A Busy (and Sick) Bee

This week has been a rough one, between losing one of my days off when two cashiers called out on Sunday and the sinus infection that manifested a couple of days ago. Nothing else has really happened this week, since I've spent what little free time I have trying to watch new episodes of all my TV shows. Tomorrow night I'm going to have dinner with my friends before another long shift on Saturday, and then my week of fun begins. I have two days off in a row next week, so I'm going to drive down to Skipperville and visit my friends there, and then the royal wedding is next Friday morning. As I suffer through my sore throat, runny nose, and hacking cough at work for the next three days, I at least have something to look forward to.

Obscure British Actors 101: Julian Rhind-Tutt

I can't gush enough about my love for hulu.com and the way it keeps offering British comedies and dramas that are impossible to find on American television (and possibly even buy on DVD). One of my favorite shows to re-watch is Green Wing, and I'm currently in the middle of the second season. Set in a hospital and populated by fantastic cast of character actors, Green Wing is similar to Scrubs in its ability to balance grounded storylines with absurd gags. And if it wasn't for Julian Rhind-Tutt, I would have never discovered it.

• The first thing I saw him in - The ill-fated and short-lived American TV show, Keen Eddie. I watched it because it was set in London, and it was one of the few instances where I didn't actually know any of the actors that starred in it. Of course, Sienna Miller has since became a household name, and I began following the careers of several actors after Keen Eddie ended, including Julian's.
• Why I like him - Even if he was a crap actor, I'd still be in love with him because of that mop of ginger hair. But of course he's a great character actor, and I love it when he pops up in something I'm watching (like Any Human Heart, Stardust, Crooked House, and Black Books).
• My favorite role of his - Obviously I'd have to pick one of his more substantial roles, rather than a guest-starring spot in a TV show or TV movie. Although I love them both, I'd probably choose Mac on Green Wing instead of Monty Pippin on Keen Eddie due to Pippin's (occasionally endearing) creepiness.
• My least favorite role of his - How about the one where his character murdered a child? Yeah, that one.
• A role I'd like to see him in - Julian's done a little bit of everything, from costume dramas to contemporary comedies and heroes to villains, so I can't really add anything to his list. Except a role in Doctor Who. As The Doctor.

Sweet Sixteen

Yesterday was my sister's sixteenth birthday, and I have to admit that it's really hard to believe. My brother is only fifteen months younger than me, so I can't remember my life without him; however, I was eight years old when Emily was born. I remember when my parents told us that Mom was pregnant, when we found out it was a girl, when I stayed with my grandparents and family friends while Mom was in the hospital for several weeks before the birth, the call Dad made when Emily was born and I found out her name, and the day they came home. After that, it's amazing how few specific moments I can recall of her childhood, yet she's grown up right before my eyes.

Birthdays are always very understated at our house, and Emily's "sweet sixteen" was exactly the same as my own. For dinner, Mom makes us our favorite meal, then we open presents, and then we eat cake. My parents haven't thrown me a birthday party since we moved to Birmingham a couple of weeks before I turned 11, and I never even thought to ask for one for my 16th birthday. Instead, I spent my morning at a friends house after an impromptu slumber party (not for me, but to work on a chemistry homework assignment that was kicking our butts), the afternoon at the football stadium (the high school always has the band perform at their fall fundraiser), and the evening eating dinner with my family.

Emily's birthday was a little less chaotic than mine since it was a school day, and not a Saturday. She's apparently even less interested in birthdays than anyone else in the family, because we essentially acted like it was a normal day (but with cake!). Chris spent the weekend in Auburn visiting his friends, so he wasn't even home for her birthday, and Emily spent the whole day on the computer. But she did get a present from me, and she'll go to the bookstore and Best Buy to pick out her presents from Mom and Dad later today, so she seems happy enough with her birthday this year.

Current Obsessions (Disguised as Recommendations), Part 5

Now reading: The King's Favorite by Susan Holloway Scott - I've been reading historical fiction for most of my life now, and the genre certainly helped develop my love for history and led me to earn two degrees in the field. Unfortunately, for every Jean Plaidy and Sharon Kay Penman (who do their research), there's also a Phillipa Gregory (who writes whatever she wants). I'm always a little wary to try new authors, so if I don't have a friend's recommendation, I usually pass them up unless their book is in the bargain section.

Although her books have been relegated to the bargain section at Books-a-Million, let me go on record and officially recommend Susan Holloway Scott as a legitimately good historical fiction author. So many things are right with her books, from the unique subject material (Charles II instead of Henry VIII) to the believable dialogue (when Nell Gwyn is remembered for her wit as much as for her affair with the king, you'd better be able to make her witty). Most of all, though, she follows the established historical narrative when possible and only uses her imagination to fill in the gaps. The King's Favorite is the second in a trilogy about Charles II's most infamous mistresses, and each book is told from the mistress's point of view. I particularly love that Scott spends at least the first third of each book on the women's lives before they met the king and that we get descriptions of the king and his mistresses from multiple points of view. This trilogy truly shows all three women as individuals, which is exactly how Charles II saw them.

Now watching: Parks and Recreation - I started watching Parks and Recreation when it premiered a couple of years ago, partly out of habit (I always watch NBC's entire Thursday night line-up) and partly because it was a spin-off of The Office. About half-way through the second season, the show really hit its stride, and it's now my favorite comedy on TV. Every character is so hilarious on his or her own, and scenes just get more and more outrageous when the whole ensemble is interacting with each other. In my opinion, the current season is the best yet because the blossoming romance between Leslie and Ben is the most natural and perfect one I've ever seen on TV. They are so adorable together that I break down giggling during every episode and actually spend my free time reading all the fanfiction I can find.

Now listening to: "Bread" by Charlie McDonnell - Charlie is one of my favorite youtubers, and I was very excited when he announced that he was releasing an album. He occasionally writes songs for his channel (and most were featured on the album), and he's a member of my favorite/the only Doctor Who tribute band, Chameleon Circuit. Sadly, the album came out while I was unemployed and had cut my extraneous spending, but a friend gave me a copy of This Is Me and I've been listening to it in the car every since. Although all the songs are catchy and creative and nerdy, "Bread" is by far my favorite song on the album.

Blogging Every Week in April

I've seen several people start BEDA (Blog Everyday in April) or VEDA (Vlog Everyday in April), and by the time I realized that I should attempt it too, I'd already missed several days. Last month I couldn't even meet my goal of ten blog posts in a month, though, so it's probably best that I didn't set myself up for failure. At the very least I can promise BEWA, however unimpressive it might seem.

