The Da Vinci Code (Thing 1)

While in Paris, Robert Langdon, a symbology professor, is dragged into a dangerous riddle involving the art of Leonardo da Vinci. Partnering with cryptologist Sophie Neveu, the two become fugitives in a race across Paris and London involving secret societies and religious fanatics.

The best part about this book was by far the symbols and hidden meanings in various works of art. You would think that the action-packed adventure storylines would be the most entertaining, but I actually liked the chapters that dealt with deciphering codes and analyzing paintings most. The adventure became something more like a nice bonus. Overall, the plot was what made it worth reading, because otherwise, the book didn't have much going for it. The characters were flat, the writing was awful (not even just okay--it was truly terrible), and the foreshadowing wasn't so much foreshadowing as it was the author hitting you over the head with a random piece of information you knew was bound to show up later. The book as a whole could've benefited from a lot more editing, too, since cutting several thousand words would have tightened the novel up and made it read faster.

I give this book

If you're looking for something brainless and fun, pick up The Da Vinci Code. But be sure to find an illustrated copy, since having the referenced artwork right on the page beats having to Google everything that's mentioned.

"Roman Holiday" (Thing 1)

We watched "Roman Holiday." It's about a princess, Ann, who, on her publicity tour, has finally had enough of her rigid, predictable, overwhelming, and boring schedule. She escapes and runs to explore the streets of Rome, but finds herself exhausted from a sedative a doctor gave her and ends up falling asleep outside. An American reporter finds her and takes her to his apartment to recover, unaware that she's royalty. When he does discover her identity, he joins her on her journey to explore Rome in order to secretly obtain an exclusive interview. But things get complicated when the two end up falling for each other.

I'd only ever seen Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady," so I really liked getting to see her in a role that's pretty much the opposite of Eliza Doolittle (Eliza is a common girl learning how to be a high society lady and Ann is a princess learning how to let loose and live a common life). Though the acting in this movie tended to be a little over the top, the characters were enjoyable and entertaining. The story is fairly simple, but there was a lot of humor, which I wasn't necessarily expecting, so it was a nice bonus. I won't give anything away, but the ending went in a direction I didn't anticipate. I'm glad it did, though, since my guess at what the conclusion would be wasn't nearly as interesting as what it actually was. Some may not find it satisfying, but personally, I liked it.

I give this movie

(Actual rating: 3.5). I'd recommend it to anyone looking to watch a fun and simple classic film. Some older movies can be a little dry, but "Roman Holiday" was not one of those movies.

Raymie Nightingale (Thing 1)

We read Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. It's a middle-grade novel about three girls who become friends over a summer of baton twirling lessons. The protagonist, Raymie, wants to win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire contest in the hopes of getting her picture in the paper so her dad will see her and come home. However, her new friend, Louisiana, also wants to compete so she can use the prize money to buy her cat back from the Very Friendly Animal Center. And her other friend, Beverly, wants to sabotage the whole thing.

I always like Kate DiCamillo's books, and this one wasn't an exception. This plot was by far the simplest of any of her stories I've read, but I didn't mind it too much. I like character-driven stories. It wasn't boring at all, it was just a sleepy kind of feel, like a lazy summer read, which I found enjoyable. Beverly's character made me laugh and Louisiana was delightfully quirky. My favorite parts were toward the end when they set out to complete a mission as "the Three Rancheros." The only character I didn't really connect with was Raymie. The other two girls had very distinct personalities, but I felt like Raymie was distant the whole time, which isn't really what you want with a protagonist.

I give this book

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and simple story. It was really sweet and fun to read.

Rebecca (Thing 1)

We read Rebecca by Daphne du Marier. It's a gothic novel about a woman who marries a rich man named Maxim de Winter, who recently lost his wife Rebbeca to a boating accident. The protagonist feels as if she can never live up to Rebecca as a wife or a woman in high society.

A friend of mine called this "a ghost story without an actual ghost," which is the perfect way to describe it. I loved the fact that the narrator of the book is never given a name. It's done well so it isn't confusing, but leaves you wanting to know. The beginning of the book is really slow, but the payoff is worth it. I haven't read many gothic novels, but I enjoyed this one. I had lots of theories going into it that I was very surprised about.

