The Fantastical and Felicitous Character Blog Tag

Well, today I have another tag for you all!

I have been tagged by Natalie for this one, so thank you!! :) Let's dive right in...I'm eager to get this done because it's all about fictional characters...and I always love talking about them. :D

Rules:
•Answer every question honestly. 
•Use as many gifs and images as possible. *ehehehe*
•Incorporate at least one YouTube video with a favorite scene of a character.
•NO VAGUE ANSWERS ALLOWED. Explain why you chose that favorite character to fit that description. I love details, my friends.
•If you can’t choose just one, that’s okay – give us a few answers and geek out if that’s what it takes.
•Tag at least 3 people.
•Use fictional characters from any fictional story.
•If you get nominated and/or decide to participate in this tag, please put a link back to this post in your post and credit yours truly (Emily at The Altogether Unexpected, *whose original post is excellent*) as the creator.
•Have fun and obsess over fictional characters! 

*consults Pinterest, my bookshelf, and the furthest reaches of my movie-watching history*

Goody-two-shoes: A character who was just so morally good

Good old Mr. Knightley...he is such a GOOD person that the extent of his goodness is almost unrealistic, if you know what I mean. Of course, I still think he's a wonderful character. He is always watching out for everyone at once, but isn't afraid to give people what-for if they are being stupid. ("Badly done, Emma!") And when he dances with Harriet at the ball, when nobody else dances with her and she's so lonely....awwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heartbreaker: A character who made you cry?

I am ashamed to admit this, but Miguel and Mama Coco from Pixar's Coco made me sob like a BABY. It was so beautiful but also so heartbreaking, and I love it...the way he simply picks up the guitar and sings, and how she remembers it....*sobbing* It really hit home. 

*weeping*

Parrot: A character who won’t stop talking

Holdo (she doesn't even deserve the title of "admiral" or "vice-admiral") from The Last Jedi. 

Now, she doesn't talk and talk and talk in the sense that Sid the Sloth does. But when she DOES talk, she takes things way too far. She says the wrong things at the wrong time and refuses to tell people the right things, the things that would help their situation. For instance...had she told Poe what her real plan was, he wouldn't have gone gangsta on her. Instead, she insulted him to his face and told him to leave. So rude. 

Devilish: Your favorite villain

Aw yessss!! I enjoy well-written villains, and there are a plethora. Saruman, Loki, Iago...I know the original post had Iago, so I won't steal that, though.  And even though Loki is is Fantastic, I think I'm going to be a little bit unconventional and pick...Megamind. 

Now, I know that TECHNICALLY, Megamind turned good in the end..."he was just a silly and misunderstood person," you may say. 

However, hear me out:  at the beginning of the movie, he is breaking out of prison, where he is supposed to serve multiple life sentences. We aren't sure exactly what he has done, but things have been blown up, Roxanne Ritchie has been kidnapped many, many times, and everybody knows that Megamind is a terrible villain. As soon as their hero is gone, they stop treating him like a joke, and we see the city in terrible ruin after Megamind takes control. 

Therefore, he is, in fact, a villain - a SUPER one.

Love interest: A character who, if alive in reality, you would want to marry

Now, this is a tricky one. Before I answer, let me make it clear that I am married, have been since last July, and there is no fictional character EVER who I would choose over my dear husband, who is a fantastic individual and my favorite person. Not if I had a chance to make a character real would I choose another man to marry. 

So, with that being said...

I'm currently studying the movie Interstellar for a screenwriting class and falling more in love with the film every time I watch it or read the screenplay or do any research. Cooper (which is his last name but they never use his first, which is, we think, Joseph) is simply a wonderful character. He's not a simple character, but the way that he loves his children!!! *sniffs heavily* I know he's not a "conventional heartthrob," but I have a soft spot for characters who are good fathers and loyal husbands. Cooper wears his dead wife's wedding ring all throughout the movie, sacrifices himself to save his kids, and is a super intelligent, down-to-earth guy. 

(Quick side note...my actual, real husband is also a loyal, intelligent, down-to-earth guy....HMMMM)

Here are two of my favorite scenes from the movie to illustrate--the first one is just before he sets off on a mission in space to save the world. The second is when he has been in space for over 20 years (due to time relativity and wormholes, I won't get into it, but now he and his daughter are the same age galaxies apart) and now gets to see the messages collected for him. You can see his love for his children on his face, and it's heartbreaking. (his angry daughter calls him something rude in the second one, and I apologize for that) 

"I love you forever, you hear me? I love you forever...and I'm comin' back." 

