What I've Read // Big Fish

I have NOT been on top of my 'what I've read' posts at considering I finished this book in July. I even took the photo's in July but never actually wrote the review. All right first things first...YES! I saw the movie before I read the book! Oh the shame! With that said I must admit how surprised I was when the book turned out to be a very short novel & super fast read. I devoured it one afternoon over the course of about two and a half hours. Big Fish is such an entertaining read because the characters voices come through vividly.  My one issue with the novel was that  father was such an unlikeable character for me because of his his restless personality I felt unsympathetic and unmoved during events that very clearly where written to stir up an emotional response. My favorite part of the whole book was the how the same 'near death' moment kept being retold over and over again each time the scene was a little different, it was a very effective way to portray the even the fathers weakest moment is worthy of even 'mythic proportions.'

I purchased this copy of Big Fish from a thrift store, I didn't really believe the cover which has 'Advance Uncorrected Proof' printed across the top because the entire novel is based on the lies and tricks. When I did a little Internet research I noticed that none of the editions of Big Fish features an advanced proof stamp. Isn't that neat? Owning a proof of such an magical read adds to the charm & enchantment of Big Fish. Read it. You won't regret it.

What I've read // Barbie's New York Summer

I picked up Barbie's New York Summer last week at the local DI which are the only thrift stores I've found in Northern Utah so far. I located this treasure while I was searching the used book racks, as usual, ferociously when my eyes read "Barbie" in a chartreuse tone. I thought to myself "that's weird normally things that say Barbie are printed in watermelon pink..." and I pulled it off the shelf for a closer inspection. I gasped shortly after I recovered from the revelation that BARBIE HAS BOOKS! I still can't believe it and I didn't at first until I spotted the copyright under the word 'Barbie' Mattel was printed  along side a copyright date of 1962! I went over my check list for buying hardcover thrift books: Unbroken spine. Check. Book jacket. Check. Fabulous type. Check. Could I live without it? Yes... but I didn't want too. A spendy price tag of .50  convinced me that I had to by it for the illustrations at the very least. Plus being honest I should admit I was interested in finding out how Barbie was portrayed in the 1960's.

Barbie's New York Summer is exactly like that you would expect from the early 60's and the Mattel franchise. The story line is totally straight forward and Barbie does nothing wrong in all 120 some pages. Essentially Barbie wins a trip to New York to be a cover model for a  popular teen magazine and stays with her Aunt and Uncle who are very prominent in theatre world and gets swept off her feet by an exotic young brown man who lives richly while Barbie has to lose 10 pounds. The End. I feel sorry for the young women who grew up being force feed this sort of 'how you should act' female propaganda. 

I loved the book because I didn't have to use my brain as the story had almost zero conflict. This novel offered a tiny peek into the mentality that molded females in the early 60's and Barbie truly was the perfect woman. Or I should say she was ten pounds away from being perfect, which she had to lose and did so  effortlessly by not eating A ONE SINGLE PIECE of coconut cream pie...as that was the only sacrifice she made through out the whole book. I was both excited and horrified by the portrayal of female roles encountered while reading Barbie's New York Summer. I would like to point out that the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter make up for the awful plot.

What I've read // Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web is a classic story that nearly all children know by heart. Oh wait! You don't know it? Well...Pig meets girl. Girl loves pig. Girls Mom gets in the way. Pig goes to farm. Pig meets spider. Spider loves pig. The end. Sorta. 

In my opionion the best part of the whole novel happens right when Chapter six : Summer Days begins  "..The early summer days on a farm are the happiest and fairest days of the year. Lilacs bloom and make the air sweet, and then fade. Apple blossoms come with the lilacs, and the bees visit around amoung the apple trees. the days grow warm and soft. School ends, and children have time to play and fish..." [42] It is such a tiny yet discriptive moment that I must have reread the first chapret 4 or 5 times before moving on.  Charlotte's Web is seriously full of dreamy descriptions of the spring, summmer and fall seasons like the one quoted which have me convinced that this book would be painful to read during any other time of the year other than summa summa summa time. White made me yearn for summer during summer. The author has a gift. Confession time: I saw the movie like 19 years ago, I broke my golden rule at a young age cause I am such a badass! I've noticed that it certainly seems like I break my golden rule of reading a lot. hmmm. Obviously self impossed rules are meant to be broken. 

