One of the things I am most proud of is that I really do try to read a little bit of everything. With that in mind I can't help but be a little bit picky when it comes to non-ficiton. My greatest dread is a dry, boring book, fiction or non. Now I have gotten rather lucky with the non-fiction and biographies that I have choosen. So far there has not been a non-fiction book that I haven't found fascinating. And I have taken a little bite out of a few different non-fiction sub-genres. Biography, autobiography, history from different times and all have been rather exceptional. My latest non-fiction book was "The Kennedy Detail" written by Gerald Blaine and Lisa McCubbin and published by Simon & Schuster. What it is, is the story of the Kennedy assassination told through the eyes of the secret service agents who were on President Kennedy's detail at the time. I read it mainly because I didn't really know anything about the Kennedy assassination and thought this might be a good introduction. I was right.
The book starts out a couple of weeks before the assassination, shows the assassination and the aftermath. For all those out there that were around and old enough remember what it was like when President Kennedy was shot, the world literally turned upside down. This book brought us civilians right into the middle of it. Every story that was told was filled with love and respect for John Kennedy and for Jackie. President Kennedy knew all the agents on his detail as well as the agents on his wife's and children's details. He became a friend to them all and all of them grew to love him. The day he was killed was traumatic to all the agents even those that were doing the advance work for the next leg of the trip, and therefore not even with him. Every one of them felt as if they had let the country and the agency down.
The book wasn't all that well written, the timelines sometimes jumped around too much but the story was well worth reading. Through reading this book I have grown to love the secret service. They are so focused and so hard working. They have one job and one job only, to protect the President. Or the first lady or the first family but their job is to protect the President from any kind of harm. The amount of work that goes into a Presidential motorcade is simply amazing. The agents that do the advance work for Presidential visits have so much work that they do. They have to be ready for every scenario, they have to think about every possible threat. This book really showed just how much work the secret service has to do and it gave me a very great respect for them.
"The Kennedy Detail" is the real deal, it's not full of guess work and conspiracies. It is the real story of what happened on Novemeber 22, 1963. And it is stunning to read. When they spoke of the assassination itself and everything that happened that day I was in tears. The emotion that was felt in those few seconds when the agents realized what was happening literally leapt off the page. And when the doctors pronounced President John F. Kennedy dead even the well trained agents were unable to hide their tears. It was heartwrenching to read, I can't imagine what it was like to live it.
This is a book that I recommend with high praise, not for the writing, but for the story. If you are at all interested in what happened the day the world changed forever you need to read "The Kennedy Detail." It really is an important part of history one that will live in the memories of every person that experienced it. This book gives us a look not only at the pain the country felt but an intimate look at what it was like for those who were closest to the President. It's a pain that the agents lived with for the rest of their careers, and for those that passed on, for the rest of their lives. But this book isn't only about that pain and that day. It is about the men that had the priviledge of protecting a man that they were able to call their friend, a man that they respected, and a man that they saw was maybe able to change the world for the better. That is something they remembered for the rest of their lives as well.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
"Life is the Most Spectacular Show on Earth"
The above is a quote from the novel "Water for Elephants" written by Sara Gruen and published by Algonquin Books. A book that I went into reading with some hesitation because of the popularity of the book and the movie. But I had a friend, someone who I trust when it comes to book recommendations, told me that it was actually a very good book. Well written and historically accurate (very important when it comes to historical fiction) and so I took her advice and picked up a copy of it.
The story starts off in a nursing home, a start that surprised me, where ninety-something-year-old Jacob Jankowski is currently 'living' for lack of a better word the way he sees it. Being in the home doesn't really offer a lot of entertainment and so Jacob begins to remember his life. His memories begin when he was a young man finishing up veterinary school at Cornell. He had nothing more to worry about then his final exams, and losing his virginity. When all of a sudden his world is shattered when he gets the news of his parents dying in a car crash. The news that he is now an orphan shocks him so much that he walks away from his final exams and goes home. After the funeral Jacob feels lost and has no idea what he wants to do. His aimless wondering lands him on a circus train, a circus train belonging the Benzini Brothers Circus.
By some twist of fate he gets hired on as the show's vet which starts an adventure which is both terrifying and the most wonderful thing that ever happens to him. There he meets not only the beautiful Marlena but also her slightly psychotic husband August. And though he tries not to he finds himself falling in love with her and then, to his detriment, becomes protective of her. The novel takes place at the beginning of the Great Depression and circuses are having a hard time keeping afloat. Whenever a show closes the Benzini Brothers swoop in and pick up what they think will draw a crowd. When the ring leader, Uncle Al, picks up an elephant by the name of Rosie he lets August take charge of her. The more Rosie doesn't perform the way they want her to the more August gets rough with her. Jacob finds out the Rosie only understands Polish commands and as he spends time with her he finds himself growing fond of her. And a strange friendship begins. Through show after show and adventure after adventure Jacob does his best to ignore his feelings for Marlena and she does her best to ignore hers for him. It's a battle that they lose again and again.
The book is beautifully written and well researched. Sara Gruen really captures the Depression era circus feel. There were moments that made me laugh out loud, moments that made me want to cry. And quite a few moments that made me cringe. I found that, despite my hesitation, I really enjoyed this book. I don't think that it's going to be one that I read again and again but I throughly enjoyed it. All the characters were so 3d that for me they practically stepped off the page, a quality that I love, and visiting the world of behind the scene circus life was a thrill. I would recommend the book to someone who is looking for something a little different, historical, and with the added bonus of having an elephant in it.