Sidekick: A character who was always loyal no matter what

:) :) :) :) 

Honestly, John Watson is THE SWEETEST and most noble, loyal sidekick ever. Yes, he grumps about Sherlock and is often annoyed, but he's always there, ready to help out. And this isn't just in Sherlock (I just happen to like Martin Freeman's Watson the best of all the Watsons), this is in every (almost) iteration of John Watson I have seen: annoyed, frustrated, but still always there to give a selfless helping hand. I found this picture of Sherlock and Watson in Tim Burton-esque art, and I thought it was rather well done. 

Complicated: A character you love and hate

Jack Sparrow...mainly because of his moral ambiguity. I mean, he is a pirate...a criminal, thief, drunkard, womanizer...but then, in the end, he always turns around and does something unexpectedly kind and Good. Plus, he's just absolutely hilarious, quirky, and fun, and I do love characters like that. 

Queen: A female character who you admire and aspire to emulate

Minerva McGonagall!!!! She really is a fantastic person...one of the only really great characters in the Harry Potter series, honestly. She's clever, strong, confident, a good teacher, and, although stern, has a soft heart underneath a tough exterior. 

Plus, her snarky sarcasm is absolutely the best...I can only hope to be such a clever and revered old woman someday. 

Savior: A character who oddly reminds you of Christ

Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities. The end of the book is a beautiful one, worthy of a few shed tears. Now, the thing is, Sydney isn't a "good" person. In most of the book, he is one of the least Christ-like characters in the story. But at the very end, he demonstrates amazing sacrificial love for his friends, and through that he realizes the sacrifice that Jesus made to save him, which kind of brings Sydney to salvation and calls him out of his sinful nature, into peace that can only be found in Jesus. Even as Sydney is beheaded, marching to the guillotine, he has a praise in his heart for Jesus and is not ashamed or afraid to die for his friends. 

All right, that's that! Thanks again, Natalie! Now to tag three other people....

Rakayle Hier
MovieCritic
and
MiddleEarthMusician

Have fun, everybody! :D


Goody-two-shoes: A character who was just so morally good

Heartbreaker: A character who made you cry?

Parrot: A character who won’t stop talking
Devilish: Your favorite villain
Love interest: A character who, if alive in reality, you would want to marry
Sidekick: A character who was always loyal no matter what
Complicated: A character you love and hate
Queen/King: A female/male character who you admire and aspire to emulate
Savior: A character who oddly reminds you of Christ

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (series)--Maryrose Wood

Recently I have sort of stumbled upon a new favorite (by favorite, I mean one of my favorite) book series. This is quite a pleasant turn of events, and since that Hardly Ever happens, I thought that I ought to spread the word! Most of you know that I work at a local library, and I happened to pick up this children's book out of curiosity, read it, and immediately fell in love, so to speak! 

The series name is The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood; comprised of six books following the Adventures of Miss Penelope Lumley, the governess and graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, as well as her three highly unique students. 

I was expecting something along the lines of Mary Poppins or maybe children with special powers or something like that. However, I was delightfully surprised! But before I let my excitement run away with the post, let me organize and categorize my opinions....

"A well-organized stocking drawer 

is the first step toward a well-organized mind." 

-The Mysterious Howling

Writing Quality//Overall Goodness: 

Absolutely wonderful! Mrs. Wood has an excellently quirky and unique voice and tone in her writing which makes it enjoyable to read; it doesn't sound like every other children's book out there. She throws in bits of historical "Easter Eggs," and writes in a way that is both intelligent and fun. I absolutely love the main character, Penelope. Her sensible and practical character is one that I, as an oldest sister with four little siblings, can sort of relate to as she basically takes care of her three wards. There is so much value placed on education and reading, "book learning" of the classical sort that studies art, Shakespeare, mathematics, and poetry! As someone who grew up with a "classical" education, I really appreciate it...there is some truth to the saying "if you can read, you can do anything," and this series would seem to support that. It also is in support for present parenting and critiques silly, fluffy people whose entire personalities are based around wanting to simply have "stuff" and look good. 

