Film Friday + two

I know, I know- this is not Friday. But really I did watch a movie this week. And it was even kind of good.
I have always had a weird soft spot for Brendan Fraiser- I love all of the Mummy movies, and man have you seen George of the Jungle? Great stuff. I loved the Paul Bettany got to play someone other than and out and out villain- I feel he has been absurdly typecast since the DaVinci Code, and as a bonus is real life wife, plays his wife in the movie. Plus Andy Serkis is just plan awesome in any/everything. I enjoyed it!

Please Stop.... Please

To level with everyone here: I am a huge fan of the book Pride and Prejudice. (Huge. Fan.) I have multiple copies of the original text. I have several copies of the
A&E mini-series and various other versions brought to screen. I love it. Ironically it isn't my favorite work of Jane Austen- but it was the first one I discovered and therefore the one I have the most, for lack of a better word, stuff for. I cannot even begin to tell you how many follow ups, or continuations I have read for P&P it is definitely in the double digits. Some I love, some I hate, some I just read. But all I can say now is: Please, people, please stop.... please

Why oh why must Mr. Darcy, Vampyre exist? Amanda Grange has been knocked down several million steps in my estimation: I have read several of her books- she usually writes a Diary for each of the male hero's of Miss Austen. And I enjoyed them, didn't OMG love them, but enjoyed them for sure. But it seems that everyone, everyone has to jump on the freaking Vampire bandwagon. I am done with it. Yes I read all of the twilight saga, yes I read (well started- because Kelsey still has my copy) Pride and Prejudice and Zoombies, Yes I read a book were Darcy and Elizabeth are detectives. But no more people, no more. Why can't Mr. Darcy just be Mr. Darcy?????

Oh and really what is with all the freaking Vampires???? Are literally agents just jumping on any book that involves them?

Why I am a bad browser....

Tonight I walked to the library to return a DVD I borrowed, and I was pleasantly surprised to see they were still open. It is almost novel to have anything be open past 5:30 in downtown Pella. It is most definitely like the locus come out at 5:30 everyday and quick, quick people you need to return to your homes! (or as my friend Kelli would say: The Vampires are getting ready to come out.) Every Thursday night however, like many cities in Iowa, the downtown area stays open until 8 p.m. and the community band plays. But still I was surprised to see the library open because it was past 8. Instead of just sticking my returns in the slot I decided to go in and take a look around. The poll I posted about which book I should read next was inconclusive (where did all my decisive friends go?) to make things even worse they didn't have disc 3 and 4 of the miniseries I was watching. This is where I begin to feel bad for every author that ends up on the bottom two shelves of every library, and book store. I mean does anyone actually take the time to look down there? I know I certainly don't and to be really super honest I pretty much only quickly browse the shelves that are at my eye level, and look for interesting covers. Past that, the only why you can get me to look at top or bottom shelves is to be one of my favorite authors- that way while I am the right section I might, just might see your book. I once heard a story that an author picked her pen name solely based on the fact that her books would end up next to an already established author of her same genre. Which really is super smart- I figured writers were just creative people that wanted strange names, but no- really there is some marketing and strategy going on. But really I feel bad for everyone else. I guess you can never know the size of the library or bookstore you will be sold and therefore cannot ever tell if you are going to end up on the unlucky bottom shelf.

Trying to trust others....

I need a new book to read. I have like 15 at home that I haven't read yet. I am going to let you pick. If you choose before Thursday at 5 p.m.

the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
tuesdays with Morrie (an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson) by Mitch Albom
A tree grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter
The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard
the perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Possession by A.S. Byatt

Yes I can count- I know this is only 7 and I said 15- but the others, well they are not on the table yet. I will let you know when they come into play. Leave a comment, leave some love!

"I was told there'd be cake" by Sloane Crosley

I would just like to say I freaking loved this book- every single second of it. I have no clue how I didn't immediately devour it when I originally purchased it 1 1/2+ years ago. I probably passed it over from some trashy novel- biggest mistake of my life. It is really a collection was hilarious essays- so if you are unwilling to get caught up in a huge story this book is perfect. I laughed out loud at so many parts it is crazy. One of my favorite passages from Smell This:

Justine brings along her new boyfriend, Trevor. Trevor the investment banker who is not an actual investment banker but works in finance. Since this is the only money-oriented job you come remotely close to grasping, you call everyone who works on Wall Street an "investment banker." You think he actually does something with hedge funds. Trims them, maybe.

The story of how she locked herself out of two different apartments in one day and spent over 500 dollars trying to get back in- charmed me. This is something I will do in a later life for sure. And her recollections of finding out she was named after a movie character and her and her mother's totally lack of connection to anything this character stands for. Pure magic. And as you know I don't have a habit of questioning magic. Read it!

