Let Me Gather My Thoughts on Little Women 2019...

Hello darlings!

It feels so nice to be back at my laptop writing blog posts for your enjoyment (I hope!).
I am quite excited for today's post, in which I will be chatting about the latest Little Women adaptation and comparing it to the beloved 1994 version--which is my personal favourite.

1994 vs. 2019

As previously mentioned, this adaptation is my favourite and one of those lovely films that warms my heart!
It is the one I've watched the most too.
I believe it captures the warmth and charm the story best and makes me want to go back to it again and again.

I'll also admit that I think Christian Bale makes the best Laurie, portraying him as the sweet, boyish character we all love from the book. Winona Ryder is a perfect Jo and brings her to the screen wonderfully aswell.

Overall, I think am quite biased as to my feelings about this version!
But now let us discuss the most recent adaptation...





As I had strong attachments to the older adaptation of the story,
I admit I was skeptical about what this new adaptation would be like.
But I was surprised, and I actually enjoyed it. I don't like it quite as much as the 1994 one but it was still pretty good.

Emma Watson, Saoirise Ronan, Eliza Scanlen, and Florence Pugh were all fabulous and played their roles wonderfully.
It took me about half of the film to get used to Timothee Chalamet as Laurie. But he was alright apart from the fact that he looks like a teenager throughout the whole film, which doesn't really work when they have all grown up, got married and there he is still looking 18 (and Chalamet is actually 24...)!

Aside from that, there was a scene where Amy is talking to Laurie and some of the things she says had a slight feminist edge to them that irritated me a little.

Other Thoughts

Costumes
This is always my favourite part about period drama films! I'll insert pictures of some of the ones that I rally liked.

Jo's outfit here is so suited to her personality!

What girl wouldn't want to attend a ball in this dress!

This might be my favourite of all of them!

Beautiful dreamy Meg!

Again, Amy has a beautiful wardrobe!

The cinematography and sets were really beautiful and well done too. I loved the scenes in the garden like the photo above and John & Meg's wedding.

Plot

The plot was done slightly differently to the other adaptations I've seen. We are introduced to the characters when Meg is already married and a lot of what happens towards the end of the book has already happened in the beginning of the film. 

Then it goes back and forth between the past when they were young to the present events unfolding.

Not sure if that made sense!

So to wrap up this post, I did enjoy this adaptation and recommend it to those who love the story or would like an introduction to the book. But I do highly suggest that if you haven't already read the book go read it right now!

The book is best and is so dear to my heart! talking about it makes me want to go back and reread it.

keep blooming,

5 Movies That You Will Love If You're A Bookworm

Hello darlings!

As a bookworm, I love watching films with literary themes as well as reading itself.
So I came up with five movies containing bookish themes that I have seen and enjoyed that I am going to share these recommendations with you today.
There is something cosy about many of these films and you feel connected to many of the characters through the love of books.
I realise now that all of these are period drama films as well, meaning I clearly haven't seen any modern day films about writers or books and that historical set movies are my favourites!

Well, let's begin shall we!



The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I have watched this movie several times and both me & my mum love it. I confess that I am guilty of having not read the book yet but it is on my list!
The movie is so heartwarming and beautifully filmed, centered around how books bring people together among other things and is set during and after the Second World War.
This was a pretty obvious one to add to the list!




Tolkien

As we were watching this film, my mum whispered to me, "This is going to be one of your new favourites isn't it." She was right!
This movie is so beautiful and truly wonderful. Even though I've only read The Hobbit so far, I loved learning a bit about the life of J.R.R. Tolkien from this film.
The actors were fabulous and it was a thoroughly enjoyable! I especially recommend it if you are a Tolkien fan yourself.




Bright Star

You'd best be warned that though Bright Star is a very beautifully filmed movie, it will make you cry...a lot!
But aside from that it is on this list because it is all about the romance between the famous poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, and involves reading, writing & reciting poems and other literary themes.
There are stunning scenes with bluebell woods and cloudy pink spring blossoms to feast your eyes on. I can't say much for the costumes, especially worn by Abbie Cornish's character Fanny Brawne, but the rest of the film is really lovely.




