Clueless

This is going to be spoilery because I can't compare Emma and Clueless without talking about the characters and plot.

After reading Emma, the urge to watch Clueless was irrsistable.  I couldn't help it.  Clueless came out while I was a teenager.  I've always watch this movie with some nostalgia.  The fashion reminds me so much of high school.  I didn't live in nearly as high end a neighbourhood as Cher and her friends, but the knee stockings, the bare midriffs, and plaid were all popular.  The guys wore baggy pants with their underwear showing (which seems to not have actually gone out of style... yikes!); the flannel shirts, the greasy hair were everyday wear.  I could see Cher's point, girls were supposed to find this attractive?  Grunge was the it thing. The cell phones!  Kids with cell phones and pagers!  I knew kids like that.  Honestly, why did they need both? Watching Clueless always makes me happy.

This was the first time, however, that I've watched Clueless since reading Emma.  I didn't know for years that Clueless was based on Austen's novel.  When I found out, I was surprised and I wanted to read the book... but I didn't... for a really long time.  This summer, I decided to sign up for Roof Beam Reader's Austen in August event and thought that it would be the perfect time to read Emma and re-watch Clueless (though I've probably seen it at least once a year since it came out).

Cher is an amazing interpretation of Emma.  Cher is upper class, vain and beautiful.  She also learns and grows.  Tai is a great version of Harriet Smith.  I had so much fun matching up the characters.  I loved Christian's story and how it differs from Frank Churchill.  The scene with Cher and Elton is a great modernization of what happened to Emma and Mr. Elton; Mr. Elton would have definitely left Emma behind. Amber, I watched the movie thinking, hey, she reminds me of Mrs. Elton... and that's because she is Mrs Elton.  I liked the choice to make Amber part of the entire movie instead of just bringing her in after Cher rejects Elton.  Josh was an interesting version of Knightly.  I didn't think they were as similar as some of the other characters, but Josh did play the more serious, mature gentleman to vain Cher, as Knightly did with Emma.  Cher's father is the opposite of Mr. Woodhouse in personality.  In both though, the daughter worries about her father's help and it is her duty to take care of him.

I think having such an affinity for the movie enhanced my reading of Emma.  I also think that watching Clueless after reading Emma made me appreciate the characters and events of the movie more.  It was a new perspective for an old favourite.  Read Emma, watch Clueless.  They are loads of fun and worth every minute.

Random List: Books I Probably Wouldn't Have Read If Not For Required Reading

Inspired by a post I saw on a blog I can't remember (sorry), I decided to create this little list.  I was then reminded I hadn't finished it when I saw The Broke and The Bookish's A Cocktail and Conversation. I decided to post some of my favourite books that were required reading.  I'm not saying I would have never read these books, but way back in my school days, I probably wouldn't have picked them up by choice.  These required books, from both high school and university have stayed with me over the years.  They have led me to favourite authors and enriched my reading life.

1. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

2. Coming Through Slaughter, by Michael Ondaatje

3. A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal, by William Wordsworth (I know it's a poem, but I had to include it.)

4. The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

5. The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham

6. Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare

7. David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens

8. Kindred, by Octavia Butler

9. Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston

10. Sophie's World, by Jostein Gaarder

I decided to stick with ten, a nice round number.  I should mention though, that I would never have read Ethel Wilson, Edith Wharton, Henry James or Thomas Hardy without required reading... and probably a whole slew of other fantastic authors.  I know required reading is often dreaded, but so many times I didn't need to worry.

Emma

Emma was so clueless! Emma is the story of Emma Woodhouse, a very vain girl who basically thinks herself better than everyone else. She assumes that she is smarter, higher class and more clever. She fancies herself a matchmaker, which takes her on an interesting adventure through the lives of her friends and family. I can see why someone decided to make a modern interpretation of Emma. Emma is vain, but endearing. Jane Austen fills her novel full of drama and distinct personalities. It is all seen through Emma, but the personalities of the other characters shine through (wasn't Mrs. Elton insufferable?!). Emma takes a journey and I think she becomes a better person. 

