To begin at the beginning...

While browsing for post through The Penslayer's blog archives, I stumbled upon this. While, admittedly, an old posting, I loved the idea. And since it was a quick and fun thing to do, I decided to give it a go! (Although if I have my way there will be a real review up soon on C.S. Lewis' "Till We Have Faces.")

Now on to the fun part: the beginnings of some of my favorite stories:

Till We Have Faces C.S. Lewis: I am old now and have not much to fear from the anger of the gods.

The Fellowship of the Ring J.R.R. Tolkien: When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk excitement in Hobbiton.

The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien: In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.

Stepping Heavenward Mrs. E. Prentiss: How dreadfully old I am getting! Sixteen! Well, I don't see as I can help it.

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee: When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife.

Rose in Bloom Louisa May Alcott: Three young men stood together on a wharf one bright October day awaiting the arrival of an ocean steamer with an impatience which found vent lively skirmish with a small lad, who pervaded the premises like a will-o'-the-wisp and afforded much amusement to the other groups assembled there.

Rebecca Dauphne du Maurier: Last night I dreamt I went to Manderlay again...

The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd: At nI would lie in bed and watch the show, how bees squeezed through the cracks of my bedroom wall and flew circles around the room, making that propeller sound, a high- pitched zzzzz that hummed along my skin.

Plenilune Jennifer Freitag: Margaret Coventry stood on the platform at Leeds with a rain-speckled umbrella folded in one hand and her carpetbag in the other.

Emma Jane Austen: Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.

Voice in the Wind Francine Rivers: The city was silently bloating in the hot sun, rotting like the thousands of bodies that lay where they had fallen in street battles.

And finally, because I am really a three year old on the inside, good ol' Winnie the Pooh...

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh A.A. Milne: Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin.

Sunshine Award

I have been nominated by Hamlette for the Sunshine Award. So I have to answer five questions:
1.  What is the next book you plan to read?

I plan to read Corrie ten Boom's book The Hiding Place. I have heard good things about that book, but I am hesitant to start it because I know it'll be sad. :(

2.  Have you ever seen the same movie in the theater more than once?

Hmm... nope. I actually don't go to the theater that much, period. I watch more old movies than new ones.

3.  Do you prefer pirates or cowboys?

Hmm... Cowboys. Pirates would rob me and sink my ship. Cowboys are usually good and they are country, so they would probably have a sweet Southern drawl. :)

4.  Have you ever been to an ocean?

Yes, in fact I just came back from a trip to Hilton Head Island, SC... so beautiful! We watched the sunset on the beach every night and there were always dolphins nearby where we were staying. 

5.  You're casting a new movie version of your favorite book.  Who are your top choices for the leads?

Hmm... I can't think of any improvements I would want to make of the movie version of Anne of Green Gables with Meagan Follows, so I shall choose another favorite book. I'll pick a trilogy. And I don't care if that is "cheating." It's my blog. :)

The Mark of the Lion series: (If I were choosing my dream cast)

Hadassah 

Emmy Rossum

Marcus Valerian

Julia Valerian

Ryan Newman

Atretes

Chris Hemsworth

Rizpah

Gemma Arterton

Arria

Amanda Seyfried

Prometheus

Logan Learman

Cauis

Ian Somerhalder

Calabah

Emilia Clarke

Dr. Alexander

Emanuele Bosi

Here are just some of the characters and how I envisioned them to be. I got these pictures and ideas from some Mark of the Lion dream cast Pinterest boards I'm following, so the credit really goes to them. :)

I know I haven't done Julia's 1st or 3rd husband, Decimus, Bato, Theophilus, Ania, and other characters (there are a lot!) but I tried my best. 

Man I wish this was a real movie!!! Are there any Hollywood directors reading my blog (haha)? Cause we could make this thing happen :)

Well this was fun! Thanks for nominating me Hamlette.

Confessions, recommendations, and a quick update

A quick update since I haven't posted in a while. School is ending soon. AP exam week is upon me, end of the year tests and exams are looming their heads and I just pray I'll have the strength to make it through with something good to show for it.

Lately, the only thing that has kept me sane are books. I once again stumbled upon Francine Rivers while at my local library. I had nothing else to read, so I picked up Voice in the Wind, the first book in the Mark of the Lion series. It wasn't my usual type of book. It was set in Rome, with gladiator fights and Christians being fed to the lions. I was rather uncomfortable with some scenes in the book, but it all serves a purpose: to show the weakness and corruption of us all and the salvation that is there for those who heed and follow Christ.

I used to be really uncomfortable when people would "talk religious." That was only for Sundays. For church. Only priests and crazy zealous Christians spoke that way. People didn't have a personal relationship with an all powerful God, did they? Apparently, they do. More and more I have come to understand God is not to be put away on Sunday and brought out again with the nice Sunday service clothes. He wants me. All of me. Everyday. Why? I don't know. But I am so thankful.

So for Christmas I asked for a Bible. Since I left Catholic school, I have not been to church with any regularity. That has changed. I wonder how I never listened very well before. Church was a chore, do be done as math homework or cleaning your room. Wow, was I wrong.

Every sermon, every word hits home. That's me. Every word applies. Every word speaks to my heart. And before I would have scorned any such admission. I am a good person. Everyone says so. God must be pleased. Wow, had I got a lot to learn. I still do. Before I read the Mark of the Lion series, I feared talking of God and Jesus Christ. What would my friends and family think? I know what I would have thought. I would've been extremely uncomfortable, eager to change the subject. I didn't even want to talk about it on this blog! And on this blog I am pretty anonymous, so that is sad.

But I am here to say I am working on it. Pray for me. And whether you read this series or not, I just thought everyone should know about it. It might not have the impact it had on me, but maybe it will. So I am putting the recommendation and story out there..... This is hard. But I am glad I am doing it. I better stop rambling and publish the post before I lose my nerve.

Goodbye, lovelies! Hopefully soon I will actually have the time and energy to do a comprehensive review. Until then, au revoir!