I started to read the Twilight series since Hannah is into the 2nd book. I decided it would give us some things to talk about. Although vampires are creepy, I decided the stories are no different from (or at least similar to) the classic storyline of Beauty and the Beast.
I loved the tv series from the 80s with Ron Perlman, Linda Hamilton, and Roy Dotrice. Funny that Ron Perlman now plays Hellboy, another beast, in the movies. I watched a few episodes over the weekend, free online.
I always liked the Beast. Maybe this is why I like those darn bad boys nowadays?
I'll have to see where the Twilight books go, and what topics they bring up for me to discuss with Hannah.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Books...
Books...are better than life.
You can pick up a book and live it whenever you want that life.
You can put the book down when you need a break.
No wonder I spent my youth up a tree reading a book. All summer long on any non-rainy day, I would climb the tree behind the house and read. Then I could take a walk to the swamp and pretend to be the heroine. In bad weather, I would hide in my room or in the basement, and I would be transported to another sunny life.
How wonderful and lucky that my parents gave me the safety and security of a childhood where I could live through books and nature.
The heroine of my book always has a struggle, but she endures, and she thrives.
Her family is always quirky, but good loving people.
Friends are always the loyal and supportive sidekicks that build the heroine up instead of tear down.
The struggle comes from God, nature, society, man, or self.
I'm old enough to be over, for the most part, my doubt of or anger at God. God does not cause me much struggle anymore. He is more of a comport, a guide, a beacon home.
In the safe confines of my hometown, I do not have to struggle with much of a force of nature. An occasional power outage, a foot of snow...those are not life-struggling events. Those are just things to deal with. Nature is usually my friend. I can remember being upset in college. I would just look out the window and watch the leaves blow on the tree. My Dad always said, "You do what you have to do."
Society is a fearful thing. You have to wonder what we are all thinking collectively to have gotten to such a strange place in our time. We think certain things are okay when they are so strange. I heard once that people who are afraid to be individuals join groups. I think as well, people want others to be like them to validate themselves. I don't want anyone to be like me...that would be boring. However, we're constantly held up to the expectations of others. If you don't dress like this or act like this, then you are nothing, because you are not like me. It's the ego of the individual to think that they represent society. My Dad always said, "You just have to get along with people."
Me against man. My Dad always said, "Everyone's different." Why is it, then, that we cannot be accepting of others when they are not like us? I'm going to try to be more accepting of rude, stupid people when dealing with them one on one. They cannot help it that they are not totally cool like me. Every one of us has no idea what the other person is feeling or thinking. There is all this history that no one else can truly understand. Why do we try? Maybe we should just accept it and hope for the best. We seem to all seek this partner in life, this witness. But do they really witness you...the real you? No person knows me. Maybe the struggle comes when you want them to know.
I am in a constant struggle against myself. I am also very comfortable with myself. That, in itself, is a constant struggle. Logic? Circles.
I wish I could put this book down for a minute. Or end this chapter and start a new one.
You can pick up a book and live it whenever you want that life.
You can put the book down when you need a break.
No wonder I spent my youth up a tree reading a book. All summer long on any non-rainy day, I would climb the tree behind the house and read. Then I could take a walk to the swamp and pretend to be the heroine. In bad weather, I would hide in my room or in the basement, and I would be transported to another sunny life.
How wonderful and lucky that my parents gave me the safety and security of a childhood where I could live through books and nature.
The heroine of my book always has a struggle, but she endures, and she thrives.
Her family is always quirky, but good loving people.
Friends are always the loyal and supportive sidekicks that build the heroine up instead of tear down.
The struggle comes from God, nature, society, man, or self.
I'm old enough to be over, for the most part, my doubt of or anger at God. God does not cause me much struggle anymore. He is more of a comport, a guide, a beacon home.
In the safe confines of my hometown, I do not have to struggle with much of a force of nature. An occasional power outage, a foot of snow...those are not life-struggling events. Those are just things to deal with. Nature is usually my friend. I can remember being upset in college. I would just look out the window and watch the leaves blow on the tree. My Dad always said, "You do what you have to do."
