Anna Begins
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Great review- but totally different cover in the US and not the writing on the cover either... makes it seem so dramatic!
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One of my sisters used to live in Northern California, Anna, but I only visited once before she moved down to the San Diego area. I was 12 or 13 at the time but I remember going paddle-boating in Capitola and I loved it! It was beautiful there.
Yes! That area is gorgeous!
They do like to make fun of our accents in movies/TV sometimes! We don't all sound like that, just the rural folk and people who live really far outside the city like 'up north.'
And the one time I was in MN, we expected people to talk like that
But I think by that time, we had busted our stereotypes. We had the fortune of driving around the US, starting from the SF area. It was fun. We didn't get all the way to Maine, but made it to the tip of Mass. and then back all the way upstate NY. It was ah-mazing.But the funny thing about the accents, was hearing true Boston and Manhattan ones
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I can't decide if I should read the book first or see the movie first! I am a little irritated though, because now the cover of the book is Matt Damon's face. Not that its a bad face, just I preferred the orangey one with the astronaut.
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I'm hoping to perhaps try my hand at directing one day, but not for a couple of years. Still trying to work out what I'd like to do. I'd love to do a Jeeves and Wooster comedy, or I'd like to adapt a few episodes of The Twilight Zone for the stage. Not sure if the theatre group would go for that; they've never done a series of shorts before.
You should check out the one act play, No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre
It can easily be pared with something more popular, we did it with a comedy of Moliere... it was an experiment for a community theater, as you can imagine But a fun play, anyway. -
I did my dissertation on Rushdie and it's one of the few pieces of writing I've done - academic or otherwise - that I'm proud of. He's an author that I will always hold in high regard.
That must be some paper! Definitely something to be proud of!
Oh and thanks for the kind comments on my A Spool of Blue Thread review. It was a difficult book to review because I know it wasn't for me... but that doesn't mean other people might not enjoy it of course!
Ya and sometimes those are the best reviews
I'm back from the US with horrendous jetlag and a pile of reviews to catch up on
I've now started The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan - premise sounds promising and I am enjoying the Scottish accents in the early pages
Did you see me wave?
Hope you had a great time in the US, the jet lag is indeed terrible. When I come home from Amsterdam, it usually takes me about 7 days to recover! Also hope you read some good stuff Anticipating making it to 300 pages in Robert K Massie's Romanov history, Nicholas and Alexandra. Would be more than 50%, so that's nice.
Being that it is so Fall like here already, I'd like to start one of the books I have slated for October. 
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I think I'm happy. It fits really well with everyone else's lives around me, which feels like a really good bonus. Perhaps I'm excited, because I don't know what lies ahead. It feels right.
That's so great to hear, I hope you grow to love your new home
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Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Have you read it before? One of my favourite books ever.
Wow- that's high praise! I heard it was a difficult book to get through. I like Rushdie. I'd like to give it a try.
Edit: I liked your review! Wish it had turned out better for you
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It's a shame you didn't like Requiem. I hope your next reads will be more enjoyable
.Yikes, that sounds painful. Shame you wasted so much time on it
Hopefully the next thing you pick up will be better... or at least shorter if it's going to suck
I don't really feel I wasted time, just kind wish I had taken the time to read something else on the pile instead, ya know?
Loving my current read, Robert K Massie's Nicholas and Alexandra though, so thanks! But its 560 pages so.
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I have some personal news; in the next months, I'll move in to my father's house in The Netherlands. North Holland, to be more precise. He invited me when we met in August. I don't know why I took so long to decide; the other option was moving in to an uncle's apartment in a coastal village, but I'll choose the adventure instead. I've been there twice before.
Wow- you are so lucky! What a choice- but I'd give anything to live in the Netherlands- have a great move and much success! Are you nervous or more excited?
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I finished Lauren Oliver's Delirium trilogy. I thought it was awful. Review of Requiem and overall review in my thread
Started Robert K Massie's Nicholas and Alexandra this evening. Needed a palate cleanser.
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Requiem (Delirium Series, Book 3)- Lauren Oliver (343 pages)
I’m scared, I want to say. I have a bad feeling. I love you and don’t want you to get hurt. But again, it’s as though the words are trapped, buried under past fears and past lives, like fossils compressed under layers of dirt.
The more I think about Requiem and the whole Delirium trilogy, I must say, I am very disappointed. I thought for sure, reading around 1100 pages of a series should get me some pay off, bonus, etc. Nope. Lauren Oliver’s Delirium trilogy falls flat in each thread began in the previous two books. As I look back, this book has made the first two even worse.
Oliver’s strength is in creating this one character, Lena, and making an entire three books about her. Unfortunately, she is a very self-absorbed character and I didn’t care about her all that much. I much preferred her Romeo, Alex.
Oliver’s weakness is the amount of plot holes, details and logical facts missing and characters that aren’t fully developed. It is hard to even believe I stuck it out for 1107 pages. An omnibus of four short stories float around, why couldn't these be contained in the books? It reminds me of how a news reporter sometimes needs the news anchor to ask them a question, so they can get the material they couldn't fit, in their story.
And speaking of pages 1100- 1107 or even 1000- 1107… there are so many ways this book could have ended, I have to agree with one reviewer who called this book/ series a disappointing mess and massive waste of time. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I mean, really? The end sucked.