Ahead of my deadline....

I conservatively suggested I would be able to finished the last 200 pages of North and South by Tuesday- well it is Monday morning and I have finished! (who needs sleep?- also I am on disc 4 episode 3 of Lost season 2, and I did at least 30 minutes of browsing the internet) I really enjoyed it, but what would be considered the final episode of the mini-series and the book are really different. I think they got the gist of everything just sped it up and changed it around. The next book on my pile is "I was told there'd be cake" by Sloane Crosley (it gets great reviews with 20-somethings). I have a list of other books I want to check out if the Library has them, so things might end up changing in the currently reading section. Eventually I am going to have to sleep. But I had, had, had to finish my book.

Things are happening!

My Fab friend Kelsey totally stole my zombie book to read while she was on vacation. Ok by stole- I mean I said she could borrow it, and when she forgot it I tracked down her friend to make sure she would get it before she left. So I guess that means I reverse pick pocketed myself.

Yeah. Anywho- this means I resorted to one of the many "smart looking" books I keep around. You know the ones you are willing to put on the bookshelf in the living room (not the other one you hide in your bedroom) because when people browse them you can go "Oh, yes I just love Dicken's later works." And therefore when you read them with your "smart looking" glasses and a glass of red wine you feel better about who you are.

Well I started reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell- it has been on the bookshelf for a few months at least, I bought it after I watched the mini-series (like 5 times, in a row) but never got around to getting past chapter one. Which frankly is like the first 20 seconds of the mini-series (so not progress). Well ladies and gents- I freaking made progress. If we were watching the mini-series we would be about halfway through episode 3 (out of 4)- and as Liz Lemon would say "Things are happening!" (you practically yell the happening part) Now if I can just not get distracted by Lost ( two more discs have arrived), sleep or the internet, I may have a finished book by Tuesday.

Film Friday

This week's Pick: A Room with a View (1985).

A Merchant Ivory film based on the novel of the same name. The story is about Lucy, a young Englishwoman, traveling aboard in Florance with her spinster cousin as a chaperon. Lucy and her cousin Charlotte were promised "a room with a view" but were not given one at the hotel they are staying at in Florence. As Charlotte complains about this mix-up at the dinner table, the eccentric Mr. Emersons (Father and son) offer to trade rooms with them, being men they have no use for their view. Charlotte is shocked by their forwardness and rejects the offer, although she is later convinced to accept. The Mr. Emersons are viewed as unusual and not accepted all of the hotel patrons, however Lucy frequently runs into them when visiting various locations around Florence, she is polite to them, although a little put off by their unique-ness. One afternoon Lucy witnesses a violent murder of an Italian in a square, George Emerson (the son) is their and catches her as she faints. They walk back to the hotel together and talk at length. Charlotte does not approve of the Emersons and encourages Lucy to avoid them. One day several hotel guests including, the Emersons, Lucy and her cousin, a female novelist, and English clergymen Mr. Bebbe, travel to the Florence country side. George and Lucy end up alone in a field of violets, overcome George kisses Lucy, but her cousin Charlotte sees and forces Lucy and George to promise to never speak of the incident to anyone. The movie next picks up in England, at the home of Lucy. Lucy has just been proposed to by Cecil, a English gentleman she met when traveling in Rome, she accepts, although it is clear her brother Freddy does not approve of Cecil. In a bit of fate the Emersons have just taken lease of house in the neighborhood, being recommended to it by Cecil- although neither realize the connection they share with Lucy. George and Freddy become easy friends, and Freddy invites George over to play tennis. Cecil reads out loud to everyone a scene from a novel that is strikingly familiar to the kiss George and Lucy shared in Florence. George sneaks off and kisses Lucy again. Lucy realizes that the novelist they met in Florence has written the book and her cousin Charlotte must of told her about the kiss. Angered, she forces Charlotte to witness as she tells George to leave and never come back. George argues with her, saying Cecil could never love her the way he did. Lucy still sends him away. Later that evening angry with Cecil, Lucy breaks off her engagement with him. She plans to escape the country and travel to Greece with some friends she might while in Florence. Before she leaves she speaks with Mr. Emerson (the father) and confesses she has been in love with George all along. George and Lucy marry. The film picks with George and Lucy honeymooning in Florence at the hotel where they met.

My thoughts: Great little romance, classic story- I have seen one other adaptation that had Lucy act as the Narrator looking back- but it took some liberties with the story having George die in WWI. Only weird thing is during place or time jumps in the film it put up a screen that would read: Lucy lies to Cecil, (etc) using these scenes to narrate a little. Helen Bonham Carter- stars as Lucy, you will recognize the rest of the cast as well, Daniel Day-Lewis is Cecil. Maggie Smith is Charlotte. Judy Dench is the novelist. But for the most part excellent film, I preferred this version over the more recent remake BBC did.

