Wishlist Wednesday: Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey

Guess what I spotted in a GoodReads email? 

My wish book for this week! 

It is the latest in the fun Five Hundred Kingdoms Series by Mercedes Lackey. 

The eldest daughter is often doomed in fairy tales. But Bella—Isabella Beauchamps, daughter of a wealthy merchant—vows to escape the usual pitfalls.

Anxious to avoid the Traditional path, Bella dons a red cloak and ventures into the forbidden forest to consult with "Granny," the local wisewoman.

But on the way home she's attacked by a wolf—who turns out to be a cursed nobleman! Secluded in his castle, Bella is torn between her family and this strange man who creates marvelous inventions and makes her laugh; when he isn't howling at the moon.

Have you read any Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms? 
 
In this series, the characters are usually trying to avoid the powerful pull of Tradition or shape it to improve their lot. Tampering with Tradition can cause big trouble so Godmothers must find ways for 'Tradition' to be satisfied while ensuring the safety and happiness of all... even if it is in very unexpected ways.  
 
If you like quirky fairy tale retellings, you are in for a treat. 




Please visit Pen to Paper to see more Wishlist Wednesday offerings.

Wishing for Zombies?

Hi! It is me, Lesa, wishing for a book. I think. 

You see the book in question is Zone One, a post-apocalyptic novel about the aftermath of a zombie plague, by Colson Whitehead

Post-apocalyptic novels, I do like.

Zombies, meh... not so much.

Now, no offense to zombies. It is just that I am not a 'Squee! Zombies!' sort of girl. In fact, my interest in zombies is zilch. 

Be that as it may, I have enjoyed the occasional zombie movie/book. The friendly but misunderstood zombies from the magically punny Xanth books are funny.  And The Forest of Hands and Teeth (with traditional unfriendly zombies) is an excellent post-apocalyptic dystopian YA read.

But do I wish to read another post-apocalyptic zombie book?

My interest waned a bit since first hearing about Zone One a couple of weeks ago in a NPR Fresh Air author interview. 


image Erin Patrice O'Brien/Doubleday


After relistening to the extremely engaging author, Colson Whitehead, discuss his novel and share anecdotes from his childhood and prep school days, I was completely enthralled again. 


So yes, I do wish to read this book. And Mr. Whitehead's previous non-zombie literary works as well.

Give a listen. Bet you won't be able to resist his giggle. (Or the fact that the book is a tip of the hat to his favorite sci-fi and horror shows/comics/books from childhood.  I can't resist, I love that sort of thing.)



Click 'summary' to read a synopsis and abbreviated companion article.

So, book wishing friends, is Zone One a wish-worthy book?  And have you read any Colson Whitehead novels?


Wishlist Wednesday is a bookish linky party hosted by Pen to Paper.  

Wishing For Books! By Adele, Our Newest Contributor!

Hello! I am Adele. I am 10 years old. You may have seen my guest review: English Roses by Madonna. I am extremely happy to become an official contributor!

 So, here is my first official Baja post.

I am soooooo excited at the moment!

My favourite author (or at least ONE of my favourites), Lauren Child, has a new book out!

You see, Clarice Bean is a book I am absolutely CRAZY about, and in the books Clarice is CRAZY about a book called Ruby Redfort. Clarice Bean has TV shows, badges and all sorts of things about Ruby Redfort.

Lauren Child FINALLY made a book of the book within the book! It's called, 'Ruby Redfort, Look Into My Eyes'.  I collect Lauren Child's books and I just have to have it!


Another one of my favourites is Alice Miranda by Jacqueline Harvey.

 I have all the books apart from that last one with the green cover. Its a new one and I'm trying to find it. 

So many books to buy!

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Are there any books you are wishing for?  Please share. And to see more wishlists, please visit these linky parties:

Wishlist Wednesday hosted by Pen to Paper
On My Wishlist hosted by Book Chick City (Saturday link-up)

Short Stories on Wednesday: King of Creepy Edition

Short Stories on Wednesday is hosted by the lovely Risa of Bread Crumb Reads.  Click the text link to visit the brand new Bread Crumb Reads on Wordpress. Click the button to visit the old Bread Crumb Reads on Blogger. (but it really isn't old)


I'm so excited to finally be joining in Risa's celebration of short stories. I love love love short stories. As a child, I read them frequently. As an adult, not so much but I do miss reading them. 

