Searching For Her Son: Review of Philomena Staring Judy Dench and Steve Coogan

Philomena 

Released: 2013 

Starring: Judy Dench and Steve Coogan 

Philomena chronicles the search and depth of a mother’s love for a child she lost to adoption years ago. 

Philomena Lee was a young woman whose brief romantic encounter ended in an unplanned pregnancy which was shunned by both her religion and society in the mid-twentieth century. Desperate and in need of help, she entered a convent for “girls in trouble” run by local nuns. 

Suddenly, her world is ripped apart before her eyes, as a sedan pulls up to the steps of the convent. Out walked sweet, cherubic Anthony and a friend’s daughter. Helplessly, her heart skips a beat as she ran frantically after the sedan with the newly adopted children. That day her determined spirit is shadowed by the sadness of the profound loss of a child she barely knew. 

Fifty years later, on Anthony’s birthday, Philomena stares at a time-worn photo of her son given to her by one of the kind nuns in the convent. Her daughter, comments on the picture and find out the hidden secret. 

As a cocktail waitress for exclusive parties, her daughter meets former BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith. She asks Martin to help her mother locate the son she had lost to adoption. 

Begrudgingly, Martin takes the assignment. Through his tireless research, he finds out the “fluff” human interest journalism he despises can impact not only the life of an elderly woman, but his own. With much trial, tribulation, and travel, Martin and Philomena investigate her son’s journey and times. 

Judy Dench is superb. Her unnervingly raw and heartfelt portrayal of Philomena breathed life into this captivating film. Steve Coogan gave a remarkable, guarded and hard-edged appeal to Martin Sixsmith’s steely demeanor. 

More About the Film 

Official Website: 

http://philomenamovie.com/index.html

Awards: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2431286/awards?ref_=tt_awd

(Awards page source: Internet Movie Database) 

Let's Rock and Roll: Review of Lick by Kylie Scott (Stage Dive Book 1)

Wanna marry a rock star? Well that’s what non-glamorous, ordinary Evelyn Thomas did. 

Waking up in a drunken stupor on the bathroom floor may be a somewhat, ahem, typical college quandary, but not for this straight-as-an arrow girl celebrating her 21st birthday in Vegas.

Bleary-eyed and bewildered, Evelyn is blown away by the drop-dead handsome face of heartthrob rocker David Ferris and the dazzling ring which graces her finger as she awakens. Is it a dream, a nightmare, a hallucinogenic episode? No, it's her new reality, as wife to the dreamy musician of the band, Stage Dive. 

This sends the two into a multitude of hijinks including ducking from reporters, lascivious lawyers and avoiding their own feelings of mutual lust and inevitable compatibility. 

Scott’s catchy, tongue-in-cheek voice of her spunky and snarky heroine, Evelyn, perfectly complements David Ferris’ brooding, sentimental and gentle demeanor. 

Readers will enjoy devouring this quick-paced, rock-and roll novel that will leave them breathless and clamoring for a taste of the spotlight.

On the Beaches of Normandy: Picture Books to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day

Today is the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. To commemorate the bravery of the Allied Forces in their fight against the Nazi occupation, I've created a list of picture books pertaining to the 1940's and wartime events. 

Please click the following link to be brought to my early childhood education blog, glitterandgluesticksforever.blogspot.com to view the book list. 

http://glitterandgluesticksforever.blogspot.com/2014/06/on-beaches-of-normandy-picture-books.html

Golden Opportunity: Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow

What do you think of when you open up a Little Golden Book? Chances are you think of home cuddled up next to a favorite relative giddy to hear another story.

 Little Golden Books reflect hope, instill cheerfulness and  create a moral compass through charismatic and innately good characters which give this cold, cruel and sometimes downright rotten world a glimmer of safety and warmth.

Everything I Need to Know I Learned From A Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow  makes even the least sentimental and rigid personalities long for a hug from their mothers or reminds them of heartfelt past remembrances.

Each page contains a lovingly rendered illustration from some of Little Golden Books most cherished tales. A chubby little elephant from The Saggy Baggy Elephant greets you with an impish smile and children swirl across the pages in bright shades of blue, red and yellow in a gleeful parade.

The words inked and message spoken through a gentle and direct voice, speak of the importance of savoring life to its fullest, worrying less, and truly living.

One of my favorite sections of the book bears an image of two children strolling on a beach with the simple statement "look up". This alerts us to the fact that we live in a big world whose actions are beyond our control, but can be contained and enjoyed by just being present.

If you are looking for bibliophile's valium, you've found it. Leafing through this story gives readers a "golden" opportunity to be wowed by the little things in life.

Source: Amazon.com Image