AMoCH: Black Dragons

Title: Black Dragons

Year: 1942

Starring: Bela Lugosi, Clayton Moore, Joan Barclay

Summary: Just prior to the start of World War II, Dr. Melcher (Bela Lugosi), a world-famous plastic surgeon, is brought in by Japan’s Black Dragon Society as part of a secret plan. Dr. Melcher operates on six Black Dragon Society operatives and transforms them into exact duplicates of six high-ranking American businessmen who are replaced by these look-alikes. With their operatives in place, the Black Dragon Society’s plan to sabotage the American war effort appears to be set, but the FBI Chief and an agent begin to piece together the clues that hopefully will uncover this sinister plot.

Despite this movie being twenty years older than yesterday’s, the audio quality is actually better. I let this one play in the background while doing work for my sister’s baby shower, so I don’t have a ton to say about it besides the premise is satisfyingly creepy. I’m not down with people getting surgically transformed into other people. Bela Lugosi is always a treat, and some of the action even takes place in Pittsburgh, which is cool. I always get a kick out of Pittsburgh mentions.

FRIDAY FIVE: Favorite Banned/Challenged Books

In honor of ALA’s Banned Book Week, today’s Friday Five is five of my favorite banned or challenged books. I can’t say my top five, because oh, my goodness, there are a lot of challenged books that I’ve read and enjoyed!

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury.

The ultimate bibliophile’s book, a love letter to words. I’m probably due for a reread. Fun fact: I still don’t know how to spell “Fahrenheit.”

Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson.

I read this when I was much younger, maybe in eighth grade, but it’s stuck with me. One of the wonders of literature is being able to explore important issues, and YA lit is especially necessary for giving them the language to talk about such issues, for being available when they don’t want to talk about them, and for teaching them to think critically.

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee.

Another book I read for the first time in eighth grade. Can’t go wrong with this classic. And this reminds me that I still need to read Go Set a Watchman.

A Light in the Attic, Shel Silverstein.

Sometimes, you just need to read funny and whimsical kids’ poems. This will probably be one of the first books I buy my nephew. I’m going to buy him lots of books.

Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson.

I actually didn’t read this until I was twenty-three or twenty-four, but it still had an impact on me. I grew up in a rural area, so it was my sister, the neighbor boy who was my age, and me. We spent our summers running around outside having adventures, and this book, even with its sad ending, reminds me a lot of my childhood. And yes, I cried.

See the full lists on ALA’s website HERE.

A Month of Classic Horror: Carnival of Souls

I bought this 50 pack of classic horror movies a few years ago because I love Halloween, but I hate slasher films. I prefer creepy over gory. In the interest of getting through most of this set, I’m going to try watching one film a day. I don’t know if I’ll make it because life and all that, but I’m going to try. First up:

Title: Carnival of Souls

Starring: Candace Hilligoss, Frances Feist, Sydney Berger

Year: 1962

Summary: A young woman apparently survives a drag race accident that had the car she was in toppling off a bridge and into the river below. Unfazed by this experience, the woman heads off across country to her new job as a church organist. Experiencing strange things along her trip and also when she arrives at her new home, the woman begins to suspect that her survival of the accident was not as it appears.

The first thing I noticed is that the audio quality is not great. It starts out with two groups of people in two cars, and the dialogue is barely audible over the engines. The insert says this was made in 1962, but I find that hard to believe unless it just wasn’t well preserved. (Looking at the reviews on Amazon, I see that the quality of all the films in this set is hit-or-miss.)

However, despite some of my difficulty in hearing some of the dialogue (there’s no closed captioning available), the strength of this movie is its settings. Apparently, it was shot on a fairly small budget of $30,000, all raised by local businesses in Lawrence, Kansas. All the staples are there--a church, a carnival, a department store—and they’re all appropriately creepy. The main character is an organist, and we all know organ music is perfect for horror movies. Or maybe I’ve just watched Phantom of the Opera too many times.

