Friday, February 27, 2015

Fyodor Dosteovsky


"The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he's in a prison."

Thursday, February 26, 2015

#OneLastTimeQ&A

The Rules;)
1. You Must be tagged to take the Q&A quiz
2. You must tag(notify)at least three other bloggers(or whatever they are on)for this Q&A
3. You must answer the following questions to the best of your ability
4. You must have seen The Battle of the Five Armies to be tagged/take the quiz
(don't read unless you have seen the movie; there will be *SPOILERS*)
Questions
1. Tell your story of how you came to see the movie(s) or got into Tolkien in the first place.
The Chronicles of Narnia was my favorite series as a child and that led to my knowledge of Lord of the Rings. I don't remember a time I didn't know about it, but I was never allowed to read and watch it and I thought it was a series full of witchcraft and that sort of thing. The year before the first Hobbit came out (2010, I think), my mom, who was a Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan as a child, came home with my dad with the first one in hand, declaring, "Let's watch Lord of the Rings!" and so the adventure began. I watched all three (one the first night and the other two the second night) with my younger sister and mom. I loved them so much that when I heard there were extended editions, I immediately set to work to get a hold of them as well as the books. I read the books starting with the Hobbit (which I had been told was boring, but I loved them!) all the way through (it was hard, and I was confused half the time, but everything made sense once I read the ending, including the appendixes) and then watched the extended editions. After that, I learned that the Hobbit was coming out, and I can not describe my elation. That was it, that was the end. I was a Lord of the Rings fan.
2. Who are your three favorite characters in the Hobbit Trilogy?
Really? Really! Only three? Okay, here we go. Bilbo, Thorin, and Bard.
Thorin - I love Thorin, because I see the pain and the trials he goes through, and I see him trying his best to be better than that, against his nature. He's trying to be better than what the world says he is, and I think that is something we can - at least I can - relate to.
Bilbo - Bilbo is like another aspect of us. We live in a rather comfy country and may be satisfied with our small lives, and there is a virtue in that, but there is also a virtue in stepping out as well, and learning new things. I think I can relate to Bilbo in a way that, I love my home, but I also love the road.
Bard - I love Bard because he is almost like a "nobody" who just does the right thing and by doing the right thing, he becomes a hero. Sure he is in line to be king - but that didn't really have a big influence on his character decisions, because for all he knew, Smaug was going to stay there forever. And I love that about him.
3. Did you cry in the Battle of the Five Armies, and if so, which scene(s) and what type(sniffling, sobbing, choke-crying)? 
You know, I don't really cry on demand, even if I feel the feels as much as the sobbing person next to me. It's more of a shock factor then denial. Fili's death moved me and to this day I still say whenever I am dressed mostly in black, "I am still in mourning for Fili." (or some other fictional character, it depends, but mostly Fili) And I feel like crying almost whenever I think about it.  But in a way, by not crying, I feel like it effects me more than it otherwise would.
4. Were the deaths compelling to you, and if so, who's?
I think I answered that question above. Thorin's death moved me when I read the book, so the movie didn't change that. It was hard to get into it, because I was stuck between rage and sorrow during those scenes, because of Kili and Tauriel - but if Kili was going to die for her, I guess they did it right, and I have gotten over it. I still can't feel so much sorrow over it, though.
Fili really killed me when he died because we had so little time to mourn. I mourned and held Kili with Tauriel, I mourned and held Thorin with Bilbo and the company, but there was no one to hold Fili or mourn for him through - if you get what I mean. And so in a way, my heart is still crying over his death.
5. Over all, were you satisfied with the movie itself?

It was, it really was. I loved it. I think Peter Jackson did a great job. I think that he really reflected the attitude and spirit of the book very well and that's the main point. I can't wait to buy and watch the extended scenes.

6. Describe the movie in one word.
Moving
 
Thanks to Sarah for letting me participate and I think all the blogs I follow have already been tagged. If not, count this as your tag! You're it, reader!
 
God bless and have an awesome weekend!
Lynsi Keye

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

 Abbie Boots from Yarns and Tales (http://bootsgirl-philippians-4-13.blogspot.com/) nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.
 Here are her questions... and since she already nominated everyone I know on blogger, I am not going to nominate anyone. 

