HP and Me

Hi there, insatiable readers!

Long time no see.

Okay, so long time so previously scheduled post for you to read.

Today was to feature a book I read recently that I completely adored.

Seeing as I didn't get in this morning until 3 AM though....yeah, the brain wasn't so forthcoming with the ability to type up that said review.  No worries...it will appear next week...but you must be curious what had me out oh so late..err, early...today, right?

Why it was none other than "the boy who lived" and his merry band of mates.  Okay, so that sounds more Robin Hood-ish than HP but you know what I mean.  Yes, my friends I had the pleasure of attending a HP marathon over the past two days...all leading up to the midnight release for the long awaited beginning of the end.  Did I have fun?  Yes....despite the fact that the marathon had little to no attendance (I totally blame the lack of advertising and confusion on the price/times) which lead to almost a private showing for the two days. Was the midnight release worth it?  YES....to me and many other fans across the country.  Even our little theater was packed full of HP fans.  There were some in costume complete with robes, some with sorting hats, some merely claiming their house colors and others still who came just as they were.  The movie itself was grand.  The acting was good, the action heart pounding, the tragedies heart aching and so much more.  The worrisome question of just where they were going to cut the book/film in two was answered perfectly and occurs just as Voldemorte...oh, um...yeah...you'll have to see, but rest assured it's a good stopping point.

If you have seen it already, I'd love to know what you thought!

If you haven't and are planning too....have fun!

In either case, have a great weekend everyone...and as always, happy reading!

Food for Thought: Books-to-Movies, Part Deux

Hi there!  *~waves~*  Welcome back and thanks for stopping by....now it's time to pick your brain...

I rather enjoyed our last 'Food for Thought' session...we had some really good give and take regarding the book cover re-do's.  To take our books-to-movies discussion a bit further, today I am posing two questions to you....(Here goes...are you ready?)

This post in particular as well as the tag team of questions came about after a recent review went live on my site.  Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane was just released as a movie, but many people did not know that it was actually based on a book.  I myself, hadn't heard of it until I saw the movie trailer several months back, but once I did, I had to have it. 

(Part 1)

That being said...the question begs to be asked...which came first, the book or the movie?  Now I'm not talking about into existance....more often than not the book is first.  I mean, how did YOU hear about it first?  Which do you find you run into more...the case where you've read the book and TADA, a movie is now being made?  Or do the movie advertisements spark your curiousity about a book that has been out for several years?

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(Part 2)

Since I've never been one to simply stop being curious about something after one question has been answered....here is another one for you to ponder.  Has there ever been a movie that you've seen first only to have wished that you'd have read the book first?  Or perhaps there's a book that you've read, then gone to see the movie only to have it pale in comparison?  As much as we love the written word, perhaps it is our bookish love that diminishes the film in our eyes.  (Confused?  Hang on...)  I will give you two examples from my own experiences....

Example 1:  Book First, Movie Second
Let's take a look at the Harry Potter series as a whole.  The movies only include so much and so without many of the added details that were dropped on the cutting room floor, the enchantment is never quite complete; on many occasions, one simply has to accept things without valid explanations.  That's not to say I didn't enjoy them immensely, but without the missing details, some thing simply wouldn't have made as much sense.  (Follow me?  Alrighty...time for round 2...)

Example 2:  Movie First, Book Second
We'll go with an even more recent example...Shutter Island.  Let me start by saying, I thoroughly enjoyed the book....however I may have had a higher opinion of the movie had I not read it first.  The movie was good overall and stuck mostly to the book....but there were a few things put one way or the other, or even taken completely out.  They cut corners leaving out many of the things that molded the story.  (For those that have read the book, I speak of the LAW OF FOUR, the escape attempt, and the final closing scene.)  I mean the ending, there's something added in the movie that leaves a far different conclusion to be imagined.  Was it a good addition?  It would work....had not the book ended on a clearer note.


So, I leave it to you, fellow readers.  What have you to say on the subject presented?  The comments are open and waiting for your thoughts...


Until next time....happy reading!

Books to Movies: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Hi there! *~waves~*  Just wanted to welcome all of our new visitors to the site, I'm glad you came!  For all of those returning visitors, thanks for your continued reader-ship (Hmmm, is that a word?  Maybe following-ness....well, you get the picture.....in two words, welcome back!).  Reading is a passion of mine and I am very happy to share my adventures with each of you!  Hopefully they will spark conversation, imagination, or at the very least a desire to try a title or two for yourself and increase your own TBR (to-be-read) piles!