During this year of bargain book buying like a wild woman,  I've acquired several interesting and eclectic (genre to literary) anthologies that I've been longing to read.  Since it is October, I decided to start with the King of Creepy.

Skeleton Crew, first published in 1985, is King's second anthology. It contains one novella and twenty-one short stories.

Sunday, I read three selections in the car coming home from a long weekend getaway. It was a five hour roadtrip so I could have read many more stories but three was plenty of creep for one sitting. 

By the way, I'm not a wimp. I am actually a backsliding Horror addict. And I blame my return to the genre on reading the always terrific and sometimes horroric blogs Shredded Cheddar and Serendipity's Library. 

So which short stories did I read? 

 Cain Rose Up 

This six page shorty, written in 1968, is about a nutter sniping people from his college dorm window.

Sounds like something off the current nightly news, doesn't it.  Scary!

 The sniper's attitude and negative way of describing other people is very reminiscent of Holden Caulfield but there aren't enough pages for him to get too annoying.  I really thought the story might be a little tip of the hat to Salinger but there is no information from the author about this story in the book's Notes.  Wikipedia states that the story might have been inspired by the 1966 sniper shootings at the University of Texas.  

(I'm from Texas but don't recall knowing about that mass murder. If you are into true crime, the article at Wiki is interesting. The guy left sane sounding notes, seemingly bewildered by his own behavior and requesting his own autopsy. He had a brain tumor.) 

 Anyway, back to this story.  The sniper justifies his rampage to a poster of Humphrey Bogart (yeah, he's nuts) with an interpretation of the Cain and Abel story.  After all, God isn't a vegetarian. God wants meat.

Here There Be Tygers

This five pager was also written in 1968. It is about a hungry tiger in a school basement bathroom. Is there really a tiger in the bathroom? Is it just the fantasy of a third grade boy who is constantly targeted and embarrassed by a mean teacher?  

I don't know but in the Notes, King says his first grade teacher was pretty scary. 

So fellow teachers: Stay out of basement bathrooms and whatever you do... do not use the word urinate in reference to a student!

The Monkey

This short story from 1980 is more of a longy at thirty eight pages and OooOOooOOooo... Can you guess which creepy monkey this is about? 

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This broken monkey toy refuses to be thrown away and when it claps it's cymbals... yes, the cymbals clap even though it is broken... so when the cymbals clap... are you on the edge of your seat? 

Okay, when the cymbals clap... terrible things happen. Mwahahaha... You didn't really think I would reveal evil monkey deeds, did you?

I don't want no monkeys after me!

 In the Notes, King says this story was inspired in New York City by a platoon of wind-up monkeys for sale on the street, all bending, grinning and clapping... and looking very scary.

All three of these stories are good creepy little tales. Which is my favorite? Hmm.. Cain Rose Up is scary because random shootings by crazy people are real.  Here There Be Tygers is creepy in a folktale urban legend sort of way. The Monkey is traditional horror with supernatural evil.

I enjoyed them all but The Monkey is my favorite.

Do you have a thing for short stories? Any particular author or genre? Please share. And do head over to Bread Crumb Reads to check out all the other short story devotees' weekly selections.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Want To See Made Into Movies

Hi! Lesa here!  Thanks for commiserating last week about my cold of apocalyptic proportions.  Wish I could say it dried up like a well behaved cold should but, NO, it morphed into bronchitis.  The symptoms are not fun and the associated head/eye pain and exhaustion have kept me off the computer quite a bit.  But, I am now with antibiotics so hopefully will kick this crud soon.   Hope all of you are staying healthy and crud-free! 

Now for Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is very appealing because some books are just perfect for film. 

 For me, it is usually action thriller or fantasy reads that I'd like to see on the big screen. Surely, I'm not the only girl who grew up watching Bond, Sinbad and all manner of cowboys and swashbucklers. Ooo--love those swashbucklers!

I was very curious which books the other ladies of Mrs. BG would choose so here is our collaborative Top Ten Tuesday!

Lesa's Picks:

1. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

    This is my favorite newish fantasy series. I would love to visit a sanctuary for fairytale and mythical creatures but the next best thing would be to see it on the big screen.


2.  Any of the Pendergast novels by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
Pendergast is an amazing cross between Bond and Sherlocke Holmes. If you aren't familiar with Pendergast, I wrote about him here.