Questions:
1. If you could read only one book for the rest of your life, what book would you choose?
The Bible, of course. If not the Bible, it would be a tie between The Hobbit or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

2. Who is your favorite author?
Oh, that's awful. I love CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, but I also love Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, Charlotte Bronte, and Elizabeth Gaskell.
On a modern note, I also really like Clive Cussler (depending on what book).

3. What is your favorite genre of book to read?
Well, you can probably tell from my named authors. I like a unique mix of fantasy and realism, with action thrown in. Any genre that allows me to escape the real world to be prepared with philosophy, character, endurance, and ideals that will prepare me to face it again. Books with propaganda and underlying lying messages get me annoyed, because I can see right through them.

4. Who is your favorite actor?

I appreciate the talent of many actors and actresses. But if I had to name one, I couldn't. I can narrow it down to three, though. Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, and Shirley Temple.
I am also increasingly falling in love with the talent of the cast of Arrow.

5. If you could meet anyone in all of history (deceased, living), who would it be?

I know, I know, cliche - but I really want to meet Jesus. I mean, I know I have a relationship with Him and all, but can you imagine meeting Him face to face? I know it will happen eventually, but I am not super patient. :P I should probably work on that.

6. Do you have a favorite music artist or song (musicals and composers count, too)?

I like this composer called Ludovico something. I don't know his last name. I love his piece Nuvole Bianche. Whenever I feel stressed, I listen to it and it calms me down.

7. (Because I liked this question) If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
I would generally say flying or invisibility, but I am going to steal the answer from a guy in my senior class that I thought was absolutely genius. I'd like for my muscles to have the ability and strength to repeat anything I saw.

8. Do/Did you ever play an instrument, and if so, what?
Yes, I dabble in the piano, the violin, the guitar, and soon the Irish tin whistle, the recorder, the drums, and the ocarina.

9. If you could time travel (but only one time, round-trip), what event/time/person would you go see?


This is tough, I'd either go back to the nativity and stay for thirty years to watch Jesus grow up and pretty much stalk Him until He returns to heaven, or just go to see the nativity or crucifixion (the whole three days). Staying 30 years might be tough, however if it meant I could watch Jesus grow up and all that, I might be willing to rough it out no matter what.

10. Finally, what is your favorite dessert, and what kind/flavor/etc is it?
Ooh! I love vanilla ice cream with heath bar as a side to either brownies or a giant cookie cake with milk!

Thanks for reading and I hope you have an excellent day.
And guess what, I am actually going to tag someone. Sarah from Sara'sword! http://sarahssword.blogspot.com/



Loki

"What do they know of darkness? What do they know of the choking blackness of the void? What do they know of isolation? Nothing. Nothing at all. "

=========

I would like to note that Loki really doesn't have much to complain about. Many kids grow up in much worse and darker situations than he (think about child slave labor in Africa or child prostitution or kids raised into the hate of ISIS or Al-Qaeda before they know what's wrong and right.) I think those children have better excuse for this quote than Loki. Loki bought into hate, he wasn't raised in it.
So, I know a lot of people feel sorry for Loki and even love him, but I really can't get myself to (yes, I've tried). His little stunt in the first movie wasn't a biggy for me (though I was peeved over the lost lives, that was inexcusable) nor was even trying to get the throne - I mean, royal siblings are always trying to do that (not excusing it, either, but it wasn't the make or break it deal). Blaming sibling rivalry and favoritism for all the deaths and darkness he caused and that gruesome retrieval of an eye in the Avengers really did it in - for all the hurts in the world he's received, for all the lies he's believed, there is no excuse or understanding for that, except to say he has a victimized mentality, causing him to buy into a hate that he has no right to (not that anybody does, but especially not him.) There isn't an excuse for it, especially when some children who are raised in REAL darkness can come out better people than the most of us (not that they all do).
Anyway, that's my little rant. I really love the quote, though, it just doesn't sound right coming from Loki, it doesn't match. He is a great villain, though, and I do love him for that, but I could never root for him.

God bless and have a fantastic week!
- Lynsi