Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Turn to page 64...
"It is a good a place as any to get in." - The Night Circus, by: Erin Morgenstern
Saturday, May 25, 2013
25 signs you're addicted to reading
Check out this link from Buzzfeed:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/signs-youre-addicted-to-books-reading
I love Matilda
Friday, May 24, 2013
Book Review: "Bossypants" By: Tina Fey
About the Author: Tina Fey is a well-known t.v. writer. She has written for Saturday Night Live, which she was also a cast member, and she wrote for her own show on NBC, "30 Rock". "30 Rock" has been critically acclaimed and pretty popular. Her other widely known achievement was the movie "Mean Girls", starring Lindsay Lohan.
Short Summary of the Book (Spoiler-Free): Tina recounts her early years in a hilarious fashion and goes through several experiences that lead her into adulthood, along with some random personal insights she has regarding women in society. It's both a memoir and Tina's random thoughts and opinions written out on paper
My Opinion: I thought this book was fantastic. It's painfully honest and blunt, and Tina Fey offers up several pearls of wisdom carefully hidden in funny jokes. Everyone should take a crack at this book, man or woman. Yes, it leans in the direction of being a chick book, but there is some edginess to the humor and several stories she tells about her dad and husband are touching.
Funny quotes: "You could put a blond wig on a hot-water heater and some dude would try to fuck it."
" We should leave people alone about their weight. Being chubby for a while (provided you don't give yourself diabetes) is a natural phase of life and nothing to be ashamed of. Like puberty or slowly turning into a Republican."
" Ah babies! They're more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts."
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Throwback Thursday: "Ophelia" by: Pierre Auguste Cot
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This oil painting on canvas is 49.5 inches x 30.7 inches. It was originally painted in 1870 by a French painter, named Pierre Auguste Cot. He is mostly known for his portraits, and died at the age of 46 in 1883.
The painting itself, pictures Ophelia reading a book ( this painting is also referred to as "Pause for a Thought"), the fictional character in "Hamlet" who's death remains one of the most poetic in literature. If you don't know who Ophelia is, here comes a major spoiler alert: she is a beautiful maiden, whom Hamlet is in love with. She goes a little crazy after her dad is killed and she falls from a tree and drowns. Hamlet and another guy in the story end up fighting each other over who loved Ophelia more.
Shakespeare, you so crazy
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Feed Me Seymour!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/100638615/feed-me-seymour-metal-art-bookends-free?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=bookend&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto7&ga_search_type=all
One of the coolest Book ends I've ever seen, a la "Little Shop of Horrors"
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Book Review: "Covenant" by: John Everson
About the Author: John Everson is an American horror writer, author of 6 novels and 6 short fiction collections.
Short Summary of the book (Spoiler-free): Joe Keiran is a reporter, investigating teen suicides in a small coastal town. Somehow the deaths are linked, and Joe gets involved in some crazy shit. Is there anything that can be done to save these young teens from ending their lives? Joe is desperate to find out.
My opinion: Ok, so I'm a HUGE Stephen King fan, so I tend to measure every other horror writer up to him (which many don't make the grade, ahem...Dean Koontz). But this book was suprisingly good. The plot is nothing new, but it's fast-paced and the characters are interesting enough that I was drawn into the drama of the story. I really enjoyed Everson's writing style and I would definitely recommend this book to someone in need of a good scare. It's creepy and twisted, and the mood is perfect.
If it were a movie: I picture John Cusack as the main character with Kathy Bates as one of the mother's, because let's face it, Kathy Bates is awesome. Filmed in Maine and directed by some unknown with a lot of talent and vision. If done right, this could be a great movie...
Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Book earrings!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/130421726/mini-leather-journal-earrings-handmade?ref=sr_gallery_43&ga_search_query=book+jewelry&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=8&ga_search_type=all
I was browsing Etsy.com for some cool jewelry and happened upon these awesome earrings. They are miniature leather bound books. I love them! So cool and unique, and only $23!
Throwback Thursday: Pride and Prejudice
This Throwback is dedicated to my sister, Cecelia, who is a HUGE fan of Jane Austen! This book was originally titled "First Impressions", and ironically enough the new title "Pride and Prejudice" likely was chosen from a passage in a popular book from 1782, titled "Cecilia" (a novel Jane Austen was said to have greatly admired).
"Pride and Prejudice" by: Jane Austen, was first published in 1813. The novel was well-received and made the most money of any of Austen's published books at the time. Major themes in this novel include: Money, Marriage, Family, and Class (poor vs. rich, not "Stay classy, San Diego!). Chick Lit? Perhaps, but men should read this book and take some notes about being a gentleman (Oh Mr. Bingley! Mr. Darcy! They don't make 'em like that anymore).
