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I was expecting this to be good, just not as good as the original, but it is! Why haven't I thought of putting Neil Simon on my Favorite Writer list up to now? Shame on me! There are so many quotable and hysterical lines that I couldn't decide which ones to post along with my review - It's all oh so good.
Just a heads up: If you are a fan of the movie I doubt that you will be able to read any of Florence's (Felix Unger) or Olive's (Oscar Madison) lines without picturing Walter Matthau or Jack Lemmon instead. I loved those two in their roles so much that I decided to picture the movie's cast playing their same roles in this play. But instead of meeting at Oscar's to play poker, they meet to play Trivial Pursuit. And instead of the bubbly Pidgeon Sisters, Oscar and Felix have a dinner party with two distinguished gentlemen from Barcelona. If you liked the original, give this one a try.
I don't know why I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would have. The plot is a good one: A girl keeps growing and growing, causing her to be ostracized from a very young age. Forced under a particular set of circumstances to move in and take care of one of her lifelong bullies is a tough pill to swallow, but she does it. Later on, this bully and others that turned their noses up at Truly, will need favors from her. Somewhere along the way, however, the story lost its magic for me. I kept reading on just hoping to finally get to the last page and be done with it. Could make for a good movie...
Reminiscent of [b:Atonement 6867 Atonement Ian McEwan https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320449708s/6867.jpg 2307233], with a somewhat happier ending, this is a beautifully told story of love lost, friendships gained, mistakes made, and true love that never fades, no matter how much distance or time has passed.
I received a copy through a First Reads giveawayAn English professor reveals bits of his personal and university's history through a series of letters of recommendation made on behalf of his students and colleagues. I don't know why, but this is the second book I've read ([b:The Rosie Project 16181775 The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) Graeme Simsion https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371651741s/16181775.jpg 22084678] being the other) in which the protagonist's “voice” seemed to be best read in the form of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. Professor J. Fitger is very intelligent, opinionated, and honest; and that brutal honesty is by no means filtered in his letters of recommendation. Awkward snippets of how he views his students, the sharp decline of funding directed at his department, and his personal romantic life are told in a witty, sarcastic and hysterical manner. I actually burst into laughter quite a few times. You don't have to work in the education sector to appreciate this book. Anyone who has had to work for or with a blithering idiot and has done his/her job passionately with no recognition, praise, or decent pay scale to show for it, will connect with J. Fitger. I am so happy to have won this little gem through a giveaway. I am definitely buying a couple of copies as gifts for friends I know will love this book as much as I have!
A great reference of events that took place during that time, and what an exciting time it was! I took away a star because the wealth of information conveyed seemed confusing in certain places. When explaining one particular event, the author often refers to a number of others which almost seem like he's going off on tangents - it's hard sharing history without going off topic at times, but it's these aside stories that really make the main topic come to life for me. It was just a bit difficult for me to keep track of it all which forced me to reread certain passages more than once. Overall, an enjoyable read.
“The mechanical toys were very superior, and looked down upon everyone else; they were full of modern ideas, and pretended they were real.”
“What is Real...?”
“... It doesn't happen all at once... You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.”
That's a lesson for all the “superior” mechanical beings out there with sharp edges who think that because of their status at work, lineage, etc. feel they can turn their noses on the plain old velveteen rabbits of the world. I can't believe I've lived as long as I have without reading this great children's classic. It should be distributed at every birthing.
Though not as emotional as the actual novel, this version stays true to the main plot and is told through beautiful illustrations. Man, that ending gets me every time. A great read for anyone who has wanted to read the book but doesn't have time to commit to the whole novel.
Greatest takeaway: “When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal a wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. There is no act more wretched than stealing.”
I picked this book up because it is said that it was inspired by true events. I felt that the true essence of the struggles faced by the main character were muddied by the smut and need for reckless sex on her part. The bad that came her way were due to her conscious decisions to make the wrong choices in life.
Wow! I don't know what to say about this book. I don't want to judge the choices Jeanette's fairly educated parents made in life – I was just happy to read about how she and her siblings persevered and made it through the other side fairly intact. Jeanette and her siblings were forced to grow up fast way too young. What these kids did to pull themselves out of poverty is beyond words –I'm not sure I could've done what they did had I been in their position. But no matter how the parents are perceived by the reader, one will note that they made it so that the family would remain a family no matter what, and for that, I do admire them.