3. Repairman Jack Series by F. P. Wilson.
Jack is so cool-- he lives off the grid in New York City and creatively 'fixes' situations for people who can't go to the authorities for help. If you aren't familiar with Jack, I wrote about him here.

4. Any James Rollins science thrillers-- the old stand alones or the Sigma Force series.

5. Temple by Matthew Reilly but I want to see all his action thrillers made into movies-- reading a Reilly book is just like watching an intense action movie. 

 Temple  takes place in the jungles of Peru with two storylines, one from the past and one in the present. Several factions are furiously hunting for a lost Incan idol that holds the secret to a deadly weapon of war. 

Fun fun fun!! I'd love to have that sort of  jungle adventure--  except for the parasites and creepy crawlies, of course!  

6. Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan

This fantasy series is too massive to be made into films but it would make an amazing animated series. I'm thinking something similar to the style and complexity of Avatar:The Last Airbender series. Do you watch it?



Ok, I've monopolized long enough!

DeLynne's Pick:

7. The Phyrnne Fisher mystery series by Kerry Greenwood because the costumes would be stunning!

Phryne (pronounced Fry-knee) has more money than she knows how to spend, luxuriates in expensive cosmetics, wears bespoke clothes, and solves mysteries while shocking society. She is a ballsy, unconventional woman with an amazing intellect who began her life distressingly poor. DeLynne wrote about Phryne here.

Leslie's Pick:

8. The series by Celestine Vaite - Frangipani, Bread Fruit, and Tiare in Bloom.

I think it would be a fabulous movie for a mother, daughter, sister, best friend, aunt, cousin, neighbor....the women in the story are beautiful, hilarious, wise, and familiar...you know these women, you are these women....and it is set in Tahiti...


Tracy's Pick:

9. Wicked by Gregory Maguire... I know, it's been a play, but I don't do jazz hands...

Izzy's Pick:  

10. The Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda.

And a Mary Poppins that is true to the original (i.e. Mary Poppins is stern and a bit scary), not Disney-fied. Also, L.A.Candy by Lauren Conrad.
Love Izzy.

What book would you love to see made into a movie? or a better remake?  That might make an excellent Top Ten Tuesday Topic too. Hmm...

Our 2011 Bookish Resolutions

Hi, Lesa here!  Every year, I resolutely resolve to boycott making New Year's Day resolutions but the  Top Ten Tuesday Bookish Resolutions hosted by The Broke and The Bookish  swayed me to the dark side.  Bookish resolutions are surely more worthy than the usual old rigmarole-- and surely easier to stick too, right?

After all my holiday bookish musing, it was a breeze coming up with reading related resolutions. Then, I just had to know what my lovely co-blogger's bookish resolutions might be...

Lesa's Bookish Resolutions:
1. Keep a list of all books I read in 2011. I started a list for 2010 but didn't keep it up.

2. Participate in an official challenge and/or readalong. More about that soon.

3. Buy more books!!  Never fear, I am still a library girl! The earth hasn't shifted on it axis or anything BUT after all the bookstore sale,  book fair and  thrift store treasures I discovered in 2010, I am now unashamedly addicted to aquiring beaucoups of bargain books! 

4.  Read as many books that I already own as I can-- there is a monkey on my back, after all. (see #3)

5. Don't horde-- Donate read books to libraries and/or giveaway to bloggy friends. Then, there will be room for more books. Aw, the monkey is clapping his little hands...

6. Buy a bookcase for my child's room. That will free up one or more shelves on three family bookcases! Oooo, more space for bargain books! The monkey just swooned...

7. Stamp out book snobbery whenever it rears its ugly head. I just won't stand for it, I tell you.  Don't make me sic the monkey...

Leslie's Bookish Resolutions:  
I want to try a new author and/or genre. I tend to stick to a series until it's done because I know it will be good and I don't want to waste a reading opportunity.

Izzy's Bookish Resolutions:
My reading resolution is to read something classic, something substantial, and try to stay away from Mary-Kate and Ashley. I need something out of my comfort zone, I only read those ridiculously girly novels because they are so familiar. And all have pretty much the same plot.
:)

DeLynne's Bookish Resolutions:
 I would like to read every book in the Phryne Fisher series. And something totally new, like sci fi which I don't do often. And a classic. And blog more often. xo

Tracy's Bookish Resolutions:
I plan to read all thirteen Wheel of Time books this year. And hopefully, have my book, Dragon Seals,  ready for someone else to read!

Happy New Year and Happy Reading... May all your books be page-turners! 