I was excited and enthralled by Emma.  It's pretty close to becoming my favourite Austen...  I often found myself talking to Emma or rolling my eyes at her. I connected with her even though she was not always sympathetic.  I really enjoyed her cluelessness. I called all the matches, even the ones that didn't relate to Clueless, but I was an outsider looking in.  Emma saw what she wanted, used her ideas of society and propriety and wishful thinking.

After reading Sarah's guest post on Roof Beam Reader (the host of Austen In August), I've been thinking about marriage in Austen's novels and in Austen's time.  You really did not want to be an unmarried woman. Except for maybe Emma, if the women in the novel did not get married or have some other man to take care of them, what would become of them?  Become a governess?  A low-paying job with little respect (which I don't understand, wouldn't you want the person taking care of your children to feel some sort of attachment to them?  If you didn't respect or pay them well, how well would they teach your children?).  Look at what happened to the Dashwoods in Sense and Sensibility. In Pride and Prejudice Mrs. Bennet's overly-eager behaviour regarding marrying off her daughters can be understandable if they would be left destitute otherwise.  I suppose that was another time.  At least now, a woman can make a living (almost as much money as a man, but that's another topic) and not worry about being homeless if she doesn't marry.  (For more, read Sarah's post.)

Was "Jane" a common name in Jane Austen's time?  Or does it signify something in the characters who bare the author's name. Jane Bennet, was a quiet, lovely girl and so was Jane Fairfax (I really liked and felt sorry for Jane Fairfax for most of the novel). After difficulties and misunderstandings, they find love, though not front and centre like Lizzy and Emma.

Emma certainly left me thinking more than I expect it would.  I knew I would like Emma, I just didn't know how much I would love it..... Now I have to watch Clueless! 

Title 7/60 for The Classics Club.

Austen in August is hosted by Adam at Roof Beam Reader.

I Will Be Reading....

4!

4 was the number of the Classics Club Spin.  That means, from the list I posted on Thursday, I will be reading The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.  It was a late addition to the list and honestly, I can't tell you what it's about right now.  I just remember thinking Ethan Frome was a great book and wanting to read more by Wharton.  I know The House of Mirth isn't nearly as long as my last Spin book, which I did not finish on time.  I'm looking forward to reading a book that's been sitting on my shelf for years and hopefully I'll finish it before October 1st.  

(Can I tell you a secret?  I was honestly hoping for Cat's Cradle.)

The Spin Will Be Spun Again!

I liked the Classics Club Spin last time, so I'm joining in again.  I find it encourages me to keep at my classics list and helps me not fall behind. The Spin is spinning for the 3rd time.  It's easy to participate.  All you have to do is list 20 books, make sure they're numbered, and on Monday a number will be randomly generated.  Then you have to (try to) read that book by October 1st.

The Club suggests a way to make the Spin more interesting and challenging, by choosing five books for each of these categories: Hesitant, Excited, Neutral, Free Choice - Re-reads, ancients, favourite authors, etc.  I couldn't really get five for each category.  Primarily because though I'm hesitant and excited about some reads, I'm not really neutral about any of them.  So, I decided to make up my own categories.  For my Classics Club list, I didn't choose all novels.  I have a lot of different types of classics, plays, poetry, children's books, etc.  I made up four of my own categories and then chose five titles for each.  Here are my 20 books below.

Novels

1. Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood

2. Animal Farm, by George Orwell

3. Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut

4. The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton

5. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Brontë

Short Stories / Novellas

6. Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlett, by Arthur Conan Doyle

7. The Big and The Little, by Isaac Asimov

8. Dracula's Guest, by Bram Stoker

9. The Weapons Shop, by A.E. van Vogt

10. The Man Who Loved Islands, by D.H. Lawrence

Poetry / Theatre

11. Lyrical Ballads, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge & William Wordsworth

12. Lady Lazarus, by Sylvia Plath

13. Queen Mab, by Percy Bysshe Shelley

14. Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmund Rostand

15. Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

Children’s / Young Adult / Juvenilia

16. Tales of Angria, by Charlotte Brontë

17. Grimm's Fairy Stories, by Jacob Grimm & Wilhelm Grimm

18. The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum

19. The Cat In The Hat, by Dr. Seuss

20. The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter

That's my spin list!  Honestly, I'd be excited to read any of these options, though I'm also hesitant about a few of them.  There's only on re-read on the entire list!  I did not do that on purpose.  I chose each title based on category.  There are some very short options and other very long ones that might be a challenge to read by October 1st.  We'll see what number comes up.

