Book/Movie Review: Perks of Being a Wallflower

I know this book has been out for years.

And I know this movie is old news (as I saw it at the cheap-o dollar theater that shows movies practically when you can buy them on DVD)

But I haven't done a book or movie or anything review in a while and thought it was about time.


----- And apparently life took over and I never finished the review ----
 It is now October 21, 2013.  Not sure what the timestamp will say on this post since it was sitting in draft for... oh may 4 or 5 months?

Now it has been even longer since I saw the movie, but I remember it being very sad but enjoyable.  I won't lie, I even slightly liked the movie more than the book.   This rarely happens to me but I think it had more to do with the fact that I saw the movie before reading the book and the movie plot stuck to the book plot like glue.  The only other movie I distinctly remember liking more than the book was Lord of the Rings ( I just could not get through the book if my life depended on it ). 

 So long review short: see the movie.  read the book.  you will enjoy one of them if not both.

And a quick plug for your local library:  the book is really short so if your library has it, take the time to make a visit there rather than buying the book from amazon or a big box store.  I'm not saying the book isn't worth your money, but I don't like to buy books that take me 2 days to read (as this one did)

Book Review: A Long Way Down

I got A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby out of the library because I really enjoyed listening to Juliet, Naked but I was sadly kind of disappointed by this one.  I found it very hard to get into and once I got into it I again lost interest pretty quick.

The book was based around 4 people who all showed up at the same spot to commit suicide on New Year's Eve and don't end up doing it.  The 4 people are very different and are not a likely crew but alas they help each other get through the difficult times in their lives.  I wasn't a huge fan of the characters: none of them seemed to be developed at all except maybe Maureen.  I understand the book was supposed to be a dark comedy and maybe I just didn't get the joke, but it overall had too many unnecessary swear words and not enough chuckles. 

The writing did have some charm to it which makes me decide that it is more the story I didn't enjoy, not so much the author's writing.  There were a few moments where there were ideas being thought of in interesting ways.  Not to give too much away but I really liked the analogy used when the characters realized whether or not they really could commit suicide about suicide always being something saved in a box for a rainy day only to realize that there was nothing in the box when you decide to use it. Hornby of course writes this in a much more concise easy to understand manner and I suggest you read the book if only for that analogy.  It is a different way of looking at death and suicide, I only wish it was written in a more compelling way.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

July 20, 2007, 11:30 PM

I sat outside the closed shops of Petaluma along with my cousin, his girlfriend and some of their friends, we lined the streets that led to the local bookstore waiting for midnight to strike so that we could crack open the last installment of the Harry Potter series.  Will he die? Or will evil win out over good? Questions of all sorts went through our brains as we discussed possibilities but mostly just enjoyed the community that had come out to celebrate the release of the book.  Some people had been lined up for hours at this point with blankets, food, music and chairs.  There was such an excitement that went through the crowd as the hour crept closer and closer.  

Once I had the book in my hands I started it immediately but unlike most people who stayed up all night to get to the end as quickly as possible I took my time.  I enjoyed the prose and let the story develop paying utmost attention to plot twists and answers to the many questions that had been created in past books.  When I finally finished the book (took me about a week) Harry Potter's saga had ended.  I was sad, but even good things can't last forever.

July 14, 2011, 11:30 PM

I arrived at the Aurora Theater around 11 PM.  Crazy lines that were certainly the situations of Regals across the nations didn't exist in this little hometown treasure.  I almost didn't get a ticket, but Maddie talked me into it.  I'm glad I went, the theater had put together a great event that ran smoothly with only the slightest amount of cheesy humor (Left side say "Harry" Right side say "Potter" "Harry" "Potter!" "Harry!" "Potter!"... "Pick a side!  No going both ways"...What?!?!? Somebody didn't edit too well but it at least got some genuine chuckles. It's not as funny typed out, probably had to be there)    The theater was full of excitement and throughout the movie there were cheers at points of victory for the good side.  One girl a row ahead of us was completely sobbing through the war when the casualties were shown.  I'm pretty sure I cried while reading the book but the movie didn't quite do it for me.  I enjoyed the movie over all but I can't agree with many fans' opinions that it was "the best movie yet." I thought the movie itself was full of awkward moments that just seemed like the producers needed to fill a few seconds here and there.  The fact that they separated the 7th book into 2 movies just shows that they were just trying to get as much money out of fans as possible. They made the romances, not to mention other interactions,  between characters utterly awkward and really made them feel fake and forced.  My favorite moments included Professor McGonagall overcoming Snape and Neville's speech.

