Early last year I read and reviewed Nancy Butler's graphic version of Pride and Prejudice. The next release for Sense and Sensibility was advertised and I was eager to get my hands on it. As I've mentioned before, graphic novels are a great easy read that helps you escape into a good story. What's better than a Jane Austen escape? That makes these graphic versions kind of fun.
I'm not sure that Sense and Sensibility needs much of a synopsis, with its themes of using good sense in judging people's character and in one's own character. The charm of sisterly bonds are present in this great story, with Elinor as the eldest and seemingly most sensible, Maryanne as her younger and more whimsy-driven sister, and the youngest adventuresome sister Margaret. Having lost their fortune to a step brother who was given their father's property and cash at his death, the Dashwoods move into a cheaper cottage and lifestyle, but also into a romantic new chapter of their lives.
As with any good Austen story, the romance is really one of the character features. Although we don't really lose the basic story, I thought it was interesting that it feels a little washed out in the graphic novel sense. I think it might be the descriptions I missed here, even though the dialogue pretty much stayed in tact. Not much is lost in the story, but is obviously centered around conversations and thoughts.
The pictures are soft and pastel, with pretty rounded edges and crisp outlining. There is a comic element to this that you can't miss, but I think that the brightness and seemingly soft quality to the frames gives it a soothing, happy tone that propels you through the familiar tale. Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this graphic version. I'm a bit more partial to the Pride and Prejudice version, if only because of the stronger focus on a few characters instead of the many we get in this tale. The story is still all there though and a treat to read (and view) in this graphic form. I hope Nancy Butler pens a few more great classics!
*FTC Disclosure: Review is based on a library copy of the book.
This weekend was kind of a fun-filled busy one. I had family come for the weekend, and since I was getting over a bit of a nasty cold, I was ready to relax and have a great time. I'm feeling overwhelmed and a bit stressed out now about all the things I need to grade and prepare for school, but I had a great time out for a couple of days! (We all need those.)
Anyway, I wanted to share what I finished over the weekend:
I have seen mixed reviews on this follow up to Matched, by Ally Condie, but I really liked it. There are obvious "middle book" plot points that the author had to cover, but I thought it was still really good. Now I'm hoping I can be patient for the third book!
The other book I'm super excited to read and seems to be getting mad, in love reviews is Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. A couple of people I work with have read it and are already raving about it (and I'm super jealous they had it already). I just got mine from the library, so I'm definitely ready to dive in!
Here's what I've picked up from the library.
Since I'm a book circulator and I read about 10 to 14 at once (yes, it's a sickness), here's some of the books I'm working on:
Wuthering Heights is my SIXTH time reading this novel, but I haven't read it in about five years, so I thought I'd better revisit it (since I'm teaching it).
Wow. I'm sensing a theme with all of these. Oh well. That's what I'm reading right now. What are you reading that has you really excited?
I couldn't do a Fiction, to Film, to Fantastic Music tribute without posting about a couple of books that 100% shaped a whole decade of my life. During my 20's, I got through every birthday past 25 by reading Bridget Jones's Diary and then The Edge of Reasoning. By the time I turned 31, I let it go (so yes--I'm in my 30's). Although I'm not even really like Bridget, I so related to her thoughts and feelings, that she warmed my heart and made me feel like I had a comrade in being a singleton. In short, I loved her.
When I went off to grad school, I started dating someone pretty seriously, and Bridget went away. Why did I need to read Bridget? I had outgrown such chick-lit, fluffy, vulnerable nonsense. I had a man. Well, that's what I thought at the time. In my last year of graduate school, my contemporary British fiction teacher had us read and discuss Bridget Jones's Diary, which horrified me. I didn't want pseudo-pre-intellectuals (myself included), ruining a book that had comforted and soothed me for so many birthdays! I waited for that fateful discussion day, waiting to hear multi-tattooed, uber intellectual dude to tear it apart, or classics guy to say how stupid and nonsensical it was. Strangely, no one felt that way. Wait. They didn't want to tear it to shreds and say what "drivel" it was? They didn't want to say how it dumbed down our society and leveled women to mere cultural punching bags in our patriarchal society? No. I was shocked. Instead, we had this amazing conversation about the mirror that Fielding held up to us as a society. We talked about how she showed us the very real pressures placed on women to get married and to be thin. We talked about Bridget's ability to wade through very personal emotions that are obviously so universal to women (enough so to become a smash hit), and deal with her desires and fears. Those books weren't about criticizing her desires, but about the self-deprecating ways she dealt with them. It was a truly freeing time for me. My favorite read was NOT discredited by my classmates, which shocked me.
Mark in his famous reindeer jumper.
Having said that, there is more to those books than a single woman desperate to get married. Bridget Jones's Diary was originally a serial in The Independent and Daily Mirror in the UK, which was later published into her first novel. Ironically enough, the story was also modeled after Jane Austen's most famous story of singleton anxiety and love, Pride and Prejudice. The evident judgment on the part of Bridget and Mark Darcy mimic the original in a very funny, modern way, that is subtle and yet filled with irony in so many ways. It's obvious too, that the book had Colin Firth in mind as Mark Darcy, which was why casting him in the film version was so genius.