The story starts off in a nursing home, a start that surprised me, where ninety-something-year-old Jacob Jankowski is currently 'living' for lack of a better word the way he sees it. Being in the home doesn't really offer a lot of entertainment and so Jacob begins to remember his life. His memories begin when he was a young man finishing up veterinary school at Cornell. He had nothing more to worry about then his final exams, and losing his virginity. When all of a sudden his world is shattered when he gets the news of his parents dying in a car crash. The news that he is now an orphan shocks him so much that he walks away from his final exams and goes home. After the funeral Jacob feels lost and has no idea what he wants to do. His aimless wondering lands him on a circus train, a circus train belonging the Benzini Brothers Circus.
By some twist of fate he gets hired on as the show's vet which starts an adventure which is both terrifying and the most wonderful thing that ever happens to him. There he meets not only the beautiful Marlena but also her slightly psychotic husband August. And though he tries not to he finds himself falling in love with her and then, to his detriment, becomes protective of her. The novel takes place at the beginning of the Great Depression and circuses are having a hard time keeping afloat. Whenever a show closes the Benzini Brothers swoop in and pick up what they think will draw a crowd. When the ring leader, Uncle Al, picks up an elephant by the name of Rosie he lets August take charge of her. The more Rosie doesn't perform the way they want her to the more August gets rough with her. Jacob finds out the Rosie only understands Polish commands and as he spends time with her he finds himself growing fond of her. And a strange friendship begins. Through show after show and adventure after adventure Jacob does his best to ignore his feelings for Marlena and she does her best to ignore hers for him. It's a battle that they lose again and again.
The book is beautifully written and well researched. Sara Gruen really captures the Depression era circus feel. There were moments that made me laugh out loud, moments that made me want to cry. And quite a few moments that made me cringe. I found that, despite my hesitation, I really enjoyed this book. I don't think that it's going to be one that I read again and again but I throughly enjoyed it. All the characters were so 3d that for me they practically stepped off the page, a quality that I love, and visiting the world of behind the scene circus life was a thrill. I would recommend the book to someone who is looking for something a little different, historical, and with the added bonus of having an elephant in it.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Speaking the Truth
Many months ago, not even sure how long ago now, a friend and I went to see "The Help" in theaters. Both of us really enjoyed the film and after when we were standing outside talking about it we both commented that we wanted to read the book. I was slightly reluctant mainly because I had so many other books to read. And the months passed. When I moved to New York I, miraculously, got a job at Barnes & Noble. And because of my love of books I was given an unusual opportunity. They offered me a job in the 'new release' department rather then just another cashier for the holiday season. Basically what I do is deal with new books and the best seller walls. Anyway I am around the actual books a lot and I am in contact with customers and hear what they request. To make a long story short I started to notice how there were certain titles that were more popular then others. "The Help" was definitely one of the more popular titles. I realized that in order to do my job to the best of my ability I would have to start reading some of the more popular titles. When I bought my Nook tablet (don't worry I still buy physical books obsessively) the first book I bought on it was "The Help." Due to a few different circumstances I didn't read it right away but I just recently finished it. I would like to review it now.
"The Help," by Kathryn Stockett published by Penguin Group, is told through the eyes of three very different women all living in Mississippi in the 1960's. Skeeter Phelan, a young, ambitious white woman coming home to Mississippi after graduating college, Abileen, an older black maid who raises the white children of white women trying to overcome the pain she feels from losing her own child and Minny, a feisty, back-talking black maid who is known for her cooking and back talk.
It tells the story of what life was really like for black maids in Mississippi in the 1960's. How because of the small minded thinking of one woman who for some reason has power over everyone in her 'set' all the houses that have maids have seperate bathrooms for them. The way people see "negro/as" as unclean and slightly barbaric. How blacks have seperate movie theaters and drinking fountains then whites. In each section, for each chapter we see a little bit about what each of these women go through and how they deal with the challenges they face. Skeeter finds herself trying to deal with a sick mother, friends who are stuck in the past, a changing view of the way the world works, and a love life that just can't seem to get itself off the ground. Abileen is dealing with trying to make sure the little girl she is basically rasing grows up feeling loved and that she is a good, kind girl despite the way her mother treats her, helping her friend get another job despite the lies that have been spread about her, and trying desperately to get over the death of her son. Minny, fast talking, sassy Minny, is trying to find a new job despite the lies her former boss's daughter spread about her, five kids, and a drunk husband who has a tendancy to beat her, on top of all that when she finally does get a job she has to deal with her new boss a woman who is an outcast and what appears to be a little strange.
Their stories intertwine and they find themselves searching for a way to tell the truth. As Skeeter offers to write their stories and be the voice they so desperately need more and more maids start coming forward. They all have tales to tell some are filled with pain and humiliation, some are filled with unbelievable kindnesses, but all of them are the truth. Through it all Abileen, Minny and Skeeter are the pillars that the others lean against and without realizing it these three different women find themselves learning to trust and even care for each other.
