Book #21 "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux: "Poor, unhappy Erik! Shall we pity him? Shall we curse him? He asked only to be 'someone', like everybody else. But he was too ugly!" (Page 192)
First off before anyone gets on me I realize that this is a bit late but I didn't want to stop with the 50 some pages I had to go in it so I figured I might as well see it through to the end.
I've been looking forward to reading this one for awhile, mostly because I grew up loving the movie and soundtrack that I couldn't possible see myself not loving the book. And while I did like it it was also quit different from what I was expecting it to be I guess. While the movie has more of a storyline kind of plot to it the book has a bit more of a history book feel to it. I mean don't get me wrong it still has all the romance and adventure and whatnot all mixed in with it but it is told by a historian whom apparently has 'done research' to find out what he now knows about everything that happened at the opera involving the Phantom or Erik, as we find out his real name is.
It went into a lot more detail with where Erik came from and how he grew up. They made some characters have a much larger role in the film then they did in the book and while that normally doesn't bother me all that much the thing that does get to me, and unfortunately happen here, is they completely cut out one of the very main characters from the book to the film. And the thing that really sucks about it is that it would not have been hard at all for them to keep him in as the role that he was originally used for. Just always seems lazy to me when I see things like that happen.
Last thing that really got to me was how winy Raoul was, like for almost the WHOLE BOOK! Don't get me wrong I understand that he is madly in love and all that jazz and that all he wants is for Christine to love him back but I ask you, does he have to be so winy about it? I mean Christine is under a lot of pressure not only from two different guys attention and them both wanting her to marry them but also from the whole, oh gee I don't know, singing career she is trying to have? I like thinking that she kind of was just playing them both along a little bit because she wanted to. Who can truly say? But back to my main point just because Raoul is rich and probably very used to getting his way that doesn't mean he should be that way when it comes to getting the girl too.
I did enjoy how with the book they went into a lot more detail about the history of and the way that the opera house was built. I'm a sucker for old buildings, what can I say?
Well I'm willing to bet that if I tried I could probably ramble on about this some more but it was only an 192 page book I don't want to overkill so that is all I will say on the subject for the time.
That is all for 2014's books. Obviously I didn't reach my goal, but what is new there? We are going to be trying something a little different here on out. Going to try to make posting a once a week thing, but more details to come tomorrow with what, hopefully, will be the official first post for 2015. (Brain functioning levels permitting!!)
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Book #20: "The Catcher in the Rye"...Finished!!
Book #20 "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D.Salinger: "What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're done reading it, you with the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though." (Page 18)
So I'm not going to lie the only reason I picked this book up in the first place is because it is one of the books that Charlie reads in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' (Which is an amazing book btw). However, after reading it I find it a bit of a cheat because while I understand that this book was written far before 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' was ever even dreamed up parts of this story were almost the exact same.
Teenage boy going through a bit of a life crises not knowing what direction his life is taking/not knowing if it is all worth it/ or if it will ever be worth it. Then eventually we find both main boys to be in the hospital for mental help.
I had a bit of a hard time getting into Salinger's style of writing if I am going to be honest with you I just don't think it was for me. For one thing he was having everyone cussing just about every other word which for me just felt extremely unnecessary and even at points I found that it took away from what the heck he was trying to get across in the story and all I good think about was 'gee I didn't know someone could cuss that much in one sentence!'.
However, even though all the cussing annoyed me I did like his style of writing with the aspect that he would be having Holden (the main Character) telling us a story about something and before you knew it he would be going down some random rabbit hole telling us something that hardly even relates to what he was talking about until he gets to the end of THAT part of the story only to have us find that he does in fact have a point and that it does all actually tie in together. It just reminded me of the way that people speak that a lot of times we will jump from one topic to the other without rhyme, reason or warning and we just automatically just assume that everyone is going to be able to follow are train of thought at least to some capacity.
In that one aspect alone do I applaud Mr. Salinger, for capturing this simple human element and getting it transferred to paper so well. Even if it did make the story itself dry and rambling at some points. Isn't that the way that life is as well at times? Dry and with out much of a point?