I'm Excited About Maddaddam

I decided to Storify why I'm excited about Maddaddam.  I've just been thinking about it the past day or two....



Are you excited to read Atwood's new novel?

City of Fallen Angels

Really? Really, Cassandra Clare?  That's how you're going to end the book?  I don't know how I feel about this ending. Usually, even when reading books in series, I like to feel that the novel is complete.  Maybe if the last chapter was titled something else, not quite "Epilogue", but I don't know... Maybe I'm feeling like this because it is a major cliffhanger.  I suppose the main part of the story line completed itself well.  City of Fallen Angels was definitely a good start to the second half of Clare's The Mortal Instruments series.

Really, I couldn't put down Fallen Angels. I think the reason I enjoyed it was the focus on Simon. I enjoyed Jordan and I loved Izzy.  Maia has become a more interesting character.  Yes, Jace and Clary are the "stars" of the series, but putting Simon as a focal point was a great change.  He's going through so many things.  Not just regular vampire things, but the other things that make him unique.  By giving the secondary characters more time in the forefront, I think Clare was making sure her readers didn't get bored.  I certainly didn't. - Also, communication kids, it's important. I'm just sayin'. -

I'm very glad that I read Clockwork Angel first.  Magnus really connected both books and they're connected in other ways too.  Just knowing what a "Subjugate" is before Izzy mentions it was nice. Though it is going to be difficult, I'm glad that I decided to alternate the books in the two series.  I think it'll make the reading experience more interesting. So, while I'm eager to see what happens in City of Lost Souls, the next Cassandra Clare book I'll be reading is Clockwork Prince.  You know... maybe I'm warming up a bit to the ending... but I don't know how I really feel.  Maybe it'll be couple days before I know.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel

I loved the novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  I was excited to read the graphic novel after I discovered there was one.  I was given it as a gift.... Then, it was left on my shelf to collect dust for, well, two or three years.  Yikes!

In June, a sign-up post went up for Austen in August from The Room Beam Reader.  Austen!?  In August?! The perfect push for me to tackle an Austen novel or two that I haven't read yet and maybe read one of the inspired/reimagined works I have sitting around.  That brought me back to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel. The excitement I had when I first received the book came back to me. I had to restrain myself for over a month from picking it up right away.  Now, I remembered it was there.  I couldn't help but look at it on my shelf. When August finally arrived, I grabbed the book and devoured it.

I can't believe I waited so long to read PPZ: The Graphic Novel.  It was fantastic.  It brought back all the feelings I had when I first read the novel, with the interesting addition of the artwork.  I'm not completely sure how I feel about the art.  The Graphic Novel was done in black and white.  I've never before read a graphic novel that was black and white.  I thought with all the zombies and fighting, some colour would be nice.  I did, however, enjoy the black and white when it came to expressing the emotions of the characters, like Lizzy and Darcy when angry, filled with telling black shading.  Maybe they chose no colour because there would be too much blood or it would come off too gory and lose that Jane Austen "quality".  I'm not sure.  The lack of colour didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book, it was just something I'm left thinking about.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel has put me in two kinds of moods. One, I want to finish the series.  Steve Hockensmith wrote a prequel, which I own and a sequel, which I do not.  I'd love to read the story of how the Bennet sisters received their training and I'd like to know if the zombies were ever vanquished.  The other mood has me looking to pick up my next Austen in August pick, Emma. Though Emma will definitely come before the zombie books, seeing as I think I should read some actual Austen for Austen in August.  If you're looking for a fun, quick spin-off Jane Austen to read, I would definitely recommend trying Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel, especially if you are also a zombie fan.

Classics Club - August Meme

I don't usually do the Classics Club monthly meme questions.  This month, however, the Classics Club asks:  Do you read forewords/notes that precede many classics?  Does it help you or hurt you in your enjoyment/understanding of the work?

I have blogged about this topic many times before.  Introductions have ruined the story for me. It all depends on the book, I suppose. Here's a collection of what I've written on the topic:

I actually only posted this the first time a few weeks ago, on July 20th.  What do you think of introductions?