Nothing out of the ordinary has happened in the past week, so blogging completely slipped my mind on my day off yesterday. The archivist I volunteer for was on vacation last week, so the only time I left the house was to have dinner with my friends one night. Other than that, I spent my time reading books, cleaning out my hulu queue, and making money at Target. This week looks to be exactly the same, except for the 'hanging out with friends' bit. It never fails that we can only find one night that everybody's free, and last night severe weather warnings canceled our plans (the worst part was that if we had waited to make a decision instead of canceling right away, we could have totally had dinner together because the storm didn't actually arrive until 7:00 and only lasted an hour).

I did go to the dentist yesterday, so that was probably the highlight of my week (and not necessarily in a good way). Ever since I got my braces off and my permanent retainers put on, I've been paranoid that I'll develop cavities on those teeth because it's so hard to clean around them properly. Apparently that shouldn't be a worry, though, because the two cavities that the dentist found are on the top of my molars, arguably the easiest spot to clean. According to my dentist, it's the rarest type of cavity, where the enamel wears away before collapsing and forming a small hole. The hole was probably there six months ago, during my last visit, but now it's starting to decay. I'll have to get that fixed in the next couple of months, particularly since my parents "suggested" I take care of it before I go to England and end up having a dental emergency there (thankfully they didn't crack any offensively predictable jokes).

I've got some exciting plans coming up, including the royal wedding and seeing Oscar-nominated movies at the dollar theater. But obviously I want to save those for another blog post.

A Very Busy March

Just a mere month ago, on the last day of February, I had all the free time in the world to write blog posts, read books, and watch television shows. On March 1, I started my new job at Target, and it immediately took over my life. In my application and interview, I said I was looking for part-time work, but I ended up working 40 hours for the first few weeks. Even on days when I had a short shift, I've been repeatedly asked to stay late or come in early in order to cover for someone who called in sick.

Thankfully, this week seems to mark a change. They've hired several more cashiers, so my hours have dropped down to my requested 25-30. I don't mind working five days a week, but eight-hour shifts are incredibly exhausting, and I'm not THAT desperate for money. I'm still able to meet my friends once a week and volunteer at the Civil Rights Institute, and I have to admit that I enjoy being so busy. Not only do I feel like I'm no longer wasting my time, but I'm able to better appreciate the free time I have. More than likely, this will be the pattern for April and May while I anxiously wait for my flight to England on June 9.

Review: Never Let Me Go

Because I keep up with the careers of so many British actors, I invariably hear about movies before I discover their release plans for the United States. Some movies open nationwide, some are limited to New York and Los Angeles, and some fall under the radar completely. Never Let Me Go was given a limited released last year, but I was absolutely convinced that it would gain some Oscar nominations and gain a wider release. Unfortunately, this wonderful movie disappeared almost completely after a half-hearted attempt to promote it, and I just now had the opportunity to watch it.

Based on a highly-acclaimed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (that is on my reading list), I had heard mixed reviews about the film adaptation. Some people loved the movie while others argued that it failed to capture the spirit of the novel. I decided it would be best to watch the movie before I read the book, and that was completely the right decision. I went into the movie knowing practically nothing about the plot, except that it dealt with cloning humans and that the ending was not a happy one. Since I didn't spend the entire movie comparing it to the book (which invariably happens when I switch the order around), I was able to appreciate the film and the story on their own merits.

Set in an alternate universe where medical science has decided to clone sick humans in order to harvest their healthy organs, Never Let Me Go follows three "donors" over the span of twenty years. One thing I loved about the story was how the children knew exactly as much as the audience about the world they lived in and the fate they had to accept; that is, they knew nothing in the beginning and our understanding grew only when theirs did. I also appreciate books and films that can fall into a variety of genre. Never Let Me Go can be described as a tragic love story, a coming-of-age story, a science fiction story, a cautionary dystopian story, etc.

Besides telling the finite story of three clones, Never Let Me Go forces the audience to contemplate current medical practices and their moral complications. Cloning humans isn't a moral quandry that society has been forced to face quite yet, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility in the near future. If and when it does arise, then the most glaring question to be discussed is the one presented by Ishiguro; namely, are clones any less human than their "originals," or do they have their own unique soul? However, plenty of parallels can be made regarding euthanasia, stem cell research, and other recent medical developments.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - So many things worked in this film, from the acting to the setting, and I genuinely felt like I was watching another society instead of my own. My only problem was that the friendship between the three children felt unnatural, and there were very few moments where I understood why they were such good friends. This was probably more of a failing on the part of the screenplay than the novel (and building relationships is a common enough problem with 90-minute movies), but I have to admit that Keira Knightly felt out of place.

Falling into a Routine

I'm at the end of my third week of work, and it's still going really well. Now that I can't remember my life before I worked retail (never mind that it was just a month ago), I've quickly fallen into a routine for both the days I work and the days I have off.

It's getting harder and harder to keep up with all my television shows, so I always watch something before I go to work and before I go to bed. My reading pace has slowed down as well, but I take a book to work with me and read during my breaks (which is much more fun than watching the sports or BET shows that are usually on in the break room). You'd think on my days off that I'd be able to catch up, but I tend to spend the days volunteering at the Civil Rights Institute and spending time with my friends. Now that spring is here, customers and the people I work with talk about how nice the weather is and what a shame it is that I'm stuck inside all day, never realizing that my best days off are the ones where I never leave my house at all!

Obscure British Actors 101: David Morrissey

A couple of days ago I finished watching the last movie in the Red Riding trilogy, and the miniseries South Riding is next on my list. Besides similar names, they have one more thing in common: the actor David Morrissey.

• The first thing I saw him in - Way back in early 2008, when my David Tennant obsession was in full swing, I watched a mini-series/one-season TV show called Blackpool. It's remembered primarily as the show where the actors broke out into dance numbers while lip-syncing music, but it was a genuinely good murder mystery with fascinating characters (and a pair of Davids who are very easy on the eyes).
• Why I like him - Where do I begin? The Northern accent? The floppy hair? The deep voice? The sexy intensity? Also, nobody does morally ambiguous characters better (Ripley Holden in Blackpool, a corrupt policeman in Red Riding, one of the murderers on Murder on the Orient Express, etc.).
• My favorite role of his - Definitely Colonel Brandon in the most recent Sense and Sensibility. He's so good in the role that I can't decide whether he or Alan Rickman make a better Colonel, and I love me some Alan Rickman.
• My least favorite role of his - I've never seen it, but imdb tells me that David was in Basic Instinct 2, so I'd probably pick that. Otherwise, his career decisions are pretty flawless.
• A role I'd like to see him in - I think he'd make a fantastic villain. Not an anti-hero or someone you can half-way sympathize with, but an honest-to-goodness villain. Like a mob boss or corrupt politician.