Top Ten Picks: Lesa's Favorite Quotes

Jillian's topic this week is favorite quotes from books, authors and writers. I do have a quote fetish but unlike some of the other memers this week, I've never marked quotes in books or jotted down a quote while reading. Do most of you do that?

Running across a favorite quote or passage in my beloved rereads feels like meeting a long lost friend. Some pop into my head at odd times as little nuggets of wisdom; some just make me laugh. In new reads, I do pause over particularly clever, profound or amusing turns of phrase but, honestly, it never occurred to me to write them down. It might be rewarding to give it a try though...

Book Quotes:

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. Thorin Oakenshield to Bilbo in The Hobbit

Courage is found in unlikely places. Gildor to Frodo in The Fellowship of the Ring

I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. Bilbo to birthday party guests in The Fellowship of the Ring

'I see', laughed Strider, 'I look foul and feel fair. Is that it? All that is gold does not glitter, not all those that wander are lost.' Strider/Aragorn in The Fellowship of the Ring

All of my quotes could easily come from The Hobbit and LoTR but I will save them for a post during my next reread.

These next two from Pride and Prejudice tickle me to no end:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

I take no leave of you, Miss Bennett. I send no compliments to your mother. Lady Catherine de Bourgh

I actually say this one for giggles when in a pretend huff. Of course, no one else gets it which only serves to escalate my amusement. But it is also therapeutic to think it when truly incensed-- makes me feel better anyway.

A couple from Gone With The Wind:

All wars are sacred... To those who have to fight them. If the people who started wars didn't make them sacred, who would be foolish enough to fight? But, no matter what rallying cries the orators give to the idiots who fight, no matter what noble purposes they assign to wars, there is never but one reason for a war. And that is money. All wars are in reality money squabbles. But so few people ever realize it. Their ears are too full of bugles and drums and fine words from stay-at-home orators. Sometimes the rallying cry is 'Save the Tomb of Christ from the Heathen!' Sometimes it's 'Down with Popery!' and sometimes 'Liberty!' and sometimes 'Cotton, Slavery and States' Rights!' Rhett Butler in GWTW

Hunger gnawed at her empty stomach again and she said aloud: 'As God is my witness, and God is my witness, the Yankees aren't going to lick me. I'm going to live through this, and when it's over, I'm never going to be hungry again. No, nor any of my folks. If I have to steal or kill - as God is my witness, I'm never going to be hungry again. Scarlett in GWTW

Author Quotes:
That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much. Robert Louis Stevenson

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. Mark Twain

And a few favorite pearls from a sassy gal:

Between two evils, I always picked the one I never tried before.

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.

It is better to be looked over than overlooked.

Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often.
;o)

Books That Made Me Love Reading

Top Ten Picks is a weekly meme hosted by Jillian at Random Ramblings. This week the topic is 'books that made you discover your love of reading'.

Such a fun topic because, as all bookworms know, the next best thing to reading a favorite book is reminiscing about a favorite book.

Like many bookworms, my love for books and reading began at a very early age. In fact, I reckon the bookworm trait must be encoded in my DNA. Of course, my mother did read to me constantly so a lot of nurture in the mix as well... but if I had been raised by wolves I would still be a bookworm... at least, once I returned to civilization and learned to read. ;o)

My Top Ten Picks cover my earliest book memories from age three/four through elementary school.

1. Wonder Books and Little Golden Books

Like Jillian, these precious little storybooks were a huge part of my toddler and childhood years. Even after I outgrew them, I was still reading them to Little Brother #1 and Little Brother #2.

My mother, angel that she is, kept them all safe and sound. Most are still at her house but I've brought a few home to Oklahoma to read to my little boy. He loves them too.

Wonder Books... I wonder what ever happened to Wonder Books. I found practically no mention of them in a google search other than folks collecting or selling.
Do any of you... ahem....'older' bookworms remember Wonder Books?

A few of my well loved and well read Little Golden Books. I distinctly remember cuddling next to my mother at age three and four while she read So Big and The Little Book to me.... over and over and over. I still remember the thrill of knowing what was coming next in the story and the anticipation I felt as each page was turned. Yep, definitely born a bookworm.

Actually, the Tootle and Love Bug may be Little Brother #1's books... he is five years younger... but I remember reading them for myself. All these Little Golden books cost thiry-nine to forty-nine cents. Hard to believe, isn't it.

