts
Sons of the Desert
Music Box
He Said, She Said
Silver Streak

Musical
My Fair Lady
Roman Holiday
Holiday Inn
Singing in the Rain
Gigi
Mary Poppins
The King and I
Funny Girl
Royal Wedding
The Wiz
Oliver
West Side Story
On the Town
Jesus Christ Superstar
Funny Face
Cabaret
Fame
Damn Yankees
Captain January
Victor Victoria
A Chorus Line
The Littlest Rebel
South Pacific
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Hairspray (1988)
Camelot
Meet Me In St. Louis
Oklahoma
Hair
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Silk Stockings
Fiddler On The Roof
The Little Princess

Suspense/Mystery
Witness for the Prosecution
Death on the Nile
Murder on the Orient Express
Wait Until Dark (1967)
Evil Under the Sun
Death in the Clouds
The Fugitive
The Net
Charade
The Day of the Jackal
Outbreak
Deathtrap
Jagged Edge
And Then There Were None (1945)
Murder Most Foul (1964)
Suspect
Murder, She Said
Dead of Winter
Red Corner
April Fool’s Day (1986)
Angel Heart
Time After Time
Music Box
WarGames
Twin Peaks
Fire Walk With Me
Fail-Safe

Horror
Carrie
Poltergeist
The Exorcist
Jaws
The Shining (1980)
Silence of the Lambs
Red Dragon
Rosemary’s Baby
When a Stranger Calls (1979)
Nosferatu
Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer
The Hunger
Alien
Halloween (1978)
Creepshow
The Serpent and the Rainbow
The Fly (1986)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Night Gallery
An American Werewolf in London
Frankenstein Unbound
Aliens

Other
Fantasia
The Celluloid Closet
Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown
Baraka
Darby O’Gill and the Little People
Fantastic Voyage
The Man Who Planted Trees
The Dark Crystal
Heavy Metal
Trekkies
School House Rock
Watership Down
Paris is Burning
Wigstock

Foreign
La Cage Aux Folles
The Red Balloon
Amelie
Antonia's Line
The King of Masks
Jean de Florette
Manon of the Spring
Babette's Feast
All the Mornings of the World
Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Love
An Affair To Remember
Shakespeare In Love
Ninotchka
Love Story
A Little Romance
Somewhere In Time
It Happened One Night
The Goodbye Girl
Beautiful Thing

Sci-Fi
The Terminator
Terminator II
Total Recall
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Barbarella
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Flash Gordon
Starman
Legend

Hitchcock
The Birds
Rear Window
To Catch a Thief
Vertigo
Psycho (1960)
North By Northwest
Dial "M" for Murder
Rebecca (1940)

Action/Adventure
Raiders of the Lost Arc
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Goldfinger
The Spy Who Loved Me
F/X

TLC Book Tours: Two Brothers - One North, One South review and giveaway!

I was asked by Trish from TLC Book Tours to read the novel Two Brothers - One North, One South by David H. Jones.

I was really excited to read this book. I have not read a lot of historical fiction, and I am always interested in branching out in the genres I read. This historical fiction book is about the Prentiss family from Maryland during the Civil War. While most of the family supported the Union cause, one brother, William, defied his family to support the Confederate side. This story is set in 1865 right after the end of the Civil War. Walt Whitman is the narrator who has devoted much time in comforting soldiers of both sides while they were in hospitals and near death. He happens upon William Prentiss during his final days. After William passes on, Whitman learns that William's brother, Clifton, an officer for the Union, is in another ward at the hospital. Whitman then goes to Clifton's bedside to recall William's experiences with Clifton and their other brothers, John and Melville.

I felt disjointed from the characters in this novel. I didn't think there was enough development of the principle characters to really feel a connection. I think the premise was very interesting, however it didn't translate well into the actual story. I did like the incorporation of Walt Whitman and how he brought the stories of the two brothers together in order to help William's family understand more of his plight and what he went through during the war.

This novel was obviously well researched and I learned some things about the Civil War, particularly the role of Maryland and her soldiers. It seemed, at times, to feel more like a history lesson than a novel. I won't go as far to say 'textbook,' but more informative than novel. I felt that some of the less important characters were more of a filler than part of the story, in order to inform the reader of battles rather than progress the story of the brothers.

I have to say, at times I felt confused and disconnected. I feel as though the story would have been better if it either leaned more towards the historical informative line, or focused more on the brother against brother fictional side - including more internal struggles of the brothers.

