Iconic Breakfast

There are people I'm sure we all have known that are somehow endearing and at the same time unbearable. Their personal issues are so overwhelming to both themselves and to those around them that you almost forget or don't realize how much they are taking out of you. There is an inability to tell them no along with the desire to see what happens next. Even if you want to stay away you are drawn to the dramatic goings on of their daily affairs. Holly Golightly is just such a "friend". She seemed to create chaos in a completely unintentional way. She was almost helpless to her own meandering life. I don't know if marriage at 14 stunted the rest of her emotional and mental growth, but she was really just a grown up child. There was very little responsibility of actions and no consequences until the fateful day of being connected with Sally Tomato. This seemed to be just the ticket in calling her to her senses which had been absent up to this point.
However selfish and somewhat irritating a character she may have been she was an icon. There are pictures of Holly in a black sleek dress with a sparkling tierra, string of pearls and hair piled just so on top of her head hanging everywhere. This image in my head made me realize that the Holly of Truman Capote fell a bit flat but it took Audrey's portrayal of her that brought the character to life and that is the icon we all know today.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc8gqn_moon-river-breakfast-at-tiffany-s_music

Proceed With Caution 'In the Woods"

*Apparently, I'm working my bucket list bottom to top, because I found myself starting with number three. (And I'm pretty sure Crystal would appreciate me adding the disclaimer that just because she let me borrow it didn't mean she recommended it to me.)* 

It’s a fine line that anyone who reviews a book has to walk because for me so much of how I feel about a book is subject to change based soley on the final pages and so how can I  share how I feel about a book without divulging too much about the ending? 

Since I'm not actually qualified to review I will share this: I stewed for days after finishing this book, wishing I could manipulate the ending, confused and wondering why a character I had grown so attached to could betray me by acting like such a douche and aching for an actual ending.

There is no denying that Tana French knows how to spin a tale, I couldn't put the book down. The book runs two separate mysteries, decades apart, simultaneously, while our narrator, Detective Rob Ryan has a foot in both. Another factor that kept me coming back for more was the way French built the relationship between Ryan and his partner Cassie Maddox. The problem was (and I know I'm taking this way too personally) French spent the last thirty or so pages breaking my heart. And (SPOILER) she left HUGE loose ends, as in don't expect both mysteries to be resolved. 

So, if you are looking for a well written mystery and you can rise above an unsatisfying ending this book is for you. Or if you can't fully trust me and need to read this book for yourself, pick it for a book club, because I think you'll enjoy talking it out, it will be like much needed therapy.

And finally, the truth is, in doing research for this post I found out that there is actually a follow up book called The Likeness, from Caisse's point of view, that picks up six months after In the Woods. And for all my complaining I actually can't wait to finish reading our current book club pick so I can continue my search for resolution with Rob and Cassie. Don't worry, I'm prepared to be disappointed!


Andrea

Summer Bucket List

I have so many unfinished projects, plans and ambitions right now it seems unwise to add anything too big to the heap. But I am also the kind of person who operates well with a list or goal. So instead of any major life bucket list I thought I'd start with sort of a summer book bucket list. I'm hoping that this little bit of pressure will inspire me to slow the construction on my Tiny Tower and get busy doing a few more productive pursuits. 


1. Something Respectable - The Great Gatsby. I'm pretty sure this was required reading somewhere in my high school career, but the fact is I don't remember it. I'm inclined to think it was probably another project I totally flaked on. *cringing* Anyway, I'd like to make up for that over sight now, especially with the movie on the way.

2. Part II - I'd like to follow up with the sequels to Divergent and Across the Universe. And in August, the follow ups to I Am Number Four and Ashes drop. Summer's all about the guilty pleasure, right?


3. Something Borrowed - The exact title is yet to be determined but I have a stack of books from Crystal, that she probably devoured in a week, gathering dust. I'd like to be able to return at least one of them during the next three months.


On a non-book related Summer Bucket list....


I want to not finish last on my first half marathon. (Who am I kidding, I just want to finish.)


Anyone else want to throw out a Summer Bucket List? I dare you.....