Tommy

On Saturday, my Hubby took me to see Tommy in Stratford.  He was very excited to see it.  I was... interested.  I've never seen a play in Stratford.  I knew of Tommy, that it was a famous, well-loved musical that has played everywhere.  I knew it was a "rock opera".  That was it.  I had no idea about the plot, unlike a lot of other musicals I've heard of but haven't seen.  When I asked the Hubby about it, he said it was about a guy who was really good at pinball.  What?  Really? Umm, okay...  But no.  That's not what it's about.  Tommy is so much more.  It begins during World War II.  It progresses through the 1950s.  Tommy is traumatized and then we watch him grow up.  The things that happen to this kid are insane.  The only outlet for him is pinball and he's a pinball wizard, so I suppose that's the part my Hubby thought was enough to tell me.

Tommy is based on an album of the same name by The Who.  It was classified as a rock opera.  The musical's plot is based on the story of the album  It has also been made into a movie. After reading more about Tommy since watching it, I've discovered that the movie made some plot changes from the album and musical.  I don't know if I'd like it the same, but I'd have to see to find out.  I find myself interested in listening to the original album, something I would not have picked up had I never seen the musical.

Tommy is an amazing story.  I'm glad that my Hubby took me to see it.  It doesn't matter if you don't know anything about it, Tommy is worth it.

How To Talk To Girls At Parties, by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman's journal

I had never read Neil Gaiman before How To Talk To Girls At Parties, a short story I saw come up while I was reading about his new novel The Ocean At The End of The Lane. The only experience I really had with Gaiman's work was the Doctor Who episode he wrote, The Doctor's Wife (which was amazing.)

I'm not sure what I think about How to Talk to Girls at Parties.  Sometimes I felt like there were two different stories happening.  The first story was about the boys and going to parties to meet girls. Simple enough.  The other story was about these strange girls and what they were luring boys into.  There was this vibe the whole time I was reading the story, as though something was about to jump out of the closet.  It was an interesting tension.  I kept wondering if one or both the boys were going to die.

The story had some interesting quotes, things said by the girls Enn (the narrator) was talking to:

"But knowledge is there, in the meat," she said, "and I am resolved to learn from it."

"If you want. I am a poem, or I am a pattern, or a race of people whose world was swallowed by the sea."

"We knew that it would soon be over, and so we put it all into a poem, to tell the universe who we were, and why we were here, and what we said and did and thought and dreamed and yearned for. We wrapped our dreams in words and patterned the words so that they would live forever, unforgettable. Then we sent the poem as a pattern of flux, to wait in the heart of a star, beaming out its message in pulses and bursts and fuzzes across the electromagnetic spectrum, until the time when, on worlds a thousand sun systems distant, the pattern would be decoded and read, and it would become a poem once again."

Doesn't it sound like they might eat (or do some other awful thing to) Enn or his more confident friend Vic? Something happened to Vic, while Enn was talking with those girls.  I wish I knew what.

I also thought Enn's own narration was intriguing.

"Understand me, all the girls at that party, in the twilight, were lovely; they all had perfect faces but, more important than that, they had whatever strangeness of proportion, of oddness or humanity it is that makes a beauty something more than a shop window dummy."

"It's the strangest thing about poetry -- you can tell it's poetry, even if you don't speak the language."

If you haven't read Gaiman, this might be a good introduction. From this story and from what I've read about him (and from the Doctor Who episode), there is a definite strangeness to what he writes.  I might just read more of it.

Short Story Monday is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.

The Cuckoo's Calling

The Cuckoo's Calling was fantastic...  I don't have a great track record with mystery novels.  I've read a few and not liked them.  Honestly, the only ones I can recall liking are the books I've read by Agatha Christie and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but I've read others, a couple that were well-reviewed, that bloggers have loved and I haven't liked them.  So, even though I was very excited to read a book by Robert Galbraith, I went into it a bit nervous.

