About Book Blog 6: Twilight

Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genre: Young Adult/Supernatural Romance

Introduction

Twilight is the first in a four book saga. I will eventually do blogs on the other books, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. I thought about doing one for the entire series. Then I realized it would be the longest blog I’ve ever written. This is already the longest blog I’ve ever written, which is why I’m only going to do one book at a time.

Summary

17 year old, Bella Swan, moves to the small rainy town of Forks, Washington. There she discovers that the vampire myth is… well… not so mythological. She later realizes she is falling in love with said vampire, Edward Cullen. Relationships are always fun when the one you love is tempted to drain your blood. Not!

What I Thought Of This Book

I was not at all surprised that I loved Twilight. Why, you may ask. It has vampires in it. Anybody who knows me well knows I’m a sucker for almost anything dealing with vampires. (Pun completely intended.)

For me Twilight’s appeal centers around the fact that it is an excellent escape from reality. The world in which it is set and its mythology are intriguing. The characters are engaging and beautifully flawed. Stephenie Meyer’s writing style has the witty sarcasm of comic books, a type of humor I adore.

Even though the books are marketed to young teens, it is a story that communicates to all ages. The novel’s fan base is generally female, but I think men will like it too, if they give it a chance. They would merely have to get past the book’s one minor snag. Bella has this habit of describing how beautiful Edward is a bit too much in the first book. Skim past it as I do, and you’ll be fine.

A warning before you read. Twilight can be highly addictive. This can be proven by the fact that I have read it four times within the span of two years. I’ve also been given the nickname “Twilight Pusher” since I started letting my dance students borrow my second copy of the book. Can you say obsessed?

Facts I Found Interesting

1. The idea for Twilight came from a dream Stephenie had on June 2, 2003. She wrote the events of the dream down and later it became chapter thirteen of the book.

2. Bella’s physical appearance is not described in detail. Meyer felt that by doing this, it would make it easier for the reader to step into Bella’s shoes.

3. Meyer has stated the apple on the book cover represents the forbidden fruit of Genesis. It represents the choice Bella has, of partaking of the “forbidden fruit,” Edward, or choosing not to see him.

The Movie

I apologize for this rant. I do realize that this is a book blog, not a movie review. However, I must state my opinion because the quality of this film frankly disturbed me.

I am not one of those Twilight purest people. Things are going to change when books become films. I have seen many film adaptations of books that were nothing at all like the novel, and enjoyed them immensely. When I say that I dislike the film, it is not because I had some misguided delusion that it would be exactly like the novel. It is simply not a good film in general for five reasons.

1.The screenplay was mediocre at best. I suppose it followed a very basic summary of the source material, but it was filled with plot holes, cheesy dialogue, and half-formed sub-plots.

2. I was not fond of the directors vision for the film. It seemed unorganized to me. At points it reminded me of a very bad production of Romeo and Juliet I saw in 9th grade.

3.There are an excessive amount of technical problems with the cinematography and editing. Examples: The over use of slow motion, lopsided camera shots, the lack of audio/visual synchronization, and lighting which revealed the ring around the actors contact lenses.

4. I did think that some of the actors are rather talented. However, because of the things listed above they occasionally looked like they were floundering. The poor things. It’s not their fault. I blame it all on the director and poor editing choices. The actors actually did fairly well considering the terrible dialogue they had to say.

5. There are hardly any vampires in it. As a vampire film enthusiast, I was annoyed. The whole movie seemed to focus on Bella’s relationship with her father and her human friends. That (while mildly amusing) is not the core story of Twilight. I wanted vampires dang it!

On a whole I can only describe the film as a few moments of brilliance, surrounded by several ridiculous, and down right terrible moments. I’m disappointed because I love the book so much. On the bright side it’s not boring. If you are a Twilight fan already, I suggest you see it at least once. If you are not a fan yet, please, I beg of you, read the book first.

Sigh…I feel better now. Keep in mind that this was all just my personal opinion. Here’s the trailer. I think the trailer is really good. If only the film had been as fabulous as the trailer.

Twilight Teaser Trailer

Music To Read By

Favorite Albums

My hands down favorite album for Twilight is Version 2.0 by Garbage. Many songs are about the dark obsessive side of love, a theme that is explored in the novel. The song Temptation Waits might as well be Edward’s theme song.

I often find myself listening to Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna when reading Twilight. It doesn’t seem like it would work but trust me it does.

Any album by Linkin’ Park is wonderful as well. Stephenie Meyer claims that the unnamed band Bella listens to in chapter 7 is Linkin’ Park. Of course, as with all works written by this author, you are always safe if you listen to Muse.

Twilight Playlists

Here are the links to Stephenie Meyer’s playlist for Twilight, as well as a fan site that features songs that fit the novel.

Stephenie Meyer's Playlist

His Golden Eyes Playlist

My Twilight Playlist

My goodness this is a long play list. I didn’t mean for this to happen.

