Iron Man 3 Review

Image Courtesy of Collider.com

• Director: Shane Black
• Producer: Kevin Feige
• Screenplay: Drew Pierce
• Based On: Iron Man Comics
• Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley

Plot: Taking place after the events that occurred in The Avengers, Iron Man 3 jumps between 1999 when Tony Stark fails to show up to a meeting with a Scientist named Aldrich Killian  and present day where a new threat by the name of the Mandarin is causing chaos and threatening the United States of America. In between the threat of the Mandarin, Killian who is no longer disabled has created a regenerative treatment which has extreme flaws and is causing havoc as well. Meanwhile ever since the events that took place in New York Tony Stark has been suffering anxiety attacks which has not only caused him to become an insomniac, but it has also put a strain on his relationship with Pepper Potts, his girlfriend. With so much danger around him, will Iron Man be able to respond and safe the world again?

Warning: This Review Contains Spoilers and will probably come across as a rant, so I do apologize in advance. 

My In Transit Story

Hi Everyone!

I hope you’re having a wonderful Wednesday! My friend Lillian over at High, High, Higher is doing a series called In Transit Stories and was nice enough to ask me to participate in it. My story is titled What Do I Do and it’s been published on her blog now. Feel free to read it and check out Lillian’s blog because she’s awesome .

Cheers,

Savindi

Bookish Haul of Awesomeness Numero Nueve

Hi Everyone! I hope all of you are having a great Tuesday! Unfortunately for us the weather has gotten cold again, but I really shouldn’t complain because my mom is suffering in the heat in Sri Lanka at the moment. Anyways this is my first book haul of the month! It’s quite a small one considering I only bought this book, but I wanted to share it with you guys anyways!

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

I’m really excited to read this book. It seems like one that I would probably enjoy more than TFioS. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and I just adore the cover. It’s probably going to become one of my favourites covers of the year.

That’s it from me for this post. Have you read this book? Did you buy any new books this month?

Cheers,

Savindi

Musings On What Makes You The Reader You Are

Image Courtesy of Funderstanding.com

Lottie from BookAdoration wrote a really great post about what makes you pick up a book and it got me thinking about what makes you the reader you are and how does it shape your attraction to certain types of books. I think your personality is a given as to how you gravitate towards specific genres and authors, but I think your life experiences also help to guide you to certain books, authors and genres. As I started to think about it, I’ve changed as a reader in the last four/ five years. When I was younger living abroad I did read Enid Blyton’s books , Sweet Valley Twins/High, Classics, Babysitter’s Club, Nancy Drew and Three Investigators. I have a personal attachment to Enid Blyton’s books because my parents read them when they were younger and her stories were beautiful in their simplicity. I didn’t grow up with internet abroad and to this day I have no problem with it because it forced me to be outdoors and read more. Harry Potter of course was a big part of my childhood because all my friends were reading it and I wanted to see what the fuss was about and well you know I have absolutely no regrets about that!

That being said after coming to Canada was probably the real realization that I had about the horrors of war. I had experienced them, maybe on a lesser scale than most people had, but my experiences are my own and I became desensitized to bombings and assassinations that happened around the world because of my own experiences. When you live through it day in day out, you just get used to it. There’s nothing for you to do but survive. When I lived abroad I lived in the heart of the city and  when I came to Canada one of the hardest things to get used to in suburbia was the silence. It was almost like I could hear the silence in a weird way. I wasn’t used to it. But then after coming here I started to read more serious books even though they were meant for children. I started to read books about Native Americans and the problems they face because it’s an issue that I’m passionate about. I first studied the Holocaust in Grade 8 and I read books on that and continued to do so when I took a course on it in grade 12. Even in High School because of the classes that I took I can’t say that I really read any ‘fluff’ books. Most of them were serious ones and I enjoyed them a lot.

In University probably the most light-hearted books I read were for my Children’s Lit class and Women in 18th/19th Literature class. Everything else was pretty much to do with politics, history, the Middle East, conflict etc. So I guess taking such courses  has changed my worldview to the point where it makes me question my faith in humanity which currently borders at the zero scale. It was actually in University that I got introduced to reading YA thanks to a friend of mine who is a John Green Fan. Looking For Alaska was my first YA read and since then I’ve read a lot of YA. However interestingly enough even though I’ve read some ‘fluffy’ YA books, I can’t say that my heart was always in it. By nature I’m a serious person.  It doesn’t mean that I don’t have fun or I let lose. I do have one, probably not the same way as others  so my personality dictates what I read.  I think my own personal experiences play a role in as to why I don’t enjoy reading a lot of ‘Fluffy’ books because I know that life doesn’t work out that way and life is much more complicated than what is portrayed in fiction. Interestingly y I’ve gifted people with Anna and the French Kiss a lot and most of them have really liked it and I often get asked when I’m going to read it? And while I just say someday, in truth I know that I’ll never read it. It’s just not my thing and I know it’s probably going to be a book that I actually do chuck across the room. When I read books, sometimes I pick at every little thing and I feel like Anna and the French Kiss going to get that from me. From what friends have told me I’m probably not going to like Anna which doesn’t bode well and I probably will not swoon over St.Clair like most people, so I’m most likely going to stay away from this book. However I did enjoy Dash and Lily’s book of dares a lot so my logic is probably flawed somewhere. 

