amelia_petkova

Tonight was a bit of a disappointment but while driving, I did end up behind a car whose license plate said "4 NARNIA". The one time that I've found myself liking a vanity plate!

I've owned the DVD for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for several years but I didn't get around to watching any of the commentaries until now. This morning I started the audio commentary with Andrew Adamson (the director), William Moseley (Peter), Anna Popplewell (Susan), Skandar Keynes (Edmund), and Georgie Henley (Lucy). It's a riot; the kids tease each other just like real siblings would. So far I've watched up through the scene where Edmund meets the White Witch. Highlights:

--Georgie was completely terrified of horses in the beginning (where Mrs. Macready fetches the Pevensie children in a cart) and somebody told her not to make any sudden movements, or the horse would attack.
--Difficulties because Skandar grew at least 5 inches while shooting the film.
--Georgie had to eat real sardines during the scene at Mr. Tumnus's (James McAvoy) house and was completely grossed out.
--For the scene when Lucy enters Narnia for the first time, Georgie was blindfolded and bodily carried across to the set, where she saw the winter wood.
--The Pottymouth Bucket. Every time somebody swore and Georgie heard them, that person had to put $2 into a bucket they kept on set. Once, William's cell phone went off while they were filming and he had to pay because he swore; then he had to pay even more because the others didn't like his ring tone.
--Teasing Skandar about having a crush on Tilda Swinton while filming the scene with the White Witch.
--In the process of filming the above scene, Skandar ended up eating about 36 very large pieces of (real) Turkish Delight. I've had Turkish Delight and though it's very good, I can understand why he felt sick at the end of that.

xkcd accurately summarizes the majority of children's fantasy in three panels. Too true. I'm surprised children's fantasy hasn't revolted.

Without even trying hard, I can think of (to varying degrees of accuracy--the children are kicked out of the world they discovered):
--The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
--The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
--Seaward by Susan Cooper
--Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Here in western New York, middle of the day, it's snowing again. (After it all melted yesterday because the temperature was 45 degrees Fahrenheit at 10 p.m., what the hell?!) Very pretty at this point, pretty flurries that aren't too windy, and it's even more enjoyable because I don't have to go anywhere. Looking out on it, I want to spend all afternoon writing next to a window with a view, or go roaming in woods (possibly feeding chickadees at the same time, as they're the world's cutest and cheekiest birds), or make snow angels. It reminds me of my current writing project, which is very much winter-oriented.

What are your favorite wintry books, movies, or music? There's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen, of course.

Good Christmas music can be found on the albums "Mistletoe and Wine" by the Mediaeval Babes; "To Drive the Cold Winter Away," "A Winter Garden," and "A Midwinter Night's Dream" by Loreena McKennitt (though I haven't listened to the last one yet).

On days like this, when there's just enough snow and still other colors in the world, I can love winter.

EDIT: Everyone's suggestions in the comments added. Also, the novel Winter Rose by Patricia A. McKillip. The book is both lovely and haunting.

I was looking at information about Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader on imdb.com and the plot outline ends as so: "Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world." My immediate reaction was, Chronicles of Narnia: At World's End! The crew of the Dawn Treader encounters plenty of strange things in that book but as far as I can recall, undead pirates are not on the list.

Still no word on who is doing the voice of Reepicheep. (pouts)

The other day half of my group went on a walking tour of Valencia´s historical area district (aka Barrio del Carmen). Afterwards I was walking back to the metro stop and came across a bookstore. (Squee! The fact that I´m not fluent in Spanish isn´t at all a deterrent. Whee.) After picking out some postcards I went poking through the children´s section, thinking that would be a good place to begin reading.

Result: The purchase of the Spanish translation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe . I won´t understand half of what is written, but at least I know the gist of what is happening, C.S. Lewis has a simple writing style, and it will be good practice for reading out loud. Part of me insists that I was just feeling the effects of new-book deprivation. (Notice that I am not denying it.) Shopping can be so entertaining.

I apologize if there are typos; I´m still adjusting to Spanish keyboards.