Embryonic Journey - Jefferson Airplane
Why does it Always Rain On Me - Travis
Strange and Beautiful - Aqualung
The Walk - Imogen Heap
Crashed - Daughtry
Dumb - Garbage
(Note: I wasn’t going to put this on the playlist. Then I heard this lyric: “A masochistic lamb to slaughter.” I couldn’t resist. You’ll see why when you read the book.)
Clair De Lune - Debussy
(Note: Edward and Bella listen to this song in chapter 5.)
Rainy Days and Mondays - Emmy Rossum originally performed by The Carpenters
The First Taste - Fiona Apple
Flutter Girl - Chris Cornell
Session - Linkin’ Park
Hero/Heroine - Boys Like Girls
Temptation Waits - Garbage
Fast As You Can - Fiona Apple
Insomniatic - Aly & AJ
(Note: Obviously insomniatic is not a real word. Aly & AJ have defined it as: A state of mind where one becomes addicted to the deprivation of sleep caused by an epic revelation of joy.)
You Look So Fine - Garbage
Friday I’m In Love - The Cure
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Endlessly - Muse
Blush - Plumb
Forbidden Love - Madonna
Lay Down Beside Me - Allison Krauss ft. John Waite
Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel) - Billy Joel
Sleep - Imogen Heap
My Big Secret - Michael Nyman
Yellow - Coldplay
Hunter - 30 Seconds To Mars Originally performed by Bjork
Run - Snow Patrol
Closing In - Imogen Heap
Forever May Not Be Long Enough - Live
Time Is Running Out - Muse
Time Of Dying - Three Days Grace
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Lullaby - The Spill Canvas
Dreams - The Cranberries
Love Song - The Cure

Thanks for reading this incredibly long blog. Keep it shiny!

Next About Books Blog: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

About Books Blog 5: The Secret Life of Bees

Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Genre: General Fiction/Historical Fiction

Summary

Most this summary is from wikipedia. I'm just giving credit where credit is due.

Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life is shaped by her blurred memory of the afternoon of her mother's accidental death. When Lily's black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three racists in town, they escape to Tiburon, South Carolina, a town that holds the secret to Lily's mother's past. She is taken in by May, June, and August, an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters. Lily is there after introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and forced to confront her own dark past to learn what it means to be a family.


What I Thought Of This Book

There is so much that I liked about the book that I actually had a hard time thinking of what to say in this section. I did come up what some things eventually. Go me! I am going to break from my normal writing set up, and just give you a numbered list of things I liked about the novel.

1. The main thing I enjoyed about the book was the authors writing style. The story is written from Lily's point of view. The voice that Sue Monk Kidd gave her lead character was oddly comforting to the mind, considering the fact that Lily is under emotional distress during most of the story.

2. The book is full of endearing characters. I especially love the strong female leads. They are the kind of characters you wish were real so you could hug them silly.

3. I really did learn a thing or two about beekeeping. It was fun because that is not really something I would go try to find out about by myself. I loved how the author tried to apply the life of bees to things going on the Lily's life.


Facts I Found Interesting

The novel itself is full of interesting facts. At the beginning of every chapter, a fact from a book about bees is quoted. I found that the best way to find out cool facts about the novel is to read the reading guide at the end of the book. It's packed with shiny in depth facts about things that inspired the author.


The Movie

I went to see this movie literally three hours after finishing the book. It was a little surreal seeing the book acted out to soon after I had finished it. The film follows the novel closely. Very little of the actually story was changed. I always give kudos to movies that use actual lines of dialogue from the book, which they did quite often.

The talented cast was wonderful. I felt that they looked and acted their parts very well. Over all I was truly satisfied with the film. It made me cry like a baby. Of course, I've found that I get emotional about films and television lately. I mean I almost started to tear up during High School Musical 3 for goodness sake. So pathetic but true.

The Secret Life of Bees Trailer

Music to Read By

Favorite Albums

My favorite album for this novel was of course The Beekeeper by Tori Amos. I'm not just saying that because of the irony in the title of the album. I say this because I really did enjoy listening to this while reading the book. The themes of some of the songs on the album share themes that are expressed in the book.

I also loved listening to The Hours soundtrack, The Virgin Suicides Soundtrack, and the Across the Universe Soundtrack.

Secret Life Of Bees Playlist

A Whisper - Coldplay
I'm Going To Bake A Cake - Phillip Glass
Ceiling Wax - Chairlift
Stop and Stare - OneRepublic
Afternoon Sister - Air
The Beekeeper - Tori Amos
Flight of The Bumble Bee - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Ave Maria - Celine Dion
Into The Fire - Sarah McLachlan
Slow like Honey - Fiona Apple
Somewhere I Belong - Linkin' Park
Why Does Someone Have To Die? - Phillip Glass
Cemetery Party - Air
Let it Be - Carol Woods and Timothy T. Mitchum
Choosing Life - Phillip Glass
Say - John Mayer
Hurt - Christina Aguilera
Colorblind - Counting Crows
You've Got A Friend - Carol King
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
(Note: The remade version with Natalie Cole singing on the track is good as well. That is the version on the playlist below. I think I prefer the original however. This song is said to be playing on the radio near the end of the book.)
Stand by Me - Ben E. King
Life in Technicolor - Coldplay

This is Jazz R.J. signing off. Hugs.

