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lisaluvsliterature's Reviews (4.19k)
I know this isn't my usual YA fiction that I review most of the time, as it is a memoir of an adult comic. However, it does fit in with my love of YA in some ways. The fact that I am such a big fan that I have to read about things I love, and I love Simon Pegg movies! He is also quite the "fanboy" as he discusses over and over in this book. This memoir goes clear back to his boyhood, telling about when he first discovered a love of acting, to his love of movies of the zombie genre, as well as the Star Wars series. I loved reading about how these things developed in his life. I love how he can now go back and see how it seems as if things happened for a reason. Makes me wish something would happen in my life soon so that I can start seeing reasons for things that have happened in my life.
A couple things I didn't enjoy were his fictional story he added in to the book every few chapters. It really wasn't that funny, a few points made me laugh, like the referrals to Shawshank Redemption, but really, I would scan through those bits so fast to get on with the real stuff. The other part I didn't like he even discusses about how it is kind of annoying. People who go to film school and then must discuss all the symbolism in movies and what the filmmaker was trying to say in relation to the politics or world happenings of the day. It's the same way I felt whenever sitting in a literature class having to discuss the same things about books. I know, maybe the symbolism really is there, meant or not, but can't I just read a story and enjoy it for the story? Maybe that's why I have so much trouble finishing any stories I start, because I'm just writing a story, not trying to get a bunch of symbolism across. I don't know, just my opinion.
Reading the book made me eager to get out Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and watch them again. Also made me eager for Paul to be released on DVD so I can buy it and watch it, even though it wasn't quite as funny as the first two moves I've listed. It's also made me realize I must get a hold of the show Spaced and watch it.
A couple things I didn't enjoy were his fictional story he added in to the book every few chapters. It really wasn't that funny, a few points made me laugh, like the referrals to Shawshank Redemption, but really, I would scan through those bits so fast to get on with the real stuff. The other part I didn't like he even discusses about how it is kind of annoying. People who go to film school and then must discuss all the symbolism in movies and what the filmmaker was trying to say in relation to the politics or world happenings of the day. It's the same way I felt whenever sitting in a literature class having to discuss the same things about books. I know, maybe the symbolism really is there, meant or not, but can't I just read a story and enjoy it for the story? Maybe that's why I have so much trouble finishing any stories I start, because I'm just writing a story, not trying to get a bunch of symbolism across. I don't know, just my opinion.
Reading the book made me eager to get out Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and watch them again. Also made me eager for Paul to be released on DVD so I can buy it and watch it, even though it wasn't quite as funny as the first two moves I've listed. It's also made me realize I must get a hold of the show Spaced and watch it.
Wasn't sure when the book began with girls punching each other that I would enjoy it, but after that part, when Ashline went away to school, I got sucked in so much I didn't want to put it down. The ending, I was about to be mad, but at the last second/page a huge shocker & now I'm waiting impatiently for a sequel!! Awesome book!
This was my latest book to keep by the big bathtub for reading while taking a bubble bath. It had some really hilarious moments. I also at first was unsure as I started reading whether it was supposed to be a memoir or was just fiction. I'm guessing from reading the "about author" part that it is based on some real stories from her life. The guys that she dates, well, some of them are just unbelievable in the way they act. The main character is Jewish, and so I enjoyed reading about the types of issues that Jewish women have when dating. In fact, the end of the book really touches on this with something called the Shiksa complex. This is where Jewish men want to find non-Jewish women to date and take home, and then when they get married, these women convert to being Jewish. There is one part where the main character even pretends to not be Jewish just to get a Jewish guy. Only at a Jewish holiday, she finally can't hold it in anymore and lets out her secret. The guy gets all upset and even says he had been going to ask her to marry him that night, but now he can't. And what's weird is that he doesn't say it's because he can't trust her for lying, it's because he doesn't want to marry a Jewish girl! It's crazy. Then she dates a guy who can't make up his mind. So annoying. But what's kind of worse is that she keeps getting in and out of a relationship with him! I could see keeping him around as a friend with benefits, but I could never let someone that annoying keep getting in and messing with my head like she seemed to do.
Karrie Kline is her name, and as an actress she moves out to LA at one point in the book. Here we get to see what dating is like out there. Again, there are some crazy men. We do get a little bit of information about her family. Like she never knew her real father because he supposedly ran away to be a clown, literally. And we do meet him in LA. At the end she gets a dog, and I loved that part. It is true that they give you unconditional love. But I disagree with her in that she is okay waiting for someone because she now has this love. I've had my dog for over 12 years now, and I still want to find a boyfriend. It's a different type of love. So the ending was a bit disappointing.
Karrie Kline is her name, and as an actress she moves out to LA at one point in the book. Here we get to see what dating is like out there. Again, there are some crazy men. We do get a little bit of information about her family. Like she never knew her real father because he supposedly ran away to be a clown, literally. And we do meet him in LA. At the end she gets a dog, and I loved that part. It is true that they give you unconditional love. But I disagree with her in that she is okay waiting for someone because she now has this love. I've had my dog for over 12 years now, and I still want to find a boyfriend. It's a different type of love. So the ending was a bit disappointing.