The book is well written and the characters are genuine and most are loveable, and the others you end up loving to hate. It was tough at times for me to read, I always seem to have trouble reading books that have small minded people in them. Or books about parents who just don't care about their kids. I guess what makes it difficult for me is that there really were towns like that in the world, still are, that there are people that are so small minded and ignorant that they really believe that blacks are barbaric or homosexuals need saving. I just get so angry and upset so this was hard for me to read at time. But it was worth pushing through that. I really enjoyed reading the book and I feel that this deserves the hype it gets and the obvious popularity. I recommend "The Help" highly and with no hesitation, simply a heads up that it is a bit of a tough read.
"The Help," by Kathryn Stockett published by Penguin Group, is told through the eyes of three very different women all living in Mississippi in the 1960's. Skeeter Phelan, a young, ambitious white woman coming home to Mississippi after graduating college, Abileen, an older black maid who raises the white children of white women trying to overcome the pain she feels from losing her own child and Minny, a feisty, back-talking black maid who is known for her cooking and back talk.
It tells the story of what life was really like for black maids in Mississippi in the 1960's. How because of the small minded thinking of one woman who for some reason has power over everyone in her 'set' all the houses that have maids have seperate bathrooms for them. The way people see "negro/as" as unclean and slightly barbaric. How blacks have seperate movie theaters and drinking fountains then whites. In each section, for each chapter we see a little bit about what each of these women go through and how they deal with the challenges they face. Skeeter finds herself trying to deal with a sick mother, friends who are stuck in the past, a changing view of the way the world works, and a love life that just can't seem to get itself off the ground. Abileen is dealing with trying to make sure the little girl she is basically rasing grows up feeling loved and that she is a good, kind girl despite the way her mother treats her, helping her friend get another job despite the lies that have been spread about her, and trying desperately to get over the death of her son. Minny, fast talking, sassy Minny, is trying to find a new job despite the lies her former boss's daughter spread about her, five kids, and a drunk husband who has a tendancy to beat her, on top of all that when she finally does get a job she has to deal with her new boss a woman who is an outcast and what appears to be a little strange.
Their stories intertwine and they find themselves searching for a way to tell the truth. As Skeeter offers to write their stories and be the voice they so desperately need more and more maids start coming forward. They all have tales to tell some are filled with pain and humiliation, some are filled with unbelievable kindnesses, but all of them are the truth. Through it all Abileen, Minny and Skeeter are the pillars that the others lean against and without realizing it these three different women find themselves learning to trust and even care for each other.
The book is well written and the characters are genuine and most are loveable, and the others you end up loving to hate. It was tough at times for me to read, I always seem to have trouble reading books that have small minded people in them. Or books about parents who just don't care about their kids. I guess what makes it difficult for me is that there really were towns like that in the world, still are, that there are people that are so small minded and ignorant that they really believe that blacks are barbaric or homosexuals need saving. I just get so angry and upset so this was hard for me to read at time. But it was worth pushing through that. I really enjoyed reading the book and I feel that this deserves the hype it gets and the obvious popularity. I recommend "The Help" highly and with no hesitation, simply a heads up that it is a bit of a tough read.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
All Things Jane Austen
I know that it has been awhile since I have posted a review. I got discouraged when I realized not many people read this and because of that I was not helping many people find their next great book or movie. Part of it was my fault I did not advertise as much as I should have. But I have recently moved to New York where I seem to fit and I was reminded by a friend how much I was helping her with my reviews and so I thought I would give it another try. Also I realized that what I want to do with my life is something having to do with books and reading. With that in mind my dad came up with the idea that I should make a book list entitled "books I've read so far...and I'm just getting started." With that in hand and a possible lead on a maybe contact in the publishing world my dad thought it would be good to beef up my book reviews on here. And so here I am about to embark on a new era of reviewing. Mostly books because I am doing a lot more reading these days then watching new movies, but I'll sneak a movie in every now and again.
I have decided, as a warm up, to talk about Jane Austen. I mentioned quite awhile ago that I wanted to read more of her before I dived into a review. I have now read all of her fully finished novels. Although I didn't love them all with the same passion as I felt for "Sense & Sensibility" I don't think there was one that I actually disliked. Although "Northanger Abbey" leaves something to be desired and "Mansfield Park" was one of the weaker stories, I found myself falling more and more in love with Jane Austen as an author. She has become one of my favorites and one that I greatly respect.
Jane Austen was very controversial for her time as we all know. She believed in making her own path, and strong women believing what they want to believe. Her writing was fresh and witty and had a certain flair to it. Every time I opened one of her novels I got excited about what world she was going to draw me into this time. I found myself, at times, wishing I lived in Jane Austen's world she made it seem romantic and even fun at times. The more I read her the more I discovered that she had this ability to take simple stories of everyday life and pull them and twist them until they bloomed into amazing tales.
My favorites were "Sense & Sensibility" and "Pride & Prejudice" which when read are extremely similar. That may get a lot of negative comments but it's true. They are both beautifully constructed love stories that after many twists and turns end as happily ever after as Jane Austen lets things. Each novel is well written tinged with drama and tragedy that just makes the characters that much more real and loveable. Something that I think Jane Austen was a wiz at. Both great books and both worth reading, just maybe not back to back.
