Talkie Tuesday: Outlaw King

 

"No more chivalry. Now we fight like wolves."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Tonight's choice has been floating around for a while.

 

And honestly, I had EVERY intention of watching it just as soon as I could, and then ... then, IDK what happened.

 

But on a random whim this past weekend, I finally flicked through the Netflix movie library to unearth this one, though I have to admit that I didn't even remember the correct title, accidentally landing on The King first before I bounced to this.

 

In my defense, there's a lot of kings running around the silver screen! LOL.

 

Without further ado, let's travel back in time to Scotland - ah, bonnie Scotland.

 

We'll be having a look at a failed rebellion, a successful one, wondering where Mel Gibson went off to, and plenty other subjects while also trying to discover why we need a full frontal nude shot that makes about zero sense, all wrapped in one movie package.

 

Which movie, you ask? And I answer: Outlaw King.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Gladiator

 

"Are you not entertained?"

 

Hello everyone!

 

Happy New Year!

 

I hope you said goodbye to the last one in good spirits, and that you're ready to take on all new challenges in this brand sparkly new one.

 

At least, I'm telling myself that. As well as trying to set reachable goals that won't break my spirit if I can't manage to achieve them! I've learned (a little bit the hard way) that I need to set more short-term ones, smaller ones, than try for the big guns all blazing because I'm less likely to be disappointed this way.

 

Or, well, that's my take on it!

 

Anyway, back to the show, which is to say, back to the regular reviews that have nothing to do with the holidays.

 

And I decided to start it off with a right banger.

 

So strap on your armour and hold on to your butts, because we're headed back to Ancient Rome, baby. It's time for Gladiator!

 

Talkie Tuesday: Jodhaa Akbar

 

"The goal was clear, but the path was unknown."

 

Hello everyone!

 

I know, I know, you're probably getting sick of me by now with these.

 

I wish I'd be capable of apologizing but, I'm honestly REALLY enjoying my foray into Indian cinema, so why would I stop?

 

Although I'll admit it takes some serious stamina. This thing I'm reviewing tonight is over three and a half hours long! That's like ... a lot, compared to most movies nowadays haha.

 

But that said, I actually didn't have that much trouble sitting and watching it through in one go, because apparently, my attention span can and will adapt to what it needs, once I'm interested enough for that to happen that is.

 

So let's not waste too many introductory words, then. We have a lot of ground to cover.

 

Instead, let's travel back in time to roughly 16th century India, in a time when religious upheaval seemed to be rather prevalent. Let's go back and see Jodhaa Akbar.

 

Tome Thursday: Letting Go

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome back.

 

Tonight, we're going to take a look at a very special book that I REALLY wanted to talk about, but ended up needing to take a mini break because, well, life happened.

 

Anyway.

 

So most of you know (or should know, based on this blog of course) that I'm a religious fan of Serenity Woods and a part of her ARC team.

 

Well, she was spreading the word about a writing friend of hers, Ms Angela Day, who was going to be launching her first book in a small town contemporary series, and who at the time was looking for some readers to, you know, get things going.

 

Turns out she's an absolute sweetheart. And guess who got so very kindly sent an ARC of this first book of hers?

 

Ladies and gentlemen, Letting Go.

 

Saturday Snippet: La Bastille

 

 

Il était une fois ...

 

xx

*image not mine

Talkie Tuesday: Coronation Weekend 2023

 

"God save the King!"

 

 

I'm kinda-sorta cheating this week, but truth be told I wasn't paying attention to much else (besides family) while the coronation weekend was happening in the United Kingdom.

 

So I leave you with a collection of images from these last couple of days!

Tome Thursday: Faking Love with the Billionaire Boss

 

Hello everyone!

 

I hope you'll be just as excited about this week's book selection as I am, because I've read it twice by now and I cannot WAIT to get it in paperback edition.

 

I'm circling back to my one true love, books written by Serenity Woods, as you can imagine.

