Reading a Classic for the First Time: To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

284 pages

About the Book: 

In a sleepy Alabama town in the 1930s, young Scout Finch grows up on a quiet street with her brother, Jem, and her father, Atticus.  The town is shaken up when a black man is accused of raping a white woman and Atticus is assigned to defend the man.  This big event, seen through the eyes of Scout, consumes the town for over a year.


My Thoughts: 

I never had to read this book in high school or college, but my husband (a non-reader) said it was the best book he'd ever read.  I watched the movie many years ago and thought, "eh, it's a nice story," but that's about it.  Still, after my husband's high recommendation and all the good things I'd heard about this over the years I figured I ought to give it a chance.  So I recommended it to my book club and they decided to read it for our May meeting.

I picked this up a few days ago and couldn't put it down.  Even knowing how the whole plot turned out (from seeing the movie), I was captivated by the writing in this book.  I mean, the writing - it is just beautiful!  The characters are so real, so vivid ... it's like I know these people.  Harper Lee has a way with words that makes her story flow like water, like a smooth, slow river.  I don't know how else to explain it. And I certainly understand why people love this book!


My Book Club: 

We're meeting to discuss this book on May 22 and I can't wait to see what everyone else thought of it.  I think most of the ladies have read it before, and one of them teaches it in her high school class every year, so I'm sure there will be lots of interesting discussion.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

by Stieg Larsson

600 pages

translated from Swedish

*** About the Book ***

Financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist is in trouble.  His magazine, Millennium, published an expose he wrote about a dirty industrialist named Wennerstrom.  Wennerstrom in turned sued Mikael ... and won.  Now Mikael has been convicted of libel and sentenced to 90 days in prison.  He's also taking a leave of absence from the magazine to allow it to recover. At this very low point in his life he's offered a freelancing job by a wealthy, retired industrialist named Vanger.  Vanger's beloved niece disappeared over 40 years ago, possibly at the hands of another family member.  Vanger is an old man and wants Mikael to find out the truth about the disappearance before he (Vanger) dies.

Then we have Lisbeth Salandar, a secretive 20-something who freelances as a background investigator.  Her work bring her into contact with Mikael and the other main players in the Millennium, Wennerstom, and Vanger dramas.


*** Why I Read It ***

I'd never have picked this up if not for my book club; it was chosen as our November book.  It was impossible to get it from the library considering that there were 224 people who'd reserved it prior!  So I purchased it via the Kindle App on my phone and read it that way.


*** My Thoughts ***

It is clear that this book was meant to be the start of a series.  Like many other firsts-in-a-series it spends a great deal of time setting up character background.  It was slow going for a while but when I looked at it as part of a series rather than an individual book I  was able to enjoy the journey.

That said, the story didn't really pick up until more than half of the book had elapsed, though at that point things began to happen very quickly.  I guessed the solution to one of the big mysteries long before the truth was revealed, which could be a good thing or a bad thing; it means that the climax didn't come out of nowhere but it also means that part of the story was a bit predictable.

The author's wording choices often seemed awkward to me, but this could be the fault of the translator rather than the author.  Still, some portions were consistently difficult to read. Lisbeth's dialogue is a good example.  One line reads as follows: "If you even try to hurt me I'll have to do you an injury. You'll be sorry."  See what I mean?  Can you actually imagine someone speaking those words? Also, the word "anon" was used quite often.  I wonder if the translation of that word is common in Sweden or if the translator could have picked a better word in English. 

I don't read a lot in the mystery/thriller genre so this is definitely not a book I'd have picked up on my own.  That said, it was pretty good (though slow to start) and I enjoyed it.  What I don't get is why this book is so wildly popular.  Is it really that different from others in the genre?  It didn't seem so to me, but again I don't read a lot in this genre. It wasn't a bad book but it wasn't a great book either.  I just don't get the reason for all the hype ...

WARNING: There is a fair bit of sexual violence in this book.  Sexual harassment of women is one of the main themes, and Larsson reiterates this fact by quoting crime statistics at the beginning of each book division in addition to includes it in the various plots.


*** The Movie Version ***

I haven't seen the movie yet but I do plan to.  Like I said in my warning above though, there IS a lot of sexual violence in this book.  I'm not sure how that will be played on in the movie and I'm very leery of it.  Here's the official trailer if you want to check it out:




*** Your Thoughts ***

• What, exactly, is it about this book that made it such a huge hit?  It is really that different from other mystery/thriller novels? 
• Did anyone have the same thoughts regarding the translation?  
• For those who have read the rest of the series, is it worth continuing? 
• For those saw the movie, what did you think of it?

City of Ember - some quick thoughts

City of Ember

by Jeanne DuPrau

audiobook: 7.2 hours

narrated by Wendy Dillon

I just realized that Kiddo and I listened to this book in September and I didn't write anything about it at all. Our family took a day trip to Gettysburg and we listened on the ride there and on the ride home.

If you want a summary of the book, check out our review of the movie - they are very similar.

Here are a few quick thoughts on this book ...

• We already watched and really enjoyed the movie so we were excited about the book.
• The book and movie are extremely similar but - of course - the movie changed a few things to make it more exciting.  I don't know that they were necessary but they didn't really hurt either.  Except for the giant mole thing - that was not in the book and really was rather unnecessary.
• The story is pretty simple and though I enjoyed it I did so more because Kiddo was really into it, and because I'd enjoyed the movie.  This is not a series I'd read/listen to on my own, but I'm having fun enjoying it with Kiddo.