After reading the reviews already posted before I'd really gotten into this book, I was a bit nervous about reading it. But then I got into it and really enjoyed it. The serial killer aspect to the book was very interesting. I liked how really it kept me guessing, it's that guy, no it's this kid, no wait, it's that kid. I love when it takes me a bit to figure out who the bad guy is. As a science teacher I also like how it talked about Tesla and other science topics. As a teacher, can I say that while I don't think that is the proper method for helping children learn, I would be in heaven if I had a classroom of students who sat without talking when they weren't supposed to? HEAVEN!
The main character is Danny Lopez, but he is actually part Native American. He doesn't really know his real dad, but doesn't really like his stepdad either. He's grown up in Las Vegas now moving to Colorado because of a mistake he made. Also his mother will be in charge of the new casino opening up on the reservation here. His stepdad is working at the prison, with the convicts that are really close to being let go for the end of their sentences. Danny meets some interesting prisoners, on in particular who will be a help, but could be the problem later on. The girl who lives right by him, Tony, tends to just walk into his house without knocking, even going into his bedroom when he's still sleeping! But he kind of has a crush on her. He is immediately asked to join one of the secret societies in this school with its unorthodox method of teaching students. There are cats being killed, and this seems to be the work of a serial killer in the way it is being done. Danny has issues with other students at the school of course being the new kid. All in all this was a good book, I can see many boys I've taught that would enjoy it.
The main character is Danny Lopez, but he is actually part Native American. He doesn't really know his real dad, but doesn't really like his stepdad either. He's grown up in Las Vegas now moving to Colorado because of a mistake he made. Also his mother will be in charge of the new casino opening up on the reservation here. His stepdad is working at the prison, with the convicts that are really close to being let go for the end of their sentences. Danny meets some interesting prisoners, on in particular who will be a help, but could be the problem later on. The girl who lives right by him, Tony, tends to just walk into his house without knocking, even going into his bedroom when he's still sleeping! But he kind of has a crush on her. He is immediately asked to join one of the secret societies in this school with its unorthodox method of teaching students. There are cats being killed, and this seems to be the work of a serial killer in the way it is being done. Danny has issues with other students at the school of course being the new kid. All in all this was a good book, I can see many boys I've taught that would enjoy it.
I love the theme behind this book. A bunch of random old photos found and a story built around them. Although some of the pictures were kind of boring, I was hoping for more of the really neat looking ones. But hey, they can't all be weird, right? I also liked the story. It had an original plot, one I hadn't really read anything like lately. The main character is Jacob, and he grows up with a grandfather who tells really weird stories, and has pictures to go with them! Pictures of a girl floating above the ground, clothes standing with no head, a small person holding a really big rock, and what appears to be a face painted on the back of a head, but with a real mouth! As Jacob grows up he of course grows out of believing these stories of his grandfather's. Until when he is 16 his grandfather calls him all freaked out. When he goes over to check on him, he finds him dead, or dying anyway, and Jacob sees, or thinks he sees a scary monster. Soon after Jacob begins seeing a therapist to help him get over the nightmares and finally figure out he didn't really see what he thought. Jacob decides to go visit this island his grandfather described growing up on to learn about what really happened there. Once he gets there, he finds more of the pictures, and find out his grandfather really did have some adventures on that island. As Jacob gets drawn into this island's mysteries, he has to make a choice on whether to stay with his new friends, or try to go back to his old life.
Now, I did like this, but it wasn't a book that I was constantly wanting to get back to in order to find out what was happening. So, good book, and I think there is going to be a sequel from what I've read from the author having more pictures to write about, as well as how the story leaves off. So, I'm a fan, and will definitely be recommending this one to students at my school, as well as customers at my store.
Now, I did like this, but it wasn't a book that I was constantly wanting to get back to in order to find out what was happening. So, good book, and I think there is going to be a sequel from what I've read from the author having more pictures to write about, as well as how the story leaves off. So, I'm a fan, and will definitely be recommending this one to students at my school, as well as customers at my store.
I remember when I first saw this book, I believe it was around the same time as when [b:The Eternal Ones|7130788|The Eternal Ones (Eternal Ones, #1)|Kirsten Miller|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298266367s/7130788.jpg|7393056] came out, and at first I thought this was another reincarnation novel, and I was intrigued. But I picked it up and read that it was about "immortals" as you might guess from the title. I thought, oh no, another vampire book, and set it back down. When the Borders store closest to me was getting ready to close this past spring, I ran in and found this hardcover book there for like $4, and so I grabbed it and brought it home. I picked it up to read 2 days ago, and I was hooked!
