Falling Together: A Novel by Marisa de los Santos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, there were many elements I enjoyed about this book.  There were some amazing character descriptions and the personalities depicted were realistic and believable.  However, at the beginning of the novel, I was expecting a little bit of intrigue, I guess hoping for something a tad darker.

I think Marisa de los Santos is a very talented writer, I just wished that the story had held more suspense.  I also think that it verged on being a tad too saccharine at times.


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Why Smart People Do the Same Dumb Things by Rosalie K. Tatsuguchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought there were a lot of helpful aspects of this book.  I wished there had been a few more real-life examples of how to implement some of the suggestions.  But overall, it was an interesting read because of the reasoning behind why some people self-sabotage.


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Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Truthfully, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this series.  The final book had enough action to keep me interested, and enough resolution to leave me satisfied.  I wish people appreciated young adult books more.  They should be respected for telling interesting stories and creating believable characters (and yeah, I know there were werewolves in this.)

Anyway, I would definitely recommend reading these three books.  Great storytelling for any age.


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Salvage the Bones: A Novel by Jesmyn Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There were a lot of lovely moments in this book.  I loved the allusions to Greek mythology, and the imagery when Hurricane Katrina hits is amazing.  However, the storyline felt a little slow in parts, especially since the reader knows there is a buildup happening to when the hurricane actually comes.  I almost felt like the climax of the book happened too late.  I would have loved for the action to have happened sooner, thus allowing for more resolution time.  Some of the subject matter is also a little hard to get past--I definitely struggled to get through the dog fight sections.  But overall, Ward has a beautiful way with words and her characters are three-dimensional and believable.


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The Red House: A Novel by Mark Haddon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm definitely a fan of this author (I absolutely loved "The Curious Incident...")  However, it was hard for me to get used to the jilted, jumpy storytelling.  I enjoyed the characters--their voices were distinct and descriptive.  I would have been completely enthralled with this if I was able to keep with each character's POV longer.  The premise was interesting though, and I thought the setting was perfect for exploring the individual's underlying personality traits.  Wouldn't recommend for everyone, since it might be a tad confusing for some people.


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Twelve Clean Pages by Nika Maples

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this book to be captivating and inspiring. What makes this memoir fun to read is Maples' humor and insight into what could have been a life-ruining event. Although I am not a religious person, I was not put off by Maples' musings on how her beliefs helped her recover (and I often find myself less than interested in people's spiritual discoveries.) I loved that Maples felt sorry for herself and at times suffered from true hopelessness--these aspects helped the book to stray far from Pollyanna territory. I would definitely recommend this book to others who want to read a true story of courage from someone who used her wit and strength to bring herself back from the brink.

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I Am Forbidden: A Novel by Anouk Markovits

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a completely original story, despite the ubiquity of Holocaust novels. The characters were believable and unique. The style is a little difficult to get used to at first--the sentences are very short and terse. But I loved the setting and the span of time covered during the plot. I'm definitely going to recommend this to others because of the author's gripping storytelling.

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So Much Pretty by Cara Hoffman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Although I wasn't a fan of the alternating POV's, I did love the language in this. The author has a wonderful style that I really connected to. I also really enjoyed the twists in the story--there were a lot of unexpected plot points that made the book even more fun to read. I would definitely be interested in reading more by Hoffman.

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Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book because of the honesty behind every essay. I'm not in the intended age group, but I did find it enjoyable nonetheless. Quindlen's insights on womanhood and daily life in general can be appreciated by women of any generation. Her writing is succinct but still full of detail. Her humor makes the book feel light even when she's discussing more somber topics. Can't wait to recommend this to others!

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In the Face of Evil: Based on the life of Dina Frydman Balbien by Tema N. Merback

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an inspiring story! Like other accounts of the horror of the Holocaust, Dina Frydman Balbien shares her life while showing strength and courage that not many possess. Her story is told by her daughter, lending a closeness that would have been lost if Dina had recounted her story to a different writer. Although there are grammatical mistakes throughout the book, it is easy to pass over them because of the sheer readability of the text. The details in the story are incredibly vivid, allowing the reader to feel as though they are there with her as she survives tragedy after tragedy. The spirit of the book would evoke hope in even the hardest of souls. Dina has certainly lived up to the expectations of a survivor--someone who is brave enough to share the past but smart enough to know it is the terrifying details that make it the most real.