Also - and this is REALLY bothering me - I cannot find the length of this audiobook listed anywhere.  Usually that info is on our library's page, or on the publisher's page, but it isn't there this time.  I know there were 6 CDs and they were probably about an hour a piece, but I like to record EXACTLY how long an audiobook is when I write my review; this is the first time I've been unable to come up with that info! UPDATE: Thanks to Amy @ A Librarians Life In Books for finding the length of this audiobook for me - AMY ROCKS!

Kon-Tiki

Kon-Tiki: 

Across the Pacific by Raft

by Thor Heyerdahl

304 pages
first published in 1950

*** About the Book ***

While living in Polynesia during the 1930s to do zoological research, Thor Heyerdahl came up with a theory.  He suggested that the reason art and architecture is so similar in Polynesia and Peru is that Polynesian legends are actually based in fact, and that the original inhabitants of the island arrived there via boat from Peru.  This theory was laughed at by scientists around the world.  The outbreak of World War II put a break on his plans but just two years after the war ended Thor went into action.  To prove that his theory was plausible he planned to build a raft according to ancient Peruvian specifications and sail it 4,000 miles from South America to the Polynesian island.  And he did it.  This book is the story of that adventure.



*** Why I Read It ***

Way back in June 2008 I read a review of this book on Guys Lit Wire that began with this quote from the book: "Once in a while you find yourself in an odd situation. You get into it by degrees and in the most natural way but, when you are right in the midst of it, you are suddenly astonished and ask yourself how in the world it all came about. If, for example, you put to sea on a wooden raft with a parrot and five companions, it is inevitable that sooner or later you will wake up one morning out at sea, perhaps a little better rested than ordinary, and begin to think about it." That definitely got my attention!  The review goes on to describe the author and his companions as "the heroic nerd[s], men so driven by the urge to know, to see and understand, they make bold, mad leaps into uncharted territory. The creed of the heroic nerd is, No experiment is so insanely dangerous that it can’t be made slightly more insanely dangerous with a side experiment."  If that doesn't intrigue you, there is something seriously wrong.  


I could go on and on but I'd rather you just go over to Guys Lit Wire and read the review - it's a good one!


*** My Thoughts ***

Have you ever read something that so intrigued your imagination that you couldn't get it out of your head?  Something that you just HAD to talk to other people about, HAD to find out more about?  That is what this book was for me.

Thor's writing is simple, to-the-point, and still beautiful when he wants it to be.  I was right there with him when his theories were rejected by the scientific community.  I traveled alongside him as he gathered the materials and began building the raft.  Then his time on the ocean ... oh his time on the ocean! I loved reading about the months he and his companions spent on board the raft simply enjoying life. (Not that I'd EVER want to do it myself - his writing isn't THAT seductive!)

While part of me went along for the adventure another part of me simply couldn't get past the (unintentional?) cruelty to some of the ocean's creatures.  For the most part the men on the raft had the greatest respect for nature but they were victims of their own lack of knowledge and their ingrained fears.  One example of this that really broke my heart was their encounter with a whale shark.  This animal was completley unknown to them and they assumed it was a deadly predator.  After it bumped the raft several times in what they took to be an aggressive manner, they stabbed it with a harpoon.  If they only knew what we know today, that this is possibly the most gentle large fish in the world!

Yet even with all that I still loved reading this book.  It is a true adventure story, and practically a modern-day one at that. It shows what people can do when they really want to - as both Thor and the ancient people he emulated proved..  I'm still a bit in shock that this story was unknown to me before now.

One thing really bothered me about this book though - my copy was too small! The photo to the left shows my hand holding my copy of the book.  The book is approximately the length of my hand and about as wide as the length of my thumb.  This made it very hard to hold the book open wide enough to read it. 





*** More Info (stuff you'll find fascinating!)***

When I finished reading the book I knew I wanted to see the documentary that the men made while on board the raft. While searching my library's catalog for a copy of it I came across a copy of Kon-Tiki Man: An Illustrated Biography of Thor Heyerdahl and immediately checked it out.  I spent the next few days browsing through the pages and found out that crossing the Pacific was only the first of Thor's adventures.  His next quest was to prove that the ancient Egyptians could have sailed their papyrus boats to the east coast of South America, thereby explaining the cultural and archeological links between Egypt, Peru, and Polynesia.  And guess what? He build a papyrus boat and sailed it across the Atlantic - successfully.  AND THEN he built a reed boat and sailed it from the Middle East and over to Africa to prove that the cultures of the Fertile Crescent could have spread that way.  This guy is freakin' amazing! Seriously, how did I not know about him before now?!

I also watched the documentary, also called Kon Tiki, made from the film footage taken during the original raft journey across the Pacific. There wasn't really anything new in there but it was still fascinating to see the guys I'd been reading about.




*** Your Thoughts ***

First off, are you familiar with Thor's adventures?  (If so, have I been living under a rock?!) Second, have you ever been so captivated by a book that you had go find out more, like I did with this book? I want to hear all about it!

Books into Movies: We Were Soldiers

Yesterday I shared my thoughts on the book WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE ... AND YOUNG, by Col. Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway.  Prior to listening to the audiobook I had re-watched the movie.  Here's the official trailer, in case you haven't seen it before - though it is worth watching even if you've seen the movie.  (You may have to click through to my blog to see it if you're reading this via subscription service.)








Below are my random thoughts on the movie and how it compares to the book.