There is so much more that can be said about these great books. People often discredit them, but for being one of the hallmarks in chick lit and modernizations of a classic, Fielding managed to write a funny little novel with an awful lot of depth before anyone else had even dabbled in this kind of writing. (Even when said humor came in the form of giant pants!)
How then can I not mention the music. This is yet another soundtrack that I own and have listened to about a million times. The music in the film ranged from the silly, "It's Raining Men" to the sad "All By Myself," with plenty of songs filled with romantic longing in between. One of my favorites was the song "Out of Reach," which is included at a pretty dramatic moment in the movie when we believe that Bridget has lost someone she really had grown to love. Here's a taste:
The fact is, this is one of those movies that just makes me smile. I love Colin Firth, I love Hugh Grant, and I thought that Renee Zellweger did an amazing job in the first film. If you've been a singleton past the age of 25, these books and movies address some of the funny, insecure moments we've all had. If not, then you'll just have to trust us. If you've really never seen it before, here's the official trailer:
Now excuse me while I pick up an old friend and tradition and go re-read Bridget Jones's Diary!
* Fiction, to Film, to Fantastic Music Friday is my own little weekly post. The premise is just to share my favorite books made into film, with amazing soundtracks to boot. There might even be times where it's just a great film and soundtrack, or great book and film. Either way, join in if you would like!
When you're in a reading slump, nothing helps perk things back up again than a great graphic novel or two, three, or four. I recently tried out a graphic version of the famous tale of Robin Hood. It was a lot different than I expected, so let me share!
Synopsis: From Goodreads, "How did Robin of Loxley become Robin Hood? Why did he choose to fight injustice instead of robbing for his own gain? Expressive and gritty, this graphic novel whisks readers back to Crusades-era England, where the Sheriff of Nottingham rules with an iron fist, and in the haunted heart of Sherwood Forest, a defiant rogue — with the help of his men and the lovely Maid Marian — disguises himself to become an outlaw. Lively language and illustrations follow the legendary hero as he champions the poor and provokes a high-stakes vendetta in a gripping adventure sure to draw a new generation of readers."
Review: Having read many different versions of the tale of Robin Hood, I was interested to see how a graphic novel version would take it on. The tale was very classic to the most popular version of the story and took in Robin's time in the Crusades, his return to find his father deceased, his conflict with the sheriff, and his love for Marianne. I can't say that it departed much from the original, but I will say that I wanted even more of his time with his outlaw friends. I suppose I just wanted to see the relationships developed a bit more. I'll admit though that I love this tale and seem to piece together the bits of the story I'm given with all the parts that I enjoy.
One drawback to this graphic version is the darkness of the pictures. I'm not quite sure why they came out so dark, but they made it feel like it was all set at night or in a dark castle or lodge. I can see that the darker pictures, with sharp angles might be trying to set the tone and give it a slightly comic feel perhaps? I'm not sure, but I did wish at times that I could reach for a button to turn up the light a little. The focus in this tale was on the conflicts with the sheriff and less on character relationships (as the title suggests), but it was still the story I remember. Overall though, I thought this graphic novel made the story its own in tone and style. In classic graphic novel style, it clips along through the story, drawing on pictures to propel the story, and was a quick, fun read.
*FTC Disclosure: This review is based on a library copy of the novel.
After seeing Rob Lowe on Oprah and the way he was with his kids, I knew I had to read his autobiography. (Check out this link "Rob Lowe's Family" at Oprah.com.) Although I've always thought he was handsome in a pretty obvious way, I can't say that I'd ever really followed his career that closely. After his interview on Oprah, talking about his autobiography, I was pretty intrigued and put his audio book on hold at my local library. Believe it or not, I took me until the middle of September to finally get my hands on it, but it was well worth the wait.
Synopsis: From Goodreads, "A teen idol at fifteen, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at twenty, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-seventies Malibu, where he embarked on his unrelenting pursuit of a career in Hollywood.
The Outsiders placed Lowe at the birth of the modern youth movement in the entertainment industry. During his time on The West Wing, he witnessed the surreal nexus of show business and politics both on the set and in the actual White House. And in between are deft and humorous stories of the wild excesses that marked the eighties, leading to his quest for family and sobriety.
Never mean-spirited or salacious, Lowe delivers unexpected glimpses into his successes, disappointments, relationships, and one-of-a-kind encounters with people who shaped our world over the last twenty-five years. These stories are as entertaining as they are unforgettable."
Review: This was probably one of my favorite autobiographies to date. Having Rob Lowe read his own life story, you get a feel for the emotion behind certain chapters in his life, which was such a bonus. The experiences he shared from his childhood, of his parent's divorce, being uprooted from Ohio, and his mother's mental ups and downs really do correlate to the addictions and issues he struggled through later in life. Interestingly enough, he had a constant, internal dream of the stable family with a wife and children he loved. Despite his good looks, his easy women, and his foray into addiction, Hollywood seems to be something that he has figured out and given a spot in his life, but not given the spotlight. That journey was really interesting to sit back and experience with him.