To this day, "Pride and Prejudice" is well-loved around the world. More than 20 million copies of the book have been sold, and many film and television adaptations have thrilled audiences. You remember the Keira Knightly version? That's definitely my favorite. I highly recommend reading this book, if you have yet to. You won't regret it.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Reading is Sexy: Jensen Ackles
In honor of Wednesday (aka Hump Day), I give you a sexy celebrity reading a book! Jensen Ackles, aka Dean Winchester, gets comfy with a book and his pants just happen to be sliding down his wonderful bum. Reading is SOOOOOO sexy
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Keep Calm and Read On
Ok, so I have a bit of a bookmark addiction (I have to buy a new bookmark every time I go shopping for new books, which is ALOT). I just bought this bookmark at Barnes and Noble and it's quickly becoming my favorite. Best "Keep Calm..." version I've seen so far!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Top Ten Moms in Books
In honor of Mother's Day, I've decided to compile a list of my favorite "Mom" characters in books. The moms that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside and sometimes make us wish they were our mom. The moms that kick ass and bake cookies at the same time.
1. Mrs. Weasely, "Harry Potter series"
Why she is awesome: Molly Weasley is mother of five gingers, that in itself is pretty amazing. She does all of the cooking and cleaning, takes care of her husband and children, and still has time to fight in a wizard war and call someone a "bitch" for trying to hurt her daughter. I think it's safe to say that we all kind of wish Molly Weasely was our mom.
2. Marmee, "Little Women"
Why she is awesome: Trying to raise four very different daughters, while her husband is off at war is hard work. Especially when Amy is a pain in the ass, Beth is always sick and frail and in constant need of care, Jo is always whining about her identity crisis and her place the world, and Meg goes off and marries a poor guy and pops out twins. Marmee handles all of this with grace, poise, and incessant optimism, despite the March girls many problems and monetary issues. Love you Marmee!
3. Aibileen Clark, "The Help"
Why she is awesome: Aibileen grieves over the death of her own son, but still has overwhelming love and affection for the little girl that takes care. She is more of a mother to the girl she cares for than the own girl's mother, who constantly remarks about her daughter being chubby and blatantly ignores her. Thanks to Aibileen we will always remember these important words, "You is kind, you is smart, and you is important".
4. Tina Fey, "Bossypants"
Why she is awesome: Alright, so Tina Fey is in fact a real person and not a fictional character. Still, as a real-life mom Tina Fey gives us a comedic perspective on life as a mom. Just read this prayer she wrote for her daughter and you'll understand:
First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.
May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it's the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach's eye, not the the Beauty.
When the Crystal Meth is offered,
May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half
And stick with Beer.
Guide her, protect her
When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the nearby subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called "Hell Drop," "Tower of Torture," or "The Death Spiral Rock N' Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith," and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.
Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance.
Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes
And not have to wear high heels.
What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I'm asking You because if I knew, I'd be doing it, Youdammit.
May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.
Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.
Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long,
For Childhood is short -- a Tiger Flower blooming
Magenta for one day --
And Adulthood is long and Dry-Humping in Cars will wait.
O Lord, break the Internet forever,
That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers
And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.
And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister,
Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends,
For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.
And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord,
That I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 a.m., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.
"My mother did this for me once," she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby's neck.
"My mother did this for me." And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental note to call me. And she will forget.
But I'll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.
Amen.
5. Catelyn Stark, "A song of ice and fire"
Why she is awesome: I'll admit, Catelyn Stark is not my favorite character in the series. She has a tendancy to treat Jon Snow like crap, and that really pisses me off. How could you hate Jon Snow? He's adorable! Ok, maybe if he was your husband's bastard son from that time he cheated on you...But regardless of her icy tone towards Jon, Catelyn loves her family and most importantly her children above everything. She backs her son Robb with every decision he makes (even though he's only 16 and waaay too young to be making tough life decisions), and Catelyn always acts with poise and confidence. Mama Stark is indeed a badass.
6. Mildred Pierce, "Mildred Pierce"
Why she is awesome: A woman in the 1930's who separates from her deadbeat husband in order to find a better life for her and her daughters, pretty awesome in my book. This didn't happen much in the depression era, so kudos to this lady for taking a chance when it wasn't socially acceptable. Mildred works to feed her daughters and eventually ends up owning her own successful restaurant. All this and dealing with an evil daughter who hates her guts and pretty much ruins Mildred's life...well she definitely gets an award for being an amazing mom.