My two least favorites were "Northanger Abbey" and "Mansfield Park." I think that with "Northanger Abbey" it was just a matter of it being her first novel she hadn't found her voice quite yet. It was a little flat but it hinted at the greatness she had within her. In "Mansfield Park" the character of Fanny Price was weak and a little pathetic. I didn't enjoy that she just let everyone walk all over her. And maybe it was because I didn't really like the story or any of the characters but I felt as if the book went on for forever.
Now I think that my all time favorite book of hers, as much as I consider "Sense & Sensibility" and "Pride & Prejudice" my favorites as well, is "Persuasion." There is something about the simplicity of it and the reality of the whole thing that just makes it undeniably loveable. It's one of those books that if I can find a really gorgeous copy I'll buy it and have it to read again and again. If you have never read an Austen this is a great one to start with because it is one of her shorter ones but it shows how amazing she truly is.
That just leaves "Emma" Austen's 'comedy' in my opinion. I know that this isn't her most popular novel but I actually enjoyed it. I found it amusing and sweet and I thought that the quirky characters were refreshing and lively. Emma herself got to be a little annoying at times but I'm not entirely sure Austen didn't intend that to be the case. And as much as I enjoyed it, it was a little difficult for me to read because I have seen the movie "Clueless" enough times that I can pretty much play the movie in my head from the opening credits to the last kiss. "Clueless" is the modern day retelling of "Emma." So reading the book the movie started playing in my head. For the first half of the novel I kept seeing Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd running through my mind acting everything out. But once I got into the story I was able to enjoy the book for the book.
Jane Austen was a truly amazing writer and what she left behind is a set of novels that can truly be called classics. Books that I feel everyone should get at least an introduction to. I truly believe that you can't call yourself well read unless you have read at least one Jane Austen novel. I think that they are that good and that important.
Well there we go, my first review in quite a long time. I don't really have my stride back just yet and I was a little unfocused tonight. Also I still haven't found quite the right formula for reviewing more then one book at a time. But at least I did it. And I'm going to try and review at least one book from my list a day. Maybe more then once a day if I have the energy. I really am looking forward to this project and I intend to put the same energy and enthusiasm into it as I did the Academy Award project. Wish me luck and keep reading.
I have decided, as a warm up, to talk about Jane Austen. I mentioned quite awhile ago that I wanted to read more of her before I dived into a review. I have now read all of her fully finished novels. Although I didn't love them all with the same passion as I felt for "Sense & Sensibility" I don't think there was one that I actually disliked. Although "Northanger Abbey" leaves something to be desired and "Mansfield Park" was one of the weaker stories, I found myself falling more and more in love with Jane Austen as an author. She has become one of my favorites and one that I greatly respect.
Jane Austen was very controversial for her time as we all know. She believed in making her own path, and strong women believing what they want to believe. Her writing was fresh and witty and had a certain flair to it. Every time I opened one of her novels I got excited about what world she was going to draw me into this time. I found myself, at times, wishing I lived in Jane Austen's world she made it seem romantic and even fun at times. The more I read her the more I discovered that she had this ability to take simple stories of everyday life and pull them and twist them until they bloomed into amazing tales.
My favorites were "Sense & Sensibility" and "Pride & Prejudice" which when read are extremely similar. That may get a lot of negative comments but it's true. They are both beautifully constructed love stories that after many twists and turns end as happily ever after as Jane Austen lets things. Each novel is well written tinged with drama and tragedy that just makes the characters that much more real and loveable. Something that I think Jane Austen was a wiz at. Both great books and both worth reading, just maybe not back to back.
My two least favorites were "Northanger Abbey" and "Mansfield Park." I think that with "Northanger Abbey" it was just a matter of it being her first novel she hadn't found her voice quite yet. It was a little flat but it hinted at the greatness she had within her. In "Mansfield Park" the character of Fanny Price was weak and a little pathetic. I didn't enjoy that she just let everyone walk all over her. And maybe it was because I didn't really like the story or any of the characters but I felt as if the book went on for forever.
Now I think that my all time favorite book of hers, as much as I consider "Sense & Sensibility" and "Pride & Prejudice" my favorites as well, is "Persuasion." There is something about the simplicity of it and the reality of the whole thing that just makes it undeniably loveable. It's one of those books that if I can find a really gorgeous copy I'll buy it and have it to read again and again. If you have never read an Austen this is a great one to start with because it is one of her shorter ones but it shows how amazing she truly is.
That just leaves "Emma" Austen's 'comedy' in my opinion. I know that this isn't her most popular novel but I actually enjoyed it. I found it amusing and sweet and I thought that the quirky characters were refreshing and lively. Emma herself got to be a little annoying at times but I'm not entirely sure Austen didn't intend that to be the case. And as much as I enjoyed it, it was a little difficult for me to read because I have seen the movie "Clueless" enough times that I can pretty much play the movie in my head from the opening credits to the last kiss. "Clueless" is the modern day retelling of "Emma." So reading the book the movie started playing in my head. For the first half of the novel I kept seeing Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd running through my mind acting everything out. But once I got into the story I was able to enjoy the book for the book.
Jane Austen was a truly amazing writer and what she left behind is a set of novels that can truly be called classics. Books that I feel everyone should get at least an introduction to. I truly believe that you can't call yourself well read unless you have read at least one Jane Austen novel. I think that they are that good and that important.