Society is a fearful thing. You have to wonder what we are all thinking collectively to have gotten to such a strange place in our time. We think certain things are okay when they are so strange. I heard once that people who are afraid to be individuals join groups. I think as well, people want others to be like them to validate themselves. I don't want anyone to be like me...that would be boring. However, we're constantly held up to the expectations of others. If you don't dress like this or act like this, then you are nothing, because you are not like me. It's the ego of the individual to think that they represent society. My Dad always said, "You just have to get along with people."
Me against man. My Dad always said, "Everyone's different." Why is it, then, that we cannot be accepting of others when they are not like us? I'm going to try to be more accepting of rude, stupid people when dealing with them one on one. They cannot help it that they are not totally cool like me. Every one of us has no idea what the other person is feeling or thinking. There is all this history that no one else can truly understand. Why do we try? Maybe we should just accept it and hope for the best. We seem to all seek this partner in life, this witness. But do they really witness you...the real you? No person knows me. Maybe the struggle comes when you want them to know.
I am in a constant struggle against myself. I am also very comfortable with myself. That, in itself, is a constant struggle. Logic? Circles.
I wish I could put this book down for a minute. Or end this chapter and start a new one.
Friday, July 4, 2008
I pulled out a Plum
Can you believe it? I have yet to read Fearless 14! (from Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series)
I own 14. I have it. It's still in its shipping package. I'm reading all the others before I read 14. I own 1-7 and got 8 out of the library. I finished 8 today. I do not own 9 or 10 or 11. I've come all this way. I can't skip ahead to 12. What was I thinking? Why was I not prepared?
So, in order to get my Plum fix this evening, I've decided to cast the movie. Yes, I've done this before, but it's always fun, especially when Sharon argues about the Ranger character! Here we go...
Stephanie: If not me, then Lauren Graham - Since she's done with Gilmore Girls, I'm sure she has the time. She can do funny, sad, serious, and we know that she can handle the love triangle! Plus, she's already made out with Vin Diesel in The Pacifier. Lucky girl!
Joe: Jeffrey Dean Morgan - He can be tough and sweet. I can see him riding a Ducati and calling me Cupcake. I mean calling Stephanie Cupcake.
Ranger: Vin Diesel - Ranger will always be Vin Diesel to me. Strong, silent, kick-ass hunk of testosterone and muscle, and yet can be serious as well.
Tank: The Rock - I can see Dwayne Johnson backing up Vin Diesel and being all sweet with Lula. Lula needs a big, sensitive man, and The Rock can fill those shoes. (As reply to Sharon's comment, Michael Clarke Duncan would definitely make a great Tank, but I just cannot move Vin out of the Ranger role for Dwayne. However, I would watch Sharon's movie if made that way. hehe)
Diesel: Paul Walker or Gerard Butler - Paul has the goofiness, but Gerard could play the mysterious aspect. Not enough of Diesel in the off-number books to decide between the two. (Hmm...Paul's been in the movies with Vin, and Gerard has been in a flick with Jeffrey Dean Morgan.)
Lula: Sherri Shepherd - Lovable, energetic, excitement. Can't you see her moseying on up to The Rock?
Connie: Jennifer Coolidge - She could put Vinnie in his place.
Grandma Mazur: Ann Morgan Guilbert - I've never pictured anyone other than The Nanny's Grandma Yetta.
Mr. Plum: James Gandolfini - I can just see him sitting at the table, behind the paper, mumbling expletives at Grandma Mazur.
Mrs. Plum: Blythe Danner - The look. She can give the look. And she'll be standing on the porch waiting for Stephanie.
Valerie: Jennie Garth - The perfect daughter, who is kind of bumbling, but could also ram a van through a house to save her sister.
Kloughn: Kevin James - Who else could play the Pillsbury Doughboy? We know he can pull it off...Hitch.
Vinnie: Steve Buscemi or Joe Pantoliano - Sometimes, I picture one, and at other times, I picture the other. What was I thinking??? Now that I am in Book 9, Vinnie must be Stanley Tucci. I love him. He can play a weenie, but a lovable one. And he would be capable of bounty hunter stuff.
Joyce: Debi Mazar - She can do mean (Beethoven movies). She could pull off those leather outfits.
Mooner: Jon Heder - Is there anyone else?
Dougie: Matthew Lillard - Think Shaggy.
Dickie Orr: Ben Affleck - Wannabe corporate climber
Sally Sweet: Steve Valentine - He's the closest actor to a guy I went to college with that I picture in this role.