• The movie only deals with the events at Landing Zone (LZ) XRay; the book follows this with the action at LZ Albany that occurred a few days later.
• The movie does a wonderful job showing the juxtaposition of military order and battle deaths versus family life and children back home.
• The movie did an excellent job portraying the experiences of Joe Galloway, the only reporter on the ground during the battle at LZ XRay.  His confusion during the early part of the battle, his interaction with the troops, his decision to keep photographing what he saw, and his emotions after the battle ended matched the way his experiences were described in the book.
• One of the scenes in the movie that had an enormous emotional impact for me was the image of Col. Moore's boots leaving the ground as he climbed on to a helicopter after the battle ended.  This happens only after he is certain that all his men - living and dead - are off the field; he wanted to be sure not to leave a single one behind.
• The movie presents Moore as a man of faith and shows him praying with and for his men.  The book doesn't show this side of him. 
• I don't want to give too much away here so I'll be a bit vague.  The scenes in the movie where Moore's wife helps deliver death notice telegrams have always been some of the hardest to watch yet the most moving at the same time.  After listening to the book it is apparent that the movie combined some things and simplified others to give this section more emotional impact.  However this is one of those situations where the "truth" of the story was conveyed successfully by the movie despite not sticking exactly to the "facts."
• There is a scene near the end of the movie depicting American troops charging up a hill and the dramatic appearance of a helicopter at just the right moment providing air support and literally mowing down the Vietnamese troops.  It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming to watch, the horror of bloody death in battle mixed with the knowledge that many of the Americans survive due to the helicopter's efforts.  Not understanding military terms (as I explained in my review yesterday) I'm not sure from the book if this ever happened or if it was simply added to the movie for effect.  I'd like to know either way, although it doesn't really matter because the story contains enough of the "truth" of the book regardless.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in the Vietnam War, or anyone who simply enjoys war films.  There is a lot of action but there is also a lot of heart, both in the movie and in the book.

We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young

We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young

by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and Joseph L. Galloway

audiobook: 16 hours

narrated by Johnny Heller

*** About the Book ***

I'm having a hard time summarizing this book so I'm going to fall back on the description from Amazon.com:

In November 1965, some 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War.  How these men persevered--sacrificed themselves for their comrades and never gave up--makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating. General Moore and Joseph Galloway, the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting, have interviewed hundreds of men who fought there, including the North Vietnamese commanders. This devastating account rises above the specific ordeal it chronicles to present a picture of men facing the ultimate challenge, dealing with it in ways they would have found unimaginable only a few hours earlier. It reveals to us, as rarely before, man's most heroic and horrendous endeavor.



*** Why I Listened To It ***

Recently I re-watched the movie version of this book and it inspired me to find out more, so I reserved the audiobook from my library.  Look for a comparison to the movie tomorrow. UPDATE: Here's the link to my thoughts on the movie.

This also counts toward the War Through The Generations: Vietnam challenge.


*** My Thoughts ***

Just as Tim O'Brien did in THE THINGS THEY CARRIED, the authors of this book say in their introduction that this story is less a war story and more a love story, about the love of and respect for your country ingrained in 1950s America and the love for your brothers-in-arms.  There were times in the book when I'd forget that, but there were many, many times when I clearly remembered it.

The battles described in this book were horrendous and the death toll staggering.  The impact these events had on the troops, the war effort, the families back home, and America in general is incalculable.  I'm so glad that I took the time to listen to this book and to try to understand something of what happened back then.

At the same time, I had some difficulty following along with the story.  There are simply so many people involved and so many parts to the battle and so many military terms that I'm unfamiliar with (they were explained but I'm militarily illiterate).  Having seen the movie, I was able to visualize some things but I was still confused during most of the battles.  To be honest, the best way for me to understand a story like this would be through a History Channel documentary that included captions and labeled each person.  (Any idea if there is a History Channel program about this? I'd love to see it.)

The part of the book that impacted me the most was hearing how the families at home dealt with the casualty reports as they came in, and with the impact of their losses for years afterward.  Perhaps this is because I can more easily put myself in the position of the families than that of the troops themselves.  Whatever the reason, this section brought tears to my eyes.

Listening to this book was incredibly worthwhile for me and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the story of the American military in Vietnam.

As a side note, two things stood out to me as I listened to the story.  Neither one is a particularly vital part of the book itself, but both captured my attention for different reasons.

First, Col. Moore's unit was the 7th Cavalry, the same unit that served under George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.  Custer's theme song, Gary Owen, was the theme song of Col Moore's men as well, and they often referred with pride to their predecessor, Custer.  This was heartbreaking to me after my experience with BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE and BLACK HILLS.  My feelings about Custer and his unit honestly distracted me from the Moore's story again and again.

Then there was the story of Lt. Rick Rescorla, the soldier pictured on the cover of the book.  Whenever I heard his name, I felt like I knew him in some way, like he should be familiar to me.  About halfway through the book it finally clicked; I realized that he WAS familiar to me - he was the head of security for a company in one of the Twin Towers on 9/11/01.  He had anticipated terrorist attacks on the building and prepared evacuation plans that saved the lives of countless people on 9/11.  Sadly he was still trying to get people out of the building when it collapsed.  Hearing about his actions during these battles gave me even more respect for a man I already admired greatly.


*** Your Thoughts ***

Have you read this book or seen the movie?  How did either one impact you?  Did the book or the movie change your opinions in any way?

the power of one book

I just watched a rerun of an old episode of The American Experience that focused on Rachel Carson's book, SILENT SPRING and I had to share a few thoughts.



Prior to beginning my blog I read SILENT SNOW by Marla Cone, a book about the poisoning of the Arctic due to pollution.  I found it both horrifying and amazing and highly recommend it.  It was, of course, titled and themed after Carson's book, but I had not read that one (and still have not).  In fact, the only thing I knew about SILENT SPRING was that it had something to do with the way chemicals affect birds.