Today's pick is a doozey.  It's a long published work that is about to be released as a movie starring none other than Leonardo DiCaprio.  (Okay...if you are a fan of his...enough with the swooning....this is about the book that inspired the movie....FOCUS...)  Have you guessed it yet?  The previews make it all dark and foreboding....not so far from the bookish truth.  Alright, alright....I'm not one to torture you for very long (leave that to a few of the characters in this story)....today's book of choice is....

Shutter Island

by

Dennis Lehane

Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule are two U.S. Marshals on a mission.  First stop....the bathroom for a glimpse into the porcelain oracle (that's the potty, for anyone confused by my choice of words).  Yep...turns out Teddy doesn't have the stomach for sailing the open seas.  Second stop, Shutter Island to figure out how one Rachel Solando managed to escape from a locked, secured room and disappear without a trace.  His aim... to uncover the truth.  (dun dun dun) The truth about what?  Aww....all shall be revealed (well, not all....I mean I'm not going to tell you how it ends, because HELLO...that would spoil it for you!).  You see, there is more than meets the eye in regards to both Teddy AND the island.  Both have their truths.  Both have their secrets.  But which one is more dark and devious than the other? 

In a place outside normal society filled with those that the world would rather forget, radical treatments are rumored to be explored as a means of settling the unsettled mind...some in fact that may be beyond the moral law.  With such things in question, is it any wonder that he begins to second guess his prior assumptions?  I mean, when you feel you can't trust your own mind, who can you depend on?  Is the truth really the truth, or merely a result of what others want us to believe?  The facts are all there.  The code is waiting to be broken.  Who will survive this game of wits, if in fact that is truly what it is?  Each has its own hidden agenda, but what that may be and to what means they will go to realize it will astound even the most seasoned of readers.  (dun dun dun....yep, there's your cliffhanger.....)

Wow!  Let me just say....WOW!  I mean, by the end of this book, I was turning pages so fast I had to MAKE myself not skim each paragraph to find out exactly what happens.  The ending is such a twist....there is really no way to anticipate it coming.  If you've read the book and say that you can...well, let's just say you're either Sherlock Holmes to my Watson, or fibbing just a bit.  (WHEW!  Okay, moving on...)  The characters are realistic, their intentions believable...so much in fact, you may cringe away in some instances as you feel the gaze of the steely eyed staff come upon you.

Now let's talk about the writing itself....a little bit of a different reaction.  While I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters, I wasn't as much of a fan of the writing in general.  There are lengthy passages of characters bantering back and forth in short one line sentences.  I don't know about you, but after a bit, you lose track of who is saying what in such instances.....the reaction being a re-read on that page or the pages in question, thus slowing down the read of the book.  One other note....the language.  Okay, I know it is a male author.  I also know that foul language or intimate situations are often narrated completely differently when looking at a male versus female viewpoint.  I also know that (okay, okay...perhaps know is too strong...how about, in my opinion...) were the crass words and descriptions censored a bit, the story would lose neither readers, nor value.  I mean, honestly....how many times can one say the "F" word in a short passage?  Well, the author does explore that to a certain extent to be sure, but I digress.  As much as the irritation was there upon reading the page, it was just as quickly overlooked when trying to move forward with the story...it simply was that good.

In the end, I'd recommend this book to anyone planning on seeing the movie (ME!).  As good as the trailer looks, the book does not disappoint!  One word of caution....I might suggest that readers be at least mid-to late teens or adults, due to the language and content (we are dealing with psychiatric prisoners...I mean they didn't get put in there for selling candy to strangers).  So....a showing of (virtual) hands....are YOU planning on seeing the movie?  Are you going to read the book first, last, or skip it altogether?  Thoughts, comments....feel free to share!

Until next time....happy reading!

**Review copy was purchased by yours truly!

New Moon has Arrived!

It's over! +SIGH+ I came I saw I blogged. Overall verdict, GREAT! more later...

!!!UPDATE!!!

Ahh...it was GREAT!  The whole theater managed to stay quiet throughout the movie (which by the way is a little ovr 2 hours), except for small bouts of laughter at the appropriate times (and there were quite a few).  As far as book versus movie....they stayed fairly close for the most part.  I mean some scenes were obviously more cut to the chase than the detail in the book, but overall for this reader....it worked.  The effects used to show the passing of time, and the hallucination version of Edward....not too shabby.  I do have to say that even after seeing the movie, not a fan of the soundtrack (SORRY!).  There weren't any moments that I was thinking more about the song playing than the footage, but there also weren't any "wow this is great" moments for it either. 

