Thursday, April 24, 2008

One book, one DVD, one song, one man



It's always fascinating to me to know what's on everyone's All-Time Favorites list. So I thought we could do something fun today, and pretend we're stranded on a desert island. Okay, so the stranded part isn't so ideal. Sand in strange places is never fun. We'll make it a tropical island, fit out with rope hammock, hut and a neverending supply of gourmet meals that magically appear whenever you're hungry. How's that? So let's all take a breath and relax. Drag your mind away from the doldrums of work, and fantasize the perfect escape. I promise you won't be stranded forever. But, depending on how you answer, you may wish for an extended stay.

Assuming the DVD player and iPod would be provided (we won't worry about where the electricity comes from), what would you request for each of the following? Favorite book. Favorite movie. Favorite song. Favorite man (either for his conversation or, erm...well, you know, this is a fantasy). [Fav man doesn't have to be famous, but why the heck not?]

Here's my picks:

Book: The Three Musketeers (Dumas makes it seem so effortless. And the more I read it, the more I believe I can convince D'Artagnan to save Constance before Milady gets to her first.)




Movie: Dangerous Liaisons (I never tire of this gorgeous battle of the wicked hearts. And the costumes!)



Song: Oh, Holy Night (A classic that I listen to all year long.)


Man: Jean-Hugues Anglade (My fav French actor. He could teach me French, among other things. Can I extend my stay? Pretty please?) :-)

So tell! And no fighting over the menfolk, ladies. We'll make copies if necessary.

Michele

27 comments:

Playground Monitor said...

Book: Can I get back to you on this one?

Movie: Romancing the Stone (That was the end of Grogan... the man who killed my father, raped and murdered my sister, burned my ranch, shot my dog, and stole my Bible!)


Song: Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor (still a fave for this Carolina girl after all these years)

Man: Hugh Jackman (sorry, Mrs. Jackman, but I'm gonna have to take him)

Marilyn

Debra Dixon said...

Book: Omnibus of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series OR Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer. Or maybe Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale.

Movie: Cutting Edge (Just watched it the other day and I'm always a sucker for romantic ice skating movie.)

Song: I'll Be Home For Christmas, Anne Murray. (Hey, Michele started the whole Christmas theme. I'm just a follower. I can't help it.)

Man: Got to be my husband. American Express and I have the same motto. "Don't leave home without it/him." He's clever, funny, cooks, and could use a vacation.

Unknown said...

Okay, you got me, Michele. I've harbored secret "deserted island" fantasies since I saw "Swiss Family Robinson" as a kid! And my most recent island adventure "Nim's Island" was an unexpected treat for us big girls. Gerard Butler played the dad-hero combo. Whoa. I'm so all-in for this fantasy.

Book: Okay, this is sheer cruelty. One book. Am I duty bound to say the Bible? Or can I be honest and say something like "Pride and Prejudice"? Or "A Vision of Light" or Jenny Crusie and Bob Mayer's "Agnes and the Hitman"? One writer maybe. . . not just one book!

DVD: would have to be a big sci-fi classic. . . "Independence Day" or "Armageddon" or "The Day the World Stood Still." I'm also crazy about "The Fifth Element" and "Evolution" and "Lake Placid." All have wonderfully quotable dialog.

Song: That would have to be Bach's Brandenberg Concertos. (I know that's cheating, since it's more than ONE song.) If you won't let me have that, I'll have to go with "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. Because I love to belt out that song when no one's around and it's great for aerobics and general mood lifting. Failing that, "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge. Same rationale. Great to sing and lift spirits.

And GUY: Hmmmm. Assuming we don't have to do much to survive (those gourmet delivered meals were an inspiration!) then I'm taking
Gerard Butler. Go see Nim's Island and you'll know why. Or The 300 and you'll really know why.

Sigh. I'm ready for my fantasy now, Mr. DeMille!

Michele Hauf said...

Hee, Marilyn, marriage status doesn't apply when stranded on a tropical island, so you're good to go. But find that book!

Oh, Deb, yes, Flowers From the Storm! How much do we love that book? As for your movie...toe pick! And what a special guy, that hubby of yours, if he shows up on your fantasy island. Sigh...

Betina, I loved NIm's Island! I wish there would have been more Jodie Foster, though. I loved how she played the agorophobic writer. What a freak? Not like anyone we might know... :-)

Betina, take those Brandenburg Concertos! I love those, too. Had one of 'em (can't remember which) played as we walked down the aisle after saying our vows at our wedding.

I have a sneaky feeling we may have to make copies of Mr. Butler today...

Teresa D'Amario said...

Now see, I've BEEN stranded on a deserted island. Ok, it was a deserted coral reef. My first, and absolutely MOST important ingredient - SUNSCREEN. LOL

After that, let's see...

Book - yeah, I'd say bible, but keep reading.


DVD: Digital copy of every book I have in my house. (HA!)

Song, now there I'd be in trouble choosing.

Guy: Yeah I think I could handle Mr. Butler!

Unknown said...

Hey, Teresa-- details! You were really stranded once? How did that happen? Inquiring Minds wanna know!

Helen Brenna said...

These kind of questions are so hard for me! Wah!

At this moment, don't quote me on this because it's bound to change any second ...

Fav book - Light on Snow, Anita Shreve

fav movie - While you were sleeping.

song - Born to Run

Man - Gerard ::sigh::

I'm going to see that movie this weekend!

Helen Brenna said...

Yep, we'll need lots of copies of that sexy Scot!

Teresa - tell, tell.