I would give this book

(actual rating: 3.5).

It has great writing, a simple story with a subtle mystery, and is perfect for a rainy afternoon.

"Newsies" (Thing 1)

We watched "Newsies." A runaway juvenile delinquent, Jack Kelly, gets a job as a newsie in New York. But when the newsies suffer from salary cuts, Jack convinces them to go on strike. Between the chaos of the riots and Jack trying to hide from the Warden Snyder, trouble follows the newsies everywhere.

This was a really fun musical. Right off the bat, it was full of upbeat songs and constant movement, just like New York is. Jack Kelly was played by Christian Bale, who is the perfect kind of actor for his role, a sort of wannabe cowboy/revolutionary. Partnering up with the more levelheaded David, they worked together to keep the strike going without it getting too out of hand (most of the time). The overall feel and theme of the movie reminded me of a "Mary Poppins" meets "Les Misérables." Les, probably the youngest of all of them, was even like Gavroche. The music was great, too; catchy, but not in a borderline annoying way like songs from "Music Man" might get stuck in your head.

Overall, I would give it

(actual rating 3.5). This isn't something I liked enough to see on Broadway or anything, but I would definitely recommend watching the movie.

Little Women (Thing 1)

We read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The March family--primarily focused on the four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy--struggle to work together and stay responsible while their father is away in the military. Throughout the story, obstacles and other complications make this goal difficult, but ultimately bring them closer as a family.

I really enjoyed this book. I'd read it a long time ago, but didn't remember much, so it was like reading it for the first time all over again. Jo was my favorite character hands down, just because of how much I could relate to her. She liked to read, write, and get a little messy even if it meant straying from social norms. She said what she thought and stuck to her principles. Really all of the characters were great in different ways, especially because they were so ahead of their time for when the story was written.

The story was simple, but enjoyable. It didn't feel outdated like some books from that long ago did. I really like the Jo and Laurie friendship, Beth and Mr. Laurence's relationship, and all of the girls constantly trying to stay sane when dealing with their crotchety old Aunt March. Each chapter was almost like a short story that connected with all the others, so if we took a break and went back to it, it wasn't hard to remember everything that had happened in the past thanks to it being serialized. The only thing that bugged me was how obvious some of the chapter endings were with the, "What was the moral of the story here, girls?" kind of attitude. I was fine with the overall message, but it could've been woven into the plot better.

I would rate it

. It's a good book for all ages as it's not difficult to read, but doesn't sacrifice any of the beautiful writing to make it like that.

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (Thing 1)

We watched "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" in order to compare the two  movies. A poor boy named Charlie dreams about winning a golden ticket in a random lottery and going to visit Willy Wonka's famed chocolate factory.

I really enjoyed both movies for different reasons. We watched the older version ("Willy Wonka") first. And for a movie made in 1971, it did a pretty good job of holding up to modern standards. The special effects, the acting, even the music was all great considering. My favorite part about this movie in particular was Willy Wonka himself. He was sarcastic and didn't take any of the other four kids' brattiness, but he was also quirky and funny. He reminded me a little bit of any of the Doctors from "Doctor Who," down to the unique outfit and fast talking and magical world that seems bigger on the inside. This movie did have somewhat of an abrupt ending to it, though. Not unsatisfying, but quick. I liked the music in this one much better, too.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was very Tim Burton. It wasn't creepy, necessarily, but definitely a lot darker. Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka was more odd than delightfully quirky. With Gene Wilder, it didn't seem awkward at all when he gave Charlie a great big hug. Johnny Depp always gave off a "don't touch me" vibe. There was something more off and almost cold about him. It wasn't a bad different, I just preferred the other Willy Wonka better. However, this movie had a lot more backstory to it. You get to find out more about Charlie's family (he has a dad in this version, which he didn't in the other), the chocolate factory before it closed down and reopened, where the Oompa Loompas came from and how they came to work for Willy Wonka, and a whole flashback sequences about Willy Wonka's childhood. I liked that aspect a lot. It added more layers to the story. The ending was more complete, too.

I'd rate "Willy Wonka"

and "Charlie"

(actual rating 3.5).


These are both great movies for the family filled with laughs, a good story, and music guaranteed to stay in your head for a few days. Make sure you have chocolate on hand while you're watching, because you will get hungry.

