Special Topics in Calamity Physics

This book was really really bizarre. I don't think I could recommend it to anyone. There was a plethora of pop culture information that often took away from the storyline. Even though the main character was the one with all this pop culture knowledge, it felt more like it was directly coming from the author and not the character. I will admit that I got a kick out of all the references to books and movies , but it was often overwhelming when you look at it as a whole.
Ha, I did love the main character's father though, Gareth. I loved that he quoted poetry to his daughter, Byron's "She walks in beauty like the night,". And just his characters fascination with literature in general. See below:

Gareth, on travel: "There's no education superior to travel. Think of the
Motorcycle Diaries or what Montrose St. Millet wrote in Ages of
Exploration. 'To be still is to be stupid, to be stupid is to die' And
so we shall live"

Fantastic.

I did find it weird, however, that I just finished reading a book about Rebel without a Cause, and that movie was mentioned about 8 or 9 times in the book. It was all random. The girl had a James Dean poster on the 2nd page. Sal Mineo was also mentioned a bunch, as well as the movie itself. RKO pictures was mentioned, too. I mean, why is it that whenever I read a book where an era stands out, I can't escape stumbling upon it again and again without trying to for about 6 months. It happened with the 60's last year...and now again with the 50's.

Live Fast Die Young Part II

Wowsers! This book was amazing! I adored it oh so much. It gave me a new appreciation for filmmaking in the 50's. It also gave me a new appreciation for directors and what they have to go through to make a picture they are passionate about!
Best fact? I learned that I was on the sound stage that was used in the movie. And when I visited Warner Bros., it was a private tour so there wasn't anyone else on the sound stage and it was completely empty. (Sound stage 7) How amazing is that! Oh, If I had known Rebel Without a Cause was filmed there! Oh happiness and joy!!
I really highly recommened this book to anyone and everyone interested in film!

Livr Fast, Die Young Part I

WOW! I have had this book for a little more than a year! And wow, why have I NOT READ IT until now is beyond me. I have learned so much from this book, and even some more about James Dean! I have learned so much that 1 post will not be enough! Also, I am not yet finished with the book.
Fact 1: The word teenager wasn't used until 1941.
Fact 2: The Griffith Observatory was used as Jor-ELs Krypton Castle in the Superman Series. Also, The Griffith Observatory is named after miming Tycoon Col. Griffith J. Griffith. He once served jail time for shooting his wife! Woah!
Fact 3: Dr Seuss once wrote a screen play for the original Rebel without A Cause, when it was based on the bestselling book "Rebel Without a Cause: The Story of a Crimial Pyschopath" The studio later paid the author for use of the title only.

Read this book and find out:
Which "Rebel" star's Father once pucnhed Frank Sinatra?
Who was the actor who inspired the main character, Jim Stark?
How far did Natalie Wood have to go to get the part?
Who did Dennis Hopper threaten with a gun, only to find out the victim waasn't home that night?
Who was the main consultant for "Rebel" and why did the Studio think this was a bad idea?
How did Natalie Wood prepare for her 5 minute crying scene in the first few minutes of the movie?


This book is amazing because its SO much about the history of Hollywood. (Color movies, talkies, silent movies, juvenile delinquents, classic stars..wow! You don't have to actually LOVE the film this book is about, but having seen it helps. This book is SO amazing. So SO SO SO SO AMAZING.

Names also mentioned in this are:
Howard Hughes! Who doesn't love Howard Hughes?
Elia Kazan (of course)
Marilyn Monroe
Marlon Brando
Erol Flynn
George Stevens

BEST Name Mention EVER? Bob Dylan saw Rebel 4 times as a teenager and even bought a red jacket. *swoon* I am going to fall over from all this swooning!

Interview With the Vampire

I re-read this book because I really want to re-read the Vampire Lestat for a third time, but I had only read Interview with the Vampire once. And since its the first book in the Chronicles, I figured I would give it another go. Only so that I could understand Lestat better in the second one.
In Interview, you never really like Lestat. You sympathize more with Louis. He is just a likable vampire. In one part of the book he is traveling by ship *at night as vampires do* and he misses the blue of the ocean.
I also love that this book takes place in 1791, in New Orleans, then Europe.

"There was in me a great desire to see Europe and to know it, which comes not only from the reading of all the literature and the philosophy, but from the feeling of having been shaped by Europe more deeply and keenly than the rest if the Americans. I was a Creole who wanted to see where it had all begun."

And my favourite line, which Brad Pitt also perfected in the movie is "That morning, I was not yet a vampire and I saw my last sunrise. I remember it completely; yet I do not think I remember any other sunrise before it."

It makes me realise time and time again how much we really dont value whats important until you dont have it anymore. I try to see the beauty in things every day, but even some things I miss.

The Hobbit

A tale about a Dragon, a hobbit, some dwarves-and some jewels! My hearties, this is a tale of adventure that everyone needs to read!
This one is so completely different than the Lord of the Rings. I would almost say that this one is childlike. It's innocent. It's magical. It's wonderful!!!
My favourite thing about this was the Dragon, Smaug. I loved that Tolkien took you into his thoughts. That the Dragon regretted not closing up all the entrances to the mountains, and that he wanted to roast Bilbo. I mean, cmon! The Dragon had personality and he wore jewels. I need to meet this Dragon, Smaug! I cannot wait to be introduced to him in the motion picture, but I don't think he'll be as likable!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I cannot remember how long I've been wanting to read this book, never really knowing what it was about. If I had known that The Smiths were mentioned quite a bit, I would have read it years ago!
The book is bittersweet, melancholy, and nostaglic...but beautiful and profound. The music mentioned = remarkable. The characters were all so amazing. I even loved Charlie's sister (and his brother!)
Could I indetify with Charlie, what with being a wallflower and all? Yes, in some parts almost exactly. I haven't figured out what the perk is though, at least for me.
Some lines that stood out are:

"I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."

"I had an amazing feeling when I finally held the tape in my hand. I just thought to myself that in the palm of my hand, there was this one tape that had all these memories and feelings and great joy and sadness. Right there in the palm of my hand. And I thought about how many people have loved these songs. And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs. And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean"

-I definitly said that about my iPod! :) I am in awe of my iPod. :)

Charlie, about his father "I love him. And I don't know him."

and this is SO me...

"I would have told the table that, but they were realy having fun being cynical, and I didn't want to ruin it. So, I just sat back a little bit and watched."






and this is also me and I am sad to type it out, but here it is...

"You can't just sit there and put everybody's lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love. You just can't. You have to do things."

Inferno

I do not have a picture for this title. Important to remember though, it's the Robert Durling translation...beautiful beautiful beautiful.
My favourite thing about reading this was researching what happened during or after Inferno was written.
A few scenes from Inferno had been depicted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. And I loved researching pictures of the chapel looking for those small details.
The Canto that affected me most was Canto 13.

Canto 13
Seventh Circle, second subscircle: the violent against themselves-the posioned wood-Pier della Vigna-the chase of prodigals-the anonymous Florentine

Not yet had Nesses reached the other side, when
we entered a wood that no path had marked.
Not green leaves, but dark in colour, not smooth
branches, but knotted and twisted, no fruit was there,
but thorns and poison.
.....
I heard cries of woe on every side but we saw no
person uttering them, so that all dismayed I stood
still.

My belief is that he believed that I must believe
that so many voices, among those thickets, came
forth from people hidden from us.

Therefore, my master said: "If you break off some
little twig from one of these plants, the thoughts you
have will all be cut off."


I just picture this one and its quite stirring. It gives me chills even now.