books and movies

Latest book/film comments based on what I've read and watched recently...

Lucky by Alice Sebold. An autobiographical book about Sebold's rape and aftermath. This was a GOOD book. I posted an angry response to the first chapter, which detailed the rape, earlier.

The Future Dictionary of America. I also posted some favorite entries from this one. Not a "reading book," more like a "perusing book."

Her Last Death. This was a well-written memoir, unbelievable in the stories it tells. If this stuff is true, for goodness sakes, there are some people who grow up totally screwed up. Not really funny, but interesting and cool to see how one grows out of a bad situation.

All the King's Men. Okay, I didn't read this one. I didn't have any desire to do so after reading the first two pages. I'm sure it's a good book, and I'll see the film, but I'm not wasting my time on a book that reminds me of something I'd be forced to read (style-wise), when there are so many other books out there.

White Oleander. Excellent book. I've not yet seen the film, but it's a good book. A girl with another crazy mom and the girl's trip through the foster care system and search for self. Sounds cheesier than it is.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. I didn't read every chapter, but the chapters I was interested in were interesting, that's for sure.

The Book of Vice. Very interesting book. Just look up the subject.


Movies:

Sweeney Todd. Gotta say. Didn't particularly like it. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are always enjoyable, but wasn't into the movie.

Henry and June. Excellent. Not for the easily offended. Since Anais Nin's books were largely erotica/journals, take your cue from that. Interestingly, starred Uma Thurman and the French girl who played Bruce Willis's girlfriend in Pulp Fiction. I wonder if they met again during Pulp Fiction and talked about this one, years before.

A Jonestown documentary. Incredibly interesting. Very good.

The two Tarantino Grindhouse features. Okay, I only watched Planet Terror. I didn't feel like seeing a seventeen-minute car chase to watch the other one. PT was a good comic booky film though.

Big Love, Season One. This show is pretty good. I like the actors, and while I don't know if it'd be something I'd make an appointment to watch on TV weekly, it is entertaining on DVD.

There Will Be Blood. No, thanks. I love Daniel Day-Lewis, as we all know, and he's a great actor, but I didn't care for the movie, and that was only compounded by the fact that it was three hours long and had few, if any, likeable characters.

The Believer. Not so good. Indie.

Next up for reading and viewing:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. This month's book club pick.
Youth en Acadie by George Arceneaux. Recommended by Ashley, relative of author.
Failure to Launch. Sarah Jessica Parker, etc.
Donnie Darko. Presumably, everyone knows this one.
White Oleander. Based on book, of course.