Current Obsessions (Disguised as Recommendations), Part 4

Now reading: The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis - One of my most vivid memories from elementary school was the day (probably in third grade) that we read an excerpt from Voyage of the Dawn Treader and received a homework assignment to write a limerick. Just a few months after that, I found the book on a bookshelf at my grandparents' house, surrounded by the rest of the series. Unlike most people, who conventionally start with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, that was my introduction to Narnia.

The Chronicles of Narnia were among my favorite books when I was growing up, and I continue to re-read them every few years. The last time I did so was when the first movie came out, back in 2005. When the film version of Voyage of the Dawn Treader was released a few months ago, I decided it was past time to read the series again. What I love most about Lewis' books is how he created an entire world yet kept the story simple enough for children to follow along. The same cannot be said about Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy, which is too bogged down in descriptive details to be a good introduction to the fantasy genre. Obviously it's a classic work that I adore, but there's a reason that children are given Narnia first. I also love that bits and pieces of history are offered along the way before the origins and destruction of Narnia are fully explained in the final two books, The Magician's Nephew and The Last Battle. This way, it feels like the reader is exploring Narnia and falling under its magic spell just as much as the Pevensie children or the others.

Now watching: Les Misérables, the 25th Anniversary Concert - If I had had this blog back in October, I would have spent days gushing over this event. Les Misérables is hands-down my favorite musical, and I've kept up with each cast change since May 2009, when I saw it twice in England. I watched most of the concert as youtube clips the day after it took place, then watched it on the big screen when a handful of U.S. movie theaters aired it in November, pre-ordered it on DVD, and watched it on PBS on Sunday. The beauty of this cast is how they cast big names (Nick Jonas, Matt Lucas, Ramin Karimloo) to draw in the crowds and integrated current and recent cast members (including some I saw in London and plan to see this summer) into the supporting roles.

Now listening to: "Who's David" by Busted - Remember how I wrote about the random scene set to the soundtrack of Busted in the middle of Love Story in Harvard? Well, I took that as a sign that I needed to order the CD, so I did. It's a great album filled with catchy British pop, and by far the best song is "Who's David." Also, it's obviously no coincidence that it's one of the songs co-written by Tom Fletcher of McFly, one of my favorite songwriters.

Working Hard

I've been really good at keeping to a regular posting schedule for the past two months, but my new job at Target immediately took over my life and drastically reduced the amount of free time I have. I'm barely keeping up with my TV shows, and it's taking twice as long to read books, so there's nothing much to review or recommend. And obviously, when I come home at midnight from working eight or nine hours, the last thing on my mind is writing a blog post (even if it's about my beloved obscure British actors).

Yesterday (a Monday) was supposed to be my first day off since I started work last Tuesday, so you can imagine how upset I was when Target called that morning asking for me to work a seven-hour shift last night. I haven't worked retail in over three years, so naturally it's taking my body a little while to readjust, and I've been exhausted all week. The only thing that kept me going on Sunday, my sixth day in a row at work, was the fact that I could go home and rest for a couple of days. Thankfully, the store was less than half as busy as it had been all weekend, so I enjoyed the peace. There were a few short spurts where all the cashiers had long lines, but overall it was a huge change and relief.

Today I headed back to the Civil Rights Institute for the first time in a week and a half, and it was wonderful. All morning I waited for my phone to ring, but it thankfully never did. I stayed at the Institute for a few hours, doing a little filing here and there, and then I came home and took a nap before dinner. Supposedly I also have tomorrow off before a five-day spurt over the weekend. Thursday shouldn't be as bad because it's only a six-hour shift, and Friday will be worth going in because I'll get my first paycheck. I haven't gotten paid since last May, so it's an exciting moment, to say the least. Once I have money in my hand, all the hard work will be worth it because I'll be one step closer to England.

Returning to Retail

When I chose to get a masters degree in public history, I knew that it wouldn't be easy to find a job because the economy was hurting more people than it was helping; however, part of me still hoped that it would turn around before I graduated. Unfortunately, the situation has only gotten worse in the past two years, and I had to do what many other twenty-somethings (including most of my friends) are using as their last resort: move back in with the parents and accept part-time work wherever you can.

Because I want to keep volunteering at the Civil Rights Institute, I decided that retail was my best option for employment. I probably wouldn't have had any trouble finding a job at a call center or a temp agency, but those would require me to work Monday through Friday, and the Civil Rights Institute's archives is closed on the weekends. I was shocked that Target hired me so quickly after I sent in my application, but after just two days I know from first-hand experience that they weren't exaggerating their need for cashiers.

I had my orientation on Monday, and I was shocked when I received my schedule. They immediately had me working eight-hour shifts for the next six days, requiring me to cancel any plans I had with friends this week. However, I'm choosing to look on the bright side. Every hour that I stand behind a register is another few dollars to spend in England, and since Target is in the middle of hiring a lot of cashiers, my schedule should slim down in a couple of weeks.

The work itself is easy enough, since cashiers are only responsible for ringing up purchases. Unlike at CVS, I never have to process film, do returns, or stock product when there are not customers in line. So far I like it better that way, and the register system is a lot better than CVS's too. Everyone I've met has been really nice and welcoming, and I think I'm going to really like working there. Obviously the money's not the best and it's not history, but I can think of a lot worse places to work for the next year or so.

A Very Exciting February

Just one month ago, on January 31, I wrote a post describing how I had spent a month doing little more than wait for opportunities to come along. How quickly things can change in just a few weeks! Since then, I've started volunteering at an archives, gotten hired by Target as a cashier, and started planning a trip to England this summer.

I don't know if I had anything to do with this abrupt change in circumstances, like a more aggressive attitude in regards to filling out job applications or announcing to the Civil Rights Institute that I wanted to work in the archives, or if everything just happened to fall in place at the same time. Either way, I'm not questioning how it happened...I'm just thrilled that it did! I don't think I could have taken much more waiting.

