When the movie version of The Secret Life of Bees came out, I was completely disinterested. Now after reading the book, I want to see how they did. I'm adamant about reading books first. I would rather be disappointed in a movie for not living up to the book it is attempting to portray instead of being disappointed in a book because I expected it to follow a movie. Books are always better. Always.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is steeped in the tension of early civil rights (1964) and the coming of age of an abused 14-year-old girl named Lily Owens. After her African-American, stand-in mom Rosaleen affronts a few racists while in town with Lily and subsequently finds them both in jail; Lily hatches a plan to bust Rosaleen out of jail and run away from her abusive father T-Ray.
On a scrap of hope Lily hopes to find people who knew her mother before she died and in doing so, to figure out who Lily Owens is. She and Rosaleen end up in the care of August, May, and June Boatwright--African-American sisters who keep bees for a living. While there Lily learns about life, love, family, and bees.
Heartbreaking at times, and funny in others I read this book cover to cover in the matter of a few scattered hours. I found myself thinking about Lily and August while cleaning up messes at work, while washing dishes, when I was showering--I finally made myself sit down and finish the story so as to find some closure on the matter.
Bees was a quick read in truth, if not for my busy schedule I would have read it in one sitting. I have my roommate Prose to thank for the lending of this book, though I think I will be adding it to my personal library in the near future.
Look for a post on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in the next few days as I am nearly finished with it as well. I'm sitting on pins and needles to find out if Jane will get Mr. Bingley, if Mr. Darcy will succeed in capturing Elizabeth's heart, and where on earth Lydia has gone off to!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Chick lit and me
I am not usually one for chick lit, but I came across a book called Bitter Is the New Black by Jennifer Lancaster a year or so ago and was so taken with the sarcasm and snarkiness that I became a fan (even on Facebook!). How can you not like a book with a front cover that reads, "Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered, Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office"? This non-fiction gem details the life of an ex-sorority girl with more money in her closet than in her savings and what happens when her world comes tumbling down on her. Secretly all poor people want the rich(er) people to fall on their ass, and Jen does and tells us all about it in an hilarious way.
In the last week I have read the sequels, Bright Lights, Big Ass and Such a Pretty Fat. There is a fourth book freshly out that I have yet to read, but believe me that as soon as our library calls me and tells me it's waiting for me I'll be in my car to get it clothed or not.
The best part of Bright Lights, Big Ass was the several pages detailing a trip to the gynecologist after a 4-year-hiatus (my new favorite word I guess since I've used it twice in as many days). When Jen started talking about stapling the paper gown back together over her chubbiness I laughed so hard I choked on a pretzel (dipped in chocolate pudding) and almost woke my roommate. There were many other quite humorous parts, but that one took the cake for me. The central part of the story however was her working as a temp while waiting for money from Bitter is the New Black. How can you not laugh at a former big shot collating copies and fetching coffee for $10 an hour?
In Such Pretty Fat, Jen delved more into her weight issues in a funny and snarktastic way. Much as she used to drop off a bad rent check then force herself to waitress her tables for maximum tips to cover it, she signs her publishing contract as a deadline to make herself work to lose her weight. It's an up and down battle with her binging on pie and working out to a pint sized drill-sargent at the gym.
Through all of the books she throws in funny stories about her dogs, husband, friends, and even herself to show readers that she (and those associated with her) are real people in the real world.
So, chick lit and I can be friends; just don't expect me to start reading every glossy, pink-jacketed, shoe or flower bedecked book out there. It's not going to happen. Jen Lancaster's next book, Pretty in Plaid has pink and green argyle socks on the cover--so not the same.
In the last week I have read the sequels, Bright Lights, Big Ass and Such a Pretty Fat. There is a fourth book freshly out that I have yet to read, but believe me that as soon as our library calls me and tells me it's waiting for me I'll be in my car to get it clothed or not.
The best part of Bright Lights, Big Ass was the several pages detailing a trip to the gynecologist after a 4-year-hiatus (my new favorite word I guess since I've used it twice in as many days). When Jen started talking about stapling the paper gown back together over her chubbiness I laughed so hard I choked on a pretzel (dipped in chocolate pudding) and almost woke my roommate. There were many other quite humorous parts, but that one took the cake for me. The central part of the story however was her working as a temp while waiting for money from Bitter is the New Black. How can you not laugh at a former big shot collating copies and fetching coffee for $10 an hour?
In Such Pretty Fat, Jen delved more into her weight issues in a funny and snarktastic way. Much as she used to drop off a bad rent check then force herself to waitress her tables for maximum tips to cover it, she signs her publishing contract as a deadline to make herself work to lose her weight. It's an up and down battle with her binging on pie and working out to a pint sized drill-sargent at the gym.
Through all of the books she throws in funny stories about her dogs, husband, friends, and even herself to show readers that she (and those associated with her) are real people in the real world.
So, chick lit and I can be friends; just don't expect me to start reading every glossy, pink-jacketed, shoe or flower bedecked book out there. It's not going to happen. Jen Lancaster's next book, Pretty in Plaid has pink and green argyle socks on the cover--so not the same.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
back from hiatus
So I realize that it has been a great many months since posting. In that time however I was reading many unexciting things about psychology and the English language as it pertains to 'college writing'. I went back to college after a great many years in hopes of getting in to nursing school. I'm happy to say I've come out of this first semester with a 4.0 GPA (for the first time in my entire life) and a whole lot of nothing done other than school work.
In the few weeks since finals however, I have taken it upon myself to try to tackle the '1001 Books to Read Before you Die'. True, I've already read a few of these books. I can already tell there are a few that I will not read as well. I have no desire to read "Mein Kampf" or some of the books by the Russian guys that are so dry as to make my brain shrivel into a zombified nothing. I will, however, at least read a synopses of each book and give them all a shot. I'm also adding to the list with books I'd like to read, am reading, or have read; and adding in elements of the list from a book I found at Borders with about 500 or so titles in it.
I've managed to make a small chip into the list the past week or so. It would have been a bigger chip if I had not been sidetracked by some 'chick lit' and my re-read of the Twilight Saga. I'll be posting a few blogs soon to document my progress and inform of a few good reads for any readers that I have.
In the few weeks since finals however, I have taken it upon myself to try to tackle the '1001 Books to Read Before you Die'. True, I've already read a few of these books. I can already tell there are a few that I will not read as well. I have no desire to read "Mein Kampf" or some of the books by the Russian guys that are so dry as to make my brain shrivel into a zombified nothing. I will, however, at least read a synopses of each book and give them all a shot. I'm also adding to the list with books I'd like to read, am reading, or have read; and adding in elements of the list from a book I found at Borders with about 500 or so titles in it.
I've managed to make a small chip into the list the past week or so. It would have been a bigger chip if I had not been sidetracked by some 'chick lit' and my re-read of the Twilight Saga. I'll be posting a few blogs soon to document my progress and inform of a few good reads for any readers that I have.
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