One of the things I found most interesting about this autobiography was Lowe's constant identification with his passions. Acting is obviously something that he is incredibly passionate about. He loves acting, and it shows in the way he talks about the movies and television shows he has been in. Rather than always playing the lead role, he learned that he had an aptitude for playing the supporting role in comedies. Now he is engaged in searching out great films that he can direct and be involved in producing. It's nice to see how passionate he is about acting and to hear about the craftsmen side of things.
Lowe with his sons Matthew and John Owen.
Stories I Only Tell My Friends is a juicy read, filled with Hollywood tales and insider stories. Rob Lowe has seemed to rub shoulders with presidents, stars, and royalty alike and has the stories to back them. However, his end goal seemed to be more about finding happiness, which he has done with a wife that is his match in friendship and love, and with the jewels of his life, his sons. The passion he feels for his family and acting make his life story even more interesting. I enjoyed listening to this audio book and would definitely recommend giving it a try. The biography feels true to Lowe as a person and allows us a nice insider view.
*FTC Disclosure: Review was based on a library copy of the audio book.
As much as I'm going to miss hot weather and long summer days, I forget how much I love October. The cool nights and pretty fall colors are just something not to miss. This weekend I harvested my basil and pulled up the last of my veggies that I was growing outdoors. My tomato plant just needs to hang on if it can. I want to harvest those last 30-40 cherry tomatoes that weighed down and broke a branch off my plant. Hopefully, I can see a small bumper crop before it gets too cold. Cross your fingers for me!
This weekend my mom came down to buy a new car. Talk about stress. I'll be in the market for a new car soon as well, but for now, I'll enjoy the car I already own.
Work is great. I'm weighed down with over 200 papers, book reports, and assignments, but I've learned that you have to just pick away at them and not get too overwhelmed along the way. My AP students are going to start in on Wuthering Heights this coming week. I get that the Bronte's are standards in literature, but I've never been a huge fan of Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre. That's okay though, since I have a direction I'm taking that includes comparing and contrasting it toMary Shelley's Frankenstein. In that respect, I'm excited. We'll see what the students think!
On my way into the library on Friday, I grabbed a couple of GREAT picks for just $.50! Snagging a copy of Wolf Hall and Twenties Girl were a great find, so I was really excited to haul them home. I've tried to not buy anymore books, especially after rediscovering Netgalley (for real this time), and that my library loans out epub that I can download on my iPad. I'm loaded down to the gills with books to read, so the last thing I need is to pick up a few more, but there you have it.
I'm also finishing up Crossed by Ally Condie. Talk about an exciting ARC! Hopefully I get a second today to finish it (or maybe I should just make the time to finish it).
Although I haven't read as much as I usually do, I'm sure having fun trying. Besides, with the iPad I feel like I have a million options and ways of reading anything I can get my hands on!
What about you? What great bookish acquisition have you made this past week or weekend?
What a lovely weekend. My mom drove down on Friday (a little to my surprise) to spend the weekend with me and so she could go car shopping. Listen, her car needs to be replaced! She shipped her car with her to Hawaii, where the paint proceeded to erode. Honestly, we saw it as a badge of honor while we were there. When we pulled into a beach or went for a hike somewhere, it said, "Yes, I've been here for a bit." We should have had a topcoat put on the car when she first arrived, but we didn't, so it now looks the way it has started to drive.
Anyway, it should be a great weekend with my wonderful mother! She actually helped me harvest my basil this morning. I've had several batches of pesto already from it, with a picking here or there for a sauce or soup, but this is my last picking for the year. I actually was able to get about three batches out of it. Two of them were with pine nuts and then one with walnuts when I ran out.
I don't actually measure anymore, but here is the "gist" of the recipe I love and use all the time:
2 C. packed basil leaves (I use enough to fill my food processor bowl)
3-4 cloves of garlic
3 Tbsp. of pine nuts or walnuts
1/3 C. Olive Oil
1/3 C. Parmesan (Or Parm/Reg mix)
Pulse together the garlic and basil leaves to get a basic chop going on the two. Open the food processor and add your nuts, olive oil, and Parmesan. Pulse it all together to make a thick paste. If it's really too thick, add a touch more olive oil. If it's too thin, add a little more cheese or basil leaves.
I keep a little fresh in the fridge (no more than a week) or mainly put it in an ice cube tray and freeze them. Once they are frozen, I pop them out of the trays, and put them in a freezer bag so that I can use them for the winter. Technically these should be used up in three months, but I have used them a little longer and they have tasted fine in soups and sauces.
To reuse them, you can either put them in the pan you're making your pesto sauce to let them thaw (I never microwave these) or I just pop them in my sauces and soups frozen. These are great in any spaghetti sauce or tomato-based soup like minestrone. I also love to heat up a little cream, add Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and a couple of these pesto cubes. This is definitely NOT diet food, but it makes an amazing, creamy pesto sauce.
For more weekend cooking, go to Beth Fish Reads. You'll find all sorts of great food-related posts and recipes!