London or Bust: An Update

Exactly one week ago, I wrote a post describing how I felt the universe was telling me that I need to go to London this summer. In the span of seven short days, the universe has been pulling out the stops, and if I were a more flighty person (who didn't live with her parents), my flight would already be booked.

Here's the complete list of events that have occurred in the past week:

• Two weeks ago, Killian Donnelly and Gareth Gates announced they were leaving Les Misrables at the next cast change on June 18.
• Two days ago, Matt Lucas, Hadley Fraser, and Alfie Boe announced they would be returning to Les Mis at the next cast change (meaning that I'd see some of my actors no matter when I went).
• Two hours ago, my friend Rachel emailed me the itinerary for her family's European vacation, and they will be in London from June 10 to June 18 (reinforcing my belief that I absolutely must see Killian and Gareth).
• Last week I discovered a rumor that David Thaxton would be taking over as Raoul next month during the cast change for Love Never Dies.
• On Monday, the rumor was confirmed in the same press release that announced Ramin Karimloo would be staying on as The Phantom until September (giving me the entire summer to see two former Enjolras' on the same stage).
• Today I was offered a job at Target working as a cashier, which would allow me to pay for a trip to London this summer.

This is fate, right? Hopefully my parents think so and approve of this plan!

My Unlikely Love - NASCAR

One of the enduring mysteries of my personality is my love of NASCAR. No one can explain where it came from or why I like it because none of my friends or family introduced me to it. I simply discovered it one weekend while I was flipping channels (and failing to find anything interesting to watch), and I quickly grew addicted. I watched it throughout high school and into college, but for the past three years my interest has waned. With graduate school, I was always too busy to watch every race, and once I missed most of the 2008 season, I got behind on all the changes as drivers swapped teams/numbers/sponsors. By 2010, I couldn't recognize half the cars on the track, and adding in the fact that Jimmie Johnson has won the past five championships, I basically just lost interest in the entire thing.

This year, though, I'm done with graduate school, the points system has been revamped, and I'm learning the line-up from scratch. I decided to watch the Daytona 500, and I'm back to being hooked. The racing was spectacular, Trevor Bayne's win was stunning, and watching the interviews before and after the race showed me how much I had missed these guys (not Jimmie Johnson, though). So don't be surprised if an occasional post about racing sneaks in between posts about obscure British actors and my volunteer work.

Obscure British Actors 101: Russell Tovey

Because I live a very exciting life, I'm spending the entire day in front of the television watching BBC America's Being Human marathon, which started at 5:00 AM this morning (and yes, I woke up in time for the first episode because I'm THAT dedicated of a fan). The third season premieres tonight, so I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to watch the first two seasons and refresh my memory of the show's mythology. In honor of this fabulous day of British television, I've chosen to profile Russell Tovey, since he was the reason I discovered Being Human in the first place.

• The first thing I saw him in - I first saw him in an episode of Doctor Who, specifically the 2007 Christmas Special, "The Voyage of the Damned." It didn't take long for me to notice him because a) he was adorable and b) his character's name was Alonzo, as in "Allons-y Alonzo."
• Why I like him - Russell is great at playing ordinary, adorkable, nerdy guys who rise to the occasion and turn into convincing badasses. He's also able to balance drama with comedy, which is one reason why the cast of Being Human makes the show so brilliant. In the middle of all the angst, you need an actor with great comedic timing, and Russell has that. It's also worth noting that he's part of a special group of British actors who starred in The History Boys, one of my all-time favorite plays (and movies).
• My favorite role of his - definitely George Sands on Being Human
• My least favorite role of his - John Chivery in Little Dorrit, but not because I hate his performance or the character. John pines for Amy Dorrit his entire life, only to have her spurn him in favor of Matthew Macfadyen...breaks my heart every time.
• A role I'd like to see him in - I'd love for him to do another costume drama, but one where his character gets a happy ending. I could easily see him playing Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park, or maybe Emma's Mr. Knightley when he's older.

London or Bust

Earlier this week I had an epiphany, and I've grown more sure that it's the right decision with each passing day - I absolutely have to travel to England this May, and I'm going to make it happen.

Two of my best friends are going on separate trips to England this summer, but I've been wavering on whether I'll be able to accompany one of them. The biggest obstacle is the fact that I've been unemployed since May and have been slowly spending my savings. The obvious solution is to get a job, and I've been applying for archivist positions for the past few months. As I quickly discovered, though becoming a full-time, salaried employee usually means a six-to-twelve month waiting period for vacation days (meaning that I would have the money but not the time). I've hit a wall on that front, though, since I haven't seen any entry-level job openings since before Christmas.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been content to apply here and there for retail positions while volunteering at the Civil Rights Institute. But when I stopped to think about it, I realized that if I don't travel to England this summer, it will be at least another year before I have my next opportunity. My resolve strengthened when I realized that in mid-June, two of my Les Miserables actors were leaving the show (I'm super obsessed with the London production, don't judge me). Obviously, it's perfectly natural for me to base my decisions on obscure British actors. The museums and castles will still be around in a year, but you never know what an actor's next gig will be.

This morning I filled out five job applications at various stores, and I have another list of stores that require you to fill out a paper application. If I'm going to convince my parents to let me go abroad, I need to at least be able to pay for the trip myself. Fingers crossed that I'll find something soon!

Current Obsessions (Disguised as Recommendations), Part 3

Now reading: Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir - When I traveled to England in 2009, I bought new history books nearly every day, and now that I'm finished with graduate school, I finally have time to read them. Alison Weir is best known for her historical non-fiction, but she rightly decided that the tragic tale of Lady Jane Grey would be best told as a novel. After Edward VI died without an male heir, Protestant nobility rallied behind Jane Grey and declared her queen, despite the fact that Edward had two living sisters (who would eventually become Queens Mary and Elizabeth I). Less than a month after her brother's death, the Catholic Mary had gained enough support to take over London, arrest Jane and her family, and declare herself the rightful queen. When a handful of nobles (including Jane's father) continued to form plots in Jane's name, Mary's councilors persuaded her to execute her sixteen-year-old cousin.

Because Weir wrote Innocent Traitor in first person, the story becomes even more personal and Jane's short life becomes even more tragic. Her nine-day reign is often overlooked in popular Tudor history, with most novels and movies focusing on Henry VIII's multiple wives and the glorious reign of Elizabeth I. For me, though, it's easily one of the most fascinating aspects of sixteenth-century England. Innocent Traitor is a very easy read, even for those who know nothing about Tudor England, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in British history.

