Music Moment: James Vincent McMorrow

I won't lie. I get quite sucked into mainstream music all the time. I've been a die hard Taylor Swift fan since her very first single Tim McGraw popped up, and I've been known to jam out to virtually anything my local Top Hits radio station has to offer: Britney Spears, One Direction, Selena Gomez, Lil Wayne...you name it.

But I also like to think of myself as an old soul. And I think one of my dearest musical obsessions, James Vincent McMorrow, taps right into that ancient part of me.

I don't have one singular album to recommend, although Early in the Morning is the one with the most songs, so I'd go with that. Personally, I don't own the entire album, but I'm considering doing the whole Complete My Album thing on iTunes because I've yet to find a song of his that I don't immediately love or have it not grow on me.


McMorrow's genre is labeled as Singer/Songwriter and sometimes Alternative on iTunes, but that's not very accurate. He reminds me a little bit of an older, rougher, and if possible, more poetic Ed Sheeran (whom I also harbor a deep love for). His songs are generally soft, whisper-y, and so lyrically and instrumentally beautiful that they've moved something deep within me.

If I had to recommend just a few of his songs, they'd be We Don't Eat, If I Had a Boat, Ghosts, Higher Love, and Wicked Game. He has also sung a song under the band name Japanese Popstars called Shells of Silver, which is just fantastic. All are slow and rhythmic. If you're looking for something to pump you up for the big game, this is definitely not your guy. But if you want something to calm you down and speak directly to your soul, this is it.

He may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I kind of like that about him. His music speaks to me, and that's all that I care about.

I hope that maybe, he speaks to you, too.

~ Lacey :)

Quote of the Day: Ernest Hemingway

For today's daily dose of inspiration, Mr. Hemingway is making a generous reappearance. And again, he doesn't disappoint.

"Try to learn to breath deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough."

I guess this goes along with my recurring theme of never taking a single moment in life for granted. Dear Ernest makes a very earnest statement indeed here (I couldn't resist, I apologize). He's saying that we can't live life looking down. We have to be deliberate in everything we do, whether it's sleeping, eating, screaming, loving, crying, laughing...every single action we take and emotion we experience is special and unique and worthy of everything we have to put into it. 

I say follow his words. If you're going to eat, savor your meal. If you're going to sleep, do so deeply and dreamily. If you're going to laugh, annoy everyone around you with that snort your get embarrassed about. If you're going to get angry, scream at the top of your lungs and communicate how you feel (within reason, obviously; don't end up in jail). Cry hard, smile wide, breathe resolutely. There is only one life here on Earth. Start living it.

Because, as Mr. Hemingway so delicately put it, you will be dead soon enough.

~ Lacey :)

Reading Rendezvous: Thirteen Reasons Why

Normally, when someone gives me a book, I feel obliged to read it almost instantly so as to somehow let them know how grateful I was to receive something as personal as a novel for a gift. When I was gifted City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, I attacked it immediately and finished it within the week. When someone bought me a copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, I absorbed it in about three days.

But when I received Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher for my fifteenth birthday, I hesitated. I'm not sure why I did, but something about the ominous cover and cryptic back summary made me put it away and read something that had a cover which promised a bright, happy ending.

Recently, while I was looking through my decently large pile of unread books, I found this book and figured it was time to tackle it. Without looking up what the book was about to refresh my memory or asking any of my friends if they remembered reading it, I flopped down on my bed and opened it up.

And now I know why I waited so long.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a dark, introspective novel about the worst several hours of a boy named Clay Jensen's life. He receives an odd package of audiotapes on his doorstep, and when he plays the first one he's shocked to find it is the voice of Hannah Baker. Which might not be the strangest thing in the world, except for the fact that Hannah Baker killed herself.

The tapes tell her tale, each side of each tape directed towards the thirteen people who played large parts in Hannah's decision to end her own life. We hear the heartbreaking tale of how so many little things that don't seem to mean anything individually can add up to destroy a person, and we hear all this through the voice of the dead girl and the horrified Clay, who doesn't understand what he could have done to Hannah that was so bad.

What's crazy is that even though from page one it is quite plain that Hannah is very much so dead, one can't help but want to save her as she weaves her tale. The desire to reach out and tell her everything is going to be alright is so painful because it's impossible, and we get that feeling both from Clay's reactions and within our own hearts. Which I'm sure is exactly what Asher was aiming for.

This book is exactly what it sounds like--hard to read, emotionally devastating, and a genuine tear-jerker. There are very few parts of this book that make you want to smile or laugh. But at the same time, I'd recommend it to everyone, because the message is important: Everything you do affects someone in ways you will never understand, and there are always going to be consequences for your actions.

It's sad, and dark, and eye-opening, and beautifully written. Asher's writing is very comparable to that of John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) and Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower).

I recommend it to everyone inside the parameters I will lay out below, but I also follow that with a warning: prepare for tears and lots of soul searching, because I know it made me cry and think...have I done something to make someone feel like Hannah did?

