Book-Lovers, Attention, Please!

Fellow Book lovers, please look at this website:

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2.The_worst_books_of_all_time

I am quite shocked and offended by this list. Apparently people have voted for the worst books of all time, and some of the books on this list, in my opinion are some of the BEST books of all time! I wonder what the criteria for this list would be. I mean, Twilight, The Notebook, The Fountainhead, The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights, A Child Called IT, The Giving Tree, Ender's Game, Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Secret Life of Bees, Little Women, Jane Eyre... just to name a few of the books on this list. So, naturally, after reading this list, I went in search of what these people considered the best books, and this is what I found:

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1.Best_Books_Ever

This is where I got confused. The same people made two lists: the best and the worst. The books on both of these lists are virtually the same!!! How much sense does this make? Obviously, they did not want to offend anyone so what I've gathered from this is that they think all books are the best AND the worst of all time. Huh. Riiiight.

So, I have decided to make my own lists!

These are some (read: SOME) of what I consider the BEST books of all time. They do not require much explaination, but all are MUST READS:

1. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks: Makes me cry every time. How beautiful to think that some people really do have a love like this.
2. The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer: (I count a Saga as one) Some of these books are better than others, but all of them together, are wonderful! And this is one of those where you can't get away with just watching the movie. Book: 100% better!
3. The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall: The last book given to me by a family friend before she died. A quick read, but good message!
4. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card: I'm not much of a sci-fi person, but this book captivated me, and the ending was awesome!
5. One Child and Tiger's Child by Torey Hayden: Again, these books go together, but these are fictionalized true stories written by someone who works with children who have....difficult lives and how she helps these children.

The next list took a little more consideration. I am a book lover, and it is really hard for me to say a book is bad. These, however, I had THE HARDEST TIME finishing. And was very very glad that I did finish them:

1. Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway: I don't care if it is Hemingway. I don't care if it is metaphorical. I do not care about an old man who goes to take a piss on the side of the road before he goes fishing and has the world's longest cramped hand. No. Thanks.

2. Flatland: A romance of many dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott: A dot, lives in a line. Goes to visit some triangles, squares, octagons... circles. The dot is on the bottom rung of the social ladder, and the octagon and the circles are at the top... and gasp! He meets a sphere one day... and... hey! Wake up! I'm not done!

3. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards: Slow to start.... slow in the middle... slow at the end. A good story, but hard to get through. Movie was great, though.

4. The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier: I love Tracy Chevalier. I love her other books, this one on the other hand... not one of her best.

5. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb: This book came out 17 years ago and you can still buy it at Wal-Mart. Why? I don't know. It wasn't AWFUL. But... let's just say.... weird, major!


So.....What are your lists?

Let's get political for a minute.....

So, on the way home this evening, I was listening to Pink's "I'm Not Dead Yet" album.... and heard this song. That's when I realized, that we have four more days, technically, until the Bush administration is out of the White House. Some people have been looking forward to this for eight years. My dad is one of those people.

I LOVE Pink!... And I LOVE people who tell it like it is...

Pink's "Dear Mr.President:"



Looking towards the future now.....

Drama for you: Entertainment for me

I keep to myself at work. I have my own little area, and I take care of my business, and I try not to get into everyone else's business. I like it that way. Correction: I LOVE it that way.

See, we have a new, "big" boss at work.... he's been there maybe two months. Not long at all. My supervisor's boss. Everybody LOVED him when he was first hired. Oh, he's great! He has all of the qualifications and the experience.. blah blah blah. Where was I? In my little corner, watching it all. I know better than to judge someone I barely know. Yeah, sure, anyone can look good on paper. But that doesn't really say much of anything about the person, now does it? So, when people ask "What do you think of him?" What is my response? "I don't know anything about him yet. Wait and see." There really is no other answer to that question.

By now, I am sure you have guessed that in just two short months, this FABULOUS guy that looked so good on paper, doesn't quite meet everyone's high expectations. tsk, tsk....

The most amusing part for me is I saw it all coming so I can sit in my corner and watch the whole thing. I do my job, keep my nose in my own business (aka: no gossip! Listen, but do not, I repeat do NOT tell others what you hear!!) and no one bothers me. That includes big boss. I'm fortunate. There does seem to be quite a dramatic mess with everyone else at work. I'm not trying to be cocky by any means, but, come on, some people just ask for it, I think. They feed on the drama. Good for them. Just don't go complaining that you got burned after you added fuel to the fire. Roast Marshmallows and make s'mores! Make one for me, while you're at it, please? Lightly toasted, not burnt. mmmmmm..... thanks!!