In closing thoughts for this one all I can say is that it felt almost like I was reading a very rough outline for 'POBAW' and that Chbosky basically came along and took most of the good ideas from the book that were not really touched on and simply just expanded.
Would I recommend it? Um, that is kind of hard. I would probably say no. I would probably tell you that you would be better off reading something like 'POBAW' and getting basically the same thing out of it.
And on that note let's move on to our next book for #21 we have "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux. I am a big fan of the movie and soundtrack so I've been looking forward to reading this one for a while. :)
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
So I'm not going to lie the only reason I picked this book up in the first place is because it is one of the books that Charlie reads in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' (Which is an amazing book btw). However, after reading it I find it a bit of a cheat because while I understand that this book was written far before 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' was ever even dreamed up parts of this story were almost the exact same.
Teenage boy going through a bit of a life crises not knowing what direction his life is taking/not knowing if it is all worth it/ or if it will ever be worth it. Then eventually we find both main boys to be in the hospital for mental help.
I had a bit of a hard time getting into Salinger's style of writing if I am going to be honest with you I just don't think it was for me. For one thing he was having everyone cussing just about every other word which for me just felt extremely unnecessary and even at points I found that it took away from what the heck he was trying to get across in the story and all I good think about was 'gee I didn't know someone could cuss that much in one sentence!'.
However, even though all the cussing annoyed me I did like his style of writing with the aspect that he would be having Holden (the main Character) telling us a story about something and before you knew it he would be going down some random rabbit hole telling us something that hardly even relates to what he was talking about until he gets to the end of THAT part of the story only to have us find that he does in fact have a point and that it does all actually tie in together. It just reminded me of the way that people speak that a lot of times we will jump from one topic to the other without rhyme, reason or warning and we just automatically just assume that everyone is going to be able to follow are train of thought at least to some capacity.
In that one aspect alone do I applaud Mr. Salinger, for capturing this simple human element and getting it transferred to paper so well. Even if it did make the story itself dry and rambling at some points. Isn't that the way that life is as well at times? Dry and with out much of a point?
In closing thoughts for this one all I can say is that it felt almost like I was reading a very rough outline for 'POBAW' and that Chbosky basically came along and took most of the good ideas from the book that were not really touched on and simply just expanded.
Would I recommend it? Um, that is kind of hard. I would probably say no. I would probably tell you that you would be better off reading something like 'POBAW' and getting basically the same thing out of it.
And on that note let's move on to our next book for #21 we have "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux. I am a big fan of the movie and soundtrack so I've been looking forward to reading this one for a while. :)
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Friday, November 7, 2014
Book #19: "Pride and Prejudice"...Finished!!!
Book #19 "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen: "She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man, who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes." (295)
Hmmm where to start?
I love this book I could read it again and again and again, this as a matter of fact is my third time reading it. Each time I do I always tend to pick up on something new, maybe it is the way that Austen wrote with so much little detail that it is easy to find new things with each read. However, I also like to think that it has a good deal to do with the fact that you also tend to pick out things that are more related to what is currently happening in your life.
For example this time around I was thinking even more so on the issue of marriage in the story, before it was all ok they need to get married otherwise they are basically doomed got it, but know when I read it I really thought about how insanely crazy it was back then how their need to marry was so very serious. How unfortunately there wasn't a whole lot of choice to just go off and start your career and support yourself first and then find a man who you actually wanted to marry for the one and only reason of you being in love with each other and not because you needed him to save you and your family from the poor house.
I honest to gosh can not even fathom it.
I understand their need to marry out of necessity but still I can't imagine from the point of view of even a parent of raising my child to basically have the main goal in life to marry well and lots of babies (the babies thing is not touched on in the book, as you probably know, but I know a bit about the time period so my saying that isn't all that far off I'm sure).
