Jim Harper Appreciation Again

Why Jim Harper is Perfect

Reason #5

He Sings and Plays Guitar,

Like the Sex God He Is!

A great demonstration of this is his performance in American Idiot the Musical of 

Whatsername by Green Day (undoubtedly this is more a John Gallagher Jr trait but still!)

Top Five Books by Monkey Fuss

Gone by Michael Grant

I can't just choose one book from this series so I am choosing to review the series as a whole ( it is all one story right?!). Gone by Michael Grant is one of those book series that you just never want to end. Sarah and I both fell into a book slump after reading the latest installment - Fear. We FEARed (ha- puns) that no book would live up to the incredibly high standards we had set after reading this series. I am also undecided as to whether I am keen for the last book to come out. I am so excited to read what happens but I am afraid that I will spiral into a severe depression when I realise that the series has ended *cries*. Gone centres around a small town where suddenly everyone over the age of 15 disappears. As the kids try and find the adults they soon realise that their town is encapsulated in a giant dome like bubble (or bubble like dome if you will). Needless to say -chaos ensues. This series has been likened to Lord of the Flies - and in many ways that is an accurate comparison - it certainly makes you feel all kinds of hatred towards the way in which some of the kids handle the situation. As the book continues - shit goes down. Kids start getting powers, weird creatures pop up, strange stuff starts happening to the dome - all of which leads to the division and breakdown of their little society. This book series should definitely become a movie/tv series - mostly I just want to see who they cast as Edilio. Here are a few of our choice predictions/hopes:

Luke Pasqualino

Ok so basically he is the only hope/prediction at this time...and he is too old to play Edilio but hey - a girl can dream right?

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

This is my all time favourite book. It is beautiful. I read this after seeing the movie which is usually the kiss of death as far as I am concerned. If I see the movie first I pretty much always prefer the movie and vice versa. This is one of those times when the book and the movie can be taken as completely separate entities. I liked the movie but it didn't even touch on the depth and beauty of the book, which is probably a good thing because it would have been difficult to achieve the same result in film.

The cinematography in the film is incredible

 This is the story of a young Jewish man, Jonathan, going to find a woman who may have helped save his grandfather during world war 2. He enlists the help of a guide and 'translator' (I use the term translator loosely) called Alex and they go off on a road trip with Alex's grandfather and their stinky dog. I relate to Jonathan's plight during the road trip as he finds it difficult to both find vegetarian food and deal with having a dog sit next to him in a car haha! Seriously though, this book travels through different settings and times to deliver a story that is truly touching in the way it deals with family, heritage and our shared experiences. Jonathan Safran Foer is excellent at writing stories that have the perfect combination of humor and sentimentality and this is my favourite.

Rhubarb by Craig Silvey

Craig Silvey has written two of my favourite books and it was so hard to choose between Rhubarb and Jasper Jones. In the end I went with Rhubarb because I found it so incredible to read a story that is set in a part of my city that I am so familiar with. I could see all of the places the main character Eleanor went to, even if she couldn't (Eleanor is blind). It must not seem like such a novelty to people who live in large cities in America or England but for someone who has never read a novel based in their hometown this is so surreal!

Eleanor drinks coffee at Gino's - a place I know-hooray!

 I occasionally find it difficult to stomach Australian characters both on screen and in books. I think it is because I do not particularly identify as quintessentially Australian myself. The characters in Silvey's novels are very well rounded and while they still display that rough as guts Australian style, they are also intelligent, sensitive and occasionally withdrawn, like the two main characters in Rhubarb. So many parts of both Rhubarb and Jasper Jones remind me of my own upbringing (family barbeques, games of cricket on the local oval etc). Rhubarb focuses on the lives of Eleanor and Ewan, two characters who lead solitary lives for different reasons. Eleanor is drawn to Ewan's house by the music of his cello and the progression of their relationship raises questions about the need for social interaction in human life and the role of both compromise and the senses in those interactions.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Wow I like a lot of world war 2 based books. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a definite page turner. It is interesting in the way that is is written (it is narrated by death) and it is a very sad read. It is one of those books that is is difficult to write about because the plot is fairly straight forward but it is the detail of the book and the sentiment that really draw you in. This is a must read book. I'm fairly sure this book is also being made into a film. Someone even put Tom Hardy on their dream cast list. I say hell yes to that!

Tom Hardy...because I can

The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

I know I said that it was rare for me to like a book more than a film if I have seen the film first but technically The Forsyte Saga was a mini series - so different rules apply haha. I probably enjoy both equally and I particularly like Damien Lewis' portrayal of Soames (even if he did creep the hell out of me as a kid). 

Being a pompous arse...with Soames

The Forsyte saga spans a few generations of the Forsyte family and the people connected to them. It shows the changes in attitude through the turn of the century (19th into 20th) and how modern ideals and lifestyles affect the stuffy British traditionalism which is the Forsyte trademark. Full of affairs, illegitimate children and bohemian black sheep the Forsyte Saga is a very long and very subtly written masterpiece which I particularly enjoy for its forays into the realms of ethics, equality and individualism especially in relation to one's family life.

In conclusion reading is awesome- get into it.

