Book Vs. Movie. I Can't Believe This Didn't Make the List.

My dear friend Debbie read my Book vs. Movie post, and gifted me a bit of nostalgia, a book/movie combo I overlooked:

The Babysitter's Club.

Sigh.  Happy memories.

If you were reading my blog during my brief switch to Wordpress, then you would remember that I dedicated a Friday Fondness post to the grand ol' BSC.

Thanks to Debbie, I now own the BSC movie on DVD, plus a copy of the book that started it all:  'Kristy's Great Idea'.

That's a tough comparison, though.  There were 100+ BSC books written, but only 1 feature film created.  And everyone has a different story line.

So, if you {hearted} the kids in the club, I would say read it and watch it!

Thanks Debbie!

P.S.  If you want to reflect on the awesomeness of these teeny bopper moguls, cruise by Kim's blog.  She rocks.

Book Vs. Movie. My Picks.

I love to read a good book.

I enjoy a good movie.

Therefore, I like comparing books to their movie makeovers.

Here is my list of books/movies, and which version I prefer (my own humble opinion).

1.  Memoirs of a Geisha.  Arthur Golden.  (The recollections of a successful Geisha in Japan).

The movie is great, but the book is fabulous.  Read it!

2.  The Beach.  Alex Garland.  (A tourist comes across a secret island off the shore in Thailand).

Both were good in their own rights, but I really like the movie.  Watch it!

3.  Harry Potter (any).  J.K. Rowling.  (Young wizard Harry and his Hogwarts pals and their adventures).

Love the movies, but the books ROCK.  Read it!

4.  The Thorn Birds.  Colleen McCullough.  (Love affair between a woman and a priest, set in New Zealand).

Book and movie are a bit long and drawn out.  If you want the condensed version, I vote movie.  Watch it!

5.  Bridget Jones' Diary.  Helen Fielding.  (30 something Bridget seeks love).

Both are hilarious.  I personally love the book.  Read it!

6.  The Notebook.  Nicholas Sparks.  (First love and rekindled romance between a couple).

Oh, oh, the romance of the movie and the chemistry of the actors.  I read the book, but felt it lacked the emotion that was portrayed in the film.  Watch it!

7.  The Virgin Suicides.  Jeffrey Eugenides.  (5 beautiful sisters take their own lives within the course of one year).

One of my favorite books ever.  It is so beautifully written, you feel like you are there.  The movie was well done and kept very close to the novel.  Read it!

8.  The Invisible Circus.  Jennifer Egan.  (Young Phoebe takes on a journey to discover the truth behind her older sister's death).

I only discovered this was a book after stumbling across the movie one night on the movie channel.  The movie was intruiging and heartfelt, but the book explained it all so much better.  Read it!

9.  Rebecca.  Daphne Du Maurier.  (A young woman falls into the shadow of her husband's dead wife).

There have a been a few films made based on this 1938 novel, but the book is by far the best.  Read it!

10.  To Kill A Mockingbird.  Harper Lee.  (Scout and Jem are fascinated by the mysterious Boo Radley, in Alabama).

Oh, where to begin with this one?  This is a tie, for sure.  The book is wonderful, and so is the movie.  Love, love, love them.  Read it!  Watch it!

There you have it, folks!  My own little list of Book vs. Movie comparisons! 

Home!

I am home from a wonderful trip to Texas.

I stayed (for the 2nd time) in New Braunfels, which lies between San Antonio and Austin.

I spent a day in San Antonio, visiting the Alamo, Market Square, San Fernando Cathedral, and various areas of the downtown area.

{Top:  San Fernando Cathdral.  Bottom:  Market Square}

I spent a day in Austin, visiting the Capitol, and outlying regions, downtown, and ended the day sitting along the Colorado River, watching the nightly flight of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats.  Unfortunately, because it got so dark, it was very difficult to take decent photographs, but it was amazing to watch these tiny animals fly from their home under the Congress Bridge and dart into the sky.

{Texas Capitol}

In between the 2 city visits, I enjoyed taking pictures of the wildflowers, which blanketed the ground everywhere. 

Especially the Bluebonnets.

{Texas Bluebonnet}

It was a blast, and I really loved Austin...it felt very 'SF/SD-esque' and I look forward to visiting again!

Weight Watcher Wednesday: BBQ sans points.

Points schmoints.

There is a good chance I'm splurging on some 'down home' BBQ

here.

Mmmmmm. 

Texans know their barbeque.

Easter Joy.

Easter isn't about egg hunting...

{my sister and I, back in the day}

Or super cute retro dresses...

{my sister and I, circa '84}

And it's not neccessarily about family...

{with my Aunt Marnie, in Tennessee, '84}

...it's about the ressurrection of Jesus Christ.

Because He died on the cross...

I live.

I have hope.  Forgiveness.  Unfailing love.  Joy.

A life with my Savior.

Eternal life.

...

Happy Easter!

Friday Fondness: My Memories of Fireflies.

As a child, I visited Tennessee a few times.  My Great Aunt Marnie', and my Aunt Margaret lived there, in a small, quaint town called Paris...home of the 'World's Largest Fish Fry'.

One of my favorite memories of these visits was the summer dusk at my Aunt Marnie's old brick house.  The humidity was unbearable at times, but the sunset brought a coolness and it seemed to illuminate the greenery around her home.

And the fireflies would begin their lightning dances in the shrubs, and the trees, moving along the lawn.

Image via web.

It was like a fairy land.  I would wait all day for the fireflies to emerge, and catch them in mason jars and watch them in wonder, wishing that I could bring them home with me.

I miss fireflies.  They bring a gentle magic to the evening blanket of Spring, and Summer.  They remind me of the days spent in that sleepy town...in the lovely house, filled with antiques...which, incidently, has been restored and is now a Bed & Breakfast called The Veranda.

Someday, I'd love to visit that house again, and sit on the front porch, at dusk, waiting for the fireflies to return.

It will be even sweeter when I have my own children.  I will give them mason jars, and watch them chase the fairies.

Alas, this post is more sentimental than most. 

Have a LOVELY Friday.