My Favorite Things

In the fourth grade, I had a FANTASTIC teacher. She was one of the best, if not THE best teacher I've had yet.... She taught me a lot in that class. One of my memories of being in her class was "The Sound of Music." The movie quickly became one of my favorites. It still is.
One of my favorite songs in the movie is, "My Favorite Things" sung by Julie Andrews. So, enjoy the song as I share some of my favorite things with you.




Ewoks. I want one. I don't have to explain myself, I just do.

The Twilight Saga. The books, are a MUST-READ! This is not, I repeat NOT something that you can cheat and watch the movie to get the same experience. You'll thank me later.

Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. Every girl should have an Edward and a Jacob.

Ipods. Are. Wonderful. When they feel like working.

Warm and fuzzy stuff. Sweaters, socks, blankets. All great for curling up on a cold winter day to read a really good book.

Purple!! Purple is the new black. Period. Spread the word.

Cheese wedges from O'Charley's. Go. Try. Again, thank me later.

Coconut shrimp from Red Lobster. See above.

Lillies and orchids. I go for the more exotic flowers, personally. No red roses for this girl. Well...maybe sometimes.

Music that makes you want to dance. 'Nuf said.


....These are a FEW of my favorite things... a few of the things that I will be thinking about when I go back to work tomorrow... wish me luck!

Holidays

Have you had a fantastic holiday season this year? I know I have.

I don't really have a good reason for not blogging in the past week because I got a brand new laptop for Christmas, and I have been loving it!!! I love it!! Yes, I am using right now to type this blog, of course. I haven't even touched the desktop since I got this one. Well, once, but only to set up the wireless router. I love having my own computer to personalize, use any time I need... has MY music on it.... its awesome!

I also got a Nintendo DS, which is pretty cool too. I'm a dork because the two games I asked for were Brain Age and a word game. I don't care. It's fun. As of today, my brain age is 22, by the way, just so you know. That's my actual age minus two! That means I'm kind of smart. Just a little bit, though, I think.

So, of course, since today is New Year's Day, we must reflect on the past year and anticipate the upcoming year, and how we will improve ourselves and our lives this year. Must we?

Oh, I guess we could talk about it for a little bit. Last year went by so quickly!!! I can barely separate last year from 2007... and its 2009 now. It all starts to blur together. Well, how about next year? I could say I'll lose 50 pounds in a month, or I'll raise my credit score by 100 points, or I won't say a single curse word, or any number of ridiculous expectations or resolutions that both you and I know are complete lies. Instead let's say ... I'll drink more water? Which right now is virtually none, so that's not really hard to do. Or eat more fruits and vegetables? Again, not hard to do. One problem with resolutions is most people do really well in January. Febuary, not too bad until they get chocolates for Valentine's day.... and by Easter, New Year's resolutions are completely forgotten. So why not just say my January resolution will be....to eat more salads. Let's go even further and try to do something every month! If you try to do one little thing every day for a month, it might or might not last the year, but you're more likely to last the month. And, if you set smaller goals for each month instead one big one, you're more likely to accomplish something. So, let's start the year with January. For the month of January, I will drink more water.

It's Christmas time!

I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve!! So, I have finally finished all of my Christmas shopping. I think. I hope. :)

Someone please remind me to start my Christmas shopping in January 2009. I cannot believe I waited until the absolute last minute this year. This year was the worst. That will be one of my New Year's resolutions for 2009: start Christmas shopping early! :)

What made it worse was the fact that the few people I actually had seen things for, I waited to see if I could find anything else. Then by the time I went shopping again, it was too late. I ended up getting gift cards. *gasp* shock* Yes, I know, after my whole speech on gift cards last night, I actually bought three, count them, three gift cards. Oh, well. I thought, and thought, and the clock was ticking. "Its the thought that counts," right?

Either way, its going to be a good Christmas. Why? Because my brother is in town...and I will spend time with my family...I am off of work for a couple weeks for the holidays, so I get to spend time with some special friends that I don't get to see often.....and at this time next year I will be an Auntie! There are lots of wonderful things to Celebrate! Bless you all!

