Top Ten Fictional Friendships

As I've gotten older, plots in film/tv/books/etc. that center around friendship have become more and more precious to me.

Why?

Society tells us that romance is the only true form of love.

I don't know about you, but I've never been in a romantic relationship, and personally, I intend to keep it that way until I know that God wants me in that place.

But today we are looking at platonic love, or friendship, and to be more specific, fictional friendship.

 

I love friends in fiction. A lot.

 

My siblings are probably pretty tired of hearing me squeal because of something cute happening amongst the friends in whatever I'm reading.  At first my sister always assumes it's because I'm reading some cute, fluffy romance (which is her favorite), but then I look up with wide eyes and wheeze, "they're so cute" or "she just came in and saved his butt" or "ahhhhhhh".

 

So today we are going to take a look at some of the fiction that I believe has portrayed friendship the best.

 

 

10. Lucy Pevensie and Mr. Tumnus ~ The Chronicles of Narnia

These two, I think, sparked my love of fictional friendship way back when I was 10 or so. Narnia was one of my first real fandoms and I will always adore this relationship.  If you don't know the story, Tumnus the faun is the first person Lucy encounters on her original venture into Narnia.  While he initially is working for the White Witch with the intention of turning the "daughter of Eve" over, he changes his mind when he sees how kind and sweet Lucy is, and returns her to the wardrobe, even knowing that it may cost him his own freedom.  Throughout the remaining story, even when he's in trouble, most of Tumnus' thoughts are for Lucy and her safety, and overall they're just precious and I love them.


9. Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet ~ Winnie-the-Pooh

These two have been in my life for as long as I can remember.  My second nursery (we moved when I was a few months old) was themed around Winnie-the-Pooh, as my Mom was a huge fan from her childhood.  As such, the Hundred Acre Wood crew has been an important part of teaching me about friendship, and one of the best examples in this bunch is the friendship between Piglet and Pooh.  Piglet is often frightened, and Pooh is there to comfort him.  Pooh is often forgetful, and Piglet is right there to put him on the right track. (And yes, I almost gave this spot to Pooh and Christopher Robin... but I just love Piglet so much)


8. Phineas, Ferb, Isabella, Buford, and Baljeet ~ Phineas and Ferb

Phineas and Ferb have awesome friends.  While not initially appearing in the show as more than random neighborhood figures, Isabella, Buford, and Baljeet become integrated into the storyline, and their friendships become more prominently featured.  What I love about this crew is that friendships between each of the five are shown as much as their group friendship.

7. Riley Matthews and Maya Hart ~ Girl Meets World

These two BFFs are just adorable.  No matter what, they stick together, even when one (usually Riley) is in a situation that the other (usually Maya) doesn't want to be in.  They're there for each other, with the bay window always ready for heartfelt moments that deepen their friendship.

6. Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo ~ Star Wars

I love Star Wars.  A lot (if this post didn't make it obvious).  And these three are part of why.  Between Han calling Luke "kid" in between saving his life, or Leia reluctantly coming to care for the "nerf-herder", or the siblings dragging the pilot into being part of this rebellion, this friendship is one that has lasted for almost forty years.

5. Shawn Spencer and Burton "Gus" Guster ~ Psych

Could I have a post about friendship without these guys?  No, obviously not.  Shawn and Gus are friendship goals, having been friends since they were young children.  Gus is obviously the more serious of the two, with a respectable job as a pharmaceutical salesman under his belt before the detective agency even comes into the picture.  Shawn, on the other hand, has been unable to keep one job for any length of time before he decides to be a psychic detective.  But these two have a friendship that lasts for eight seasons and beyond.

4. Alec Hardison, Eliot Spencer, and Parker ~ Leverage

Yet another one that comes as a surprise to no one.  These three stole my life last year and I still haven't gotten over them.  Starting out determined to never see each other again, the whole Leverage crew eventually becomes a family, and thus earns this spot on my list.

3. Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood ~ Percy Jackson & the Olympians

I can't even begin to describe how much this friendship shaped my childhood.  While I love the kids of the Argo II, I had to go with these three.  With Percy's heroic goofiness, Grover's dorky pan-pipe-playing skills, and Annabeth's smarts, these demigods and satyr not only become closer as friends, but end up saving the world a few times, too.