I don't know maybe I'm overthinking it all. It just blows my mind. Okay I shall stop with the rant now though and instead leave it just at that I truly love this book there isn't a time when I don't read it and think 'Man, I wish I was Elizabeth!'. But to be honest I think it would be hard to find any girl who has read this that has not at least once wished to be her. So hats off once again to one of the most amazing female writers that there ever was or ever will be, here's to you Jane Austen.
Now as I may or may not have mentioned before we are on a bit of a stretch of classics right now (honestly at least the next 3 out of 4 books I have planed to read I would consider to be well known classics). Now if this is to be a good or bad thing I guess is yet to be seen. On the upside the next two books are on the shorter side! :)
Speaking of up next we have "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. I got to tell you I did something bad that I don't normally do, I started reading the first few pages before I typed this and I got to tell you I got no idea what this book is about (other then a very cynical teenage boy) so far. So yea, lol there is that. Wish me luck?
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Hmmm where to start?
I love this book I could read it again and again and again, this as a matter of fact is my third time reading it. Each time I do I always tend to pick up on something new, maybe it is the way that Austen wrote with so much little detail that it is easy to find new things with each read. However, I also like to think that it has a good deal to do with the fact that you also tend to pick out things that are more related to what is currently happening in your life.
For example this time around I was thinking even more so on the issue of marriage in the story, before it was all ok they need to get married otherwise they are basically doomed got it, but know when I read it I really thought about how insanely crazy it was back then how their need to marry was so very serious. How unfortunately there wasn't a whole lot of choice to just go off and start your career and support yourself first and then find a man who you actually wanted to marry for the one and only reason of you being in love with each other and not because you needed him to save you and your family from the poor house.
I honest to gosh can not even fathom it.
I understand their need to marry out of necessity but still I can't imagine from the point of view of even a parent of raising my child to basically have the main goal in life to marry well and lots of babies (the babies thing is not touched on in the book, as you probably know, but I know a bit about the time period so my saying that isn't all that far off I'm sure).
I don't know maybe I'm overthinking it all. It just blows my mind. Okay I shall stop with the rant now though and instead leave it just at that I truly love this book there isn't a time when I don't read it and think 'Man, I wish I was Elizabeth!'. But to be honest I think it would be hard to find any girl who has read this that has not at least once wished to be her. So hats off once again to one of the most amazing female writers that there ever was or ever will be, here's to you Jane Austen.
Now as I may or may not have mentioned before we are on a bit of a stretch of classics right now (honestly at least the next 3 out of 4 books I have planed to read I would consider to be well known classics). Now if this is to be a good or bad thing I guess is yet to be seen. On the upside the next two books are on the shorter side! :)
Speaking of up next we have "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. I got to tell you I did something bad that I don't normally do, I started reading the first few pages before I typed this and I got to tell you I got no idea what this book is about (other then a very cynical teenage boy) so far. So yea, lol there is that. Wish me luck?
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Friday, October 17, 2014
Book #18: " Lunch in Paris" ...Finshed!!!
Book #18 "Lunch in Paris" by Elizabeth Band: "For the record, I'm not an indecisive person, and I'm not a coward. I just have a very detailed imaginary life, and it sometimes takes precedence over what's actually happening around me." (Page 107)
Oh my goodness you guys it has been over two months sense I have finished a book, that is nuts! I have been in-between 3 books for the last month but nothing was really holding my attention like it normally does so I was struggling just a bit.
I decided to put my other books down for a while and randomly picked this up at the library just for something easy to give my brain a rest. I got to tell you it was just the thing, this book would make a very good beach read or just vacation in general I guess.
It is about a American girl falling in love with a guy from Paris and then she ends up moving there and they get married. I felt that Band did a very good job of really capturing the feelings of how hard it is to change cultures and basically your entire way of thinking when you move someplace new like that. It also did a very good job of relating the way things went down between her and her now in-laws, and how awkward that can be especially when you can't always understand what they are saying in the beginning.
Guess it is fair to say that I can just relate with her right now sense I just got engaged last weekend and now I am going to becoming part of a whole new family, just a bit nerve racking to say the least.