I have always been partial to the books.  I always make a point of separating the books from the movies in my mind when seeing them, but still the movies have never created the excitement I had felt for the release of the books.  I never went out of my way to see the movies at midnight, though I'd tag along with friends if they were going.  To me the movies were just an excuse to make easy money on a mediocre production (the acting has improved, but it was never great.) 

It's hard to explain how I feel. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the movie. I did. I'm not saying I wish I hadn't gone at midnight. I'm glad I did.  I'm just saying I don't find the excitement in the movies that I felt in the books. The Harry Potter saga ended in 2007 for me, the movies being a way to revisit the stories in a new medium.  I sometimes wonder if there will ever be another sensation like Harry Potter that is enjoyed by all generations, hated by some, obsessed over by others  and at the same time a universal symbol throughout society. 

Book Review: The Weird Sisters

See, we love each other. We just don't happen to like each other very much.

I picked this book up because a group on Ravelry were going to be reading it.  I ordered it from the library and when I checked it out I found out I only had it for 7 days.  I rarely finish books in 7 days because I multitask with books so much that I never really focus just on one book. I sat down immediately and started reading figuring I'd have a chance if I tried to get 50 pages in a night.

The book turned out to be a very interesting read.  It was written from the point of view of all three sisters but instead of having sections titled with which sister was telling the story you really only knew by which sisters were mentioned by name.  There was no (or hardly any) "I"s in the story and it made for a very interesting perspective. The three sisters traded off telling eachother's stories but never told their own.

Each sister was named for a character of Shakespeare: Rosalind, Bianca and Cordelia. Each sister returned home for different reasons, all hiding under the fact that their mother is sick and needed help around the house.  Through the book the three characters discover things about themselves and their family that they never would have known if they hadn't returned home (or left, in some cases).  All three sisters were developed throughout the story nicely and though I read a few complaints that "nothing happened" I was never bored with the story.  I enjoyed that the plot consisted mostly of the development of the characters and who they were and would become.  For me that moved the story forward enough.

All in all this turned out to be a great summer read: quick, engaging and light. Next time you go to the beach you might want to consider bringing this one along.

Book Review: Juliet, Naked (audiobook)

I finally finished Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby.  I say finally not because I didn't like it and was itching to finish, but because I was listening to it at 15 minute increments on my way to and from work through the last month or so.  This story really hit home for me.  Having just gotten out of a relationship in which I had "gotten comfortable" and had not allowed myself to see that there were better things out there hearing the thoughts of the main character, Annie, on her 15 year relationship with a man who doesn't appreciate her made me look back at my relationship with different eyes.   I really felt like Nick Hornby had plugged into my mind in the past few months and wrote down and expanded upon the many fleeting thoughts of confusion and hurt that passed through my brain.  One specific part talks about wasted time and Tucker Crowe tries to calculate how much time Annie had wasted, but comes to the conclusion that though she felt that the past 15 years were wasted, there were many things she had to have enjoyed making the time not a waste. This was a fun book to listen to.  There are three readers who read in turn depending on who the narrator is focusing on at the moment.  I definitely plan to read more books by Nick Hornby, I've actually already picked up my next one from the library: A Long Way Down.

What I Want to Do This Summer (well, the rest of it anyways)

As I was putting away the "Cryocuff" at my internship this morning I realized today was the 30th of June, which meant not only do I only have 3 weeks left at my internship, but the summer will soon come to an end.   So what do I want to do with this last month?

1. Make a hula hoop

My roommate this past year made hula hoops and on a warm sunny day would turn on some Moe., go into the back patio and hula hoop.  She did more than just your regular old "circle your hips" hula-hooping.  She did all sorts of tricks that were kind of fun to just watch.  When I was stuck with homework, unfocused or didn't want to run in the rain, I would grab one of her hoops and hula for 20 minutes as a way to let off steam. I kept meaning to ask her to show me how to make one, but I never found the time.  I found a website that shows how to do it, so my first goal is to make a hula hoop to have as a stress-reliever this coming school year.

2.  Run a 5K in 30 minutes or less

I enjoy being active but it is still sometimes a real chore to get myself out the door.  My best time for a 5K is 32 minutes and some seconds, even though I know I can do better than that because I've done 8K in 49 minutes. I think my biggest problem is that I look at the 8K as a real challenge, while a 5K doesn't seem like such a big challenge anymore because I've done a bunch of them. Then I show up at the starting line out of shape because I "got busy" and hadn't found time to run and start thinking that it was all a big mistake. I've registered for the Lindsay Matthews Memorial 5K on July 24th. I've printed out schedule and plan to place a sticker (yes, a sticker, just like in kindergarten) everytime I complete a planned run.  I hope to show up at the race in good shape, ready to run my best and set my PR.  Visit this site to register for the race!