May you all have a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Twilight

Yes, I must talk about it. In one of the last few blogs I mentioned jumping on the bandwagon, and going out to read Twilight. That was before my poor little computer got sick. Well, not only did I read Twilight, in... like, four days just so I could have it read before I saw the movie on the day it came out.... but I went all out. I was halfway through New Moon before I saw the movie... the first time. Yes, I said first time.. I did watch it a second time. Had to. I'll get to that in a minute. So, not long after I saw the movie, I finished New Moon and within that next week I finished Eclipse.... and the week after I finished Breaking Dawn. The only reason it took me so long to finish Breaking Dawn was because I had to work. If I didn't have to work, I may have sat in bed, reading cover to cover all day not even stopping to eat. Yes, it was THAT good.

I will not go into detail about the last three books in the saga, because I don't want to ruin anything for anyone. Everyone has seen the movie (if you haven't you MUST) so I can talk about it.... :)

So, the first time I saw Twilight, the movie, I hated it. I realize hate is such a strong word, but hear me out. The book was FABULOUS. No changes needed. The movie changed A LOT of what was in the book. A great deal was left out and a great deal was added. So, having just finished the book when I saw the movie, I was sitting there the whole time screaming in my mind "NO, THAT'S WRONG! THAT'S NOT HOW IT GOES!!!"

Perhaps it would be better to watch the movie, then read the book... I don't know because that's not how I did it. But, then, after some thought, and especially after reading my favorite blog, Clever Girl, I decided to give it another try. This time, instead not comparing it to what i knew about the book. This time my goal was to watch it with fresh eyes, to watch it for the movie. Period.

So, the second time, it was good. As a movie, it was very good. Still, there is some part in my mind that thinks it could have been better. In fact I know it could have been better. For example...

in the movie, Bella and Edward have just barely met before they confess their undying love. Very unrealistic. That part, drives me crazy. In the book, they get to know each other for weeks before they announce "the lion falls in love with the lamb." She asks him many many questions, he asks her many many questions. They get to know each other better than what the movie shows.

The other big, BIG thing that was changed in the movie that drives me crazy is the whole part around the climax. When the Cullen family meets the other vampires, all the way up until the hospital scene. That whole part was changed, and not for the better. For starters, leaving the baseball game, that entire conversation and exit scene was deleted and changed. What the book had was beautifully written. Then, James' phone call to Bella, the conversation that took place was clever. That's all I will say... you have to read it. Then, the way Bella "escaped" from Alice and Jasper in the hotel. Oh, please. Did they give that any thought whatsoever when they made the movie? Knowing Alice can see what will happen once people change their mind, and knowing their heightened senses as vampires, do you really expect me to believe it would be that easy for Bella to escape? Come on. The book's version? Brilliant. Oh, and not to mention, there is more information on Alice in the book that the movie didn't mention even once.

All of the other parts I can deal with.

Bella's cell phone, that should be an old fashioned computer.
The first encounter with Jacob Black and his father.
Laurent, Victoria, and James' presence before the baseball game.
The combining of two dances into one.
The combining of several of Edward and Bella's trips into one.
The change of cars.
The school trip.
Bella's lullaby scene.
The accident scene.
The hospital scene.
The absence of the blood typing day in school.

... just to name a few. Not to mention, entire conversations that were beautifully written. All of this does not even include things that were thought throughout the book, which, obviously cannot be shown in the movie. I know that. But a lot of the things that were left out, were important too.

All of that being said, I will say some things that were positive about the movie. We'll close on a good note.

The part where Edward saves Bella from the guys in the alley in Port Angeles. That was done well.
Casting was done well. I LOVE Alice's character. And Emmett, and Jasper, and Jacob, and Carlisle, and Esme, Bella's mother, Laurent, James, Jessica... and of course Bella and Edward. They were all great.
The way the Cullen house was depicted. Nice. Graduation caps? Nice touch...
Ok, I have to say this about Edward's room. I actually had several dreams EXACTLY like his room...its kind of creepy. I even dreamt of going in and out of the room through the open wall like that.
Which brings me to my next point, the scene in the trees, that was beautiful.
Prom night, the scenery, the way it was filmed, that was perfect.

Verdict?
Book : ***** five stars
Movie: *** three stars