Cormoran Strike, the private detective, was unique, interesting and felt very real.  I loved Robin, assistant extraordinaire.  Even their first meeting was unexpected.  They were fleshed-out characters, not just shells through which we follow the mystery.  Their lives and histories play into how they handle the case.  Everything about the plot, from beginning to end, had me engaged and excited.  I never wanted to put the book down. The end was also a great surprise.  I thought it was one of two other people.  Strike was right, the person who did it was "bat-shit insane".  I'm excited to read more Cormoran Strike novels. I'm glad that this was just the first.  I'm also wondering if the "lucky suit" will make another appearance.

I could keep going on and on about the amazing plot, multi-faceted characters, but I think I'd give away the plot.  The Cuckoo's Calling surpassed my expectations.  I'm glad that I read it and I've already started recommending it to everyone.  

....Of course I know who Robert Galbraith is, I'm just, you know, going with it....

Austen In August

Austen in August starts today!  From the host, Adam, at Roof Beam Reader: “This event was inspired by a Twitter conversation that took place between three founders of The Classics Club. Last year was a huge success, and I am hopeful that this year will be another knock-out!” You can still sign up if you head over to Roof Beam Reader.  The goal is to read as many of Jane Austen’s novels as you want during the month of August, as well as Austen-related works, like biographies or re-imaginings.

Over the years I have read from Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion.  I have also read a few related works: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.  I have also watched: Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, The Jane Austen Book Club, Bride and Prejudice, and Clueless.  So, while I haven’t read and watched everything (I’ve never seen any version of Pride and Prejudice – Shh…don’t tell anyone), I do have a healthy love for Austen.

What I plan to read this month is Emma.  I might read one of Austen’s other works; I’m thinking maybe Northanger Abbey or Lady Susan, but maybe not.  I’ve decided that I want to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel.  The Hubby bought it for me shortly after I read the novel and I never got around to reading it.  This August seems like a good time.  I’ve also been thinking about reading Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict.  I was excited when I picked it up after having read and enjoyed Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.  I don’t know why I never got around to it either; I’m not guaranteeing I’m going to read it this month.  Whether or not I read the other books, I’m excited for Emma and the PPZ Graphic Novel.

If you’re on Twitter, check out what’s happening with #AustenInAugustRBR .

The Wolverine

The Hubby and I saw The Wolverine over the weekend and it was great. There were a few surprises. The action was fantastic.  There were even a few scenes that made me squirm (don't drill there... Aahh!). I was a little hesitant, but I found that I really liked how they adapted Wolverine's time in Japan to follow the X-Men movie continuum. I really liked that the movie wasn't all CG and effects.  I liked the chase through Japan, fighting off Yakuza thugs and the interactions with ordinary people.

I loved Yukio.  She was so badass.  She kicks ass the way I love to see females in superhero movies kick ass.  She has skill and confidence.  I'm really (REALLY) hoping she's in Days of Future Past.  I couldn't get enough of her.

A quick note on the 3D; it's not really worth the extra money.  The movie was really good, but there wasn't anything really "3D" about it.  Nothing jumped out at the screen at me.  The 3D wasn't used as I've seen in other movies (like Star Trek).  So, while I recommend seeing The Wolverine, I also recommend saving a few dollars and just watching the regular version.

I think that more people haven't seen The Wolverine yet, because the first Wolverine movie was not good.  Forget that one.  The Wolverine really is nothing like Origins.  It's so much better.  It's more exciting and way less frustrating.  Also, stay for the extra scene "mid-credits", it's so worth it.

Clockwork Angel

Cassandra Clare apparently likes to write the main male character as a huge jerk (I had considered swearing, but I'm trying to keep it clean.)  Will definitely surpasses Jace in his jerkiness though. Maybe it's a Herondale thing? I get that something bad happened to Will as a child, but does he have to be so unbelievably mean to everyone? He was so awful to Tessa at the end, even if he does fix whatever his problem is, I don't know how she could forgive him.

I really enjoyed Clockwork Angel, the first book in Clare's Infernal Devices trilogy. The Infernal Devices are the prequel to her popular The Mortal Instruments series (the first book, City of Bones is now a movie being released on August 21.) I really enjoyed the first three Mortal Instruments books, so when I saw Clockwork Angel on sale on day, I thought I'd like it too.  Later I purchased (also on sale) Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess. I have all the books and after reading Clockwork Angel, I can't wait to read them

Tessa has had the worst time if it in Clockwork Angel.  Her kidnapping, her brother, her ability. She doesn't know anything about herself until all this badness starts happening.  Not that it's been easy going for everyone. Charlotte has to struggle to hold on to power. I quite enjoyed Tessa's preconceptions of men's and women's roles changing as the story progressed. Women Shadowhunters were just as valuable in battle as the men, they could be in charge, there are just as intelligent.