Andrea

For Your Thursday

An Idiot's Guide to Jane Eyre

When I received Jane Eyre in the mail I was ready to spring into action to read this beloved tale that regularly tops peoples favorite book lists. People get misty just thinking about this book and I imagined myself joining this well read group of academics, pining for good ol' Mr Rochester, imaging myself roaming the hills around Thornfield.... Only it didn't go down quite like that. First off, this isn't a book you can polish off in a couple swift  settings. (Well, maybe you can but I couldn't) So I would read a bit then something flashy would land on my nightstand and Jane Eyre would sit abandoned or a book club pick would need read and again my Bronte classic would sit shut. It was such a cool looking book I never minded having it bedside, it's very presence made me feel accomplished. Finally, a year later I decided it was time to knuckle down and finish. And I did find myself reaching a point when I was excited to pick it up at night, toting it along to piano lessons and sneaking it downstairs to read a page or two between loads of laundry or dishes. I even shed sentimental tears on the last page but overall it was, to quote 'the dawg',  "just alright for me".

You know how he generally gets booed for that line, I pretty much got a similar reaction from the fellow book babes. When I mentioned that I read it at book club and it was just ok, no stars and rockets and life changing stuff, some of them (Crystal, Sara and Elisabeth) had a reaction akin to one as if I had said something like 'I hate puppies and babies'. I'll admit when I first finished I was worried, was I too dumb to get this book?? So I turned to the movie thinking that if I missed some huge plot point my eyes would be opened by the cinematic, but....I guess I'm missing the Jane Eyre lovin' gene. (Although movie Mr Rochester was so much better than the Rochester I conjured in my imagination.)  

   

                                    

And don't get me wrong, I didn't hate the book, I just didn't LOVE the book. I'm still glad to have read it, now I can be in the know with any Jane Eyre/Thornfield/Rochester literary reference (I imagine this really upping my Jeopardy game) and I've been waiting to read the Eyre Affair for over a year now, so next time I'm between books, I'm covered.


Maybe everyone built it up too much, maybe there was just too much pressure to 'connect' with this classic, am I the only girl out there who read this book and had only a luke warm reaction? Do I need to make a doctor appointment stat and get some extra estrogen rolling? Perhaps there's an herbal remedy? Let me know....til then I'm taking on 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.


Andrea

Hunger Games Movie

After my third viewing I finally felt I could commit something to writing. From the opening shot of Caesear Flickerman, perfectly characterized by Stanley Tucci and Senaca Crane, rocking the sculpted facial hair and managing to make those white slacks work, I was sold.

I'm one of those obnoxious people who thinks it matters more what I think of the movie because I read the books first. And don't get your panties in a twist because I couldn't possibly have read it first, I just mean that I read it hot off the press (because another author online made a recommendation) and had to wait the long years between releases instead of in some whirlwind sleepless weekend. And if you're still offended, whatever, I'm sure you can feel superior later when I discover something you've loved for years. Back to the movie, though, I started out heated up about the casting, convinced it was all going to be wrong (aside from Josh as Peeta and Woody as Haymitch). But then the propaganda got to me and I decided to take a more relaxed approach to the movie. I'm pretty sure my blog-side ranting wasn't going to start a revolution so I decided to go with the flow and enjoy what was good about the movie instead of trying to figure out ways it wasn't going to work. And I was so overall impressed that I refuse to nit-pick about the few things that were off, I think aside from turning it into a six-hour BBC movie it was about as perfect as a book to movie could translate. Some of the highlights for me were:


1. Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman. Without taking anything away from the tone of the movie Tucci added a comical but perfect portrayal of Flickerman. I loved the over-the-top expressions done in a way that was funny without being cheesy and seemed completely in sync with the spirit of his character in the book.





2. The music. As a rule I hate it when a soundtrack or song is released from a movie and when you actually see the movie the songs are missing completely or show up in the credits, but this is exactly what happened in the Hunger Games and I don't care. The entire mood of this movie was so perfectly set that I can't complain about the exclusion of any song. And to be fair, when the soundtrack was released, it was labeled as songs from District 12 and beyond, which to me suggested a playlist inspired by the movie rather that a soundtrack from the movie, which is exactly what it is. And even so, with no real connection to the movie (aside from two in the credits) it does manage to embody the tone of the movie really well. I particularly like Maroon 5's contribution, which doesn't have an official video but this youtube version at least lets us spend a few minutes basking in Adam's glory.

3. Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. I like him even better than the book Haymitch. Book Haymitch was on Katniss' team but I always wondered if he really liked her. Movie Haymitch was the perfect tough love version, crusty but definitely in her corner.

4. When Katniss attacks Peeta after his declaration and Effie's blurts out "Manners", I love this. Hunger Games can be pretty heavy stuff so I really appreciated the appropriate moments of light.

5. When Katniss is shaking like a leaf before going up to the games, I have no idea how Jennifer Lawrence pulled it off, but that was so amazingly realistic. (not that I in fact have any idea what a 'realistic' reaction would be for being thrust into an arena to fight to the death) Anyway, it seemed legit.