It's a lot harder to write about a book that is only 184 pages long than I thought it would be. so. The End.

What I've read // Holes

I read Holes like 4 weeks ago. I finally read the book before a movie spoiled the story for me! I figured the plot out pretty quick but Holes was still an enjoyable summer read. I might even watch the movie. might.   

Disclaimer 1: What I've read posts may WILL be a tad saturated with children books for the next couple weeks. Why? When I was a child I was put into special reading comprehension classes. To be honest to this day I truly don't know why, and I always despised being in those classes. I felt I need to prove to the teachers that I was a strong, if not the strongest, reader. I went from children's phonetic novels to historical fiction mainly the topic of Anne Frank and the Holocaust directly into adult fiction. I was reading at a college sophomore level of reading comprehension in 6th grade, again why was I in those classes? While my peers read sweet valley high/box car children I was devouring the  semi-for-a-sixth-grader-smutty world of Alex Cross via James Patterson at a rate of 1 or 2 books a day; holla at me Alex Cross! I missed the whole genre of young adult fiction when I was in fact a young "adult" because I felt I needed to prove something to the world. Fast forward to present day: I feel like I missed out.

Disclaimer 2: I was torn to retake the photos for this post until I realized I really don't feel like it. I am not sure what I was thinking when I was setting my camera just before taking these photos; don't judge me for being a camera n00b.

What I've Read // True Grit

Apparently this is the summer of reading books after watching the movie and  it's killing me! I saw the new movie last winter while I was in Wisconsin with my family. Before I watched True Grit I was beyond sure I would end up hating the movie  because I am really not a person who enjoys westerns...and I couldn't have been more wrong! I knew when I left the theatre I had see the original John Wayne version of the movie, which I have yet to do. When I got back to Utah I did a little research on True Grit, I liked the movie THAT much, and subsequently found out the movie was based off of a book. I felt crushed, it had appeared again I watched the movie before reading the book. Shameful. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago while I was thrift for the first time in months when  found the book in a thrift store for a dollar! I knew I hadddddddd to read it because Mattie Ross is my hero!

I devoured the novel in a day! 4 hours tops! I couldn't put it down!  Being totally honest I should report that this year I am totally on a western kick (read : I love Laura Ingalls Wilder and now the fictional Mattie Ross) maybe it's because I live in the desert?  I know I am not really talking much about the novel itself. Deal. This is my blog. I will talk about whatever I want. Ok? Good. Disclaimer: I've heard a lot of devote western fans say the 2010 remake of True Grit was disappointing but those fans have obviously had never read the book because only 2 or 3 things from the whole novel had been changed for obvious reasons as it would have been too hard to film. I was pleasantly surprised that no Hollywood romance had been added that wasn't hinted too within the novel. I suggest you read this book. Why? because the female character is totally kick ass which I imagine isn't the case in most western novels. 

What I've Read // Heaven is for Real

Last week I read a wonderful nonfiction book, Heaven is for Real, that I haven't been able to stop thinking about since I finished it. This is one of those books that I have no idea how to blog about because the story is short and hard to even talk about without going in major details. In short, the story is of a young child who started mentioning to his parents about a year after he received multiple major surgeries that he had spent time with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and even met John the baptist while he was in Heaven! I would suggest this novel to people of faith first because if you are already a believer this novel will blow your mind due to the joy and shear excitement of  Heaven the novel will instill in you. I don't really know if nonbelievers would enjoy this book because I imagine they might try to discredit the story or spend their time finding faults in the religion instead of focusing on how great God is. All I have to say is I am thankful God put this book in my life to get me refocused in my faith. God is good!

