My take on: Call Me Irresistible

Your best friend is getting married. You show up and you’re supportive right? In most cases yes, but in the case of one character in Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips her idea of support was a little different.

Meg Koranda is spoiled rich kid. Meg thinks she knows it all because she has travelled the world – on her parents’ dime. She is more perceptive than others. Meg is so perceptive only she can see that her best friend Lucy Jorik is about to make the biggest mistake of her life. Lucy is about to marry the big man – Ted Beaudine -- in Wynette, Texas. To the outside world, it’s a match made in heaven. The daughter of a former president and the son of the most prominent couple in town.  But to Meg this relationship is so wrong. She has to warn Lucy right? She could end up the most hated person in town?

Of course she expresses her feelings to Lucy, otherwise there would be no point to this book!! Lucy already had doubts she just needed a true friend to point it out. Lucy literally leaves Ted at the altar. Meg is public enemy No. 1!! It’s comical and sad when Meg gets stuck in Wynette. Her family has finally cut her off financially. What’s a person to do? Work for the town gossip, Birdie, as a maid at her inn. It was nice to see Meg taken down a peg. She looked down on the people in town and their money, but still wanted her parents to fund her adventures.  But working for Birdie bordered on torture, and she had Ted to thank for that. He made sure Birdie paid her less and worked her more than anyone else. I have to wonder if there are small towns like this? If you hurt the most beloved person in town, there will be hell to be pay.

Meg seems to be the only one who can match wits with Ted. She doesn’t buy into his mystique. She doesn’t hang on his every word. She doesn’t swoon at the sight of his handsome face – right away. As much as Ted hates Meg, he ends up needing her.  A prominent plumbing executive, Spencer Skipjack, is smitten with Meg and her famous parents. Meg would rather watch grass grow than cozy up to Spencer. But if she doesn’t he might take his money and plans to build a golf course in Wynette elsewhere. Sounds like a great choice doesn’t? Let Ted pimp her out to a sleazy rich dude? Or let the town lose out on potential jobs and revenue? I personally would tell Ted to go scratch, but Meg uses Ted’s desperation to her advantage. She gets to keep her new job at the golf course and live on Ted’s property.

Why stay in a town where people hate you? I personally would run, but Meg wants to prove a point. She wants to prove she can make it without the help of mommy and daddy. Staying in town seems to toughen her resolve. In the past, playing the famous parents card would work. But now she has to learn to fight her own battles.

Ted and Meg want to hate each other, but they end up really seeing each other. A secret relationship is formed. It’s rather steamy, too!! The passion is there between them, but is there love? Ted hides his feelings, something Meg wishes he didn’t. What’s so wrong with giving up control she wonders? Giving up control means he has to let people in.  On the flip side, Meg doesn’t know truly know what she wants. She left college in her senior year to explore the world, but never found what she was looking for. Is Ted the answer? Can she love him? Does he love her or is he just trying to save the town?

I loved this one. I read the first 173 pages in one day and finished the rest another day. I know my GoodReads account says otherwise, but I read four at once sometimes one book takes precedence over another. It's one of those reads where you keep saying, "Just one more chapter, just one more chapter." Before I knew it I was finished with the book. Call Me Irresistible is funny, sexy and romantic.  

Rating: O. M.G. !!!

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins) as part of a blog tour with TLC Book Tours.

It's Monday, what's on the cover?

On first glance I missed the image on the cover of Sweetly by Jackson Pearce. My first impression was what a boring cover. But, a longer look revealed otherwise. That's a creepy-looking face framing that house. Kind of like a wicked witch. Perhaps she's trying to entice people to her house? Could be this is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel. I've never read anything by Jackson Pearce, but I follow her on Twitter and her YouTube channel. She has some funny things to say. I figured why not read her writing? Thanks to Faye at Little Brown for providing me with a copy. I'm aiming to finish it this week. Fingers crossed!!

Just from looking at the cover of After the Party by Lisa Jewell, I can tell this is a couple in crisis. They're not even looking at each other. They're drifting apart. Do they love each other? Did they once love each other? I'm only about two chapters in, so it's hard to tell all the details. But the prologue starts with a cliffhanger, so I have to read the rest to find out what happens!! This is a sequel to Ralph's Party, which I did not read. I'm not sure I needed to. You kinda get the gist of some things in the beginning. A review and Q&A with Lisa Jewell will be posted on Sept. 16. Happy reading everyone!!