Well there we go, my first review in quite a long time. I don't really have my stride back just yet and I was a little unfocused tonight. Also I still haven't found quite the right formula for reviewing more then one book at a time. But at least I did it. And I'm going to try and review at least one book from my list a day. Maybe more then once a day if I have the energy. I really am looking forward to this project and I intend to put the same energy and enthusiasm into it as I did the Academy Award project. Wish me luck and keep reading.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Love After Death
I have been doing a lot of reading lately. So I could write about any number of books for this review but I really want to talk about a book I actually read a while ago. I would have posted about it sooner but I've been so busy and then my internet was out. But here I am finally ready to review a fantastic book titled "Her Fearful Symmetry" written by Audrey Niffenegger. I read her first novel "The Time Traveller's Wife" many years ago, before anyone ever talked about a movie, and I really loved it. So seeing "Her Fearful Symmetry" when I was out book shopping one day I got pretty excited. I took a little while to read it but once I started it took me in and I read it in a couple of days.
The story begins with Elspeth Noblin dying in a hospital in England. Later after her funeral she comes to as a spititual blob in her flat unable to move or see anything and not really aware of anything. As time goes on she becomes more of a full formed ghost. Meanwhile in the suburbs of Chicago Elspeth's two nieces Julia and Valentina, mirror twins, get the surprise of their life when not only did their aunt die but she left them her flat in London and most of her estate. There were two stipulations however, one the twins had to live in the flat for an entire year together. And two their mother, Elspeth's twin Edie, and their father weren't allowed to set foot in the flat. Julia the stronger, more out spoken twin, jumped at the chance for a new adventure. Valentina the simpler, physically weaker of the two was hesitant, she wanted to stay in Chicago and go back to school. Julia being the more pushy of the two wins and the twins head to London and all the mysteries it holds.
Once they get there they discover more questions than answers in the flat and it's surrounding inhabitants. Julia meets their upstairs neighbor Martin who hasn't left his place for years due to his crippling OCD. And Valentina meets, after being there for months, their downstairs neighbor Robert (who was Elspeth's lover) and slowly the two of them begin learning to live life without the person they had depended on for so long. Valentina slowly begins to become independent of Julia and Robert learns to love once more. All the while Elspeth's ghost is there in the flat, watching Julia and Valentina fight, and love, and discover new things about each other. Trying all the while to find a way to communicate with the twins and for the rare moments he's in the flat with Robert. Finally breaking through their disbelief they find a way to communicate with Elspeth.
This is a book that has secrets hidden in every page and I don't want to give too much away. I will say that this book is incredible though. It is very well written full of imagery and poetry. It's part ghost story, part love story and all pure genius. If you are at all a fan of a dramatic beautifully crafted novel then this is a book for you. I truly wish that I could put into words what I felt as I read this book. Each page flowed into every other page flawlessly. There was nothing that seemed out of place in the book. It was a ghost story that felt real, nothing over the top or cheap to it. It is a fantastic read one that I highly reccommend to everyone. It really is something that I think could appeal to all types of tastes. I think that this is definitely worth it.
The story begins with Elspeth Noblin dying in a hospital in England. Later after her funeral she comes to as a spititual blob in her flat unable to move or see anything and not really aware of anything. As time goes on she becomes more of a full formed ghost. Meanwhile in the suburbs of Chicago Elspeth's two nieces Julia and Valentina, mirror twins, get the surprise of their life when not only did their aunt die but she left them her flat in London and most of her estate. There were two stipulations however, one the twins had to live in the flat for an entire year together. And two their mother, Elspeth's twin Edie, and their father weren't allowed to set foot in the flat. Julia the stronger, more out spoken twin, jumped at the chance for a new adventure. Valentina the simpler, physically weaker of the two was hesitant, she wanted to stay in Chicago and go back to school. Julia being the more pushy of the two wins and the twins head to London and all the mysteries it holds.
Once they get there they discover more questions than answers in the flat and it's surrounding inhabitants. Julia meets their upstairs neighbor Martin who hasn't left his place for years due to his crippling OCD. And Valentina meets, after being there for months, their downstairs neighbor Robert (who was Elspeth's lover) and slowly the two of them begin learning to live life without the person they had depended on for so long. Valentina slowly begins to become independent of Julia and Robert learns to love once more. All the while Elspeth's ghost is there in the flat, watching Julia and Valentina fight, and love, and discover new things about each other. Trying all the while to find a way to communicate with the twins and for the rare moments he's in the flat with Robert. Finally breaking through their disbelief they find a way to communicate with Elspeth.
This is a book that has secrets hidden in every page and I don't want to give too much away. I will say that this book is incredible though. It is very well written full of imagery and poetry. It's part ghost story, part love story and all pure genius. If you are at all a fan of a dramatic beautifully crafted novel then this is a book for you. I truly wish that I could put into words what I felt as I read this book. Each page flowed into every other page flawlessly. There was nothing that seemed out of place in the book. It was a ghost story that felt real, nothing over the top or cheap to it. It is a fantastic read one that I highly reccommend to everyone. It really is something that I think could appeal to all types of tastes. I think that this is definitely worth it.
