A Review of Argo!

I was skeptical about how Hollywood would portray the Iranian hostage situation, but I went to see Argo anyway and loved it.

I was in the 5th grade when Americans from the U.S. embassy in Iran were taken hostage.  I remember it well, because I had a phenomenal teacher that year who made sure we were informed about current events.

Argo tells the little known story of the 6 people who escaped from the Embassy and took refuge in the home of the Canadian Ambassador.  The story has been called the Canadian Caper and a TV movie was first done on it in 1981, entitled  Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper.

The 6 men and women were in great danger because it was only a matter of time before the Iranian militants would discover that there were some people missing from the embassy.  A CIA agent then comes up with a plan to get them out of Iran.

I really liked the movie and am impressed with Ben Affleck's ability to direct.  The only part that I didn't like was at the end when Jimmy Carter started talking.  Also, it is rated R because there is a lot of language.

If you can handle the language, it is a great movie.

A review of "Love Isn't Supposed to Hurt"

I read somewhere that in order to be walked on, you have to be lying down.  Well, I wasn't going to lie down any longer.  I knew in that moment that I had to find the power God had given me.  And I had to learn not just to stand in it but to stand tall.--Christi Paul

Christi Paul is currently a TV anchor for HLN and TruTV.  I have always liked her, so I was thrilled when I found out that she is a Christian. 

I discovered Paul's book, Love Isn't Supposed to Hurt when I was looking at the Free Kindle daily deals.  The Free Kindle site lists different books that are free for that day only.  I am so glad I found it.


Love Isn't Supposed to Hurt: Christi Paul from Tyndale House Publishers on Vimeo.

The book shares Paul's personal story of surviving an abusive marriage.  Yet, she doesn't stop there.  She talks about how she got out and the process she went through.  Throughout the book she shares how her strong faith in God empowered her to make it through.  It is truly inspirational.

My story isn't as bad as hers, but it was amazing how therapeutic the book was for me.  I felt like I was getting free counseling as I read it.  I was able to process and journal a lot of the steps she shared about how to heal. 

I highly recommend this to everyone, but especially people who have dealt with verbal abuse.

Previous Reviews:
Frances Perkins
The Help
A Place of Yes!
John Adams
1776
My Grandfather's Son
Stephen Mansfield's Books
Stori Telling

  

A Good Day to Die Hard!

Amazingly, Bruce Willis returns yet again for an unprecedented 5th sequel in the Die Hard series, entitled A Good Day to Die Hard.

When the 4th movie came out in 2008, I did a post on how much I love Bruce Willis and the Die Hard series.  Willis is a conservative, so not only is he a great actor, but he also has brains too ;-).

I am looking forward to seeing A Good Day to Die Hard when it comes out on February 14th.

Previously:
Yipee-kai-aye!

2013 Book List--Part 1

I'm hoping to write reviews of 3 of the books below.  Condi's book was especially good.  Right now I am reading Rove's book and it is fascinating.  My respect for him is even greater now.


2013 Book List
1) Eleven On Top--Janet Evanovich
2) Love Isn't Supposed to Hurt--Christi Paul
3) The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression--Amity Shlaes
4) A Journey Through the Life of William Wilberforce: The Abolitionist Who Changed the Face of a Nation--Kevin Belmonte
5) Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family--Condoleezza Rice
6) Frances Perkins: First Woman Cabinet Member--Emily Keller


Previously:
2012 Book List
2011 Book List
2010 Book List
2008 Book List

A Review of "Frances Perkins: First Woman Cabinet Member"!

"In her senior year she was elected class president.  Perkins was a nonconformist who sometimes broke rules--such as 'lights out'--when she wanted to talk.  This may have annoyed the school administration, but she was good-natured and popular with the girls, who called her 'Perk' or 'Perky'.  A few students agreed with her father that she talked too much and labeled her the 'loquacious linguist.'"--A description of Perkins during her college years

I loved the above quote because it reminds me of me, "loquacious linguist" ;-)!

I don't think I've ever read a biography about a liberal Democrat. But, after reading The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression I wanted to learn more about the 1st woman to hold a cabinet position.

While I don't agree with Frances Perkins' "progressive" and socialistic ideals, I do have great admiration for her. First, she was the 1st woman to achieve a cabinet position. Second, she believed in social justice and helping the poor. Third, she juggled a career while having to deal with a bi-polar, alcoholic husband.

Perkins paved the way for other women to excel in politics, that alone is worthy of admiration.

Previous Reviews:
The Help
A Place of Yes!
John Adams
1776
My Grandfather's Son
Stephen Mansfield's Books
Stori Telling


   

A Review of The Help!

I am a big fan of movies/books when they are about people taking a stand for what they believe in, righting wrongs, fighting for a cause and bringing about some type of justice.  The movie, The Help is based on the book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett and both are exactly what I just described.

I saw the movie first and was both horrified and inspired.  It was hard to comprehend that racism/prejudice was still so rampant in the 60's.  It helped me understand that certain areas of the south definitely took much longer than other areas of the U.S. in realizing how wrong racism was and seeing it for what it was.

In college, I took classes on combating racism/prejudice and I remember at that time being shocked at how there was still a strong stigma against interracial dating in the 70's.  While racism/prejudice still exist, we definitely have come a long way.  Yet, it saddens me that it took so long.

I watched the movie numerous times and decided it was time to read the book.  I was happy with how closely the movie followed the book, but as always, the book added a lot more rich, detail.  I especially liked learning more in depth about Abilene's faith in God.  It was amazing to see when you looked at what she had to endure in her life.