"Hercules," "Tarzan," and "The Lion King" (Thing 1)

We watched "Hercules," "Tarzan," and "The Lion King." It gave us the chance to review and compare three different musical Disney movies.

All of the movies had certain things in common: Musical numbers; some sort of conniving villain; quirky side characters; humor; some tragic event that heavily influences the protagonist in his actions; and a timeline that follows the main character from him as a baby, to a young child, and then as an adult.

But though each movie had all of these things, some of them had better versions of it than others. My favorite parts of "Hercules" were the characters. They all had their funny moments, villain included, and personalities that felt more unique rather than a copy of other Disney characters. My favorite character was Hades, just because he was an antagonist that cracked me up, like Lucifer from "Supernatural."

The best part of "Tarzan" was the overall story. It wasn't your usual "quest for something" plot, but a more interesting approach to bridging two different worlds. I liked the different relationships between all of the characters as well as being pleasantly surprised about what would happen next. I've seen all of these movies before, but it's been so long since I've seen them, I didn't remember everything about them. However, with the other two, it was fairly easy to predict what the next plot twist would be. I didn't feel like that with "Tarzan."

And then I loved the music in "The Lion King" best. It was catchy, fun, but avoided most of the normal cheese that you can expect in a Disney movie. My favorite songs were "Hakuna Matata" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."

For movies that are pretty short (some of them not even hitting the hour and a half mark), they do a good job of carrying out an interesting story. I recommend all of them.

"The Music Man" (Thing 1)

We watched "The Music Man." It's about a con man named Harold Hill who pretends to be a band leader in order to cheat a small Iowa town out of their money. What he doesn't realize is that a woman named Marian could make it hard to leave.

This movie was full of life and lightheartedness. The scenes always had bright colors and music you could dance to, and a very simple plot. All of that I liked. It was one of the cornier musicals I'd seen, though a few parts did make me giggle. But the main characters just did not strike me as a good fit for each other. They had absolutely no chemistry.

All in all, I'd give this

 . It's a fun movie for the family, but be warned, the songs will stay stuck in your head for a long time!

Liesl & Po (Thing 1)

We read Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver. It's a story about a little girl named Liesl whose father has died. She's left to be raised by her stepmother, who locks her in the attic so she doesn't have to deal with her. One day the little girl manages to escape and starts to make her way to her childhood home so she can lay her father's ashes (which she's stolen from her stepmother) to rest. Little does she know that the box of ashes has accidentally been switched with a box full of the most powerful magic in the universe, thanks to a sleepy alchemist's apprentice named Will. Because of the mix-up, Liesl and Will's paths collide, and along with Liesl's ghost friends, they head on an adventure they had never even imagined they could have.

I'd read the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver, which is a young adult dystopian trilogy that is much different than this book, so I was excited to see how it compared. I thought her writing was fabulous in this one. The friendship between the main characters was sweet, and the whole plot reminded me a little of Cinderella, except with a more paranormal magical theme. My favorite characters were probably Po and Bundle, just because the way the ghosts were handled in the story was really unique. I loved the descriptions having to do with them and "the Other Side," as they call it.

I would give it

. This is a great book to read as a family! I don't feel like the story ever lagged. There were twists and turns with each chapter. I definitely recommend it.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (Thing 1)

We watched "The Nightmare Before Christmas." It's about a skeleton named Jack--aka "The Pumpkin King"--who has been a central part of Halloween all his life. One day, he discovers Christmas, and decides that this year Halloween Town is going to celebrate it.

This is a fun movie with extremely catchy songs. It's great to watch around Christmas time, but I also think it's a good Halloween movie. I'm not always a huge fan of claymation, but this was done pretty well. The plot was pretty simple and family friendly, the "creepiness" way toned down. It's more goofy than it is scary. The only reason I took a couple points off was because I didn't feel like I got to know the characters that well and I didn't believe the chemistry between Jack and Sally. Otherwise it was very enjoyable.

I would give this movie

.

"Once" (Thing 1)

We watched "Once." It's about a boy and girl in Dublin who are trying to make it as musicians. They meet one day when the guy is busking and start to collaborate with their music.