On to the actors and actresses....some things I noticed at least.  Kristen Stewart (Bella) grew into her part...FINALLY!  The first movie had her as a stumbling stuttering can't-complete-a-sentence girl who just didn't fit the literary version of the character.  This one she is obviously more confident but well within Bella's limits.  The color scheme chosen for this movie was more golden, and that worked on most of the characters...but it looked like they forget Edward (Robert Pattinson) when they made this setting.  He still appears quite "blue" compared to the rest of his family....at least his over-acting (for a quick reminder, check the Twilight DVD for their first meeting in Biology class....now do you remember?) has been reigned in.  He still had a few moments where you were wondering what he was thinking with the facial expression he had, or wished the slow motino walk would speed up just a bit, but the performance was a lot better overall.  Jacob (Taylor Lautner)....what can I say (sorry Team Jacob fans....here it comes...)....while his acting in the later half of the movie was better (to me at least), newly found muscles or not, he still comes off as younger than his part.  Definite KUDOS though for when we saw the last of the long hair....not a good look when you already have a really young face (well for a guy anyway...).

When all is said and done....I definitely recommend the movie for fans of both the books and the movies.  Certainly worth your time.

Until next time....happy reading (and watching!).

T-Minus 19 Hours and Counting...

Hello again everyone!  I just couldn't wait to get a post of this nature up and ready with the fun to be had later tonight and into the wee hours of tomorrow morning.  That's right!  This post is dedicated to the Twilight Saga, New Moon hype we've all been hearing about and participating in for the past several months.  The efforts are now reaching a stopping point because late tonight....TADA!  New Moon visual satisfaction.

As you may know if you are a frequent reader of my blog, I am definitely Team Edward girl.....but we're talking more book wise than movie wise.  Don't get me wrong, I like the movies, but I simply LOVE the books.  Earlier in my web surfing adventures, I came across a rather interesting post in support of Team Jacob.  While the postee made several good points for her team choice, I felt compelled to do a counter post if you will to shine a brighter light on the Team Edward benefits and attributes. (Hey friendly "competition" has always been welcomed....let's just lay the cards on the table, shall we?) I'll try to address the previous post point for point (TJ = Team Jacob statement, TE = Team Edward view point), but I may add a few in for good measure.....here we go!

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TJ:  Jacob is alive and warm versus cold and "dead" Edward.

TE:  Okay, first of all, he is technically un-dead....and as Casper once said of the living bit, "Big fleshy deal."  While you may save on heat in the winter, who really wants a personal space heater ALL the time?  Besides, the shedding ALONE would add to your days work and take away from the time you have with your chosen literary catch.  Anywho, the cold factor just makes you have to be more creative in the staying warm department... (okay, calm down all you Team Edward fans....breath a bit and catch your breath....ready to continue?)

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TJ:  He can have children,while Edward's miraculous offspring will claw it's way out.

TE:  See, not all the facts are really present.  How do we know what a wolf baby would do?  They could be just as volatile as the vamp baby...which of course makes this TJ point, moot.  =0)

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TJ:  Jacob is hot literally (the wolf bit) and actor wise with or without the wig.

TE:  As far as the literal hot factor...we've come full circle back to the space heater bit.  In regards to the actor, I'm gonna refrain from commenting since I'm more book fan than movie.

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TJ:  Wolfish nature means he will be naked quite often.

TE:  Okay, how to approach this without getting into a raunchy post....it seems our TJ fan is a little obsessed with this factor as a few of her points center on this general theme.  May I remind you that leaving something to the imagination is very beneficial whether you are a female or male.  (Come on, seriously, who's with me on this?)  That said, may I also point out the serious increase in "indoor activities" mentioned in Breaking Dawn (Book 4)....yeah, I'll leave this counter answer at that point...(for those of you that don't know what I am talking about....you really need to read the book.)

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TJ:  He's not old enough to be your great grand dad nor have met yours.

TE:  Now that's hitting a bit below the belt....and forgeting some keys factors once again!  He's older mind-wise which the last time I checked is a good thing with guys since they seem to mature more slowly in this area than gals.  Body wise, Edward is your average (okay, not-so-average) teenager which puts him in his "prime" so to speak.  Plus, don't forget....one day Jacob will be older, balding, and perhaps have a ponch from too many puppy treats....Edward will always look this good.