My imagination better than your reality...

I truly truly truly believe that my imagination is way better than any "reality" a movie company can come up with. Case in point : Twilight. (Don't make fun of me the Twilight series is sweeping the world). The books I read quickly and got excited when I found out they were making a movie, even went to see this movie opening weekend. (Yes I helped it go #1) But the movie- lets be serious here- very campy. Don't get me wrong I loved the eye candy Robert Patterson provided just as much as the next girl but, nobody can pull off a vampire snarl, except for maybe an actual vampire (which you know it not going to happen). Also everyone made a huge deal about how the music was going to be so amazing because several of the musicians on the soundtrack were huge fans and wrote the songs especially for the movie. But me, when I read it associated completely different music. (Specifically - Placebo: Meds- pretty much the whole album but especially inferred, running up that hill, and drag) So the movie was a let down, I mean other than the obvious problems that every book adaptation have (cutting out portions of the plot to make the movie bearable time wise), it just didn't live up to all the hype for me. Everyone is going crazy about it again because of the DVD release (often DVD makes things better for me- I am a sucker for special features and commentary tracks). Did anyone spring for the DVD? Is it worth it? So movie companies if you insist on continuing to adapt books into movies (which - yeah you do) you had better put some killer special features on that DVD or you have lost my purchase!

Christmas Gift Shout Out!

I would just like to say I have been getting continued use out of- My Ipod Docking System. Work was never so musical! The Office- day to day calendar- always good for a laugh, especially in these economically trying times. And my cosmetic mirror- helps me get ready for work everyday- I lug it around my apartment consistently (never can get ready in the same place)! Friday I broke out my new purse from the Kibbes- I originally only planned on using it for travel- but I have gotten tons of compliments on it, it holds my water bottle easily and I big enough for me to carry a book with me whenever- my I can feel like Rory Gilmore! It has been in constant use and will continue to be for some time!
LOVE THEM!

Movie Review

Tonight I went and saw the movie Marley & Me at the theatre. First off I am going to come clean and say I haven't read the book. Usually I am disappointed by movies that are based on books so it was actually refreshing to see the movie before reading the book. Mostly it was a funny sweet story of a family growing together. I am a long-time fan of Owen Wilson (and all of the Wilson brothers for that matter- they are much to cute) and he didn't disappoint. Alan Arkin, who plays Owen's Boss most of the movie, is both hilarious and sweet. Eric Dane- was all eye candy and reminded me of why I like Grey's Anatomy- crazy story lines and all. I even managed to enjoy Jennifer Anitson- she played the role of wife/mother great even if she looks way to good to be a mother of 3 (bonus I wanted all of her clothes, not counting the dated ones). The children were adorable - older Patrick breaks my heart at the end. Marley's misbehaving was always funny and never seemed to get old. Not to mention all the dogs used were too cute, esp the puppies- who could ever resist Clearance Puppy? I laughed out loud more times than I can count, and cried like the mushy girl I am at the end. All in all a fantastic way to spend my Saturday evening. I think I would love the book even more- the story is just irresistible.
Final Review: See it!
Caution- If you are a pet owner- yellow lab especially- you will cry like a baby.
Double Caution- I am undecided on my Cat or Dog person preference but I definitely wanted to run out and get a puppy at the end. Be forewarned- puppy ownership urge will happen!

This week has been a busy and productive one. I finally got to my last straw with the bank by tuesday. Wednesday I was closing accounts and opening new ones elsewhere. I cannot believe all the customer service issues I have experienced with them in the last 14 days!
PBS has been rerunning the Anne of Green Gables series every Sunday lately. I so enjoy the movies- Gilbert is adorable! It inspired me to try reading A of GG again. I bought the book last year and never fully devoted any time to getting through it. I am almost done and enjoying all the scrapes Anne is getting in. What a classic! I almost watched Little Women on tv this morning but i knew it would make me want to read that book and I have got my hands full at the moment.
Speaking of TV- I am currently enjoying a what not to wear hour- I always enjoy watching everyones transformations and think that Clinton Kelly would absolutely make an amazing boyfriend. Not only is he cute- but he dresses great, likes to shop, and bonus knows what would look amazing on you! What is not to like?
I need to get a little more dedicated to the gym and 5k training again.... I have been lazy the last week and a half but the Iowa Games 5k is coming up and I need to be in top form! I think I am going to dive deep today and order my new Ipod- my workouts have been suffering without the beat!