ML's Worth a Watch: A Man Called Ove

Last week I shared my review for the 2014 debut novel A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

In this bestselling and delightfully quirky debut novel from Sweden, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.
Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him "the bitter neighbor from hell." But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.
A feel-good story in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, Fredrik Backman’s novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful and charming exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. -Source

Just last year the book was adapted to a movie in its native Sweden. Although I haven't watched it yet myself, the trailer has really caught my interest and I hope to be able to see it soon.

Check it out below:

I think that I would get the emotional reaction from watching this movie, that I was hoping for with the book. This short clip seems to portray much more heart than the author was able to convey in his writing.

What do you think? Does the novel or the movie interest you? Leave me a message in the comments below. 

ML's Worth a Watch: The Shack Movie Trailer

One of the most profound books I have ever read is The Shack by Wm. Paul Young.

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

(Description from Goodreads)

At the time it was a book I never would have chosen for myself, but it was picked by my book club, so I reluctantly gave it a try. It was an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking reading experience and worthy of a 5 star rating. 

I recently learned that it has been turned into a movie staring Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, Radha Mitchell and Tim McGraw. Today I would like to share with you the movie trailer:

Personally I can't wait to see it and hope that it does the book justice. 

I'd love to know what you think.. 

Have you read The Shack? Does this look like a movie you would like to see? Leave me a comment below. 

Monthly Wrap-up: January 2017

Hello everyone and welcome to my January wrap-up. I hope you all had a wonderful month. For me it was quite busy with unpacking (we moved into a new place) and doctors appointments.

I am now in the third trimester of my pregnancy and feeling great. Time sure is flying by. We have started gathering baby items and I can't wait to start putting together my little boys nursery. 11 more weeks to go!

We had some very mild weather here in Ontario this past month. There were a couple of days with heavy fog, but now it is starting to get quite cold.

Last weekend we watched the movie X-Men: Apocalypse and it was pretty good. Normally I'm not into superhero movies, but for some reason I really enjoy this franchise. Here is the trailer:

Is it just me or does James McAvoy (Professor X) look like an 80's Paul McCartney? Quicksilver is definitely my favourite character in this movie though.

I completed 2 books in January, which isn't quite up to my monthly standard, but it I did get much more reading done this month than I have in a while.

Click the links below to read my reviews:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley 
Rating: 5/5
I loved this young adult contemporary novel about a teen who hasn't left his house in 3 years and the people who befriend him.
Favourite Part: The main character Solomon was wonderful. I was able to relate to so much in this book and re-read many parts several times.
Recommendations: I would recommend Highly Illogical Behavior to fans of young adult contemporary who are looking for a humerus novel that will make them reflect.

🌟🌟🌟.5 Skeletons in the Attic (A Marketville Mystery, #1) by Judy Penz Sheluk 
Rating: 3.5/5
This was an enjoyable mystery written by a local author. It follows a woman who inherits her childhood home and begins investigating the mysteries behind her mothers sudden disappearance.
Favourite Part: The author based the setting of this novel on a town that it nearby me. I enjoyed the familiar locations and also the Canadian references throughout.
Recommendations: I would recommend Skeletons in the Attic to those who enjoy mysteries that have a bit more meat to their bones than the typical cozy.

The Stats:

Total Number of Books Read: 2

Total Number of Fiction: 2

Total Number of Non-fiction: 0

Total Books Sent for Review Read: 1

Total Books Read From My Shelves: 0

Total Library Books Read: 1

Formats Read:

Physical Books: 1

eBooks: 1

Genres Read:

Young Adult: 1

Mystery: 1

Total Books Read in 2017: 2

A Race to Splendor by Ciji Ware is a historical fiction set after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. I had hoped to have this one finished to include in January's wrap-up, but I'm not quite there yet. It shouldn't take me too much longer though as I am really enjoying this story.

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4) by Rick Riordan is another one I was hoping to have finished by now. I am listening to it in audio format on my Overdrive app from my library and it expired before I got to the end. So now I'm on the waiting list to borrow it again. Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait.

• The Empress Holds the Key by Gabriel Farago (sent for review) 
• No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom, #1) by Elizabeth Ludwig

Did you do a monthly wrap-up? If so I'd love to check out your post, so leave me a message below and I will be sure to check it out. Hope you all have a wonderful (possibly romance filled) February. 

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