Dear Hurricane Irene....

I know you are nothing to take light of. But I have a message for you......

I unfortunately have to work tonight. I actually have to leave pretty soon, especially if I want to get across one of the bridges in NYC before they close. Fortunately, the newspaper I work for is shelling out money for hotel rooms. Wherever you are be safe!!

And just a little side note: ABC interviewed some people at my local supermarket. How are people in my neighborhood preparing for Hurricane Irene? Buying candles? No. Buying water? No? How about batteries, milk, toilet paper or eggs? No, no, no, and no. They are buying....wait for it....CRAB LEGS!! Nothing says being prepared for a hurricane like a steaming pile of CRAB LEGS!!!

It's Monday, what's on the cover?

It's Monday, what's on the cover of the book I'm reading? It's back to family drama with Call Me When You Land by Michael Schiavone. The cover looks so dark, it's easy to see this won't be happy story. A motorcycle with a mother and son as the backdrop. This motorcycle is the cause more problems for this family. The motorcycle represents freedom for this particular teenage boy. Freedom his mother doesn't him to have. Will they resolve their problems or will the motorcycle drive them apart? I'm about five chapters in, and so far so good. A review and guest post from Michael Schiavone will be posted on September 9. Stay tuned!!

My take on: You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl

I was in the middle of reading Celia Rivenbark's book You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl, and she took me back to a certain cutesy commercial.....

Yes that commercial!!! The Swiffer Wet Jet. I laughed when it first came out, but Celia Rivenbark made me think of how overloaded television is with commercials like these. Have you seen the new one where the woman dressed as a piece of dirt falls in love with the Swiffer Wet Jet? Cutesy commercials are just one of the many elements in this collection of hilarious essays. Social media, movie theater etiquette, teenage angst, annoying mall people, a horny couple on the Food Network, politics, Oprah, and of course "Duh" husband (her better half) are just of few of things in the book.

The first essay, "Taking the Class out of Yoga," made me laugh. Rather than take part in yoga, she would want to sit on the sidelines and perhaps have some pizza. How did Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love, fame stay so thin after gorging on pizza during her tour of self-discovery? Yoga perhaps? I guess she made yoga cool, but Celia Rivenbark made it funny for me. I would rather be eating a slice of pizza, too.

How about those annoying mall people? "Is your skin clean Ma'am? Would you like to try this fragrance? I want to show you something amazing!!" We've all had those experiences. They never seem to take no for an answer. How about buying something without having to give out your phone number or e-mail?

As a southerner, Rivenbark finds it hard to contain herself on Twitter. 140 characters just isn't enough, especially when some celebrities, like Kathy Ireland, come across so perfect on Twitter. I know the feeling. Everyone else is writing something so insightful, but all I can come up with is what I had for lunch. Make sure to check out the essay on Twitter, that one had me rolling.

The best essay out of them all had to be, "Politically Correct: A Palin/ La Toya Ticket." Doesn't that seem like the dream ticket?!?! They both talk too much. I think they would get more attention than Michele Bachmann in 2012. This book is silly and sassy. I had to think who is similar to Celia Rivenbark? The first person that came to mind is Larry David, over the top, sometimes politically incorrect but always funny.

Rating: Superb


Notes: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (St Martin's Press) at the request of the author's publicist (Wunderkind PR) in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful picture !!!

For the most part, I write book reviews, my life related to books, and other book-related nonsense. In this blogging world there are endless opportunities. Books are the major perk for me. Sometimes there are other perks involved, and this is one of those days.

Easy Canvas Prints contacted me with the opportunity to review one of their products (free of charge) -- putting a picture on canvas. To be honest, I've always wanted to have a photo like that. I knew just the photo I wanted.....

Please ignore my hand there!! One of these days I'm going to invest in a digital camera. For now my Flip camera will have to do. This is one my favorite photos. Three generations of my family all at once. That's me on the left, my grandmother and my mom. It's a little on the small side, so the opportunity to blow it up on a canvas wasn't too hard to resist. Here is the finished product.....