Cindy Gerard said...

Wow. This should be easier than it is. But it requires a body to untangle themselves from the 'norm' and really think about what the choices would be.
Okay. Today (this list might be different tomorrow) I'd want:
Book: Anything by Lee Child
Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean, dead man's chest - I know, but since we're in this tropical island mindset, why not?
Song: Eva Cassidy's Over the Rainbow
Guy: So why NOT Johnny Depp? He's fascinating.

Tune in tomorrow - this may all change :o)

Michele Hauf said...

Teresa, I think you found a way to cheat with the DVD, but I'm just sayin' :-) And yeah, what's this about being stranded?

Cindy, it IS hard to think of these things. Because if you really only could have one, and if you had to listen to the song over and over and over....well.

Johnny and his movie? Now that's a party I want to be invited to!

Helen, I'm intrigued by your book choice. Must go to Amazon and check it out!

Kathleen Eagle said...

This is really hard.

Book: My copy of The Compleat Shakespeare (no kidding--lots of notes in the margins)

Movie: West Side Story (that way I get music and dancing and by the time I'm rescued I'll have the dancing down)

Song: Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin version only--love to belt that one out in the car)

Guy: Paul Newman (can we be younger? if not, so be it.)

Michele Hauf said...

That book should keep you entertained for a good long time, Kathy. And I so remember playing that song on my guitar when I was learning. Great choice.

Of course you can be younger! We make our own rules on the island. I think we can even make our hair more flowing and shiny and our teeth more sparkly with a thought. ;-)

mslizalou said...

This is so hard!

Book: To Kill a Mockingbird, I re-read it at least once a year

Movie: Independence Day, Will Smith, Jeff Goldbloom

Song: Wide Open Spaces

Guy: Patrick Dempsey

limecello said...

Fun topic - but I don't like being pinned down :X

I have to admit... I'd probably try to smuggle books in with me. Hide them under my clothes... things like that.
ONE BOOK? Uh...
One DVD would be... Sound of Music, I guess. [It's one I think I could stomach watching over and over.]
One song? ... I'll Stop the World (And Melt With You) - Modern English, I think. [I'm trying to think of one I could stand listening to over and over.]

One man... here it's tricky. My best friend? We'd have fun... but... maybe my cousin - the ex-Marine, who could probably get us *off* the island. Or my friend the [Army] Ranger, who can be a jerk, but equally likely to get us off the island.

Michele Hauf said...

Oh, Limecello, you're thinking too hard with the menfolk. This is a fantasy island. Don't you want to stick around a while and just kick back? :-)

Liza, what do you think of Dempsey's upcoming movie, Maid Of Honor? Looks like fun. I wonder if he ends up with the girl?

Debra Dixon said...

Oh, man!!

Hubby just got booted off the island because I'm merging teams with Gerard Butler.

LOL!

mslizalou said...

The previews look really good, kind of a guys version of My Best Friend's Wedding. I just hope they haven't shown all the funny parts in the ads.

Chris M. said...

Wow, this is super hard...

Book: The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly - an epic novel that I would read again if I had the time to lie around and do so

DVD: Depends on my mood... Romantic/sappy=Practical Magic; Beefcake/shoot-em-up=S.W.A.T. (lots of yummy beefcake)

Song: Little of Your Time by Maroon 5 - but that's today, my music changes by the minute.

Guy: Vin Diesel... just yum, what can I say, I like em a bit dirty and any heavy lifting would be such a pleasure to watch him take care of.

Helen Brenna said...

Mmmmm, Vin Diesel. You got me rethinking, Chris. I think there's more there than meets the eye. Although there's plenty of that there too!!

Anonymous said...

I'll play. Okay, book? Hands down the bible. I mean from cover to cover there are so many great stories, I'd never be bored.
Movie? Zeffirellis' Romeo and Juliet.
Song? hmm, too many come to mind. But I love Jeff Buckley's rendition of Hallelujah.
Man? My hubster. He makes me laugh out loud.

Michele Hauf said...

Chris, I love Practical Magic! It's just so...magical. And you can have Vin, but he is certainly nothing to sneeze at. :-)

Karin, I always keep telling myself I have to read the bible cover to cover one of these days, so I might have to put that as my second choice. And any man who can make you laugh is a great bet.

Anonymous said...

Michele, I read it cover to cover many many many years ago and was amazed by all of the drama! I'm going back to page one here shortly to see what my older brain can pick up.

Kathleen Eagle said...

Okay, I forgot about The Cute One. How could I? Paul McCartney or Paul Newman? The two Pauls. Knock a few years off either one. Not that they haven't aged well. But with The Cute One comes more music....

Jane said...

Book: The Bride by Julie Garwood
Movie: The Last of the Mohicans
Song: With or Without You by U2
Man: Either Christian Bale or Gerard Butler

Michele Hauf said...

Ooh, Jane brings Christian Bale into the mix. I glance at my Frenchman. Cast a glance to Christian. Hmmm.... Okay, Jane can keep Christian. For now. :-)

M

Chris M. said...

Oooohhh, Helen likes em a bit dirty too! lol

Michele, Practical Magic has long been a fave of mine... The Aunts remind me of my two aunts, and the sister interaction is incredibly familiar... lol. Every time I'm feelng a bit lonely I put Practical Magic in and call my sister.

Laurie G said...

WoW!! I could use a tropical island break...

Book:JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy

Movie: Braveheart Mel Gibson was fantastic as William Wallace

Song: Layla by Eric Clapton

Man: Antonio Banderas