I also have to mention that I love Jem.  He's on the cover of Clockwork Prince, so I'm hoping there's more of him in the second book.  He's sweet and intelligent and has an interesting back story.  Having read Clare's previous series and having read a lot books where the lead has two possible matches, though I think Tessa will eventually end up with Will, at this point I'd pick Jem.  

I've read across a lot of blogs that many people preferred The Infernal Devices over The Mortal Instruments. After reading the first book, I don't really see why that opinion is so prevalent.  I enjoyed Clockwork Angel, a lot. Would I say that it was better than City of Bones? No. Honestly, I think they're about the same. Maybe my opinion will change once I've read the whole series, we will see. 

I'm excited to read the rest of the series, all of which I'm glad I own. It's going to be delayed a little though. I finally got my copy of this novel that's been out for a few months, by this new author named Robert Galbraith. Anyone heard of him?

The God Box

Honestly, I never thought I'd read anything called The God Box.  I won Mary Lou Quinlan's ode to her mother almost a year ago through the Friday Reads Twitter hashtag. When I first started tweeting, I noticed #fridayreads on Fridays (of course). It seemed like a fun way to share what you're reading. Well, one particular week, there was a promotion for people who tweeted their #fridayreads. I tweeted without knowing there was a promotion and won two books. I was very surprised and also not sure if/when I'd read them. I finally decided to read The God Box. I thought about not reading it, since it is not at all the kind I book I would have ever purchased, but the author wrote a note that was sent with the book and... I don't know what convinced me exactly, I finally decided that I should read it.

It was better than I thought it would be. Mary Lou Quinlan mentions her Catholic faith and how very religious her departed mother was.  She talks about it a lot.  Obviously, this was not unexpected as the book is call "The God Box", but I'm usually quite secular in what I choose to read; anything that is too preachy can end up annoying me.  What Mary Lou's mother, also named Mary, does is write little prayers/letters to God and puts it in a box, which she calls her "God Box".  Everyone knows about it.  People apparently loved telling the late Mary all about their lives and troubles; she was a good listener.  She would often tell them that she'll put them in her "God Box."  It was a way for Mary to not be overwhelmed with worry and it gave her faith a boost (or something) by thinking of it as her line to God; through the Box, she felt like he was hearing her prayers.

Quinlin reiterates the process of the God Box a lot.  My mother writes a prayer to God and puts in the box. The first half of the little book is filled with her saying it over and over again.  I almost didn't get past it and had to put the book down.  I didn't put it down though.  I could have read the book in one short sitting, but it took two.  The book is filled with pictures of the little notes and the boxes.  It's also in a sort of magazine style (as the author worked in advertising, this is not surprising.) It definitely gave the book a cute and unique feel.

What interested me and was more prominent in the second half of the book, was the psychological benefit of the God Box.  I'm sure I've read somewhere that if you write your worries down and put them away, like in a box, it relieves the stress on your mind.  As a worrier, this is appealing to me.  There are a lot of recommendations for a "Worry Box" if you search it on the internet.

What I didn't expect was the feminist angle of the book, also found in the second half.  Quinlan writes about how her mother worked and that she always work.  Her mother encouraged Quinlan in her career.  Mary Lou Quinlan became the CEO of an advertising firm.  She founded her own business.  She talks about how her and her mother were strong, independent women.  More than anything else in the little book, I connected to that.  I found by the end I appreciated the blend of faith and feminism that Quinlan had created in the second half of the memoir, so that even if you weren't a Catholic like her and her family (as I am not), you could still related to the story and sentiment of the book.