2. Hiccup, Camicazi, and Fishlegs ~ How To Train Your Dragon

While I wasn't the biggest fan of Fishlegs in the first book of the series, he and his friendship with Hiccup has really grown on me.  Obviously.  And when Camicazi was introduced in book 4, these three truly found a place in my heart.  Always there for one another, never doubting that the others are perfectly alright, I just love these guys a lot. 

And before we get to number one, here are some Honorable Mentions:

Marty McFly and Doc Brown ~ Back to the Future

Gratuity "Tip" Tucci and J.Lo/Oh ~ The True Meaning of Smekday/Home

Ariel and Flounder ~ The Little Mermaid

Mike and Sully ~ Monsters Inc.

Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers ~ MCU

And without further adieu, *drumroll*... MY NUMBER ONE FAVORITE FICTIONAL FRIENDSHIP OF ALL TIME:

1. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley

Obviously, I love these three a lot.  I've seen all the films, and I adore them, but now that I'm actually reading the books, this relationship has come to mean so much to me.  Harry, quite honestly, can be an idiot sometimes, and Hermione is always there to bail him out, with Ron right behind her to make a snarky declaration.  But while sometimes they have to bail Harry out, they are always beside him, and even when he tells them not to follow, they refuse to leave him to deal with his life, and Voldemort, alone.  These three just mean a lot to me, ugh.


So there you have it!  My top ten fictional friendships. 

Do you love friendship as much as I do?  What are some of your favorite fictional friendships?  Let me know in the comments below!

~ Mia

February Wrap-up and March TBR

February was an interesting month.  While I felt like I did more reading than in January, I only finished 2 books.  A lot of drama has been going down in my personal life (prayers, please, if y'all don't mind), and I'm just... tired.  But now we're moving into March, and I'm trying to look forward to this month.

Beauty and the Beast comes out this month.
The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival just started.
LEGO BATMAN MOVIE DAYS ARE HAPPENING AT LEGOLAND
and other exciting things, I'm sure.

So let's take a look at what I've done this month:


What I Read:

How To Seize a Dragon's Jewel ~ Cressida Cowell

Overview: Hiccup, now an Outcast, decides to try to save his father and Fishlegs, and ends up running into someone he never thought he would see.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (AAAAHHHHH)

The Night Dance ~ Suzanne Weyn

Overview: In this mix of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and the legends of King Arthur, Rowena, the youngest of twelve daughters, finds a way to escape the walls in which her father has trapped herself and her sisters, and discovers a tired soldier with whom she shares an unexplainable attraction.
Rating: 4 out of 5

While February was a slow reading month for me, it did, I think, get me out of my e-book slump.  Which is very exciting, especially considering I have SO many e-books that I own and haven't read. And I'm also back into fairytale retellings. So yay.


What I Watched:

...I'm honestly not sure what to put here.  Because to put what I've been watching here would involve telling a story...

So here we go, I guess.

Basically, we got a new air conditioner this month.  Which is great, because the one we had was in this house when we got here, and that was over 16 years ago (yes, I've lived in the same house most of my life. We moved here right before my sister was born because while our tiny apartment was big enough for just my parents, the dog, and me, it was not going to be big enough for my parents, the dog, and two little girls. So both of my siblings have only ever lived in this house.) (And also yes, the new air conditioner is fabulous.)
Anyway, right as we got the air conditioner, our fridge died.  Which was very sad, because among the things we lost was three packages of cookie dough.  But in getting it replaced, Mom paid the guys from Lowe's to take away a big stand freezer that had been dead in our garage for many years.  In emptying it out, we found dozens of old home VHS tapes.  So Mom whipped out the converter and we have been marathoning memories.  So far we have discovered that I was much more outgoing as a child than I am now, I was something of a ringleader among my friends (I think in a good way xD), and I was freakishly intelligent as a tiny child.  Seriously, I spoke in full sentences before age 2.  What even.
So yeah, that's what I've been watching.


What I Listened To:

I'm performing "God of Calvary" in the Easter musical at church, I just discovered SCC's newest album (*flail*), and I saw The LEGO Batman Movie this month. And, as always, Disney on Broadway makes an appearance.


What I Posted:
So many awesome books came out this month!!
I took part in the "Martin Hospitality" blog tour.
And the "The Princess and I" cover reveal and blog tour.