Now watching: Deadwood - Deadwood is one of those TV shows that I've heard nothing but praise for, but I couldn't watch it when it first aired because it was on HBO. My father caved and bought the super-extended cable last year when The Pacific aired, and he keeps paying for it because he enjoys watching tv shows and movies on-demand. Last month, he discovered that HBO is putting up six episodes at a time, so I finally got my chance. I knew I couldn't go wrong with a show starring Timothy Olyphant and Jim Beaver, and it's just as ridiculously good as I thought it would be.

Now listening to: "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum -I've been out of the loop of popular music for a few years now, mostly because Birmingham has terrible radio stations that I never listen to. However, Glee has been very helpful in showing me that I'm not missing much (chances are, if the song isn't an oldie, classic rock, or a showtune, I skip it on the CD). "Need You Now", though, is the exception that proves the rule. It was featured in the Valentine's Day episode last week, and I've been listening to it non-stop ever since.

Phase One of My Top-Secret Career Plan

Ever since mid-November (when I defended my thesis), my life has revolved around spending time with my friends, catching up on books and TV shows I missed during graduate school, and filling out applications. As previous posts attest, six days out of the week I'm usually in my bedroom, laptop or book in hand. However, last week I filled out a volunteer application at the Civil Rights Institute here in Birmingham, and on Tuesday I started Phase One of Operation Infiltrate an Archives and Prove Yourself to Be So Invaluable that They Hire You.

I had specified on my application that I wanted to work in archives, but I spent all of Monday worrying that something would go terribly wrong and I end up working in the gift shop. I mean, I seriously love gift shops, but it would be a waste of my talents in the sense that I couldn't put it on my resume. For the first three hours that I was at the Institute on Tuesday, I had this terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that my fears were coming true and that the Operation was over before it even began. As soon as I got there and introduced myself, the lady in charge of volunteers told me to go on the self-guided tour. No discussion of why I was there or what my options were, but I didn't panic. So far, so good. I finished the tour and tried to find her, but she was on her lunch break. Uh-oh, this was not in the plans. I awkwardly sat there making small talk with some other volunteers, one of whom tried to turn me into a greeter like herself. Thankfully, as soon as the lady returned, I explained my experience and asked if I could work in archives. She said yes, took me downstairs to meet the archivist, and sent me home. On Wednesday, she immediately handed me over to the archivist, who immediately put me to work.

Just as Tuesday can be classified as a disaster, Wednesday can be classified as glorious. I didn't do anything exciting like process a collection, but it just felt so nice just to be in an archives again. It was definitely the sort of turning point I needed to affirm that I want a job as an archivist and that the Operation might be a resounding success.

I successfully made myself useful to the archivist by doing two menial tasks that would have prevented her from giving her full attention to more important ones. Because I was there to photocopy documents for one researcher and scan photographs for another, she could oversee an educational program and edit an oral history interview. Any trained archivist, such as myself, could do the first set of tasks, but the second group were her specific job responsibilities. She was so excited to have me there that she kept introducing me as "the perfect - and fully-trained - volunteer," and if that doesn't boost a girl's ego, I don't know what would!

I'll probably volunteer there twice a week, and best case scenario, she'll convince them to hire and pay me for my time. At the very least, she remembers those painful days of job searching and will keep her ear open for other job opportunities.

Obscure British Actors 101: Ioan Gruffudd

If my friends had to describe me in three words, I know for a fact that there is one word everybody would choose: Anglophile. I've been obsessed with British history and pop culture for ten years now, and I'm fairly confident that few people have a greater knowledge of obscure British actors than me. With that in mind, I've created a regular feature that I can use whenever my life is boring and I have no incentive to blog. Like "Current Obsessions Disguised as Recommendations," but with even more pretty boys. And now, without further ado, I present to you: Obscure British Actors 101!*

*not an actual college course, unfortunately

I saw this meme floating around tumblr yesterday and thought it would be a great way to introduce some of my favorite actors. And I've decided that there's no better place to start than with the obscure British actor that started it all, Ioan Gruffudd.

• The first thing I saw him in - Waaaaay back in 9th grade (fall of 2000), I was spending another boring Saturday watching movies on television. As I flipped past A&E, a very pretty man in a naval uniform caught my attention and made me stop. It didn't take long for me to be hooked, and I credit Horatio Hornblower with introducing me to the costume drama genre (as well as several actors).
• Why I like him - Besides the pretty-boy face with lovely blue eyes and great bone structure, Ioan is obviously a great actor. Specifically, he's a great actor for roles of fictional and historical leaders (Horatio, Mr. Fantastic, William Wilberforce, Lancelot). Ioan has the fantastic ability to give passionate and inspiring speeches, and he's always believable despite his youthful appearance.
• My favorite role of his -I'll always have a soft spot for Horatio Hornblower, but it's probably William Wilberforce in Amazing Grace.
• My least favorite role of his - Definitely 102 Dalmatians (although he did meet his wife on the set, so at least something good came out of that movie)
• A role I'd like to see him in - Ioan's ability to play natural leaders suggests that he would be great as one of England's more inspiring monarchs, but I'd also love to see him go against type and play a charming con man, a la Matt Bomer in White Collar.

Review: Love Story in Harvard

Three years ago, during my last semester at Montevallo, I inadvertently discovered the joys of Asian dramas and promptly became obsessed. It was during the height of my Death Note obsession, which led to an obsession with Matsuyama Kenichi, which led to an internet search for more of his TV shows and movies. During my search, I stumbled across a Korean television show called My Love Patzzi, which was described as a modern-day adaptation of Cinderella. How could I not say no to that? And thus my love for Kim Rae Won was born.

 Seriously...just look at that face.

Last year my obsession with Korean and Japanese dramas subsided somewhat, mostly due to practical reasons. My thesis was taking up more and more of my time, and my limited amount of spare time had to be devoted to my first love, the obscure British actors. Thus, I'm still working my way through Kim Rae Won's backlog of TV shows and never saw Love Story in Harvard (a 2004 drama) until now.

One thing that has to be admitted up front is that Asian dramas aren't for everyone. Japanese dramas have a different style from Korean ones, and both are very different from American shows. I've seen my fair share of both, though, and I always genuinely enjoy them...until this one. I'm very sad to report that after suffering through 17 hours of this show, I feel that I have to justify the waste of time with a blog post.

