Book of Your Life

I wrote this for a friends wedding and had previously published it here on These are Days... Just came across it today randomly and wanted to share again. Love this..

In the book of your life, there is the story of your love. The first few chapters are short ones, detailing your devoted love for parents and family. Fun tales of writing Mother’s Day cards and doing arts and crafts; they are always gifts from the heart to show your family how much you love them. Love is so easy at this age. It is innocent and unconditional. We spend this time just being kids and loving with our whole beings.

Once you get a little older, the chapters get a little longer, and more characters are introduced. That cute boy at recess who you play tag with, the next door neighbor you sit on the bus with, and your sibling’s friends who hang out at your house, are impossible to not blush over. The opposite sex is so alive in your mind but you’re still too young to really understand and wholly love.

Adolescence is a wonderful time in our lives. So many stories, so many love tales and tragedies take over our existence. Though exciting and ever-changing, our mystical romances and casual flings help us practice for the real thing and spectacular act of, love. These chapters in our book are sometimes forgotten or neglected due to the heartache and pain we suffered through.

All the experience gained during our teenage years is tossed aside as we grow into adults. We don’t want to remember our proms and our bad breakups. We want to move on with our lives. The next few chapters in our love story weave tales of happiness, sadness, fun and regret. We find ourselves enjoying the company of friends, finding out who we really are and who we want to be. We are devastated by break-ups, and too weak to approach the one our hearts call out to. This period in our life is for introspection, growth, and most of all for self-love.

The most beautiful chapter in this story is the final one. One in which you have grown to be independent, to love yourself; you are finally ready to give yourself to, and love, someone else. Then you meet that special being. Time stops. In your world, the only people on earth are you and your soul mate standing in front of you. All of a sudden it does not matter what day it is, how much money is in your bank account, or what’s happening tomorrow. All you know is that right then, you found that someone to love. You’ll be happy to be with this person for the rest of your life and making them happy will bring you no greater joy. Nothing else matters to you. You realize that the love you’ve been growing your whole life has blossomed for this one, special person. That love is the love that will keep you writing the rest of your love story.

Dame Julie Andrews and Me

No photos but I got the book signed, yay!

I was beyond blessed to meet the one and only Dame Julie Andrews last night.  (omg, holy shit, whoohoo!) I'm still a bit giddy over it to be honest.

I heard that a local bookstore was having her in to do a book signing for her new children's book; The Very Fairy Princess collection. I bought the book and reserved my spot and my mom and grandmother did the same.

Lyla and I talked about it all week how she was going to meet Mary Poppins.  She was so excited!  I actually went out and bought her a princess dress (damn I didn't take a photo!) and new sparkle shoes to wear.  Yesterday was beyond hectic.  Here's why:

I left on an 8am train for NYC for a meeting.  Caught the 3:30 train back to Old Saybrook.  Met Jared at Subway with Lyla (he had picked her up from school, showered her thankfully).  In the Subway bathroom I stripped off my business suit and put on normal clothes. Fed Lyla fast, drove to Madison's RJ Julia and got Lyla dressed in her adorable outfit in the car.  Phew.  It was hectic!

There was a huge line out the door but I had called the store the day before to ask about it as I was going to have my 90 year old grandmother with me.  We were allowed to wait in the store and skip most of the line.  Yay for us but I'm sorry to those who were outside for so long!

We waited in line in the store for about 40 minutes but it wasn't too bad.  Lyla kept every one entertained saying she was meeting Mary Poppins.  When the line started to move, I was beyond excited.  Well I had been excited all week but this was it.  I was totally bummed when they said we couldn't use cameras of any kind but oh well...

When it was our turn, they were very strict, friendly but strict.  You couldn't even see her until you were escorted down.  And there she sat!  The most beautiful, talented woman on earth - for real!  She was gorgeous.  More beautiful than on television and even at her age.  I was in awe.

I said to Lyla, that is the lady that played Mary Poppins and Lyla was unsure.  Ms. Andrews said oh that was a long time ago.  Don't look like that anymore! I told her no, she looked amazing!

But they were all focused on Lyla.  She talked to Lyla, complimented her, asked her questions and my darling daughter stood there looking down playing shy.  Ugh!  Julie Andrews loved my daughter though!  We probably got more time in line than anyone because they were marveling at her princess shoes, her dress, her red hair and it was so sweet.

Lyla eventually walked to a big chair and sat on it like it was her throne and they cracked up.  I took this as my cue to totally embarrass myself with a slew of crazy person talk (really fast mind you):  I am a huge fan. This is so amazing for me to meet you. It's an honor.  My daughter sings all of your songs and I recorded her singing and just a few weeks ago I tried to find a way to send you an adorable video I thought you'd appreciate it. But then I heard about this event and I was so excited I could actually meet you. 

My eyes nearly teared up.  I know, I'm a freak.