The writing puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of being able to think critically, interact with people politely, and "Don't Panic." There are also lots of fun, pithy little sayings from the founder of Penelope's Alma Mater which are, many of them, quite memorable and will stick around in your brain helpfully always. Basically, I felt that this book was so worth reading that I have been recommending it left and right. I also appreciate how Mrs. Wood seems to be quietly supporting the idea of homeschooling small groups of children (I believe she was a homeschool mother at one point, though I could be mistaken). She has discussion guides and educational resources on her website and a new project called the Swanburne Academy, which, if I remember right, is an online resource for parents and children, a resource of the educational sort, which is actually really cool! 

(Also the artwork is adorable and fun!) 

"Nothing good was ever learned from eavesdropping, 

so mind your business and let others mind theirs." 

-The Mysterious Howling

Reading Level//Age Range//Content: 

The reading level itself is suitable for anyone from fifth grade level and up. Like I said, it is written intelligently, but not in a stuffy, academic way. I don't think there is any content to caution against; any language mentioned is mentioned as "language very unsuitable for a young governess" or something like that. Just about anyone old enough to understand what is going on will enjoy these books (and possibly benefit from them as well). 

"This practice of overstating the case is called hyperbole. 

Hyperbole is usually harmless, 

but in some cases it has been known to 

precipitate unnecessary wars as well as 

a painful gaseous condition 

called stock market bubbles." 

-The Mysterious Howling

Parting Thoughts: 

I usually don't give books such shining reviews. But these books are definitely new favorites. I would recommend them to anyone, really! And with that, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! 

"Feeling one ought to apologize is 

not quite the same thing 

as saying 'I am sorry' " 

-The Hidden Gallery

"There is power in words used accurately and well, 

and tragedy and missed train connections in words used carelessly." 

-The Unseen Guest

"Busy hands and idle minds have knitted many a sweater;  Busy minds and idle hands have knitted many a brow."  -The Unseen Guest

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

Writing Quality//Overall Goodness: 

Wow. I picked this up at the library while I was waiting for my next book to come in, and figured that since The Great Gatsby is no more than an inch thick (or even less, I think), I could manage that in the time I had. 

I had never read this before, and, since it is a "classic," I was determined to read it. I've heard many times of how fantastic the story is, and boy, it did not disappoint. 

The story is mainly about Nick Carraway, the narrator (it is in first person, if you care about that sort of thing), and his experiences with Jay Gatsby, his neighbor, Daisy, Nick's cousin, and their friends and relations. It deals with the 1920s "Jazz Age" in New York (I think I'm right about that, at least, this is My Personal Opinion, apart from any articles or teaching about the book) and all the social and relational issues that that culture's mindset caused. Fitzgerald did not shy away from portraying these difficult issues, and neither does he paint them in a positive light, but rather in Nick's dissatisfied, unable to fix anything resignation to the world in which he lives. I would almost even call the story "bleak" or "dark" at some times, though the characters are always laughing and joking. That darkness hidden under partying is maybe what the book tells us about that era in the United States? Though I'm no literature professor, that is the impression that I am left with. 

The writing is just lovely, as well as the story and the "theme" well-planned. Fitzgerald's voice is a very thoughtful and concise one, and his writing is laden with beautiful images, almost in a poetic way. It is very poetic prose. And the last line is, I believe, one of the most poignant in the book, almost summing up the entire story in one sentence: 

The writing is beautiful and I definitely recommend this to any reader of "classics." 

Reading Level//Age Range//Content

It isn't very hard reading, but this book does deal with a lot of heavy topics. I'm pretty confident that a 7th or 8th grader could tackle the reading itself, but as far as the deeper meanings and content go, I would feel much more comfortable having an older high-schooler, maybe 11th grade, reading this. The characters swear a few times, but never over-the-top. There is a violent description of a car accident, which could be disturbing and is very sad. And there is some suggestive-ness that only older people will understand--Fitzgerald never talks about anything explicitly, but there are various people having affairs with other various people, and definitely an implication of lots of that behavior going on in that era. In addition, there is lots of partying and drinking going on. So, yes, I would recommend this book, but only to an older student or person, at least 16 or 17 years old. 

An interesting quote...people seeking the love of other people as their ultimate fulfillment. 