What I Plan To Read:

The Skeleton in God's Closet ~ Paul L. Maier
(because I want to read more Easter-y things as Easter comes closer)

The Whisper ~ Emma Clayton
(sequel to The Roar yayyy)

How to Betray a Dragon's Hero ~ Cressida Cowell
(I'm so close to finishing this series yesss)


So... how was February for you guys?  Favorite book you read this month?

~ Mia

The LEGO Batman Movie (Film Review)

If you want to make the world a better place,

take a look at yourself,

and make a change.

Hooo.

- Batman

 

The LEGO Batman Movie

 

 

Over the past couple of weeks, I got the chance to see this movie twice, and as that's more than I typically see things in theaters, I figured I should do a review (and I will try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but, like "The LEGO Movie", the trailers really tell you nothing about the actual plot of the film... what's up with that, LEGO?)

 

Brief Overview:

Being the coolest hero in Gotham City, Batman has almost everything he wants, though his butler and "father-figure" Alfred is convinced that he has yet to confront his biggest fear - snake clowns being part of a family again.  When he accidentally adopts a young orphan named Dick Grayson, he discovers that he may actually learn to care for someone else.

 

What I Thought:

This movie was so pleasantly surprising.  I was also pleasantly surprised by "The LEGO Movie" when it came out, so I guessed it might be a similar experience, which indeed it was.  Robin has stolen my heart (my precious son!!!!), Barbara Gordon is my hero, I want Alfred as a friend, and I actually sympathized with Batman (which is a first for me, honestly). 

 

The Characters:

Batman/Bruce Wayne -

 

This guy is so self-aware I love it.  The reason this is my favorite DC film ever is that Batman is called out for the way he deals with crime.  At one point (SPOILERS) when he goes to the Phantom Zone, he is confronted with the fact that his actions could make some think that he is indeed a bad guy. (END SPOILER) And I love that.

 

Robin/Dick Grayson -

This precious ray of sunshine!!!! I love him!!!!! Through a misunderstanding, this cutie ends up adopted by Bruce Wayne, and is equally excited when he realizes he's being "co-parented" by Batman.  Thanks to his agility and small size, his "Batdad" begrudgingly allows him to become something of a sidekick.  This adorable orphan is just happy to be part of a family and I just. I adore this kid, okay?

 

Batgirl/Barbara "Babs" Gordon -

A graduate of Harvard for Police and the daughter of the former police chief, Barbara has a vision of the Gotham Police Force teaming up with Batman.  Despite Bruce Wayne's misgivings, she never gives up, and is honestly one of the most determined female characters I've seen in a long time.

 

Alfred/The KickButler -

Alfred is awesome, but I've always felt that way.  Bruce Wayne isn't the easiest guy to work with, so the fact that Alfred has stuck around as long as he has will never cease to amaze me.  Plus he's voiced by Ralph Fiennes, so that alone makes him cool.


Favorite Quote:
Alfred - "Sir, I have seen you go through similar phases in 2016 and 2012 and 2008 and 2005 and 1997 and 1995 and 1992 and 1989 and that weird one in 1966."
Batman - "I have aged phenomenally."


Overall Rating: 5 abnormal villains out of 5


If you haven't seen this movie yet, I can't recommend it highly enough.  Honestly, the jokes have gotten me every time, even the ones I saw in the trailer:

If you have seen it, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

~ Mia 

The Princess and I Blog Tour ~ Spotlight

It's that time again!



*instantly freaks out and starts cleaning because oh wow that mess*

*cough*

SO tomorrow is a very exciting day.  It's exciting because "THE PRINCESS AND I" COMES OUT YAYYYYYY

I'm seriously so excited.

~ About The Author ~

 Rebekah grew up surrounded by family members who appreciated and read good literature. First, she fell in love with the stories her parents read aloud to her from the Bible and books like The Chronicles of Narnia, Great Expectations, The Hobbit, and Anne of Green Gables. After learning to read on her own, she discovered other fantastic books which helped to build her ever growing imagination.
She completed her first written work at the tender age of eight and now uses it to humble herself whenever the need arises. The story did serve to show her that God had given her a desire to write, however, and from that moment on Rebekah has never looked back or regretted picking up her pencil and becoming an author.
This eighteen-year-old homeschool graduate lives in rainy Western Washington and is currently working on receiving her BA in English in order to further her passion for creating worlds on paper.