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TJ:  He doesn't want to drink my blood.

TE:  I can concede on this point a little as yeah, the thought of someone wanting to drain my blood doesn't really appeal to me (had enough of that as a child with medical tests, thank you very much)....but remember, the Cullen clan is made of "vege vamps" and if you remember in the books, they tend to hunt what's in season, thus acting as a natural predator to keep populations in check.  I don't want "Bambi" on the menu either, but you also don't want their numbers to get out of hand and have to dodge many "Bambi's" on your daily drive.

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TJ:  He never left, Edward did.

TE:  Touche....but not exactly! (HA!  Thought you had me huh? )  It is true, Edward leaves her, but it's not like he's cheating on her or something.  He leaves to save her life and it's hurting him just as much as it's hurting her (remember his attempt on his life?).  Technically Jacob leaves Bella too....when he is trying to figure out the whole wolf thing before Bella knows his secret.

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TJ:  He can sleep and eat.

TE:  Well aren't we grasping at straws now?  Personally I like both as well, but Edward's lack of doing both, doesn't stop him from being with Bella when she is participating in these daily activities.  Plus, food wise, there is never the un-ending conversation of "What do you want?".  "I don't care, what do you want?"  (Yeah, those can be unending mini-battles....especially if both of you are trying to please the other.)

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In close, they mention a lot of folks "hate" Team Jacob.  Well, I can only speak for myself (but you can weigh in via the comments), but I don't hate them....he served as a really good friend.  It's not either of their faults that she was meant to be with Edward.  (Again, reference back to Book 4, but Jacob is meant to be with someone as well, and it's not Bella either!)

Go TEAM EDWARD!  Whoo-HOO!

Now we can't let me have all the fun....time for YOU to weigh in!  Which team are you and why?

(The Team Jacob post is linked near the beginning of this post in case you want to check out the points shared first hand.)

* Just in case it wasn't abundantly clear, this post is purely in the fun spirit of all that is Twilight.  We all know that they are only fictional characters in a great series, but why should that stop us from using our imaginations and creativity to "duke it out" for who should get top billing.  =0)

Week-END Treasure: I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle

Welcome back for another installment of....hmmm, that sounds a bit to game show host. Let's see...how about we just jump right into the book choice for today, shall we? It may seem a bit strange, compared to my other postings thus far, but it's definitely worth a read and fits the "over-the-weekend" time schedule for completion. Today's week-END treasure is....

I Love You, Beth Cooper
by
Larry Doyle

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

If you haven't heard of this title yet, you will be in the future. As with many of today's novels, this too has been turned into a movie soon to hit theaters near you. I believe it stars Hayden Panettiere and Paul Rust. Of course, reading the book first is ALWAYS recommended, at least by me, but to each his (or her) own.

Denis Cooverman is captain of the debate team, allergic to just about everything, and also happens to be class valedictorian. It is graduation day and the former seniors are being set loose on the world...so long as they make it through the ceremony being held in the 100 degree gymnasium, which is making everyone share the last momentous sweat session of their high school days. Denis however is sweating bullets due to more than just the heat. The speech he is about to deliver is not your typical "let's look to the future", or "congratulations, we did it" commencement approved writing. No, no, no. Cooverman is about to give one for the record books. He steps forward, careful not to trip on his gown, takes a deep breath, and then....well let's just say to sum it up, he thoroughly exposes the faults of several populars, labels his best bud as gay (Rich Munsch), and announces to the entire student body plus parents and staff that he loves Beth Cooper.

I can pretty much guess....your reaction is either on the "what the @#%$" side or the "awww shucks, that was romantic". I would normally veer towards the later half, however Beth Cooper pretty much has no idea he is alive. She is a popular, a head cheerleader.....did I mention the "owner" of a rather insane boyfriend in the military who can't handle a little nerd intimidation? The rest of the novel encompasses the 24 hours following his declaration. In this small window of time, Denis learns many things. He discovers a whole new level of pain, and fear in his struggle to outmaneuver Kevin, the psycho boyfriend. He unravels the perfectness that he has known as Beth Cooper, to discover there is a lot more (both good and bad) than his imagination lent to her image. In the end, Denis ends up adding many last minute memories of high school days before filing it away for storage.