Monday, June 20, 2011
A Mixed Bag
I have a few movie reviews to post but first I want to mention that recently I have read the 8th and final book of the Jaz Parks series. Although it is sad to see the end of Jaz, Vayl, Bergman, Cassandra, Cole and the other memebers of their trust, not to mention Jaz's many, many personalities I feel that they all went out with a bang. Jennifer Rardin brought to life one of the most vivacious and real bad creature hunters I've ever read about. Jaz Parks has become a favorite of mine and I will continue to go back and read her over and over again. If you are looking for a fun, whimsical, off kilter read pick up the first of the Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin "Once Bitten, Twice Shy." It's a laugh out loud, loveable take on the paranormal genre. Give it a try.
Movie time. I watched a couple of the new movies that are coming out this week and was pleasantly surprised. I watched "The Adjustment Bureau" the big thriller starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, "Unknown" the new Liam Neeson, and a sweet little drama called "HappyThankYouMorePlease." I went into watching all of them with no expectations and ended up being surprised by all three of them.
"HappyThankYouMorePlease" was written, directed and starred Josh Radnor. A group of friends living in New York just kind of exsist. Josh Radnor plays Sam Wexler a struggling writer trying to go from writing short stories to a full length novel. On his way to meeting with a publisher he meets Rasheen a young boy who has been seperated from his foster mother. When Sam takes Rasheen in hoping that he can help Rasheen get back to his foster family the dynamics of his life begin to change. As he keeps putting off taking Rasheen into child services Sam finds himself starting to grow up. The friends that he surounds himself with find that they need to grow up as well.
The stories are simple and just disjointed enough that it is almost vignette like. But at the same time they all fit together seamlessly. It's a quircky cynical yet sweet movie that I really liked. It's not a main stream movie at all. It's something that is just slightly off kilter and almost a sleeper. I know that I didn't go into much detail about the film but I think this is a movie that needs to be seen, the movie is made in such a way that the greatness is sort of folded in. I hope you go out and rent it. It's not something you see everyday. And with what has been coming out lately I find that to be a refreshing thing indeed.
"Unknown" starring Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger is a thriller that is slow to start. Actually for most of the movie the story is pretty slow. And though there is some action it seems forced and awkward, I find that Liam Neeson is starting to get a little old for high action sequences and yet he trudges on. Liam Neeson and January Jones play Dr. and Mrs. Martin Harris. Heading to Berlin for a conference the couple get seperated when Dr. Martin realizes he left his briefcase at the airport and hops in a cab to go get it. The cab gets into an accident and Martin wakes up in the hospital four days later. All he remembers is that his name is Martin Harris he is a botoanist and his wife is waiting for him. When he goes to his hotel and finds his wife she claims to not know him. Things go from weird to downright bizarre when Aidan Quinn shows up and introduces himself as Dr. Martin Harris.
Ostricized and alone in a strange city Martin begins searching for clues. Narrowly escaping death time after time he meets up with the woman, Gina, who was driving the cab he was in when he crashed. Together they race through Berlin trying to piece together who Martin really is and why all those who were once close to him have suddenly turned against him. The twists that begin to show were different then I thought they were going to be which was the pleasant surprise. As for the rest of the film it was the typical action/suspense that Liam Neeson has become so fond of doing. It's got a pleasant twist and mindless action so if that is the movie mood you are in go for it. It was well acted and well directed. Nothing super special and nothing that is going to blow anyone away but it wasn't bad at all.
"The Adjustment Bureau" I actually liked. It is based on a Phillip K. Dick story so it has a solid foundation right off. It is the story of David Norris, played by Matt Damon, a young politician from Brooklyn who on the night of his concession speech meets a fascinating woman in the men's bathroom. Although they hit it off she leaves without giving him her name or number and years go by before he sees her again. They meet again on a bus and once more hit it off amazingly. However after arriving at his new office with Elise's, played by the beautiful Emily Blunt, number in hand David stumbles upon a seen straight out of a science fiction movie. Frozen people and strange men walking around doing strange things. After being captured by them David discovers that they are the men that run the world. Not in a power play sense but literally they make the world work. They keep an eye on every human and the plan that has been laid out by "The Chairman." These men, 'The Adjusment Bureau' so to speak make sure that every person stays on his or her plan so that the world runs as it is supposed to. Although David has a hard time believing all of this they show him enough proof to make him wary. Then comes the kicker. They tell him that he was never supposed to be on that bus to get Elise's number, that in fact he was never supposed to see her again after that first night. They are not in each other's plans and therefore cannot be together no matter how much they want it.
At first they convice David to just leave well enough alone but they promise to keep an eye on him. But after accidently running into Elise again a couple years later David decides he's not going to let some phantom plan and a group of guys in hats stop them from being together. He is warned again and again that being with Elise could mess up both their lives but David feels that their connection is too strong to stop trying.
There is a little too much back and forth in the film, going from fighting David to giving up David back to fighting David and again back to giving up David. But the story was unusual and well thought out. Acting was superb and I found the cinematography to be captivating. The film had some great moments of suspense and action and was well written but it was a tad anti-climatic. I won't say why or how but I do want to put that out there. It's worth watching though. I thought it was a pretty good movie all in all.
Well there we have it. Yet another movie review. I think that although I am busy I will try posting a book review soon. Just finished a non-fiction that was a little mind blowing. Also I am still working on my AFI's Top 100 list. I have seen a couple more off the list and will write reviews on them shortly! Hope you find at least one movie out of this post that you find worth watching. Enjoy!