~ Find Rebekah Online ~



Her Blog

Google+

Goodreads

Pinterest

 

And now... *drum roll*

 

~ About The Book~

 



 Megan is content with her life, despite her parents' death and her brother Malcolm's job that keeps him busy at the King's castle. But when she is offered the position as Princess Christine's lady-in-waiting, Megan is glad of the change in scenery and accepts it with the hope that she can spend more time with her brother. The promise from Malcolm of lessons in swordsmanship only adds to her enthusiasm.
However, helping keep an eye on the emotional and excitable young lady proves to be much harder than becoming her friend. As rumors of war circulate the castle, Megan strives to encourage her new friend even as she tries to settle the doubts and fears in her own heart when her responsibility in protecting the Princess is put to the test. Follow the unwanted adventure which serves to teach her that loyal friendship, true love, and God's amazing grace will always triumph over revenge, greed, and hate.

 ~ Find The Book Online ~

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Lulu Press

(links will be provided as soon as I get links, haha)

And you can add it to your Goodreads shelf here

This story sounds fascinating, and I can't wait to read it!!

"The Princess and I" will be available March 3, 2017!!

~ Mia

The Princess and I Cover Reveal

Yet again it is a very exciting day!

Aside from it being St. Valentine's Day, (thus the pink confetti in the gif below), I'M PART OF ANOTHER COVER REVEAL.



Today I have the honor of presenting to you the cover of "The Princess and I".  I'm incredibly excited about this book, and this gorgeous cover!



Just look at it, isn't is gorgeous??

And here's some more things just for you to peruse:

About The Book:

Megan is content with her life, despite her parents' death and her brother Malcolm's job that keeps him busy at the King's castle. But when she is offered the position as Princess Christine's lady-in-waiting, Megan is glad of the change in scenery and accepts it with the hope that she can spend more time with her brother. The promise from Malcolm of lessons in swordsmanship only adds to her enthusiasm.

However, helping keep an eye on the emotional and excitable young lady proves to be much harder than becoming her friend. As rumors of war circulate the castle, Megan strives to encourage her new friend even as she tries to settle the doubts and fears in her own heart when her responsibility in protecting the Princess is put to the test. Follow the unwanted adventure which serves to teach her that loyal friendship, true love, and God's amazing grace will always triumph over revenge, greed, and hate.

About The Author:



Rebekah grew up surrounded by family members who appreciated and read good literature. First, she fell in love with the stories her parents read aloud to her from the Bible and books like The Chronicles of Narnia, Great Expectations, The Hobbit, and Anne of Green Gables. After learning to read on her own, she discovered other fantastic books which helped to build her ever growing imagination.

She completed her first written work at the tender age of eight and now uses it to humble herself whenever the need arises. The story did serve to show her that God had given her a desire to write, however, and from that moment on Rebekah has never looked back or regretted picking up her pencil and becoming an author.

This eighteen-year-old homeschool graduate lives in rainy Western Washington and is currently working on receiving her BA in English in order to further her passion for creating worlds on paper.


The book will be available March 3, 2017, and personally, I can't wait.

Now make sure you go tell Rebekah how much you love the cover, and how excited you are for the book!!

~ Mia

Martin Hospitality Blog Tour ~ Spotlight + Giveaway!

IT'S FINALLY HERE

So it's officially my day to take part in the official Martin Hospitality blog tour!!

(Never done one of these before, so bear with me ^-^)


About The Book:

Gemma Ebworthy is eighteen, pregnant, and alone. Now that she’s been evicted, she spends the night in a barn, never dreaming that tomorrow could bring kindness of a life-changing magnitude.

The Martins aren’t a typical family—even for rural Kansas. With more kids than can be counted on one hand and a full-time farm, Gemma must make a lot of adjustments to fit in. But despite their many differences, Gemma finds herself drawn to this family and their radical Christian faith.

When Gemma’s past collides with her yet again, she must begin revealing her colorful history. With every detail Gemma concedes, she fears she will lose the Martins’ trust and the stable environment she desires for herself and her unborn child. Just how far can the Martins’ love and God’s forgiveness go?