Oh! Something I forgot to mention is at the end of each chapter is a couple different recipes, food that is talked about or that she eats while in Paris. So if your looking for something new to cook and a easy read then this book is the book for you! ;)
On a side note I guess now that this book is done it is time to return to the ones I was working my way through...sigh. Let's make a deal if I'm still not done with them or my interest has not picked up the end of the month I get to put the books down for good and move on without judgment, good? yes? good!
Well that's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Oh my goodness you guys it has been over two months sense I have finished a book, that is nuts! I have been in-between 3 books for the last month but nothing was really holding my attention like it normally does so I was struggling just a bit.
I decided to put my other books down for a while and randomly picked this up at the library just for something easy to give my brain a rest. I got to tell you it was just the thing, this book would make a very good beach read or just vacation in general I guess.
It is about a American girl falling in love with a guy from Paris and then she ends up moving there and they get married. I felt that Band did a very good job of really capturing the feelings of how hard it is to change cultures and basically your entire way of thinking when you move someplace new like that. It also did a very good job of relating the way things went down between her and her now in-laws, and how awkward that can be especially when you can't always understand what they are saying in the beginning.
Guess it is fair to say that I can just relate with her right now sense I just got engaged last weekend and now I am going to becoming part of a whole new family, just a bit nerve racking to say the least.
Oh! Something I forgot to mention is at the end of each chapter is a couple different recipes, food that is talked about or that she eats while in Paris. So if your looking for something new to cook and a easy read then this book is the book for you! ;)
On a side note I guess now that this book is done it is time to return to the ones I was working my way through...sigh. Let's make a deal if I'm still not done with them or my interest has not picked up the end of the month I get to put the books down for good and move on without judgment, good? yes? good!
Well that's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Book #17: "The Fantastic 4"...Finished!!!
Book #17 "The Fantastic 4" an official novelization by Peter David: So I got to tell you I picked this book up at a used book store for like 50 cents because I thought it would probably be a good laugh to read (and also because I really like the movie, so why wouldn't I like the book?) and to be honest I wasn't disappointed but I obviously wasn't all that impressed either.
I mean sure I knew what exactly was going to happen next and to whom it was going to happen to so that was a bit of a downer in itself but it was also kind of a let down when the David started adding just these little parts to fill in the between time that we as viewers don't really notice missing when we are watching the film but the thing was when he was writing these parts it almost felt a bit like he got caught up in the importance of having fill-in parts that he seemed to kind of lose the characters and their personalities. In short he changed the characters for the parts that he wrote but then when he was going word for word with the movie he was back to the original characters. And it's not that he changed them in any major ways it was just the little was he did it that didn't quite seem to match up with everything I guess. But maybe the way he wrote them was more true to how they are in the original comics...I can't honestly say that I know one way or the other.
So in the end it wasn't really anything special but it was still a nice shorter read I guess. For my next book #18 is a re-read for me it is 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, but I honestly can not help it I just love this book :) nerdy I know. Well I'm pretty sure that is everything. Oh an ending note tho, if you have not seen the 'Fantastic 4' movie it is really good, it is for sure higher up in my list of favorite super hero movies.
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Page Count: 6833
I mean sure I knew what exactly was going to happen next and to whom it was going to happen to so that was a bit of a downer in itself but it was also kind of a let down when the David started adding just these little parts to fill in the between time that we as viewers don't really notice missing when we are watching the film but the thing was when he was writing these parts it almost felt a bit like he got caught up in the importance of having fill-in parts that he seemed to kind of lose the characters and their personalities. In short he changed the characters for the parts that he wrote but then when he was going word for word with the movie he was back to the original characters. And it's not that he changed them in any major ways it was just the little was he did it that didn't quite seem to match up with everything I guess. But maybe the way he wrote them was more true to how they are in the original comics...I can't honestly say that I know one way or the other.
So in the end it wasn't really anything special but it was still a nice shorter read I guess. For my next book #18 is a re-read for me it is 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, but I honestly can not help it I just love this book :) nerdy I know. Well I'm pretty sure that is everything. Oh an ending note tho, if you have not seen the 'Fantastic 4' movie it is really good, it is for sure higher up in my list of favorite super hero movies.