'I Love You, Beth Cooper' reads as a cross between some of the big screen 'teen' movies of days gone by. If you take equal parts, 'She's All That', 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High', and 'Can't Hardly Wait'...stir gently, let it rest for 5 minutes, and then shake like H-E-L-......you'll get the right result. You get the graduation ceremony, sought after pro-creation between cliques, crazed boyfriends, loose-lipped friends, and innuendos galore. I do feel that I must include a warning to any younger readers out there...it is in the FICTION section, not Young Adult. Adult content is within the pages so be prepared...

Feel free to leave your comments or feedback!

Until next time...happy reading!

Week-END Treasure: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Ahhhh, summer. School's out. The sun is up. Free time abounds for self-satisfying fun. Just relaxing. No worries. No cares. All the time in the world just waiting to be filled with your dreams, wants, and desires. Feel the breeze blowing and the sun warming your skin......

Okay....SNAP out of it! Summer does not officially start until June 21st (this year), regardless of what our cabin fever is telling us, or the school system dictates, BUT that does not mean we can't enjoy the weather along with a great book. The week-END treasure for this week is....

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
by
Ann Brashares

Now some of you may be thinking....FLUFF! I will admit that it is a "lite"read, however it is very enjoyable if given the chance. It is story about life, love, friends, and all the troubles along the way. In a very realistic (if filtered) fashion, the lives of four young friends are introduced to the reader. We have...

• Tibby - future employee of Wallman's, and underestimated video producer
• Carmen - potential drama queen flying off to South Carolina to visit her dad
• Lena - understated Mediterranean beauty off to see her family in Greece
• Bridget - blonde soccer champ off to camp in Baja

They have been friends forever...but summer is sending them in different directions. With their shared fears of growing apart, how can they stay close? Enter the traveling pants! Picked up at a second hand store, their origin holds no likely appeal. The magic is in the fit! Although the girls are close, they are each different in build and yet when the pants are tried on by one and all, they magically fit each girl as if made for her alone. They develop a plan to share to pants throughout the summer along with the adventures had while they were worn. This could get interesting.....

The real storyline is from the heart about the bonds of friendship that we cultivate and how important these people become in our lives. As the first book in the series, I found it a quick but enchanting read which left me ready for the next one and the next one and the next one. Try it out this weekend...you won't be sorry.

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time...happy reading!

Books to Movies: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

If you haven't seen this one, you've surely seen another...books are being turned into movies more and more frequently these days. Why not? You have an instant storyline that just needs a bit of tweaking before it is big screen worthy. Sounds like a no-brainer. A whole in one! Score!

Okay, now that I'm done with the sports analogies...in my humble opinion, sometimes they tend to "tweak" a little too much. Just think back to one (of I'm sure many) that you've read before viewing and remember all of the "that's not what happened" moments you experienced.

The grand silver screen can also act as a catalyst for getting books more exposure. It can instantly bring old and new titles alike to the forefront of reading lists today. Books you may not have even thought about reading before are given the chance to shine, creating a new legion of fans. One such book turned movie is

Coraline

by

Neil Gaiman

Coraline is the unlikely heroine in this dark tinged children's tale. She is a young girl, braver than most, yet slighter than many. One day, she while exploring her home, she happens upon a rather strange oddity. There is a door that leads to....a brick wall. Her mother advises her that it led to the apartment on the opposite at one time, but was sealed to allow other tenants. Happy as one can be with an explanation so mundane, Coraline scampers off to more exciting pursuits fed by her imagination. But alas, when one plans outdoor activities, the weather is not one to cooperate willingly, thus driving her back to her inside exploration endeavors. She searches here and there, high and low, to no avail. Thoroughly bored she comes upon the doorway to nowhere once again, only this time....it leads to SOMEWHERE.

This "other" world holds everything her own beloved home does, with added benefits. Both her "other" parents want nothing more than to play games and have fun with her; the neighbors put on stage shows for their many dogs. Yet, even when presented with all of this fun, Coraline's heart does not manage to stay in it. She can feel that something is very off about this "other" world, especially her "other" mother with her black button eyes. What darkness lurks behind those doll-like eyes? Will Coraline succumb to their nefarious plans?

Classified as children's literature, I do not hesitate in recommending this for all ages. It is well written in a style easily accessible to a child, yet the twists and turns of the engaging plot easily keep older readers coming back for more.

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback.
Until next time...happy reading!