Monday Movie Meme-Mind Games

Feature Presentation...

MONDAY MOVIE MEME

 This week's movie topic is all about Mind Games...

We all have forgettable moments. When we do something embarrassing or stupid that we hope no one noticed or will quickly forget. The movies love to make their characters forget. Memory loss. Hypnosis. Spells. It makes for interesting plot possibilities and entertainment for the viewers.

I'm back for more movie fun with The Bumbles Blog and Molly!!! Yeah, I've been missing this meme a lot so I've decided to at least do this meme and may add one or two more...


1. Inception (2010): I chose this one because this one definitely did a mind job on me...but half the time you don't know whose mind or dream you're in or whether the main character is just plain loony!

2. The Net (1995): This one is all about how our lives can be completely controlled as long as we're on the Internet...how we can literally be forgotten on a whim. Sandra Bullock's mother also has Alzheimer's and doesn't remember who she is. This was right when the Internet was starting to really take off.

3. The Dollhouse (2009) (TV): OK, so technically not a movie...but Eliza Dukshu's brain keeps getting wiped clean every episode so she doesn't remember a thing. A really great and creepy show.

 

Pemberley Ball 2010

Velvet over at vvb32 reads is hosting her second annual Pemberley Ball! Yeah! This is a great excuse to get me to come out of my partial blogging hiatus for a weekend of blogging fun. I thoroughly enjoyed my attendance last year and even won a prize! Check out this link for a way to RSVP and enter her Darcy-licious surprise giveaway (it's open til November 20th).

I am Lady Godiva and will be arriving with clothing and not on a horse. I recall quite the zombie antics last year and am looking forward to more such undead antics, as well as lots of wine.

Lady Godiva

I also am looking forward to any young Darcys! Let the dance begin!

Favorite Darcy image:

Matthew MacFadyen from 2005 Pride and Prejudice

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Genre: vampire, historical
FTC Disclosure: bought used on Goodreads Swap
Published: 2010
Pages: 336
Content: PG-13 for vampire violence.

In a Line: A fun and fast look at Abe Lincoln as a vampire hunter.

I really enjoyed Grahame-Smith's first novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. So I was hoping for same sort of style with this novel. I was not disappointed! I expected to just like it, but I really enjoyed this one.

Grahame-Smith starts the novel with himself...receiving a bunch of old diaries from someone named Henry...ta dah, all about Abe Lincoln's life as a vampire hunter and the real truth behind the Civil War. This plot device is cheesy, but it drew me in even more. Let's blame everything on imaginary creatures, those darn vampires! HA, love it!

We follow Abe through his life from the loss of his mother to the discovery of vampires and his desire to see them all sent to Hell! To his political career to end slavery, since that is how the vampires feed so well in America.

It definitely makes me want to read an actual biography Abe Lincoln. There are also fun doctored photos of Abe killing vamps and such. It's fun and campy and I really enjoyed it. The only thing that bothered me was the literal demonization of certain key historical figures...but then I just thought to myself that it is fiction and to turn the brain off and just enjoy it!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Blameless by Gail Carriger

Genre: steampunk, Victorian England, paranormal
FTC Disclosure: bought online from Book Depository
Published: 2010
Pages: 355
Content: PG-13

In a Line: Lacked the chemistry of the first two, but ended strongly.

I actually liked this one better, overall, than the second in the series Changeless. I was sort of outraged at the ending on that one. But this one came through, for the most part.

We start with Lady Macon being thrown out from the presence of Lord Macon. She is again living with her unbearable family and is THE scandal. And then her only real friend Lord Akeldama leaves town with his drones with nary a word. She soon finds herself on a journey to outrun all the vampires who now want her dead with no protection of the pack...due to her delicate condition. She turns to Italy, the land of the Templars, who may be able to shed some light on how she could even possibly be with child.

It's wit, danger, and a parasol at every turn. The only thing missing was the actual interaction of her and Conall. Everything turns out just dandy in the end so I can only imagine that the next in the series will be superb!

I'm really loving this series. It doesn't need to have an over reaching story arc...we can just follow along the lives of these adoring characters. Keep them coming Ms. Carriger!