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Page Count: 6833
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Book #16 : "Never Let Me Go"...Finished!!!
Book #16 "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro: So you know when you will be talking about how your about to start a book that your really excited about and then someone is all like 'oh my gosh that was such a good book, your totally going to cry!' and then the whole time your reading the book you keep waiting for the part that is supposedly going to make you cry and it never comes and you start to question if the person who told you you would cry is just crazy or if you are just an awful person. Pretty much what happened with me and this book.
This book isn't at all what I honestly thought it was going to be about. There was a movie that came out based on the book back in 2010 and I remember watching the trailer but I don't know guess it just isn't what I thought it was going to be.
That being said that doesn't mean that the book wasn't good. Quite the opposite really. It was different and surprisingly well written; I say that because (if you don't all really know) the author is a male but the whole time the book is being narrated to us by Kathy H., whom is obviously female. It has been my experience that sometimes it is hard for male writers to get across a believable female lead, however as I said this wasn't the case this time.
So the story opens up with Kathy H. basically just telling us a little about who she is and whatnot and then as easy as if you were just having a conversation with just about any one she gets reminded of something that will lead her to start telling a story about her past and then that reminds her of something else and so on.. that is basically how we, as readers, end up learning all about her and her friends (Ruth and Tommy) time at their special boarding school Hailsham. Hailsham holds many important memories not only of the past but also to allow Kathy and her friends to latter on put together the puzzle of what for and where they fit into it in the big picture of I guess life in general.
As I said when I first starting reading this I had kinda thought maybe they are just orphans and just are i don't know clueless about life in the outside world? But oh gosh no! That is so not the case. I don't want to tell you so much because I don't want to give it away because Ishiguro has a way of giving you all the information that you need in the perfect timing instead of throwing it all at you in a rush. Sorry not trying to gush but that is something else that he did a really good job on.
May I just say that it is not at all what I thought it was and just leave it at that? Hmmmm, probably not. Okay let's see...trying to figure out what I could tell you. How about this? The kids are not normal kids and have a very important, and to be honest sad, purpose in life that they have no way of getting out of or really questioning.
Yea, I think that is the best I can do without ruining to much of it :P hopefully that just makes you wanna read it even more!
I will quickly give one disclaimer that there was a whole bunch of kinda blunt/awkward talk about sex. I mean yea, most of us are old enough that is it isn't that big of a deal but I just want that said considering that I am recommending this book but probably not for anyone under 18. Just putting that out there.
But yes! I highly recommend this like for real read it, read, it, read it! :D
Alright so for book #17 you guys, whomever you are reading this, are probably going to laugh but I have a book version of "The Fantastic 4" lol it is a novelization by Peter David and don't make fun but I am kinda super excited about it. (and not just because there might or might not be a picture of Chris Evens on the front of the book ;P) anyways yea, so there is that.
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Page Count: 6,464
This book isn't at all what I honestly thought it was going to be about. There was a movie that came out based on the book back in 2010 and I remember watching the trailer but I don't know guess it just isn't what I thought it was going to be.
That being said that doesn't mean that the book wasn't good. Quite the opposite really. It was different and surprisingly well written; I say that because (if you don't all really know) the author is a male but the whole time the book is being narrated to us by Kathy H., whom is obviously female. It has been my experience that sometimes it is hard for male writers to get across a believable female lead, however as I said this wasn't the case this time.
So the story opens up with Kathy H. basically just telling us a little about who she is and whatnot and then as easy as if you were just having a conversation with just about any one she gets reminded of something that will lead her to start telling a story about her past and then that reminds her of something else and so on.. that is basically how we, as readers, end up learning all about her and her friends (Ruth and Tommy) time at their special boarding school Hailsham. Hailsham holds many important memories not only of the past but also to allow Kathy and her friends to latter on put together the puzzle of what for and where they fit into it in the big picture of I guess life in general.
