Lovely Books and Things - 6.1.19

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update
Linking up with:
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

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HAPPY THINGS:

1. Upcoming birthday treats, next week :-)

2. Started volunteer usher duties for this week's SF International Arts Festival (here).

3. Despite the crowds, my 4th visit to see the Monet: the Late Years at the deYoung museum.


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Bought:

Miracle Creek
by Angie Kim
-Mystery, Korea | Goodreads

Diary of a Murderer:
And Other Stories
by Young-Ha Kim
-Short Stories, Korea | Goodreads
POST CAAMfest, I am feeling like getting into more Asian related stories with these two.

Shadows on the Lake
(Commissario Stefania Valenti #1)
by Giovanni Cocco, Amneris Magella
-Mystery, Historical, Italy, Lake Como | Goodreads
FOR face-to-face group, Foreign Mystery Book Club, June pick.


Author event:

The Bindery hosted a reading and Q&A for Penguin Classics Asian American Writers Series with Karen Tei Yamashita and Elaine Castillo.

Karen read her Introduction from...

No-No Boy
by John Okada
-Historical, 1950s, Japanese American | Goodreads

Elaine read her Forward from...

America Is in the Heart: A Personal History
by Carlos Bulosan
-Memoir, 1940s, Filipino | Goodreads

The authors current releases:

I Hotel
by Karen Tei Yamashita
-Historical, Short Stories, SF Chinatown | Goodreads

America Is Not the Heart
by Elaine Castillo
-Historical, Filipino American | Goodreads

Library:

The Lost Girls of Paris
by Pam Jenoff
-Historical Fiction, WWII, Paris | Goodreads
FOR online International Book Club, June pick.


AND watched: in theatre

Walking On Water (2018)
Director: Andrey Paounov
-Documentary, Adventure, Comedy | imdb | my rating: 5
Ten years after the passing of his wife and creative partner, Jeanne-Claude, renowned environmental artist Christo sets out to realize The Floating Piers, a project they conceived together many years before. We follow his visionary quest to install a wide golden walkway floating across the scenic Italian alpine Lake Iseo, looking like a heavenly dream but sturdy enough to support hundreds of thousands of people. Christo, now in his eighties, and Vladimir Yavachev, his stalwart director of operations, are passionate and stubborn about getting everything right despite bad weather, burdensome bureaucracy and a turnout of thousands more people than were expected.

Funny at times, inspiring, and breathtakingly beautiful, WALKING ON WATER takes the viewer on an intimate journey into Christo’s world amid mounting insanity—from complex dealings between art and state politics to engineering challenges, logistical nightmares, and the sheer force of mother nature. Through spectacular aerial views and fly-on-the-wall camerawork, we watch the artist’s extraordinary vision unfold, and get to know the man chasing it. Directed by Christo’s fellow countryman, Bulgarian Andrey M. Paounov.

I was in awe of the appearance of artist, Christo, at the screening of this documentary at the Opera Plaza theatre. He spoke about his piece, The Floating Piers installed at Lake Iseo near Brescia, Italy in June 18, 2016 to July 3, 2016.

Found out the color they always use is Yellow Dahlia.

Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Director: Nahnatchka Khan
Writers: Michael Golamco, Randall Park, Ali Wong
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Ali Wong, Miya Cech
-Comedy, Romance | imdb | my rating: 5
A pair of childhood friends end up falling for each other when they grow up.

ALL around feel good film with hilarious moments. Loved that San Francisco and food were characters as well.

This Vogue theatre screening included a Q&A with director, Nahnatchka Khan and actors, Ali Wong and Randall Park and special guest Dan the Automator.

We have to keep hush hush on the appearance of a certain special guest actor in the film. Just want to say, the person was part of the hilarious moments.


AND watched: on DVD

Just My Luck
Director: Donald Petrie
Screenplay: I. Marlene King, Amy Harris
Story by: Jonathan Bernstein, Mark Blackwell, James Greer, I. Marlene King
Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Chris Pine
-Comedy, Fantasy, Romance | imdb | my rating: 5
FUN, funny and cute ;-)

Miss Zombie (2013)
Director/Writer: SABU
Stars: Makoto Togashi, Ayaka Komatsu, Tateto Serizawa
-Horror, Zombies, Japan | imdb my rating: 5
A Japanese family acquires an undead domestic servant whose presence begins to effect their daily lives.

BEAUTIFUL zombie film. Really. It was shot in black and white with a splash of color in one scene which created the perfect dramatic effect. Low level "pet" zombies, provided you do not feed them meat!

*** Happy Zombie Awareness month ***

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* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Thanks for stopping by :-)

I Have The Right To Destroy Myself by Young-Ha Kim

I Have The Right To Destroy Myself
by Young-Ha Kim
translated by Chi-Young Kim

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt
Website
Facebook

Published: 2007
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Genre: Korea, Mystery
Paperback: 119 pages
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
I'm looking at Jacques-Louis David's 1793 oil painting, The Death of Marat, printed in an art book. The Jacobin revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat lies murdered in his bath. His head is wrapped in a towel, like a turban, and his hand, draped alongside the tub, holds a pen.

"I don't encourage murder. I have no interest in one person killing another. I only want to draw out morbid desires, imprisoned deep in the unconscious. This lust, once freed, starts growing. Their imaginations run free, and they soon discover their potential... They are waiting for someone like me."

