Day 3: A Favorite Book

The Inimitable Jeeves
by P.G. Wodehouse

Ah, Bertie Wooster and his brilliant butler, Jeeves. What can I say? I have a weakness for British humor. If you do not like British humor, don’t go near this book. A lighthearted read that is quirky and has plenty of random plot twists. Jeeves is the epitome butler and, in my opinion, one of the most memorable literary characters ever created. The book might be compared to an unpolished gem – by this I mean that it seems hastily and/or haphazardly written, but remains delightful. Most of the people are satires or caricatures of reality. Jeeves is elegant, impeccable, very brainy, and indispensable in a pinch. Bertie is a rather common and naïve man who also tends toward bad taste in fashion. Full of British slang and customs, laughable characters, and awkward predicaments.

This book is a charming waste of time and I enjoyed it very much. To any who wondered, P.G. stands for Pelham Grenville.

Day two: A Favorite Movie

"The Princess Bride"

It’s quirky, and the romance comes across sarcastic (that’s usually a must for me).

The characters include: a Spaniard (Inigo Montoya), who has dedicated his life to revenge and swordplay; Wesley, who is annoyingly idealistic but knows some cool tricks and has a high tolerance for torture; a giant, who is charming in an almost childish way; and a lovely girl named Buttercup, who is not particularly bright or useful in a pinch.

It also includes cool creatures such as the shrieking eels and R.O.U.S.’s (rodents of unusual size). Plus, there’s the interesting torture equipment that looks archaic enough, but not particularly convincing. Or my favorite character, the ridiculous man who says every “r” like a “w,” something that lent a particular lack of solemnity to the wedding ceremony. I like that Miracle Max randomly starts talking about how perky MLT (mutton, lettuce, and tomato) is. Then there are the other quirks, such as the man with six fingers, the albino with the funny voice, and the use of a wheelbarrow and holocaust cloak.

What the movie lacks in quality and/or reality, I will excuse because it doesn’t seem meant to be taken seriously. The combination of sarcasm, absurd characters, and light-hearted plot make it seriously entertaining to watch on occasion. I do think Wesley quite ugly, but it is irrelevant to the entertainment value.

Favorite quotations:

Fezzik: “Why are you wearing a mask? Were you burned with acid or something?”

Vizzini: “No more rhymes now, I mean it!”
Fezzik: “Anybody want a peanut?”

Inigo: “You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you.”
Westley: “You seem a decent fellow…I hate to die.”

30 Days

i formulated this idea because another blog i follow did the 30-day blog challenge a while ago. Some of them are profound; all should be interesting.

Day One: a favorite song

Don’t laugh. I like it because it reminds me of friends, New Year’s, festivity, and David Copperfield, and also because I’m not entirely sure what a “richt-gude willie waught” is. Sounds like an inebriating beverage to me.

Listen to a favorite version of mine here: http://abmp3.com/download/7600648-auld-lang-syne.html. It's relientK, but it's acappella. Assuming the link is correct. I'll check it later. Hey, I'm at the library with no headphones.

lyrics:

“Auld Lang Syne”
(Robert Burns)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days o’ lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne;
We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

And here’s a hand, my trusty fere
And gie’s a hand o’ thine;
We’ll tak’ a richt-gude willie waught
For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne;
We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

One more thing that makes me a non-conformist...

In a group of people, I'm the one trying to balance the egg:

And the Contest Results Are:

I have decided my contest is officially at an end.

First place goes to: Justin West.
Justin is entitled to three sets of charming but relatively unmanly cards, which I doubt he wants. Instead of this, he will receive a handwritten note of congratulations [and maybe something else unexpected].



Second place goes to: Allie.
Allie is a photographer, and you can visit her blog here. She will be sent two sets of charming handmade cards. Allie, I will send you color schemes from which to choose and your prize will be sent within a week or two.

As a final note, many thanks to all participants!

Everyone Vote!

Contest entries, on which any random person is welcome to vote! (Note: Please only vote for one person. It will help keep things from getting ambiguous. Thanks!)

From Samantha R.:

From Ashley:

From Justin West:

From Bridget Irish:

From Allie:

Ted Dekker

He grew up as a missionary kid in Indonesia, among cannibals. Death was a part of life, a reality.

He now writes fiction that is far from normal. He has authored some of the best thrillers ever written. How would one describe his work? Suspenseful, horrific, dark, and a journey of the mind. At the same time, charming, absurdly humorous, and beautiful. Always a little bit outside this reality, and definitely a bit like a freefall. Add the words redemption and radical love to the mix, and you have almost defined it. His ability to describe both beauty and pain, his ability to make one laugh out loud, the spontaneity of his ideas – the combination make him perhaps the best fiction author I have ever read.

If you haven’t read any of his stuff, here are some recommendations with my mini-reviews.

The circle trilogy: Black, Red, White

Dual realities, each of them equally compelling, keep the mind fully engaged. Some violence, plenty of suspense, wonderfully constructed plot, absurdly humorous, vivid and compelling. Never a break in speed. Battles, assassinations, and beauty – all of it woven seamlessly together with redemption.

Obsessed

Set between holocaust and the present, this is a battle between good and evil, and the story of a man’s obsession. Somewhat violent, always captivating, definitely desperate, sometimes hilarious, often heartrending, and ultimately satisfying.

Saint

You’ll want to stay up all night for this one. Complex, brilliantly crafted, compulsively readable.

Thr3e
This is a book and a movie, and I can recommend both. The movie closely mirrors the book. A gripping battle between good and evil, with twists that will surprise.

The Lost Books Series

This one is somewhat closer to the teenage/young adult genre. It’s the story of four teenagers who are appointed a task they don’t fully understand. Battles, good and evil, the mind, the heart – a striking combination. This book is also a collision of realities.

To anyone who might like something a bit more in the romance genre and without too much gore:

Blink
A fast-paced read set in both California and Saudi Arabia. In short, a brilliant American with amazing capabilities helps a Saudi Arabian princess flee an impending arranged marriage. Hilarious humor, spontaneity, and complexity. Most of it isn’t all that violent.

To anyone who can deal with a lot of gore and evil, over which love ultimately triumphs:

Adam
Extremely compelling, very violent, often sad, and impossible to put down. The horrific story of an amazing battle.

Boneman’s Daughters
The story of a broken father and a hurting daughter. The story of a man possessed by hate. Very violent, weird at times. But don’t miss the point. I didn’t enjoy the story as much as I loved the point.