Carol's Notebook – Page 402

Thursday’s Tale: Brave Margaret

March 21, 2013March 21, 2013 by Carol4 Comments

Today's tale is adapted from "Simon and Margaret" in West Irish Folk-Tales and Romances, collected by William Larmine and published in 1893. The version I read is Brave Margaret by Robert D. San Souce, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. Margaret is an amazing heroine, a nice contrast to all the princesses out there who need rescuing. She lives alone in western Ireland and is quite content. She was hard-working and wise, but yearned to know what lay beyond the sea or behind the cliffs. One day, a handsome prince, Simon, stops at her cottage and explains that he and his men are on a voyage but need meat to continue. she agrees to give him her cattle as long as he takes her along too. She's looking forward to the adventure and has also fallen a little in love with Simon.He agrees, and reluctantly lets her join the crew. At sea, a sea serpent threatens the boat, saying they must give her the red woman. Simon refuses of...

At the Movies: Jack the Giant Slayer

March 20, 2013March 20, 2013 by Carol12 Comments

Jack the Giant Slayer From: Warner Bros Pictures Release Date: March 1, 2013 Category: Action/Adventure, Fantasy Director: Bryan Singer Rating: 3 out of 5 stars The beloved fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk gets the big-screen treatment courtesy of director Bryan Singer and screenwriters Darren Lemke, Christopher McQuarrie, and Dan Studney in this fantasy adventure about a naïve farm boy who attempts to rescue a beautiful princess from a race of vengeful giants. When Jack inadvertently opens a passageway that allows giants to cross into our reality, the towering titans stake their claim on the world of humans. Should they succeed, Jack's kingdom will be but the first of many to fall. Now, in order to save his people and rescue a noble princess, Jack must summon every ounce of bravery to drive out the invading giants. Jack the Giant Slayer was a fun movie. You all know I like twists on traditional tales and although I don't think I've ever featured "Jack and the Beanstalk" as...

Six Impossible Things

March 19, 2013April 1, 2013 by Carol13 Comments

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” – the White Queen, Alice in Wonderland. Six impossible things I believe: 1. Dragons exist. And fairies. 2. Cookies eaten at 2 am don't have calories. The same goes for chocolate. 3. The Pirates will make it to the World Series again and win. 4. Telepathy. "Your thoughts are just that loud." 5. A wish made on the first star you see will come true. 6. One day my husband will actually put his dirty clothes in the hamper. What impossible things do you believe?...

Review: The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones

March 18, 2013March 18, 2013 by Carol12 Comments

Title: The Uninvited Guests Author: Sadie Jones Read by: Kate Reading Category: Fiction Audio published: October 2, 2012 by Harper Audio (First published: January 1, 2012) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository One late spring evening in 1912, in the kitchens at Sterne, preparations begin for an elegant supper party in honor of Emerald Torrington's twentieth birthday. But only a few miles away, a dreadful accident propels a crowd of mysterious and not altogether savory survivors to seek shelter at the ramshackle manor—and the household is thrown into confusion and mischief. The cook toils over mock turtle soup and a chocolate cake covered with green sugar roses, which the hungry band of visitors is not invited to taste. But nothing, it seems, will go according to plan. As the passengers wearily search for rest, the house undergoes a strange transformation. One of their number (who is most definitely not a gentleman) makes it his business to join the birthday revels. Evening...

Review: God Is on the Cross by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

March 15, 2013April 1, 2013 by Carol4 Comments

Title: God is on the Cross: Reflections on Lent and Easter Author: Dietrich Bonhoeffer Category: Devotional, Holidays - Easter & Lent Published: September 8, 2012 by Westminster John Knox Press Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository These forty stirring devotions will guide and inspire readers as they move thematically through the weeks of Lent and Easter, encountering themes of prayerful reflection, self-denial, temptation, suffering, and the meaning of the cross. Passages from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's letters and sermons provide special encouragement as readers prepare themselves spiritually for Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Supplemented by an informative introduction to Bonhoeffer's life and a Scripture passage for each day of the season, these daily devotions are moving reminders of the true gift of Christ on the cross. The author of this devotional is listed as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, but in reality it's a collection of passages from his writings, and even some from others who share his outlook, with each piece accompanied by a...

Thursday’s Tale: Fair, Brown & Trembling by Jude Daly

March 14, 2013 by Carol3 Comments

Fair, Brown & Trembling retold by Jude Daly is a traditional Irish fairytale, similar to Cinderella. It's a wonderful change-up from the usual fairy tales and would be a nice read-aloud around St. Patrick's Day. Three sisters, Fair, Brown, and Trembling, and their father live in a castle high in the hills of Ireland. Terrible names for daughters, don't you think? Their mother had died. Since Trembling was the most beautiful, her older sisters made her stay at home instead of going to church on Sundays, for fear that she would marry before them. One sunday morning, the henwife told Trembling she should go to church; when she objected that she had no suitable dress, the henwife put on her"cloak of darkness" and gae her a lily-white gown and shamrock-green shoes. Outside a horse was waiting for Trembling. The henwife told Trembling not to go inside the church door and to return home as fast as she can immediately after the service. That "cloak of darkness" is interesting. Is it a trademark...