Then my grandmother went off chatting about singing and such and the guys in charge started rolling their eyes because we had taken too much time.  My mom eventually almost pulled my gram away and after Lyla gave a princess wave to Ms. Andrews we started walking away.  Then she proceeded to ask, when are we going to see Mary Poppins?  We laughed and laughed.

My whole entire  year was made. Thank you Julie Andrews!

One regret though...and I feel like a total dumbass, I totally forgot to tell her we love her books!  The whole reason we were there! lol

Summer Reading

All of these look great and I hope I have time for a book or two this summer, beach or pool side of course!

Summer 2012 Books

Death and some insight

I love Reddit.com.  Top stories, photos, etc on the internet.  I usually skim each morning to see if there is anything I can share with my community at work - most of the time I'm not disappointed.  I rarely read the comments or stories as I don't want to take much work time but today, for some reason I did.  I had to to share this insight and these thoughts from this random stranger on Reddit.  Brought tears to my eyes and realized this is so true despite me not wanting to ever admit it or talk about it.  Read on below of go here.

I think about this [How does it make you feel to think about the day you're going to die?] all the time. It literally keeps me awake most nights, laying here alone in the dark, thinking: one of these days, I'll feel my heart stop, feel my lungs fail, and there will be nothing I can do about it...

I start to tumble down a slippery slope, most of the time. I look up at the ceiling and wonder what it was like for all the people I know who have died; I wonder what their last thoughts were and what it felt like. Whether they were at peace, or if they had regrets, or if they just felt like the world would be better if they had had one more day.

And that's the irony, isn't it? We waste time everywhere. We deny relationships, we pass up opportunities, we spend more energy thinking of reasons not to do something than it would take to just accept the chance and go for it. We get so busy forgetting we WILL die, that we forget to really live.

And sometimes I get very depressed over it - not in the sad sense, but in the whole, "nothing I do ultimately matters" sort of way. I think to myself - I could unify the world, I could bring together every last person in harmony; they could melt down all the statues of generals and warmongers to make one of me, the Great Peacekeeper; they could build the tallest building that ever was or will be, and dedicate it to me; I could be hailed as the greatest man who ever lived...

But why?

My bones will rot next to those of the poorest beggar that ever was. However high I may be raised in life, my children's children will still walk over my grave while they carry on. The atoms that constitute my ashes aren't gold-plated, or impervious to time's relentless march. And even if they were, there will come a day far in the future when the sun - which allows us to live for the moment - grows tired of us and expands past our orbit, obliterating everything that you, or I, or anyone you have ever heard about or imagined has ever done.

And you'd think that would make it worse. But, hear me out...it helps.

Death is the great equalizer. As Ray Kurzweil wrote, it gives importance and value to our lives, to our time. Without it, eventually everything would become stale and meaningless. When it comes, it may be unwelcome but you can at least take solace in the fact that whoever died is most decidedly not alone.

Out of all the things to experience in this world and this life - out of all the places to be born, to live, to love, to laugh in, all the paths to walk and friends to make and emotions to be felt with unrestrained force - there is only one universal that everyone will face. Death reminds us all that we are in this together, and even in the shadow of such an overwhelming fear, we are not alone. Billions have gone before us; billions will follow. It binds us much more than it separates us.

For the man who has gone onward, pay him respects. He went before his time and that is unfortunate; but take comfort in the fact that his troubles are over. He'll never get cancer, he'll never be homeless, he'll never lose everything in a bad marriage.

For the living, take it as a reminder that in the grand scheme of things, a lifetime is not that long. Some people do more in 28 years than others do in 100. The universe holds no opinion either way, and it would have been much more likely for you to not exist than to be here reading this. Embrace the improbability of your sentience, and make the most of this one life you have, because not everyone gets the chance.

Go jump out of a plane, go learn Cantonese, go have a wild night with your best friends. Consider them all to be the last things you do, and be happy with it all. Understand that pain is necessary to truly comprehend how good it feels when you don't hurt anymore - there can be no light without darkness. But when that light comes back, everything will be clearer, more defined, and much more meaningful.

The Hunger Games and What I think about it...

In my new program at work, I'm trying to relate to the younger crowd so when this movie/book (The Hunger Games) became such a hit, I had to read it.  

For the record, book fads like this, I mostly never take part in.  So no I never read the Harry Potter books (I know, don't freak out, I am a huge book lover but refused to get sucked in) and I didn't read the Twilight Saga either.  But this one intrigued me so I decided to read it.

I ordered it last week before we went on our mini vacation so I could take it with me.  A friend warned me that it would suck me in and boy it did!

I sat down at our inn on late Saturday afternoon and Jared almost had to drag me out to dinner 100 pages in.  After we got back to our room I went back to the book and finished it (totally romantic evening, right?).  Just after midnight I was finished.  

But it's not that the book was so good, it was very well written.  Chapters didn't end, they just carried on and on so you couldn't end at a chapter and continue the next time, as it always left you hanging.

Overall the story was very unique and that definitely gave it an edge.  No vampires (thankfully!), no sappy romance story, just a good, creative idea - I totally give the author Suzanne Collins credit for that.  These days having such an out of the box idea is hard to do.

