Seven Favorite Soundtracks From Movies Based on Classic Literature

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One of my favorite things to do is curl up with a good movie or miniseries that is based on a classic story. It's not often that I take time to watch them, but the good thing is that if you have the soundtrack you can listen to them anywhere! It doesn't matter if you're doing housework or driving in the car, you can follow along with beloved stories as the soundtrack plays. Below are some that I go back to time and again.

Emma (2009)
My favorite Jane Austen adaptation - largely because Mr. Knightley is The Best Ever. One of my favorites: The Seaside

Les Miserables (2012)
Redemption. Sacrifice. Love. Liberty. "My soul belongs to God... He gave me hope when hope was gone." One of my favorites: Who Am I

Sense & Sensibility (1995)
This isn't my favorite version of the movie, but it has the loveliest music. One of my favorites: My Father's Favorite

Anne of Green Gables (1985)
The music alone makes me feel nostalgic and weepy - but in a good way! One of my favorites: Anne's Theme

Phantom of the Opera (2004)
It's not just a stage play - I've read the 1910 book by Gaston Leroux. The movie is better! One of my favorites: All I Ask Of You

  North & South (2004)
The music can be on the melancholy side, but this is such a good story! One of my favorites: Mr. Thornton's Walk

Pride & Prejudice (1995)
The veritable music of my teenage years. That piano! Those horns! One of my favorites: Opening Title Music

Find more Top Ten Tuesday posts at That Artsy Reader Girl.

"Castle on the Rise" by Kristy Cambron

 


Kristy Cambron's Lost Castle series continues with this Ireland-inspired tale. Like the first book in the series, this is a split-time novel featuring three separate timelines, characters, and plots. In the late 1700s our heroine is Maeve, largely running her family's estate and trying to be a generous mistress, including rescuing strangers who are found wounded in nearby fields. The middle storyline focuses on the 1916 Easter Rising, with young photographer Issy wanting to join the fight for freedom. Our current day setting brings us Laine, a hurting divorcee with a small daughter whose unplanned visit to Ireland may end up bringing hope and healing to both of them.

Having found the timeline in "The Lost Castle" confusing to follow, "Castle on the Rise" is truly refreshing in its straightforward chronology. The historical stories grabbed me right away, and I also felt for Laine and the burden of the secrets she was keeping.

However, much like the first book, I felt too much was lost trying to pack three stories into one. I love learning history through fiction, but it seemed the rebellions of 1798 and 1916 as Cambron tried to describe them lacked context, and the real life people and places lacked impact because they were not developed enough on the page. I felt Issy's story was the strongest and that I could have gathered so much more of Ireland's struggle if only it had a chance to truly grow and blossom here.

My other main complaint was that even basic conversations were difficult to follow because none of the characters' motivations were very clear. I often had no idea why any two characters would be having the conversations as presented in the story.

It is clear that Cambron loves Ireland and wished to honor this country and its fight for freedom. Her description of the location were beautifully done. Perhaps other readers would be able to enjoy the split-time approach more than I this time.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.