6. Gale. I have always firmly planted myself in Peeta's corner (I'd say Team Peeta but I'm afraid someone might call me out and say I've aged out of teams, and I'm super sensitive about my age) Anyway, I was completely against Liam Hemsworth as Gale, part of that may be on grounds that I doubted being able to take serious anyone who has dated Miley Cyrus. But in his limited screen time he won me over, not so much that I'd abandon my Peeta loyalty but enough that I was sympathetic to his character and could absolutely see why there was a triangle at all.

7. I loved finding out that all this time I wasn't saying anyones names wrong in my head. Peeta really was pronounced like the pocket bread. It's always awkward to see a movie and feel like the characters are completely different just because you were hearing their names different when you read. Maybe this is weird to mention and number as a highlight, but it was oddly reassuring to me. 

I'm pretty sure I could keep the numbered bullets going infinitely. I haven't even touched on Josh and Jennifer and major plot points, but to me it was all the little nuances that made the whole awesome.

I know that Hollywood and the entire Hunger Games community isn't all that worried about my support, but I give it wholeheartedly, nonetheless!

Me and Crystal at the midnight showing!!!

Now you can see both victims of my flying elbows!

PS. If you go to a midnight showing dressed up like people from the capitol you might feel like people are looking at you. When I thought about dressing up in bright wigs and outrageous eyelashes I just thought it would be fun, only once there I felt like a spectacle and I realized I'm much more comfortable blending in, and when you are wearing an untamable neon purple wig and turquoise feathered eyelashes it is hard to blend. Just an FYI if the thought crossed your mind......

Andrea

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

If you know me even a little bit, you know I HATE the S word.  I really, really hate those things, those cold, creepy, slithery, scaly, evil-embodying stuff of nightmares.  Hate them with a passion that may unfairly get taken out on a sinister looking stick or lone shoelace left behind on the garage floor, just on the presumption that it MAY have slightly resembled an S.  And by “taken out on”, I mean shrieked at and bolted from.  So when Andrea told me I better not ever pick another medical book or she would then choose a field guide to S as her pick, I started to get the feeling that my April pick, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, wasn’t her new best friend. 

Even with that initial response, this book turned out to be book club gold.  There was just so much to talk about.  It’s one of those books that raise questions you have never thought about before…who should be able to make money off human tissue and/or cells?  Does a person have the right to determine what happens to parts and pieces of their body once removed?  If a person essentially throws some part of themself away, are the monetary benefits that could be made off it up for grabs?  Is there an ethical obligation that if a person’s cells turn a profit, the original user of those cells should be compensated?  And if so, how much?  And more creepily, could my cells be out there somewhere being experimented on, researched on, cloned or used in any way without my knowledge?  (Now I’m picturing any army of micro-Crystals in a lab somewhere, some true clones, some half human half dog hybrids, maybe something that would be on the Island of Dr. Moreau...  I like it!)

Rebecca Skloot did a fantastic job of weaving the story of Henrietta and her family into the bigger picture of scientific advancement, the history of medical research, American race relations and health care capitalism.  She wrote the heavy, meaty sections in ways that the average person could understand and then put a face on it, albeit sometimes it was a face I didn’t much like.  She tried to stay as impartial as possible, not sainting or demonizing either side, but rather laying everything out and letting the reader decide where they stood.  Even after reading, pondering and discussing this book, I still don’t have the answers.  Maybe the awareness Ms. Skloot raised and the fact that the questions are being debated is enough. 

Crystal

Book Babes--Patrons of the Arts

So I’ve never really thought of myself as an artistic or creative person. I think once you strap on the abacus and commit to the bow tie and pocket protector of an accountant, hip and artsy are not often terms bandied about in reference to you. While I can set up a spreadsheet like a madwoman and play the 10-key like a concert piano til smoke flies off my fingers, the tradeoff seems to be a slight/complete decline in my creative juices. But wait! I had an epiphany this weekend. Just because your (my) drawings look like they were done by a roofied Cookie Monster and your (my) dancing abilities mimic those of a cobra being attacked by a honey badger doesn’t disqualify you from recognizing and appreciating artistic ability in others. I think reading connects the non-creative, such as myself, to that other, far cooler, world in that it opens your mind and imagination to more than you would be otherwise, much like a reasonably priced box of White Zinfandel can.

There are so many forms that art can take, from world renowned paintings or architecture to something as simple as a single line of poetry or a Polaroid snapshot, but one that I and the rest of the Book Babes really appreciate is music.  If you’re up to date on our posts (and why wouldn’t you be, really?), you’ll note that for us, music and books are inextricably linked in some symbiotic way, so in a way, to love one is to love the other.