The scariest element of this movie is the guy who peeps on the main character while she’s changing and then continues to ask her out and bother her even though she’s not interested. He even asks her if she’s “afraid of men” and tells her that she’s “cold.” Ugh. Seems things haven’t changed in 50 years.

All in all, Carnival of Souls is mildly creepy and has a great title, but I don’t think I’d watch it again.

FRIDAY FIVE: Things I Love About the Renaissance Festival

I had two opportunities to visit the local renaissance festival this year! Because it's always a highlight of my fall, here are five of the many things I love about it.

the food

the jousts

the queen, prince, and king knighting younglings

the entertainment, part i

the entertainment, part ii

FRIDAY FIVE: Young Adult Reads

I finished Kass Morgan's Day 21 tonight, so I decided to use today's Friday Five to talk about some of my favorite young adult books.

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, Betty Smith

It's been a long time since I've read this book, but it's left a lasting impression. It follows Francie Nolan from childhood to mid-adolescence as she learns
Her world is dark and harsh, but Francie is able to hold on to her determination, hope, and love. I still get upset when I remember how her grandmother's savings was stolen by a conman, but it's Francie's vibrant spirit that stays with me.

Beauty Queens, Libba Bray

This book was such a pleasant surprise when I read it earlier this year! Fifty-one teenage girls are on a plane on their way to a beauty pageant when they crash on a seemingly uninhabited island. The thirteen who survive are forced to learn to get along in order to thwart the evil plot that's brewing on the island. It's chock-full of satire, but the heart of this story is the girls and their relationships with each other.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor

Karou has blue hair, enjoys art, and lives in Prague with a group of monstrous beings who send her on mysterious errands to gather teeth. Then handprints appear burned into doors, and her quiet yet unusual life is thrown into confusion. The story is different enough from other YA to immediately intrigue me, but once I hit the second half, I couldn't put it down. As if that weren't enough, Taylor's writing is lyrical and gorgeous.

Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli

This is another that I haven't read in a long time. Told from the point of view of Leo, Stargirl focuses on a girl who sweeps into town and changes everyone for the better until things change and they decide that she's too different for her own good.I remember it as a bittersweet exploration of growing up as well as a quirky celebration of individuality.

The Circle (The Engelsfors Trilogy), Sara B. Elfgren and Mats Strandberg

I have nothing but praise for this book! It centers on six very different girls in a small Swedish town called Engelsfors who are called to be the Chosen Ones and save the world from a magical apocalypse. It's a slow-burn story (which I love), and it takes time to develop each of the girls and their relationships with each other. I haven't had this hard a time choosing a favorite character since Orphan Black!

What I'm Listening To: September '15

In the car: Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson

I've heard really good things about this. I'm on part 8 of 20, so I should have a good grasp on the characters by now. Unfortunately, even though the magic system is extremely detailed, I'm still waiting for something to really hook me. I still have over half the book to go, though, so we'll see how my thoughts change once I finish listening to it.

For fun: Badlands, Halsey

Favorite Track: "Ghost"

I can't even describe this well because Halsey is one of those artists who makes listening to music an experience. I'm drawn to interesting lyrics and a good dash of angst, and this CD has both.

While writing: Stardust soundtrack, Ilan Eshkeri and the London Metropolitan Orchestra

Favorite Track: "Tristan & Yvaine"

I think this movie is so much fun. I read the book a number of years ago and remember enjoying it, but I own the movie and recently rewatched it. That's when I realized it was scored by Ilan Eshkeri, who is one of my favorite composers. (His Young Victoria score is gorgeous.) This soundtrack has a lot to love, from lush romantic cues to heart-pounding action cues.

FRIDAY FIVE: Flower Photos

I just take a lot of pictures of flowers. These are some of my favorites.

at the local park

also at the local park

first glimpse of spring last year

 

 

tulips are my favorite

 

my cousin's baby shower