Movie time. I watched a couple of the new movies that are coming out this week and was pleasantly surprised. I watched "The Adjustment Bureau" the big thriller starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, "Unknown" the new Liam Neeson, and a sweet little drama called "HappyThankYouMorePlease." I went into watching all of them with no expectations and ended up being surprised by all three of them.
"HappyThankYouMorePlease" was written, directed and starred Josh Radnor. A group of friends living in New York just kind of exsist. Josh Radnor plays Sam Wexler a struggling writer trying to go from writing short stories to a full length novel. On his way to meeting with a publisher he meets Rasheen a young boy who has been seperated from his foster mother. When Sam takes Rasheen in hoping that he can help Rasheen get back to his foster family the dynamics of his life begin to change. As he keeps putting off taking Rasheen into child services Sam finds himself starting to grow up. The friends that he surounds himself with find that they need to grow up as well.
The stories are simple and just disjointed enough that it is almost vignette like. But at the same time they all fit together seamlessly. It's a quircky cynical yet sweet movie that I really liked. It's not a main stream movie at all. It's something that is just slightly off kilter and almost a sleeper. I know that I didn't go into much detail about the film but I think this is a movie that needs to be seen, the movie is made in such a way that the greatness is sort of folded in. I hope you go out and rent it. It's not something you see everyday. And with what has been coming out lately I find that to be a refreshing thing indeed.
"Unknown" starring Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger is a thriller that is slow to start. Actually for most of the movie the story is pretty slow. And though there is some action it seems forced and awkward, I find that Liam Neeson is starting to get a little old for high action sequences and yet he trudges on. Liam Neeson and January Jones play Dr. and Mrs. Martin Harris. Heading to Berlin for a conference the couple get seperated when Dr. Martin realizes he left his briefcase at the airport and hops in a cab to go get it. The cab gets into an accident and Martin wakes up in the hospital four days later. All he remembers is that his name is Martin Harris he is a botoanist and his wife is waiting for him. When he goes to his hotel and finds his wife she claims to not know him. Things go from weird to downright bizarre when Aidan Quinn shows up and introduces himself as Dr. Martin Harris.
Ostricized and alone in a strange city Martin begins searching for clues. Narrowly escaping death time after time he meets up with the woman, Gina, who was driving the cab he was in when he crashed. Together they race through Berlin trying to piece together who Martin really is and why all those who were once close to him have suddenly turned against him. The twists that begin to show were different then I thought they were going to be which was the pleasant surprise. As for the rest of the film it was the typical action/suspense that Liam Neeson has become so fond of doing. It's got a pleasant twist and mindless action so if that is the movie mood you are in go for it. It was well acted and well directed. Nothing super special and nothing that is going to blow anyone away but it wasn't bad at all.
"The Adjustment Bureau" I actually liked. It is based on a Phillip K. Dick story so it has a solid foundation right off. It is the story of David Norris, played by Matt Damon, a young politician from Brooklyn who on the night of his concession speech meets a fascinating woman in the men's bathroom. Although they hit it off she leaves without giving him her name or number and years go by before he sees her again. They meet again on a bus and once more hit it off amazingly. However after arriving at his new office with Elise's, played by the beautiful Emily Blunt, number in hand David stumbles upon a seen straight out of a science fiction movie. Frozen people and strange men walking around doing strange things. After being captured by them David discovers that they are the men that run the world. Not in a power play sense but literally they make the world work. They keep an eye on every human and the plan that has been laid out by "The Chairman." These men, 'The Adjusment Bureau' so to speak make sure that every person stays on his or her plan so that the world runs as it is supposed to. Although David has a hard time believing all of this they show him enough proof to make him wary. Then comes the kicker. They tell him that he was never supposed to be on that bus to get Elise's number, that in fact he was never supposed to see her again after that first night. They are not in each other's plans and therefore cannot be together no matter how much they want it.
At first they convice David to just leave well enough alone but they promise to keep an eye on him. But after accidently running into Elise again a couple years later David decides he's not going to let some phantom plan and a group of guys in hats stop them from being together. He is warned again and again that being with Elise could mess up both their lives but David feels that their connection is too strong to stop trying.
There is a little too much back and forth in the film, going from fighting David to giving up David back to fighting David and again back to giving up David. But the story was unusual and well thought out. Acting was superb and I found the cinematography to be captivating. The film had some great moments of suspense and action and was well written but it was a tad anti-climatic. I won't say why or how but I do want to put that out there. It's worth watching though. I thought it was a pretty good movie all in all.
Well there we have it. Yet another movie review. I think that although I am busy I will try posting a book review soon. Just finished a non-fiction that was a little mind blowing. Also I am still working on my AFI's Top 100 list. I have seen a couple more off the list and will write reviews on them shortly! Hope you find at least one movie out of this post that you find worth watching. Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Newest of the New
This past weekend I actually sat down and watched a couple of full length feature films. They included a comedy "Just Go With It" and a drama called "Another Year." "True Grit" starring Jeff Bridges also came out this week but I had previously seen it so I skipped it. However there are a couple of reviews to come.