One problem with Love Story in Harvard is that it tries to be too many things and condense too many stories into one TV show. At its heart, it's meant to be a love triangle set at Harvard, but the girl never really considers dating the "other guy," so any dramatic tension is lost. The second major theme is overcoming adversity, which comes in the form of two stories. The first half is set at Harvard, where the main love interest (Kim Rae Won) is a law student in another country. There's some really painful scenes where he has to attend class and study sessions (and give speeches in English), but for the most part, he completely ignores class to woo the girl.

Half-way through the show, there's an abrupt jump from his first semester to three years later, when he's back in Korea. Now he's overcoming adversity as the prosecuting attorney against a multi-national corporation accused of polluting the water and air so badly that people are dying (because obviously you give that to a newbie). And who just happens to be the defending attorney? The "other guy"! Too bad the girl has firmly made her choice and he has no chance (but at least we're spared more ambivalent attempts at a love triangle). This storyline was a lot more interesting than the Harvard one, but it was completely predictable. The two men hate each other, which turns to grudging admiration and respect before they finally work together to take down the corporation.

Any list of the show's flaws is not complete without mentioning the soundtrack. Most of it sounded like bad elevator music, and the only decent music was the stuff playing over the intercom in stores and cafes. In the Harvard scenes, it was American alternative rock from the early 2000s, and in the Korea scenes, it was Christmas music (which was really weird because there was no mention of Christmas in the story). However, there was one glorious moment in Episode 15 when a crucial moment occurred to the soundtrack of Busted, the boy band that inadvertently led to the creation of my favorite band in the whole world, McFly. I legitimately started freaking out when I heard my favorite Busted song playing, and I completely missed the conversation taking place and had to watch the scene again (oh darn). That was unquestionably the best moment of the whole show.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars - This show would get a 1/5 in terms of plot and enjoyment of the story, but I'll be generous and give it an additional one for the hotness of Kim Rae Won and the fantastically hilarious (intentional and otherwise) supporting characters.

A Predictable Post about Shopping

This week has been relatively boring, but yesterday was another one of those run-errands-before-meeting-friends days, which was a much-needed change of pace. After lunch, I drove around performing the more mundane tasks first. I had to go to the dreaded Wal-Mart because I had several quality coupons that were about to expire, and then I had to go to the post office to mail a couple of packages. After that, I drove to the bank and deposited a check, which was obviously the most exciting errand (you know, cause I'm poor). 

My friends and I planned to meet at 5:30, but I purposely left the house several hours early because I wanted plenty of time to browse at 2nd and Charles (a giant used book store) and Ross (a discount clothing store). I had sold several books at 2nd and Charles back in December, so I had $7.00 in store credit, plus a buy-one-get-one-half-off coupon. When combined, I only paid $6.50 for two books, one of which was a hardcover history book from England! It's called Blood and Roses by Helen Castor, and it's a multi-generational history of a noble family during the Wars of the Roses. I love learning about that time period, so I was particularly excited by that find. I also bought Marion Zimmer Bradley's classic book The Mists of Avalon, which Mom has been wanting to read for ages. 

I usually go to the Ross on Hwy 280, but I've had a sneaking suspicion that the one in Hoover is actually larger. I decided yesterday was an excellent time to investigate, and I was ecstatic to discover that I was right. I've bought some tops and skirts at Ross, but the real reason I shop there is the dresses. I buy one pretty much every time I shop there, so imagine my joy when I realized that the store in Hoover has twice the dresses as any other Ross I've been to. It was hard not to grab ten to try one, but I was good and only bought one red summer dress.

After leaving Ross, I went to Barnes & Noble to meet my friends/gush over the British DVD section with them. We decided to eat at the Indian restaurant, which was an excellent and tasty decision. Last night was particularly fun because we wandered from topic to topic, rather than talking about class and work all night. After we left the restaurant, we returned to the bookstore and browsed their history and clearance sections, as usual. However, I was very good and didn't buy anything else (hopefully I'll be that strong next week when we get together again!).

Accuracy in Historical Fiction

As a historian, I have a love/hate relationship with historical fiction, in both movies and books. When done correctly, there's nothing I love more than picking up a novel set in the Middle Ages (either about commoners, such as The Pillars of the Earth, or about royalty, a la Jean Plaidy and Sharon Kay Penman). When done badly, though, I tend to completely reject its existence (little known fact - there was no Oscar for Best Picture in 1996 because Braveheart was never made).

From the time when I was eleven and saw Titanic and Anastasia, I've been critiquing the historical accuracy of books and movies. I used to think that describing the correct years, names, places, actions, or consequences was all that contributed to a text's historical accuracy; however, in the past year I've begun to realize that a second aspect can undermine it completely. A historical novel can contain engaging plots with themes that resonate with modern society, but it would completely fail as historical fiction if the characters are not believable in their setting. If an author or screenwriter isn't going to take the time to thoroughly research a time period, why bother basing an entire story around it?

I've noticed that many authors employ the same formula of an "enlightened protagonist" clashing with the "ignorant/racist/etc" supporting characters who are actually more representative of the time period. I can think of two reasons for this trend. Either the author picked the historical setting exclusively to point out the flaws in past cultures, or the author mistakenly believes that an audience can only relate to a story where the protagonist shares its views on women, slavery, religion, etc.

For example, if a novel or movie is going to be  set in the United States in the early nineteenth century, then slavery is obviously a topic that the author must address as some point. More often than not, though, the protagonist just happens to be the one person in the family who believes that slavery is wrong...even if the family owns slaves! Watching the protagonist interact with slaves, struggling with his belief system, and eventually form his own opinions instead of relying upon society is one thing; in such cases, the story is very emotionally compelling. But casually writing a scene in order to acknowledge that the protagonist is aware of slavery, yet not supportive, just seems lazy.

I'm half-way through World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, and as much as historians (including myself) love to pick on Ken Follett for his artistic license, I've realized that he does understand the medieval mindset and creates appropriate characters. Some bishops and monks are earnestly religious while others are ambitious; the nobility change frequently allegiances in their efforts to gain more land and power; and the working class struggle from year to year in order to put food on the table. Each character's actions come from believable motivations, and never once have I felt like Follett was using his text to preach to me.