Next About Books Blog: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

About Books Blog 4: The Lovely Bones

Author: Alice Sebold
Genre: General Fiction/Supernatural Thriller

Summary

In the winter of 1973, fourteen year old Susie Salmon is brutally murdered. Now she must watch from heaven as her family, friends, and her murderer continue life with out her.

What I Thought Of This Book

The novel is not nearly as creepy as the summary implies. I will warn you that the actual murder scene is rather intense. Once that part is over it is much less disturbing, so no worries this is not a horror novel.

This book is an excellent description of how different people deal with death. You'll find it interesting how all the characters respond to Susie's untimely demise. I also found Alice Sebold's depiction of heaven intriguing.

I enjoyed this book immensely. While the idea behind it is rather dark, there are many light and even funny points. I could see it being a great travel book, since nine times out of ten I found myself reading it while riding in the car.

Facts I Found Interesting

1. The Lovely Bones is partially based on Alice Sebold's personal experience with rape, which she wrote about in a memoir, entitled Lucky.

2. In the back of the book Alice Sebold includes an essay called The Oddity of Suburbia. In the essay, she talks a bit about how complexity of life in the seemly normal suburbs was another inspiration for the novel.

The Movie

Through out the entire book I was hoping someone would make a movie. I was even casting it in my head. Then I looked on the internet and found out that they are making it a film. Oh, Joy! I actually did a little happy dance when I found out. My dad thought I had lost my mind. Ha-ha.

The film is to be released December 11, 2009. Peter Jackson is directing it. Yay! The actors include Susan Sarandon, Rachel Weisz, and Mark Wahlberg. Triple yay! Saoirse Ronan is playing the lead character Susie. I've never seen her in any of her movies, but in her pictures, she looks pretty close to how I imagined Susie.

Update: The Lovely Bones Movie Review

Music To Read By

Favorite Albums

All The Lost Souls by James Blunt was my favorite, though not many songs from this album ended up on my playlist. Not only does the title of the album and the occasional song lyric coincide with the story, this album includes the song 1973, which is the year the novel is set in at the beginning of the book.

My other favorite was The Ultimate Collection by The Who. It just sounds like music that some of the teenage characters would like. I could just see one of the characters, Ruth, loving The Who. I was amused by how all the themes for the CSI shows were on this album, since this novel is a bit of a murder story.

Other great albums for this novel were Turbulent Indigo by Joni Mitchell, Plans by Death Cab For Cutie, and Essential Jefferson Airplane by well obviously Jefferson Airplane.

The Lovely Bones Playlist

This playlist includes a few songs that have been covered by other artists. Most of the time I couldn't decide whether I liked the original or the cover better so I just put both on the playlist for my own sanity.

Songs marked with this (*) symbol could are not on the player below. If you want to make the effort to find them for yourself to have a listen please do.

*Me and A Gun - Vitamin Sting Quartet originally Performed by Tori Amos
(Note: This is a instrumental version of the song from Tori's album Little Earthquakes.)
Fire and Rain - James Taylor
Slipped Away - Avril Lavigne
Moon River - Audrey Hepburn
(Note: Susie's friend in heaven, Holly, states that she got her name from Breakfast At Tiffany's. For you crazy people who have never heard of Breakfast at Tiffany's this song is in the film.)
Summer Skin - Death Cab For Cutie
*Borderline - Joni Mitchell
My Immortal - Evanescence
Frozen - Madonna
Your Heart Is An Empty Room - Death Cab For Cutie
Prodigal - OneRepublic
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Stairway To Heaven - Dolly Parton originally performed by Led Zeppelin
Fragile - Sting
Love Reign O'er Me - The Who
Headlights On Dark Roads - Snow Patrol
Girl Disappearing -Tori Amos
(Note: Reminds me of the character Ruth for some weird reason. I have no idea why.)
Big Time Sensuality - Bjork
Just Like Heaven - The Cure
(Note: I'm so obsessed with this song including many of the covers.)
Just Like Heaven - Charlotte Martin originally performed by The Cure
Embryonic Journey - Jefferson Airplane
Bouncing Off Clouds - Tori Amos
Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
In Repair - John Mayor
I'll Take Everything - James Blunt
All Is Full Of Love - Bjork
Shine - Collective Soul
Shine - Dolly Parton originally performed by Collective Soul

See You Later Readers. Keep it Shiny!

Next About Books Blog: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd