R-n-R Reviews

NaNoWriMo

2009-11-09T14:43:00.003-06:00

Posts may be sparse this month due to the fact that I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month. I had participated once a few years ago but didn't make the goal of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. I doubt very seriously that this year will be any different, especially since I got started late. However, I obviously like writing and thought it might be fun to try.

I'm up to 2430 words, which is a little discouraging but, again, it's just for fun. If, by some small chance, I were to make the goal, one of their sponsors, CreateSpace, "is offering all NaNoWriMo 2009 winners a free proof copy of your manuscript in paperback book form. They'll even cover basic postage!". Something to think about if you had a book idea rattling around in your head. Sometimes competition can be a great motivator.

"Complete Party Planner" by Annabel Karmel

2009-08-12T22:21:00.000-05:00

I recently read Complete Party Planner by Annabel Karmel and was happy to see she also has a web site with fun and nutritious recipes for kids.

I thought I'd include a couple of my favorites with Halloween in mind:

Eyeball Cupcakes- Of course there are so many things you can do with cupcakes but I found these to be great inspiration.

Brain Cakes -How fun are these? I love, love, love them!

"Yes, It's a Scrapbook!": Book Review

2009-08-11T22:05:00.005-05:00

Yes, It's a Scrapbook! by Donna Downey. I read a lot of craft books, especially on the subject of scrapbooking and I'm not always compelled to post on them, but I love this book! Typically, rather than buying a book, I get it at the library and scan any ideas I like. Well, there are just too many things I like to scan, I'd have to scan the whole book.

Basically, the book shows you different ways of presenting your layouts, different book bindings, etc. It isn't so much that the ideas are ones I haven't seen before, but the book takes all of those ideas and gives you one reference point.

The ideas are displayed well and it gives step by step instruction, making this the best comprehensive guide on the subject, in my opinion.

Free eBooks thru Google Books: Craft Books

2009-06-20T15:35:00.001-05:00

While I've been aware of sites where you can read books for free on-line, I haven't paid too much attention to them. I'm big on libraries and the old fashion idea of reading...with an actual book in hand. Frankly, I stare at a computer screen too often to want to read anything of real substance this way. I do, however, read blogs and forums, anything that can be done relatively quickly.

So, that being said Google books does offer free books, more importantly to me, they have some craft books. These are great for referencing once you have to take the real thing back to the library.

Titles include, The Michaels Book of Arts & Crafts and The New Book of Image Transfer just to name a couple.

Here's their complete list of craft books. Of course they have all kinds of books of every subject as well.

Twilight DVD Release and Book Reviews

2009-03-22T22:29:00.005-05:00

So, the movie finally came out on DVD yesterday. I was quite excited for it, even though I did end up seeing it in the theaters and was left with mixed feelings about it.

I don't know what I'd expected after reading the books. I mean the movie is pretty spot on. I think I just forgot how young the characters were supposed to be. I say "forgot", but I really mean "purposely pushed out of my mind". To my defense, I almost have to push their ages out of my mind, or I'm left feeling perverse and/or ridiculous for reading it.

If you haven't read the series then you may not understand because it isn't until the second book that things get really good. Read my reviews below to see what I mean.

You can read my review of the first book here.

Whereas the first book is all about establishing this unbreakable bond between Bella and Edward, in New Moon, the romance becomes more complicated.

A new romance begins between Bella and Jacob (you may have seen stuff with "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob". Well that's what that's about). Anyway, in the beginning, you can't believe the story is going in that direction. Again, the first book makes it seem impossible that anyone could come between the two. Half way through though, you are so glad. Jacob is everything Edward isn't. Then, by the end, a true love triangle has been created. Stephenie Meyer writes it so that you, yourself, are confused about what Bella should or will do.

Eclipse is a true continuation of the last book. In it, the love triangle really heats up. The fact that Edward is a vampire and Jacob...well, that he's different too really make for a more exciting twist than most romance books.

Meyer gives you just enough to keep you reading and hoping. She really is a good writer in that way. All the books were so hard to put down. All except the last.

Breaking Dawn was my least favorite. I didn't like how everything was wrapped up in a nice neat bow.

There was a shocking moment in the book, but it wasn't the ending I would have liked.