The author chose to have the protagonist tell her story not from the beginning but from the middle, this is very tricky device to use when telling a story, but highly effective for the telling of Rosemary's story. Infused with heartbreak and a bit of humor, Rosemary lets us in on how her family has chosen to live their lives and how those choices have affected each and every one of them in present day. The core of the story is about family ties, her place within the family, and how the way she is perceived throughout her life has affected her place in the world. What's right for some may not be right for others, and sometimes the best of intentions can still have bitter consequences. This story definitely leaves you asking how you perceive yourself, how others perceive you, and what in your life is important and worth taking a stand for.
I need to reread again in the near future. I am not sure if it was the cacophony of overlapping conversations taking place all at once or the slang that made it difficult for me to get through the first play - I had to read some passages over to actually picture what was going on in a scene. The story about the 2 main characters finally does come together and I am sure I'll enjoy more the second time around.
A hilarious account of one's coming to terms with aging enough to be called Ma'am, becoming invisible in a concert full of younger people, and peeing just a wee (pun intended) bit when jumping on a trampoline. I am approaching my 40's but related to a lot(shoud I be worried?)of what Gurtwitch is experiencing as she waves bye-bye to her fertile years.
I just want to know at what age is it appropriate to say whatever the heck is on your mind without having to spare anyone's feelings? Seems to me only 3 year olds and the elderly can get away with it without looking like complete jerks. 50 is still too young. Perhaps late 60s - early 70s? After years of being polite and sensitive to one's feelings, I'm gonna let it rip :-)
It's been a year since Jean's husband has passed away, and she misses him something awful. Her best friend and neighbor, Loretta, suggests Jean host a book club at her house. The gals meet every Tuesday and through their book discussions, snippets of goings-on in their lives occur. Like with any book club, the personalities are vast, and each member ends up all the better for taking part. This includes Jean's granddaughter, who has not had the best year either.
A great summer read about books, friendship, and great eats. Do not read this book on an empty stomach. The dishes the members bring to the meetings sound oh so scrumptious. Though I did not earmark a lot of titles mentioned in the book, I sure did earmark some of those dishes!
What just happened here? This story kicks off with an amazing beginning and then fizzles into nothingness. Clare and Irene are both well-to-do African-American ladies. They lived in the same building years ago when they were children and have not seen each other since – until they run into each other some years later. Clare has passed for white, leaving all of her roots behind; she is married to a white man (who has no idea that she is black) and has a young daughter that passes for white as well. Irene, on the other hand, can pass for white, but has chosen not to. Her husband is African-American, and one of her sons has his dad's complexion.
Irene wants to leave the past in the past and not reacquaint herself with Clare, but Clare always gets what she wants and forces her way into Irene's life. She insists that Irene visit her at a small party she is hosting. A series of conversations take place during the party that make Irene uncomfortable, and yet she continues to allow Clare into her life. Clare reveals she wants to go back – she wants to live among her own once again. I'm thinking to myself this is going to get good. How will her family and old acquaintances receive her? How will this impact her place in life? What will happen if she runs into her white friends/relatives again? etc. None of this is revealed as the plot changes into a love triangle. Clare is moving in on Irene's husband, and Irene is jealous. The story ends with a bit of a twist, but leaves so many questions unanswered.
Joe Goffman's existence as a teen living in the small town of Bush Falls isn't exactly ideal but he has one good friend to see him through. Unlike Joe, Wayne is a first rate athlete at their high school, and this offers Joe some safety and slack. At home, however, Joe and dad don't have a good relationship. Dad used to be an athlete at the same high some years back and it seems like he only lives to relieve the glory days with his other son, the athletic one, Brad. It's a bit of a cliché, but Tropper makes it work. Things turn up for Joe as he makes one more friend that summer. Together, he, Wayne and Sammy begin having a great and care-free summer – until something unjust happens to his friends.
Disgusted by those around him for not doing anything to right the wrongs incurred on his friends, Joe leaves town and doesn't come back until 17 years after (when he is obligated to return due to his dad's illness). During his time away from home, Joe has written a scathing fiction based on his hometown and those who live in it. The book becomes a best-seller and is made into a blockbuster film. Having to return to Bush Falls means that Joe will have to confront his demons head on, but so do those who have gotten away with turning their backs on those kids all those years ago. Tropper once again seamlessly eases the reader into the human condition with humor, honesty, and a touch of cheesy 80s John Hughes-like movie backdrops. C'mon, who doesn't like a good 80s John Hughes film?!
