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September 9, 2009

3 Book and 3 Movie Reviews

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I had heard sometime back that it was a good book but opted not to get it as I was reading “educational” stuff at the time and I wanted to stay focused on that. But because the movie was coming out I bought it to read before I saw the movie. I can see and fully understand why people would have an issue with the book and thereby the movie. The book goes between Clare’s and Henry’s perspective in a time line based on their first meeting in a diary sort of telling. This one contains adult language. The reason, I think, some folks will have issues with the book…well what do you think of a forty-something year old man appearing naked around a little girl, yeah. That said I enjoyed the book and give it 4 thumbs up.

Movie Time Traveler’s Wife: If you have read the book and liked it you may not like the movie, it starts when they meet in “real time.” If you read it and didn’t like the book well I’m sure you won’t be going to the movie. I give the movie 2 thumbs on accounta I wanted to see it, but not real happy because they changed some elements that appeared in book and did not show enough of Clare’s life moving on and the deep love she had for Henry.

The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum. It was the cover followed by the title that caught my eye. The story of a female lawyer, Emily, trying to cope with her past, current life and an aging grandparent. Emily was portrayed well, in fact she could have been a friend. I will not give anything away for this one although there is some, well maybe more then some, adult language in it. I give it 5 thumbs up (only because some adult verbiage was a bit much)

Julie and Julia: What can I say about Meryl other than I love her comedian style. Inspiring movie for some folks I’m sure. My beloved was a little leery of the chick flick status but he laughed just as hard if not harder then I. We both figure that the real Julia Child was a hoot and this move is a definite 6 thumbs up.

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright. The cover is what first attracted me followed by the title. Jack wrote a letter every Wednesday to his wife Laurel, some were funny recaps of events others were mundane. In my opinion there were not enough letters exposed in the book about this couple’s lifetime of love. I found the beginning filled with too much of an information dump and skimmed over 3 or 4 chapters. For me there were too many characters, as endearing as some were they only cluttered the room. It was predictable and typical… I thought the best character was A and P, the family friend who had a thing for flashlights. I give this book a 1 thumb up for the cover…and that is my fifteen dollar and ninety nine cent opinion.

The Proposal- a cute and yes predictable story line. That Ryan is a real cutie pie, Sandra did a good funny mean lady and Betty White…well if you know anything of Betty and her totally unpredictable characters prepare for rolling laughter during the Indian scene in the woods. Yes this was a 5 thumbs up kinda movie.

There y'all go my summer reading and movie re-viewing

FTC Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any form for any of my opinions in this post

11 comments:

Dapoppins said...

Best reviews ever! And I quite trust your opinion! I haven't seen any of these movies, or read any of these books. But I do plan to rent the movies, at least, since I missed them on the big screen...is Julia & Julia still out? In fact, I am not sure I did anything this summer at all.

sheila said...

I think I'll definitely read the time travelers wife, and see the movie. I just love that stuff!

Jai Joshi said...

I've been meaning to read The Time Traveler's Wife since forever but just haven't found the time. I'll make more of an effort. I do really want to see Julie and Julia too. Can't wait!

Jai

Jean-Luc Picard said...

The Time Traveller's Wife is one of the few books I disliked intensely. I could never warm to the characters.

Snaggle Tooth said...

Thanks for so many reviews to give me ideas of what I may or not wish to peruse in the near future. I haven't read or seen any of them yet.
You've had better luck with movies then books this Summer, looks like!
I take it 5 thumbs up is the top score?

... Paige said...

I think all the movies are still in theaters but they don’t seem to take too long to come out on Netflix And I had heard that one either likes the Traveler’s Wife or hates it so ya might want to check it out from the library instead of buying it…not that I want to discourage buying books on accounta I one day want to have my own and fully expect each one of y’all to buy it. {sweet smile}
My top ratting is 6 thumbs, some blame the radiation others think it’s the high voltage towers near our home. 1 thumb is pretty bad and no thumbs equal Jar Head-that was one God-awful movie that we left after seeing 30 minutes of.

Happy WeekEnd my Dear Internets

Thomma Lyn said...

I haven't seen the movie The Time Traveler's Wife, but I've read the novel. For the most part, I enjoyed it, but I had some issues with Clare and Henry -- sometimes they made me want to smack 'em. :) That said, it was a good story.

But oh dear, I found a huge, huge plot hole -- or at least, it strikes me as a plot hole. And I had to deliberately keep myself from thinking about it because if I was right about the plot hole, then Henry shouldn't have existed at all! :-D

We novelists and our plot holes... I'm always looking for holes in my stories, too. Hee.

... Paige said...

Yes in a manner there was a plot hole of sorts with Henry. That is why Clare had so many miscarries. Which is like eww when think about it too hard. And I don't really quite buy the issue of not being able to change / stop something. But hey I like time travel plots. Loved Butterfly Effect-that is an Awesome one.

Deanna said...

I'm glad you posted this Paige. I read The Time Traveler's Wife and loved it, and was looking forward to the movie, but, considering your review, I'll wait for it to come out on DVD. I've heard nothing but great things about Julie and Julia, and need to get myself to see it before it's gone. My hubby is leary of it being a chic flick too, so I'll show him this and try again...

teahouse said...

Hey, thanks for the recommendations! I've been debating whether to drag my Husband to see Julie and Julia. I'd heard a lot of it was about the women's relationship with their husbands, so it might be a good movie to go and see..

Jannie Funster said...

I absolutely have always LOVED Betty White. Funny, Jim and I have watching the Golden Girls lately. It' a show that stands up well to time.

And nwo let me sing you a little song.

'Way down upon the Su-Wanee River..