A Very Boring January

According to my calendar, today is January 31, but to me it feels as if 2011 is much further gone. I suppose if I were busy, instead of sitting around the house all day waiting for a job to magically appear, time would feel more rushed. However, each day drags on and feels more like two or three.

If I had to describe this January in one word, it was definitely a month of waiting. I had applied for a job in mid-December, and the organization's hiring process took a lot longer than I expected. First I had to wait through the Christmas holidays for my phone interview, then I had to wait a week for their decision, then I had to wait a week for my flight to Maryland, and then I had to wait for their final decision. In the end, all the waiting added up to a big pile of nothing, except one more failed interview experience under my belt.

My time wasn't completely wasted, though. I know what once I start working somewhere, I'll have a lot less time to spend on my actors and books. So what better way to spend those long, empty days than catching up with my obscure British actors, discovering new ones through all the TV shows and movies I discovered, and reading books. And with no homework assignments or shifts at work, I was able to spend a lot of quality time with my friends. This wasn't the most exciting January, but it certainly beats another semester at school.

Another Missed Job Opportunity

It's been five days since my last post, which would usually indicate that my interest in this blog is already fading. However, I honestly did think about posting each day; I just genuinely had nothing to say! I'm still working my way through the same TV shows and books, so there's nothing new to review or recommend, and yesterday was the first day I'd left the house all week. For the most part, I've spent the week waiting for a phone call from the company I interviewed with last week. Every morning I thought "Maybe today is the day I'll get a real job!" Unfortunately, as I discovered yesterday, they have hired another applicant and I'm back to square one.

I really thought I had a chance at this job (since they flew me to Maryland for the second interview), but I guess the other applicants were even more amazing than me. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them had several more years of experience than me; so many historical organizations (museums, libraries, archives, etc) have had to cut staff that every stack of applications is filled with talent. And it doesn't help that I'm absolutely terrible at interviews. I look great on paper, but in person I get so nervous that I'm a mumbling mess. This one went A LOT better than my first real interview in November, though, so I hope that I'll keep improving with each one. The company also asked three times as many questions as my last interviewer, so I have a better idea of what answers I need to prepare.

I applied for this job waaaay back in mid-December, so the uncertainty of my future has been hanging over my head for the past month and a half. Now that I know their answer, I'm moving onto Plan B. I'm going to start volunteering at two organizations in town (probably the Civil Rights Institute and the county archives) while I simultaneously search for a part-time retail job. I managed to save up quite a bit during my two-year stint as a GRA at West Georgia, but those funds have been slowly dwindling since last summer. Since I still live with my parents, I don't spend a lot of money, and working in retail will give me more than enough to bulk up my savings account again.

With any luck, volunteering at an organization and archiving for free will open up new doors for me. Most places hire from within, so there are very few entry-level positions advertised online. I just know that an employer would be impressed with me if he could see me in action, rather than basing his decision on a resume and a half-hour interview. Even if neither organization has the funds to hire me at some point this year, they'll at least be in touch with other archives in the state, so they may hear about job openings that I would otherwise miss.

As much as I would have loved working and living in Maryland, part of me is very happy to remain in Birmingham. Everyone I know and love is within a three-hour radius, and I'd miss my life here if I had to move far away.

Review: Him & Her

I first heard about the television show Him & Her about six months ago, when Russell Tovey kept tweeting about his new show. It got a little bit of buzz on the websites I frequent (I wouldn't know about half of my favorite British shows if it weren't for the internet, let alone able to watch them), but there's been no indication that BBC America will air it. So when I found it on youtube a few days ago, I jumped at the chance to watch it. 

The title of the show is very simple, but it perfectly describes the plot: for six half-hour episodes, we get a glimpse into the life of Steve and Becky, who have been dating for seven months. There's only one set - Steve's flat - and a small group of friends and relatives to round out the cast.

I wasn't completely charmed by the pilot episode, but I rarely dismiss a TV show after only one episode, so I went ahead and started the second one. Once I had a feel for the show and the characters, I kept watching episodes until I (all too quickly) finished the series.

Him & Her works so well because it's meant to be a realistic representation of couples in their mid-20s (after they leave college for the real world), and the comedy stems from the absurdity found in every day situations. During the course of the series, we meet Steve's slightly creepy neighbor, watch Steve meet his girlfriend's parents, celebrate his birthday, and get annoyed that his girlfriend's sister won't let him watch the football game. I love a surreal comedy like The Mighty Boosh as much as the next girl, but I really appreciate a story that mirrors the simplicity of my own life. For this very reason, I found the style of Him & Her to be very reminiscent of the original UK version of The Office. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Him & Her improved with every episode, and I'd love for it to get a second series.

Current Obsessions (Disguised as Recommendations), Part 2

Now reading: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - One of my great obsessions is medieval England, so the modern classic The Pillars of the Earth has been on my radar for several years. I watched the mini-series last year and absolutely loved it, although I tended to yell at the TV every time that the true historical account of The Anarchy was changed to suit Follett's plot. I started reading the book a couple of days ago, and I must admit, I can't put it down. Despite the fact that he's yet another author who changes history on a whim, I can't deny that Follett is a masterful storyteller when employing his own characters.

Now watching: Miranda - One week ago, I had never heard of the TV show Miranda or its creator and star, Miranda Hart. Now, it's one of my top ten favorite Britcoms (mental note: top ten list would make a great blog post). I watched all twelve episodes of its two seasons in three days, and I'm going through such terrible withdrawals that I will probably watch it again next week. Oh all right, I admit it...I'm madly in love with Gary (played by the adorable Tom Ellis) and want to see him again.

Can you blame a girl?

Now listening to: "Proud" by Heather Small - This song is one of the running jokes in Miranda, but it's actually legitimately good!

Clearance Sales and $1 Movies, aka, The World of Unemployment

When you're as lazy as I can be, you tend to postpone running errands until you have so many that you're gone all day.  Yesterday was one of those days, and I can gladly say that I successfully accomplished all three missions: flail over The Social Network, buy a new top and a little black dress, and have a fun dinner date with friends.

Since I've been unemployed since last May, I've had to severely limit my spending on books and DVDs.  The Social Network was released last week, and I've spent every day since gushing over the clips and quotes from all the glorious special features; however, I was very good and didn't buy it.  Instead, I went to the $1 movie theater and saw it on the big screen again.  I loved it just as much the second time around, and the fact that I knew every twist and turn meant that I didn't embarrass myself with incessant giggling.  One other point worth mentioning: I was the youngest person in the theater by A LOT.  Everyone else was at least sixty years old, so I kept wondering why they were seeing a movie about facebook.  I mean, at its heart it's really the story of a friendship betrayed (the friendship of HOT YOUNG ACTORS, that is), but surely understanding the social media context leads to a greater appreciation.