Out of all the musicals I've watched so far, this definitely makes my top three. It's such a simple plot, more of a glimpse into a musician's every day life than a movie. It very much focuses on the characters and the music, which I liked. And the music is fantastic, and very Indie. My favorite song from it is one you've probably heard, "Falling Slowly," but every song in it is so good. The accents are also very cool! A little hard to understand at times since they're so thick, but I love hearing accents from different countries. I won't give anything away, but I really liked the ending, too. It's not your typical Hollywood ending.

I would give this movie

.

"The Wiz" (Thing 1)

We watched "The Wiz." It's a more modern day adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz," set in New York and an urban version of Oz.

The story is pretty much entirely the same as "The Wizard of Oz" (which is a musical I only like okay), except it's far more depressing. The setting always seems to be dark and gray and rundown, the buildings are abandoned or look like factories, and there's trash everywhere. The songs are also mediocre at best with lyrics capable of being written by an eight-year-old. The choreography was repetitive throughout the entire movie, and the acting was extremely bad. My brother and I laughed out loud several times, but only because something was so cheesy. Most of the time we were groaning or fast-forwarding through songs that never ended. If something deserved only thirty seconds of attention, it lasted for a good five minutes. And scenes that should've been dragged out for dramatic effect were over in the blink of an eye.

Also, where was Toto?! Half the time he was nowhere to be found only to show up a few scenes later. Dorothy only noticed his absence when it was convenient for the plot, but the rest of the time she couldn't care less where he'd run off to.

I would give this movie

. I don't use a one-star rating often, but this was just cringe-worthy. Everything was melodramatic, inconsistent, or just plain bad.

"The Court Jester" (Thing 1)

My brother and I watched "The Court Jester." It's about a carnival performer who becomes a crucial role in a plan to overthrow the king and put the rightful heir on the throne by disguising himself as the court jester.

A lot of people say that this movie is a musical, but there were very few songs in it, maybe three total. But the story itself was really good and funny, and the main character in particular was great. He had a lot of slapstick but clever comedy. It gave off a "Princess Bride" or "Galavant" kind of vibe.

I would give this movie

for everything I said earlier. It's fairly old (it was released in 1956), but you don't really notice it like you do with other movies. The acting was actually pretty good, and there weren't any big special effects that just made you laugh at how bad it was. I really enjoyed it. It was light, fluffy, and funny.

"Damn Yankees" (Thing 1)

My brother and I watched "Damn Yankees." It's about a man named Joe who's always wanted to be a baseball player and finally gets the chance to make himself younger again and give it another shot thanks to a deal with the devil.



I've been wanting to watch more musicals in general, so this was a good one to start out with. There wasn't a super complicated plot or anything that was hard to follow, but the music was fun, as well as the story. The songs are extremely catchy (I'm humming "Heart" even as I type this). I also really liked the Applegate character. There was something quirky about him that reminded me of some of the demonic characters in "Supernatural," and he made me laugh a few times.


I would give this movie

(3.5) for all the reasons I listed above, though I took a couple off for the cheese factor (granted, it's bound to happen with most musicals) and the part that bugged me the most, with Joe's wife not recognizing him. Even if he was younger, I have a hard time believing she wouldn't be able to tell it was him. I'm sure there were pictures of him as a twenty-year-old that she must've seen. But for the most part, it was pretty good.

The Fourteenth Goldfish (Thing 1)

We read The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm. It's a middle-grade book about a girl named Ellie who loves science. One day, her mom comes home with a thirteen-year-old boy. But it's not just any old boy. This is her Grandpa Melvin. And it looks like he's discovered the secret to eternal youth.

14 things I learned from The Fourteenth Goldfish:

1. The idea of immortality is a whole lot better than the reality.
2. Change isn't always bad.
3. Science and art are equally important.
4. You can't judge a book by its cover.
5. You have to live life to its fullest. You only get one shot at it.
6. It's good to believe in the possible.
7. If you let fear hold you back, you'll always be stuck.
8. Sometimes kids are more capable than grownups.
9. Sometimes grownups are more capable than kids.
10. Curiosity is the key to discovery.
11. Not all failures are dead-ends.
12. Cooking is a little bit like science.
13. Every top-secret mission needs a ridiculous name like the "Burrito Project."
14. A happy ending is just the beginning.