3. Finish the books I've been reading all summer

I tend to start numerous books in a time frame and then read snippets of each one until I really get hooked into one and then I finish it and abandon the others for a while.  Currently I'm reading:

• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
• Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby (Audiobook)

I listen to Juliet, Naked on my way to my internship, it's only a 15 minute drive but its still nice to have instead of having to listen to the radio.  The other 3 I have been essentially reading all summer and am at various points of each book.  I'd like to finish them and hopefully start and finish another book or two.

4. Finish 3 knitting projects

I have more than a few knitting projects that I have started but have yet to finish.  I hope to finish three of them this summer so maybe this fall I can justify starting a sweater!  I have a few choices as far as which I will finish (Sheldon, Gloves, Smittens, or Socks)  we'll have to see what I'm in the mood for when I get a chance to knit.  

I got my photos from these websites:

www.newsdaylaura.com

http://www.eclipsemultisport.com/

www.lindseypollak.com

Libros de Lunes

Over the weekend, I did a lot of reading.  With a couple friends back to school this week the reality of decreasing free time hit.  Once I'm back at school with home work I have little (if lucky) to no time for reading.  I was in the middle of two books, but finished one of them: Chocolat by Joanne Harris.

Chocolat was much better than I had been expecting.  I had seen the movie, which made the storyline seem much heavier on the romance between Roux and Vianne, and though the other storylines appeared, they weren't as strong as in the book.  I suppose I shouldn't be overly surprised, as I have yet to find a movie better than it written counterpart, but in my opinion, the focus of the book was much more interesting than the movie.  Harris' writing was fluid and easy to read.  She would switch from a true narrator to being narrated by the priest throughout the book, but the switch was rarely confusing, save the first time it happened and I wasn't expecting it.  Chocolat was an enjoyable read that always made me hungry as Harris described the chocolates and sweets that Vianne made for her customers.  I seriously found myself craving chocolate or making some hot chocolate every time I sat down to read.  There was a statement about the inconsistencies of the Catholic (at least I assumed it was the Catholic) Church which though I acknowledge that it is not an example of every church, I did thinkt it was an accurate look at a corrupt portion of the institution  (which sadly does exist).  Overall I found Chocolat to be very enjoyable and worth reading.  Harris has written some other books, which if I can find them at the library, I might just pick them up.

I am still working through "the number series" or "the Stephanie Plum series" by Janet Evanovich (not really sure what to call the series, as I usually just say "the Janet Evanovich books," but she has more than one series).   I started this series freshman year of college, and have found they are the perfect read for when your brain is fried with homework, essays, and all-nighters (which I am for some reason incapable of, but that's a story for another day).  This doesn't really explain why I picked up Ten Big Ones (or fondly known as #10) in the middle of my month-long break, but I did and I am still enjoying them profusely.  There are a total of 15 currently, and since I conveniently got my mom hooked on them soon after I started reading them, all of them are in the house waiting to be read.  Maybe this will be the semester I finish... or maybe not.

As one of my "New Year's Resolutions" for 2010 I decided to not buy any books other than textbooks this year, for a couple reasons.  First of all, I have so many books that I haven't read.  I really, really, really should make a dent in that pile (or at least decide which ones I won't be reading because I have passed the age they were intended for, and donate/sell them).  The other reason is that I love libraries.  I love the feeling of walking into a library as if it's your own personal bookshelf waiting for you to pick out a book.  I can take whatever book I want and if it bombs, well, no harm done.  Lately, I haven't been using the library much because I'm only home for about 4 months out of the year, during which I'm working, catching up with friends, etc. and when I am at school, Ithaca's library for some reason doesn't feel "fun reading" books are a necessity.  There are about 4 little shelves of New Fiction, and after the books have passed their time on "New Fiction"... they disappear. I don't know where they go, but they either go somewhere else entirely or are impossible to find among the academic books.  Another problem is that I normally don't pay too much attention to the books I choose in libraries and I'm more likely to choose ones that aren't too interesting to me.   I hope to change this this year as I read through books that I own (or friends own) and go to the library on a more regular basis.  On my list of things to do when I return to Ithaca: get a library card to the Tompkin's County Public Library.