 

The great thing about finding an author who you genuinely enjoy as much as I enjoy reading Ms Woods' books is that, if you're extremely lucky, they may be writing and writing and writing, and you know you have SO many more books to look forward to in future!

 

Take this one, for example.

 

It wraps up a tentative trilogy - though I don't think it was initially planned that way - while also introducing us to the hero of the NEXT trilogy starter, all in one go.

 

Not to mention it features all of our favourites from the first two books as well as my absolute favourite characters of them all, really.

 

So enough about me just chattering about this, and let's just get on with it, shall we? Our choice tonight is Faking Love with the Billionaire Boss.

 

Talkie Tuesday: King Arthur

 

"It has always fallen to a few to sacrifice for the greater good."

 

Hello everyone!

 

So hot on the heels of that first returning blog post, I now return to regular programming with my movie reviews as well.

 

And BOY, do I have some goodies for this month!

 

... also for the start of September, because Netflix just told me that's what's going to happen.

 

Now.

 

A little while ago, I had this 'history' run here on the blog wherein I was watching and reviewing some of the better historic adaptations of stories that we all know and love. For some reason, however, I apparently never got around to reviewing the ONE actual historical movie that even experts agree is probably, to this date, the most accurate when it comes to the story it's telling!

 

And it's a shame because I FREAKING LOVE THIS MOVIE.

 

Without further ado, here it is then: better get that sword from the stone to fight, because King Arthur will absolutely need you.

Tome Thursday: Robin Hood

 

Hello everyone!

 

I'm finally back after a bit of a break which unfortunately needed to happen because of some RL stuff I had going on BUT! I return!

 

And I have a book review for you all, first and foremost.

 

Tuesday's blog didn't get written up so it will be bumped to a Synopsis Saturday one, which you'll all hopefully read just as well, as I'm planning on recapping the premiere of Outlander's sixth season. Are we ready for what's undoubtedly going to be a bumpy ride? Hopefully!

 

In the meantime, this blog post is a sort of connected one? Maybe? But our own Fraser was an outlaw for a little bit of time there so I suppose the inspiration was certainly in the works.

 

However MY outlaw is probably the one that's basically the most known across literature and film if you think about it. When someone says rob from the rich and give to the poor, you usually know right off the bat who this is about.

 

There were many authors who wrote about him, but Henry Gilbert's Robin Hood was the first book I ever read about the famous archer.

 

Synopsis Saturday: The English Billionaire

 

Hello everyone!

 

As I promised on Thursday, here is the blog post that didn't make it during the week.

 

I might have been able to squeeze it in, but at the same time I was quite busy and also the official release of the e-book isn't until today, so I figured I'd postpone the whole thing and just publish it on the actual date to be safe.

 

So here we are!

 

And if you're wondering about the book, well wonder no longer.

 

It's one of Serenity Woods', once again, but what were you expecting?

 

I think it may be quite obvious by now that Ms Woods may be my favourite contemporary author, and that's saying something considering how much I read on a general basis.

She's releasing the next book in her Billionaire Princes series, so obviously we're jumping right back into the land of New Zealand, handsome, kind men, and the women who fall in love with them.

The English Billionaire, here we come!

Tome Thursday: Atlantis

 

Hello everyone!

 

I'm finally getting back into the swing of things with these blog posts and decided to pick a really, really good book for the first returning book blog after my summer vacation.

 

If you've been paying attention to this blog, you'll know I've definitely included works by this author in th past.

 

However, I've never ACTUALLY sat down and focused solely on the series he has going with his characters, which by now spans ten full books (and I have yet to read the last one, because for some reason I haven't gotten to it yet).

 

Anyway, I stumbled on said author rather randomly, I will admit, but since then have become a massive fan and I need to get physical copies of his books eventually.

 

For the time being, suffice to say that this is going to be a really good starting point for the rest of them, including the two I'd already done in the past.

 

Because it's all about history - I'm into history these days - and potentially alternative history too.

 

Brace yourselves, everyone. Atlantis is calling!

 

Tome Thursday: Clanlands

 

Hello everyone!