Rating: 4/5

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Genre: dystopia, young adult
FTC Disclosure: bought Costco
Published: 2010
Pages: 398
Content: PG-13

In a Line: Slow start then raced to the finish line.

It had been a year since I read the first two books in the series...not a good idea. I really need to wait to read series' until they are all out...there was a lot that I couldn't quite remember from the first two that would've made the reading of the last book a bit more enjoyable.

The third book started off really, really slow for me. Then the ending went up in smoke and I had to reread parts just to make sure I got them.

The descriptions of the rebel district were fascinating. It sounded very Big Brother communism. Everything's the same and everyone. Each had their own part whether you liked it or not. So it got you thinking about what kind of place the rebels would be replacing...Why were they really rebelling? Was it for the people? Or was it really for power, power for President Coin? I didn't like where that plot line was leading. They want to replace one crappy government for another???

I also felt that Katniss was just lead along and not really proactive in her life. She kept getting blown up or almost assassinated in every chapter. She was just a pawn for everyone else. But I guess that was the point. She just went along with everything until it really mattered and that's when she takes everything into her own hands. She's a survivor and that's what she does.

I think Collins does a pretty good job on talking about the horrors of war and the reasons for it. She may have hit it over our heads a bit too much in the last book, but overall I think the theme is an important one. I really just wanted more. The book was too short and short on the details. I have so many questions about the Hunger Games world. Maybe she'll come out with an encyclopedia of their world and satisfy my curiosity. But the ending really was done too fast. It took awhile for her to build up to the last battle and then it was over and done with before I even blinked. It was like she had a deadline and she rushed to keep it.

The first two books were better, but overall I was satisfied with this one.

Rating: 3.5/5

The Winner IS.............................

Thanks to everyone for participating!

I'm really excited to announce that..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Kisah J. 

 is the winner of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead! She has been notified by email.

Thanks to Misty over at Book Rat for letting me participate in her Helluva Halloween II!

Helluva Halloween II Giveaway!

Well, I'm coming out of my hidey hole for a bit this month...It's October and that means Halloween! I love Halloween and Misty over at Book Rat is hosting Helluva Halloween for the second time. It was fantabulous last year and am looking forward to it again this month! She has a lot of fun stuff planned so check it out. As part of the festivities, I thought I would contribute to the fun. I won an advanced reading copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead by Don Borchert. It was a fun a zombie take on a classic! I am willing to part with it! All you need to do is:

1. Leave your name and email address in the comments section.

2. Tell me what Halloween-y type books you are planning on reading this month.

3. For extra credit (an extra entry), tell me why you love Halloween (favorite memories, traditions, costumes, etc). I just love hearing about why people love this awesome holiday and what fun things people do to celebrate. you don't need to, but if you want, I'd love to know.

The giveaway will run from October 1-9th 12 midnight MST. Giveaway open to everyone. I (or my 20-month-old son) will randomly choose a name out of a hat sometime Sunday morning and I will announce the winner either that night or Monday. You will be notified by email. So join the scary fun! And thanks for participating!


GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!!!!

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Genre: historical fiction
FTC Disclosure: bought from Barnes and Noble
Published: 1996
Pages: 448
Content: PG-13

This book is based on the myth of a woman pope who reigned for a few years in the early Middle Ages. Cross found what she could on this legendary character and weaved a beautiful story around her. What were her origins? How did she get her learning since females weren't allowed to learn much if anything? How did she rise to the position of the pope? These are many of the questions that she answers.

I loved reading about Joan. She's a strong female character, one that stands up against any age. She grows from a small girl who is abused by her horrible father and escapes with her learning, falls in love with her care taker, and eventually disguises herself as a man.

Cross really knows how to tell a story. I was enthralled and horrified from page one. The last 1/4 of the book slows down a bit, but that's to be expected.

The parts that really spoke to me were Joan's ability to think rationally as possible and sort through problems and come up with solutions, especially in a time so full of superstition. She had doubts about God and her faith and that was OK. The way she handles what life has to throw at her is something, I think, we can all aspire to.

