Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
345 pages
I have zero complaints about this book, not even one little nagging complaint. None.
Dark Places was an amazing read. I could not put it down, and I was mad at bedtime when I literally HAD TO. This morning I awoke thinking I would finish it and, though it took me the greater part of the day, I did.
As I was reading, I was always trying to scan ahead to the next paragraph, desperate to know what was happening. This obviously made it take longer than necessary to read. Although I have a habit of trying to read the end of books first (I'm SO impatient!), and I did here, I was STILL surprised and had to go back and re-read sections to see how I missed that - only to find there was no way to have known. The plot was intricate but not in a way that was forced. No suspension of disbelief needed for even one second. The characters were extremely real, the prose was fantastic, and it is no surprise that this was a bestseller.
As a connoisseur of chick-lit I occasionally tried to shove love into the plot but it wasn't a chick-lit book. That was refreshing to me. Don't get me wrong, I love chick-lit more than any other genre in the world, but I guess maybe I need to broaden my horizons a bit. In fact, I went onto Amazon this morning and ordered Flynn's debut as well.. Her most recent work is not available in paperback, so I'll wait a little to see if it is released in that format before I cave an order it in hardcover.
I highly recommend Dark Places. It's a twisted mystery/suspense novel that would appeal to any gender, race or class. READ IT NOW.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
movie 18
The Devil Wears Prada
Ok. So I obviously just finished the book and I thought I could watch the movie right away on demand. I was excited. I'm like 30 minutes into the movie right now and I'm already disappointed. I know, that's how the movie always goes.. but seriously. Emily is a huge bitch, which in the book she was bitchy but somewhat sympathetic. Here she is British and very mean. Miranda actually TALKS to Andy, which would never happen in the book. Alex and Andy live together and there hasn't been anything about his job or the fact that they never see each other. Lily is practically non-existant. Andy is mousy and sad instead of being sarcastic and biting. The current scene is one in which Andy and her people are gathered at a bar and she's actually extolling the virtues of Runway. NO.
Where is Jeffy? Why does Nigel have a significant role? Why does Christian have a different last name?
Wait, Alex (is that EVEN his name? Because it's not been said yet) is a chef? Really? No, he's a teacher. UGH. His name is Nate? What was wrong with Alex?
Why is Andy getting things right? That's not supposed to happen - the Harry Potter thing is all wrong.
And now Miranda CHOSE to bring Andy to Paris? Wait. No, Emily gets mono. This makes me mad. It doesn't really capture the essence of the book AT ALL.
None of this is right. Read the book. Skip the movie.
Ok. So I obviously just finished the book and I thought I could watch the movie right away on demand. I was excited. I'm like 30 minutes into the movie right now and I'm already disappointed. I know, that's how the movie always goes.. but seriously. Emily is a huge bitch, which in the book she was bitchy but somewhat sympathetic. Here she is British and very mean. Miranda actually TALKS to Andy, which would never happen in the book. Alex and Andy live together and there hasn't been anything about his job or the fact that they never see each other. Lily is practically non-existant. Andy is mousy and sad instead of being sarcastic and biting. The current scene is one in which Andy and her people are gathered at a bar and she's actually extolling the virtues of Runway. NO.
Where is Jeffy? Why does Nigel have a significant role? Why does Christian have a different last name?
Wait, Alex (is that EVEN his name? Because it's not been said yet) is a chef? Really? No, he's a teacher. UGH. His name is Nate? What was wrong with Alex?
Why is Andy getting things right? That's not supposed to happen - the Harry Potter thing is all wrong.
And now Miranda CHOSE to bring Andy to Paris? Wait. No, Emily gets mono. This makes me mad. It doesn't really capture the essence of the book AT ALL.
None of this is right. Read the book. Skip the movie.
book 31
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
360 pages
Funnily enough, although this was Lauren Weisberger's debut novel, it is the las by her that I read. I've now completed her entire line of novels and I'd started with her most recent (at the time). The last time I reviewed a novel by Weisberger, I'd complained it was too much like another I'd read, so I was a little reluctant to read The Devil Wears Prada. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by TDWP and have the movie all set On Demand to start as soon as I finish this review.
Andrea (Andy) Sachs is a bright-eyed recent college-grad looking to get a job in the magazine industry. Her dream is to work for The New Yorker, but she wanders into a job at Runway, the most "it" fashion magazine around. She ends up as the junior assistant to the editor, an insanely demanding woman named Miranda Priestly. The novel reads like a memoir with little flashbacks and changes in time, but mostly follows along chronologically. Andy has a best friend, Lily, who has a drinking problem, a do-gooder boyfriend, and, of course, an extremely challenging boss and a life-consuming job.
