The books of November 2012

November...I had so much to do and got so little of it done. Oh well. I'm grounding myself from reading until craft projects are done. Well, I say that, but I won't be able to sleep if I actually do it. Maybe I'll read a chapter a day, before bed, so I can sleep. Just until stuff is done, then bring on the reading material! Yay!

Crafts:
Y'all know that next month will be like the mother-lode of all craft uploads, right? In the meantime, here are a couple of things I can show you. This one will be a Christmas present, but it's not someone who reads this blog, so I'm comfortable putting it up.

You said you wanted something warm...

Next up was part of a friend's birthday present. She likes books too, and coincidentally, I had a book I wanted to get her. The first time she typed this out for me I laughed really hard...now I do it too sometimes (trendsetter!):

SRSLY? I know, right?!

Movies:

As we head into Oscar season, I get more and more happy seeing things. Previews are killing me. I want to see things now! 

Wreck-It Ralph was very, very cute! Little kids like it because it's bright and colorful and has a cute little story. Adults like it because we can probably name all the video games represented when they all gather in the station. I was particularly amused that even Pong went in there. The animation is particularly noteworthy in seeing how so many of the older video game characters moved in distinct patterns...if you watch it, pay attention to that in the party at the pent house. And I squealed a little when at the end, I noticed the theme song for the Wreck-It Ralph game was written by Buckner and Garcia. Don't know who that is? Watch here! (Watching that, I kind of miss the Bandstand.)

My BFF got us free tickets to the local premiere of Skyfall. And then I went and saw it again later. It is so good. Bond is back, with a real story. He's more light-hearted, like Bond of old. But, he's still Craig, Daniel Craig. Which is a Very Good Thing (TM). Javier Bardem as the villain is one of the best casting decisions of the last decade. Well played everyone!

This year was the final installment of the Twilight series. Breakfasting Dawn II included a savory bread pudding, chocolate filled croissants, and fruit with pumpkin dip. It was great! The movie threw us for a loop because we didn't remember exactly how things went down. But, that kind of made it more awesome. I enjoyed that more humor had been injected into the storyline...specifically I'm thinking of Jacob and Chief Swan's scene together. Afterward we had Lunching Dawn II and discussed and ate more good food. A very good day.

Later that same day, I saw Lincoln. No, I don't mean THIS Lincoln. I mean the one with President Daniel Day-Lewis. Luckily I knew the story, so no surprises...except for some of the cast. It was extremely well done and if the Oscars came out today, DDL would win. So would Sally Field. They were all just amazing. I think it could've ended a little different...just with the walking in the hall...with maybe a voiceover of the speech...but I'm not a filmmaker, so it wasn't my call. (Spoiler-ish if you have never read any history ever) One lady in our viewing clapped when the proclamation passed. We were concerned that someone in 2012 didn't know slavery had been abolished. I was scared for her to find out what happened to Lincoln later on...

After Thanksgiving, I saw the new version of Red Dawn. Did it need to be made? No. Was it still entertaining? Sure. Is Thor still massively awesome? Definitely. WOLVERINES!

Books:

I bought (I say bought, but really, unless it was free, I didn't download it...all the monies are going to being Santa for my family and friends right now) a few things on the Kindle, but I can't recall them right now...I'll catalog them as I read them.

This month I read I'm Kind of a Big Deal: And Other Delusions of Adequacy by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day by Ben Loory, Recalculating by Jennifer Weiner, Adjustment Team by Phillip K. Dick, The Stockholm Octavo: A Novel by Karen Engelmann, and Size 12 and Ready to Rock: A Heather Wells Mystery by Meg Cabot.

I'm Kind of a Big Deal was another series of humorous memoirs from Wilder-Taylor. I've enjoyed the two books by her that I've read, but I might be done. They are chuckle worthy, but when I want a humorous essayist to tell me about herself, I'll probably just re-read Jen Lancaster or Laurie Notaro. I think I get their humor better. Again, it's not a bad read at all...just not totally my thing.

I've had the short story book by Ben Loory on my nightstand for a couple of years. I finally noticed it again and decided to read it...I mean, clearly I bought it because there was an octopus on the cover and I love sea monsters, but still, I also love short stories. This book did not disappoint. I enjoyed all of the short stories in here...especially the octopus one (naturally). The stories were varied in topic, but all were funny, sad, and above all entertaining. The only part I didn't like was finishing.

Recalculating is a short story from Jennifer Weiner available on the Kindle. It seemed really familiar, so either I'm very used to her writing style by now (quite possible) or the character(s) can be found in one of her other books (also quite possible). It was a quick read and a satisfying one. I didn't want a deep, complex character study. I got just enough info to make snap decisions that were correct and get a good story that wrapped up nicely. She's really good at capturing how all types of female characters think and act...this was no different.

The movie The Adjustment Bureau was loosely based on Adjustment Team. The story covers a day and takes the main character through his viewing of things he shouldn't see, through his running away, getting caught, telling someone about it, and trying to cover it up. In the movie, that's Matt Damon over a series of days trying to be with the woman he loves. The story actually made me appreciate the movie even more because the screenplay, while definitely based on this short story, is very thought out and extended beyond what little info we are given. I liked both quite a bit...the movie possibly more. It's a short read if you're interested though. And cheap on the Kindle :)

The Stockhom Octavo is kind of complicated. Set after the American and French revolutions, this story takes place in Sweden. A fortuneteller and card shark work together to save their government's and society's complete demise from the political plot (and fan collection) of a bitter woman...as foretold by their two octavo tarot card readings. This book took a little bit to read because you had to pay close attention, but it was a very good read. I don't think I learned anything about Swedish politics from back in the day (although a little about how classes and women in different classes were treated), but I did learn a bit about the card layout and the geometric and theoretical meanings of such. I thought it was really interesting.

I saved the best for last as I knew I had a stressful week coming, so as the immediacy of it all wrapped up, I knew I needed something funny. Meg Cabot has yet to disappoint. This particular episode in the Heather Wells series did explore some harsher themes than before, there were still tons of laugh out loud moments. Heather Wells is an awesome character...I highly recommend the whole series, starting with Size 12 Is Not Fat, then Size 14 Is Not Fat Either, then Big Boned, and lastly Size 12 and Ready to Rock. Then when you're done with those, read all the other non-teen Meg Cabot books. They're so fun! 

Okay, that's it for now...I gotta get some sleep. Happy holidays!