Cinder(ella!)

So general news - I'm pretty close to finishing a couple books in the next week, so look for more reviews soon! But Nanowrimo is in full swing, and I've managed to keep on track every day, so it's taking me a bit longer than usual. The upside is that Nanowrimo is in full swing and I've managed to keep on track every day! LOL But really, Poehler was write  right - writing IS hard. But when you plan a little and take risks a lot, and just keep going, it's kind of a blast! Seriously, if you are ever in a rut on finding a book to read because they aren't quite what you are looking for, maybe it's a sign that you need to create it instead. I think some famous Literature writer person said something to that affect as well, but I don't remember who or what they said exactly.

In other news!

Cinderella, guys!

Okay, so little known fact. I grew up with a collection of Cinderella stories. I inherited it, but was extremely proud of it (even though I was admittedly more of a Sleeping Beauty fan when I was younger. But whatevs. I've learned the err of my ways. Cute songs but creepy premise. Haha.) I still have all the books, and some are super old, so I should probably take pics and share them so you can all admire these things... anyway, if you've been on the internets and have girly friends, you probably know that there is a live-action Disney Cinderella coming out (eventually?)! Here's the trailer, or in this case since they assume you know the whole story anyway, I'm considering it a mini-movie:

They seriously hold nothing back. It's more of an "enjoy the ride, not the destination" story, I would guess... Regardless, I will likely be watching this one in theaters, because reasons. Although I haven't owned a copy of the Disney animated movie (the biggest weakness of my collection admittedly) since I was a little kid. True story.

If you are looking to enjoy some Cinderella goodness while waiting for the movie, there are so many versions (for the record, I did not give Ella Enchanted the time of day), I'm going to recommend Cinder. by Marissa Meyer.

It's an inventive, futuristic, slightly dystopian take on the classic tale, so pretty much a YA-reader's dream come true. (Bibbity-bobbity-boo!) I did enjoy it a lot, but it is a series, as much of YA is anymore, but alas I have not attempted the rest of the books yet. I think it goes Little Red Riding Hood and then Rapunzel, for what it's worth.

P.S.- I just realized it's a red glass slipper on her foot in the cover. Can I just say that is sooo wrong! It's not Wizard of Oz, geez!

A Long Way Down

I really want to give it 5 stars, but I just can't. I don't think I would introduce this book to anyone as "it's amazing!" but I would absolutely, without-pause present it as "it's really good." (All my reviews originate on Goodreads, by the way...if a little context helps.)

I don't know how it would feel to read this as a seriously depressed person who has thought about killing themselves. But as a person in a state of flux that sometimes feels pretty miserable about themselves, I enjoyed the company. And it made me laugh. And I really wanted to see the movie. So that's something. It's borderline literature with a capital-L. It get's pretty deep, but a book about suicide is likely go there. But it was all pretty believable. And I loved the different perspectives. These four characters are so different, and you wonder if they really would experience it all together in the way that they do, and I was kind of skeptical but I believed it anyway. It just worked. It was messy, but "der" that's life (now who is getting too deep?).

Anyway, if don't know anything about this book - it's about four people that end up on the roof of a building to jump off, and convince each other not too (obviously, or it would have been a very short novel). And it's just about how to keep going once you've so committed to making the decision to jump, and then changing your mind to not. What do you do? Anyway. This is just about what these four did. And it was really interesting. Like, make me want to study psychology if this is what it's about...

SO yeah, I'd say it was really good.

Yes Please

I was really torn about whether this book belonged on my "humor" shelf, if that tells you anything. It's not that it isn't funny, because at times it did make me laugh out loud. But that just wasn't the point, and for someone who is quite famous for being hilarious, it was slightly surprising. Another surprise is that the large part of my adoration for Amy Poehler isn't just her brilliance in Parks & Recreation, but because of her role model qualities for young people across the internet via Smart Girls at the Party. But it wasn't really about that either (definitely not written for all ages, by the way). Sure, there were some tidbits of wisdom and advice in the pages, but that also wasn't the point.

The point is, it's a memoir of someone wise and hilarious that is neither incredibly insightful or all that humorous. It's mostly her talking about her life to date. Which I guess is the point of a memoir anyway. And it was engaging, I certainly read it rather quickly - consuming it in hours reading one-third at a time. But it wasn't that well written. As she repeats throughout, writing is hard (preach it, sister!) but you can really tell because the organization was hard to follow. Maybe I was disadvantaged by reading it in e-book format. The hardcover is supposedly quite colorful, and according to Orson Scott Card the audiobook version is required and delightful. So maybe I will go that route next time, because I guess ultimately that was the real problem- I don't have Amy Poehler's voice in my head. I heard it in my voice, and that context it just didn't make sense to me (unlike Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? which confirmed that she is in fact my soul sister.) And since maybe I don't have very much experience with memoirs, maybe I just didn't know what to expect.