Parting Thoughts: 

Did I like this book? Yes, I did. It is a brilliantly painted snapshot (because it is a painting of a book, not a photograph, if you know what I mean) of the roaring 20s in Eastern America. 

20 Questions Book Tag

Hello there! And Happy 2019! It's ridiculous, how fast 2018 went by...but that's beside the point. Mem has tagged me for this 20 Questions Book Tag, and I thought that it was high time I finally actually did it! So, here we go!

1.       how many books are too many books in a book series?

Well...I guess that would depend on the series. There are some, like the Redwall books, that I absolutely love but just go on...and on...and on....and on...and then start repeating. I guess that about 10 is the absolute maximum for a book series. Like Ranger's Apprentice. I like the first 10 books, the original series, but then all the spinoffy things (Brotherband and the prequel and sequel series-es) just aren't the same. 

2.       how do you feel about cliffhangers?

Hehe...well...

If I'm WRITING them, then I absolutely love them. If not, then I get mad. 

3.       hardback or paperback?

I guess it depends on the book! I usually prefer hard covers, but then those are much more expensive. If I have one book from a set in hard cover, then I want the rest to match, and vice versa with paperback. If it's an anthology or collection, then I definitely want hard covers. 

4.       favorite book?

Oh goodness no. I could never choose an ABSOLUTE favorite! But I suppose...maybe The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. That or A Tale of Two Cities. 

5.       least favorite book?

Dr. Potter's Medicine Show by Eric Scott Fischl. I had to read it my first year in college and it was absolutely awful. 

6.       love triangles, yes or no?

I can't stand them!! I get so mad at the stupid people who have to make resolving difficulties the most difficult thing possible and can't just sit down and calmly talk about anything!

7.       the most recent book you just couldn’t finish?

I am somewhat ashamed of this one, but Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. For one, school started and I literally have no time for pleasure reading during school, and for another, it just didn't "grab" my attention like Dickens' other works did. I remember it was very good! But it didn't enthrall me the way A Tale of Two Cities or Great Expectations did. 

8.       a book you’re currently reading?

I am STILL working through The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers (but you know school so that's taking ages), and I am reading the very first draft copy of one of my cousin's books to give her feedback! And now is time for a public apology for how very little I have been reading lately...

Oh, except for Shakespeare. I have been reading lots of Shakespeare. I just finished Titus Andronicus, which was somewhat brutal to read--the most shocking and distressing of all his plays I have read--but that's another story.

9.       last book you recommended to someone?

Ooooh…I think The Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson. Since I work at the library, we get to set out employee reccomendations and that was my latest. 

10.   oldest book you’ve read? (publication date)

Hmm...I'm actually not sure. Maybe The Iliad  or one of those ancient Greek or Roman books. As far as publication date I have absolutely no idea. I'm guessing it's one of the old classics, maybe Beowulf. 

11.   newest book you’ve read? (publication date)

I don't read a lot of new books, but I think it would be N.D. Wilson's Outlaws of Time series. I haven't read the most recent one, but the one before that, The Song of Glory and the Ghost, was published in 2017. 

12.   favorite author?

*slams head on keyboard* 

I can't even answer that!!! But, for the sake of the post, I have to say either C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien. 

13.   buying books or borrowing books?

Well, borrowing books is nice cause you don't have to pay for them...but I like to write in my books (I know, I'm a horrible person), underline passages that I like or note stuff in the margins, so probably buying them is better. Then I can have them on hand to lend to other people too! 

14.   a book you dislike that everyone else seems to love?

I     I wasn't a fan of the Percy Jackson series...I tried...I read maybe the first 3 or 4, but just didn't like them at all. 

15.   bookmarks or dog-ears?

Oh, bookmarks all the way!

16.   a book you can always reread?

Hmmm...maybe The Hobbit? It just doesn't get old, if you know what I mean. There's so much goodness in there. 

Also, the book doesn't have THIS ATROCITY, so it's much better than watching the movies

17.   can you read while hearing music?

It depends on the music. If it's soundtrack or instrumental, then usually I'm fine with it. If it's vocal music, then I have a harder time. 

18.   one POV or multiple POVs?

Usually just one. Or if there are multiple, I like a very OBVIOUS and clear transition from POV to POV just so that I don't get confused. 