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The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was lovely and touching. I can always tell I'm reading a good book written by a talented author when I'm sad I've reached the last page--I could have read more and more pages about these characters. Umrigar writes about a friendship between 4 Indian women that has evolved over several decades. Each character was original and fully-fleshed so that it was easy for the reader to feel like they knew each woman (and their spouses.) The setting of India is another strength of the novel--it adds an additional character to the feel of the story. The dialogue was realistic and the usage of Indian words added to the authenticity. Can't wait to read more of this woman's work!

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Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I usually don't read books in the fantasy/romance genre, but this story was interesting and it kept my attention (even if it felt a little long.) I probably won't continue to read the series, but I can see why people are drawn to this style of writing. The text is mostly dialogue, so it reads quickly, and there isn't so much digging into the characters that the story gets lost. Overall, it was a nice surprise to find it written so well.

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More Than Words Can Say: A Novel by Robert Barclay

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I have to say I was super disappointed with this book. I always open a book with an open mind, and I'm always searching for something fantastic. This book was not. I know it has some editing to be done still, but overall, I was not crazy about the storyline or the writing style.

The story was set up like it was going to involve some mysterious, dark secret. The plot ends up being rather mundane...maybe this would have worked as an 'immoral' story several decades ago. Compared to the types of behavior we see exhibited on tv, movies, and in books, this story is completely anti-climatic.

As for the writing style, every paragraph ends with an ellipsis. Every character is introduced through a list of their traits ("He was an attractive man in his early sixties with a full head of gray hair," "She was a tall and attractive woman of 33") etc. All of the characters are stereotypes and their thoughts often read like a soap opera.

This book was predictable and offered characters and scenes that have been written about for hundreds of years. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters--actually, in the end, I didn't care about any of them one way or another.

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Robertson's Book of Firsts: Who Did What for the First Time by Patrick Robertson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the most interesting books I've read in ages. The only downside? I was completely annoying my family by constantly asking, "Did you know the dishwasher was invented by a woman? Did you know....Did you know...." This book was almost like an encyclopedia of inventions. Each entry was as fascinating as the last. Robertson has definitely done a great job at making seemingly mundane objects and topics rife with quirky details and memorable anecdotes. Another bonus was that I felt I had a better understanding of many aspects of history after reading this book. I grasped more of what life in the colonies was like and how war was transformed by the introduction of certain weapons. Oh, and one more....Did you know Native Americans didn't really invent popcorn?

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"Tower Heist": Recession-Friendly Film

I wasn't expecting a lot when I saw "Tower Heist," and this is probably why I loved the movie. It was pretty predictable, not at all thought-provoking, but especially in this day and age, sometimes you need those qualities in a movie. It's funny and ends with a good message: one day the rich will pay for cheating the poor. (Or something like that...I was feeling sad that I paid $6 for popcorn and am unemployed...but I think that was the moral of the story.)

Although Brett Ratner's film has been overshadowed by his off-screen antics (see: being fired from producing the Oscars for saying a homophobic slur,) he has created a fun, simple movie with some great physical comedy hijinks. Ratner also brought together a stellar cast. Ben Stiller does less mugging than usual, and often provides some of the movie's more level-headed humor. His group of misfits include Matthew Broderick, Jay Hernandez, Casey Affleck, and Eddie Murphy--a good mix of various comedic styles.

The real standout is Alan Alda as the Bernie Madoff-esque villain who steals from everyone working at the hotel where his penthouse is located. I'm really in love with comedians doing darker pieces right now (like Albert Brooks in "Drive" and Martin Short and Lily Tomlin on FX's "Damages.") You automatically expect these actors to be humorous and lighthearted. So when they turn out to be total sociopaths, the audience gets a nice switch. This effect is a huge advantage for "Tower Heist."

My only main problem with the film was the odd choice of casting Gabourey Sidibe (Academy Award nominee for "Precious") as a Jamaican maid who specializes in breaking into safes. Her accent was super fake and distracting, which also left my mind to trail off wondering why she would even do this movie in the first place.

Overall, this was a nice film where you don't have to think too hard, and you can laugh at the general silliness the actors bring to the table.

Miss Independent Part Deux

People like to say that Kelly Clarkson has come a long way from her "American Idol" days. But the truth is, she's always been an amazing vocalist, but it is just with her last two albums that she's finally figured out the types of songs where she can truly shine. On her album, "Stronger," which premiered last month, Clarkson produces 13 tracks that showcase her ballsy, confident (sometimes vulnerable) emotions backed by an insanely wide range and funny, yet touching lyrics.