Some of Little Brother #2's collection. He is thirteen years younger so these were purchased in the early 80s and cost eighty-nine cents.

A couple of my little boy's books. Today, these cost $2.99... the $2.50 price is a Walmart special.

Oh my, haven't prices changed!



2. Dr. Seuss

I may have been born a bookworm but I wasn't born a reader so I give credit to Dr. Seuss where credit is due.

I vividly remember being boggled by everything in first grade especially reading. Quite nerve wracking, really, when you are expected to perform and it all looks like Greek. I spent most of the year in the Pug reader, the lowest reading group... while gazingly longingly over at the Blue Dilly Dilly group. Yes, I'm still peeved.

After speaking with the teacher, my mother enrolled me in the Dr. Seuss bookclub. Lots of practice reading went on during the summer between first and second grade.

At the beginning of second grade, the teacher called each student to her desk to read aloud to determine which reader they should start in. While waiting nervously for my turn, I whispered my page over and over... each word seemed to make sense... but I lacked confidence. My turn finally arrived and I read the whole page fluently! I was in the top reading group from then on... Whoot Whoot! Take that, Pug!!

Thank you, Mama and Dr. Seuss!

By the way, the books in the photo are my thirty seven year old copies. Apparently, my brothers and I were hard on books.


3. Danny and the Dinosaur

This book was a favorite picture book of many students so was rarely available to check out at the school library. The idea of a museum dinosaur coming to life, befriending a little boy and exploring the city was absolutely enthralling.

4. The Funny Little Woman

This retelling of a Japanese folktale is charming and magical. A funny little woman who makes the best dumplings and always laughs 'Tehehehe' chases a rolling dumpling all the way to the demon underworld. The head demon keeps her as dumpling maker. She finally escapes, sells dumplings and becomes rich. Wow, this story must be where my love of fantasy began.

This picture book was such a favorite that I rechecked it from the school library countless times. I've searched for this book for years but couldn't remember the title... I kept thinking it was 'the runaway dumpling'. No one ever recognized which book I was describing... so frustrating. Finally, this week the Google Gods smiled and I found it! Now, I can buy it for my little bookworm.

Are you familiar with The Funny Little Woman?


5. Little House in the Big Woods

This book was my first beloved chapter book. I read it and the sequels over and over from the end of second grade through middle school. The later books fall more in the YA category.

I loved reading about perky Laura and her family's adventures as they moved farther and farther West in search of a better life.


6. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle



Isn't Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle the cutest little lady? This series of books kept me laughing during third and fourth grade. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle lives in an upside down house and carries a big bag full of all kind of cures for children's misbehavior and bad habits. She is a parent's dream. If your child has 'gobbley-monia' or 'won't go to bed-itis', just call Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.



7. Beverly Cleary Books

Oh, how I loved Henry, Ribsy, Beezus and Ramona. I read every Cleary book in my school library. I owned a copy of Ramona The Brave and read it so many times.


8. Bobbsey Twins and Boxcar Children




Yes, I know, different authors, but I just realised this is number eight so must lump some together. These are more favorites that I read from third grade to fifth grade. I loved immersing myself in the adventures of other children and families.



9. Lois Lenski books

Around age nine or ten, I discovered Lois Lenski's regional books at the public library. Strawberry Girl, the best known, is about two girls from feuding families in the early 20th century South becoming friends.

Being from the South, I loved reading Lenski's books. I especially loved that the dialogue was written in various Southern dialects. To this day, I thrill when an author accurately captures a dialect on the written page.




10. Andrew Lang's Colored Fairy Books

Another public library discovery around age nine. Oh, how I loved these fairytales. My library didn't have the whole collection but I remember avidly reading the green, red, blue, yellow, and brown fairy books.


11. Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators



I found this series at the public library too and read it from fourth grade through middle school. These are such deliciously shivery mysteries. The Secret of Terror Castle is the first in the series and I've never forgotten it. Isn't it funny how the covers changed over the years.

Do you know this series? I'll be blogging about The Three Investigators Series in a future Tuesday Treasures post so stay tuned.

What a wonderful experience reminiscing about the early books that cinched my love of reading. Thanks, Jillian!

Drat, I didn't mention A Little Princess and Heidi...

Breakfast at Tiffany's

NB In proof-reading this Top Ten Pick, I realize that it is just a thinly disguised musing of my own, so I completely understand if Jillian chooses to unlink it.

