The Raft

On the sidebar of my Blog I keep a section called "Currently on my Night Table" with pictures of the books that I am reading or about to read.  I cahnge it as my pile changes but I rarely talk about it.  I thought you deserved better than that.
And since I haven't had much "blogging energy" lately, I thought I'd do a little review.

I have been watching a lot of movies lately.  As I am writing this, I can't remember all of them, but I can start with what's on right now, "No Country for Old Men" and tell you that it sucks.

Nanny Diaries  -  I read this one a while back, not sure why.  Actually, I am never really sure what draws me to a book.  I just know that if it doesn't grab me early on, I can't be bothered reading it.  And it happens a lot that I buy a book, read 30-50 pages and library it.  If I want to be bored, I'll watch bad tv.
Anyway, I liked the movie a lot.  This was not a re-creation of a literary masterpiece so it wasn't a real stretch.  But it was cute.  And Scarlett Johansson was really perfect in the lead part.

Haunting in Connecticut  -  The house that this story is *very loosely* based on was 2 streets away from our first house in Southington, CT.  We had seen more than one special about this particular ghost story and while I hold no real hope for a very good horror movie these days, I knew I would see this movie when it came out.
Also worth mentioning is my 25 year crush on Virginia Madsen.  If anyone wants to really make my day, you'll find me a copy of a movie she was in in the 80's called "Fire with Fire".  I can't remember who else was in it, I just remember loving it on Channel 11, Sunday afternoons, in the same time frame that I wanted to be Billie Jean.
This movie did not disappoint.  Call it my utter lack of expectations, or perhaps it's my considerably lower threshold of tolerance for scary or gross stuff since I became a mama (I know, it's so sad, I used to be such a horror movie fanatic) but - I was very scared, very engrossed and very glad that I watched this movie when it was over.


Baby Mama  -  this is one I DVR'd a few months ago and every time I pulled up the list of recordings (usually to flip on some Wiggles or Diego) I would see it and think "ooh, I wanna watch that!"  But I never felt like committing a whole 100 minutes to a silly comedt when, by the time time I usually get into my bedroom at night, I am very tired, already planning to watch something or I just want to read.  So, the other night, after watching some tv, reading a little and still feeling restless (Jay was away) I put it on.
It was a late start.  Almost 10:00.  So, I figured if it sucked, I'd just delete it and go on with my life.  But I watched it and found myself laughing - loud and hard.
I should have expected that.  I mean, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey?  They are 2 of the funniest, if not THE funniest, women of our generation.  And together?  Well, SNL Weekend Update was never better.
The movie was funny, sad, happy, hysterical and completely relateable.  Which, is not what you expect - the sad part nor the human, realteable part.  But I seriously laughed so hard I peed a little, and felt so sad I ached a little.  G.R.E.A.T. movie.



I have been on a reading kick, too.  I can go months without picking up more than a magazine and then something clicks and I read book after book with overlapping books - constantly.
I am not a fast reader.  I read, then re-read pages.  It takes me a few weeks to get through 400-500 pages.  I also don't usually read every day.  And I can't read during the day because if I should be so lucky as to get that sort of daytime quiet, there is usually a checkbook to be balanced or some sort of phone calls to be made uninterrupted...  and sometimes even a nap to be taken.
So, here are a few of the more memorable books I have read lately:

My Sister's Keeper  -  I liked this book.  It was very well written and I really felt like I got to know each of the characters.  It was written very objectively so I never felt sorry for one character over another.  Being a mother probably helped me read it because I was truly able to see it from all sides.
I can't say that I loved it, nor can I say that it made me want to get into any sort of heated debate about how or why science should be used for individual, personal medical reasons.  I have, and I do, believe that personal choice is part of being an American.  And my choice may not be someone else's but that is why it's called "choice" and not "law" or "rule" or "commandment".
I wish the characters of the dad and the brother were given a bit more attention but maybe they just weren't as important...  or maybe they're just men and there just isn't as much to delve into.  Women tend to have more layers.
That said - the book was good, I won't see the movie starring that ugly moron, Cameron Diaz and I will read another Jodi Picoult book.


The Solomon Sisters Wise-Up  -  Fun.  Cute.  Fiction.  Not unbelievable but not exactly realistic, either.  It would take an avid reader about 4 hours to read.  I would recommend it to the chick-flick crowd.  On that note, I would also recommend
 
I just finished the Sisters book and have a few on deck, not sure what I'll pick up now.
I still haven't gotten to/through the Danielle Steele book called "Sisters" but I think it's the book, not the story.  I have gotten so used to the paperbacks that are as big as hardcovers that a regular sized paperback is annoying.  Am I getting old?  Do I need glasses?

I may read the Dragon-Neighbor book.  Jay said it was hysterically funny and very quick.
I may read the new Picoult book, Second Glance.  It is November's Book Club book and since I am hosting November's meeting, I figured that, in addition to drinking gallons of wine, I could actually read and participate in the book-related conversation.
(Speaking of November's Book Club meeting - since it will be here at 131, I thought I might make a punch in my fancy new punch bowl - it has glasses that hang off the side and everything.  Something Autumn-y.  Fun, right!?)
I have a few others that I am looking forward to but I think it will be one of the three I just mentioned.  I will update my sidebar as time goes by.