Just when I thought I was done, Quinlan mentions at the end of the book that there is a God Box app on iTunes.  I downloaded it, just to see what it looks like.  It's done in the colour scheme of the book.  It lets you choose from nine different note papers.  You can mark it as urgent or resolved.  You can look up previous notes.  It's pretty nice, if you want your Box to be an app.  I also noticed a "Worry Box" app for Android (which has nothing to do with Quinlan's book.)  I don't have an Android phone, so I can't really say anything about it, except that it exists.  There are a lot of apps that deal with writing worries down to help relieve you of stress.  I don't think an app is the way to go for me.  I like the idea of using a real box and writing it down on paper.

Writing the letters/prayers on paper is part of the final aspect about The God Box that appealed to me, that it was like a diary.  When Mary Lou Quinlan, her father and brother went through the God Boxes, it was like taking a journey through Mary Finlayson's life.  While the idea of someone reading my diary/journal after I die is a little weird, Mary Lou's family found it brought them peace and they felt closer to the person they had just lost.  I don't think this is something you could achieve by placing your worries in an app.

In the end, I thought the book was cute.  I liked the ideas it provoked, though I found the story itself very sentimental.  I've seen the book marketed as a "keepsake memoir", but I don't plan on keeping it.  I just have to find the right person to give it to, someone who will enjoy it more than me.  I have a couple people in mind, so the next time I see one of them, I'll be bringing The God Box along.

Undead and Unwelcome

Undead and Unwelcome is the 8th book in MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series.  If there are SPOILERS for the first 7 books, it can't be helped.

I'm glad that I've continued with the very light Undead books. Undead and Unwelcome was such an easy and entertaining read. It's just what I've been needing lately. I have to admit, I was worried in the beginning. The first fifty pages in and I was a little miffed at Betsy.  Normally, I enjoy her sarcastic, snarky, I-don't-care attitude, but not right then. Her friend was dead.  They were discussing the funeral.  I understand that she was noticing some weird paranormal phenomena at the same time, but multi-task.  At least pretend to pay attention.  She's in the home of the werewolf king, I'd like to think that she'd know to show a bit more respect.  Maybe her bad behaviour is getting worse with age.  I was hoping that it didn't get worse, because I could only handle so much of this attitude.  It did not get worse, Becky became better and I think learned a thing or two from Michael Wyndham about being a leader.

I got exactly what I wanted from the funeral scene. Betsy did what I was imagining and hoping she would do. Antonia deserved to be mourned by people who actually cared about her and wanted to see her happy. Betsy showed them the truth, even at risk to her own safety.  She showed them again at the Council.  It was great to get these real, raw emotions out of her.

"Why can't we all just get along."  Seriously Davidson, I love these books. But not only is that line eye-roll inducing, if a twenty-year-old read that, I'm not sure they would understand the reference. 

Marc's journal was a fantastic addition. The Undead series is told in first person, from Betsy's point of view, but Davidson changed things up. Marc wrote a diary. From this diary do we get to see what Laura was up to while her sister was away. That young lady is super crazy and in some serious denial. I'm wondering where Davidson is going to take this. Is Laura going to swing for her sister or her mother? And what will happen to the baby?

As much as I have questions, Undead and Unwecome does pretty well as a story on it's own. It is the middle book in what Davidson calls her "trilogy within a series," but for someone who read Undead and Unworthy a while a go, I didn't feel I was missing anything. There was a bit of catch up at the beginning of the book, which was nice, but what mattered immediately was the story taking place in this novel. It's something I appreciate from books in series. 

I really enjoyed the 8th Undead book and I'm glad I have the 9th close at hand.

Hmm... I Don't Think So: Top Ten Words/Topics That Make Me Not Pick Up A Book

Opposite of the April 30th topic, the Broke and the Bookish want to know what are the Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make You NOT pick up a book.  I want to be entertained or enlightened and engaged when I'm reading. I often read "serious" books, ones that deal with difficult topics, that can make me cringe during certain scenes. However, if some of these topics are repeated too many times in the synopsis, they can make me put the book down (though not always).  I think I've become more sensitive to certain things since becoming a parent.  It's something my hubby has notice too.  There are really only three phrases in this vein.

1. Child abuse

2. Serial killer

3. In the mind of the killer.

I just can't handle it if it's graphic.  I read a novel once, and it was so graphically violent and constantly violent, it bothered me for ages.  I also don't like it when violence is used to replace character growth.