What I've Read // The Secret Life of Bees

I broke my golden rule : I saw this movie last summer before I read the book BUT in my defense I had no idea it was based off of a novel. I wonder how many movies I have seen that where based on books I have no idea exhist? I bet a lot and I bet the books are way better. As is the case with The Secret Life of Bees! Although I should comment that the film adaption of The Secret Life of Bees is almost verbatim to the novel, but the movie  lacks the southern charm within the youthful narration of Lily Owens and most importantly intimacy between characters is not conveyed as effectively. That is in my opinion of course. I came into possession of this book while I was helping out at a rummage sale to raise money to build a museum in my town... best 10 cents I have ever spent in my life! Before I laid my eyes upon the matte cover of The Secret Life of Bees a couple Saturdays ago I had no idea such an eloquent novel had been published.
The Secret Life of Bees is a remarkable tale of love, loss, religion and acceptance narrated by darling Lily Owens, but at times I felt Lily's story of guilt and my own stories of guilt were one in the same. The way that Sue Monk Kidd began each chapter with an excerpt from various books about bee keeping that sums up the chapter the reader is about to embark upon is thrilling, that is once the reader catches on. The Secret Life of Bees is full of tiny moments that seemed to have been inspired by pure magic. I loved every second I spent reading this novel. I think every mother, daughter, aunt and sister should read the delicate story of female empowerment found within the covers of The Secret Life of Bees.

What I've Read // The Road

This past week I finished reading a book I started 3 years ago... I am not usually one to begin then abruptly stop reading a novel. I think the reason I never finished the book was because I needed to read the book in able to participate in a class that I didn't enjoy at all. So The Road sat on my bookshelf in Wisconsin, later it travelled to Utah and found its way upon my bookshelf. Finally after three years of looking at the unfinished novel I decided that I was finally up for the challenge to conquer McCarthy's anonymous grey world and all of it's anonymous inhabitants.

I wanted to mention that I had a new experience while reading The Road, a piece of work in which the main characters identity is never revealed. I found not knowing the identities enhanced my reading experience because with each situation I was able to relate the actions of each character to people from within my own life. Anonymity. That is the one word I would use to sum up this novel.

I am happy I finished The Road but I had greater hopes. The Road is like a critically acclaimed indie film that you are really excited to see but after you have had the opportunity to view the film you just feel let down and depressed. I guess what I am saying is The Road is an art read, meaning it's not feel good novel but rather a gritty and confrontational look into the human condition.

What I've Read // Julia & Julia

Last week I finished reading a book I picked up at the Borders closing sale a couple months ago, Julie & Julia. I purchased the book because it was recently adapted into a movie that I had been interested in seeing but I have a rule...I have to read the book before I see the movie. No exceptions, well except for the Twilight series. I am sad to report that I wasn't blown away by the novel yet I enjoyed parts of it. I enjoyed Julie Powell's informal writing style which I am pretty sure stems from her experience blogging. I enjoyed that at times the only thing motivating her was her bleaders or blog readers. I enjoy that her fame was mostly due to said blog. I enjoy how openly she talked about her "project weight" and I enjoyed how normal she seemed to be. With all that said I am not going to list the things I didn't like but I will leave you with this... if "colorful" language bothers you back away from this novel. Once I finished the book I had no intentions of seeking out the movie from Redbox but my friend Lisa said "The movies long & kind of exhausting..but cute at the same time. It's a rainy day, nothing better to watch, movie. It's dec." via twitter I've only quoted Lisa because that is exactly how I would describe the novel; Long and exhausting but cute when it's over. There is one quote from the novel that can be found on page 303 within my version of the text that reads "...I have no claim over the woman at all, unless it's the claim one who has nearly drowned has over the person who pulled her out of the ocean... ." The quote is my favorite moment in the whole novel because it illustrates so flawlessly that Julie Powell knew nothing of Julia Child as a person but owed her life, as well as who she was to become as a person, to Child. In review the novel has a heart but fell short of my personal expectations for the novel. 

Julie & Julia project blog. Link. 

Julie Powell's personal blog. Link.

P.s. I hope you enjoyed this post as it is the first in a new blog series I've been planning since January but was to lazy to execute till this week. The whole idea behind "What I've Read" is that within a week or two of finishing a novel I will share my personal experience with the writing. I am very excited because I am an avid reader and I look forward to sharing my thoughts and this part of my life with the Blogosphere.