After watching this program on SILENT SPRING I am horrified at what we didn't know about pesticides and the way they affect living things.  From what I understand, Carson was a brilliant natural scientist and a gifted and eloquent writer - a rare combination.   Her writing brought enormous attention to a very serious problem.  Within 10 years of SILENT SPRING's publication sweeping changes were made in environmental laws, and in the the way the US government and the American people thought about pesticides.

SILENT SPRING is now on my must-read-soon list. I can't wait to pick it up, though I'm sure I'll be horrified and sickened by what I find inside. 


I was particularly struck by this quote near the end of the program:

A few thousand words from Rachel Carson and the world took a new direction.

And that, my friends, demonstrates the tremendous power that one book can have.

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

by Alice Walker

304 pages

*** About the Book ***


I can't think of a way to summarize this so I'm pulling one from Barnes and Noble: Beautifully imagined and deeply compassionate, this is the story of two sisters—one a missionary in Africa and the other a child wife living in the South—who sustain their loyalty to and trust in each other across time, distance, and silence. This classic novel of American literature is rich with passion, pain, inspiration, and an indomitable love of life.


*** Why I Read It ***

I’ve always loved the movie version but I never gave much thought to the book. Then last year I read GONE WITH THE WIND and realized how much more was in the book compared to the movie and I knew I’d have to read THE COLOR PURPLE at some point. When I mentioned that I planned to read it this summer, Nicole from Linus’s Blanket offered to co-host a read-a-long with me.


*** My Thoughts ***

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It is beautifully written, emotionally moving, and a joy to read despite the often depressing content.  It is a book that I see myself rereading at some point, in part because it was so good and in part because I'm sure I'll get more out of it each time.

Since I posted discussion questions for the read-a-long I’m just going to use some of them to structure the rest of my review. NOTE: Because this is part of a read-a-long there WILL be spoilers so consider yourself warned.

How do you feel in general about epistolary novels (books told through letters)? Did this format influence your enjoyment of this book in any way? Do you think the story would have had the same impact if it were not told solely through letters?
I usually like epistolary novels and this was no exception. The reader is only treated to the information being shared in the letter which sometimes means that important details or background info is left out. In this book though, Celie is talking to God and to her absent sister and her manner of speaking/writing is quite different than a regular letter to a friend would be. If the book had used a different format to tell the story I don’t think I would have felt Celie’s aloneness so strongly.

Why do you think Celie’s husband hid Nettie’s letters rather than destroying them? Does this choice say anything about who he is as a person?
Having seen the movie, I’ve always felt this was an odd decision – why not simply destroy the letters? But in the book we learn much more about Albert’s life prior to his marriage to Celie and I think his actions regarding the letters are indicative of the man he used to be.

Are there any parts of the book that moved you? Which ones stand out in your mind? Why?
This book made me cry in two places. The first time was when Adam chose to scar his face to prove his love to Tashi – oh what a touching scene that was! And then when Nettie and Celie’s children come walking up the road and Celie realizes who they are … well, I couldn’t stop my tears if I’d wanted to.

How does the book compare to the movie? Was the movie a good adaptation? Did the parts that were left out make a big difference or was the movie a success without them?
I can’t remember the details of the movie compared to the book at this point but I want to rewatch it soon so I can see what is different and what is the same.

In the comment section of my discussion question post Nicole made a comment that really stuck with me. In part she said: I loved the way all of the relationships evolved over time. Most of these characters were literally not able to run away from their circumstances and they had to come to know each other in a different ways in order to change and to start to find peace with themselves. I hadn’t really thought about it but it is very true that Celie had nowhere else to go. Yes, she could have left, but I think that would have severed her dreams of being reunited with Nettie at some point. Celie and Albert and the other characters were for the most part stuck together for better or worse. Some were able to get away but they always came back. Through this close proximity to each other, Celie and Albert were eventually able to come to an understanding and to live in relative ease together.

In short, this is an amazing book and I'm so glad that I read it. 


*** Your Thoughts ***

Whether you participated in the read-a-long or not I’d love to hear your thoughts on this book and/or movie.

And remember, Nicole will recap the read-a-long in just a few days on her blog – I hope to see many reviews posted there as well!

Star Trek (the book) & a weekend getaway

The Getaway ...

This past weekend Hubby planned a romantic getaway for the two of us at an all-inclusive resort in the Pocono Mountains.  You know the kind of place: over-the-top cheesy-romantic room complete with champagne glass hot tub and heart-shaped plunge pool and mirrors everwhere? Yup, that's where we went, and it was wonderful. :)

It was a four hour drive from our house to the resort and since neither of our cars are in the best of shape, we decided to rent a nicer car for the trip.  Then we got lucky and were upgraded to a Mustang convertible for only a small additional charge - woohoo! The drive up was gorgeous: cool weather, bright sun, top down, heat on - FABulous.  It rained on the way back, but that's was fine since I'd actually gotten a bit sunburned on the way there ...

Of course, 4 hours up and 4 hours back equals 8 hours of audiobook time, right?!  The problem is that 1) Hubby and I like completely different books, and 2) we didn't think about this until 2 days before the trip.  So I scoured the local libraries in search of anything readily available that we would both enjoy that was about 8 hours long.  I came up with exactly ONE book ...


And now, an ultra short review of ...

Star Trek

by Alan Dean Foster

audiobook: 8 hours

narrated by Zachary Quinto

This book is a novelization of the movie script.  If you've seen the movie, then you know exactly what to expect from this book.  It has all the cheesy things that bothered me about the movie (in retrospect only, 'cause I really enjoyed it in the theater!) plus all the great parts that I loved. It gave a bit of insight into the characters' emotions that you simply couldn't get on film. AND AND AND! There was even a tiny bit added on to the end that I found hilarious and that definitely was not in the movie. 

