Welcome to the first Collector’s Corner of the new year! Just as we did for the blog and my viewing log, we can’t really begin a new year without wrapping up the last of our 2017 business. So, here’s one last 2017 collection update. Some of these additions were Christmas gifts from family, and some of them were purchased with Christmas money.

Books

  • Behind the Scenes at Downton Abbey: The Official Backstage Pass to the Set, the Actors, and the Drama by Emma Rowley (Hardcover)
    I’m slowly developing a little Downton Abbey book collection, within my entertainment book collection! Who can blame me when it’s a fantastic series, which happens to have had many a beautiful coffee table book published about it? This book is a lot of fun to flip through. Tons of gorgeous photos, and interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits.
  • I Blame Dennis Hopper, And Other Stories From a Life Lived In and Out of the Movies by Illeana Douglas (First edition paperback)
    This has been on my to-read list forever! Finally, I have my own copy to dig into! I’ve loved Illeana Douglas since Ghost World and love her even more, now that she works with TCM and I know she’s a total classic movie buff. Planning on making this my first non-fiction read of 2018.
  • The Films of Hedy Lamarr by Christopher Young (First edition hardcover)
    I love collecting these filmography books. They’re short and not too substantial in content, but it’s great to have a physical resource to turn to when I want to know how many films a certain star made in a year, or who their most frequent co-stars were… or, simply, when I want to check out quotes from contemporary reviews of the films I watch. This is my first Hedy Lamarr book, too, making it even more exciting of an addition!
  • Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball (Hardcover)
    This was a Christmas gift from my mom. (Hi, mom!) Lucille Ball was not only a fantastic actress, but a behind-the-scenes pioneer.  I’m very excited to read this and get a bit more of an insider’s perspective on her life and career.
  • The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin’ by Bill Zehme (First edition hardcover)
    Another gift from mom! I probably own more books about Frank Sinatra than any other star… first, because they’re super easy to find at used book sales, and second, because I love him! I had never heard of this book, but apparently much of its content is centered around interviews with Frank and those who knew him, so it should be a cool read!

Films

  • Head Over Heels (2001)
    I’ve never seen this film, but couldn’t pass it up for a couple bucks in a bargain bin. I’m a sucker for corny early 2000s romantic comedies, so I should love it!
  • Just Like Heaven (2005)
    Speaking of early 2000s romantic comedies… here’s another. This one was a gift from my mom. She got my sister and I each a copy. It’s one of her favorites, and I haven’t seen it in years, so I’m excited to give it a second look!
  • Leap Year (2010)
    I watched this film on a rainy, cold day while camping last year and fell in love with it. This was another bargain bin find that I just couldn’t pass up.
  • Mighty Joe Young (1998)
    Yet another bargain bin find! This was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I remember it being quite the tearjerker. My sister and I are going to have a “depressing animal movies” day and torture ourselves with this and Milo & Otis, haha.
  • 9 to 5 (1980)
    You can never go wrong with a Dolly Parton movie, and this is one of her best! I picked up the “Sexist, Egotistical, Lying, Hypocritical Bigot Edition” from the very same bargain bin that brought me three of the four other movies on this list.