A spectral, nameless narrator haunts the lost and wounded of big-city Seoul, suggesting solace in suicide. Wandering through the bright lights of their high-urban existence, C and K are brothers who fall in love with the same woman - Se-yeon. As their lives intersect, they tear at each other in a struggle to find connection in their fast-paced, atomized world.

Dreamlike and cinematic, I Have the Right to Destroy Myself brilliantly affirms Young-ha Kim as Korea's leading young literary master.

My two-bits:

Artsy feel to this one with a grim reaper feel to it.

Although I read this to get a sense of Korea, the story is one that speaks to all in regards to life and living and could have very well taken place anywhere in the world.

About the author:

Young-ha Kim was born in Hwacheon. He moved from place to place as a child, since his father was in the military. As a child, he suffered from gas poisoning from coal gas and lost memory before ten. He was educated at Yonsei University in Seoul, majoring business administration, but he didn't show much interest in it. Instead he focused on writing stories. Kim, after graduating from Yonsei University in 1993, began his military service as an assistant detective at the military police 51st Infantry Division near Suwon. His career as a professional writer started in 1995 right after discharge.

Kim previously worked as a professor in the Drama School at Korean National University of Arts and on a regular basis hosted a book-themed radio program. In autumn 2008, he resigned all his jobs to devote himself exclusively to writing. He currently lives in Seoul, Korea.

Stacking the Shelves - 1.30.16

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

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Bought:

K-Pop Now!:
The Korean Music Revolution
by Mark James Russell
-Non-fiction, Korea, Music
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> Got this for the basic intro to Kpop music.

Freebie: PDF

The Book of Yes
by Sarah Von Bargen
-Inspiration
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Goodreads | Website -get yours
The Book Of Yes is 51 pages of checklists, tips, and journaling prompts that will help you:
Travel more
Meet more people + strengthen your friendships
Be more intentional with your spending
Stop dating the wrong people
Treat yourself (in ways that don't involve shopping or food)
Actually enjoy winter
Get what you want

=====> Looks like a fun one to start the new year with. It includes lots of lists perfect for list lovers ;-)

Freebie: for kindle

Shearwater
by Derek Murphy
-Fantasy, Mermaids, YA
courtesy of author - Thanks!
Amazon -get yours | Goodreads -giveaway ends 2/4 | (Giveaway for Mermaid Lovers) -ends 2/4
=====> Adding this to my summer reading list. Who could resist mermaids?

Library:

I Have The Right To Destroy Myself
by Young-Ha Kim
-Korea, Mystery, Art
Amazon | Goodreads
"I don't encourage murder. I have no interest in one person killing another. I only want to draw out morbid desires, imprisoned deep in the unconscious. This lust, once freed, starts growing. Their imaginations run free, and they soon discover their potential... They are waiting for someone like me."

A spectral, nameless narrator haunts the lost and wounded of big-city Seoul, suggesting solace in suicide. Wandering through the bright lights of their high-urban existence, C and K are brothers who fall in love with the same woman - Se-yeon. As their lives intersect, they tear at each other in a struggle to find connection in their fast-paced, atomized world.

Dreamlike and cinematic, I Have the Right to Destroy Myself brilliantly affirms Young-ha Kim as Korea's leading young literary master.

=====> This starts my exploration into reading books by Korean authors. Feel free to send me any recommendations of other Korean authors or fiction that takes place in Korea.

UNBOXING:

From Owlcrate package (details & signup):
OwlCrate is a subscription service that sends you magical monthly boxes tailored to a chosen theme. Each OwlCrate will contain one new Young Adult novel, as well as 3-5 other bookish treats to help you get your nerd on. @owlcrate

JANUARY Box includes:
- Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley
- Letter from author, Lena Coakley
- Paper doll kit
- Funko POP figure, full-size, Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter collection
- Patronus Lip Balm from Geek Fire Labs
- Bookmark inspired by The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater from Evie Bookish
- Art print inspired by Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas from Evie Bookish

=====> Dolls :-) Fun box for the kiddie in me!

Worlds of Ink and Shadow
by Lena Coakley
-Historical, Fantasy, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings have always been inseparable. After all, nothing can bond four siblings quite like life in an isolated parsonage out on the moors. Their vivid imaginations lend them escape from their strict upbringing, actually transporting them into their created worlds: the glittering Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy Gondal. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as their characters—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go.

Gorgeously written and based on the Brontës’ juvenilia, Worlds of Ink & Shadow brings to life one of history’s most celebrated literary families.

=====> Loving and looking forward to this Brontë theme.

AND watched: in theatre, Oscar nominees

Big Short (2015)
Director: Adam McKay
Screeplay by: Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
Based on book: The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling
-Biography, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
Four denizens in the world of high-finance predict the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s, and decide to take on the big banks for their greed and lack of foresight.

=====> Great historical piece for those of us who are a bit clueless as to what (and how) happened during this time period.

Carol (2015)
Director: Todd Haynes
Screenplay by: Phyllis Nagy
Based on book: The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson
-Drama, Romance, LGBTQ | imdb | my rating: 5
An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman.

=====> Lovely. Beautiful shots. Tugs at the heart.

The Hateful 8 (2015)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Screenplay by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
-Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Western | imdb | my rating: 4
In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters.

=====> Truly hateful. Tribute to the genre with Tarantino style violence. Cool film-making with shots taking place in mostly one room.

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* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways offers