This weekend, our shared love of music landed three of us at the Columbia City Theater in Seattle amidst a motley crew of fellow indie rock enthusiasts to watch the Cold War Kids perform to a sold out crowd. 

Me, Andrea and Sara.  Whoo!  That's right.  Whoo!

Andrea and I snatched up tickets for the show as soon as they were available and didn’t realize Sara had independently gotten her own tickets.  Looks like these book babes are on the same happening wavelength.  Fueled by free Embassy Suites cocktails and next door pizza, we were able to wrangle first in line spots before the doors opened, and then, through the hubby’s generosity with the PBR, weasel Sara and her crew up to first in line with us.  We ended up front row, chest smack up to the stage.  Whoo!  The next couple hours sped by in a blur of fist pumping, off-key sing-alonging, and gyrations that may or may not have passed for dancing.  After the show, we got to mingle with Chopper, a national treasure of the roadie world. 

Sali and (Karate) Chopper

We chatted him up and basically distracted him from his duties until security told us to scram.  So we scrammed to about 10 feet away and then noticed Nathan, the lead singer, nonchalantly mingling with the masses.  He agreed to take a pic with us girls, and even though he looks really angry in this pic, he was actually super down to earth and friendly.  This is the second time I’ve gotten to see Cold War Kids perform, and let me tell you, they’re not to be missed.  Not only are they insanely good, but they always have rad openers, too.  Last time, we got exposed to A Lull, which at one point, had about 17 guys drumming at the same time.  Ok, maybe 5, but what do you think I am?  Some kind of accountant?  They were pretty stellar.  This time around, Superhumanoids opened for them and I loved them, too.  Fantastic job of picking openers, CWK.  I always hate going to a show and the opener has nothing to do with the musical styling of the headlining band and you’re thinking, “what is Eminem doing at this Dixie Chicks concert?”, but the Kids (as I so hiply call them) always come through in both the performance and the opening act department.


Brie, Sara, Me, Nathan, Andrea, Sali and Darcy...hobnobbing

So back to my thesis.  Art begets art and appreciating the talents of another and the beauty others create inspires them to continue creating.  So keep on writing, keep on rocking, keep on sculpting, painting, drawing, and composing.  And I’ll keep on cheering.  Symbiosis in action.

Crystal

February

Thank goodness for a leap year or the only book I'd have read was our current book club pick. I imagined posting about a good 3 or 4 books for February courtesy of our mid-winter get-away, I never learn. Traveling with kids doesn't allow for the kind of reading I used to get under my belt on vacations. I'm not complaining though, just commenting. 

                                                    

Hana

by Lauren Oliver

Releasing as an ebook the same day as the second Delirium book Pandemonium (February 28, 2012) , Hana is a short story told from the perspective of Deliriums main character's (Lena) best friend. While the stories are overlapping, Oliver keeps it fresh by by sharing not only a completely different perspective but a character that has entirely different reactions and motives to similar experiences than Lena from Delirium. And the last line drops a bombshell that I not only didn't see coming, it makes me want to re-read the last few chapters of Delirium to see if I missed something. Overall I enjoy short stories that fill out a story line and if you have read Delirium and enjoyed it, Hana is worth reading.

When you write things out it makes you more aware of them, so writing for just the last two months my booklist makes me realize that I need to expand my literary horizons. I need to reign in my inner seventeen year old self that is apparently in control of all my book purchases lately. Which isn't to say I'm giving up my YA reads, but maybe I need to temper them with some more grown up choices? 

Andrea

Boys that Blog About Books

        


I'm always keeping an eye out for a good book recommendation, a fresh source for something new to read, even though I have stacks of borrowed and purchased books I've yet to get to. Whatever, it's a compulsion, so when I was reading a column about Mumford & Sons and saw that they have a book club on their blog I had to check it out, and I thought I'd share the link with you. I haven't read either book reported, not reviewed, on but what Marcus wrote made me fall in love with him just a little bit. I wish my 'reports' sounded half as well thought out and intelligent. A musician and a reader, I think it's too good to be true. If you find me listening to Sigh No More reading The Pearl in the not so distant future, don't be surprised.


And how apropos that there is an acoustic bookshop session of The Cave for your listening enjoyment.

