Book Review: The Reader by Bernard Schlink

I finally finished reading The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. Took me nearly two weeks to finish reading this novel but I wanted to get through it. Visualizing the story was not a huge problem especially since I saw the movie first but Part 2 of the book did not keep me very interested. I felt that in Part 2 of the novel it started dragging too much and when that happens it becomes dreadful and boring. The only focus were on the two main characters Hanna Schmitz and Michael Berg. Probably would only remember bits and pieces from this one. It is not one of those memorable novels where I could remember and talk about everything chapter to chapter. My favorites are the kind of novels that sticks into my mind for almost forever.

My next read is by John Grisham, The Summons. Currently reading Chapter 3 but I had to cheat a little and read the reviews of this book on Amazon’s website. It got a good amount of poor reviews but I’ll give it a try anyway, since the only harm would be putting it back on the bookshelf. The backup choice of book to read in case this one doesn’t work out is either New Moon by Stephanie Meyers or finish reading Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger. Probably repeating myself again, but I’m finding it difficult to find a good book. One of the reasons why for a long time I chose reading magazines over books. Think about it magazines are a quick and easy read, since most likely you will find interesting articles and then you are done reading for the day.

On another note, my cat Phoebe turned 3 years old today. Before getting ready for work this morning I greeted her with a Happy Birthday. This evening when I got home she seemed happy to see me but other than receiving treats and catnip nothing spectacular happened. It was just another day in her world. I’ll make it up to her later in the week with a birthday gift then we can celebrate it again.

The Future of Publishing

Came across this on Business Insider’s website and thought to share it. You really have to listen to the whole video in order to understand the whole logic of the importance for publishing companies to continue printing books rather than going completely digital. I understand that publishers want to jump on the bandwagon and follow the latest trend with technology e.g. Kindle, e-readers, ebooks and now iPad. However, the point there is a lot of us who “not wanting to follow technology trends” prefer to just do certain things the old fashion way by purchasing or checking out from the library a hardcover or paperback book to read.

In my opinion I wonder sometimes if publishing companies see themselves more at stake due to competition with the new era of digital technology, and for the future of publishers and authors to continue printing books. Yet, I can’t see printing vanishing because of the needs and wants to serve customers who would more rather order print books online and in bookstores. Newspapers and magazines companies are going through similar issues with printing versus digital. So it’s not just publishers feeling the punch of finding ways to market and please everyone.

Future of publishing just seems like an ongoing issue that most of us will have to keep an eye on. Only solution is continuing to follow as well as show support for authors who love to see their work published in print. I sure hope when I publish my first novel, memoir or book of poems that I can share my book with others.

The Future Of Publishing
Source: businessinsider.com

Quote for the week

“My recipe for dealing with anger and frustration: set the kitchen timer for twenty minutes, cry, rant, and rave, and at the sound of the bell, simmer down and go about business as usual.”
― Phyllis Diller

HELP, I’m stuck and can’t get out!

As adults is there such a thing with getting to that point in your life where you just feel stuck? Feeling stuck to the point where you don’t have the answers; to not being able to find the answers or a clue to figure it out – this can be multiple things by the way. Then, you find yourself gasping at the very moment of knowing or saying to yourself I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to get to that place where I want to be in my life right now. I think to myself sometimes if it’s just me feeling this way since I’m always trying to analyze practically everything and figure it out. What do people do when they reach to that point in their life? Surely, someone out there has these moments where they feel stuck in a situation or situations at the time. Yes, eventually you figure something out and move on and noting it in your mind as a lesson in life. Can someone feel normal to say to the universe that they don’t know how to get to that place, or to achieve that goal without appearing to be whining, complaining or negative or who doesn’t want to get ahead in life.

Well, I’m learning that It’s okay to have those moments. Women are always known as being more emotional thinkers than men but I know that men have these sticky moments as well. When you do have these sticky moments don’t brush them off think about it, let it out or whatever it is you need to do at the time. If nothing is figured out right away, be patient and go back to it again at another time. In other words don’t ignore it because the point is you are experiencing that moment(s) for a reason. We know sometimes things just don’t go right even when trying our best to keep it all together that is minus human mistakes. They are more rain drizzling or for some, downpours in life that it can get too overwhelming. It is good to know how to keep your head above water, just as not to stay in the water for too long and drown in it. My past sticky moments I’ve been in that water a lot of times even felt drowned in it more than once. Thankfully, I was able to pull my way out of it and not physically and mentally die. If I did drown myself in the waters, I’m sure it wouldn’t be a peaceful death. Nowadays, I do feel it but I am learning how to deal with it. So, I really feel that all of the other things that we feel stuck in is just mud.

Deep I know, but it’s healthy to go there every now and then.

2010 Academy Awards

The Oscars was the highlight of my evening on Sunday, March 7. Granted, that I am not a huge fan of watching the Academy Awards every year, but when there is a movie that catches my attention or an actor/actress being nominated for an award most likely I will watch. That was the case this year with my anticipation to watch and witness history being made that night in Hollywood. Here are some of my favorite highlights from the ceremony.