In the last few months/last year I gravitated towards reading a lot more serious books that focused on things that I care about and it’s been that way for sometime. Here and there I’ll read books that are probably not what I usually read. Most of you know that I’m trying to branch out with my reading even though YA is quite an addicting genre. Lately  I’ve been interested in reading books that focus on either people in different countries or the immigrant experience. Isabel Allande is a recent discovery in my author encyclopedia (I don’t have one in real life, let’s just pretend there’s one up in my head) and she has a new book out called Maya’s Notebook which I’m really excited to read. It seems like a story I will enjoy because I do enjoy serious books a lot more. Even after reading books like The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang which is an incredibly emotionally disturbing book I still couldn’t go back and read something light and fluffy. I ended up reading something more serious. I’ve always been told that I’m mature for my age and I always have been. I can’t say that it’s a bad thing because that would be saying my whole personality is a failure, but  it’s who I am and I don’t have a problem with that. It’s what has shaped my reading choices and that’s probably how it’ll always be. 

What about you guys? What makes you the reader you are? Do you have any specific moments where your reading habits changed?

Have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Savindi

 

Now We Say Goodbye To Fergie Time- A Tribute To Sir Alex Ferguson

Image courtesy of The Telegraph

I normally try to keep the content of this blog about books and other things to do with the literacy community, but this is something I have to say because not only as a Manchester United supporter, but also as a fan of Football. The landscape of this sport is forever changed now.It won’t be the same anymore.

Goodbye to Fergie Time

I don’t know if the phrase “You don’t choose the club, the club chooses you” is an official one, but it clearly is for me. I never chose to support Manchester United, but it did break into my heart when I wasn’t even expecting it. Boy am I glad it did, because the rush of euphoria is something to be reckoned with. Throughout lives of those who support Manchester United there have been constant changes whether it be the birth of a new family member or the death of a family member, marriage, work all of those happened. But Sir Alex Ferguson always remained. If there was one certainty we could all look for it was that our ‘Fergie’ would remain to guide the ship of Manchester United to the pinnacle of Football Glory season in season out. The one day we all lived to dread was the day that he would choose to walk away. Walk away from magnificent dynasty he created for the past 27 years. Sir Alex Ferguson, possibly British Football’s greatest manager steps down from his throne at Old Trafford at the end of the season.

I had heard the rumours and it even appeared in The Telegraph, but that’s what I thought it was, just another rumour. I mean everybody has been speculating when he would leave, but knowing Fergie it’s always been best to cross the bridge when you come to it. What if you don’t know how to cross that bridge? This is a man you’ve known your entire life, I mean he was in charge of Manchester United since your brother was born. How do you learn to let go of a man who has remained at the helm of the club you support for pretty much your entire lifetime. How do you say Good-bye? I don’t think any of us who support Manchester United know the correct answer to that question. Sir Alex Ferguson has been Manchester United and this day is probably more’ painful than when we lost the title to Manchester City last season. Some people might even say “why do you care so much? United will find another manager” that’s where people are wrong. We’re not a club that chops and changes managers like you eat hot cakes. We’re a club about tradition, stability, longevity, emotion and attacking football. We’ve had one manager for the past 27 years and look at what we’ve won: 13 league titles, 2 Champion’s League Titles, 5 Fa Cup, 4 League Cups, 10 Community Shields, 1 Club World Cup, 1 Cup Winner’s Club, 1 Intercontinental Cup. That is the success United fans have been spoiled with for the last 27 years. We don’t know how to accept defeat anymore and defeat is going to be a strange thing in the coming seasons.