January

So at the start of the new year when I was filled with ambition I decide that, among other things, I would post my monthly recreational reads.  The thing is, when I tackled all my other resolutions, reading what I should, and attempting to do more of what I should, I realized I didn't have as much time for reading the extra stuff, funny how that works. (I won't lie, I'm pretty sure my addiction to Tiny Tower may also have affected the extracurricular reading as well) So....aside from book club stuff I only read two other books this month, both of them dystopian set YA . 

                                                                              

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

"It kills you when you have it and when you don't."

The basic premise is, love is a disease. Scientists have found the "cure", and it's not optional. Set in Portland, Maine, Lena is ninety-five days from the "cure" and if you can't see the writing on the wall here, I can't help you. I got sucked in pretty fast, my only issue with this book is that you know where it's going but it sure seems to take a long time getting there. Sometimes I wanted to reach in the book and smack the waffling protagonist. Overall I enjoyed this book enough that while I was reading it I was hooked enough that my house suffered.  I think that's the book rating system I should use, loads of laundry skipped or dishes left in the sink. 

Of course, turns out this book is number one in a trilogy, and optioned by FOX to be a movie. The second book Pandemonium comes out February 28th and there's a short story told from the perspective of Lena's friend Hana, also due out February 28th. I'm in.

Here's the book trailer the author has on her site.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

So I haven't exhausted all I have to say about this book but I'll spare you all. I re-read this book this month for movie prep and will just add that multiple readings has not dampened my enthusiasm for this series. Instead of beating a dead horse here though, I will simply gift you with the new trailer.

And let me say that I am so excited for this movie and overall love the look of it enough to overlook the obvious movie/book discrepancy with the Mockingjay pin.

What did you read this month?

Andrea

Lay down the hammer.

Something I have always known about myself is that I am a huge procrastinator. Which contributed to the fact that this post has only taken me two months or more to do. Then another two weeks to actually sit down and figure out how to log into my account and do it. I manage to get things done, eventually. I can't really figure out why this is, but I found common personality trait in Isherwood. First of all I found myself one night trying to fall asleep and I realized that Ish was a person with great ideas but had a hard time putting them into action. I don't know if my ideas are great, but I do have a lot of them that I never get around to. I think this was Ish's problem. He was aware of this personality flaw. This didn't make for a good leader when the time called for one. I found the beginning of Earth Abides very interesting with all of Ish's interesting thoughts and contemplations on how things were going to turn out and how he went about exploring. As the book continued the ideas fell a bit flat. I think this was largely due to his lack of implementation. The ideas were there, the beliefs were there and even a few people, but no one was ready to take responsibility and make it happen. Ish was the leader, but really only by default. And he didn't make a great leader in my opinion. I know they had been through this huge world changing catastrophe but they were beginning to make a new start. I found it hard to see why the old timers didn't enforce certain beliefs that they felt so strongly about. For example continuing with school and reading. Ish went on and on about how sacred the Library was, but if no one could read anything in it they would never be able to benefit. He may not have been able to convince the entire community but at least with his own children I think he could have made it more of a priority. People make their kids do things they don't want to all the time. How would that be any different. I think the relationship Ish had with his family, even with Em, was definitely tainted. He seemed to just be there because they were the best he could come across, not so much out of love for them. I'm sure everyone was different because of the circumstances but Ish seemed to live a life that he gave up on. He was just living. I definitely think he could have made more of an effort to live a full life no matter how different it would be from what he had known. With his hammer in hand he held on to the past so much but didn't pass it on to future generations. He left them to figure it out on their own. Which may not be the end of the world considering how the last one ended.

Amber

Hunger Games, an Audio

So I realize I've been pretty much a bum about posting but seriously if you only knew the posts I thought about writing you would appreciate my genius.  Anyway, I have ambitions for being more regular and sharing some current reads and book club action, but I'm gonna start with baby steps and just share a link to the newly released song for the Hunger Games movie.  Honestly, I'm a fan of Taylor Swift, but I wasn't sure she had the chops for the mood I expect of this movie.  I mean even when she's drenching her guitar with tears she still seems a little....plucky? pert? Maybe it's the influence of The Civil Wars, maybe it's the profound effect of this book, who knows, I personally think it's perfect. I picture it fitting in with Rue or perhaps Peeta, but who knows, they could just throw it in at the credits.

I'm actually re-reading the book for the third, maybe fourth time, I lose track.  I decided I wanted to read it before the movie but not so close to the movie that I was making comparisons the whole time.  I'm picking up all sorts of details that I missed or forgot and still find a reason to tear up every chapter, I don't know what's wrong with me.  

So, love the song or think it's all wrong? And does anyone else have a strategy for reading the book pre-movie?