But this brings me to my next point, why on earth would we want to read/see something like this?!  Young kids killing each other?  It's sick actually.  And even weirder that our society enjoys it so much that the book and movie are so popular!

In any event here are my last thoughts:

1. Anything to get our younger generation to read more, rocks.
2. Movies based on books that keep the book true, are awesome (granted I've not seen the film but plan to soon and I've heard good things).
3. I will definitely be reading book 2 and 3!

Did you read it?  Thoughts?

Good Read

Take a minute to read this today.  Worthwhile and interesting.

Exclusive!! Interview with 2nd Time Author Melissa Foster!

Happy Monday!  While I'm cruising away right now to Bermuda, I figured I'd leave you a great interview.

Ladies and Gents, it's my pleasure today to welcome Melissa Foster to talk about her new book Chasing Amanda!  I had the pleasure of reading this book and it was great!  Kept me up late a few nights because I was dying to know all the secrets!  BUY THE BOOK!

By the way, Melissa's book Megan's Way has just won the 2011 Beach Book Award for Spirituality.

AND Chasing Amanda and Megan's Way have both been nominated for Dan Poynter's Global eBook Awards.  

Way to go, Melissa!

JDF:  Welcome Melissa and thanks for being here!

MF:  Jessie, thank you so much for having me on your blog today. I love
your blog and I love reading about Lyla!

About the book:

JDF:  Tell us about how the story Chasing Amanda was born.

MF:  Chasing Amanda was born when I was running down White Ground Road. It’s a rural road that is very creepy, and I used it in the book. My mind wandered down the path of what ifs…

JDF:  Who was your favorite character in the book and why?

MF:  There are a number of characters that I have a soft spot for in Chasing Amanda. Although I feel for Molly, and love that she put Tracey before her own fears, I really have a soft spot for Hannah Slate. She’s burdened with her own secret and loss, and yet she handles Pastor Lett’s secret with such a practical approach, always putting others before herself. I’m not certain why, but she’s the one I’m drawn to.

JDF:  Which character did you have the biggest connection with in the book?

Hmm…That’s a difficult question. I would have to say that I felt a strong connection to Molly. I can relate to her clairvoyance and her determination.

MF:  When you read through the entire book for the first time, what was your first reaction?

I’d have to ask which iteration? This book started out as a much longer and different story. Molly’s past was written into the story after I read the mystery without it—as a stand alone plot. After the entire manuscript was written, and the book was complete, my first reaction was that I was pleased with the outcome. I was drawn in and compelled to read about each character.

JDF:  If you had to summarize the book in five words, what would you say?

MF:  Five words? Really? Oy! Okay, here goes…Small town secrets revealed, or maybe, Kidnapping, clairvoyance, small town secrets.

JDF:  I really enjoyed this book; couldn't put it down!  What was the hardest part about writing this story?

MF:  I’m so glad to hear you say that! The most difficult thing about writing this book was that it didn’t feel as though it fit into any one genre. It felt like women’s fiction with a suspenseful, paranormal slant, although it should be classified as mystery/suspense. I had to make a conscious effort to keep the suspense high with each character and chapter.

About Melissa:

JDF:  Tell us a little bit about yourself.

MF:  I’m overly optimistic, love mint chocolate chip ice cream, my children, writing, reading, and spreading happiness. I hate fake chocolate and don’t fare well taking tests.

JDF:  When did you decide to start writing and what did it take for you to get to that point?

MF:  I knew I wanted to write for many years, probably since about 1990, but my life wasn’t conducive to a writer’s life. With a gaggle of children, I had to wait until they were in school full time, which was about 10 years. I remember the first day my youngest went to Kindergarten. I couldn’t sleep the night before. I drove home from his school smiling and made a beeline for my computer. I can honestly say that that particular elation hasn’t diminished one iota in the past five years. I love my life.

JDF:  What are your best resources for new writers or book lovers?

MF:  The best resource for writers is the internet. Everything you could want to know is available and free. The issue is that the internet isn’t really monitored, so it’s easy to be misguided. I recommend taking writing courses, finding a mentor to work with, a strong editor (when you’re ready), Publisher’s Weekly, for writers. There are many sites for writers—Agent Query, Absolute Write, Backspace Forums, Query Tracker, Writer’s Digest, etc. I highly suggest getting writer’s magazines and reading as much as you are able.

For readers, I think authors are now more accessible than ever. I love to chat with readers, so I spend a lot of time reaching out through Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and other venues. Book clubs are excellent resources for readers, too.

JDF:  What is your all-time favorite book, well besides Megan's Way and Chasing Amanda! :)

MF:  All-time favorite? There’s a book called MELISSA. It’s a children’s book and I read it when I was in about third grade. It’s about a girl named Melissa and her best friend, Jeannie. Coincidentally, my best friend was named Jeannie when I was growing up. I love that book!