It was narrated by the gorgeous and lovely-voiced Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in the movie (and who I totally fell in love with).  Quinto did a fantastic job - he definitely has the voice for narration.  He was able to do Chekov's accent brilliantly, and he gave personality to the voices of all the other characters as well.  His version of Scottie's Scottish accent was pretty terrible, but he did so well with everything else that I'll forgive him there.

Hubby and I laughed and smiled all the way up and all the way back, and I even shed a tear or two in the sad parts (sshh!! I didn't just admit that!!!). All in all it was the perfect, no-brainer book for our weekend getaway.

Books into Movies: Dragon and Wild Things

We've been on a movie-drought lately, what with all the ice hockey practices and other activities going on.  But last month Hubby, Kiddo and I did sit down to watch a movie together, and then this week Kiddo and I actually went to the movies - WOW.  Both movies we watched were based on books so that's a bonus!

Movie #1: Where the Wild Things Are (on DVD)

Let me start by saying that this book is controversial in our house.  To me it is one of the stupidest things ever written.  To hubby it is the best children's book in the history of the world.  I hated it as a kid.  Hubby loved it without reservation.  Kiddo is rather indifferent to it.  His Grammy has read it to him several times (note here that his Mommy has NOT read it to him!) and he didn't really have much of an opinion either way.

When Hubby saw the previews for this movie he was estatic.  He couldn't wait to take Kiddo to see it.  Unfortunately time got away from him and the next thing you know it was out on DVD.

We sat down together to watch this one evening last month, all hoping for an enjoyable evening.  It wasn't looking good for me when I was uncomfortable with the direction of the movie within the first 10 minutes.  Even Kiddo was shocked by Max's horrendous behavior; he couldn't understand why any kid would act like that, especially the way Max behaved toward his mother.  Then Max got to the island and I quickly was bored.  I ended up spending the rest of the movie checking my Google Reader and answering emails.  About halfway through Hubby leaned over and whispered "This is REALLY bad." I couldn't agree more.*

Hubby and I ended up actually hating this movie.  Kiddo was generally unimpressed.


Movie #2: How to Train Your Dragon (in the theater)

Hubby had to work late but Kiddo and I had a rare free evening so the two of us headed out to see How To Train Your Dragon.  We were joined by my brother-in-law and his oldest son, Kiddo's cousin J.  J is three-and-half years old and this was his first time at the movies.  (In case you forgot, Kiddo is 8.)

We chose to see the 3D version, but not the 3D XD (only because it wasn't showing then).  Surprisingly there weren't that many people in the theater but it was a Monday night so maybe that explains it ...

We donned our 3D glasses - after explaining to J that he had to keep them on all during the movie - and settled back into our seats.  The adventure began quickly!  Within just a few minutes the dragons are attacking the Viking Village and things are getting crazy.

We were all really into the story from the start.  Kiddo and J were laughing out loud and even clapping at various points during the movie.  A few times they jumped in surprise but nothing was scary, just mildly unexpected.

The graphics in this movie are amazing, and the story is a great one.  I can't compare it to the book because we've never read it, but the move was excellent.  After it was over I asked Kiddo what he thought of it.  His usual response is "Eh, it was ok."  This time was different though.  This time he answered, "It was phenomenal!" And when Hubby later asked him if it was the best movie he's ever seen, he thought for a few minutes then replied, "It is ALMOST better than Star Wars."  And if you know Kiddo, you know that is the very best rating he could ever give.

I LOVED this movie and cannot wait for it to come out on DVD.  You can bet that we'll be buying it right away.


Have you seen either or both of these movies?  Please share your (spoiler-free) opinions on them in the comments!  

*Updated to add: I wasn't really clear about what I didn't like on the island so here's a list: monsters are creepy, plot is odd and didn't appeal to me at all, relationship between monsters are strange, the entire thing made me uncomfortable and bored at the same time. How's that? :)

Mom & Son Movie Review: The Lightning Thief

Kiddo and I loved reading the first Percy Jackson book together so we were very excited to go see the movie on opening night (Feb. 12). What did we think of it? You'll have to check out my guest post at 5 Minutes for Books to find out!

Hop on over there to see what we thought, then leave a comment either there or here letting me know what YOU think. Have you seen the movie? What did you think of it? Do you plan to see it? Have you read the book? I want to know!

Out of Africa (and) Shadows on the Grass

Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass

by Isak Dinesen
462 pages

*** About the Books ***

Both books are collections of short stories and character studies based on Karen Blixen's (aka Isak Dinesen's) life in British East Africa between 1914-1931. The two books were released approximately 25 years apart but seem to belong together, hence the reason they were republished as one book. They give a glimpse into the life of a wealthy Danish woman who truly loved the land and the people of Kenya, and who didn't always fit in with the prevailing British society of the time.


*** Why I Read It ***

I've always loved the movie Out of Africa and have wanted to read the book for quite a while. I recently listened to a biography of Isak Dinesen and that spurred me on to start this book. My copy came from the library.


*** My Thoughts ***

This is a beautifully written book that sucked me in from the beginning and didn't let me go until the end. However, if I had read this book without first listening to Dinesen's biography I would have been greatly disappointed. Let me explain ...

I wanted to read this book because I expected that it would give me more details than I got from the movie - that's what books usually do, right? They are supposed to fill in the blanks left by the movie. I especially wanted to know about the author's love affair with Denys Finch-Hatton (played in the movie by Robert Redford).



In fact Denys is hardly mentioned at all in OUT OF AFRICA, and when he is it is not apparent to the reader that he is anything more than a close friend. This didn't matter to me in the end because I'd already learned everything about their relationship from Karen's biography.