SUGGESTED AGE OF READER: 14-15 (for some sexual material and drug/alcohol references)
MY PERSONAL RATING: 5/5 stars

~ Lacey :)

Quote of the Day: Matthew Gray Gubler

If you even know me in the vaguest way--meaning, you at least follow me on Twitter--then you know that crime shows are one of my most consuming obsessions. You'll probably know this because about half my tweets are about Criminal Minds, NCIS, or Law and Order: SVU. I'm pretty open about this addiction, so maybe it's no surprise that I've found a pretty striking quote from one of the actors in one of the shows.

Of all my crime shows, Criminal Minds is bordering on my favorite (although NCIS has a very, very special place near and dear to my heart, so they're always vying for the top spot). And of all the main characters, each of whom I have developed ridiculously deep-rooted feelings for, Dr. Spencer Reid, the young, quirky genius played by the magnificent Matthew Gray Gubler, has always been the biggest conundrum to me. He's adorable, disarmingly attractive in the kind of way that's not in your face, and best of all he has the demeanor of a puppy who's a little out of place in its litter. But perhaps even more interesting is the actor himself, who is so full of wise words and quirky romantic vibes that I'm surprised he is not married with about a zillion children right now.

I'm sure more of his quotes or whatever I decide is cool will make appearances on this blog, but this quote in particular really tugged at the girl inside of me who has always felt like that puppy that doesn't quite belong with its brothers and sisters.

"I think it's perfectly acceptable and rather admirable to be moderately delusional."

Oh, Mr. Gubler, it's like you understand every dreamer's biggest fear--that maybe having big hopes and wishes somehow makes us weak and stupid. But, as confirmed in this quote, that's not the case. Being a dreamer is not only okay, it's admirable. It's a quality that people should want to have, and people who don't have it should honestly be a little jealous of those who do.

This, of course, is great news for me, because being a dreamer is one hundred percent what I am best at.

And I guess that's admirable.

~ Lacey :)

My Bucket List: To Be Pursued Passionately and Enthusiastically

Life is short.

I've only just really come to this realization, if I'm being honest. I'd place myself in the category of young people who consider themselves immortal for all intents and purposes, and I've never really thought much about the possibility of simply not being alive anymore. I mean, yeah, because of my religious beliefs I'm decently confident in a life after death, but that's besides the point. I'm talking about the now.

Two incidents have caused me to think about the relative shortness of a human life. One has been gradually creeping upon me, and that is my impending senior year of high school. Oh, you say, you're that young? You're already thinking about death and life and all the gray area in between? The answer is yes, I'm that young, seventeen to be exact, and yes, I'm already thinking about all that kind of stuff. I'm sure many teens like me have as well. After high school is college, and after college is "real life", and after "real life" is a most certainly real death. It's all so linear, and it's all happening so quickly. I've come to realize that yes, I am young, and that's exactly why I need to live now.

The second incident is a little more somber. I only recently attended my first wake. It wasn't even a funeral--I've never been to one of those, either. In this regard, I consider myself lucky. To have not lost someone so close to me for so long is a rare blessing. But still, this wake, which I attended for a total of twenty-seven minutes, sort of slapped me in the face. I stared at the eerily peaceful body of a family friend I'd known forever, who had died far before his time, and it just sort of hit me. He probably had stuff he wanted to do. Maybe he had wanted to travel, or do something reckless, or do something over-the-top for his wife that would make her laugh it was so cheesy and romantic. He wouldn't get the chance, ever. I'm young, though. And while I don't know when I'll die, I do know that I can live life passionately and enthusiastically now.

And so, without further ado, I give you Lacey's Bucket List (So Far):

• Swim with dolphins
• Watch a full sunrise
• Travel to my top 5 countries (which, as of right now, are--in no specific order--Italy, France, New Zealand, Ireland, and England)
• Go to a drive-in movie
• Learn to drive a stick shift
• Stand on the Equator
• Get a small, meaningful tattoo
• Kiss someone on top of a Ferris wheel
• Be an extra in a TV show or a movie
• Pay for a stranger's groceries, coffee, or dinner
• Shower under a waterfall
• Ride in a hot air balloon
• Publish a novel
• Learn another language fluently
• Wear colored contacts
• Meet a celebrity (preferably Taylor Swift, Matthew Gray Gubler, J.K. Rowling, or Ian Somerhalder, but I won't be too picky)

This is just what I have come up with so far. If I ever achieve any of these, I'll write a little experience post. If I add more, I'll let you know. Until next time!

~ Lacey :)

A Night at the Cinema: The Host

I'm not going to lie. I was a little disappointed.

The Host, the film adaptation of the popular Stephenie Meyer novel by the same name, is about a post-apocalyptic future in which an alien race has populated the earth and occupied most of the human inhabitants. These "souls" attach to their hosts and seek to perfect whichever world they inhabit. The story revolves around Wanderer (AKA Wanda), who is a soul implanted into the body of a captured member of the remaining human resistance, Melanie Stryder. But Melanie resists the occupation, and the two embark on a journey of love, truth, humanity, and survival.

