Library Book Review - A Wrinkle In Time

This might be my last book review of this year! Might be! That's the words of importance in this first paragraph. And look! It comes under a different banner - this will be explained in my New Year's Resolutions in 2018 so keep your eyes peeled on that front.

Anyway, why did I want to read this book? Well, Disney is turning this into a movie and it stars Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Chris Pine (I'll pop the trailer or teaser trailer at the bottom of the post). And it's just sounds good! With this book being a huge thing in the USA (but not so much in the UK. Actually, it's really under the radar), I wanted to see what this book was all about.

Published in the 1960s, this middle grade story follows Meg who, one night, meets a stranger called Mrs Whatsit who mentions something that shakes her scientist mother up. When she, her younger brother Charles and their friend Calvin meet up with Mrs Whatsit and her two companions, Mrs Who and Mrs Which, the three travel through a "wrinkle" in time and space to rescue Meg's father...

Hmm... I'm not sure how I feel about this as I am very much in the middle on this. On the one hand, it was a good read. I sense my younger self would have read this much faster than I did and would click with the story and the situation better than my adult self.

BUT! But, I can't help but feel that this is Narnia but with science. Both are good stories for middle grade readers, but I have huge problems with children's books where religion is forced onto young readers. It makes me uncomfortable and I'm not sure on how other readers would feel about this...

But if you know readers who like Narnia but want to read something more sci-fi, this might be the book you should give. It might feel dated at times due to the writing (remember, was written in the 1960s) but I am still excited to see how the movie is going to update the story! It's going to be huge in the US, but outside of the states, we shall see...

The Disney Book Tag

IT'S TAG TIME! And it's goes towards one of my movie loves - DISNEY!!!

This tag was created by Kat from Katytastic (the video for her creating this tag is here!) and I was tagged very kindly/meaningly (depending on how I feel once I have answered all the questions) by Amy from Golden Books Girl (thank you).

Ok, let's get this Disney Party Started! Hang on, I need a Disney Gif before I go ANY FURTHER!!!

Now, I need to answer these without using my default of Harry Potter as my answer. Ok, wish me luck!

Book Review - The Art of Moana

I had this book for quite a while - thank you Chronicle Books. But I wanted to read this after I saw the movie. Whenever I have read these types of books (which I love - if you backtrack far enough, you see that I have read a few - The Art of Finding Dory, The Art of Up, The Art of Frozen to name a few...) before watching the movie, there are little spoilers about the end of the movie so, as much as I wanted to devour the beautiful art designs in this, I wanted to see the movie first.

In this, we see the art designs and ideas for the art that went into creating the world of Moana, a Disney films most of you guys love.

Now, because it took a while to read this after I watched the film, I was surprised about the lengths the directors and art departments went to get this right - spending a long time researching Polynesia and the Pacific Islands, with the people, sounds, rituals, plantations and other things to make the story ring true and respect the region of Oceania, while telling Moana's story with its magical twist.

And this book, like the other The Art of books I have read (or need to read - I was recently given another for review which I will do nearer the movie's release date, me thinks...). This shows the art and the process it took from starting idea to final design. For example, very early in design, Maui was drawn being bald, but it was changed after the team chatted to their Mo'oera consultants and they were told that they envisioned Maui having a Sampson-like hair, long like a lion's mane. And seeing the different start points to the Te Kā and Te Fiti made an interesting "oh!" moment.

I do like these types of coffee-table books and I think older Disney fans who enjoy how Disney created the film from its starting idea drawings... And because I feel like I can show you, let me show you one or two images I think you will like!

Disney Villains Takeover Wrap-Up

This is a quickie wrap-up post for the Disney Villains Takeover blog tour! I think the evil, vile, wickedness we have created the past few days is enough from us (for now... though, with the world being as it is, we might have to band together and either spread love, peace, unity [like the bloggy Avengers] or join together and be more wicked [like Suidice Squad - but better than the movie]. Because, remember... 

So, as this is a wrap, I better give you all the links of everyone's posts and be evil about it! So, let's get those flying monkeys started! 

Disney Villains Takeover

Because I suck at creating a blog tour banner (nothing ever looked right! Maybe I set myself too high a standard!), this is it. Me explain my mini-blog tour between a few lovely, kind hearted heroes and saviours... ok, maybe not heroes and saviours. For this weekend, let's call ourselves villains in training...

This, my lovelies, is the Disney Villain Takeover! Over the next four days (Friday 9th to Monday 12th), a bunch of wicked bloggers, vlogger and authors are joining together to chat about ... well... Disney Villains, of course...