The main character is Nastaya, or Nasty for short. (Which, I kinda hate that nickname, sorry.) But that's not her real name, she is about 460 years old, and has had many name changes because of the times changing, as well as many different passports when needed. We begin the story with her as she's lived for a long time, with her gang of immortal friends, out being crazy, drinking, partying, etc. She does this to keep her mind from remembering all the bad things that have happened in her life. Well, this night, her best friend Innocencio, or Incy for short, uses magick to hurt a cab driver, hurt really bad. Nastaya has never been a fan of magick as it always makes her sick afterwards, and she's really not a fan of using it for dark purposes like this. The next morning she wakes up still freaked out and decides she has to get away and figure out what she wants. She remembers another immortal she met years ago who told her she didn't have to live that way and if she ever wanted help, told her where she lived so she could come get help. And that's where she goes. But part of it is trying to get away from her friends for a break from them. And so she tells her doorman somewhere else, and then she goes to America to see this immortal named River. River's place is a small farm that actually is pretty old fashioned. Along with classes, they do manual labor and all share chores. Their classes consist of learning to use magick and their powers. When Nastaya gets there, of course she at first doesn't think she'll stay, as she's used to a life of excess. And there is a REALLY hot guy there, who is also really a jerk to her. While there she starts having visions, and realizes that there are some reminders she must face from the beginning of her life.
Okay, enough summary. More of my opinion. I seriously LOVED this book. Did I already say that? I love what these immortals "are". I love the new story. These immortals aren't vampires, they're just humans who live a really, really, really long time. They can be killed, but it is really hard to do. They are only born to two immortals. And when they reach their teen years, their "aging" slows down, and they tend to stay teens to 20 year old looking for a long time. And so I guess because they look like this might be why this was considered a teen book. BUT! I actually didn't feel at all as if I was reading a teen book, not that teen books are bad, as you know if you follow me, I read a LOT of them. But I really feel as if this was an adult science fiction book. Yeah, she looks like a teen, BUT, she's lived a LONG time. And all of them have, and their conversations and what they do are totally people who are adults. Again, not that teens can't read adult fiction, but just not sure why this is classified as it is. I don't care where they put it in the bookstore though, I just can't wait for part two to come out, and I think I have to wait till 2012! Yikes!
The main character is Nastaya, or Nasty for short. (Which, I kinda hate that nickname, sorry.) But that's not her real name, she is about 460 years old, and has had many name changes because of the times changing, as well as many different passports when needed. We begin the story with her as she's lived for a long time, with her gang of immortal friends, out being crazy, drinking, partying, etc. She does this to keep her mind from remembering all the bad things that have happened in her life. Well, this night, her best friend Innocencio, or Incy for short, uses magick to hurt a cab driver, hurt really bad. Nastaya has never been a fan of magick as it always makes her sick afterwards, and she's really not a fan of using it for dark purposes like this. The next morning she wakes up still freaked out and decides she has to get away and figure out what she wants. She remembers another immortal she met years ago who told her she didn't have to live that way and if she ever wanted help, told her where she lived so she could come get help. And that's where she goes. But part of it is trying to get away from her friends for a break from them. And so she tells her doorman somewhere else, and then she goes to America to see this immortal named River. River's place is a small farm that actually is pretty old fashioned. Along with classes, they do manual labor and all share chores. Their classes consist of learning to use magick and their powers. When Nastaya gets there, of course she at first doesn't think she'll stay, as she's used to a life of excess. And there is a REALLY hot guy there, who is also really a jerk to her. While there she starts having visions, and realizes that there are some reminders she must face from the beginning of her life.
Okay, enough summary. More of my opinion. I seriously LOVED this book. Did I already say that? I love what these immortals "are". I love the new story. These immortals aren't vampires, they're just humans who live a really, really, really long time. They can be killed, but it is really hard to do. They are only born to two immortals. And when they reach their teen years, their "aging" slows down, and they tend to stay teens to 20 year old looking for a long time. And so I guess because they look like this might be why this was considered a teen book. BUT! I actually didn't feel at all as if I was reading a teen book, not that teen books are bad, as you know if you follow me, I read a LOT of them. But I really feel as if this was an adult science fiction book. Yeah, she looks like a teen, BUT, she's lived a LONG time. And all of them have, and their conversations and what they do are totally people who are adults. Again, not that teens can't read adult fiction, but just not sure why this is classified as it is. I don't care where they put it in the bookstore though, I just can't wait for part two to come out, and I think I have to wait till 2012! Yikes!
I loved this book! I picked it up to read because the movie is coming out. I have to say that I normally don't jump on the bandwagon of bestselling books. Quite often they don't really stand out as something I want to read. And with this one, well I have to admit I never actually picked it up to read what it was about. But when I saw an ad for the movie, I was intrigued because the story looks really good. And once I started the book, I was hooked. I couldn't put it down. Or at least I really didn't want to even though I had to. The stories were told from 3 different views, and usually I'm not a big fan of that, but it worked for this. The 3 main personalities really helped show all sides of the story. Aibileen was the calm woman who first decided to help out Skeeter, the woman writing the book. And Minnie was kind of the emotional one who had some really extreme situations to write about. Now, I heard that there was some controversy that both sides were shown unfairly. But I disagree. I feel like this book showed all different types of people on both sides. So, in conclusion, great story, and I can't wait to see the movie!