As an adult, I have a number of favorite books. The Lovely Bones touched me, probably because I love the paranormal aspect and I buy into those themes. A Thousand Splendid Suns is another of my favorite books. I loved everything about the strength of the character and the depth of the writing. Snow Flower and The Secret Fan was beautifully written and exposed me to things I hadn’t before been privy to.

JDF:  What will you be bringing to read at the beach this summer?

MF:  Since I only get to read about one book each month, I’m bringing EVERYTHING! I’m bringing my Kindle and iPad and plan on downloading everything I can get my hands on. I want to read more of Lisa Scottoline’s books, the newest Diane Chamberlain (I like light books for the beach), and I’ll probably scour the Kindle store and download many other light reads.

JDF:  Thanks Melissa, for taking time to answer some questions.  Thanks for another great story and I'm so looking forward to #3!!

MF:  Thanks so much, Jessie! I hope you’ll leave a review on Amazon for Chasing Amanda!  Thank you!

Also, I'd love to tell your readers about my next novel, COME BACK TO ME, an international love story/tragedy. Below is a summary:

Coming Soon: Come Back to Me (working title)

Tess Johnson has it all, Beau, her handsome photographer husband, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decides to wait to reveal her secret—only she’s never given the chance. Beau’s helicopter crashes in the desert.

As Tess struggles to put her life back together and deal with the pregnancy she can no longer hide, a new client appears, offering more than just a new project.

Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing Honor Killings find Beau alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.

What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

Read more about Melissa Foster.

Chasing Amanda by Melissa Foster

My friend Melissa Foster has written her 2nd book!  Yay for her!  She truly gives so much inspiration to me and all writers.  I am currently reading Chasing Amanda and will be doing an interview with Melissa next month.

Check out her blog tour here.

Here is the trailer for the book:

Her first novel, Megan's Way is currently being adapted for film!  Check out my interview with her about Megan's Way but make sure you're read the book first!

Megan's Way by Melissa Foster

NOTE: If you have not read Megan's Way yet, then please do not read below. I don't think a book review and author chat is good unless the story is really talked about! So therefore if you've read, enjoy, if you've not, come back once you have because it's worth it, I promise!

Buy Megan's Way.

Now without further ado, here is my unique version of a book review and author chat. First, I want to thank Melissa Foster for answering my questions. When I read a book, it feels like the story is real to me. I feel like it doesn't end and the characters still live on. Hence my "what if" questions.

Megan's Way is Melissa's first novel and a good one at that. From the very beginning you are hooked into the story about two best friends, Megan and Holly. Megan is dying of cancer and her best friend Holly is there for her and Megan's daughter Olivia whenever they need something. She truly is a great friend to Megan, or is she?!

Megan and Olivia have a very special and spiritual relationship. Megan can sense Olivia's pain and Olivia, although a teenager, still needs her mother more than ever before during this terrible time. Megan is trying to give her daughter space when Olivia just wants to be with her. Megan also does not want to tell Olivia that the cancer is back to stay and it's only a matter of time before it takes her life. On top of all this, Megan is struggling with the past and considering finally revealing to everyone who Olivia's father is. Drama is just surrounding this family when they need each other the most.

Past secrets and failing health, entwined with death, good friendships, and blissful memories make this novel a fantastic read and one you won't be able to put down (I'm serious, I read it straight for three hours without stopping).

I was lucky enough to have Melissa answer some questions. I hope you enjoy!

I’m sure many people have asked you, but what was your inspiration for the story?

Everyone does ask, but it's okay, I love to answer! Megan was born from two things - first, my mother's surgery had a lot to do with it. She had surgery several years ago and told me it was for ovarian cysts. Years later she told me that there was an oncologist in the operating room because they thought she had ovarian cancer, and had she in fact had cancer, she would not have undergone treatments. I immediately reverted to a child (in my own mind! LOL!), and fell into the Oh, my God! How could you leave me? mode. That feeling festered for years, although I was an adult with children of my own at the time, and I realize how selfish of a thought it was, it eventually blossomed into Megan's Way. Also, Megan's story started out being called The Wish, and although it still centered around Megan and her illness, it was more of a story about Megan and her girlfriends. When Megan's story really came into view, all of her girlfriends were gone except for Holly, who remained.

What gave you the idea of using the fortune teller at the beginning to set the scene?

That's a great question. I'm trying to remember exactly how that came about. I think my editor and I were talking about the best way to explain Megan's paranormal connection to her daughter. This gave me a way to bring to the reader an understanding that one of the girls, Megan or Holly, had a spell cast on them ("I empower thee!"), and it also gave the reader something to try and pull from later in the story.

Olivia was my favorite character because of her desire to grow up fast yet the reality of how much of a child she still was. I can totally relate this as can probably most people. Who was your favorite character in the book and why?

