Do you know Spanish? The next book has a bit of Spanglish.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Zoolander 2

Coming to a theater near you, eventually.  Via an always reliable source, Perez Hilton:

"Ben Stiller wants you to know that the Zoolander sequel IS happening.

When?

He's not sure, but he does have some deets to share.

Stiller reveals he has been working on the script and knows generally where he wants to go with it. It would be set 10 years in the future from the first and Zoolander is dealing with no longer being apart of the model world. Instead, he will engross himself in running a modeling school and raising his now 10 year old son."


We'll have to get together to see as a (now defunct) book club.

Meredith

Friday, April 17, 2009

Books into Movies

What do you think of books that are turned into movies? I'm reading the first Twilight book now after seeing the movie and I find it hard to put out the images of the movie in my head as I visualize the story. (i.e. Edward looks like Robert Pattison in my mind, but suprising Bella doesn't look like Kristin Stewart)
Usually I read a book first before seeing the movie, like Marley & Me (still haven't seent the movie, but will soon).  Do you have the same issue as I do? I also feel like the movie will never live up to the book itself? Perhaps that's the point, and I need to suspend my disbelief, and enjoy the movie as a movie.
Just a little non-book we're reading thought.  Speaking of, anyone have a book in mind they want to read next? Seems Keiser and I are both into the Dark side at the moment.

Mere

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

No Joke

This isn't an April Fool's Joke, I haven't read the book :-( I have fallen into the dark hands of the Twilight series and I can't get out of it. I'm addicted to vampires and werewolves apparently. But let me know what the next book is, maybe I can crawl out of the Stephenie Meyer hole by the next go around.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Footnotes

What do you think of all the footnotes in this book? Do you find them helpful --- as I recall footnotes are supposed to be?  I find them distracting and too long.  Librarian Amy, are these used correctly?
Also, do you find this story very stream of consciousness in its writing style? Just wondering, it seems to go back and forth and I have a hard time following.

Friday, March 20, 2009

From an online book club..

SPOILER ALERT:

Interview with the author about The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao..



There are several video clips from this online book club. Click here for more video clips.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

I'm old, therefore I don't blog well

Hey Ladies!
So I finished the first book over New Year's, and have started the second, but it's taken me this long to figure out how to post.  My first issue was making a password I couldn't remember, but that was "very strong" according to google. I have then made a simple one, but couldn't figure out how to get from the blog to posting, or from google to blog. Aha, today I figured it out. I guess the moral of my tale is, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again". 

But, my reason for logging on today is, do we have a book for March? Or are we sticking with Springer's since, we haven't gotten into discussing it yet?

Lastly, I really liked the first book. But, I admit everytime I read the cover I think of Betsy's two girls one cup. :)  I also noticed a Target over the weekend, there is another new version of the book out, this time cover features two girls reading up close, dressed in very colorful clothes, with intricate headresses on. It's much more vibrant than the verison I have (and I know Keiser has) which is mostly white, with three girls in white headresses on it.  

Speaking of photo's, did your version of the book have pictures in the middle? I really liked this addition.  First, because it was easy to know how far along I was (since they were in the middle). Second, because it helped me to visualize the area and the people. I know Greg Mortenson is a real man, but he is so odd an unique, I kept thinking of him as a character in a novel, but the photos brought back reality, that this was indeed a true story.

My only gripe with the book was the conclusion. There was something unsettling or unfinished about it.  That he somehow discounted his earlier achievments as only bringing him to where he was about to begin his true calling.  I had more clear thoughts about it all, but those were months ago. 

Lastly, as a fundraiser I appreciate the need for funds, but I also felt uncomfortable about the direct ask and not of other people/groups who had given to his charity in the back of the book.  As a professional looking in, I'd have to say that charity doens't appear to be well run, or truly mission based.  It really is one man. I hope they branch out in the future, and that with the success of this book, it's easier for them to do so.

Sorry for the delay.  I'll improve, I promise. Mere

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Sorry for the delay...

I'm sorry it took me so long to post anything. I finished the book forever ago I have just been procrastinating a bit...so unlike me, I know. :)

Anyway, I want to start by saying I really liked this book. Greg Mortenson is amazing and it puts such a positive light on Pakistan and Muslim communities, which is something America could definitely use more of.

One thing I loved about the book was how Mortenson really submerged himself in the culture and became a member of the community in each village he went to. I think that is awesome. It would have been very easy to go to these places and see simple people and think that you need to completely run the show and he didn't. Instead he really worked with them and in the end takes just as much out of each place as he put into it.

I also like that the book addresses the fact that people aren't born terrorists but are taught to be so. Amy, I'm with you...this book was the first I read about the madrassas and the type of education they are providing. It's a scary thought knowing that those groups are herding young, impressionable kids into schools like that.

Also Amy, laughed SO hard at "Where's Osama." Seriously??? Just like that?? Like Mortenson was hiding him in one of the schools. WTF?

Amanda, I like the question about the title. It's really interesting. I definitely liked the revised version better. I agree that the rise in sales probably came from the following the book was getting but also think that you are right about the new title promoting hope instead of violence. Positive title would totally sell better than a negative one, especially as people grow more tired of the war.

Well, I hope everyone else enjoyed the book!