Now, I must thank everyone for taking part in this madcap idea of a blog tour! It was wonderful for you all to say yes (and no poison apples to tempt you either!). I asked them to write/record a post about a villain of their choice and they could write whatever they liked! So... this is going to be interesting for me to read as well as you guys who fancy following the tour...

Friday 9th June

SisterSpooky

aLittlebutaLot

Tales of Yesterday

Saturday 10th June

Elizabeth and Katherine Corr

The Page is Printed

LiveOtherwise

Sunday 11th June

Lee Who

Love Mikayla Eve

Beth at ReaderCorner

Monday 12th June

Chouett

Luna's Little Library

Zoe Marriott

My post is going to be a villain in itself and lurk in the background, buying its time. But I sense Sunday. But thank you again to everyone taking part and I hope you guys like the tour when it kicks off tomorrow! 

Book Review - The Art of Finding Dory

As you guys know if you have followed this blog for a while, I like those arty books. I especially like reading those "The Art of [Insert Movie Name Here]". This is something I have been curious over for years, but it seems to be the past few years that I treat myself and devour the art, design and little notes. I have the Art of Finding Nemo, Up, Frozen, The Avengers (aka Avengers Assemble) and, of course, Harry Potter: Page to Screen and Harry Potter: The Creature Vault. Not a lot, but I enjoy staring at the art.

So, when I was emailing the lovely people at Abram and Chronicle Books (who's imprint, Chronicle Books who publish most of the Disney The Art of books), I chatted about The Art of Finding Dory. They said "We'll try and chat to Disney about you getting a copy", but I didn't think much of it. Sorry, but I couldn't imagine the powers at Disney allowing a tiny blog such as my tiny Pewter Wolf baby to read and review it?

So imagine my shocked delight when this came through my door. So, thank you Chronicle Books and Disney/Pixar!

Highly anticipated sequel to Finding Nemo (one of my fave movies, FYI), Finding Dory is finally about to come out in the UK! And here, in The Art of Finding Dory, we see snippets of ideas and artwork that went into making the movie. From new characters and locations, from photographs and concept art to sculptures and sketches, this is an insight to how the movie was made.

This is one side of how the movie was made, and it's the one I really enjoy. I always enjoy how people designed themes and who the get ideas/emotions over within a scene, and how they created new characters (I found the new characters Hank the octopus, Destiny the whale shark and Bailey the beluga whale so interesting and, without even seeing the movie yet, I know I will love these characters oh so much!) and locations.

My advice to you guys is that if you are going to get this, get it after you watched the movie. There is a few hints towards how the movie ends. It doesn't go really into depth but if you dislike spoilers, I would say buy/read after watching the movie.

But I really enjoyed reading this! And I shall be skimming this and The Art of Finding Nemo after I watch Finding Dory... 

I'm feeling in a good mood, so let me show you some (non-spoiler) pictures within the book...

This is my favourite illustration within this book, so I have to give it credit. The below is a "Digital Painting" (no idea what that means) is done by Rona Liu and Sharon Calahan, and isn't it cool? ISN'T IT?! 

GoodRead - The Art of Frozen

If you have followed my blog for a while, you know I like these types of books. I like reading about how films such as Finding Nemo, Up, The Avengers and Harry Potter got made and the art behind it. So, for Christmas, I asked for two books tackling the art behind the films. The first is about one of my main book/film loves (and with that, am going to take my sweet time over reading it) and the second was this.

The Art of Frozen does exactly what it does on the tin. With a preface from John Lasseter, the creative head of Disney's Animation Studios, and foreward from Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the directors of the movie, this book shows the art of how the movie was made. We had scenes from the storyboard stages, pencil drawings, digital designs, photography among others which showed how Frozen was created.

I love these types of books. I love staring at the pictures and going "Oh, that's cool!" or "I see why this had to be done, because of that!" There are a few scenes I saw in art form where I went "I didn't realise that was the original trail of thought for this movie but am glad they didn't continue with that!"

But I loved reading this and staring at the pretty pictures. Yes, this isn't much of a review, I know that, but I loved reading this and I shall be plotting to watch the movie again soon.

SMILE - How I Wake Up

You have no idea how true this is for me...!

My thanks goes to Pinterest! If you wanna follow any of my boards, you can! Just click here to see all my boards, or just click on the hyperlink if you wanna follow the SMILE board.  

SMILE - Promises You Don't Intend To Keep

I have no idea where I saw this but THANK YOU to whoever it was!

SMILE - Me Before I Have My First Cup Of Tea

And you think I'm kidding...

My thanks to Tumblr. Mainly this one (it's mine/was mine depending if I still have it open or not...)

SMILE - Is it A Bird? Is it A Plane? No, it's...!

I had to put this up. I HAD TO! My random thanks goes to OMD (aka Oh My Disney!)