Hmmm....It's hard to pick a favorite when I'm the one who created them! LOL! I adore Olivia, and really pulled much of her angst from watching my step-daughter go through typical teenage issues, but also from my own teen experiences. She's the kind of girl you just want to hold on to, yet somehow you know she'll be okay. I have just typed and deteted and retyped four answers for you in this section - and am back to this one - I think I can't answer the question. It would be a toss-up for me between Megan and Olivia.

Just a reminder, if you're not read the book, reading below will spoil it. Please stop and go buy it!!

The secret about the daughter swap was crazy! I never saw it coming. Do you think if you had Megan surviving eventually this would have been admitted to her by Holly? What about to Olivia? Would you ever have wanted her to know?

Oh gosh! First, I think you should put a **Don't read this question" banner before you post this question! But it's another great question - If Megan had survived, I'm not sure Holly could have come clean. Afterall, how do you face your best friend and tell her that her baby died and you never gave her the chance to grieve? How do you tell your daughter that you gave her up as a baby and have hidden it, stolen from her the chance to have a mother and father? How could Holly face Jack and Peter after all of those years? She still didn't know who the father was. I guess my answer would be no, I probably would not have had Holly admit it unless I was writing a different type of story. This story was about the depths of friendships, how far people will go for friendships. In this case, Holly knew she was not capable of being a mother, she might have ruined Olivia's life had she kept her, she (Holly) might have fallen apart, and she knew Megan was not only ready, but relished the idea of being a mother. I think Holly believed she was saving both Megan and Olivia (as well as herself).

If I were Olivia, I think I'd want my life left as is. It's hard enough being fourteen! If you add the fact that she was given up as a child, didn't get to grow up with her father, and that she's not sure who her father was, it all seems too much for a teen to handle.

I never saw any awkwardness from any of the characters who were best friends (Jack, Megan, Holly, and Peter) despite their actions early on. How did you mold them all as characters to go on being such best friends despite the sleeping together amongst friends and the reality of Peter's sexuality?

Each one was different. Jack and Megan never really had a chance to be awkward. By the time Megan returned from her trip, he and Holly were so in love that what happened between them was water under the bridge. A shot in the dark. And they had years of friendship prior. To them, the weekend was an experiment.

I was able to negate awkwardness between Holly and Peter because of the timespan - the story jumps from teens to adulthood with fourteen years in between. Enough time had passed to let the reader believe they had ironed out the seems - however, there was an innuendo thrown in when Holly met Peter in the parking lot of his office. Remember? He made a comment about how he once got the prettiest girl.

I loved the idea that Megan was a mural artist. Have you ever done murals and if so what was your favorite one you have done? If not, tell us about some of the artwork you do on the side?

I am so surprised that so many people took hold of this part of Megan. I'm happy you liked it! Yes, I am not very good, but I have done many murals. In fact, I have donated six to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. You can see them on my mural website: http://www.kidsmuralsbymelissa.com

I also have painted murals in my children's bedrooms since they were tiny, in every house that we've lived in. I will never paint for commission, though. I found out that I do not enjoy it if I'm paid for it, which is why I donate.

Did you ever have an alternate ending in mind for this story? If so, what was it and why did it get scratched?

I never wrote an alternate ending. I didn't know when Megan was going to die, and I didn't know when the book would end. When I wrote the end, I remember sitting back and just knowing it was the right place for their stories to be over.

As a writer myself, sometimes it’s hard for me to focus and finish my writings afraid they will never go anywhere. What advice can you give to aspiring writers about perseverance and self publishing?

The best advice I can give writers is to write! Don't worry about what people will think, or if the story will go any where. Let your story lead you. Your worries are the same worries I have, and I'm sure other writers have, too. I don't think those worries go away even if you've been published 10 times! Every story is its own entity, with its own characters and plots. Given that, just write the best you are able and write often!

Thanks again, Melissa for answering my crazy questions. I hope you all enjoyed Megan's Way as much I have. Be sure to be on the look out for future books by Melissa. Read more about Melissa here.

Sense and Sensibility

Before I turn 29, I made a list of things I need to accomplish. Reading all of Jane Austen's work was on my list. I have been posting reviews (or my weird version of a review) after I read each book and I also watch the movie for the first time.

Recently I finished Sense and Sensibility. Before going into this book, my list from favorite to least favorite was as follows: Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion. I can safely say that Sense and Sensibility will be my 4th favorite so far. I liked the book but it was not as good as the others. I felt completely annoyed with Marianne Dashwood and the drama surrounding her. I felt incredibly bad for Elinor Dashwood who was so selfless throughout the book. In the end, I didn't really like how it turned out. If you've not read the book, stop reading this post now.

I felt cheated that Edward Ferris ended up losing his supposed love. I thought it was very interesting that they had a surprise engagement. Don't get me wrong because I did feel bad for Elinor. But at the same time, I really wanted Colonel Brandon to end up with Elinor. They seemed so perfect for each other but he was hung up on Marianne. I feel at the end of the book, Marianne and Colonel Brandon were just married because. Marianne never had feelings for him throughout the book and then BAM she marries him. I just felt it was a bit forced. So in my opinion Sense and Sensibility is not one Jane Austen's best. I don't like when books just end to end and all things work out even it doesn't make any sense (pardon the pun) after what you've been reading the whole time.

