Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Sunday, August 22, 2010

EAT PRAY LOVE - An Onscreen Travel Blog


Well, as much as I enjoy a Julie Roberts movie on occasion, dull is what I find myself saying about her most recent movie in which she plays the main character, Liz Gilbert in ' Eat Pray Love'  one of those 'find yourself' movies.  This movie which is suppose to be about a woman, Liz Gilbert, that has lost her passion for life; was more or less an onscreen travel blog - without action or excitement. 

Mini-Synopsis: Liz leaves everything behind, including her (newly) ex-husband, Stephen (Billy Crudup) and her even newer wanna-be-actor boyfriend, David (James Franco) to travel for an entire year.  First, she goes to Italy for a few months and rediscovers the joy of eating - I found the Italy experience to be one of the best, if not the only interesting of her experiences in the movie.  The second country she goes to is India.  In India she supposedly finds her inner peace through prayer and meditation - enough said.  The final destination is Bali, where she hopes to find balance - and the way she finds it, you guessed it, she falls in love with a wonderful man that makes her feel alive again.  Well, well, well, how else could there be a predictable neat and tidy happy ending without the protagonist falling in love.

Oh, one of the most memorable scenes (for me) in the movie, was when Liz and her buddy (during her India experience), Richard (Richard Jenkins) from Texas who referred to her as 'groceries' because of her appetite, was leaving for the airport.  As Liz and Richard were walking, the extras in the background were looking at Liz as if she were Julie Roberts, that was too freaking funny.  Of course in the next shot, the movie editor caught the flaw - too late. 

I'm glad I used my free-pass to see this chick-flick and I only did so because my copy of the book (which I needed to read for a book club meeting) hadn't come in yet.  What I did truly goes against my rules - never see a movie before reading the book it was adapted from; and I don't know how I could ever force myself to read the book now, considering what a snooze I found the movie to be - so I won't, because I just can't.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Enlightening Dramatic Wonderful Read

WenchWench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

This novel is a MUST read for everyone.  The author reveals the painful pleasures that some slaves endure, through some of the most well-developed and memorable characters depicted in print.  This isn't a tired old story of slavery, anything but.  This story is about families, friendships, love and so much more.  It tells of the advantages/disadvantages and relationships the Wenches have and had with their masters - it tells of an idyllic resort and the summers spent there. This story enlightens the readers to a whole new world.   The author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez has mastered story-telling with this, her debut novel.
I am looking forward to more of the same from her.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Camilla's Roses

Camilla's Roses Camilla's Roses by Bernice L. McFadden

I don't know how I missed this particular book in 2004, because I thought I had read all of Bernice McFadden's novels. Needless to say, I checked it out of the library and I'm currently reading it now, and I must admit, I am intrigued as to what will become of the remaining characters, as I've already witnessed the destruction of a mentally challenged woman's beauty inside & out, following a terrible accident that claim the lives of her husband and unborn child... Oops, I don't want to spoil it for others.

However, here's a synopsis of what this book has to offer: Camilla has been estranged from her unruly family since she went to college, leaving behind a drug-addicted mother, a grandmother raising scads of abandoned grandchildren, and an addled great-aunt. Ashamed of her family and her race, she lightened her skin and adopted a false background. She is living a complete lie when tragedy strikes, and she discovers... Oops! again, I've said to much.

Bernice McFadden the author of Sugar, The Warmest December, and This Bitter Earth captivates her readers attention and won't let it go until the absolute end of her compelling stories.
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Say You're One of Them

Say You're One of Them Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
I am enjoying this wonderful literary find on audio. The Author, Uwem Akpan has done such a great job writing & creating such believable characters in this jubilantly acclaimed collection demonstrating the wisdom and resilience of children.
Additionally, the narrators:Robin Miles, Dion Graham, Kevin Free do such a wonderful job of bringing this story to life.

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Lush Life

Upon hearing that President Obama would be covering a substantial amount of literary ground while vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard; I decided to choose one of the five selections on the President’s reading list. I chose Richard Prices’ Lush Life, and I must say I am enjoying it more than I’d initially anticipated. Price’s masterful dialogue is captivating and the story riveting. This 455 pager is a must read.

And if you really want to become immersed, I suggest utilizing Audible.com or another audio-book source to listen while following along in the book. The narrator, Bobby Cannavale used by audible.com for Lush Life is shamelessly by far the most excellent audio match for the author’s text. His expertise almost makes you want to forgo the read, but don’t, because this book is quite worthy of the read. Regardless of which format you decide to choose, just be certain to explore this ‘tale of two lower east sides: one a high-priced bohemia, te other a home to hardship, its residents pushed to the edges of their time-honored turf.’