Miss Potter

Who didn't love Beatrix Potter's daring books when they were younger? I still do in fact and am pleased to own a cute little box set of many of her books.
It has been a little while since I have seen Miss Potter but I had to include it on this list since it is about such a famous writer.




The Book Thief

Obviously I could not have a list of bookish movies with out including the movie which even has the word 'book' in the title!
I read The Book Thief  some time after we first watched the film but it has been a while since I have revisited either book or movie and I feel it is high time I did so.
So unfortunately I don't remember a whole lot about the story but I knew I had to include it in this post.



I hope you enjoyed this post and discovered some new movies.
Do you have any films you would add to this list?


keep blooming,

October Favourites

Hello darlings!

October has just flown by, hasn't it? I had a pretty good month for me and I've enjoyed the warmer weather!

Yesterday we went to the garden centre and got a lot of vegetable seedlings for our veggie garden. I also picked up some flowers for my cut flower garden and an adorable succulent. I'm looking forward to getting out into the sunshine to plant them.

I have a few things to share with you that I discovered this month.
Continue reading for my October favourites!



BOOKS

My reading has not been going well in the last few months. This month I only read three.
• Through the Gates of Splendor by Elizabeth Elliot
• Muck & Magic by Michael Morpurgo
• The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

Though I enjoyed all of these books, my favourite has to be The Secrets of Paper and Ink.
Look out for my review next week!

MUSIC & PODCASTS

• Always Gonna Be by Selah
This song came up on my Spotify suggestions and I am SO glad I listened to it. It has a country vibe to it and feels like the perfect summer song. I love the hope-filled lyrics too.

• Loving My Jesus by Casting Crowns
Another one that popped up in my Spotify suggestions and I love it. The message is one that is so true for me, that all the ones I love will love my Jesus and come to know Him.

• Dancing Again (Acoustic) by Whitney Lusk
This is just a sweet love song that I fell in love with and have had floating around my head this month.

• Behold Our God by Sovereign Grace Music
This was one of the songs we sang a lot at a camp I went to at the beginning of this month and it quickly became a new favourite. I love how it portrays God as the King of the universe and someone who is worthy of our worship and praise.



MOVIES

Tolkein {2019}

As we were watching this, my Mum turned to me and said: "This is going to be one of your new favourites, isn't it?"
I can't say she was wrong! I did rather enjoy this film.
Films about writers are often appealing to me because they involve books, reading and all that good stuff that we readers enjoy.
All the actors & actresses were great, and the main actor (for Tolkien) actually looked a lot like someone I know!
I definitely recommend it to those who love Tolkiens books, period dramas, or films about writers!


Call the Midwife S7 {2018}

This month my family watched Seasons 7 and 8 of Call the Midwife and out of the two, I think S7 was my favourite.
I might have to do a recap of my thought on these two seasons...




FASHION & BEAUTY

• Khaki t-shirt

I thrifted this simple t-shirt this month. Even though it is plain, it was something on my wishlist and I just love the colour.



What were some of your favourite form this month? I'd love to know!


keep blooming,

Audrey Hepburn Tag

Hello darlings!

When I came across this tag on Youtube I knew it was just the tag for my blog.
Audrey Hepburn is one of my favourite people in the history of fashion, movies and just history in general!
She has inspired my style in the last year or so and I have also enjoyed her movies.

This tag was originally created by Shirin from @shirinatra on Instagram and Shirinatra on Youtube.

Now let's get on with it!


1. How did you find out about Audrey Hepburn?
I feel as if I've almost always known about her. But I probably saw her first and found out about her by watching Roman Holiday {1953}.

2. What was your first Audrey movie?
Roman Holiday {1953} was my first Audrey Hepburn movie and still a favourite!

3. What is your favourite Audrey movie?
Ooh, that's hard! I still haven't seen all of her movies, but so far I think that How To Steal A Million {1966} is high on my list. It's funny, and there is both mystery and romance involved!

