Different Eloquent Finds: Weekend Links and On My Shelf

By Saturday, August 15, 2015 , , , , ,

Today I’ve got a slight variation on “Eloquent Finds,” but as I thought about this idea, I liked it more and more. I’ve recently come across so many articles, videos, and photos that have lately graced the Internet and want to share the love! I’m also making headway on my reading list (who knows if I’ll ever actually finish it) and am excited to share a few reviews. So, right on time for the weekend, I hereby present new Internet happiness and books to check out. Enjoy and relax with all of these and more this weekend!

WEEKEND LINKS
Downton Abbey Cast Says Goodbye
Filming has wrapped for Downton Abbey’s sixth season (sniff!), and the cast has jumped on board with the hashtag #LastDaysOfDownton, posting numerous photos (some tearful!) on Instagram and Twitter to bid farewell to each other and the familiar sets. It’s emotional and heartwarming at the same time. We all love to see actors cast as a family acting like a family off-set too, and the Downton cast certainly does that! My favorites have appeared on the Instagram accounts of Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley) and Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates). A few nights ago at the BAFTA ceremony honoring the show, Miss Dockery even shared a picture of an old and dear Downton face we haven’t seen in a while! ;) Be still my beating heart!

Downton Abbey Cast at the BAFTA Tribute:
~Red Carpet Photos
~Cast Reunion & Videos
~Video
These actors know how to stun in the 21st century too. Past and present Downton cast members arrived on the red carpet in London for a special tribute to Downton Abbey from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). They all look fabulous, and in the videos, several actors also hint that the audience will be very pleased with the conclusion of the series, and we certainly hope they’re right! (I’m trusting you all, Jim, Laura, and Lily! :P)

Anne of Green Gables Themed Wedding
If you’ve not seen this yet (or hey, even if you have!), I dare you to try not to smile when you look at it. It is sweetness and innocence defined, and classic literary perfection brought to life. 

Modern Mrs. Darcy: 100 Dreams
Anne Bogel at Modern Mrs. Darcy is one of my new favorite bloggers. She obviously loves books and classic lit, and she also has many good insights on family, relationships, personality and emotion, and lifestyle issues. This recent post of hers is very thought-provoking and suggests a worthwhile practice. Still considering what it might look like for me! 

Ani Bundel: Poldark Headwear
Get ready to laugh for this one. This blogger wrote two extremely humorous posts on the abundance of headwear you see in Masterpiece’s new series, Poldark. There’s one for the women’s hats and ribbons, and another for the men’s hats and wigs. She not only is hilarious, but also draws attention to many details I hadn’t noticed before!

Desiring God: Pull the Mask off of Fear
Needed this one this week. Sometimes it’s difficult to see how fear manifests itself, or how much of a hold it has on you. It can also be hard to understand why fear can be so controlling. This article speaks wisely into all of those things. It’s helpful, convicting, and encouraging, and helps you think about the roots of your fear.

ON MY SHELF LATELY
The Help by Kathryn Stockett:
This was my recent accomplishment in the category of “been-meaning-to-read-that-one.” I’d heard the movie was good too and will watch it soon, but I’m so glad I read the book first! It’s one of my new favorites, mainly because of the three main characters and because of how well Kathryn Stockett tackles a difficult subject. Her writing is personal, humorous, emotional, and honest. I had a hard time picking a favorite character because the three primary ones are all so likable. Abilene, Skeeter, and Minny were all my friends by the end, and all for very different reasons. The personalities, fears, and joys of these women are well-known to the reader by the end, and they make you laugh, cry, and hope throughout the whole story. I intend to own this one soon for sure! Check it out here on Amazon.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand:
Another one I intend to own. The book tells the true story of Louie Zamperini, an Olympic athlete and then bomber pilot in World War II. Louie’s plane crashed in the Pacific, and he and two others survived, ending up drifting in a raft for over a month. They fought off sharks, caught fish and birds, and trapped rainwater to survive. When they finally reached land, Louie was then held as a prisoner of war in Japan for two years. Admittedly, I’d been initially uncertain about this one. WWII is not my favorite historical genre, so I didn’t prioritize it. But recently, a flight attendant friend of mine said she’d read it on a 9-hour flight without once setting it down, and that perked me up. A dynamic story will hold me, regardless of the setting, so I checked it out from the library, and then proceeded to devour every word of its 450+ pages in less than a week. I even read the lengthy author’s note in the back. Laura Hillenbrand’s writing is truly gripping and cinematic. Her descriptions are vivid and the characters’ emotions are raw and heart-wrenching. Though the book is basically a documentary, it’s unbelievably engaging. The research is impressively thorough, and the volume of information included could have easily made it read like a textbook, but it is a compelling page-turner. The story is inspiring, humbling, and is a remarkable testimony to the strength and resilience of the human spirit and will. I couldn’t put it down and wept like a baby at the end. Can’t recommend it highly enough!  

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr:
This is my current read. Haven’t gotten very far, but I’m becoming intrigued. Set in World War II, it follows two primary characters. Marie-Laure is a young blind girl from Paris, and her father works for the Museum of Natural History there, and the museum holds a stunning jewel said to have mysterious powers. Meanwhile, in Germany lives a young orphan boy named Werner with a special talent for building and fixing radios. His gift leads him to a place with the Hitler Youth, and as the war progresses, these two characters’ stories meet dramatically. At least I’m expecting so :) If you’ve read it, hit me up and we can have a nerd-out when I’m finished. 

That's all for now! Happy weekend, one and all.

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