Unlike in her underwhelming Twilight Saga, Meyer truly shocked me in the Host. In my opinion, it was a highly entertaining, thought-provoking, and very incredibly written book. In the novel, I was completely consumed with the story. I'm pretty sure I didn't put it down until it was finished. So when I heard there was going to be a film adaptation, you can be assured I was nothing less than ecstatic.

In the movie's defense, I think it was just a difficult book to translate on screen. A good chunk of the novel is the interaction between Wanda and Melanie, all of which takes place inside of their minds. In the movie, this was achieved through the use of a voice-over, which at times worked and at others just seemed...cheesy? I don't know if that's the word I'm looking for. Perhaps I mean awkward. Either way, it was didn't seem to work perfectly, although I don't think there was any other way it could have been accomplished. The cast wasn't awful either. Saoirse Ronan is a gem, Diane Kruger is totally badass, and Max Irons and Jake Abel...well, more on them next.

Pros of this movie:

• Max Irons (left) and Jake Abel (right) have both reached levels of attractiveness that I did not think was possible. Especially you, Mr. Irons. Not gonna lie, their faces and Irons' half naked body kept this from nosediving any further in the box offices.

              

• I think Saoirse Ronan was a fantastic Melanie/Wanda, all things considered. Plus she has a super cool name that poses an eternal pronunciation problem for me.

• Jaime was adorable.

Cons:

• There were only two problems with this movie: poor novel-to-big-screen adaptability, and occasionally overwhelmingly cheesy dialogue.

• Also, the cave scene with Kyle was totally disappointing. That was a huge turning point in the book. In the film, it wasn't intense or scary at all, and you didn't get the sense that it had much weight at all. This scene, along with many others, made the film just feel a bit rushed.

• PS: Wanda at the end... totally unexpected and I'm still sorting out how exactly I feel about it... I won't say any more for fear of spoiling.

All this being said, if you take this movie for what it is -- an adaptation of a book it will never be better than, as is the norm for most book to movie translations -- you'll probably have a good time watching and be at least a little entertained.

MPAA RATING: PG-13 (for violence, brief harsh language, and some sexual scenarios)

MY PERSONAL SUGGESTED AGE: 14

MY PERSONAL RATING: 6.5/10 stars

 

Happy viewing!

~ Lacey :)

A Night at the Cinema: Silver Linings Playbook

It's that time of year again, my fellow movie lovers. The Academy Awards, more commonly referred to as the Oscars, is rapidly approaching. In honor of this famed night, I've been trying to see as many movies that have been nominated for Best Picture as I can. So far, I've accomplished Les Miserables (see previous rave), Argo (a brilliant, brilliant move which I haven't found the words to express in a review yet), and now this, Silver Linings Playbook.

 

This wonderful film stars Bradley Cooper as Pat and Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany, two lost and unstable souls who meet via mutual friends and begin to form a refreshingly original, hilarious, heartbreaking, and truly unique friendship. Pat is coming out of a recent stint at a mental institution, where he was landed after channeling his inner Chuck Norris when he saw his wife cheating on him with a coworker, and Tiffany has deadened the sorrow of her husband Tommy's sudden death by sleeping with basically anyone who offers. By way of a dance competition and a fierce family rivalry, these two form a dysfunctionally functional relationship, and we get to see that unfurl within the movie.

When I first saw the preview for the movie, my initial reaction was that it looked entertaining, but never in my life would I have guessed that it would be Oscar worthy. But in my opinion, it really is. The Oscars is always filled with deep, emotional, beautifully poignant dramas or period dramas or action films that are enriched with deep ulterior meanings. To me, at least, it seems as though there are always very few lighthearted and yet moving films, which are truly my favorite kind. Silver Linings Playbook really fits the bill.

Things I really liked:

• We'll start with the obvious: the cast. Bradley Cooper is just a fantastic actor, and the fact that he can make any girl of any age swoon doesn't hurt. The Hunger Games' Jennifer Lawrence is my personal girl crush of the moment--she's stunning, she's real, she's hysterical, and she is a dang good actress. And then we have the timeless Robert DeNiro partnered with Jacki Weaver...just honestly a genius ensemble.
• Something about this movie was very raw. The actions, the dialogue, the setting, the emotions...it all felt very uncut and unedited, and not in a dirty Spartacus kind of way. It felt very real, and those are the movies I like best.
• The plot was alluring to me. Who doesn't love a good romantic comedy that isn't actually full of pure stupidity?

Altogether, I recommend you give this movie a go. I don't know if it's going to win Best Picture, but honestly if you asked me right now I couldn't choose the best one out of the three nominees I've seen. So go watch it, and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

MPAA RATING: R (for harsh language and extremely brief nudity--a woman's backside shown through a thin shower curtain for a second or two)

MY PERSONAL SUGGESTED AGE: 15

MY PERSONAL RATING: 8.5/10 stars

 

Happy viewing!

~ Lacey :)