Because we all need another "Twilight" post...

Just for the record... I, my mother, and my sister have read/are reading THE BOOKS. It got downright ugly with mom and I, as we were competitively reading the same books at the same time (ie, "You drive so I can read. When we get to the store, I'll go in and you can stay in the car with the book!"). Sometimes we also hid them so that the other would not steal them away when using the exercise bike, etc. We also all loved the movie (mostly the landscapes... we're big Pacific Northwest junkies)... even Isabelle, non movie lover extraordinaire, said she would like to see it again.

I also (as commented) just read "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and my, do I love Fitzgerald. I read "Tender is the Night" last year and was once again surprised by joy... I mean, good writing. I also empathize with Isabelle's long movie thoughts.

Finally, I'm currently reading "Why French Women Don't Get Fat" which seems to be short, full of recipes, and funny. It's actually biographical with the recipes interlaced... something of a happy giggling longshot from "Like Water for Chocolate."

Kite Runner thoughts: I remember liking it a lot but it making me very sad. I thought the movie was equally sad, and not too bad for a movie adaptation from a good book.

Well, since my last post I have read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and have to say I enjoyed it very much. I liked it a lot more than "The Kite Runner", probably b/c it's from a female perspective. I've also read "Bones" by Jonathan Kellerman. Not a literary wonder, but good to pass the time. Now I'm starting on the new Kay Scarpetta book by Patricia Cornwell. I'm probably about 30 pages in and I can already tell that the way she is jumping back & forth between points of view is getting on my nerves. Just tell the story, already. Will let you all know how it was when I'm completely done. Anybody else read her?

Oh, and Happy New Year!

Probably still boring, but...

At least I've moved away from the Twilight books...now I'm on the movie companion book. Just joking! :) I finally broke down and got The Kite Runner from the library...I had no interest in it whatsoever, but it is one of the "it" books and I felt compelled to read it. I have to say it was better than I anticipated. I can't say I loved it, but it was worth reading. I will check out A Thousand Splendid Suns now and see what I think about that. Thanks for keeping me honest in my literary pursuits...

Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I just made this post on our family blog and then realized- ah ha- there is a much better place to make this posting!! (thanks aunt g)
Here it is, please feel free to comment:

I have to bring up something that has been bothering me and I haven't been able to successfully google any support for my reactions. First, has anybody read the F.Scott Fitzgerald book The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? If you haven't then you can probably find it online. I would highly recommend it, and have already read it 4 times in the past month. It's very short and very interesting.. however, making a movie about it? Are you out of your crazy mind? And making a loooong movie at that? Please.

I know that the movie is (key word) BASED on the book, but it doesn't even seem to come close. Granted, I'm making a post about a movie that I haven't seen and have no desire to see. From what I've read about the movie the only thing that I can find stringing it to the book is aging backwards. THAT'S IT. Key points of the story seem to be overplayed by romance in the movie.

If you're going to make a movie based on a short story, please... read it first.

Also, if anybody goes to see this movie and reads the book, please let me know how it is!

The Twilight Saga (Again)

Alright, everyone...I have a confession to make. I will probably be a boring blogger for the next little bit due to the fact that I am totally and irrationally addicted to the Twilight series. Gwen, I couldn't wait for you to bring me the 2nd one so I went out and bought all 3 of the final books for myself. I read them all so fast that I am now going back and re-reading them all at a slower pace to pick up on anything I may have missed by reading them so fast the first time. I haven't slept in a week, even missing church on Sunday b/c I stayed up too late on Saturday night reading one of them. Thank goodness there was no boys' choir or I would have been in big trouble! I am soooooo pathetic! LOL. I should have known this would happen, as romantic vampire stories are my weakness. Hopefully I will recover soon...

The Fireside Cook book

I know that this is a new category but I have to recommend this as a cook book because I really love it. The recipes look great (even though I haven't tried any) and the illustrations are so cute. S&S has just published the 60th edition and basically everything in it is the same as when it was originally published. If you're looking for a gift, or for a few good recipes I would recommend this for anyone.

Here's a little bit from the intro:
Here, in short, is a book that is an indispensable addition to every American home in which good food is appreciated. It is a book to use constantly, to pore over with delight, and give to all friends from whom you can reasonably expect a future dinner invitation.

A Thousand Splendid Suns- Khaled Hosseini

I'm just finishing up A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (listening to it as audio book while I run). I know some of you all have read it already and I bet most of us have read The Kite Runner by the same author. I have to say that I loved this book! It's equal to or surpasses The Kite Runner for me which I didn't think possible. It has the vivid prose of the Kite Runner but I won't ruin the story if you haven't read it except that it's life in Afghanistan told from a woman's perspective. Sad yes, but beautiful just like real life. (Okay, now I want to go watch Life is Beautiful having said that).

I listened to most of this as the election was happening and it made me feel especially patriotic and thoughtful about the luxury of living in America where we are able to change leadership without guns. I could also talk endlessly about my thoughts on the separation of church and state but I won't. If you do the audio book, the narrator is terrific. I bought it for my iPod but I know the library has it on CD. xoxoxo. g.