Peacefield

I don't know why, but this made me laugh, Frankie! I don't use this expression a lot, but I've heard it tons, and there's even a song with the same title by the band The Eagles.

Psstttt I'm quietly cheering for you and your mojo over here, Charm!! How are you liking 'Let the Right One In?' I keep thinking that this one needs to be my next purchase.

I think it's definitely time for a commentary viewing, Stephanie! ScottishBookWorm, Philip Seymour Hoffman is great. I think he's one of the best actors we have out there these days. What movies of his do you have? Oh I'm glad you liked Adventureland, bookworm! I need to see it for sure, and I've heard very good things about the soundtrack .

I love that one, Bee! Also: "I look like I've had facial reconstructive surgery, like after burns or something..." We watched The Thomas Crown Affair tonight which is one of the few Steve McQueen movies I have never seen. Good times!

Nice, Bee! Have you read it before? Definite classic IMO.

ScottishBookWorm, I'm dying to see The Boat That Rocked! It was supposed to come out here in August but has been delayed. How was Hoffman in it? He's one of my faves. Bee, commentary on or off with Twilight?

I loved The Duchess, Vanwa! Excellent film . Little Miss Sunshine was wonderful, Joe! I loved the whole cast, but Alan Arkin never ever seems to disappoint me, whatever movie I see him in. Bookworm44, how was Adventureland? I keep meaning to check and see if it's out for rent yet but haven't done so. I watched Ghost Town the other night. The movie as a whole was okay, but laughing at Ricky Gervais made it all worth it - he's hilarious!

Um, why would anyone want to de-vamp?! What a silly thought, ii! Blithe, sounds like you made a great haul today! I read Empire Falls a couple of years ago and really truly enjoyed it. It's hard to describe, but Richard Russo has a very 'quiet' way of writing if you know what I mean. He's very similar to a local favorite author of mine, Jon Hassler. I don't know if you've ever read him, but if you like the Russo and are looking for more books like it, Hassler would be one to try. I read a couple pages of The Struggle this morning before work, but otherwise haven't done much today. Hopefully I'll get some more in this weekend.

I love how I get the 'ding' noise when I have a bunch of packages or groceries on the front seat next to me. My car assumes it's a passenger who has not buckled themselves in and is politely remind them to do so .

It's okay, catwoman, we are here for you! Many of us support being 'vamped out,' so you will have many friends surrounding you! Ooooh what you said about The City of Dreaming Books intrigues me, BookJumper! I have now added it to my wishlist . I am a waffler today. I've decided to instead read The Struggle by PC Cast and save Leeway Cottage for next. Maybe I should do it this way for awhile; read a vampire book, read a non-vampire book, read a vampire book, etc, etc . Oh! My best friend has decided to read The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (aka The Lost Book of Salem) after she finishes her current read and I'm so excited for her! Can't wait to hear what she thinks.

Great news, ScarletBella! I will be keeping my ears/eyes peeled for soundtrack deets . I too really liked the soundtrack for the first movie. It introduced me to a lot of great bands that I had never before considered. Has anyone heard the offical first single by Death Cab for Cutie? I've only heard a snippet so far.

I read that one earlier this year, paperplane. You'll have to let us know what you think! I decided to start Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon tonight. It was one my friend's mom lent me and I know she's excited to hear what I think of it .

Sorry it's taken me a bit to post on Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott, everyone. But I did finish it and know some of you are wondering what I thought so here goes . Oh, and the synopsis is a few posts down if you want to read that first. This one took me by surprise. I thought, after reading the dust jacket, that it was a pretty straight-forward story about the mysterious death of a woman writing a book on Isaac Newton and his study of alchemy. The main person in the story, Lydia, was there to finish this book and meanwhile try to find out exactly what caused the author's death. It took me a bit of time get comfortable with the way in which the story was told. Lydia herself spoke in first person, and referred to other characters and 'she' and 'he' except for one person. Her former lover and son of Elizabeth (the murdered author), whom she referred to as 'you.' I'm still trying to figure out what Rebecca Stott meant by doing this. The story took an almost mystical turn however and Lydia discovers ways that she, Elizabeth, Newton and his peers at Cambridge are all somehow connected. I must admit that there were times when the skeptical side of me was a little unsure of things like entanglement and the use of prisms, but at the least I learned a lot of things about Newton and the study of alchemy in general. I don't want to give much away and spoil things. I can safely say though that I have never read anything like this book and hopefully we'll hear lots more from this author. I'm so glad I read it!

Breakfast for dinner for me tonight! Scrambled egg and english muffin .

I could watch him and the whole gang in The Outsiders many times over. I also liked Dirty Dancing, and who can forget Point Break?! I also laugh so hard every time I see his bit with Chris Farley on Saturday Night Live, trying out to be a Chippendale dancer. He was hilarious!

Very sad to hear about Swayze this morning . I think I'll go home and watch The Outsiders tonight in memory.

Sounds like you made quite a haul there, Chesilbeach, and with a voucher to spare! Most excellent . Hopefully when I get home tonight I'll do a wee review on Ghostwalk, and then I think I'll start Club Dead, although I may change my mind when I'm actually standing in front of my bookshelf .

When I have a book that I've read and loved, I really enjoy lending it out. I just love it when someone else can share in the excitement of reading a really good book, and I have such a great time talking about it with them! Usually I keep my lendings to good friends, since I know they'll take care of them well. I love to borrow books too, because sometimes the budget doesn't include books and plus I feel really badly if I spend money on a book and then don't like it. There are some books however that stay close by me and never get lent out, because I never know when the urge will strike and I'll have to read my fave bits. Can you imagine the horror of not having them right there to pick up?!

Glad to hear that, Scarlette! I really hope it wins some awards this spring or somehow gets the recognition it deserves , it was truly wonderful filmmaking.

Hmmm...my personal beliefs don't influence my reading. If I like the story, that's about the only criteria I have. I mostly read fiction, so that's what I view it as, just a made up story .

I've always been a reader, all in thanks to my parents who took me to the library once a week without fail. If they hadn't done that, I'm honestly not sure if I would have liked it as much as I do.

Charm, would your friend be interested in any of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood books by Rebecca Wells? They have serious subject matter, but funny women with very endearing relationships. I've also heard that The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn is good, and I really enjoyed Austenland by Shannon Hale. In addition to the Shopaholic books, I do know that Sophie Kinsella also writes under another name, Madeleine Wickham. Hope this helps!

Dinner is a few hours away still, but I took chicken out of the freezer and will make a lovely chicken, orzo and veggie bake . Lots of leftovers for the rest of the week, and who doesn't love chicken in garlic, white wine and melty fontina goodness?!!

I can't decide. Oh wait, I do know that basketball is my least favorite sport to watch. Otherwise I love watching baseball, football and of course hockey! The hockey season is starting soon, and I think those are the games I love watching the most in person. I have many great memories of yelling at fights and pounding on the glass - it's so exciting! The funnest game I saw one year was on New Year's Eve, and the Northstars were playing the Black Hawks. The crowd was so noisy, and at one point so many fights started to break out on the ice that it was covered with sticks, helmets and gloves. Most of the players got suspended for the remainder of the game and it was pure mayhem.

Yep, I would agree with FishandChips, Roxi. District 9 was mucho spectacular-ness . I admit I was pretty wary at first, but honestly there are so many layers and parallels in the film, it was truly excellent film-making and I'm glad I saw it.