I hated the switch off between Lena and best friend Hana, married to a man committed against the resistance Lena fights for (I guess she does). While I was reading, it was nice, now when I think back, it left even more questions than it answered. Why should I have to buy 9 dollars in short stories to cover that?
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Haven't seen Gotham, but have watched all of The White Queen, and yes, loved the conniving and battling women!
I'm waiting til I am done reading the series and then I am going to watch it (2 more books to go!).
I watched a little of Gotham on TV last night, it looked pretty intense. Arkham Asylum is supposed to be introduced this season. I was just curious, I was wondering if I should play catch up
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I was traumatized by that bit, I started crying in the cinema. Not of my friends seemed particularly bothered but it was the only bit that really got to me. Totally didn't see it coming.
I thought it was sad, but had NO IDEA it would be that traumatizing to her. I felt like a bad parent! But she had been waiting for so long!
I listen to a film podcast, and the critic on there loves the film, but both him and the main presenter both say that they're not sure it's really a children's film, and I'd agree. While there are things in there that children will love, the actual story is quite complex in emotional terms, and I can see why it would upset some children who don't understand the bigger concepts.
I agree. If that movie had perhaps been promoted differently it would have made a lot of difference... especially financially, which I am sure was a concern
Maybe older teenagers but certainly not who it was targeted too (young children). I loved it though.I rather liked the books but they've dated quite a bit. Other than the general premise the films don't bear a lot of resemblance
Are the movies better
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Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
Review:
Thanks to Kay this one made it onto my TBR, and I'm so pleased she recommended it. A beautiful story of the importance of stories in a society where books are banned, and that beauty and love can be found in the most difficult of circumstances. A lovely story to read, thanks to Kay for lending it to me.
I'd love to read this, but it doesn't seem like there is a Kindle version
I'm sure you've read Reading Lolita in Tehran?
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and The Bourne box-set on Blu-Ray, and just waiting for it to arrive in the post.
Have you read the books? Any good?
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I went to see Inside Out a little while back. I thought it was very good, but, I thought it was too long and a bit drawn out in places, and I think it was a case of my expectations set too high by reviews. Need to see it again though, and with someone who I can discuss it with afterwards!
My 6 year old had wanted to see that movie since she first saw the commercials... she shares her name with one of the characters. It was rated PG, but she is usually ok with that level of viewing and concepts (sometimes too smart
). Well, that night, she had a nightmare about (mild spoiler)the imaginary elephant dying
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It is now on my wish list. It looks like an interesting book.
I think you would like it
The movie is beautiful too (but I think I said that in my review already ) -
So happy for you! You'll love the freedom and peace... plus it will be all yours to decorate and furnish!! And of course, all your own books
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Have you ever thought about writing Jack Reacher fan-fiction?
Diane Capri beat me too it. Besides, all I wanna do is see his abdomen scar... apparently, its quite impressive.
*whistles and walks away* -
I've always found the Reacher books to be perfect "popcorn for the mind", perfect for getting me out of a reading slump as you know just what you're going to get. I romped through loads in one go (I think I'm around #14 or so) a while back now, but I've still got a few left for a rainy day. I'm glad you enjoyed Make Me and it was worth your eager anticipation...
Oh boy, did I try and make them last longer! I only got into the books maybe 3 years ago, so I had the canon to go through til I caught up. Now I just wait with everyone else
They are great popcorn for the mind And were good for pulling me out of slumps.I'm glad you enjoyed the 20th Reacher book
!!I need my own Reacher
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I agree about Oliver, is she the best writer ever? No. But she does do some beautiful writing in her books. And her books are certainly not flawless, but are entertaining
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Kate- I know its a paid for show on Prime but have you seen any of Gotham? or The White Queen series which is free? There are only 10 episodes... (Men go to battle, Women wage war
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I finished Make Me by Lee Child and I am half way through the 3rd book of the Delirium trilogy.
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Make Me (Jack Reacher #20)- Lee Child (402 pages)
Woohoo! Just about everyone knows I am a HUGE Jack Reacher fan, I have been eagerly awaiting this book and Lee Child makes it well worth the while with Make Me. The book starts off typical Reacher: stepping off a train at a random location, just because. This is a formula readers of the series are used to and how most Reacher books begin. Reacher is an honorably discharged Army investigator, a vagabond who travels with only a folding Army toothbrush. He buys his clothes (Army surplus, sometimes at hardware stores, usually grey or tan canvas) in each town and presses them in between the mattress and box spring of his hotel bed, throwing away his previous duds.
The character of Reacher is a special one, all 6 foot 5 and 250 pounds of mysterious, but Child gives him enough back story and character to have held interest in 20 Jack Reacher books and 5 short stories. In Make Me, Reacher tackles something he normally does not and this makes the book refreshing and current, which was unexpected but not necessary. Lots of action in this one too, which is always appreciated. thank you Mr. Child for another Reacher… til next year
Your Book Activity - September 2015
in Past Book Logs
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It is a great read, isn't it? Massie is such an easy to read historian... I read his wonderful Peter the Great a few years ago.
I hope to be at 400 pages today. It's irritating, my Kindle says there are 562 pages and I am at page 325, but then it says 48% and the Amazon site has the book at 673 pages.