The book also makes little or no mention of Karen's husband, Baron Bror Blixen, or how she contracted and lived with syphilis, or how hard she struggled to keep her farm going. All those details that I wanted after seeing the movie are not to be found in OUT OF AFRICA ... but they are to be found in her biography. With those details already in mind, I was able to enjoy this book for what it is.

And what, exactly, is it? It is a collection of anecdotes about the people and places that made an enormous impression on Karen Blixen. It is her love song to Africa, to the people of her farm, to the farm itself, and to the beauty of the land surrounding her.

The author of her biography related the following story: When friends asked why Karen didn't write about Africa immediately after her return to Denmark, she replied that one cannot write about a beloved child the day after it has died.

That is how Karen viewed her farm, as her precious child, and the lost of it broke her heart. This book is a look back at all the things she loved so much, but it is told from such a lofty vantage that the pain and the struggles are difficult to see. The beauty is all that remains.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the inherent racism in this book. It is, after all, the British colony in Africa where the stories take place - racism abounded there as it did just about everywhere during this time period. However Karen truly loved the African people that she knew, and greatly respected Farah, the Somali servant who managed her house and money. In her later life (as I know from her biography) she had African-American friends and upbraided her white friends for their racist remarks. Karen wasn't exactly unprejudiced, but she was much more fair-minded than many of her contemporaries.


*** About the Movie ***

As I said, I truly love this movie. For those who haven't seen it, here's a trailer for you to check out:



What I realized after reading this book and listening to Dinesen's biography is that the movie is really an amalgamation of the two. The storyline of the movie is Karen's life, and that comes from her biography. But the characters, the land, and the love Karen had for them comes straight from OUT OF AFRICA.


*** Your Thoughts ***

Have you read this book? Seen the movie? Do you love it like I do, or were you not so impressed? Have you read any of Isak Dinesen's other stories? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Books & Movies: Moll Flanders

I recently caught most of the movie MOLL FLANDERS on TV and I have to say, I was shocked. If I had not been familiar with the book I'd have said it was a lovely movie, but since I DO know the story, all I can say is "HUH? Say WHAT?!"

When I mentioned this on Twitter, Raych tweeted back saying, "I know, right? It's like the reverse of plagiarism, where they keep the content but change the title." I couldn't agree more! It's like there were two different plots, one for the book and one for the movie.

Here are a few of the things that happened in the movie, with my recollections of the book following:

• Moll is put out of her first home because she encourages the young ladies of the house to visit the poor neighborhoods, and while there they are assaulted and raped. (In the book, she has an affair with the young man of the family and I think she gets pregnant, and must leave the house.)
• She steps into the life of a prostitute willingly, is rescued by a man who falls in love with her, and eventually on her own again once he dies. (I don't remember for sure how it happened but she DID meet a man who loved her and they were happy together until his death.)
• The very first time she steals something it is almost an accident and she is captured right away. (Moll actually had a very successful career as a thief which lasted many years.)
• Her former evil Madame "rescues" her only to force her back into service as a whore and bring her to the Caribbean with her. (Moll had a pretty good relationship with her Madame and thought of her almost as a mother; and if I remember correctly, she moves to America of her own free will.)
• Moll has only one child, with the man she loved, and has promised never to abandon her. (Moll has LOTS of children and abandons just about all of them through the years.)
• When she is shipped off to the Caribbean, she is unable to get to her baby before the ship sails, and she is heartbroken. When the ship sinks, the Madame dies and she takes over her identity, living the high life in the Caribbean. Later she sends a friend to find her child and he does, although it takes years. They are reunited and live happily ever after. (I honestly don't remember how the book ends, but it is NOTHING like this ... nothing at all.)
  

So, yes, NOTHING like the book AT ALL. Hmpf.

Julie and Julia: A Movie To Wrap By

Just a quick note to say that I watched Julie and Julia Tuesday night and LOVED it. And this from the gal (me!) who thought it would be a stupid movie!

Having read Julia Child's MY LIFE IN FRANCE, I really appreciated the Julia sections (Meryl Streep did an EXCELLENT job as Julia Child!). And being a blogger, I really appreciated the blogging parts of Julie's story. The fact that I am not a very good cook myself - like Julie is at the beginning - made it even more enjoyable. I was seriously laughing out loud MANY times.

I only watched this because I had some credit-on-account at Amazon.com's video on demand site. You can get $4.00 in free movies through the promo they have going on right now (click here for details), and this movie only cost $2.99 to watch. It was the perfect complement to my marathon of Christmas wrapping - light, fun, and a movie that kept me smiling as my hand cramped around the scissors and my last roll of tape ran out.

So ... what did YOU watch or listen to as you wrapped gifts this year?


And in case you haven't seen the movie, here's the trailer:

the author of that Guernsey book ... (and a giveaway)

I was THRILLED to be chosen to do a phone interview with Annie Barrows, co-author of THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY. Her book is on tour through TLC this month but due to her packed schedule she was only able to guest post at a few sites. Needless to say I jumped at the chance to speak to her by phone when it was offered.

Picture this: I'm in my office at work (on my lunch break). I've got my laptop in front of me, a pad and pen to my right, and just behind the speaker phone I've set up Kiddo's tape recorder (I'm not going to miss a minute of this interview!). I speak to Annie for about 30 minutes, jotting down random notes, working through my list of questions. I thank her for her time, hang up the phone, and rewind the tape so I can listen to it right away. I hit play and ... nothing. ?!?!?!! I try again. Nothing. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

So what you see below is what I can recall from our interview plus the things I jotted notes about. I paraphrased everything from memory, unless I wrote down a direct quote. You can't imagine how incredibly disappointed I am at not having that recording to refer back to ...

