Friday, February 21, 2025

After Anne an Honest Look at Montgomery's Life

 


L.M. Montgomery’s Anne Shirley—always Anne with an e—is one of my all-time favorite literary heroines. For over 117 years, this spirited, red-haired orphan has captivated readers with her imagination, resilience, and charm.

After Anne: A Novel of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Life is Logan Stener's debut novel. She brought the writing of Anne of Green Gables and the story behind the author's inspiration to life. Paying homage to Montgomery while still maintaining her own author voice. 

I loved how Ms. Steiner tied in Montgomery's writing of Anne with real her real life and showcased how much fun Maud had with writing the character of Anne. She also didn't shy away from writing about hardships and challenges Maud endured. Writing became her escape. By the end of After Anne I had more empathy and compassion for Montgomery. It also made me want to dig deeper into the life of this beloved Canadian author. 

One sad aspect, Ms. Steiner covers in After Anne how Montgomery witnessed the popularity of her books, but also the decline. To me this was heartbreaking and made me want to read her entire list of books and keep her stories relevant in today's world. 

If you're a reader who's a fan of all things Anne, you need to add After Anne to your TBR pile. Marilla is another book I recommend if you want another book in the Avonlea world.  Both books are wonderful companions to Anne of Green Gables.

Nine years ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Prince Edward Island with my best friends Jennifer and Heather. What a once-in-a-lifetime, truly magical experience. If you have the chance to go...take it. You won't regret it!

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Top 10 Favorite Classic Films

It's Saturday night and you have no idea what to watch. I've got you covered with my top ten list of favorite classic films. My enjoyment of old movies is a close second to my love of books. 

Did any of my top ten make your list? Any that I'm missing from my list that you'd recommend? I'd love to know. 


10. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944)


 Arsenic and Old Lace is a zany dark comedy where Grant plays Brooklyn dramatic critic against marriage, ties to knot with a minister's daughter (Pricilla Lane) to tell his maiden aunts only to discover they are serial murderers. 



9.) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1963)


If you've read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the black and white 1962 film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch got the book spot on in my opinion. It's so rare that a film gets a book right, but in this instance every time I watch the movie I feel as though I've read the book. 




8.) SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943)



Shadow of a Doubt marks director Alfred Hitchcock's first film set in America, and he considered this a favorite among his own films. Teresa Wright plays small town girls Charlotte "Charlie" wishing someone could come and shake up her family. Sends a wire to her Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) who she is named after. Little knowing her uncle is not who he seems. 





7.)  THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)

The African Queen is a classic adventure film with a romance between opposites attract leads Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. 



6.) CASABLANCA (1942)


Casablanca is a WWII romantic drama with a superb cast. This film ranks twice on two separate American film institute (AFI) lists. Top movie quotes with a whopping six total and it is number three on AFI's 100 Best Films Over the last 100 years. 





5.) SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)


Gorgeous scenery, seven precious children, songs you can't help, but sing along too, and Christopher Plummer...what more could you want? You can check out my review of this magnificent film here.





4.) GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)


This 1939 four hour long classic still holds records. Eighty-six years later it's still one of the most popular films. The romantic in me loves the kissing scenes. 


3.)  SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)

Singin' in the Rain (1952) reminds me of my childhood. I remember being eight or nine watching it at my grandma's house. To me the film exudes joy. It's my go-to film when I don't know what to watch. Gene Kelly's memorable scene where he's singing in the rain is one of the best scenes in cinematic history. I smile every time I watch it.





2.) IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

It's A Wonderful Life (1946) is one of those films that I watch every Christmas growing up, but to me it's also one of those films I watch and still find new things I appreciate about it more and more. You can read my film review here



1.) AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (1957) 




An Affair to Remember (1957) is the quintessential Cary Grant film.  A couple meet on an ocean liner, fall in love and agree to meet six months later on top of the Empire State building. Grant and Kerr's chemistry is unparalleled. In case you can't get enough of Cary Grant after watching this movie you can check out my top five favorite Cary Grant films here






Friday, February 14, 2025

Top 10 Romantic Movie Kisses: Hollywood's Golden Age Edition

This February 14th aka Valentine's Day I was inspired to do a top ten romantic movie kisses.

Did any of my favorite lip lock scenes make your list?


10.) SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)


Singin' in the Rain is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals of all time. Dancer Gene Kelly plays a silent film star navigating the pitfalls of talking pictures. His romance with chorus girl Debbie Reynolds gives viewers one of the most iconic kisses at the end. 




9.) AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (1957)


An Affair to Remember is my FAVORITE Cary Grant film. The kissing scene is tender and sweet. Fair warning you will need Kleenex when watching this romantic film.




8.) CASABLANCA (1942)




Casablanca. Kissing scene...need I say more? 



7.) TO HAVE AND TO HAVE NOT (1944)

Bogie and Bacall's first of four films they make together. Bacall takes charge of the kissing scene telling Bogart "It's even better when you help" and leaves him with the memorable line, "You know how to whistle Steve? You just put your lips together and blow." 



6.) NOTORIOUS (1946)


Alfred Hitchcock may be the master of suspense, but he also gave us some unforgettable kissing scenes like in his 1946 film Notorious starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. 



5.) ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953)



This black and white classic romantic comedy shot on location in Rome has a bittersweet love story between a princess (Audrey Hepburn) and a newspaper report (Gregory Peck) with a heartbreaking and tender kissing scene.




4.) SOUND OF MUSIC (1960)


Sound of Music is the second musical on my list. I'm not even sure if I can put into words just how romantic the scene between Maria and Captain Von Trapp when he kisses her.  The older I get this scene has become more swoon worthy in my mind although I'm realizing it's probably just Christopher Plummer....it was always Christopher Plummer. 




3.) THE QUIET MAN (1952)


I'm going to say something probably controversial and un-American, but I'm not a huge fan of John Wayne. The Quiet Man is probably one of the few John Wayne movies I like. The kissing scene is so well-known director Steve Spielberg paid tribute to it in his 1982 film E.T. 



2.) IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)


I could probably watch the legendary candlestick phone kissing scene between James Stewart and Donna Reed over and over again. It's one of my favorites and one of the best kissing to come out of films from Hollywood's Golden Age. You can't have this kind of swoon-worthy kissing scenes in the 21st century with modern technology. 



1.) GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)



Eighty-six years later Gone with the Wind is still the gold standard in Hollywood. At the time this film was one the second film in technicolor. (Wizard of Oz was the first), its four-hour long historical period drama, the elaborate costumes and who can forget the weak-in-the-knees kissing scenes where Rhett tells Scarlett she needs kissing badly and by someone who know how.