I have two months to read 1o books. Sadly, it doesn't appear as though I am going to meet my goal his year. Oh well.
It did take me the better part of a month to read The Hobbit. I thought that I had made it through my entire English career without ever having to read that book. Well, apparently, unless I wanted to be left at home when the movie came to theatres, my husband expected me to read The Hobbit.
So, I did. It was slow reading filled with elaborate descriptions that I could not skim or I would be lost (this happened only a few times before I learned my lesson), action packed battle scenes, and some laugh out loud humor from Mr. Bilbo Baggins, himself. I truly wondered if I was ever going to finish the book, but hurricane Sandy gave me two days at home that I did not expect, so I was able to finish it yesterday. And, it appears that I will be able to go to see the movie in December when it comes out, with my hubby who admitted after I started reading The Hobbit that he didn't think he had ever actually read it. So, the book is now on his bedside table just waiting to be opened again.
Bilbo's tale was a good one. Very fantastical. I think Emily would like it, with it's flying dragon, rescue eagles, fairies, dwarves, gobblins, and magical rings that make you disappear. I have not read any of The Lord of the Rings books but I loved the movies. But, you won't see me going back to read them, either. The fantasy genre is just not for me. It's tiring work to read these sorts of books. They are the sorts of books that I have always said that I am not smart enough to read. Well, I read one. That's enough for one lifetime. I am happy to watch the movie version of these sorts of books.
Now, am I glad that I read it, stretched my brain, and read outside of my reading comfort zone? Yes. Do I feel a bit more wise and well-read? Yes. But I am still stopping here.
My next book is J.K. Rowling's newest book and I am so excited about it. Hopefully I will be done before Christmas, but since it's over 500 pages, it's hard to tell.
Happy Reading, everyone!
:). Dodie
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
#41 The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
I bought The Perks of Being a Wallflower because I never thought I was actually going to be able to see the movie (starring Emma Watson and I love her!) and then I suddenly found myself having a date night on Saturday and going to see the movie. Oh well. Some of my favorite books were read after I saw the movie (Charlie St. Cloud, Confessions of a Shopaholic). But not this one. While I wouldn't say that I loved the book, I will say that I loved the movie.
The movie version left me in tears. I was totally engrossed and emotionally invested in the movie. I ached for Charlie as he searched for that one friend, that one friend who would give him a chance, the one friend who would make him feel as though he belonged. I left the theatre and prayed for my own daughters, praying that they both would always have just one friend who accepted them for who they are. Life can truly be painful without a friend. I rejoiced at the end of the movie, as hope took over and made me smile.
Then, I read the book. There are a few plot differences, which shouldn't be surprising, as the movie version of a book is rarely the same. But, the biggest difference for me, and the one that is making me write this blog as I am, is that while the movie made Charlie seem endearing and just shy and wallflowerish, the book made him seem socially backwards and a little annoying. This made me angry, actually, because Charlie's character in the movie is so sweet. He's so loving and such a good guy, a guy who just wants a friend and who isn't afraid to be alone, but would just prefer to walk through life with a buddy.
I can't even say if I'm glad that I read the book. I think, honestly, that I am a bit disappointed in it. It's hard for me to think of the possiblity of loving a character in a movie, but being irritated by the same character in the original book. I just think it's strange.
So, I guess the short version of this story is that I would recommend the movie. Skip the book.
Did I just type that?
Happy viewing. Eat some popcorn for me.
Off to begin The Hobbit.
:) Dodie
The movie version left me in tears. I was totally engrossed and emotionally invested in the movie. I ached for Charlie as he searched for that one friend, that one friend who would give him a chance, the one friend who would make him feel as though he belonged. I left the theatre and prayed for my own daughters, praying that they both would always have just one friend who accepted them for who they are. Life can truly be painful without a friend. I rejoiced at the end of the movie, as hope took over and made me smile.
Then, I read the book. There are a few plot differences, which shouldn't be surprising, as the movie version of a book is rarely the same. But, the biggest difference for me, and the one that is making me write this blog as I am, is that while the movie made Charlie seem endearing and just shy and wallflowerish, the book made him seem socially backwards and a little annoying. This made me angry, actually, because Charlie's character in the movie is so sweet. He's so loving and such a good guy, a guy who just wants a friend and who isn't afraid to be alone, but would just prefer to walk through life with a buddy.
I can't even say if I'm glad that I read the book. I think, honestly, that I am a bit disappointed in it. It's hard for me to think of the possiblity of loving a character in a movie, but being irritated by the same character in the original book. I just think it's strange.
So, I guess the short version of this story is that I would recommend the movie. Skip the book.
Did I just type that?
Happy viewing. Eat some popcorn for me.
Off to begin The Hobbit.
:) Dodie
#40: Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts
Daring to Dream is the first in a trilogy of books by Nora Roberts. And, even though the books have beautiful new covers and I haven't ever seen them in bookstores before, they are not new books. Even so, I loved the first one and can't wait to read the others (I have purchased the other two and they are on my bookshelf, but I have promised my husband that I will read The Hobbit first).
Daring to Dream is a book that actually tells a good story and I was so excited to read a lovestory with a new, innovative plot that was unpredictable. The characters were like no others that I had read about (and when you read as much as I do that's saying something!) and I was excited to read their stories. Margo and Josh are the main characters in Daring to Dream, even though we also meet Margo's mom, Ann, Josh's parents and sister, Laura, and a friend of the family, Kate throughout the course of the booko. Margo, Laura, and Kate are best friends and grew up together. The book even begins with a scene when the girls are young, which really helps to set the stage and the tone of the book. And, even though this is Margo and Josh's story, we get to know a bit about Laura and Kate in the book, too.
Nora Roberts writes loves stories so I knew that ultimately I was going to be reading a love story, but it was not a trashy love story, nor was it a predictable story. I can't wait to read the next book (Holding the Dream) in the series. But, alas, The Hobbit is calling my name.
Happy reading!
:) Dodie
Daring to Dream is a book that actually tells a good story and I was so excited to read a lovestory with a new, innovative plot that was unpredictable. The characters were like no others that I had read about (and when you read as much as I do that's saying something!) and I was excited to read their stories. Margo and Josh are the main characters in Daring to Dream, even though we also meet Margo's mom, Ann, Josh's parents and sister, Laura, and a friend of the family, Kate throughout the course of the booko. Margo, Laura, and Kate are best friends and grew up together. The book even begins with a scene when the girls are young, which really helps to set the stage and the tone of the book. And, even though this is Margo and Josh's story, we get to know a bit about Laura and Kate in the book, too.
Nora Roberts writes loves stories so I knew that ultimately I was going to be reading a love story, but it was not a trashy love story, nor was it a predictable story. I can't wait to read the next book (Holding the Dream) in the series. But, alas, The Hobbit is calling my name.
Happy reading!
:) Dodie
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