Interview with Annie Barrows
co-author of
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
August 3, 2009

Q: I’ve read the basic story of how you came to be involved with this book. Is there anything you more you can tell me about that?

A: The whole family knew about Mary Ann’s book (she’d been working on it for 20 years) and they were so excited when a publisher bought it. It took a while for the editors to come back with the list of changes they wanted and by that time Mary Ann was getting sick. She couldn’t handle the task so she asked me to step in. I readily agreed but I was secretly thinking “how can I do this?! How can I get her voice right?” Ends up, that was the easy part. I grew up hearing Mary Ann’s stories and it turned out to be a simple task of remembering her voice through all those years and putting it on the page.

Q: Tell me a little about Mary Ann. She is your aunt, correct?

A: Yes, she was my mother’s sister. We always lived just a few miles away and our families saw each other all the time. “She was like wallpaper” – always there. I can never remember a time without her.

Q: Do you know what type of historical research (if any) Mary Ann did? What drew her to this story, this place and time in history?

A: She visited Guernsey in 1980 and has been researching the area, WWII, resistance fighters, and much more ever since. She had so many books relating to these topics and I have many of them now. She finally began writing the book in 2000 and finished it 7 years later. She was very interested in resistance fighters and read all she could about them.

Heather's note: Annie talked a bit about the actual German occupation of Guernsey and how it was difficult to say who was an enemy and who was not. I mentioned that part of the book reminded me of SUITE FRANCAISE by Irene Nemirovsky and we discussed the similarities between that story and this one for a while. Then it was back to the official questions.

Q: Which (if any) characters do you identify with or feel strongly about one way or the other? Why?

A: Adelaide is based on a real person, someone I always had to have Christmas dinner with. Many of the other characters are compilations of real people. Isola isn’t one particular person, but she IS the kind of "complete wacko" that Mary Ann loved. Amelia (Heather's note: she is my favorite character) is based partly on Mary Ann’s grandmother whom she loved dearly. Her looks are patterned after her, and much of her personality as well. Kat is based mostly on my now 9-yr-old daughter Esme. When Esme was 3 & 4 she and Mary Ann were very close. Esme has a very strong personality. Remember the line in the book about the spinach, when Kat put up her hand stopping the food from coming near her plate, and said “Not for me”? That came directly from Esme. Juliet is the most like Mary Ann – she is witty and her love of people’s stories is very much like Mary Ann.

Heather's note: We also discussed a post Annie wrote for ReadingGroupGuides called Literary Meandering. We agreed that you find the most interesting and unexpected books that way. It is a great post and I hope you'll go read it.

Q: How do you feel about all the publicity that the book is getting? Has it surprised you in any way? Any amusing stories to tell?

A:Not really “surprised” but definitely pleased. The book is so charming and so much like Mary Ann that of course people are going to love it.

Q: Have you been to Guernsey? Or do you plan to go?

A: Yes, I went there last summer. “What was hard was writing about a place I hadn’t been.” I went just 3 weeks before the book was published so it was too late to change anything, but I feel that anything I said "definitely" is correct. There is one part where Eben and 5-year-old Eli are walking to a beach and I realized that the walk is probably too far for such a small child, but that was the only thing I'd change.

Q: What has been the response from the people of Guernsey?

A: Most of the response has come from people who were children there during the war. Some of them were evacuated, some stayed. There has been little response from present-day residents. However, one intrepid reader is planning a trip to Guersney and she has promised to be my spy and let me know what they’re saying about the book over there.

Heather's note: Before her work on this book Annie was already a successful children's book author. She writes a series called Ivy & Bean which is simply adorable. Go read the description of the books here and tell me you don't completely identify with those first few sentences. Annie is currently working on the 7th Ivy & Bean book.

Q: How different was your experience with this book from your work on the Ivy & Bean books, or your other children’s books?

A: It is like having two completely different freeways in your brain. Each type of book uses a different part of the brain and I can only work on one type at a time. I’ll usually spend a few days on an Ivy & Bean book, take a break for a day, then dive into an adult book project. The two types of writing are so different that it takes a while to transition from one to the other.

Q: What do you want people to know about the Guernsey book, or about Mary Ann? What do you wish people would ask but they never do?

A: I wish people would ask more about the actual occupation. What were the Germans DOING there? Why were they there? What was their plan? And I wish people would ask more about the culture of Guernsey. It is very different from England. They are much more focused on seafaring and they are much more French. They even had their own language but it has almost died out now.

Heather's note: Annie also mentioned that the film rights have been optioned but both she and I agreed that doesn't necessarily mean anything. She's hopeful though, as am I.

I had such a wonderful time speaking with Annie. Thank you to TLC Book Tours for arranging this interview. You can see my review of "that Guernsey book" here and a recap of my book club's discussion of it here.

*** Giveaway ***

I have five - that's right, FIVE! - copies of this book to give away to my readers. Here's how to enter:

• Leave a comment saying why you'd like to read this book - the cover? the summary? a review you've read? something else? A simple "enter me!" won't get you in.
  
  
• If your email address is not available through your profile or your blog, please include it in your comment.
  
  
• The publisher is only shipping books to readers with a US or Canadian mailing address. Sorry to all my international readers!
  
  
• I'll choose the winners next Friday morning (9/4) so be sure to get your comment posted before then.

A Study in Scarlet

A Study in Scarlet
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
audio book: 4.5 hours

*** Why I Choose It ***

Earlier this year I joined in the Baker Street Challenge to celebrate my love of everything Sherlock Holmes. A review posted during that challenge made me realize that I'd never read what seemed to be a classic Holmes adventure - A STUDY IN SCARLET. Now I've remedied that problem.