Top Pretty Little Liars Men

So one of our favourite TV shows is Pretty Little Liars based off the books by Sara Shepard. If you haven't seen it, it is about four girls (Hanna, Aria, Spencer and Emily) who's best friend Alison disappears and one year after she goes missing they start receiving messages from someone called "A". These messages talk about long buried secrets and proceed to blackmail and threaten the girls. Ok now that we have that synopsis out the way, let's get to the good stuff: the men of Pretty Little Liars. Those of you who have watched the show know about the generally high standard of attractive men on the show, now don't go thinking this is just going to be a shallow post (well it mainly will be) because there are also lots of character traits that make these men climb the ranks into:

Top 5 Men of Pretty Little Liars

(According to Monocle Wasp)

1.Toby Cavanaugh

Oh how I love Toby, let me count the ways.
He is the misunderstood, the loner, the outsider, the unfairly persecuted and the fall guy and he is a damn sweetheart. The first proper introduction we get to his character is when he saves Emily from her handsy boyfriend oh and how that set my heart a flutter. I also love his relationship with Spencer, they suit each other so well and have so many sweet scenes together, also he reads (just DAMN)

Favourite scene:  Toby is being taunted and avoided by the town who believes that he is Allisons murderer and no one is on his side. He  then goes down one of the towns alleys to cry, I have never wanted to reach into the screen and hug a character more! It is not that this scene made me happy but he just did it so beautifully and I love the song that goes with it.

2. Lucas Gottesman

 Oh Lucas, I have such a soft spot in my heart for this boy, he's the adorkable nerd who's awkward but not in a socially awkward penguin way but just in a super sweet guy way. Not to mention he looks just amazing wet, I know that sounds creepy but seriously who saw that episode where he is drenched from the rain in Hanna's room and takes off his hood to reveal THAT (see image above). I also love when he goes to grab Caleb, even though he loves Hanna, he just wants her to be happy even if it isn't with him *naaaaw*

Favourite Scene: Yeah it is going to be the scene where he shows up in Hannas room and does this amazing reveal.

3. Wren Kingston (aka Wren Kim in the books)

Just look at THAT I mean wouldn't he rate highly in any list you had for hot men? He's British, he's gorgeous, he reads, he's smart, he's thoughtful and did I mention British? He has a great knack for creating chemistry with whichever girl the writers head him towards, you have to love a man who closes in on the personal space between you without being creepy or awkward.

Favourite Scene: Wren drunk, with a plant, so much to love

4. Zack

 Oh Zack, you are one of the newest characters but also one of the hottest and most sweet. For those who've watched the show,wasn't it gorgeous when he brought that picnic into Ella's work for them to enjoy together and have a mid day date! He owns his own business, he has a smart and mature head on his shoulders (which is impressive for his age) and he knows how to woo a woman which is just so attractive. Also he wears leather jackets and not just in the way that they are part of his wardrobe, he WEARS them.

Favourite Scene: Having a mature conversation, like all well adjusted people should

5. Jason DiLaurentis

Ok so as you can tell my choosing of Jason is based a lot on superficial reasons but guuuurl look at that body, oh look at that body, he definitely works out. That hair is also pretty amazing, I love me some lucious locks and he definitely is showing off some Herbal Essence hair here. Not to mention he bring some great sexual tension into the show and he just oozes chemistry with Aria which is more than I can say for Ezra sometimes.

Favourite Scene: Jason being all romantic and declaring his feelings, you gorgeous bastard you!

Special Mentions

Ezra Fitz
Especially the first half of season 1 Ezra, so good and great hair!

Alex Santiago
He wasn't in it long but he seriously gets more attractive every time I see him :)

Top 5 Men of Pretty Little Liars
(According to Monkey Fuss)

1. Wren Kingston/Kim

Wren has that beautiful combination of a British accent, intelligence and a cheeky smile that make anyone melt into a puddle on the floor. Favourite Wren scene is definitely the one in which it is explained that he alphabetises his book collection. Not only does he read - but he has a COLLECTION of books. Books make any man sexy. End of story (ha!).

2. Caleb Rivers

Caleb is the "bad boy" of the bunch (though you wouldn't think it to look at his glossy hair and darling complexion). Favourite Caleb scene would have to be the one with him in the shower and Hannah just happens to have to hide in there with him. Hilarity and sexiness ensue.

3. Lucas Gottesman

Lucas is the cute misunderstood nerd who just happens to look glorious when wet. If the nerds at my school had had half of lucas' charm they would have been swimming in action. My favourite Lucas scene is obviously the wet Lucas scene haha.

4. Zack ( aka Ella's new toy boy)

This newcomer sure is looking promising. He bakes, he brings picnic lunches to Ella's (Aria's mum) work, he runs his own business. Basically he is the man I would marry out of the Pretty Little Liars men. We haven't seen that much of him yet though so we are just crossing our fingers that he sticks around and doesn't turn out to be shady...unless that shadiness comes with a big dose of black guyliner and tats.


5. Ezra Fitz

Ezra started out as our favourite. He is smart,a literature nerd and it doesn't hurt that he is a looker. Over the seasons he has become a little secretive and annoying but he is still on the list - mostly because of his absolute verbal smackdown with Aria's dad Byron which funnily enough is my favourite scene!