The story is told with wit and humor, and I was always eager to find out what was going to happen next. I wanted to see how long Andy would be able to ut up with Miranda, whether she would eventually come around to the fashion world insanity, or if Miranda would ever soften. The progression was satisfying and not as predictable (although not unbelievable at all) as I would have expected. I truly enjoyed reading this book and, as I've literally JUST finished the book, I'm a little sad that it's over.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone at any time. It isn't pigeon-holed into summer beach read or anything, and I think it would appeal to many ages. Although, as it spend forever on the NYT best-seller list, I'm sure most literate people have already read it! But if you haven't, you should!
360 pages
Funnily enough, although this was Lauren Weisberger's debut novel, it is the las by her that I read. I've now completed her entire line of novels and I'd started with her most recent (at the time). The last time I reviewed a novel by Weisberger, I'd complained it was too much like another I'd read, so I was a little reluctant to read The Devil Wears Prada. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by TDWP and have the movie all set On Demand to start as soon as I finish this review.
Andrea (Andy) Sachs is a bright-eyed recent college-grad looking to get a job in the magazine industry. Her dream is to work for The New Yorker, but she wanders into a job at Runway, the most "it" fashion magazine around. She ends up as the junior assistant to the editor, an insanely demanding woman named Miranda Priestly. The novel reads like a memoir with little flashbacks and changes in time, but mostly follows along chronologically. Andy has a best friend, Lily, who has a drinking problem, a do-gooder boyfriend, and, of course, an extremely challenging boss and a life-consuming job.
The story is told with wit and humor, and I was always eager to find out what was going to happen next. I wanted to see how long Andy would be able to ut up with Miranda, whether she would eventually come around to the fashion world insanity, or if Miranda would ever soften. The progression was satisfying and not as predictable (although not unbelievable at all) as I would have expected. I truly enjoyed reading this book and, as I've literally JUST finished the book, I'm a little sad that it's over.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone at any time. It isn't pigeon-holed into summer beach read or anything, and I think it would appeal to many ages. Although, as it spend forever on the NYT best-seller list, I'm sure most literate people have already read it! But if you haven't, you should!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
book 30
Swapping Lives by Jane Green
416 pages
Unfortunately, I finished this book over a week ago and didn't get around to the review until now so it's not really fresh in my head. I did like it, and I breezed through it like all the other chick-lit books I ever read. I really like Jane Green, and I like her style. This book narrates a little differently, and I enjoyed that. It felt almost like we were watching things unfold, it was a little different than I'm used to and a pleasant change.
One thing really annoyed me: TWO characters named Deborah? Really? At first I thought that the Deborah in the US with a British accent would turn out to be the Same Deborah that does work for Vicky in Poise! magazine, but no. It was somewhat confusing. There are gazillions of girls names, why use the same one twice? UGH.
Otherwise, the premise was actually believable - a mid-30s single London magazine editor swaps lives with a mid-30s American rich housewife to see if the grass is actually greener. This is all for an article in the magazine.. the two women don't magically wake up in another body, there's no funny business, and it progresses as I would imagine it would have in real life. I didn't have much reality suspending to do.
I would definitely recommend this book as a good summer read, something easy, light, and great. Another job well done, Jane Green!!!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
movies 16 & 17
Both of these movies were not anything I would recommend:
The Killer Inside Me - starred Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson. The Blu-ray case said it was "visually stimulating." If by that the quoted reviewer meant bloody and disgusting, making me continually LITERALLY want to vomit, then yes. Visually stimulating. I'm just upset we paid money for it.
Badlands - we Netflixed this because we are going to the Badlands in a week. Steve had seen it before and he wanted it. I did NOT enjoy this. Lots of killing, AGAIN. I like GIRLY things. Romantic comedies. Chick lit. I might ban him from choosing movies anymore, because, seriously, I can't do this killing, blood and guts.
For serious, if you like watching people be beat to death or shot in the face and slowly die, see these. If not, no.
The Killer Inside Me - starred Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson. The Blu-ray case said it was "visually stimulating." If by that the quoted reviewer meant bloody and disgusting, making me continually LITERALLY want to vomit, then yes. Visually stimulating. I'm just upset we paid money for it.
Badlands - we Netflixed this because we are going to the Badlands in a week. Steve had seen it before and he wanted it. I did NOT enjoy this. Lots of killing, AGAIN. I like GIRLY things. Romantic comedies. Chick lit. I might ban him from choosing movies anymore, because, seriously, I can't do this killing, blood and guts.