Mrs. Morelli: Lorraine Bracco - Strong, no-nonsense matriarch
Grandma Bella: Olympia Dukakis - She could put the eye on anyone, but turn around and wink at Joe.
Eddie Gazarra: George Eads - Actually, he's a runner-up for Joe, and so I put him here so that he'd still be in the movie, because he is hot.
Carl Costanza: Mark Wahlberg - He is just hot, not that Carl is described that way. Again...he needs to be in my movie.
Mary Lou: Melissa McCarthy - Would this be hilarious...teaming Sookie and Lorelai back up?
I own 14. I have it. It's still in its shipping package. I'm reading all the others before I read 14. I own 1-7 and got 8 out of the library. I finished 8 today. I do not own 9 or 10 or 11. I've come all this way. I can't skip ahead to 12. What was I thinking? Why was I not prepared?
So, in order to get my Plum fix this evening, I've decided to cast the movie. Yes, I've done this before, but it's always fun, especially when Sharon argues about the Ranger character! Here we go...
Stephanie: If not me, then Lauren Graham - Since she's done with Gilmore Girls, I'm sure she has the time. She can do funny, sad, serious, and we know that she can handle the love triangle! Plus, she's already made out with Vin Diesel in The Pacifier. Lucky girl!
Joe: Jeffrey Dean Morgan - He can be tough and sweet. I can see him riding a Ducati and calling me Cupcake. I mean calling Stephanie Cupcake.
Ranger: Vin Diesel - Ranger will always be Vin Diesel to me. Strong, silent, kick-ass hunk of testosterone and muscle, and yet can be serious as well.
Tank: The Rock - I can see Dwayne Johnson backing up Vin Diesel and being all sweet with Lula. Lula needs a big, sensitive man, and The Rock can fill those shoes. (As reply to Sharon's comment, Michael Clarke Duncan would definitely make a great Tank, but I just cannot move Vin out of the Ranger role for Dwayne. However, I would watch Sharon's movie if made that way. hehe)
Diesel: Paul Walker or Gerard Butler - Paul has the goofiness, but Gerard could play the mysterious aspect. Not enough of Diesel in the off-number books to decide between the two. (Hmm...Paul's been in the movies with Vin, and Gerard has been in a flick with Jeffrey Dean Morgan.)
Lula: Sherri Shepherd - Lovable, energetic, excitement. Can't you see her moseying on up to The Rock?
Connie: Jennifer Coolidge - She could put Vinnie in his place.
Grandma Mazur: Ann Morgan Guilbert - I've never pictured anyone other than The Nanny's Grandma Yetta.
Mr. Plum: James Gandolfini - I can just see him sitting at the table, behind the paper, mumbling expletives at Grandma Mazur.
Mrs. Plum: Blythe Danner - The look. She can give the look. And she'll be standing on the porch waiting for Stephanie.
Valerie: Jennie Garth - The perfect daughter, who is kind of bumbling, but could also ram a van through a house to save her sister.
Kloughn: Kevin James - Who else could play the Pillsbury Doughboy? We know he can pull it off...Hitch.
Vinnie: Steve Buscemi or Joe Pantoliano - Sometimes, I picture one, and at other times, I picture the other. What was I thinking??? Now that I am in Book 9, Vinnie must be Stanley Tucci. I love him. He can play a weenie, but a lovable one. And he would be capable of bounty hunter stuff.
Joyce: Debi Mazar - She can do mean (Beethoven movies). She could pull off those leather outfits.
Mooner: Jon Heder - Is there anyone else?
Dougie: Matthew Lillard - Think Shaggy.
Dickie Orr: Ben Affleck - Wannabe corporate climber
Sally Sweet: Steve Valentine - He's the closest actor to a guy I went to college with that I picture in this role.
Mrs. Morelli: Lorraine Bracco - Strong, no-nonsense matriarch
Grandma Bella: Olympia Dukakis - She could put the eye on anyone, but turn around and wink at Joe.
Eddie Gazarra: George Eads - Actually, he's a runner-up for Joe, and so I put him here so that he'd still be in the movie, because he is hot.
Carl Costanza: Mark Wahlberg - He is just hot, not that Carl is described that way. Again...he needs to be in my movie.
Mary Lou: Melissa McCarthy - Would this be hilarious...teaming Sookie and Lorelai back up?
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