As I said when I first starting reading this I had kinda thought maybe they are just orphans and just are i don't know clueless about life in the outside world? But oh gosh no! That is so not the case. I don't want to tell you so much because I don't want to give it away because Ishiguro has a way of giving you all the information that you need in the perfect timing instead of throwing it all at you in a rush. Sorry not trying to gush but that is something else that he did a really good job on.
May I just say that it is not at all what I thought it was and just leave it at that? Hmmmm, probably not. Okay let's see...trying to figure out what I could tell you. How about this? The kids are not normal kids and have a very important, and to be honest sad, purpose in life that they have no way of getting out of or really questioning.
Yea, I think that is the best I can do without ruining to much of it :P hopefully that just makes you wanna read it even more!
I will quickly give one disclaimer that there was a whole bunch of kinda blunt/awkward talk about sex. I mean yea, most of us are old enough that is it isn't that big of a deal but I just want that said considering that I am recommending this book but probably not for anyone under 18. Just putting that out there.
But yes! I highly recommend this like for real read it, read, it, read it! :D
Alright so for book #17 you guys, whomever you are reading this, are probably going to laugh but I have a book version of "The Fantastic 4" lol it is a novelization by Peter David and don't make fun but I am kinda super excited about it. (and not just because there might or might not be a picture of Chris Evens on the front of the book ;P) anyways yea, so there is that.
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Page Count: 6,464
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Book #15: 'Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter'...Finished!!!`
Book #15 'Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter' by A.E. Moorat: Okay so I want to start by pointing out the amazingness of the tagline for this book: 'She loved her country. She hated zombies.' I mean lets be honest for a moment, this book no longer even needs any kind of explanation once you know the tagline. Am I right?
Hmmm, no? Okay fine let's talk about it then shall we?
So when I first picked up this book, not only did I find it in the clearance area, I thought it was going to be kinda like 'Pride, Prejudice and Zombies'. Which if you don't know is where someone took the classic book 'Pride and Prejudice' and added zombies and tossed it to the world to see what all the zombie-loving nerds would think of it. Personally I have yet to read it myself but from what I have heard it is verging on maximum coolness. (maximum coolness? where did I get that from?? :S)
However once I started reading this book I have found that this is not the case with 'Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter' at all I think someone honestly just thought it would be cool to take someone from history and write a book about them being a 'demon hunter'.
As far as the book goes I mean it was okay for what it was, if that makes sense? The main reason for me reading it was so I could have something easier to read after making my way through the classic before this. So yea, I guess if your looking for something mindless to read and you have always wanted to read a zombie book then yea, you will probably enjoy.
My only thing I'm really going to mention on it was that it was pretty graphic at parts, but come on it is about zombies so that kinda comes with the territory I guess.
Next book up for #16 is 'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro. I have been told that this one will make me cry but I guess we will see how it goes!
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Page Count: 6,176
Hmmm, no? Okay fine let's talk about it then shall we?
So when I first picked up this book, not only did I find it in the clearance area, I thought it was going to be kinda like 'Pride, Prejudice and Zombies'. Which if you don't know is where someone took the classic book 'Pride and Prejudice' and added zombies and tossed it to the world to see what all the zombie-loving nerds would think of it. Personally I have yet to read it myself but from what I have heard it is verging on maximum coolness. (maximum coolness? where did I get that from?? :S)
However once I started reading this book I have found that this is not the case with 'Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter' at all I think someone honestly just thought it would be cool to take someone from history and write a book about them being a 'demon hunter'.
As far as the book goes I mean it was okay for what it was, if that makes sense? The main reason for me reading it was so I could have something easier to read after making my way through the classic before this. So yea, I guess if your looking for something mindless to read and you have always wanted to read a zombie book then yea, you will probably enjoy.
My only thing I'm really going to mention on it was that it was pretty graphic at parts, but come on it is about zombies so that kinda comes with the territory I guess.
Next book up for #16 is 'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro. I have been told that this one will make me cry but I guess we will see how it goes!
That's all for now,
Michaela Jane
Page Count: 6,176
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