Meryl Streep does an absolutely stunning job as Julia Child.  She was fun, amusing and kept me enthralled.  Amy Adams was also divine as Julie Powell.   While I enjoyed the parts about the blog that led to the book and movie the scenes in the fifties and sixties are what I kept waiting to go back to.

I firmly believe that after watching this movie you will have hundreds of urges to cook.  And do you know what I have to say to those urges?  DO IT! Just don’t burn down your house or make hot dog noodle soup.

I definitely give this movie a rating of 5/5.

Just remember, I laughed, I cried, I got fat, and you will too.

Bon Apetite

So many people seem afraid of reimagining things. In the recent years we’ve had a reimagining of Battlestar Galactica where the Cylons (at least a few of them) are human looking, a new Knight Rider, which honestly I cannot comment too much on as I didn’t watch it, and even a new Star Trek that seemed to surpass even those who have been involved with the older series expectations. Jim Hines has brought a reimagining like nothing I’ve seen before (well maybe in one small scene in Shrek 3 and the character isn’t right anyways).

The Stepsister Scheme brings new life to old classics. When Cinderella’s husband is kidnapped, she has to team up with pale white sorceress and a hot tempered, light on her feet beauty to travel through various kingdoms in search of the prince. Throughout we meet members of the fairy lands, with my personal favorite being a drunken gnome – how I love gnomes.

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. It has by far been the best book I’ve read this year. This is the first story I’ve read by Jim Hines and I can definitely say I look forward more. I cannot wait for The Mermaid’s Madness to come out later this year.

Here’s the first in my hopes of many future reviews.

Blackstaff Tower
by Steven E Schend

Right now I sit at my in-laws. It is 10PM CST and I have just set down Blackstaff Tower, finishing it’s Epilogue with a great smile on my face. This book and Mistshore by Jayleigh Johnson are the first books to give us an inside view of Waterdeep — The City of Spenldors, as it appears in the 4th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons. Now I hope that last statement does not turn anyone off to this wonderful tale. Whether you love or hate the changes to D&D or the Forgotten Realms, this book is well worth reading.

After the shock that hit me during the Prologue it was actually about two days before I was able to move onto Chapter One (but for that I do truly blame work). I fell in love with Renaer Neverember. He reminded me of me, which one always sees as a positive when picking up a new book. Renaer likes to know things, he researches, he collects, but in the end it’s all about the knowledge and its what makes a difference.

Now for those who are coming in fresh, Khelben Arunsun is dead. He died in the year 1374 – The Year of Lightning Storms while participating in a ritual of high magic to bring about the City of Hope — Rhymanthiin. Upon his death, Tsarra Chaadren took up the mantle of the Blackstaff leading us into the whirlwind that begins this book. I’ll avoid the history lesson further (while I may post some later) except to say at the beginning of the book, Samark Dhanzscul is the fifth to hold the title of Blackstaff.

I went into reading this book sitting of the opinion that I was reading it purely for information … I had no interest whatsoever in what has happened to the Realms. I was expecting the same rich and informative writing that Steven has brought to us in his previous novel (Blackstaff) and his other game materials. I went into this book hoping to see the history of Tsarra Chaadren. Well what can I say except that I was thrown for a loop.

Steven has continued to impress me with his fiction writing (as opposed to game writing — which tends to blur together at times). His references to minor characters of the Realms’ past have always driven me to research … I like knowing what I’m reading about, and this book was no exception. How many people can make me constantly wonder about a penguin?

As for information on Tsarra? It’s there, but as I previously mentioned the book begins with the fifth Blackstaff … it was a small shock to me, but knowing how some things have been torn apart recently it wasn’t completely unexpected. The fact that her history was still gotten across decently with her being deceased for such a long time was impressive.

Now I get back to my previous mentioning about the Forgotten Realms of 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. I had no interest in it, and still have very minor interests. Upon finishing this book, not only do I want to do some research on some of the mentioned characters, but I want to dive straight into Misthore, re-read this book, and am seriously considering checking out the rest of the “Ed Greenwood presents Waterdeep” series.

My only complaint on this book is it seems too short. It’s wet my appetite and I want more. The characters were all intriguing and I would love to see Steven write more about them. They are far too interesting to be left alone.

I give this book a 5 out of 5. It is by far one of the best pieces of fiction that was not a sequel that I have read this year. It also includes something unseen in most current fantasy books … a Glossary.

Bravo Steven! As Ed Greenwood says in his introduction — “I couldn’t wait to read it the first time through — and when I was done, I couldn’t wait to read it again.”