*** My Thoughts ***

This was the first introduction of Holmes by Doyle and I loved getting to know the detective from a fresh perspective. The story includes the first meeting of Holmes and Watson and is told mostly from Watson's perspective. Of course there is a mystery involved, but that is almost secondary to Holmes himself (at least it was for me).

I quite enjoyed this book although it was very different from the other Holmes stories I've read/listened to. The story begins with excerpts from Watson's journals. About halfway through it jumps to an omniscient narrator who gives the lengthy background story of the criminal and the cause of his crimes. The story concludes with a return to Watson's journal. At first the middle section really threw me off - it is so different from other Holmes stories - but once I realized what was going on I was fine. I don't think I'd like to have the majority of the stories written that way but this one time was good.


*** Minor Spoiler Alert (this section only) ***

If you've read this story you'll know that the middle section takes place in the American West and centers on a group of Mormons and Brigham Young. Had I not read THE 19TH WIFE I would have been clueless as to the history of the Mormon exodus and settlement in Utah. That knowledge was very helpful in keeping me connected with the story - without it I would have felt lost for a while. I love it when knowledge from other books comes into play in my current read!


*** The (Upcoming) Movie ***

I think it is likely that the upcoming Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey, Jr. will draw much of it's characterization of Holmes from this story. Most of us tend to think of Holmes as an older man, highly intelligent, but not particularly tough physically. In this story however we learn that Holmes was an expert boxer and sword fighter, and that he had several other unexpected abilities. He is also a very young man in this story and is presented as such.

In his later life Doyle was very involved in spiritualism so I think the supernatural aspect of the film comes from Doyle's personal beliefs. To me it looks like the movie will pull together both Doyle and young Holmes to create their main character.



Personally I'm looking forward to it ... what about you?


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My Favorite Reads: The Mists of Avalon

I've been wanting to write about some of the books I read prior to blogging and now I have an excuse: At Home With Books's meme, My Favorite Reads. The idea behind this weekly event is to share with your readers some of the best books that you read BB (Before Blogging). I won't participate every week but I will chime in from time to time. I've made a list of some books I want to share with you and I'll tackle one whenever I get a chance.


This week I'm going to talk about a book that I LOVE with all my heart, THE MISTS OF AVALON. I've read this book at least twice, listened to the audio version once, and watched the TV miniseries based on it as well.

The book: The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley - published in 1982 - 912 pages

What it is about: The book is a retelling of the King Arthur story through the eyes of the women involved. Focus is on Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, and other female characters. More time is spent on their lives and the mystical/druidical background of the story than on Arthur himself.

Why I love it: This book has it all - strong and powerful women, love, lust, betrayal, adventure, you name it. The story is full of details that immerse you in the lives of these people.

Other thoughts: This is one of those books where learning something about the author leads to a deeper understanding of the book. When my book club read this (at my prompting of course) we saw that the author's feminism and religious beliefs came through very clearly in her writing. That was something I didn't know before reading about the author.

Would I recommend it? Before blogging I'd have said yes unreservedly - this is a fantastic book in every way. However I've read on several blogs that people find this book challenging so now I'm a bit leery about recommending it. I guess I'd have to say that if you DO find it challenging, it is VERY worth the effort you put into it. For me, this is a "must read" for just about everyone.

Do I own it? Yes I do. This is one of the few books in my "permanent collection" as I call it. I don't know where I got it originally (likely from my dad), but I've had it since middle or high school. During my "romantic" phase in high school I pressed a rose between the pages ... and it is still there. I have no recollection of who gave me the rose but I've still got it all the same.

Stardust (the movie)

Just before I left for Disney I watched the movie version of Neil Gaiman's STARDUST. What an adorable movie! I absolutely loved it. The wacky air pirates, the creepy witches, the ghostly brothers providing the peanut gallery ... what fun it all was!

One of the gals in my book club has been insisting that I read this book. She says I'd love it. Usually we have very similar taste in books but I'm not sure about this one. Just because I enjoyed the movie, it doesn't mean I'll love the book as well. I think that for me, this one was meant to be experienced and not read.

What do you all think? Is the book really worth reading? Would I get anything more out of it than I did from the movie? And if you haven't seen it, does the preview below look interesting?



Please share your thoughts - I promise to read them all when I get back from vacation!

TV Adaptations

For those of you in the US (and maybe Canada?), have you seen the new TV shows "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" or "Kings"? I'd love to hear what you think about them.


The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

I caught a rerun of the premier this past week. Having not read the books (by Alexander McCall Smith) I didn't know what to expect but I really quite enjoyed it. Here's a clip if you haven't seen it yet:

I love the line about the apostrophe - was that in the book?! It's GREAT! I'll definitely be watching this show from time to time.


Kings

I've seen the first three episodes so far and I am intrigued. If you haven't heard of this, it is an alternate history show based on the Biblical story of King David in the Old Testament. In the show, David is a front line soldier who saves the King Silas's son by taking on a tank (called a Goliath - go figure). David is then invited to live in the capital city and work as a press liason for the king.

The plot thickens when Reverend Samuels lets King Silas know that God is not pleased with some of the king's recent actions. And then Silas sees a sign that clearly shows him that God's favor has moved from him to young David.

Here's a clip from the show:

There's another clip at this link that gives some additional info. And Tor.com did a great recap/analysis of this show recently. Check it out if you want more details on the show.


Have you been watching either of these shows? What do you think of their adaptations from the written stories? If you haven't seen them, do you want to now? Please share your thoughts.