To put it as precisely as I can - she still rocks, and it was still interesting for the most part. I would totally hang a poster of the cover in my office at work, and will keep watching Parks & Rec and my copy of Baby Mama, and laugh with joy at her work. But I don't know that I would read this again.

Gone Girl *spoilers*

** spoiler alert ** 
So, I got 60-some percent through the book and was like, "good gravy this is Tom Sawyer retold, still in Hannibal, Missouri. Well done, Flynn." And then Nick says the same thing not but a couple pages later. Darn. I thought I had some original revelation about this book. Not even a bit.

But really, could Missouri be the setting for a book that doesn't have someone fake their death and/or is filled with incredibly offensive stereotypes and profanity? (lookin' at you Huck.) Thanks guys. And I admit, I'm slightly bitter that Flynn can speak so horrendously of the state of Missouri. I blame Chicago as a terrible influence. A mere footnote in her acknowledgements reveals that she doesn't in fact loathe the state or the people; she agrees with Nick. Who knew? I certainly could not tell.

Anyway. I hated this book. But it was admittedly very well written. Even if I hated it. Amy and Nick both had such clear voice that certainly kept the momentum and intrigue up. But it was awful. It was *too* clever. I almost can't believe they were as smart as they were supposed to be. But what do I know? I don't read crime, true or otherwise. There could absolutely be crazy people out there. I guess I believe in crazy, I've just never read from the POV of crazy. That's what was so unsettling. I hate Amy. I'm glad Nick didn't try to kill her in the end, but if I had been him I'm not sure I would have been so introspective and had clarity to let go at the last minute. Just sayin'.

I think, lastly, what I resent about this genre - thrillers and plot twists and unreliable narrators (and not the good kind like The Things They Carried) is it's not surprising, not really. It's manipulative. I obviously don't speak to her character as a person, but Flynn's *tricks* as a writer are to an audience what Amy was to Nick. And it pisses me off a bit. Of course it's a twist and she's still alive. You've given me literally no evidence that that was the case. No body, not dead. Period. In any book or story ever, I'm almost convinced. Anyway, same with the ending. It's "oh no, what happens the rest of their lives?" because she decided it to be that way. It's entertainment, I get it. But meh, not my cup of tea.

But damn it was well-written, even if the whole thing was ridiculous. I'm surprised it doesn't take place in the fall. Then it could be the annual literary "It's the Great Pumpkin Something-or-Other, Charlie Brown."

Also, I just saw the movie on Sunday. It was strikingly similar to the book; having it read it so fresh I could tell which parts were left out but the edits made logical sense. I had forgotten it was a David Fincher film (also Trent Reznor). So, when I saw that on the intro credits I became a bit on edge. This man's work is intense. Ultimately, I've decided it was a good fit, because like the book, the movie has great talent on a ridiculous plot. Still a messed up story, but damn Fincher is good. And Reznor is obviously intense as well. What struck me as odd, and perhaps says more about me, is that in the pivotal seen toward the end with Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris, yes I know his real name)... THIS IS WHERE THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS SPOILERS...

DO NOT KEEP GOING IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT AND WANT TO BE SURPRISED.
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

So, anyway, Amy (aka blonde that no one remembers from Pride & Prejudice) is seducing Barney Stinson (weirdo guy in the book who I legitimately don't remember his name)...and it's... uncomfortable. I'm not a prude (yes, yes I am) but I don't want to see Barney's ass. Ever. Anyway, they are going at it, and uh, he gets to his vinegar strokes (any fans of the League out there? haha, oh dear.) ANYWAY. She slits his throat. And I know it's going to happen since they've followed the book so darn close. And it's that scene. And I hide. But something compels me to look, maybe it's over? And it's so not. He is gushing blood. They are wrestling kind-of and rolling around in it, Fincher keeps changing the camera angle, it's just so INTENSE.

And I laugh. 

Seriously. I never laugh at stuff like this. I don't do scary movies, I hate gore, and blood, and yuck! But I think this just shows how over-the-top everything was. GREAT PRODUCTION VALUE. But totally ridiculous. So I giggled.

I hated it.

NANOWRIMO!

It has begun!! And thank goodness it's a Saturday - checking in at 2,097 words. YAY! Totally taking a short break. But I'm already well aware of the panic in my chest every time I try to spend my time doing something besides writing (or writing something that doesn't count toward my word goal...)

But. YAY!

Join the fun?!