SMILE - Just Five More Minutes...

My thanks to the randomness that is the internet (and me seeing this on Disney's website)

GoodRead - The Art Of Up

As you guys probably know from my previous review of The Art of Finding Nemo (review here, if you fancy a quick read), I adore Pixar movies. And one of my faves is Up. I adore the story, the meaning, the music (how can you not listen to Married Life and not cry?!). I seem to be going through a "Must Read Books About Art" phase at the moment because as soon as I saw this, I knew I had to have it. It was one of those impulse buys that I did with no one going "You're spending your money on that? Is that wise? Surely you should be saving for your future...?"

Yeah, I bought it without anyone knowing till it was too late.

So, The Art of Up is exactly what it says on the cover. With a foreword from the director, Pete Docter, the author does short write-ups per the few chapters that this book have. Which means most of this book is art and design of the movie and, after reading The Art of Finding Nemo, it was very interesting to read the difference of how these movies were created (although I know most people won't buy both books and will only buy or read one of them). And yes, I drooled over the art and the sketches that started and known what it was turned into. And I understood why the characters were drawn the shapes they were...!

I loved it. I did enjoy reading this and it made me want to watch the film again (this was the same after I read Finding Nemo and I do have plans to watch them soon...)

So, if you are a Pixar fan or a fan of the movie, then you might want to give this a look...

GoodRead - The Art Of Finding Nemo

As you guys are probably aware, I adore Pixar movies. I own most of them and seen all bar two of them (I know, I fail but SOON!!!). Two of my fave Disney Pixar movies are Up (I sob every time I watch it. I'm not ashamed to admit that!) and, one of my favorite movies EVER, Finding Nemo. And, in the past few months/years, I seem to be have a thing for The Art of books on how a movie is made. I did try to buy The Art of Rise of the Guardians (a Dreamworks movie, and no, I haven't seen it yet!) but when Amazon screwed up my order, I cancelled it and saw this for second-hand so I HAD to have it. I had to. There was no thinking it over. I bought it within a few minutes of seeing it (I had to find my credit card).

So, The Art of Finding Nemo. It's exactly what the title states. With a foreword from John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton (the main two of Pixar), this shows the art work the people involved in making this movie from the beginning to the later stages. And I drooled over each and every picture, which ranged from quick and cartoony to very serious and very indepth.

And I loved it! Loved to discover how one of my fave movies was created. And I discovered several pictures that I DESPERATELY want to frame. Might ask Disney/Pixar for a print to hang on my wall. Yes, I am that sad!

If you are a fan of the movie or interested in art, this is for you. Enjoy. And remember, JUST KEEP SWIMMING!



PS - I have one other The Art Of in my stack and I will read it soon. If you're smart, you know which one I have...

PPS - THERE'S GOING TO BE A FINDING DORY!!!! *flails*

Finding Dory

As you guys know, I am a bit of a Pixar fan. One of my fave movies from Pixar is Finding Nemo. I can actually quote lines from the film (mainly Dory's), so, of course, when the rumours/the news that Pixar was going to make a sequel last year, I had mixed feelings. While I was excited, I had fears. What if the movie sucked? What if the movie screws up my love for the first movie? So, the news was revealed...



IT'S CONFIRMED! IT'S GONNA HAPPEN!

So, reactions. Are you excited or scared over this news? Or leave your fave line from Finding Nemo or best Dory line!

SMILE - We NEED To Make Disney & Marvel Do This!

I mean, COME ON! THIS WOULD ROCK! (thanks CassJayTuck tumblr for showing this image! AWESOME!)

SMILE - Disney Sing-A-Long Anyone?

I discovered this randomly on Youtube and, well, I fell in love with them. ENJOY!

And she does an AMAZING cover of Adele's songs! Here you go, FYI!

 Thanks to HannahTraska from YouTube. These must have taken you AGES to make!!!

SMILE - Where's Wall-E?

Not sure how I discovered this but thank you to whoever you are!

It's the Weekend!!!

Best 3 Seconds of Today So Far!!!

GoodRead - Red Riding Hood (Bonus Chapter)

Afew weeks ago, I read the novel version of Red Riding Hood (Thanks Atom Books), but the final chapter was missing making you guys go see the film so you find out the truth about the Wolf.

Now, last night, I somehow got my hands on this Bonus Chapter (don't ask me how! I just did! Maybe through the US publishers) and... er... I never saw THAT coming! Am going to keep it quiet but I thought you better know that I have read it and I am not sure if I like this Bonus Chapter. It doesn't exactly end the way I suspect... It was a surprise, and if I was more on the ball, I should have seen it. But I didn't so... yeah...

Oh, all right then! This is the Wolf...