7. Sally Blofis, "Percy Jackson series"
Why she is awesome: Sally is a single mom who works a full time job to take care of her son, Percy, who is ALWAYS getting into trouble wherever he goes. Percy gets kicked out of every school known to man, and yet his mom is still positive and encouraging no matter what happens. She might be giving the kid some slack because he's the son of Poseidon and monsters are always trying to kill him, but nonetheless that's a lot for a woman to handle.
8. Hester Prynn, "The Scarlet Letter"
Why she is awesome: Yes, Hester Prynn is considered a slut and ends up wearing a scarlet "A" on her clothing as a punishment for adultery, but she never stops loving her daughter. She is faced with social humiliation every day and yet continues her life as normal as possible and cares for her child the best she can.
9. Melanie Wilkes, "Gone with the Wind"
Why she is awesome: Melanie is one of my favorite characters of all time. She is kind, sweet, and strong when she needs to be. She never sees the bad in people, only the good. She wants nothing more than the love her husband and give him a "Partridge" sized family, but her own health prevents her from having more than one child. Even through pain and physical trauma, Melanie is always upbeat and never fails to stand up for the people she cares about (even when they don't deserve it).
10. Mom from "Where the Wild Things Are"
Why she is awesome: She has a loud, messy, and yes wild little boy. Being the mom of three year old, myself, I highly sympathize with this woman. It's not easy dealing with little boys who would sooner throw their own feces on the wall than eat their vegetables. But all kids are wild at heart and eventually realize there is no place like home. Moms just have to patiently wait for that moment of clarity to set it and then be there with a hug.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
"Michelangelo's Notebook" By: Paul Christopher
About the Author: Paul Christopher has written several books, though I couldn't find much about him. His pen name is a pseudonym for his real name, Christopher Hyde. He has written two series of books, the Templar Series, and the Finn Ryan series.
Entertaining Quotes: "Christ on a Crutch!"
"I deal in hard-line mathematics. That just doesn't compute."
"It sounds like we're moving into Dan Brown territory here: weird cults, Catholic conspiracies, Leonardo Da Vinci painting in code."
Simple Summary of the book (No spoilers): I bought this book at a discount book store, and initially the title intrigued me. Sure, I was skeptical at first and I immediately thought it would be another Da Vinci Code knockoff. I decided to take a chance and read it any way, hoping for a shred of originality. This is the first book in Christopher's Finn Ryan series.
The story begins with a hot redhead, named Fiona "Finn" Ryan, who takes her clothes off for artistic integrity (she poses nude as a model for an art class) and works as an intern at a museum. Finn is the typical hot nerd; no luck with relationships but sharp as a tack when it comes to art history and literature, and don't forget the nice rack.
One night at the museum, Finn discovers what she believes to be a page out of Michelangelo's lost notebook (which has never been found). When she tries to tell her supervisor about her amazing, yet puzzling discovery of the priceless drawing, he gets pissed and fires her. Weird, right?
What follows is a string of murders, a love interest for our heroine, and a mystery about a child that somehow links to Hitler.
My Opinion: I wanted to like this book. Finn Ryan is a smart girl with a lot of confidence and doesn't need a man in her life, which in this literary age is rare. She is definitely someone to look up to and I love that the author has given her such strength and individuality. However, the story loses me about a hundred pages in. I ended up lost in the "mystery" that dragged limply along, instead of thrusting me forward in anticipation. By the end, I didn't really care what was happening or how any of the characters ended up.
Among the literary issues, such as lack of suspense and the writing itself being less than stellar, there were plenty of plot issues as well. One thing that bugged me was Finn running into this old friend of her dad's, Michael Valentine. Not only is he somewhere in his forties while she is at least twenty years his junior, but he's a friend of her dad's and she decides to bang the guy. Honestly, I'm all for twenty-something exploring her sexuality with an experienced man (especially if this man looks like George Clooney, which in my mind he did), but its still a little creepy to think you're getting hot and heavy with a man that was already in grad school when you were barely out of diapers and used to grab a beer with your pops.
If you can get passed the author's personal sexual fantasy about being with a much younger woman, then you are on to Phase II: Utter confusion and disappointment. You think this book is going to be about Michelangelo right? Wrong. The story delves into some corruption with the Catholic Church and some lame connection with stolen artwork and the Nazi's. In short, the story was a bastard hybrid of the Da Vinci Code and Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was an easy read and I've read worse books, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you are mind-numbingly bored or you have a choice between reading this or Twilight.
If it was made into a movie... Lindsay Lohan attempts to revive her career as this sexy, art student with a pension for bad luck and danger. Graphic nude scene in first five minutes captures the male audience (though its nothing we all haven't seen from Miss Lohan before). The rest of the movie is filled with a cast of unknowns and for some reason Eric Roberts makes an appearance. Sex, intrigue, and bad acting by the bushel! Coming to a theater near you...or maybe just a direct to video.
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