My last book to read is Mansfield Park. I'm going to wait a while for this one because I've been reading Jane Austen back to back. But all in all I am so glad I've read her books now. I don't think you can call yourself a book nerd if you've not read Austen. Now officially I'm a book nerd.

Books vs. Movies

I feel that books are the best source of entertainment. You can read a book and while you do that, escape your life and jump into another life. I find when I read a book, I transport myself into the world of the book. I picture what the characters look like, how they talk, and visualize their expressions as they fall in love, overcome circumstances, and enjoy life experiences. Picturing the scenery of a small beach town where a family has lived all their life is such an amazing thing. Making that handsome male lead character look the best with all your favorite qualities is a special treat. My favorite thing to do is cast the movie. If they were to make this book a movie, who would play who.

I remember reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. After the first book, One for the Money, I was hooked. I read all of the books up to eleven at the time in a very short period. While I was reading, I pictured all the characters as who they would be in the movie. Stephanie Plum was Sandra Bullock. Lula was Queen Latifa. Grandma Mazur was the little old lady from Golden Girls. Ranger was Antonio Banderas. But the only character I could never really place was Joe Morelli. He was such a stud muffin in the book and I really wanted James Dean to play him or Paul Newman during his Cat on the Hot Tin Roof days. But those things were not possible. Therefore since Newman and Dean were not available I hope they don't make the movie! It just won't be the same.

There is no worse buzz kill than reading a book you think is phenomenal and then seeing the movie. This happens all the time. I tell myself not to bother with the movie but I'm so drawn to it I can't help myself. I must admit it has to be hard to take a 300 page novel and turn it into a gripping two hour movie. But movie people, what is the deal? Why do you make them worse?

Case #1:

When I was in London, I read the entire Shopaholic series. Sophie Kinsella is an amazing writer and I loved Becky Bloomwood (the main character). She was everything hysterical and stereotypical of a shopping goddess. I read all four books that go with the series and loved each of them. When I found out they were making a movie, I cringed. I didn't know if I wanted to see it but I decided one night to rent it and watch it. I was devastated. The movie took place in the wrong city! That was not even the worst of it. I was down right disappointed in every bit of it, including Luke Brandon's character. I'm sorry but in the book he was way cuter...

Case #2:

Into the Wild is an amazing story about a man who decides to abandon his lifestyle and live the natural way. Chris McCandless was a pioneer and walked /hitched to Alaska to live off the land. John Krakauer's book about the journey of this man told only by his friends and acquaintances along the way, was a gripping book every step of the way. I was somewhat in awe of McCandless and thought of him to be very inspiring. When the movie came out, I was excited. How can the mess up a true story so badly? Well they did. I disliked the movie so much, I never even finished it - which is unheard of for me. I always finish a movie...

Case #3:

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is a phenomenal read. The movie, not so good. Now if I had not read the book but just had seen the movie? I wouldn't have known since the movie was really good to anyone who had not read the book. Also his book A Walk to Remember was made into a movie with Mandy Moore. The movie was not even close to the real thing. Of late they have done Nights in Rodanthe as a movie. I refuse to watch this one...

Now here's the thing. If' I've watched the movie and then I find out it's a book, I can't go back and read the book. It's ruined for me. It makes it kind of funny when I refuse to watch movies knowing it's a book I've not read yet. This brings me to Case #4.

Case #4:

Jared, for my benefit, added the Jane Austen Book Club movie to our Netflix queue. I saw it inching up more and more so I went to the library and got the book. I read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. When the movie came, Jared fell asleep after a half hour and I was disappointed after five minutes. The order of the movie was messed up. The characters were off. I disliked it very much.

While we're talking about Jane Austen, I have not watched any of her books to movies or will not until I read the books. It's been fun actually to read it and then watch the movie. Last night I watched Persuasion since I just finished the book. I have to admit I liked the movie a lot. In fact, I was not very impressed with the book/story itself but the movie was quite good. I also loved Emma the movie.

Case #5:
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. Great book, horrible movie. There is no need to elaborate.

However there is always an exception to the rule. In the last few years, a couple books turned movies were actually good. The Kite Runner was an amazing book and I was very impressed with the movie. They did not mess it up and did it very well. Also The Secret Life of Bees was a great book and they did a pretty good job with the movie.

My latest endeavor is The Time Traveler's Wife. I'm really loved the book as unique as it was. But I'm very worried about the movie. I'm actually afraid to see it. I probably will just because the actors they chose are perfect for the roles I think.

But I probably won't see My Sister's Keeper. I don't think I can see this movie as I know it won't compare at all.

Persuasion

I've finished my third Jane Austen book, Persuasion. I must admit it was one of the hardest to get into. Anne Elliott was the main character and I felt horribly bad for her. Her mother was gone and her father and sisters didn't care too much for her. She let the only man she loved, go and the whole book was spent on her hoping to avoid him or make amends.