Obviously, I highly recommend both the movie and the book.

Previous Reviews:
A Place of Yes!
John Adams
1776
My Grandfather's Son
Stephen Mansfield's Books
Stori Telling

Kisses from Katie!

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption is the true story of a 19 year old woman who left her comfortable life in America to care for God's children in Uganda.  Hugh Hewitt says it well: 

At the age of nineteen, Katie Davis left the upper-middle-class life to move to Uganda, start a nonprofit organization, and begin the adoption process for thirteen daughters who needed a mother. She is an inspiration and a testament to what God will do when one is willing to be used.

In the past couple of years God has given me a passion for Africa and its orphans.  So, when I came across Katie's book, I was so inspired.  Her blog is always a source of encouragement.

Take the time to read her book and support Amazima Ministries, it will not only make a difference in your life, but in the lives of others.


Links:
Katie's Blog
Amazima Ministries
Buy Katie's Book

My Top 6 TV Shows!

1) Justified--My favorite show right now. The fourth season starts this week.  Timothy Olyphant does an incredible job as Marshal Raylan Givens.

2) The Middle--This is a show that the kids and I watch together.  It is hilarious.  In my opinion, it is the funniest family comedy show, maybe ever.  Brick is my favorite, although I love everyone else too.

3) The Good Wife--Julianna Margulies does a wonderful job and the whole show is great.

4) Grey's Anatomy--This has been a favorite of mine for a long time.  This is the last season and every year I describe it as "free therapy".

5) Southland--This is a great cop show.

6) The Office--One of the best comedies ever.  I have re-watched old episodes many times.

2012 Book List!

Since I'd like to start blogging again, I thought I'd start off with my 2012 list.  I re-read quite a few books from my favorite Stephanie Plum series, but overall, still read quite a few books this past year.

2012 Book List!
1) Heart Cries (Prayers of Biblical Women)--Marylou Carney
2) Words Kids Need to Hear--David Staal
3) The Devil Came on Horseback (Bearing Witness to the Genocide in Darfur)--Brian Steidle
4) One for the Money--Janet Evanovich
5) Kisses from Katie--Katie Davis
6) Respectful Kids--Dr. Todd Cartmell
7) Reagan in His Own Voice--Skinner & Anderson
8) Between 2 Worlds: My Life & Captivity in Iran--Roxana Saberi
9) Power, Money & Sex (How success almost ruined my life)--Deion Sanders
10) No Place Safe--Kim Reid
11) Not Lost Forever--Carmina Salcido & Jackson
12) James--Beth Moore
13) Woman, Thou Art Loosed--T.D. Jakes
14) Encourage Me--Charles Swindoll
15) Decision Points--President George W. Bush
16) Calm My Anxious Heart--Linda Dillow
17) Still Growing--Kirk Cameron
18) Mother Theresa--Sam Wellman
19) Bitter Harvest--Ann Rule
20) Two for the Dough--Janet Evanovich
21) Three to get Deadly--Janet Evanovich
22) Four to Score--Janet Evanovich
23) Running for my Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games--Lopez Lomong
24) Jane Austen's Little Advice Book--Michon & Norris
25) A Different Kind of Christmas--Alex Haley
26) Liberty & Tyranny--Mark Levin
27) Terror by Night--Terry Caffey
28) High Five--Janet Evanovich
29) Hot Six--Janet Evanovich
30) Seven Up--Janet Evanovich
31) Hard Eight--Janet Evanovich
32) The Attributes of God--A.W. Tozer
33) The Help--Kathryn Stockett
34) To The Nines--Janet Evanovich
35) Ten Big Ones--Janet Evanovich

If I had to pick a favorite from the year, I would say it would be Kisses from Katie.  She is a young, amazing woman of God who is making a huge difference in Uganda.  I will probably do a post on her, her book, her blog and her ministry.

My other favorites were The Devil Came on Horseback, Between 2 Worlds, Running for My Life and The Help.  I am definitely going to do a post on the book and the movie, The Help.

I am looking forward to reading in 2013.

Previously:
2011 Book List
2010 Book List
2008 Book List

A Movie Review of Lincoln!

Lincoln is a history lovers dream.

The movie is like a docudrama.  It takes 2 1/2 hours to show how the 13th Amendment was passed.  It was fascinating to me how Lincoln worked his charm to persuade 20 Democrat Senators to vote for an amendment that would finally give the slaves their freedom.

Daniel Day-Lewis does an incredible job of portraying Lincoln, there is talk of him getting an academy award for his portrayal, and I definitely think he should.

He showed Lincoln to be the man I always envisioned him as, from all my study and research of him.  He was amazing at using story-telling and jokes to get his message across (reminds me of Reagan).  He was patient in his interactions with his difficult wife (played by Sally Field who was also incredible).  He loved his children, allowing them to come into the Oval Office at almost anytime (to everyone else's dismay).  He carried a heavy burden with all of the loss of life during the war.  Yet, he was up at 3:00 in the morning wanting to pardon deserters.  

Tommy Lee Jones was wonderful as Thaddeus Stevens, a Republican Congressman who had been fighting for the freedom of the slaves for 30 years.

There is some controversy on whether Lincoln would've used the language Spielberg had him use in the movie.  For me, it didn't take anything away from the rest of the content.

I highly recommend it and give it 4 1/2 stars!