Oscar winner, Mo’Nique won the Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. It was a delight to see her as an African-American to win an Oscar. Even though she won a Golden Globe award in that same category, but to win an Oscar is priceless or even better than that – the icing on the cake. Her acceptance speech was professionally done and straight to the point. Another thing that made that moment for Mo’Nique even more special was realizing how far she came in her career; from being a stand up comedienne, that led her to acting in comedy movies, getting her own television show The Parkers, reality show, and now her own late-night show on BET. I am sure that more opportunities and doors will open for her.

One of my all time favorite actress Oscar winner Sandra Bullock won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for The Blind Side. This was a great moment for Sandra Bullock by winning her first Academy Award and she deserved all of the recognition for playing this role. I always thought she was a good actress but most of her movies were romantic comedy movies, yet even the drama roles she played (remember The Net, Hope Floats and A Time to Kill back in the mid 90′s) weren’t blockbusters nor did it help her career. I thought she did a great job in the movie Crash but she wasn’t nominated for any major awards. Then, she went back doing what she always did best romantic comedies. Finally, an opportunity came her way at the right time that showed another acting side of her that most of us already knew she had. The Academy took notice of Sandra Bullock’s serious side of acting and as they say the rest is history.

Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow won Best Achievement in Directing for her movie the Hurt Locker. In all honesty, I am not familiar with Kathryn Bigelow or her work, nor have I seen the movie so I cannot comment much on it. I do remember seeing the movie trailer for this as well as watching bits and pieces from scenes of the movie while watching the Oscars. The bits and pieces I saw seemed intense and surreal. She made history that night for winning the Oscar for Best Director and not too many women of her stature are able to achieve that kind of recognition in Hollywood. Kathryn will be another one on my movie watch list.

Gabourey Sidibe was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Precious, but lost to Sandra Bullock. She did not win the award but she was practically the highlight at the Academy Awards ceremony. A special speech by Lady O herself, Oprah Winfrey and on the red carpet prior to and the end of the ceremony, every entertainment host wanted an interview with Ms. Sidibe. So, either way it goes she was still a winner and everyone took notice. She would be another actress who I hope to see more doors and opportunities open because next time she may just win an Oscar.

On a side note: I am so glad Inglorious Basterds didn’t win the big categories such as Best Directing and Best Screenplay. Why on earth that movie by Quentin Tarantino was selected and nominated for any category is beyond me.

Love for reading

My goal for this year is to read one or two books each month. Lately, I’ve been on a mission to find a good book to read. For awhile it’s been difficult for me to find one that I actually enjoyed and if I didn’t like it after 5 chapters it went back to the library. In January I read the book Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. After watching the movie (which I swore I would not watch when it was in theaters) thanks to my friends for loaning me the DVD I couldn’t help but want to read the book. I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. Now I understand why so many teens were going crazy over Twilight. After reading it in 4 days I got excited again. The characters and the story stayed on and off in my mind for a few days, that’s when I realized that I got my passion and love back again for reading books.

Towards the last week of February I read Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice. Another great read that took me longer than a week but I wanted to finish reading it. The story had depth and emotion that instantly drew me to the characters. Once I started getting into the chapters it was difficult to put it down.

My next read for the month of March is The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. Never heard about this novel or the author until after I recently watched the movie to find that it was based from the book. The weekend I watched it I had to look it up at my library to see if they had it and sent a request to put it on hold. I will be picking it up today.

Will be posting updates on my progress and giving feedback on the books I’m reading.

Italy, Italy

The other day I was at work sitting at my desk having a rare moment where it was quiet, and I had a few moments to let my mind wander to daydream. I was thinking how awesome it would be to play the lottery just once and hit the million dollar jackpot so I can go on a vacation. If I got lucky and won I probably would think the hell with the bills I owe I just want to be out of this city, this state and travel to my hearts content somewhere beautiful. Then Italy came to my mind. I always wanted to travel to Italy for at least 7 days or more just to see as much as I could and savor every moment of it. When I was younger if I ever got to visit Europe of course Paris, France was my first choice, but that got bumped down to number 2 because of Italy. If I’m paying for my trip I would probably rather go to Italy first before Paris or any Caribbean island.

I remember watching for the first time the movie Under the Tuscan Sun starring Diane Lane and watching it a few more times since had me mesmerized. The scenery in the movie was beautiful so imagine actually being there how breathtaking it would be. I was thinking someday I got to find a way to go Italy whether it be in Rome or Tuscany. My obvious reasons are for the beautiful scenery, architecture, the food, the wine, the culture and cannot exclude the Italian men. I don’t speak or understand Italian but that still wouldn’t hinder me from traveling there. Now, I’m not afraid to travel on a plane in United States even though sometimes while flying turbulence gets me a little nervous, but not scared. However, I am afraid of traveling overseas to another country outside of the U.S. My fear for that is being on a plane for hours feeling claustrophobic and flying over water. I used to always say that I am not flying overseas anywhere and travel to another country. I really believe I would do it to travel to Europe though.

Don’t know when my dream for Italy will become a reality. For now, the movie Under the Tuscan Sun would just have to do whenever I want to take a getaway to Italy in the comfort of my home. Who knows one day I might just take that chance to play the lottery get lucky and hit the jackpot; perhaps my writing will take off and my new career will give me an all expense paid trip there or I’ll be able to afford to pay and go myself.

I’ll meditate on all of that for now.