About The Giveaway:
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/220045-martin-hospitality


About The Author:

Abigayle has been a writer for as long as she can remember, but did not begin seriously pursuing becoming an author until 2015. Since then, she has started a blog and numerous social media accounts, graduated high school as a homeschooler, and participated in the infamous NaNoWriMo. Other than writing, she is also pursuing work as a freelance editor. Writing is her ministry and reading is her pastime. Abigayle lives in Central Texas with her six younger siblings and parents.

To Find Out More:
Check out "Martin Hospitality" on
~ Goodreads ~
~ Amazon ~
~ CreateSpace ~
~ Barnes and Noble ~


A HUGE congratulations to Abigayle, and a HUGE encouragement to YOU to read the book! AND A LOT OF CAPITAL LETTERS FOR EMPHASIS!

~ Mia

January Wrap-Up and February TBR

So we're already a month into 2017



... well, actually, I'm just in my normal bedroom, but the panic is real.

Are you proud that it's only the *cough* seventh of the month and look! here I am!

What I Read:

Moon Over Manifest ~ Clare Vanderpool

(I read Navigating Early in October, so I decided to pick this one up and I'm so glad I did.)
Overview: The daughter of a drifter during the Great Depression, Abilene Tucker feels abandoned when her father sends her to his hometown for the summer. When she meets the town diviner, though, she is told the story of Jinx, a boy who came to town much like Abilene did, and changed the lives of the townspeople forever.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW)

The Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds ~ Rick Riordan

Overview: In this companion to Riordan's "Magnus Chase" series, every new resident of Hotel Valhalla is sure to never be confused as to the deities, worlds, and creatures that make up the norse worlds.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (a fun, quick read and an amusing companion to the books)

The Secret of Shadow Ranch ~ Carolyn Keene

Overview: Nancy, Bess, and George head to Shadow Ranch, a farm that has been experiencing some rather strange occurrences.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (this was the first original Nancy Drew book I've read, and... it was as cheesy as I expected. But it was fun to read a Nancy Drew.)

The Isle of the Lost ~ Melissa De La Cruz

Overview: In this prequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie, the children of Disney's greatest villains find themselves unexpectedly teamed up to find Maleficent's staff and possibly return magic to their island of banishment.
Rating: 4 out of 5 (it was fun. I enjoyed the film, so it was really cool to read the book)

How to Break a Dragon's Heart ~ Cressida Cowell

Overview: Facing Berserks, haunted beaches, and a very scary witch, Hiccup must brave the Beast to save Camicazi.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (I'm just so happy to be getting back into these, I've missed them)

How to Steal a Dragon's Sword ~ Cressida Cowell

Overview: While travelling to the camp where they will prove their place in the clans, the young Vikings are attacked by renegade Dragons.  The Dragon Rebellion is coming, and Hiccup may be the only one to stop it.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (holy cannoli, that ending was craaaaazy)


What I Watched:

Bull:
 
 
This show is really amazing, okay? It's got the ensemble feel of Leverage with the legal informative-ness of Matlock and Cable is my fave.

Timeless:

This line! #iconic  My babies are back and breaking my heart and I don't know how I'm going to live through this hiatus guys agh.

Liv and Maddie:
 
In the absence of Girl Meets World (season three comes to Netflix this month yayyyyy), I picked up this other Disney Channel series that's also on Netflix. While I expected it to be stupid (and at times, admittedly, it is), the acting quality is amazing. I have so much more respect for Dove Cameron after watching this show, like wow.


What I Listened To:

My Disney on Broadway obsession came back in full force this month, as I discovered The Lion King on Broadway soundtrack *flail*. I also saw Moana (finally) and it was so good! And "Every Captive Free" is a song that I performed a dance to, along with several of my friends, for the "Florida Abolitionists" annual... meeting... thing. I was never actually told what the event was actually called so... anyway it's working toward ending human trafficking, and it's super cool and the group I was with is called Set Free and you can find more info here. I highly recommend checking it out. ^.^


What I Posted:
I took part in the Martin Hospitality cover reveal!


What I Plan to Read:

How to Sieze a Dragon's Jewel ~ Cressida Cowell
(yay for more Hiccup)

The Hypnotists ~ Gordon Korman
(sounds coolio)

Ring of Fire ~ P.D. Baccalario
(this one also sounds cool)


In other news, lately here it's been cool-ish outside, but the sun has been battering the earth like nobody's business.

But anyway...

How was your first month of 2017?  What do you plan to read next month?