I remember when my dad told me about the Munich Air Disaster which took the lives of the 8 of the Busby Babes- a team built on youth  with an emphasis on attacking football by Sir Matt Busby in 1958. I was shocked by the tragedy and digged deeper about it. My dad then said it’s that tragedy that drives United forward. It is tragedy that gave a sense of meaning and a duty to the club. I can’t even imagine what it was like for Sir Matt Busby to think of himself as one of the survivors of that crash. But then United rose from the ashes. My dad is fond of saying that “We’re the club that rose from the ashes” and from the ashes we’ve risen to great heights. But that pain is something all United fans feel whether you were born in 2000 or in the 1950′s. Pain is something that has united this club. This is why we’re Manchester United. I remember watching United and being so mesmerized by the beauty of their football. It was just flowing. Through the Ferguson era, there have been true legends such as Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Ronaldo these are all players who have shined on the stage of football thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson.

What do you tell a man who has given football and you as a supporter so much? I don’t know if a simple “Thank You” is enough. But that’s all I could say. Thank You for the beautiful football, for the success, for the rollercoaster of emotions throughout the season. Thank you for giving my dad and I something to share. Thank You for all of that. Manchester United will miss you. I can’t picture Sundays without you in the dugout, but I’m glad to know you’ll be staying on as a director. I always wanted to take my dad to Old Trafford when you were in charge, but it looks like that won’t happen. But I will make it to the Theatre of Dreams one day. Maybe I’ll see you too.

Sir Alex Ferguson is a special person. When special people take a walk in life, you know they’re special because they have an aura about them. Fergie has that. He was a strong character and boy could he be ruthless. But he was a fearless leader and he loved Manchester United. No one can argue with that. If he wasn’t any of those things he’d never endure the changed landscape of football. But he has and no one will repeat that longevity in the modern game in my lifetime. I wouldn’t want him to be any other way.

I hope you enjoy your retirement and as cliché as it sounds we’ve all truly appreciated everything you’ve ever done for the club. We may not have agreed on your decisions sometimes, but we always trusted you.

And now we say good-bye to the man from Govan, Scotland.

Fergie Time now draws to a close

Thank You

A Manchester United Fan.

Book Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter (Heist Society # 1)

All Images Courtesy of Goodreads

From Goodreads

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s history–and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

It’s a Messy Affair: Food Adventures of The Streetlight Reader Part VI

I’m back again and before you think I’m baking up a storm, this is what I baked two weeks ago before my dad got back from being overseas. I baked Mini-Pineapple Upside Down Cakes. Well I always suspected that they wouldn’t last until he came because my brother and I just dived right into them. Plus there was only a dozen so you can’t really expect them to last for a long time. The recipe I used is from A Beautiful Mess and you can find the recipe here. After seeing the mouthwatering photographs I really wanted to make these cakes. Plus we have A LOT of Pineapple in our house, so might as well make use of them.

My Adventure

1. DO NOT leave the brown sugar syrup on the stove for too long- so the recipe said that you should wait till the syrup thickens and well I waited way too long. My first attempt at making the brown sugar syrup which goes on the bottom of the cake pan was literally so burnt that it stuck to the saucepan. Luckily I had extra brown sugar and butter left so I was able to have a go at round two and it was much better and well I was able to use it.
2. Never wear dark colours or white while baking- this applies to anytime you’re baking whether it be with chocolate or any other substance. I think I changed my t-shirt twice because I got flour all over one and then I think some cherry syrup. It’s definitely not fun when that happens and it frustrates you to no end.
3. Don’t use a spatula to stir batter Savindi, just use one of the larger spoons- you would think that I would learn this after having a run of baking under my belt. Well apparently I haven’t because I was using a spatula to stir the mixed batter and my hand was so tired. And suddenly I couldn’t believe how stupid I was to not even think to use a spoon instead. Nevertheless a spoon is much more versatile and easier on the hand.
4. Read the recipe carefully- okay for this recipe it didn’t really matter because I mixed up one of the steps where you have to include the pineapple juice. It still turned out okay, but another attempt at another recipe may not be so kind to me.
5. You don’t actually have to use whiskey to bake these cakes- The recipe says to use Whiskey, but I don’t drink alcohol nor does our house have alcohol so this was definitely out of the question. It’s safe to say that the cakes turned out quite well without the whiskey. However I guess if there was whiskey there might be a stronger taste? I don’t know since I’ve never had whiskey before.
6. Don’t include a lot of cake batter in each cup- I almost ran out of batter for one cup because I put too much cake batter in the others. Try not to do this because literally trying to get the cakes out of the muffin tray can become a pain. Your cakes might be big, but there’s a good chance the pineapple will be disconnected from the cake when you try to get them out.
7. Final verdict A dozen delicious cakes which are really great for tea or any kind of gathering

Pineapples and Cherries with brown sugar syrup at the bottom

Cake Batter- It tasted delicious

Muffin Tray filled with cake batter.

Final Product- No I didn’t eat the rest, I just had no room on the plate