Below are words/topics that turn me away for other reasons.  Mostly because I get bored/annoyed.  I read a pretty wide variety of genres, but if these words are too prominent, I'm bound to put the book down and move on to the next one.  I like fluff sometimes, but not too much.

4. Girl needs saving

5. Love triangle

6. Boy/man teaches girl/woman about love

Well, apparently I couldn't make it to ten.  This is just my opinion and is completely subjective.  I have read books that all 6 of those topics were a part of (though not the same book, though that might be interesting.)  I read a fair amount of Young Adult books (I think), but if I see the equivalent of any of those  three phrases splashed all over the synopsis, quotes, etc, I often find a different YA book to read.  In the end, I think it's about quality, not quantity.  You know what I mean?

Don't Read The Introduction First. Also, I'm On Storify

So there it is.  A "story" I created on Storify.  I saw someone post a link on Twitter, so I followed it and that's how I discovered Storify.  I was attracted by the ideas of creating stories using various social media sources.  I think the site definitely needs to make some tweeks to improve how you use it.  Also, they don't connect directly to Pinterest.  We'll see if I stick with it.  It's not like I need another distraction, but it's kind of fun.

Dead Over Heels

I decided to continue reading MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series; I've been wanting lighter fair recently. Dead Over Heels is another collection of novellas.  If I had read things in the right order (oops!), I wouldn't have been reading two collections back to back.  Oh well, I enjoyed it. Again, I'll be commenting as I read each story.

Undead and Wed

Undead and Wed is the story of Queen Betsy's honeymoon. It's also a great play on the title of Davidson's first Undead book, Undead and Unwed.  You know what you probably DON'T want on your honeymoon?  You're friend tagging along.  Not just your friend, but your friend and her boyfriend who hates you (and all vampire kind).  It's not really what I expected from the story of Betsy's honeymoon.

Unlike the first story in her last collection, though their was some sex, it wasn't all sexed up.  There was a real story.  There was a plot and a mystery to solve. I really enjoyed the story, the characters.  It's what I was looking for in the last collection. Undead and Wed reminded me why I started following Betsy in the first place.

Survivor

Survivor is a mermaid tale.  It takes place after the second Fred the Mermaid book.  I've never read this series of Davidson's, but now I think I want to.  This story doesn't involve Fred, but more reflects the results of her actions.  Survivor is about Ree and Con, a mermaid and a human man.  I really enjoyed them.  They were in a situation that I have not seen with Davidson's vampire and werewolf characters.  If a vampire was in Con's situation, he probably would have died no matter what Ree did.  What Survivor did more than anything was make me interested in Davidson's Mermaid world.  It is different from the Undead world.  I want to know what led Ree to the point where she made the decision to help Con.

I've also noticed that Davidson is a fan of the antagonistic love/hate relationships.  Her fictional couples bicker a lot.  Some more than others, but there's always some kind of argument happening.  Do couples in real life bicker/argue as much as her characters?  Sometimes, it's friendly couple bantering, oftentimes it's real arguments.  It's making me think, which if a paranormal romance story can make me think, I guess it's a good one.

Speed Dating, Werewolf Style; Or Ow, I Think You Broke The Bone

Werewolves are weird. Mating is a weird werewolf compulsion. Cain has to find a mate before her thirtieth birthday or... what? She'll be shunned? Go crazy? Drive Saul crazy? What? It's not a male/female thing either. They're all crazy about mating/marrying. Bur maybe that's how Davidson likes them. 

I thought for a minute that my assessment after reading Survivor was wrong.  For half the story, the couple were being so nice to each other.  There were kind words and meals shared. It was really sweet.  Then Blam! Antique end tables are being thrown across the room. I have come to the conclusion that Davidson writes antagonistic couples. But that's cool. I still really enjoyed this story. I can't really say much more about it without giving the plot away. 

In Conclusion...

I really enjoyed Dead Over Heels, though there were only dead people in the first story. It was a fun collection. I definitely liked it better than Dead And Loving It, I think because there was more plot in the novellas. There was character development, which made me invested in their outcome. Though I was quite happy with Undead and Wed, I think Survivor was my favourite out of the three. I might end up reading Fred the Mermaid one day. Dead Over Heels is a must for any Davidson fan. I'm glad I decided to read all these entertaining stories.