Under Construction!

Hi everyone!

It's been a very, very long time since I've posted anything. Now that my my baby is a little bigger and we're getting into a bit more of a routine, I'm hoping to get back to posting semi-regularly. In the meantime, I'm hoping to update the look of the blog a little bit, so stay tuned!

And make sure and check back next week to see a new set of cookies based on a book!

Lindsay

Cover Cookies: Anna, Lola, and Isla

A few weeks ago, Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner asked me if I'd be willing to make some cookie for the Anna, Lola, and Isla readalong! I'd planned on doing them anyway, but this gave me the extra bit of motivation I needed to ACTUALLY get them done.  I'm super pleased with how they turned out!  Nor could I resist the temptation to turn the cute buttons into cookies as well.

Let me know what you think!

Why I've Been MIA

So.....

Where do I start? I haven't blogged ANYTHING in almost a month. I know. Bad book blogger. Very bad. I could go into details about WHY I haven't posted anything, but basically it's a list that looks like this:

1. I'm around 6 months pregnant.
2. I have a 4 year old boy who has a LOT of energy.
3. I have ZERO desire to do anything I don't feel like doing (See #1). Which at the moment includes sitting down at the computer and typing THINGS. (It doesn't help that my unborn child likes to kick and punch the living daylights out of me if I'm sitting upright at the computer).
4. I'm not even reading all that often, and when I do, it's generally rereads of books I already own (with a few minor exceptions.. like Landline and Isla). So I just feel kinda boring right now, and like I don't have a lot to say.

So yeah. Blogs will definitely be posted at random times for the next few months. Hopefully I can find a good solution so I can stay somewhat involved on here in the mean time.

I will have something new to show you (CoughAnnaLolaIslaCookiesCough) in the next couple of days to celebrate the release of Isla & the Happily Ever After, so make sure and check back for it. ;)

And with that said, you can always find me on twitter. I love twitter. Twitter and I are BFFs.

Swashbuckling Summer: Princess Bride Day!

First off, let's ignore the fact that I've in no way actually kept up with the posting schedule I made for myself at the beginning of this event, okay? We'll all be happier that way.

But since I've neglected you all, I'm here to add a lovely parting gift to the giveaway. And since I haven't posted anything since last week's movie break, I may as well offer up another movie for you all to watch. Tonight's feature is the amazingness that is...

The Princess Bride

That's right, another awesome 80s movie coming your way! But instead of once again regaling you with vague facts and begging you to watch this movie right away, I'm going to discuss the book! That's right, this here 80s classic is actually based on a novel of the same name by William Goldman.

You guys did know this was a book, yes? I'm fairly certain I'd watched this movie countless times before I found out that it was based on a book. So, I finally took it upon myself to read it and compare it to the movie for Swashbuckling Summer fun times.

(SIDENOTE for other movie geeks: Did you know that William Goldman also wrote the screenplay for Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid? {I love, love, love that movie, btw} As well as Misery, Maverick and quite a few others. And since I'm talking about screenplays and pirates, he wrote one based on Blackbeard and Bonet that was to feature Sean Connery and Roger Moore. It was deemed to expensive to produce. I would've LOVED to see that movie. Especially starring two of the best Bonds ever. END SIDENOTE)

I was, quite honestly, expecting there to be quite a few changes from the book to the movie adaptation, because there always are. But there really wasn't. Sure there was information left out-especially about Fezzik and Inigo-but it didn't really add too much to the narrative. Just some basic backstory (Fezzik started fighting others when he was only 6, and hated it; Inigo's travels to become a master swordfighter after the 6 finger man killed his father). A minor change takes part in the Fire Swamp. I was glad to see the ROUSes, and the fire, but the lightning sand has a different name (which I am totally blanking on right now!). The biggest change, which I think was probably a wise change for the movie, was the name of the Pit of Despair. In the book it is called the Zoo of Death. I'm glad they changed it aren't you? Especially as this is more of a kids book, I'm pretty sure I don't want something being referred to as the Zoo of Death around my kiddo.

Quite possibly the most interesting part of the entire book to me was how it was supposedly an abridgement of a book by S. Morgenstern. A person who, in fact, Goldman made up (as is the entire country of Florin, FYI). There was never another edition of The Princess Bride. It's a unique story telling device, and one that Goldman accentuates throughout the book by use of Italics. Another literary device Goldman uses is parentheticals. He often takes a moment to explain something-even his own thoughts or how a word may not have been used during that time. It adds even more dimension to an ever-intriguing story.

And then at the end of the book, there's Buttercup's Baby. You really just need to read all of that part for yourself. I don't even know what to say about it, other than the fact that Goldman is a mad genius.

Having seen the movie so many times (I can't even tell you how many), it was fun to see the story again in writing, and picturing some of my favorite movie scenes as I was reading.

And now, a giveaway! Enter the rafflecopter below to win a copy of the book AND the movie!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Swashbuckling Summer: Movie Break!

Are you enjoying Swashbuckling Summer? Have you learned anything about pirates yet? Are you ready for a break?

Well you're in luck. It's movie night! So string up your hammock, grab yourself some grog, ale, beer, or fruity cocktail, some Pirate Booty (the popcorn. Get your mind out of the gutter) and kick back and enjoy tonight's presentation of...