The first single, "Mr. Know It All," is a classic take on Clarkson's attitude--along with "You Can't Win" and "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," the songs deal with how the singer faces her many critics. Clarkson could be talking to music reviewers, to bloggers, to ex-boyfriends...it doesn't matter because anyone can relate to someone underestimating their strength.

The reason Clarkson is still popular more than a decade after her debut into pop stardom is her girl-next-door persona. Of course she's a supremely talented neighbor, but she gives off a realness often lacking from other girl singers. The new trend is for gorgeous, glamorous girls to sing about knowing what it's like to be put down: a la Katy Perry's "Fireworks" and Selena Gomez's "Who Says." While these songs are inspirational, they're kind of hard to believe coming from pop princesses. On the other hand, although Clarkson is beautiful, she's not over-manufactured. You can actually believe she's dealt with some bullying in her life.

The album is filled with catchy tunes with choruses that stick in your head (in a not-annoying way!) so it's easy to see that Clarkson will be around for a long time to come. And if anyone doubts that, she'll write a song about how wrong they are to judge.

The Zombies Made Me Do It

Last night's episode of AMC's "The Walking Dead" helped viewers remember that it isn't just a creepy show about zombies. Instead Frank Darabont's adaptation of the comic is a deeper look into how people react differently during a crisis. Of course, the special effects are awesome and the makeup is just gross enough to make you groan (but not quite look away.) But the true value of the show can be seen in the character development. At the beginning, the archetypes were familiar--the hero dad/cop, the troublemaking Redneck misfit, the smart Asian problem solver. But then the writers dug a little deeper, and viewers are now looking at potential new villains and new hero(ines?)

There's always been a hint of something bad in Rick's fellow cop, Shane, but (HUGE SPOILER ALERT if you haven't watched the Oct. 30th episode) he has helped lead the group up til now, and he's a helluva shot. However, the ending scene revealed a darker side when a flashback shows Shane basically sacrificing sweet, fat Otis in order to escape the Walkers.

Some would argue that Shane was just doing what was necessary to survive. Otis was holding him back by being slow, and Shane cared more about Carl (his pseudo-son) than the man who accidentally shot him. But it was heartbreaking to see Otis fight back, with the desperate look on his face as he came to realize that Shane was betraying him...leaving him for bait.

Perhaps Shane will come into his own as a bad guy. The viewer has even less reason to trust him (in addition to that whole sleeping with Rick's wife thing.) Even if he goes over to the dark side, Shane still represents a former good guy--leading to the question: how would I react if I was in survival mode? Would I take down the nice old guy who might end up getting me eaten? Would I be like Andrea and decide suicide is the best option? Or would I be like Rick and insist that the world still holds some kind of beauty?

Even though the show seems like it's all about the dead, the series is really about the living and how people change when they're faced with undeniably sucky circumstances.

It's About Time

I started this blog back in 2009 for my senior project at University of La Verne. It gave me a great excuse to write about my fave things in entertainment.

Flash forward to now...I'm currently searching for a job as a writer (and would love to get my short stories published!)

But while I'm waiting, I'm going to blog less formally, and with possibly shorter entries just to keep the juices flowing. And to have my opinion out there instead of them just staying in my head.

Thanks!

PaleyFest 2009

I have consistently attended the Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Radio and Television) festival. In its 26th year, the PaleyFest annually celebrates achievements in television series that have aired during the past season. I was able to attend four of the 14 nights (and would have gone to more, but the tickets are $40 each.) The festival was held this year at the Arclight Cinerama Dome on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and the venue proved to be a perfect way for the cast and creators of the shows to interact with their fans.


“True Blood”—On April 13, this HBO vampire series was honored. The creator and executive producer Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under,” “American Beauty”) was on hand to tell the audience about his vision for the show and how the next season will play out. Many members of the cast were there, including Anna Paquin (who plays telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse), Stephen Moyer (her vampire love Bill), and Nelsan Ellis (who appears on the show as the deliciously campy Lafayette.) The series is a fascinating mix of fantasy and romance, and should be the reason, aside from “Twilight,” that the public has a renewed interest in vampires. The PaleyFest attendees were treated to a sneak peek of a new series episode that won’t air until June.


