Thursday, April 30, 2009

Olympia Snowe Op-Ed

In case you don't read the NY Times regularly, here is the much talked about op-ed by Senator Olympia Snowe and her opinions on the current state of the Republican Party as they search for a new home in the Wilderness of Minority.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/opinion/29snowe.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Friday, April 17, 2009

More Reviews

The Grand Finale- Janet Evanovich

In a book written 15 years ago and recently republished by HarperCollins, Evanovich proves she can write more than Stephanie Plum novels ( not that there's anything wrong with that). She calls it a red-hot screw ball comedy and I'm inclined to agree. She brings the same hilarious sensibility from her other novels to this one as well. You see the evolution of the Stephanie Plum humor happening. While not particularly about anything this book will make you laugh out loud in places and have you rooting around your local bookstore (or grocery store or Target) for the other eight in this genre that she has written. $7.99 feels a bit steep for this small novel so you may want to go and hit up your fav used book store.

Verdict=Fun, short read especially for Evanovich fans.

The Third Circle- Amanda Quick

Amanda Quick (i.e. Jayne Ann Krentz, Jayne Castle) seems to be taken with her new Arcan Socirty that she's whipped together in her two previous novels. She's blending in a little paranormal with her historical. In this latest installment we have a hypnotist and a crystal worker battling good versus evil as usual. It's not that I don't love Amanda Quick, I truly do but I much prefer her other historicals to the Arcane line. Perhaps because paranormal really isn't my thing. But she seems devoted to it to the point where her next JAK novel will be one of the line as well. It's a nice long read, a little shot on romance, a little long on the Arcane Society it's self but it is compelling and at times suspenseful.

Verdict=A must for Amanda Quick fans, especially those that like the paranormal. Not so much for those deeply devoted to her normal line of historicals (Mischief, etc.).

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Sorry about the deadline

Sorry I didn't post my reviews when I said I would. My daughter was out of school for spring break and I basically felt like a human chew toy since I was required to entertain her every minute. Then I wrote the review but Blogspot ate it. So here we go again.

For those ten of you who haven't read Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella you might want to consider it. Especially if you have a beach to sit on or just some spare time on yyour hands that makes you want to delve into a surface novel. Personally I think it's a bit of a Bridge Jones rip off. Told in first person in an almost diary style, it does have charm. Unforunately our heroine, Becky, becomes tiresome at best about two-thirds of the way through. Some will think her scams and schemes to pay her creditors back are hilaious. I just found them poor and foolish. I think as a person who grew up not believeing in revolving debt that the idea of someone in her predicament, made by herself is just sad. Not to mention her naievete just grates on one after awhile. But having said the negative, her character is engaging up to a point and the premise is very good. Even the littlte romance thrown in is well thought out and adds a lift to the end. It's a Cinderella story if ever one has hit the stands recently and become a best seller. But I won;t be reading the sequels.

Rating=Pick it up second hand at a used bookstore.


Monsters vs. Aliens. In 3d. 3D is fun. It's been ages since I've seen one and this movie entirely in that format was entertaining if for no other reason. But there were other reasons. Despite some tired and worn jokes, MVA provides a few serious laughs and more than a few snickers. The characters are likeable, the movie it's self beautifully done (as one would expect from Dreamworks) and the voices are familiar and comforting. Fun for the whole family. As long as your kids are old enough to wear the glasses for extended periods.

Rating=Excellent $1 movie material.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Hi! It's me.

I offer absolutely no excuse as to why I've been gone so long. I really don't have one at all. I just wsa but now I'm back. Yeah. I've seen some movies, read some books, formed some political opinions in my time away so I think I have enough to keep you entertained for awhile. Tomorrow I'll be featuring a review of "Confessions of a Shopoholic" (the book NOT the movie) and possibly one of Monsters VS Aliens which I am slated to see thi sevening. In 3D! So until then, thanks for h anging in there.