4. What is your least favourite Audrey movie?
Because I haven't seen many, it's hard to answer this one. I think from the ones I have seen my least favourite was Funny Face {1957}. I liked the fashion aspect, but the plot and the rest of the film, in general, didn't thrill me.

5. What is your favourite book about Audrey?
There are so many to pick from and I have looked at quite a few. One of my favourites is one I got for Christmas last year called Audrey & Givenchy: A Fashion Love Affair by Cindy De La Hoz.
This book has lovely photos of her many iconic movie looks and talks a bit about her relationship with the famous fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy.

6. What would you do you if you could spend a day with Audrey?
I think I would like to spend a day at her house and sit in her flower garden, eat food cooked by her, play with her kids and talk.

7. What is your favourite Audrey decade?
I'd have to say the 50's and early 60's. Fashion and style from the later years don't hold much appeal for me.

8. What is your favourite Audrey song?
Audrey only sings in a few of her movies so there isn't much to pick from and to be honest I actually don't have a favourite.


9. What is your favourite look from one of Audrey's movies?
This is the hardest question yet! Hmmm...I'll probably think of another one later but right now I'll go with this look from Roman Holiday.
With a simple white shirt, plain skirt and just a neck scarf to spice it up I think it's a great outfit for going out to have an ice cream and enjoy the sights of Rome!

10. Why do you love Audrey?
I love her style, and more importantly from what I have read she had a lovely character and was humble about her fame and beauty.
When asked to reveal her beauty secrets, she said:
For attractive lips, speak with words of kindness.
For beautiful eyes, seek the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with those who are hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.
What I like about Audrey is that she understood that it is a beautiful heart that makes a beautiful woman.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed doing this tag!

keep blooming,

September Favourites

Hello darlings!

I hope this post finds you well! I am very happy that it is finally Spring, although there is still a slight Winter chill in the air, it smells like Spring.

This month my family was sick for a good few weeks with a nasty flu, but thankfully it is behind us now.
Aside from that, in September, I enjoyed starting to wear t-shirts, going out in the sunshine and watching the Spring blossoms bloom on the trees, especially the magnolia trees. They are particularly lovely!

Those are some of my favourite things about Spring but now I am here to share with you the other things that became favourites this month.




BOOKS

Sadly this month was not a good reading month for me. I read only two books, though I hope to finish a third by the 30th.
• Kind is the New Classy: The Power of Living Graciously by Candace Cameron Bure
• Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

I enjoyed both of these and you can find my reviews/thoughts & ratings of the books here and here.
Currently, I am also reading A Light On the Hill by Connilyn Cossette with the Biblical Fiction Buffs , which a Biblical fiction centred book club.



MUSIC & PODCASTS

• My Electronic Chill playlist on Spotify
I created this recently and enjoy listening to it while doing something like sewing or painting.

• My Girl by The Temptations
I first heard this song in Father of the Bride, which we watched for the 3rd or 4th time this month. It is played during a sweet scene where Mr Banks and his soon-to-be-wed daughter Annie shoot some hoops and it just gives me the happy vibes that the movie has.

• Rend Collective
A friend on Instagram (@joy_and_wildflowers) told me about this band and I have been enjoying some of their songs this past week. In particular Nailed to the Cross, Yahweh, Counting Every Blessing-Ukulele Session, and True North.
I love the vibe of their music, it seems to have a hint of folk/country and makes me want to drive out to the mountains!

• Episode 7 & 8 of The Right Kind of Strong by Revive Our Hearts
Episode 7, Stand Your Ground and Episode 8, Admit Your Need were the last two parts to the series I've been going through lately.
The whole series is great and I recommended it last month but these last two were really good.



MOVIES

I haven't got any for this month!
My family is having an Aladdin/Middle Eastern movie night tonight, I'll let you know what I think next month.

FASHION & BEAUTY

• My new haircut/fringe!
I love how a fringe frames your face and make most hairstyles look even better!

Happy Spring everyone! Or Happy Autumn/Fall if you're on the other side of the world!

What was your favourite/most listened to song or music from this month?


keep blooming,