First I shall start with the comedy. "Just Go With It" starred Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, with a surprising cameo by Nicole Kidman. Basically it is the story of Adam Sandler's character Danny Maccabee a man who many years ago was hurt by his fiancee on his wedding day. After calling the wedding off he goes to a bar to drink his sorrow away, suddenly a gorgeous woman walks into the bar. And all these men begin hitting on her, saying lewd things and annoying her. She goes to sit next to funny looking Jewish Danny Maccabee who when she inquires about the wedding ring he's wearing stumbles across the perfect pick-up line. He invents a horrible wife earning him sympathy sex. And from that moment on his life changes. He becomes a plastic surgeon gets himself a new nose and begins life as quite the playboy.
His assistant Katherine, played by Jennifer Anniston, is a single mom with two kids who has become his best friend and the only woman in his life that he is honest with. Things begin to get complicated when he meets a woman he thinks he can actually fall in love with. When she finds his "wedding" ring and gets mad he tells her that he is in the process of a divorce. But she wants to hear it from her, his fictional wife, and so he enlists the help of Katherine. Things go from strange to weird when Katherine lets slip that she has kids and Palmer, played by Brooklyn Decker, wants to meet them. The whole thing culminates in the whole group heading to Hawaii for a bonding vacation.
The movie had some good highlights, funny moments that had me laughing. Other then the few moments of humor "Just Go With It" written by Allan Loeb and Timothy Dowling and directed by Dennis Dugan was your typical romantic comedy. Cute but nothing special, watch for light romantic movie time. I would give it a 7 out of 10.
The drama that I watched "Another Year" written and directed by Mike Leigh and starring Jim Boradbent, Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville was a little bit of a let down. I had been seeing previews for what looked to be a very sweet british film all about Tom and Gerri and the people in their lives. Tom and Gerri are this very sweet adoring married couple who enjoys gardening and cooking for friends and family. I was hoping that the movie would be mainly about this really adorable couple and their day to day life, how they stay in love and crazy about each other even after all the years they had been married. I knew that we would meet a variety of characters that would be slightly off that were friends of Tom and Gerri but I figured it would be mainly about them. I was wrong. It was mainly about their very weird friend Mary who has a whole host of problems that she seems unwilling to deal with.
The movie was sweet in a way, mainly the scenes that were between Tom and Gerri. Other than that I didn't really enjoy it all that much. I went into it aware that it was going to be a slow, quiet movie so it wasn't that I was bored. It was just not all that I hoped it was going to be. The character of Mary really started annoying me and they never really explained why she was the way she was so it wasn't really about her either. It wasn't a bad movie. But it's not anything that I was jumping for joy about. I would probably give it a 5 out of 10. Well acted and some really tender, beautiful moments but it really wasn't that great.
First I shall start with the comedy. "Just Go With It" starred Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, with a surprising cameo by Nicole Kidman. Basically it is the story of Adam Sandler's character Danny Maccabee a man who many years ago was hurt by his fiancee on his wedding day. After calling the wedding off he goes to a bar to drink his sorrow away, suddenly a gorgeous woman walks into the bar. And all these men begin hitting on her, saying lewd things and annoying her. She goes to sit next to funny looking Jewish Danny Maccabee who when she inquires about the wedding ring he's wearing stumbles across the perfect pick-up line. He invents a horrible wife earning him sympathy sex. And from that moment on his life changes. He becomes a plastic surgeon gets himself a new nose and begins life as quite the playboy.
His assistant Katherine, played by Jennifer Anniston, is a single mom with two kids who has become his best friend and the only woman in his life that he is honest with. Things begin to get complicated when he meets a woman he thinks he can actually fall in love with. When she finds his "wedding" ring and gets mad he tells her that he is in the process of a divorce. But she wants to hear it from her, his fictional wife, and so he enlists the help of Katherine. Things go from strange to weird when Katherine lets slip that she has kids and Palmer, played by Brooklyn Decker, wants to meet them. The whole thing culminates in the whole group heading to Hawaii for a bonding vacation.
The movie had some good highlights, funny moments that had me laughing. Other then the few moments of humor "Just Go With It" written by Allan Loeb and Timothy Dowling and directed by Dennis Dugan was your typical romantic comedy. Cute but nothing special, watch for light romantic movie time. I would give it a 7 out of 10.
The drama that I watched "Another Year" written and directed by Mike Leigh and starring Jim Boradbent, Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville was a little bit of a let down. I had been seeing previews for what looked to be a very sweet british film all about Tom and Gerri and the people in their lives. Tom and Gerri are this very sweet adoring married couple who enjoys gardening and cooking for friends and family. I was hoping that the movie would be mainly about this really adorable couple and their day to day life, how they stay in love and crazy about each other even after all the years they had been married. I knew that we would meet a variety of characters that would be slightly off that were friends of Tom and Gerri but I figured it would be mainly about them. I was wrong. It was mainly about their very weird friend Mary who has a whole host of problems that she seems unwilling to deal with.
The movie was sweet in a way, mainly the scenes that were between Tom and Gerri. Other than that I didn't really enjoy it all that much. I went into it aware that it was going to be a slow, quiet movie so it wasn't that I was bored. It was just not all that I hoped it was going to be. The character of Mary really started annoying me and they never really explained why she was the way she was so it wasn't really about her either. It wasn't a bad movie. But it's not anything that I was jumping for joy about. I would probably give it a 5 out of 10. Well acted and some really tender, beautiful moments but it really wasn't that great.
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