19.   do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?

That definitely depends on the book. If it's a really short one I'll read it all at once, but since I hardly have time for pleasure reading, in real life it takes more than a day. 

20.   who do you tag?

If your birthday is in January, I tag YOU! Go for it. (And that means you too, Josiah.) 


That was most fun, thanks for tagging me, Mem!!! I shall leave you all now and go back to...whatever it is I'm doing.

#CoverLove Tag!!! (Also Merry Christmas!)

Hello there, everyone! I was tagged a while back by Ruth from Amongst Spring Blossoms for this, and I figured it was about time I got it done! So, without further ado....

(Apologies in advance for the awful quality photos...my phone's camera isn't great, but I wanted pictures of the actual books that I have at home.) 

1. A book cover featuring a gorgeous dress:

I know what you're thinking. That's an American Girl picture book. What kind of "gorgeous dress" is that? Now, the thing is, I really don't own any other books with dresses on them, and there aren't really any in my house for some reason. And let's face it, we ALL wanted Felicity's outfits when we were ten years old. At least, I know I did. 

2. A book cover with no people, just a pretty scenery:

This book is so underrated! Tolkien wrote it for his son, Michael, after Michael lost a little toy dog. So, Tolkien wrote about the adventures that the little dog had after being lost. It is such a sweet, funny, lighthearted story, and a quick read! 

3. A book cover that's ''well-loved'':

No explanation needed. This book has been taped sooooo many times I have lost count (actually I just taped it again like a week ago), and has gone through many hands. It's actually my dad's, but it has been read countless times by me and my siblings. It really smells good though...:D 

4. A book cover that just makes you smile:

This is just such a fun book, and Helen Oxenbury's illustrations are so whimsical! It's definitely a good one. (As you can tell, my Luke Skywalker ornament on our Christmas tree decided to photo-bomb...) 

5. A book cover that is your favorite color:

Well, favorite color is hard for me...I love so many colors! But Dandelion Fire (at least the old original cover) is such a nice shade (or shades) of blue--I have a soft spot for royal blues and purples. 

6. A cover of a book with fond memories attached to it:

I remember when I was maybe 7 or 8, I used to check this book out from the library (before I owned it, of course) just because I loved the cover, and there was a certain, particular copy that I always wanted. It was the one that was the most worn, the one with yellowed pages and an old, sweet, bookish smell. I read this one over and over when I was younger, even when I was too little to fully understand all the words. 

7. A book you wanted solely for the cover:

So the library I work at had a book sale a while ago, and I happened to see a copy of David Copperfield on the table. I picked it up, pulled it out of an old, red protective case, and there was this lovely hardcover book! You can't tell from the picture, but it is a very nicely textured surface and the lettering/decorations are all in gold, very fancy. AND it was in great condition, so of course, I had to buy it...it was only a dollar anyway! I have no idea how the pattern on the cover got shadowed over top of my background, but it looks kinda cool...maybe something to do with the flash on my camera...hmmm....

Anyway, there it is! Thanks again, Ruth, that was very fun! :) 

Now I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! 

"For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, 

Counselor, 

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government

and of peace there will be no end, 

on the throne of David 

and over his kingdom, 

to establish it and to uphold it 

with justice and with righteousness 

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." 

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)

War Horse: Michael Morpurgo vs. Steven Spielberg (sort of)

*WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS SPRINKLED LIBERALLY THROUGHOUT THIS POST* 

A Very Dear Friend gave this book to me and I immediately read it. (Of course, I was on a three-hour long bus ride stuck with a bunch of college band people, so that gave me a perfect time to read.) I fell in love the the movie War Horse the first time I watched it, and I've been wanting to read the book ever since I, ahem, learned that it was a book. 

(Also I've decided that since it's March now I don't want a wintery background.) :D

This was a very pleasant read. It was meant to be a children's book, and is definitely not a hard read--the spine is less than an inch thick and there weren't any words that I required the dictionary to understand. I still think that the story is a lovely one and the characters are very memorable, although I would rather it was in third person than told in first person from the horse's perspective. I like the idea of a horse story that isn't all butterflies and daisies (not that they ARE all butterflies and daisies), and this one has some nice realism and 'grit' to it, some life, if you get my meaning. And, although there are quite a few plot changes from book to movie, I still think that the movie did the book great justice. Neither were too graphic with the violence, but were both descriptive enough to be very sad and moving, to make the reader/watcher understand the horrible things that happened during the war. 