I've chosen for my Top One Pick (I am the opposite of Lesa when it comes to lists!) the book/movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. Have you seen/read them both? If not, you really must.

They really shouldn't be listed as being the same story: they are quite different, set 20 years apart with opposing endings. It could be argued that the novel Breakfast at Tiffiany's isn't very romantic, that the couple aren't really in love. That would be true, but the film was based on the novella, and no one can read the book without picturing the luminous Audrey Hepburn.

It is a beautiful, poignant book, and I think many women can see some of themselves (even only if thinking wishfully) in Holly Golightly. Holly's relationship with 'Fred' is so innocent and yet provocative. In the movie 'Fred' has a real name and a much more romantic relationship.

I suppose this convoluted justification is just an excuse to discuss the actress we spent a very pleasant afternoon watching. See, for Mothers' Day hubby gave his Mum a copy of Roman Holiday. Princess Anne and Joe Bradley would be my number two pick, if I wanted to make a list longer than one. My girls kept exclaiming over her beauty (Audrey, not my MIL) and asking about her. The elder said watching Audrey makes her feel 'galumphing'. They were smitten!

So, back to the book at hand... If you haven't read Breakfast at Tiffany's, do. Truman Capote was a genius, really a genius. The story will surprise you if you've seen the movie, and it will make you think regardless. It might also make you feel 'galumphing,' but that's your problem.

Top Ten Picks: Favorite Love Stories

This week Jillian's Top Ten Picks topic is favorite love stories from books, film, tv ect. Who doesn't adore a great romance?! If you would like to join in the fun, post your picks and head over to Jillian's Random Ramblings to link up.

My favorite romances usually contain one or more of the following components: fairytale elements, witty repartee, quirkiness, fun, tempestuousness, ladies with moxie and rakes with redeeming qualities... oh, and I do like bad boys... pirates, swashbucklers... sorry, I digress, maybe favorite bad boys will be a future Top Ten Picks. (hint hint Jillian)

1. Scarlett and Rhett

I do love tempestuous...

2. Gigi and Gaston

Gigi is one of the most charming and delightful fairytale-esque musical love stories of all time!

Have you read the novella Gigi by Colette that this musical was based on? I haven't but I hope to find it. The author's adventurous life and notorious love affairs and other literary works are very intriguing. Wonder if DeLynne has read any of the original French versions of Colette's novels?



3. Adam and Amanda Bonner



Classic movies have such clever romances and Adam's Rib is one of the best... like Madonna sings in Vogue: ladies with an attitude.. fellows that were in the mood.

In case you have never seen this movie, Adam and Amanda are married lawyers who take opposing sides of a case involving a woman shooting at her cheating husband. Passions run hot... this couple is so in love and the flirting is delightful... but, they become so furious with each other. The under-the-breath insults they trade in the court room are hysterical. This movie is worth seeing for the romance, comedy and the depiction of feminism and chauvinism in the late 40s.

(These old movie trailers are a hoot and very different from trailers today. I noticed that there are no spoilers or best lines shown in the old trailers)

4. Shrek and Fiona

The perfect fairytale couple to represent my love of fairytales-- and I love them all from Pretty Woman to Princess Diaries to Ella Enchanted to all the Disney's...

5. Sandy and Danny

The romance movie of my pre-teen years. If only I had a dollar for everytime I've watched it. Apparently, I am hopelessly devoted...

6. Han Solo and Princess Leia

Just did a Stars Wars Marathon (my little boy's first) and, yeah, these two are more hokey than my teen self thought back in the day but I still love them.

7. The Thorn Birds

I have not seen the mini-series or read the book in over twenty years but I'll never forget the passion between Meggie and Father Ralph... (Isn't Ralph a particularly unsexy name though-- What was McCullough thinking?! I can't imagine anyone moaning 'Oh, Ralph' in the midst of ectasy or even whispering it lovingly.. it reminds me of retching!)


8. Strictly Ballroom


A wonderfully quirky fairytale romance... yes, I know my number four covers this one but I do love it so...

9. Ghost

I don't usually do sad but...

10. Sweet Home Alabama

I gotta love the quirky South... since I resemble that remark.

In case you are wondering about all the romances in my beloved books, yes, they are definitely favorites. I adore Elizabeth and Darcy, Anne and Gilbert, Aragorn and Arwen ect but they have all been well represented on everyone else's Top Ten Picks. Please check them out here .