So far I have to give Persuasion third place with Emma first, and Pride and Prejudice second. I've already started Sense and Sensibility and then all I have left is to read Mansfield Park. I'm doing good on this line item but as for the rest of my Wish List of 28, I have a long way to go! I better get on it!

Questionnaire of a Book Nerd

So I'm bringing out the book nerd in me after seeing this on Sumit's blog - thanks for letting me steal your questionnaire!

I do call myself a book nerd only because I really am. I read anything and everything. I have 5-6 books going at the same time. I carry a book in my purse, a few at my bedside, there is one in my office, and if you get in my car, there is a 99% chance I have an audio book on CD I'm listening too as well. I usually go through 2-3 books a week and that is a good week. The reason I have for reading is because I love being taken out of my real life. I have a never ending brain - it does not sleep. I will think 24/7 if I allow myself too. I've tried meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, you name it; but nothing works but reading. If I'm reading my to do lists in my head, the worrying, or just random thoughts are kept at bay and that is the best feeling in the world for me. I am able to relax, jump into another world, someone elses life, and be free of my own thoughts. Not only that but I get to enjoy other author's beautiful words. There is nothing nicer than reading the sweet description of a beautiful day or a fearsome car chase.

So without further ado...

What author do you own the most books by? I'm embarrassed but this would be Danielle Steel. BUT I have a good reason... When I was a teen, my aunt gave me the book Kaleidoscope. It was an amazing book about three sisters and I loved it. I started reading all of her books and it became my mission to read every single one. The earlier Danielle Steel books are amazing. The ones about World War II, the European refugees, etc. Steel was so good at making a great story. I collected the books and read every single on of her 70 or so novels. However nowadays her books have not been so good; actually I'm sorry to say they are painful. Needless to say I do not collect them anymore but I do have to read them - just so I know I have read every book ever written by here - horrible or not.

What fictional character are you secretly in love with? Oh this would definitely be Mr. Darcy for sure. Who wouldn't love a rich man who puts others before himself and prevails despite all! Bring it on, Mr. D!

What book have you read the most times in your life? That would be, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret.

What was your favorite book when you were ten years old? again, that would be Are You There God, It's Me Margaret.

What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? Oh, that's easy! I love Sandra Brown murder mysteries but unbeknown to myself she does steamy, love stories too. Can I just tell you how much I HATE steamy, sexy romance books? They skeeve me out totally. Danielle Steel's books are not like this - just so you know. But I picked up a Sandra Brown book thinking it was a murder mystery, not so much. It was called Temperatures Rising, so I should have known right there. But I got started and just had to finish. I spent the whole book rolling my eyes, waiting for the sexual tension to end and for the sex to just happen already...gag me...

What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? That is impossible because I have probably had the best books read year ever, so they will include: A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Pillars of the Earth, Emma, and Pride and Prejudice.

What book would you most like to see made into a movie? Pillars for sure - but I know they would murder it. I heard they are doing a mini series so hopefully that will be good!

What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? East of Eden. That was a tough one but I got through it.

Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer? Chaucer for sure.

Austen or Eliot? Austen of course.

What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading? It's probably most embarrassing that I don't have one!

What is your favorite novel? I refuse to answer this question! Too many! But then again, I'm a horrible critic and everything I think is the best ever! No but really, here is a short list of favorites:

The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

Any Jane Austen book

A Bend in the Road - Nicholas Sparks

Can You Keep a Secret? - Sophie Kinsella

Into Thin Air - John Krakaur

Work of non-fiction? Into Thin Air and David Sedaris' books

Who is your favorite writer? Again, too many! I love the chick lit authors like Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Jane Green, Nora Roberts, Meg Cabot - their books are so fun. I also love Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, Sandra Brown, Janet Evanovich, Dan Brown, John Grisham and I could go on for days...

Pride and Prejudice

I have finished my second Jane Austen novel so I'm getting there on this special list of mine. After being totally smitten with the book Emma and even further smitten with it after seeing the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow who played an awesome Emma, I was so excited to start another Jane novel.

I got the paperback Persuasion and I'm still slowly working on that - have not had too much time to delve into that but I promise to work on it. But I got the audio CD of Pride and Prejudice. Now I must admit I have picked up the book and audio CD before but never finished either one (I'm so ashamed!). But I told myself no matter how hard the language is to stay focused on, I will get through it. I like listening to these books better than reading because I love the different accents the reader uses. However it's also more difficult to pay attention. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that Jane Austen books are the easiest reads because they are not, but they are well worth the time and effort.

Pride and Prejudice was so worth the effort. I immediately fell in love with Elizabeth Bennett. She was so head strong and spoke her mind even if it was not the way of women to do so. She found Mr. Darcy not very amiable and she pretty much told him that! The love story in the book though is a very sad one. Gossip, rumors, and the pride of Mr. Darcy - who by the way I'm totally in love with right now - sorry Jared - made this whole book a circus for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. If people had been honest from the start and Mr. Darcy not so shy with strangers, I think their love would have blossomed from the very beginning. In the end though, Mrs. Bennett, whom really only wanted to get her daughters married off, was happy to get three of them out of the house.