I would rate this book

It's a super cute, quick read for the whole family. It's guaranteed to keep your interest the whole way through.

"Gone With the Wind" (Thing 1)

Our family watched "Gone With the Wind" (over several days, as the movie is four hours long). It's about a young woman named Scarlett O'Hara living in Georgia during the Civil War. Scarlett's best friend, Melanie, is betrothed to Ashley Wilkes, who Scarlett is desperately in love with. As we've been learning about the Civil War recently, we thought this would be a good movie to watch.

What I liked: Despite being a behemoth, "Gone With the Wind" manages to keep your interest and is very character driven. Scarlett is feisty and doesn't hesitate to get her hands dirty, something I didn't expect from her at first. Melanie and Prissy are probably my favorite characters; Melanie because she's incredibly sweet and kind to everyone around her, and Prissy because her dingy-ness and breathy voice provides comic relief.

What I didn't like: The first hour of the movie is a little slow and didn't grab my attention like the rest of it did. Scarlett, while very driven and willing to work hard, is cruel. She spends years pining after Ashley, even though he's happily married to her best friend. She even tries to make a move on him a few times. I have a very hard time watching a movie or reading a book where the main character is unlikeable. And while I liked Rhett as a character okay, I found him to be very pushy and inappropriate towards Scarlett, like when he forces her to kiss him multiple times throughout the movie.

I would give this movie

(actual rating: 3.5). It's a great movie to watch as a family, especially if you're learning about the Civil War, but make sure you have plenty of time set aside to devote your attention to it!

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (Thing 1)

We read Because of Mr. Terupt (dollar word) by Rob Buyea. It's about seven kids starting fifth grade with their new teacher, Mr. Terupt. They all have their insecurities, their fears, but Mr. Terupt helps them to overcome them and to make new friends. Until an accident changes everything.

What I liked: The changing perspectives, getting to see the same scene through every kid's eyes without it repeating itself. The characters, Mr. Terupt, the dollar-word game*, the simplicity, the ending. Everything about this book was wonderful, right down to the different fonts when there was a new narrator.

What I didn't like: At first I was uneasy about reading a book where there were seven kids to keep track of. I don't like having to keep track of too many characters at once, especially when they're all narrating. But it didn't take long to get used to it, and in the end it made all the difference. The story wouldn't have been the same if they hadn't all played a part.

I give this book

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good family read, especially for those who love the books Wonder by R.J. Palacio and Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper.

(After finishing the book, our family did the dollar-word challenge. My word: Sherlocked.)

*The dollar-word game is a math project Mr. Terupt had the kids do where they attempt to find a word that equals one dollar exactly. Each letter is worth a certain amount to make up the dollar. For example, a = 1, b = 2, c =3, and so on.

Flora and Ulysses (Thing 1)

We read Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo. Self-proclaimed cynic, Flora Belle Buckman, befriends a squirrel, Ulysses, who has turned into a superhero after getting sucked up a vacuum. Now he can fly, has super strength, and can write poetry. What Flora didn't expect, though, was for Ulysses' archnemesis to be her own mother.

What I liked: Everything! The characters were quirky, Ulysses was adorable, and we laughed out loud several times. It was simple and sweet, and it ended far too quickly.

What I didn't like: ...

I give this book

It's a great book to read as a family, because anyone--boy or girl, no matter what age--will enjoy this book. Guaranteed.

The Secret of the Old Clock (Thing 1)

We read The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene. A girl named Nancy Drew finds out that a man who died had promised a bunch of people money, but never gave them any in his will. Convinced that there was a later will, Nancy sets out to find it.

What I liked: I liked solving the mystery as I read it, though it wasn't too difficult to figure out. I also liked Nancy. She was never mean and always looked out for other people.

What I didn't like: The book is very simple, which I'm okay with, but it was to the point where all of the characters had the same personalities (except for the antagonists). The dialogue was very formal and seemed unnatural to me. I've heard the later books are better, so I'm willing to give it another chance, but it was only okay for me.

I give this book

.  I recommend reading this with your kids/younger siblings/younger friends. It's a great book to read with younger kids, especially if you're introducing them to reading or mysteries.