All of that said, remember that my tastes might be totally different from your tastes! It wasn't necessarily for me, but if you are interested in Civil War fiction, you might really enjoy this book.

And because of that, I am hosting a giveaway of Two Brothers - One North, One South!! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. Please remember to leave your email address with your comment - I need to have a way to get in touch with you if you win! All comments that do not provide contact information will be deleted and not entered in the contest. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. The deadline will be midnight Sunday, November 23, and I will announce the winner on Monday, November 24th!

Good luck and happy reading!!!

Novel Adventures

Have y'all heard of this show Novel Adventures from CBS? Here is the description from CBS.com:

Lizzie, Laura, Joanna, and Amy are decidedly uninterested in the pretentious book club they belong to, but they enjoy the time away from their families. Determined to take their 'us'-time and enjoy it, they decide to use the books as inspiration. It's great to read about amazing lives, but these girls are ready to live them.

And so, the four women start a new kind of book club, picking a "novel adventure" for each book. Each meeting is an opportunity for discovery, freedom, and fun. The adventure is just the beginning.

How exciting is that?! Now, I'm a little late in posting this - it started a couple weeks ago, BUT you can watch full episodes online at CBS.com.

Also very cool is a contest that CBS is holding, hosted by the FABULOUS Bookshipper!! Just go to this post and leave a comment. You have a chance to win all of these amazing books!!!

P.S. If you leave a comment to enter the contest, and mention my name, I get an additional entry! That'd be super swell of you!!! =)

The Bourne Sanction	Girls Like Us	Gone with the Wind
Knit Two	Life So Far	The Monster of Florence
The Old Man and The Sea	The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society	The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry

Recap: The final FMRNS

It's been a while since I've been a regular blogger. I have to tell you, I miss it!!! But, with all the craziness that comes along with moving, and now that I don't have internet access at home, it's been hard to keep up with. Some things just had to be put aside.

Anyway, I wanted to give you a recap of the last couple FMRNS movies, and talk a little about the last FMRNS evening.

We were able to make it to our goal of 299 movies. Can you believe it? It's been an amazing movie adventure and what a movie education!! We watched movies from all decades and genres, with super stars and little known actors. We have also had lots of laughs, tears, and built a wonderful friendship.

We did end up watching Brokeback Mountain, a drama love story from 2005, with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal the week before the final movie night. What an amazing story. I truly can't imagine not being able to openly love the person I am in love with.

After that, we watched Starman, a Sci-Fi Adventure from 1984 with Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen. and Silver Streak, a comedy from 1976 with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.

The last movie on the list was Legend, a Sci-Fi Adventure from 1985 with Tom Cruise, Mia Sera and Tim Curry. Movie number 299.

We started out our evening with the usual - watching Jeopardy and Friends. After that, we decided that it was important to have one last fabulous dinner, so we headed out to Red Lobster. Yummy!!!! When we got back to A's, we watched the America's Next Top Model from the week before that I had taped - another FMRNS Night ritual (sometimes it's ANTM, sometimes it's American Idol. Whichever reality TV show is on at the time). And then, of course, the movie.

I just want to say that saying goodbye to my dear friend A was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. A has been my rock since I moved to Nashville and we have been through some major things together. He has been there for me through some of my happiest times, and has also been a shoulder for me to cry on during the hardest times. I miss my dear friend terribly.

I'll never forget all the wonderful and thoughtful things that A has brought to my life. I am so fortunate to have been able to spend so much time with him and get to know this fabulous person. He has brought such a joy to my life and I feel so blessed to have been given his friendship. A - you totally rock my face off, and I love you dearly. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend!!!

I promise one day soon I will post the list in it's color-coded by genre entirety! It's quite the list!!

Update...well, sorta!

Hey everyone!! I can't believe it's been so long since I last updated, but damn, have I been busy!! In the past couple weeks, I have had my last week of work, gone to Washington DC, had my last FMRNS, packed up my entire apartment, loaded the moving truck and moved halfway across the country. And now, I am dealing with the unpacking and putting stuff away. It's insane how much crap we have - where did it all come from?!

Anyway, I don't have internet at home, so I am checking in from my local library. It's a pretty nice branch! It's just REALLY weird being a patron, though!! But, I got my library card, and I even talked to someone about volunteering here! So, yay for me!

I will be posting about all my adventures soon, but I need a couple days to regroup and settle in. I miss blogging so much, but there are just some things I need to take care of.

Thanks for reading, and I promise to update again soon!!