As to content, there really wasn't anything objectionable in this book. There might have been one or two slight language spots, but really, nothing bad--probably better content-wise than the movie. 

The plot changes that were significant? 

Well, first of all, after Captain Nicholls dies, Joey doesn't get taken by the Germans.  He is first assigned to another British rider named Trooper Warren, a very young man who is inexperienced with horses, but is a sweet, kind fellow. Trooper Warren was a very pleasant character and had quite a few memorable lines. My favorite part of his was when he is reading a letter from home to Joey (yes, they all talk to Joey), he talks about his sweetheart, Sally, saying that "as soon as this war's over and finished with, I'll get back home and marry her. I've grown up with her, Joey, known her all my life.  S'pose I know her almost as well as I know myself, but I like her a lot better." When I first came across that line, I had to stop and read it again several times because it was just so sweet I couldn't get over it! For some reason, I can't help but think that Steven Spielberg based the character Charlie (the one with the new hat, I can't remember his title) on Trooper Warren, but changed the character for his own purposes...anyhoo, that was the first plot change. 

 The little French girl's story was a little different, but we are given a bit more information about her sickness. In the book, she and her grandfather care for the horses and give them lodging while the horses work for the army by day, pulling ambulances. At one point, Emilie is seriously ill with pneumonia (on Christmas Eve night) and her grandfather confides his fears in the horses, Joey and Topthorn. However, at that point, she gets well again and all is happy, but Emilie is still weaker. That is the cause of her later death, we find out. Then the army takes the horses to pull their cannons.  Emilie insists she is "just lending them" to the soldiers and that she had to get her horses back someday, after the war.

Then the story is mostly like the movie, although everything seems to take a much longer time. The only thing I was disappointed in was the ending. The British find Joey again (after the toss of a coin by the German and British soldiers to see who gets the horse) and the doctor agrees to let him live. Now, Albert is, at this time, helping in the army's stables with his friend David. Unlike the movie, Albert's eyes were not hurt and he was in perfectly fine condition. He thinks his friend is teasing when he says he's cleaning a horse that looks exactly like Joey, but when Albert whistles his owl whistle, Joey comes and Albert knows that it is his Joey. I almost like the movie's version of this better for some reason, but the book is good too. 

There were about three things that were in the movie, not in the book, that I wished would have come from the book. One: the flag that Joey has tied on him throughout the movie is not really a part of the book’s plot. Two: the ending; Albert’s eyes aren’t hurt and it isn’t quite the same. Three: the German brothers, Gunther and Michael, aren’t in the book. I loved the story with the two brothers in the movie and I was a little disappointed that it didn’t come from the book.

Oh, and it didn’t have the scene where the soldier is walking through No-Man’s-Land quoting Psalm 23, which was a really beautiful thing in the movie. Other than that, though, I thought it was a lovely book. I enjoyed it and there are quite a few note-worthy quotes. To wrap up, I’ll just share a few quotes, and some pictures from the film too. I think Spielberg did a really good job capturing the feel of the book as a movie! It feels like a seamless transition from text to screen. (Please don't be depressed! I know it's a kind of sad story...but I don't want to make you sad.) 

“I always knew the British were crazy. Now that I know that they use horses such as you as cart horses, I am quite sure of it. That’s what this war is all about, my friend. It’s about which of us is the crazier. And clearly you British started with an advantage. You were crazy beforehand.” 

"There are brave men, German and English, lying out there on stretchers in the trenches." 

"They saved good lives today, those two - good German lives and good English lives."  

"Someone suddenly remembered it was Christmas morning, and they sang slow, tuneful carols all the way back." 

 "Captain Nicholls walked by my head turning his eyes out to sea so that no one should notice the tears in them. The wounded were everywhere - on stretchers, on crutches, in open ambulances, and etched on every man was the look of wretched misery and pain." 

"He'd have been proud of you, Joey. He'd have been proud of you, the way you kept going out there. He died leading that charge and you finished it for him. He'd have been proud of you."

Have you seen or read War Horse? What are your thoughts? 

Is there anything I didn't cover in regards to book vs movie?