Reviews: Pineapple Express & Twilight

2009-01-12T22:30:00.006-06:00

I just watched Pineapple Express with James Franco and Seth Rogen. Typically I hate pot head moves but oddly enough, I wanted to see this. My husband is insistent that it's because of James Franco, and I do admit he looks much better with long hair, but that isn't the reason. I thought it looked funny and it was.

It wasn't just about smoking pot. There was an actual storyline and it wasn't bad. Gay as all hell but funny. For those who haven't seen it, watch and you'll understand that comment.

I give this movie a thumbs up.

Okay, I gave in and finally read Twilight. Everyone was talking about it. My 16 year old niece is crazy about and so I did it.

Turns out, I read it in 2 days, it was so good. I know, I'm way too old to find this book so appealing. I mean it's definitely written as a teenage romantic fantasy. A young virgin girl meets a sensitive bad boy, who just happens to be a vampire, minor detail. The whole book is somewhat of a tease but there I was...enthralled. I don't even like romance books normally, but I just kept hoping they were going to ramp this whole thing up I guess. Of course, then it's not for young girls so much.

All I'm asking for is something between this and True Blood. True Blood is borderline porn and this was, well I think "tease" does say it all.

Now, I haven't seen the movie because my husband isn't as gung ho as I am, but I know the lead guy, Robert Pattinson, is a hottie. If I'm honest, he is why I read the book. Wow, I feel like such a cougar. He is almost 10 year younger. Typically, I think of people that age as kids to me, but he looks like all man to me.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

2008-09-13T14:42:00.006-05:00

I finally read Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. I hesitated because I love the show so much I didn't want the book to give away or ruin anything for me. My nephew actually read it first and recommended it highly, this is after I got everyone in my family hooked on the show.

So, I read it and I wasn't impressed. Personally, I didn't like the way Lindsay wrote it. I found it hard to believe that he was not a teenager at the time because the writing seemed immature. Of course, I think the same thing about Stephen King and I'm sure his feelings aren't hurt. I'm just talking about personal taste. The book wasn't my thing but the show still reigns supreme.

I actually got my advance copy of the first episode already and I can see season 3 is going to be a good one. I'm not surprised at all. The only thing that kind of sucks is that I heard Michael C. Hall is dating the woman who plays his sister (pictured below). I'm not sure if that's true but it taints my view of them when they're together now.

Jeff Lindsay with Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and Jennifer Carpenter

Books by James Redfield

2008-03-28T09:47:00.006-05:00

The Celestine Prophecy. I don't know how to describe this book really. It's about a journey of discovery. I guess you could say it's like the book "The Secret" in that it makes you look at life in a different way.

Celestine Prophecy is the first of three. It is the best of the series. Though it is a work of fiction, it felt very believable. The book does leave you with real questions about what you think about life’s “coincidences” and about purpose. Any book that can make you think about deeper meaning, fiction or not, is worth the read.

The Tenth Insight. I thought this was a great follow-up to The Celestine Prophecy. Anyone who liked the first book should not be disappointed by this one.

Books by Gregory Maguire

2008-03-28T09:18:00.016-05:00

Mirror Mirror. This was the first Gregory Maguire book that I read. I almost didn't get past the first chapter of this book because it read too much like Shakespeare to me. However, I pushed on and I was glad that I did because it didn't take long to catch on.

True, the story took some bizarre turns, but I actually fell in love with the way that Maguire writes. I liked the different perspectives that he told the story from. I thought it was an interesting take on the story of Snow White. The only thing that I would warn against is that it isn't child-friendly and I didn't feel any real resolution in the end.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. I liked this book alot better than Gregory Maguire's "Mirror Mirror". Once you get used to the way that he writes, it flows really nicely. I thought the imagery was nice. In some places it reads alot like poetry to me and I like that as well.

As with all of Maguire's books, it was done from a new perspective and it actually made me dislike Cinderella, which I didn't expect. Finally, there was resolution at the end and I didn't walk away disappointed. What more can you ask for?

Son Of A Witch. On the good side, this book had interesting spins on the characters; and once I got past the first few chapters, I was riveted to the point that I could not put it down.

On the negative side, I didn’t care for a lot of the military storyline and I didn’t feel real resolution at the end at all. The more I read Gregory Maguire’s books, the more I realize how disappointing his endings tend to be. It’s unfortunate because he is a good writer. Even if you don’t like the ending though, something has to be said for the journey.