When the movie ended, I had two and a half hours to kill before I was going to meet my friends for dinner.  I've been trying to bulk up my wardrobe with professional clothes, so obviously I decided to go shopping for the one thing that I can buy.  I went to Burlington Coat Factory for the first time, and I have to say I was terribly disappointed, mostly by the horrible organization (if I'm looking in the "medium" section, I expect there to be mostly medium sizes, not a jumble of everything!).

My disappointment was short-lived, though, because I hit the jackpot at TJ Maxx.  I went in on a mission to find a simple long-sleeved black shirt (the one I currently wear with skirts is several years old), and I found one on the first rack.  With time to spare, I wandered over to the dress section, and I founded the cutest little black dress there.  And it was in the clearance section to boot!  It's a short-sleeve dress with a scooped neck and a bell skirt, originally priced for $129, and I bought it for only $20.  I tried it on again at home with a skinny red belt, and it is GORGEOUS.  Best dress I've ever owned.

After TJ Maxx, I headed down to Alabaster to meet my friends.  This week, we went the cheap route and ate at Chick-fil-A, but no one complained because on the plus side, we got to eat at Chick-fil-A! We had to break apart right after dinner, rather than meandering around the bookstore like we usually do, but it's so nice to have free time to see each other that none of us minded.

The 2011 Golden Globes

As a TV, movie, and actor junkie, it should come as no surprise that I'm a HUGE fan of  awards season.  Every year, I faithfully watch the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Oscars, and if I lived in England, I'd happily watch the BAFTAs too. 

Usually I have to watch the awards shows by myself, but last year I discovered a kindred spirit in my roommate Shanda.  This year, we no longer live together, but since we're both done with graduate school and back in the Birmingham area, we got together to watch last night's Golden Globes at her house. 

The two movies that really stood out this year, at least to me, were The King's Speech and The Social Network.  Shanda and I were thrilled when Colin Firth won Best Actor (Drama) because out of all of his memorable roles, King George VI is without a doubt his best performance.  And since Geoffrey Rush's character and performance was so integral to the success of the movie, we both wished that he had won a Golden Globe alongside Colin Firth.

As much as I loved The King Speech, I was SO EXCITED when The Social Network won Best Picture (Drama) because a) it surpassed everyone's expectations and was GREAT and b) it's sure to be a movie that defines my generation.  Similarly, I believe that David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin deserved their wins in their respective categories, Best Director and Best Screenplay.  Without these two solid foundations, The Social Network would have been as laughably bad as people expected it to be, even with the actors' amazing performances.

For the television awards, I had a much hard time picking out my favorites because there are so many quality shows on the air right now.  However, I think the Golden Globes completely missed the boat in several key categories.  I really enjoyed the first season of Boardwalk Empire, but I wouldn't name it Best Television Series (Drama) like the Golden Globes did.  Steve Buscemi definitely deserved to win for Best Actor (Drama), though, and Kelly MacDonald was robbed of her award,  Their scenes were always amazing, and their performances instantly elevated the quality of individual episodes.

In the comedy category, I didn't approve of the way that Glee dominated with Best Television Series (Comedy), Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.  I adore Jane Lynch, but that award should have gone to Kelly MacDonald, and Glee is too uneven to be called "the best" when Modern Family is consistently hilarious.  I am glad that Chris Colfer won, though...anyone who watches Glee can tell you that he deserves all of the praise that he receives.

The only award I'm truly upset over, though, is Best Miniseries or TV Movie.  I've never heard of Carlos, so it might be wonderful....but how did The Pacific not win???  I'm completely obsessed with The Pacific (I've seen it three times and it just gets better and better with each viewing), and I totally went into that award with a false sense of security.  "Of course The Pacific is going to win, just like it did at the Emmys and just like Band of Brothers did...it's just the best!"  Ugh, I am so disappointed in you, Golden Globes.

Review: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

I've been aware of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy for years, even before the movie adaptation of The Golden Compass came out in 2007, but I read it for the first time this week.  I absolutely loved the entire series, and I sped through the last book in record time because I was dying to know what would happen.  Book stores and libraries classify the series as young adult fiction, but I think reading it as an adult made me appreciate certain aspects of the story more than I would have ten years ago (when I was fourteen).

Since His Dark Materials is a fantasy story, the plot is hard to explain to someone who hasn't read them too.  Lyra Belacqua is an orphan who lives at Oxford University, but not our Oxford.  Her world is very similar to ours, with a few adjustments, such as witches, armored polar bears, and daemons (a tangible part of the soul that takes the form of the animal, depending on each person's unique personality).  What drives the plot, though, is Dust.  Some people want to study it, some want to destroy it, and Lyra's destiny is tied to it.  And really, saying anything more than that would ruin most of the twists and turns of the story.

His Dark Materials might be classified as a young adult series, but Pullman has said in interviews that he intended for adults to read the books too.  Because he had such a diverse audience in mind, Pullman did not write the series at a juvenile reading level.  There are some themes that children can relate to (childhood vs. adulthood, the pros and cons of growing up), and there are other themes that adults would appreciate more (religion vs. science, the beauty and value of all forms of life); however, everybody can enjoy Lyra's adventure for the pure narrative alone, without any knowledge of various symbolic meanings and parallels.

It's impossible to discuss His Dark Materials without mentioning the controversies that erupted first when it was published and again when the movie premiered.  I've seen the series described as the anti-Chronicles of Narnia, and Pullman purposely created a narrative that inverted Paradise Lost.  One of my few complaints is that all the "good" characters are either skeptical or completely reject religion while all the religious leaders are written as zealots trying to maintain complete control over society.  A mixture of the groups would have made for even more interesting characters, but then Pullman probably would have had a harder time telling the story he wanted.  However, I would still encourage everyone (children and adults alike) to read this series because it's an engaging adventure story on the surface, yet it contains so many parallels to our society that the reader is forced to stop and think. 

Rating - 4.5 out of 5 stars - There were some chapters that dragged in the third book, and I felt that one of the major plotlines had a weak conclusion.  Overall, though, His Dark Materials is one of the best fantasy series I've ever read.