For serious, if you like watching people be beat to death or shot in the face and slowly die, see these. If not, no.
book 29
Honey On Your Mind by Maria Murnane
298 pages
I love the Waverly Bryson series! I'm so happy I stumbled on Perfect on Paper a few months back, and I'm thrilled that this has become a series.. I pre-ordered Honey on Your Mind so I could get it the day it was published, and it came last week, and I'm done. Now I'm a little sad, because I know it will be a minute before the next chapter of Waverly's life begins!!!
I like Waverly because she is real. I feel like I'm hanging out with her and she's recounting her drama. I think I probably said that already when reviewing either of the other two books by Maria Murnane, but it's ok.
In Honey on Your Mind, we start out by finding that Waverly's just accepted a job hosting a segment on a new day-time talk show called Love, Wendy. We already met Wendy Davenport in It's a Waverly Life, so this seemed like a natural progression. So Waverly is moving across the country to start a new life in New York City, ready to begin a TV career and launch her Honey line. Being a lifelong New Yorker, I could identify with a lot of what was happening, the locations of course, and the experience. Although I moved to the city when I was 18 and not 32, it was still a similar experience.
I really love the characters, I love how they've grown, how some of Waverly's annoying quirks have disappeared yet her cute ones remain. Jake is still fantastic, her friends are moving along in their lives, and it's just very real and believable (except that all of her friends are very successful - either in sports or banking or whatever else it is they do - where is the failure friend hahaha).
I would STILL highly recommend this series, and even more so to see now how things have developed and progressed!!!!!!!!!
298 pages
I love the Waverly Bryson series! I'm so happy I stumbled on Perfect on Paper a few months back, and I'm thrilled that this has become a series.. I pre-ordered Honey on Your Mind so I could get it the day it was published, and it came last week, and I'm done. Now I'm a little sad, because I know it will be a minute before the next chapter of Waverly's life begins!!!
I like Waverly because she is real. I feel like I'm hanging out with her and she's recounting her drama. I think I probably said that already when reviewing either of the other two books by Maria Murnane, but it's ok.
In Honey on Your Mind, we start out by finding that Waverly's just accepted a job hosting a segment on a new day-time talk show called Love, Wendy. We already met Wendy Davenport in It's a Waverly Life, so this seemed like a natural progression. So Waverly is moving across the country to start a new life in New York City, ready to begin a TV career and launch her Honey line. Being a lifelong New Yorker, I could identify with a lot of what was happening, the locations of course, and the experience. Although I moved to the city when I was 18 and not 32, it was still a similar experience.
I really love the characters, I love how they've grown, how some of Waverly's annoying quirks have disappeared yet her cute ones remain. Jake is still fantastic, her friends are moving along in their lives, and it's just very real and believable (except that all of her friends are very successful - either in sports or banking or whatever else it is they do - where is the failure friend hahaha).
I would STILL highly recommend this series, and even more so to see now how things have developed and progressed!!!!!!!!!
book 28
Sleeping Arrangements by Madeline Wickham
320 pages
Sleeping Arrangements was what I expected. It is typical Wickham, which I enjoy, so there isn't much to say. It wasn't too obvious, which was nice.
Chloe is a dressmaker in a long-term partnership with her guy Philip. They and their two children are about to embark on a much needed holiday to Spain, they have much stress in their lives and are looking forward to the getaway. Hugh and Amanda are married with two little girls and live a very different lifestyle than Chloe and Philip. Their worlds will collide when they arrive at the villa in Spain to find it double-booked, but that's not the only surprise that will be forthcoming.
I didn't feel like I was constantly predicting what would happen next although it did fit into the genre nicely (which overall is a bit predictable). I read Sleeping Arrangements really quickly, and I wanted to keep going to see what would happen and how things would turn out. The subject matter is adult, full of adult choices and sort of real.
Definitely would recommend for a nice beach read!
320 pages
Sleeping Arrangements was what I expected. It is typical Wickham, which I enjoy, so there isn't much to say. It wasn't too obvious, which was nice.
Chloe is a dressmaker in a long-term partnership with her guy Philip. They and their two children are about to embark on a much needed holiday to Spain, they have much stress in their lives and are looking forward to the getaway. Hugh and Amanda are married with two little girls and live a very different lifestyle than Chloe and Philip. Their worlds will collide when they arrive at the villa in Spain to find it double-booked, but that's not the only surprise that will be forthcoming.
I didn't feel like I was constantly predicting what would happen next although it did fit into the genre nicely (which overall is a bit predictable). I read Sleeping Arrangements really quickly, and I wanted to keep going to see what would happen and how things would turn out. The subject matter is adult, full of adult choices and sort of real.
Definitely would recommend for a nice beach read!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