 

So before I bid adieu to Scotland entirely for some time (because naturally I could never do it forever!) I wanted to touch base with a book that I think might be one of the funniest I've read in a while.

 

And also educational considering it teaches you a lot of useful little tidbits about the country, too.

 

Plus, I mean, it's written by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish. Need I say more?

 

If you thought Men in Kilts was something to laugh at and something to enjoy, you're going to LOVE this adventure into writing that the two of them went through together, because there is nothing funnier than reading about the by-play these two men have with one another just on a general kind of basis, not even on screen.

 

Yes, the show was scripted and filmed, and you learn more about that in this particular book, but we all knew that! It's no secret.

 

The secret is how these two didn't end up mortal enemies, or more specifically, how Graham didn't murder Sam along the way.

 

So kilt up one more time - a quick look at Clanlands is up next.

 

Men in Kilts: Battle of Culloden

 

"Oh sons of dogs, oh dogs of the breed,

Come, come here, on flesh to feed!"

 

Hello everyone!

 

And that's a wrap. 

 

We made it all the way through what is hopefully only season ONE of this show, because I'm pretty sure that every single one of us would love nothing more than to watch McTavish and Heughan traipse across some sort of landscape and give us the details as they go along.

 

I've seen commentary online that they could be giving a guided tour of the local Target or Tesco and people would still watch.

 

I mean, same, I totally would too!

 

All signs seem to point to a season two based on social media posts, but alas, for the time being, there hasn't really been any news of it, so we bid adieu to our two Scots who've done all the roadtripping.

 

And so, for one last time, it's hold on to your kilts, everybody.

The finale to Men in Kilts is up next.

Men in Kilts: Clans & Tartans

 

"Here's to long memories and friendship."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Despite the fact that the finale of Men of Kilts aired over this weekend, I'm an episode behind with it all because I took a bit of a break in between, which means that this week and the next will still be Scottish-coloured on the blog.

 

But when has that ever been a bad thing, am I right?

 

Our two favourite Scotsmen get themselves into even more trouble and hilarious situations just by existing, and it's one of those things that you really need to watch for yourself to believe. 

 

I mean, sure it's for the show and most of it is scripted, but these two manage to make it look as natural as it comes, which certainly amps up the appeal if you ask me.

 

I do, however, digress.

 

Right before the finale, we dived in to have a better look at just what even started this desire to learn more about Scotland and its history - the clans.

 

Clans & Tartans is up for debate next.

 

Synopsis Saturday: Son of Ishtar

 

Hello everyone!

 

So as promised in my Thursday brief, I'm now finally finished with the first book in the historical series I'd picked up a while ago but never actually got around to reading right away.

 

Then, around the start of this week, I saw a tweet by the book author about the next installment in the series, and I thought to myself.

 

Did I not actually read those?

 

That sent me on the hunt through my e-library, and lo and behold, the first two books were sitting there, right as rain, and completely untouched.

 

I figured that was a bit of an insult, considering, and so I opened up the first one so that I might actually read through it and then decide whether or not it might be worth continuing on with the rest of the series, which, admittedly, is always a daunting task.

 

But I needn't have worried one bit.

 

Because Gordon Doherty delivers - and Son of Ishtar is one explosive beginning!

 

Tome Thursday: The Emissary

 

Hello everyone!

 

I'm back with another book review tonight and I might have actually been more excited to begin with about this one if it had been marketed the way I think it wanted to be, but sadly it wasn't, or at least I'm not aware that it was.

 

Either way, I'm happy I picked it up from Booksirens.

 

Yep, we're back with Booksirens, baby, because who doesn't want to be able to pick up free electronic book copies? With the only caveat being deadlines by when you have to finish reading them - and most of these are at least two to three months which is TOTALLY doable - there really is virtually no reason why you shouldn't check it out either.

 

It's free, it's got an amazing plethora of books to choose from, and they keep on adding more features AND more books.

 

Tonight's pick was recommended to me in a random email I got, and I'm pretty happy I picked it up actually.