“Big Love”—April 22 marked the celebration of another impressive HBO series. The polygamy drama, centered around Bill Paxton’s Mormon family man and his three wives, has garnered rave reviews over its previous three seasons. However, it was the past few episodes of this show that earned complete respect from its audience—the writers have packed so much into each episode that they revealed their storyboarded plotlines through season six have all been used up. Although Ginnifer Goodwin, who plays naïve wife Margene, was unable to attend the festival, the rest of the cast was represented. The standout entertainer was Jeanne Tripplehorn, who stars as first wife Barb (and also just appeared in HBO’s “Grey Gardens” as Jackie O.) Although her character is formal and stoic, Tripplehorn seems to be the funny lady of the cast, continually making the audience laugh at her quips. It was fun to see a cast that truly gets along with one another. Harry Dean Stanton plays Roman Grant on the show, and appeared to be a little nutty at the festival—he was constantly misunderstanding questions and yelling out mixed up answers. However, his antics only made the night more unpredictably fun.


“Fringe”—This FOX sci-fi show has gotten grief for not having a bigger audience, but its fans are truly devoted. J.J. Abrams, the creator of the show, has had an illustrious career so far, with shows like “Lost,” “Felicity” and “Alias.” It was interesting to hear the inspiration behind the show. The cast was also present, including Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv and John Noble. The best part of the night was when audience members were allowed to ask questions of the cast and creative team. The questions ranged from curiosity about the mythology behind the show to queries about character arcs in the upcoming season.


Each year the festival outdoes previous events by showcasing amazing talent both in front of the camera and behind the scenes…2009 was no exception.

"Grey Gardens"

With the current state of the economy, losing one’s wealth is a relatable topic. People are now becoming increasingly familiar with living one day as the cream of the crop and living the next without access to riches. When the story of the Bouvier-Beales was first presented in the 1975 documentary “Grey Gardens,” the public became fascinated by the story of a mother and daughter related to Jackie Kennedy who were discovered to be living in squalor in the East Hamptons. Despite living in the lap of luxury throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the duo (Big and Little Edie) ultimately became a cautionary tale of money management and codependency. When a documentary crew interviewed them for a film about the Bouviers, the two were discovered in utter filth, without electricity or running water with diseased cats and raccoons roaming throughout the house. Through actual footage, the unhealthy relationship between the mother and daughter was revealed.


HBO’s interpretation of the documentary premiered last Saturday, showcasing incredible storytelling and mesmerizing performances by the two lead actresses. Jessica Lange impressively portrays Big Edie as a gregarious broad, eager to sing at local Hamptons parties and determined to marry her daughter off to a suitable beau. Lange has graciously endured hours of makeup to appear as Big Edie later in life—she genuinely looks like a woman in her 80s, down to the ragged teeth and saggy arms. Lange gives a tour-de-force performance as a woman who refuses to be a wallflower, and is so set on living life to the fullest that she barely notices when her own life has become unmanageable.


While two-time Oscar winner Lange is impressive, it is Drew Barrymore, as Little Edie, who truly steals the movie. There were industry concerns over the casting of Barrymore. She has previously been in romantic comedies, starring and producing movies like “Never Been Kissed” and “Fever Pitch.” However, the actress dove into the role and completely became the character for this project. She plays Little Edie with reverence and sympathy, displaying her highs and lows with equal respect. Barrymore even successfully conquered the accent, while forgetting her usual side-mouthed speech patterns (the actress has admitted that she took over a year of classes with a diction coach to sound like Little Edie.)


Although only in a few scenes, Jeanne Tripplehorn is amazingly subtle as Jackie Kennedy Onassis (she is already married to Ari in the scene in which she appears in.) Tripplehorn has been doing a remarkable job as Barb Henrickson on HBO’s other show “Big Love,” and she adds a quiet glamour to the other more boisterous characters in this movie.


The film is excellently written and directed by Michal Sucsy, and the dialogue contains enough saucy quips and witticisms from the two Edies to make up for the otherwise sobering account of the women. But the costuming in the film is by far the most impressive part of the production. Catherine Marie Thomas has blended together a slew of glamorous gowns from the 30s and the eccentric turbans and capes that Little Edie grows to love later in her life.


This movie is airing repeatedly over the next month on HBO—be sure to catch it for a glimpse into the lives of these captivating women.