THE GOONIES

What's that? You're super young and therefore have never heard of The Goonies?!? Well you're missing out. It's past time to get acquainted with this totally awesome 80s masterpiece.

From IMDB: A group of kids set out on an adventure in search of pirate treasure that could save their homes from foreclosure.

That's right. A group of kids. And pirate treasure (a pirate named One Eyed Willie to be exact). And ADVENTURE. The kids find a treasure map and follow it. And there are booby traps. Like a booby-trapped piano. And the Fratelli's (a gang? mob? I don't really know how to describe them. A mean family. How about that?) who make it difficult for the kids to find the treasure. It's fantastic.

There's some big name stars like Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee from LOTR), Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman (umm yeah. If you fall into the younger crowd, you probably don't know who this is...), and Martha Plimpton (Parenthood). 

I keep racking my brain to think of more things to say in order to significantly convey how much I love this movie and just how awesome it is. But I can't word right now, you'll just have to take my word for it.


Are you interested yet? Do I have you running to Redbox or some other video outlet to rent The Goonies? Because I hope you are. And I'm giving you a chance to win your own copy.

US only. Must be 13 or have parental consent.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click here to go back to the Swashbuckling Summer main page to find the schedule and giveaway information!

And remember, Goonies never say die.

Swashbuckling Summer: Pirate Flag Matchup

Are you ready for some fun? Before diving into all the books and movie related pirate stuff, I wanted to start off with a little real life pirate knowledge.

Did you know that not all pirate flags are the same?
This is the one that you are probably used to seeing (The Jolly Roger):

Originally, red flags were simply flown showing that the ship would show no quarter. From there it developed into each pirate creating his own flag. Your challenge? To see if you can match up the flag with the famous notorious pirate. Are you ready?

1.                                                                                          A. Thomas Tew

2.                                                                                         B. Bartholomew Roberts (1)

3.                                                                                         C. Edward "Blackbeard" Teach

4.                                                                                         D. Stede Bonnet "The Gentleman Pirate"

5.                                                                                         E. Edward Low

6.                                                                                         F. John Avery

7.                                                                                         G. Christopher Condent

8.                                                                                          H. Richard Worley

9.                                                                                          I. Edward England

10.                                                                                         J. Jack Rackham

11.                                                                                          K. Bartholomew Roberts (2)

Hope you enjoyed my pirate flag quiz! Thanks for playing!

Highlight for answers
>>1. F    2. K   3. B    
4. J     5. G    6. E  
7. C   8. I     9. D  

10. H     11. A<<
 Click here to go back to the Swashbuckling Summer main page to find the schedule and giveaway information!

It's Time for Swashbuckling Summer!

It's pirate time you guys! I'm so excited Swashbuckling Summer is finally here! In case you're wondering what this is all about, Emily & Danie over at Oh Magic Hour and I have teamed up for the next two weeks to discuss all things pirates. You can read all about it here, in case you need more details. But basically, we love pirates, and pirate related things.

But why do I love pirates you ask? Well. Ever since high school, which is longer ago than I care to admit to you guys, I went on a cruise to the Caribbean, which only made my love of pirates grow deeper. In fact, when I was in Nassau, Bahamas, I opted to go to the pirate museum instead of the beach. It was fascinating! I learned so much about pirates-until then it had been the more Hollywood romanticized pirates that I'd come to love. But seriously, I find them totally interesting. I still have my t-shirt from the museum as well. :)

So, with that being said, let's move on to why I like pirates so much now, and the ONE book character who made me want to do Swashbuckling Summer in the first place...

And that, friends is the dashing, snarky, but-don't-call-him-a-pirate-he-prefers-privateer...
STURMHOND.  Ah yes, my beloved Nikolai. He's my favorite. He was even my date to the YA Prom. I simply adore the man. I really don't know what to say about him, other than if you haven't met him yet, you should really drop everything and go read The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo.

MOVING ON.

The next couple of weeks promise to be very exciting around here! Bookmark this page so you don't miss out on any of the fun (as links will be updated accordingly)! And you can go HERE to find all of the goodies & posts that'll take place over at Oh Magic Hour!

Schedule of Events 

(Broke Book Girls only)

Monday, July 7th: Intro Post & Giant Giveaway Begins (in conjunction with Oh Magic Hour)! 

Wednesday, July 9th: Pirate Flag Quiz Time!

Friday, July 11th: Time for a Movie Break! Join me in watching the 80s Classic The Goonies! (Giveaway!)

Saturday, July 12-Sunday July 13th: Instagram Challenge! Show us your favorite pirates (books, movies, etc), and tag me (@brokebookgirls) and/or Emily (@ohmagichour) and use the hashtag #swashbucklingsummer to enter the giveaway!

Monday, July 14th: Princess Bride Day! I'll be discussing the book and the movie. (Giveaway!)

Tuesday, July 15th: Top Ten Tuesday!

Wednesday, July 16th: Review: Mad Kestrel by Misty Massey

Friday, July 18th: Review Steel by Carrie Vaughn

Sunday, July 20th: Wrap Up & Winners Announced!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Also, if at any time you want to join in-and we'd LOVE to have you-grab the button below and come join our crew!!

ARRRRRRR you as excited as we are?!?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway