The Devil Wears Prada

So, while I was in the hospital.... I managed to finish The Devil Wears Prada.

I'm not going to bother with some long detailed review -- I think I was the last person in America to read the book.... and I haven't seen the movie.

Instead, I'll just share some things that I found interesting.....

Upon seeing the book, every nurse in the hospital had to comment on it..... "I loved that book," "I hated that book," "It was hard to get into," and of course the usual "Not as good as the movie" or "So much better than the movie."

Makes me wonder..... do you prefer to read the book first? or see the movie first?

I personally prefer to read the book first (if I bother to see the movie at all) -- I can't really think of an instance where I preferred a movie to a book..... but that's just me.

The book was okay -- it was fluffy -- good for hospital (or beach) reading, but not much more.

Based on Sarah's and Arwen's recommendations, I'm currently in the middle of the The Time Traveler's Wife and so far.... I like it -- it's clever and different and it's holding my attention without being so intellectual that I can't put it down and pick it back up easily..... I hope to finish it by the end of the week..... so I'll let you know how it is when I'm done.

The God of Animals

You must all read this NOW! You will be happy I suggested it.

Psssst

Hey. I am finally reading "Special Topics in Calamity Physics".

Does anybody care?

tap, tap, tap..... is this thing on?

First of all, let me say that I just wrote and entire post and stupid Blogger deleted it -- so now, I must reconstruct..... let's just hope that I'm just as witty this time around -- I assure you, the first one was a real knee-slapper..... it would have had you in stitches -- might even have made you pee a little.

Let's see.... how'd I begin -- oh yeah,

What's it been 6, 7.... maybe it's 8 months now?

The Big Dubya mentioned a week or so ago that he was going to go to Barnes & Noble to use some gift cards that were burning a hole in his pocket -- pick up some books he's been meaning to read. Because I am who I am, I made a snarky comment about adding more books to an already too-high pile that were going unread on his nightstand. I got a well-deserved dirty look and the book store trip was quickly cancelled.

The conversation got me thinking of my own too-high pile of unread books collecting dust on my nightstand...... The Devil in The White City being at the top of the list. I had started reading it on a quick trip to Ireland over the summer, but just never got around to finishing it once I got home. I could blame work, the pregnancy or the two small children -- but that would be a cop out. I find time for all sorts of mindless crap, if I wanted to find the time to read -- I would -- I just haven't made it enough of a priority.

So this morning, rather than reading about Britney the trainwreck in the latest issue of People on the coffee table at Valvoline or about the wonders of Boniva in my doctor's office -- I brought the Devil with me. It had been a few months, but the story is pretty hard to forget -- I got right back in. And, because my doctor let me sit for a good 45 minutes..... between the two appointments, I managed to finish the damn thing.

I won't bore you with a detailed review -- just what I did and didn't like. I liked the use of language -- it's really well written (not like this post). He manages to tell several totally unrelated stories and tie them all back to Chicago and the World's Fair. If a specific story line begins to drag a little or you dont' care for it.... stick with it for a few more pages and you'll be moved on to something else.

Didn't like -- well.... all of the stories are dark. The book gets graphic and grisly in places.... the macabre is probably necessary for the intended effect, but -- it's enough to make me shudder and I don't really like that.

Overall, it's a good book -- not what I would normally read, but -- that's why I joined, to step outside the comfort zone of books I would select for myself.

This brings me to the Supercoolest Book Club Ever -- we've kind of fizzled out lately and I'd like to propose a re-launch.

I know it's short notice, and that most have you have probably already read it -- but, Aunt P lent me The Devil Wears Prada over the summer and it's still on the nightstand. It's light reading and I ought to be able to get through it fairly quickly, so I'm going to start there.

In the meantime, anybody want to suggest the next assignment?

Two Months Later...

Hey! I just finished reading "The Devil in White City".

What? You no longer care?

Fine.

Are we supposed to be reading something now?

A warning to you Muggles

(Cross posted from my blog, because Kara asked me to.)

The purchase of the latest and final Harry Potter book could result in the following:

• Extreme exhaustion - Due to the reader's reluctance to put the book down and, therefore, get some damn sleep already.
  

• Migraine headache - An unfortunate side effect resulting from the constant refrains of "MommyMommyMommyMommyMommyMommyMommyMOMMY! Pay attention to ME Mommy!" coming from the reader's child or children. And, eventually, because the young child or children, once realizing that the attention they so badly desire is not forthcoming, throws her or himself down on the floor in a full-fledged tantrum. Under normal circumstances a simple tantrum would not induce such nagging pain, however these are not normal circumstances (See Extreme Exhaustion above).

• Sore jaw and dry eyes - Both suffered by the reader - who stares in amazement, unblinking, while absorbing every heart-stopping chapter with jaw slack and hanging to floor - and by the reader's child or children who will spend far too many hours in front of the television until the book is finished (and we all know what young kids look like while watching TV, don't we?).

• A sense of disconnectedness from the outside world - Due to the reader breaking all contact with family, friends, the television and internet, and of course newspapers (why would you reader anything else when you could be reading Harry Potter??) until the book is finished.

• Skin irritation, redness and itching - Because the reader, in her excitement to finally start reading the last book in the series, forgets to put on sunscreen before sitting in the sun for three hours, resulting in a horrible sunburn across her chest.
  

• A horrible sense of loss and mild depression - When the reader is reaching the end of the book and realizes that this is the last time she and Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the characters she's come to love, will never meet again within the hardcover pages of a book. Sigh.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you may be suffering from Harry Potter-itis. Do not consult a doctor - because your doctor will probably laugh you out the door, if they're not already too busy with their own nose stuck in the last Harry Potter book - but know that you are not alone. We'll get through this together.

Just another Public Service Announcements from your friends at Chicky Chicky Baby.



(I'm almost done with the book. I know some of you have already finished it. I don't want it to end.)

(Hold me.)

Hello, muggles

So we got The Book yesterday. Technically, we got TWO books yesterday because we're big babies and won't share a children's book (which at 700= pages, hardly qualifies- wait- does it?) Book seven, baby, and I've even managed to sleep (thanks to a benadryl and a mojito and a beer- I'm not a pill-popping crazy, we were at a friend's house last night and I had an allergic reaction to something and popped a benadryl, which on top of a few drinks= sleepy me). Still, even with the book calling out to me, I have managed to get some stuff done around the house so I don't have boxes everywhere when our friends come to visit next week (Book Club members are invited- seriously! And also, would one of you please tell me why I can't just stop with the parenthetical banter? No? I don't know neither).

*******BIG BAD UGLY SPOILER ALERT SO DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ AT LEAST 200 PAGES SO FAR. SERIOUSLY. I MEAN IT, I DON'T WANT ALL OF YOU MAD AT ME, GOT IT?**********

I got a little choked up when they Dursleys said goodbye to Harry. I always knew Petunia loved her nephew (go ahead, click the link, I wrote a piece of fan fiction.)

I think Mrs. Weasley is under the imperious curse. Snape's got a leak in the Order (or maybe he doesn't and is still working with the Order as a double agent and needs to let Voldemort trust him so he tips his hand a little and Moody is still alive as they never found his body because we know Mundungus disapparated and wasn't hurt or captured as they previously thought. Oh my gosh I'm in my 30's. What is wrong with me? For my next trick- a post in Klingon! Followed by one in Elvish! And then? I move back in with my parents! Who are we kidding, I would much rather learn Klingon.) She was acting strangely but that wouldn't explain why those Death Eaters were on top of the trio so soon after their departure from the Burrow. Anyway, there's just so many plot intersections, I'll be interested to see how she wraps everything up in the next 500 pages.

Dumbledore, like Elvis, lives.

Okay, Muggles, let your theories rip :)

My name is Mrs Big Dubya, and I'm a Bad Book Club Member

Hello Mrs Big Dubya.......

Hi everybody, I hope your summer is going well..... mine is going by too damn fast, but what can you do?

I found myself with 7 hours on a plane yesterday, so I took the opportunity to dive into The Devil in The White City..... our book for June? or was it May? uhm yeah okay it's mid-July... I know I'm behind..... but I don't see anybody else writing about it either, so shut up already!

Anyway about the book, the book is really cleverly written -- uses language very well. The author tells the story of two people living vastly different lives in 1890s Chicago. The thing that strikes me, other than the f*cking twisted-ness of one of the main characters, is that the author eludes to an awful lot. When discussing the heinous murders committed by a central character, he circles around and then gets closer and then walks away -- teasing with inference, but leaving enough unanswered questions that the reader is left wanting more. I don't personally like reading the gory details of a sociopath's grisly conquests -- but even I was left wondering what exactly he did and how.

The historical backdrop is very cool -- and as a project manager, the organization and planning required to pull off the Chicago World's Fair is mind boggling. Did you know, that's where the Ferris wheel made it's debut???

I'm only about 2/3 of the way through, but so far so good -- I'll keep reading. The stories are largely told in retrospect, so I'll be interested to see where they go. The book is dense, the language and the story are involved and keeping all the characters straight requires a fair amount of attention -- this isn't really a casual beach read (at least not for me).

I know a lot of members have been dropping out due to other obligations, but I hope you guys will stick with us -- maybe we can pick up a few new recruits.

And maybe we can try a book without death or murder, HINT! HINT!

Happ Birthday HDT

Today is the 190th birthday of one of my favorite authors, Henry David Thoreau. In honor of that, I started reading "Walden" again last night and thought I would throw-out a nice snippet from that quintessential book of his this morning... enjoy.

Chapter 16 - 'The Pond in Winter'

After a still winter night I awoke with the impression that some question had been put to me, which I had been endeavoring in vain to answer in my sleep, as what — how — when — where? But there was dawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face, and no question on her lips. I awoke to an answered question, to Nature and daylight. The snow lying deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward! Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask. She has long ago taken her resolution. "O Prince, our eyes contemplate with admiration and transmit to the soul the wonderful and varied spectacle of this universe. The night veils without doubt a part of this glorious creation; but day comes to reveal to us this great work, which extends from earth even into the plains of the ether."

Then to my morning work. First I take an axe and pail and go in search of water, if that be not a dream. After a cold and snowy night it needed a divining-rod to find it. Every winter the liquid and trembling surface of the pond, which was so sensitive to every breath, and reflected every light and shadow, becomes solid to the depth of a foot or a foot and a half, so that it will support the heaviest teams, and perchance the snow covers it to an equal depth, and it is not to be distinguished from any level field. Like the marmots in the surrounding hills, it closes its eyelids and becomes dormant for three months or more. Standing on the snow-covered plain, as if in a pasture amid the hills, I cut my way first through a foot of snow, and then a foot of ice, and open a window under my feet, where, kneeling to drink, I look down into the quiet parlor of the fishes, pervaded by a softened light as through a window of ground glass, with its bright sanded floor the same as in summer; there a perennial waveless serenity reigns as in the amber twilight sky, corresponding to the cool and even temperament of the inhabitants. Heaven is under our feet is well as over our heads.

Dang, I Suck Too

Still haven't finished Calamity. As a matter of fact, I left it at my doctor's office and I never even bothered to call to see if they'd hold it for me.

Sorry to say so, but I'm going to have to drop out. I have decided to go a different route with my blog for now, and any extra time I have will be devoted to exploring my adoptee experience.

Wishing you all the best,

Andie D.