I must admit I was very sad to say goodbye to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy this morning. I felt like I was part of the story just by listening.

I thought I loved Emma and I really did/do. Emma's character reminded me a bit like Elizabeth. Both women were not just going to accept any old man who proposed to them, they did not just go with the flow and tried to make their own destiny. Most women in both books seemed very submissive but these two were not like that and I admired them for it. So therefore I must say I like Emma and Pride and Prejudice equally. They are both two of the best books I have ever read and I am so grateful to Ms. Austen to breaking the barrier with her characters and her writing style.

I'm so much looking forward to watching the movie of Pride and Prejudice now (I have purposely never watched a Jane Austen book turned movie because I have always wanted to read the book first). I'm also looking forward to finishing Persuasion and picking up Sense and Sensibility which is next on my list. Then I only will have on left! I better cherish them.

If you have not picked up a Jane Austen novel yet, please do so. You won't be disappointed!

Emma

In an attempt to start reaching some of my goals this year, I borrowed Jane Austen's Emma from the library, the audio version. I was very excited to start this book. At first it was a bit difficult to get into because the old man's thick British drawl was a lot to concentrate on. Especially with all the "beg your pardon" and "much obliged" and "very well then". But once I got into the story, I loved it.

Emma is such an amazing character and I liked her from the get go. She is opinionated, classy, and only gets what she wants. From the very beginning, I thought to myself, here is the perfect Mr. Knightly hanging out with you ever day, Emma, why are you not marrying him! But Emma being Emma was always too concerned with playing with other people's lives and taking care of her father. The dear Mr. Knightly was such a handsome character that by the end of the book, I would have married him! All in all, it was very enjoyable and I find myself saying the oddest phrases after listening to Jane Austen prose for a week!

The thing I find so amusing is that back in those days, people were too polite. No one ever spoke their mind because it was not becoming. A marriage proposal was a business arrangement and seemed to lack all the romance and feeling we have today. Almost every chapter I wanted to scream at the people to talk about the pink elephant in the room and tell the lovely Miss Bates aka the chatterbox to shut up already!

I was sad to put Emma to rest last night and start my new book on CD. But I'm looking forward to my next book. I'm not sure if what to pick but I think I want to chose Persuasion. I guess we shall see!

Bookworm alert

These days my book queue has gotten out of control. My shelf is two rows deep (wowie) and I can't get through them fast enough! I love to write, it's a true passion of mine, but my other big love (other than Jared of course) is reading. There is nothing quite like getting lost in a good story, letting all your cares go, and feeling wrapped up in an imaginary (or real) world that you can't help feeling a part of. The characters start feeling like friends of yours and getting to the end of the book hurts knowing you have to let them go. In the past few months, I have read some amazing books that I wanted to share.

Some of you may have heard about my obsession with Ken Follett's Pillar's of the Earth. My friend Holly told me about this book one day and what a great thing that was. This book was so amazing! Then my mom and dad read it and loved it. I've read thousands of books and this I can confidently say was one of my favorites of all time. The story is about the corrupt clergy, a devoted builder, a brave family, an honest monk, and the desire to build the most beautiful cathedral England has ever known.

I'm a member of an online book club and we read Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen. Another amazing book. This book is about a circus, an honorable vet, and a stunning performer during the depression. It was an awesome story.

I also just finished another phenomenal book today! It's called The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. This book was just over 500 pages and I finished it this weekend because I could not put it down. The book is about a young woman who makes one choice that will forever change her life. She lives with a secret that destroys another family. The whole book you're still wondering why she does it but the tale that is told and the story that is weaved around the characters is incredible. This is a must read! This is the first book I've read by Chamberlain and I can't wait to read her others. Her style reminds me a bit of Jodi Piccoult.

What am I reading right now? Well... There are a few in the works (I'm going to be lazy and not link 'em). I love to read (or listen on audio CD) to more than one book at a time. I keep on in my purse at all times, one by my bed, one in my car, and yeah, they are everywhere.... You can call me a book nerd. I'm not offended.

Games of the Hangman by Victor O'Reilly
7th Heaven by James Patterson
Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz
Keeping Faith by Jodi Piccoult

Here is my double deep shelf of book queue. Books galore!

I'm excited because my queue has some really good books coming up as well. My to-read list is awesome as well. I have Nicholas Sparks new book The Lucky One. I always love his books; I've read every one of them. So I'm looking forward to that.

It also includes Ken Follett's semi-sequel to Pillars, World Without End which Holly got me and I'm so excited about!

So in any event you can always check out my GoodRead's Profile to see my up-to-date nerdom of books galore. You can call me obsessed, you can take my advice (you won't be sorry), or you can follow in my footsteps and love reading!