I think the author was going for a heart-warming and tear-jerking read, and it had all the potential in the world to be just that, but the characters were too underdeveloped to allow that to happen. The plot too is a bit disjointed in that the author attempts to provide deeper insight into some of the main character's lives, however, she skips back and forth through each of them so quickly, that they all just remain two dimensional.
As with all of the books chosen by members in my book club, I try not to read any of the blurbs or reviews about the book until I've fully read it, so I was really disappointed to go back after reading this book and looking through the book's blurb which is quite misleading and for the most part inaccurate as it relates to the characters' roles within the story. With that said, it wasn't a total disaster, there are some great references to other works of literature which I've duly noted and will go back to at some point and read on my spare time.
Many years ago I came across the film of the same name, I almost changed the channel, but upon seeing Baby Jane played by Bette Davis, wearing insane makeup and laughing with that throaty smoker's voice, I dropped the remote and watched the rest of the film. I thought it was the most insane thing I had ever seen, and loved every minute of it. I loved the film even more when I learned through older members of my family that it was rumored that Davis and Crawford couldn't stand each other.
Mitch Douglas, Farrell's literary agent, confirms the rumors in this book's introduction: Henry Farrell and the Story of Baby Jane. Both actresses agreed to take the parts with the intention of mopping the floor with the other. On set, Davis “accidentally” kicks Crawford. Crawford retaliates by adding weights under her clothes, causing Davis' back to give during a scene in which she has to carry and drag Crawford. Later, the actresses were to star in another film together. By this time, Crawford was married to the president of Pepsi. So what does Bette do? Before Crawford arrives, she gets the crew to replace all the Pepsi machines with Coca-Cola machines. She even takes pictures with some of the crew drinking Coke.
No matter to what extreme their animosity ran for each other, the final film product shows nothing but professionalism on both their parts. Knowing about their personal rivalries and reading the book cover to cover, I can't imagine who else might play the roles of the Hudson sisters. For those of you who have only seen the film and are curious, the book is pretty much the same as the film, with very minor differences – such as Blanche is blonde and Baby Jane has dark hair. In the book, the neighbor watches the old Blanche Hudson movies with her neighbor, not her daughter.
Long story short: If you love the movie, you'll love the book!
A beautifully told story of a boy who faces so many challenges at school because of his appearance. He's really a cool kid but people keep him at arms length - that is until someone finally breaks from the pack and shows him some decency. Not all follow suit at once, but it goes to show that sometimes it only takes one small act of kindness to turn things around. Such a simple idea, yet such a complex concept for most.
I wanted to give this 3 stars because it was too short and some details seemed rushed. I wanted more of a backstory or reintroduction to some of the other characters that we meet in book 1. However, the actual history of the curious little bookstore that I wish were real (and my very own)was very imaginative and exciting to read about. You saved yourself with that one, Sloan.
Nick and Nora: one of my favorite couples. I remember watching this old B&W a long time ago. I was ready to change the channel but Nick spewed one of many witty and dry lines, and I was hooked. I very much hoped that the book would capture that same playful and loving chemistry b/w him and his better half, Nora. It did not disappoint. That aside, the playing out of this who-done-it was carefully crafted and kept me engaged at every turn. What a hoot it would be to eavesdrop on Sherlock Holmes and Nick discussing a case over drinks in a speakeasy.
This historical fiction is about a teen girl who is inspired to become a doctor. She is hired in the fairly new dept of health and sanitation and works alongside someone from the dept to track the rash of Typhoid outbreak in NYC. The author tries to write about the typhoid epidemic and the tracking of “Typhoid Mary” in a suspenseful manner, but falls short because on top of the main story line are two other story lines fighting for center stage: a)Prudence's desire to become a doctor, and b)Prudence's developing crush for her boss. Neither of these two storylines come to a full conclusion, and the telling of how Mary Mallon is capable of being a healthy host that is able to spread typhoid to others is often repeated.
Cecilia Fitzpatrick is a woman that has it all: a handsome and loving husband, kids that are well adjusted and love their folks, and she has a good standing in the community. One day she goes to the attic to fetch something for her daughter and comes across an envelope. On it is her husband's writing requesting that she read the contents of the letter only after his death. She resists her urge to read it and respects his wishes until she observes some uncharacteristic behavior from him which prompts her to open the letter soon after she finds it. The contents of the letter are shocking to her and her knowing the information sets her and her and her family's life on a different course. Though it was a good read I think I had higher expectations for this one, but the ending did leave me thinking what kind of life Cecilia (and others affected by the contents of the letter) might have had if she never read the letter.