 

So without further ado, let's jump right into this one: The Emissary.

 

Atlantis (Booktober)

 

"It could be that the legacy of Atlantis was a truly global phenomenon."

 

 

Possibly one of my favourite series starters of all time, David Gibbins' Atlantis takes us deep into underwater territory somewhere in the Black Sea to answer questions humanity has been asking since first reading about the elusive Atlantis to begin with. Who were these progressive humanoids who angered the gods so much that their entire civilization was destroyed without mercy? Did any of them survive? And can we actually trace their path, and their origin, at this moment in time? The question of Atlantis will never get old, and burns even brighter in this book which launches underwater archeologist Jack Howard into literary orbit.

 

 

 

 

From an extraordinary discovery in a remote desert oasis to a desperate race against time in the ocean depths, a team of adventurers is about to find the truth behind the most baffling legend in history. The hunt is on for Atlantis. Because marine archaeologist Jack Howard has stumbled upon the keys to an ancient puzzle. With a crack team of scientific experts and ex–Special Forces commandos, he is heading for what he believes could be the greatest archaeological find of all time——the site of fabled Atlantis——while a ruthless adversary watches his every move and prepares to strike. 

(from Goodreads)

xx

*image not mine

Origin (Booktober)

Quo Vadis (Booktober)

Death on the Nile (Booktober)

The Little White Horse (Booktober)

The Sign of Four (Booktober)

Harry Potter #2 (Booktober)

Troublemaker (Booktober)

The Lord of the Rings (Booktober)

Quo Vadis (Booktober)

 

"Quo vadis, domine?"

 

 

 

Well there HAS to be one of these in here, hasn't it? Henryk Sienkiewicz wrote many, many books in his life, most of them concerning Poland and its history, but Quo Vadis isn't one of them. This is the story of Emperor Nero and all his depravities, which certainly might give you chills appropriate for wrapping up in a warm blanket. But the romance between a pagan centurion and Christian slave is a must-read for any true bibliophile. Written against the backdrop of an ailing Rome, you get a little bit of everything: history, intrigue, murder, romance - and most of all, hope.

 

 

 

 

Set at a turning point in history (A.D. 54-68), as Christianity replaces the era of corruption and immorality that marked Nero's Rome, Quo Vadis tells the story of Vinicius, the proud centurion who has fallen deeply in love with a mysterious young woman who disappears the night they meet; and Ligia, the elusive beauty. Vinicius will not easily win her love, for she is a Christian, one of the group of dedicated believers led by the apostle Peter. Christians are rare in pagan, hedonistic Rome, and suffer great persecution by Nero, a despotic emperor who plunges Rome deeper and deeper into depravity. As Nero's appalling plans for the Christians become ever clearer, time appears to be running out for the young lovers. Vinicius must come to understand the true meaning of Ligia's religion before it is too late ...

(from Goodreads)

xx

*image not mine

Death on the Nile (Booktober)

The Little White Horse (Booktober)

The Sign of Four (Booktober)

Harry Potter #2 (Booktober)

Troublemaker (Booktober)

The Lord of the Rings (Booktober)

Talkie Tuesday: Robin Hood 2010

"Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions."

Hello everyone!

I seem to be doing these backwards.

If you recall, some time ago, I made a post concerning the 2018 version of the Robin Hood movie, which could have very easily not been done and if you don't watch it you're not missing out on anything in terms of actual Robin Hood.

Then this weekend, one of our channels decided to do a re-run of the 2010 version, and I said to myself, you know what? For the heck of it, why not.

There's a bunch of other versions out there after all, and I should note that Prince of Thieves pretty much gets re-runs almost as frequently as a sitcom, so mostly once a week, and that movie should be the next in line if I don't find any other in-between the Robin Hoods.

The there's still at the very least the cartoon AND the parody that was made, so, you know, this is the franchise that never dies. I think only Spider-man got more re-makes!

So Robin Hood, circa 2010, here we go!

Saturday Snippet: Hann til ragnarøks!

xx

*video not mine