See how much makeup I've got on? That's a rare sight. My mother and stepfather renewing their vows called for it. I love both pictures. My mother loves the canvas so much, she's ordering one for my grandmother!! When I get my own place, this would be the perfect picture to put up. Easy Canvas Prints isn't just for your favorites photos. Want to make a slogan? You can do that too!! And it's very easy to do. Take it from me, and I'm not the most tech-savvy person. Scan the picture or create your slogan, upload it on the site's software and that's it. Be sure to check out Easy Canvas Prints, who knows what you can come up with!!

The Help: Movie vs. the book

Over the years, I have seen some great movie adaptations and some really, really, really bad ones. The good: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Like Water for Chocolate, Jurassic Park (although the third one sucked beyond belief), and Lolita to name a few. The bad: White Oleander and sadly My Sister's Keeper. I love Jodi Picoult books, and I had high hopes when I heard that My Sister's Keeper was being made into a movie. The day before it came out I read a newspaper review, and was instantly disappointed. Those of you who read it know about the ending. When Hollywood got a hold of it they decided the ending needed to be changed. That turned me off and scores of fans off the movie. I never saw it, but I know the movie can't be good if a HUGE PLOT POINT is changed. And I do mean HUGE PLOT POINT. Taking it out changed the spirit of the book.

What does all of this have to do with the movie adaption of Kathryn Stockett's book The Help? I loved, loved, loved the book. When I heard it would be made into a movie, I was super-excited. Then I heard Viola Davis and Sissy Spacek were going to be in it, I had high hopes. Such great actresses, they can't screw it up right? After seeing the movie today, I think they got it right. Sure there were some things left out, tweaked, but overall it was a good movie. It would have been better if the couple behind me wasn't talking throughout the movie. Had they been my age I would have said something, but I must respect my elders!! Instead I rolled my eyes several times.

On to the movie, Emma Stone did a good job as Skeeter. I've never seen any of her movies, but I think she will be around for a long time. Jessica Chastain (Celia) and Allison Janney (Charlotte) have their moments, too. Sissy Spacek (Miss Hilly's mom) was hilarious in the few scenes she had. But I feel this movie belonged to Viola Davis (Aibileen), Octavia Spencer (Minny), and Bryce Dallas Howard (Miss Hilly).

I saw Bryce Dallas Howard in the last Spiderman and thought she was an Ok actress. After seeing her in The Help, I was amazed that it was the same person. I read some reviews saying she was miscast, I respectfully DISAGREE!! I left that movie hating her character just as much as I did in the book. To me that's the mark of a good actress. She played the role of the Queen Bee, ice cold racist of 1960s Jackson, Mississippi rather well. And, fear not the...um....chocolate pie plot point is still in the movie. It would have been a huge mistake if it wasn't. If you read the book, you know what I'm talking about.

Octavia Spencer played Minny with a lot of humor, boldness and strength. There were moments when you laugh out loud at her character, and other times you can feel her vulnerability.

I saved the best for last -- Viola Davis!! Her last scene with Bryce Dallas Howard just might get her an Oscar. Aibileen's character had just rough life. Her son died, but to her employer Miss Leefolt (Ahna O'Reilly) it was just another day. Sometimes you want to cry right along with her character.

I'm not sure I could choose which was better. The movie or the book? The book has a lot more rich details to it. But seeing the words brought to life on the screen was great. I would give the book a slight edge (so much that I want to re-read it).

Of course there are people who would disagree with me. Working at a newspaper, I had the chance to read dozens of stories that came across the wire. Some good, some bad. The criticism about the book followed the movie. What can a white woman (Kathryn Stockett) tell us about racism in the 1960s? Is Stockett pandering to the black community? Why would Viola Davis demean herself by playing a maid? Kathryn Stockett has been sued and will most likely be sued again over the book. Some of the reviews I've seen completely ignore that the book came first. Instead Hollywood came up with another way to make itself look good by making a movie to show how wrong racism is.

Perhaps because I'm only 28, I don't get all of the negativity. I read the book as entertainment and saw the movie as entertainment. To me that's what The Help is, entertainment. I personally think people read too much into things. I never read the book or saw the movie to teach me about racism. Sure there are historical elements in both, but overall nobody should be looking at them as teaching tools because it's just entertainment!!!