Rating: 5/5

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Genre: classic, historical fiction, Victorian England
FTC Disclosure: bought from Barnes and Noble
Published: 1854
Pages: 422
Content: PG

Gaskell gives a beautiful and poignant look at the merchant sector of the time in England. Margaret is from the South and a lady and is forced to move to Milton with her parents due to his loss of faith as a clergyman.

Margaret soon learns to see things from a different perspective as she lives among those who aren't of her "class."

There also is a bit of romance in here between her and the local cotton mill owner Mr. Thornton...!

The characters are engrossing. The story moves along at a steady pace. The only thing that was irksome were all the literary references that I have no clue about! It's only due to my own ignorance, though. Luckily, my copy had a few endnotes to help me out!

I can see why this is a classic! Oh, and the movie is superb as well, if anyone desires to see it.

Rating: 4/5 stars

I also recommend watching the newest version of North and South by BBC. It's brilliant!

The Affinity Bridge by George Mann

Genre: steam punk, zombies, Victorian England, mystery
FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2008
Pages: 330
Content: PG-13 for violence and adult themes

I was really excited about this book. I'm a big steam punk fan and was looking forward to this new novel...what a disappointment. The characters Hobbes and Newbury were flat and not that entertaining. The plot felt very cliche and I knew the outcome before the halfway mark. Also, much of the dialogue was just mediocre, oh and did I mention cliche?

There was one fight scene with the zombies that was fun...I was really hoping they would get to eat one of the characters!

This one just didn't stand out for me and I wouldn't recommend it.  But I will say, if you are just looking for a really quick, mind numbing read then maybe you can enjoy it.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Genre: historical fiction, Africa, Congo
FTC Disclosure: bought from local second-hand store
Published: 1998
Pages: 543
Content: PG-13 for violence and adult themes

One Line Review: Makes you wish you could really find a way to save the world from us, people.

Kingsolver really knows her stuff. She has written a beautiful and moving story that intertwines the lives of an American family in the heart of the Congo during their fight for independence from Belgium. Little did they know that they're father/husband would literally go insane and they would be left to fend for themselves in a harsh world.

Kingsolver tells the story from the perspective of the four daughters, mainly, and a three or four chapters from the mother's perspective. She gives a very distinct voice for all of the women and it's amazing to read how she does it.

It was also a really hard book to get through because there is so much tragedy told so beautifully. This was another eye-opener for me. One doesn't hear a whole lot about all the 'pies' the United States and other European countries get their big fingers into. Why in the world does the U.S. feel like they have to plan uprising coups when it comes to other countries. Let's keep those fingers out and really let people experience democracy instead of trying to keep 'our' interests in line instead. It's really sickening. And I'm sure it continues on to this day like we're the king of the world and must make sure everyone else keeps to their station so we can keep our high one. Grrr. It just gets me so mad. That's why I loved this book. It tells the truth but in a way all can understand if they really try to.

Quotes: "I could never work out whether we were to view religion as a life-insurance policy or a life sentence. I can understand a wrathful God who'd just as soon dangle us all from a hook. And I can understand a tender, unprejudiced Jesus. But I could never quite feature the two of them living under the same house."

"I've heard foreign visitors complain that the Congolese are greedy, naive, and inefficient. They have no idea. The Congolese are skilled at survival and perceptive beyond belief, or else dead at an early age. Those are the choices."

"The United States has now become the husband of Zaire's economy, and not a very nice one. Exploitive and condescending, in the name of steering her clear of the moral decline inevitable to her nature."

"Poor Africa. No other continent has endured such an unspeakably bizarre combination of foreign theivery and foreign goodwill."

Rating: 5/5

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Genre: southern fiction
FTC Disclosure: bought used from Amazon.com
Published: 1987
Pages: 416
Content: PG-13 for violence, language, and adult themes
  
While I enjoyed the movie better, the book is still a beautiful tale of women finding out who they are.

I fell in love with the town of Whistle Stop. It's the kind of town you just wish you'd been apart of.

We follow Evelyn in the present time as she meets Ninny Threadgoode who begins to tell her about Idgie and Ruth and their times in Whistle Stop. Evelyn, throughout the story, makes her own journey like Idgie and Ruth to find herself by taking her own life into her hands, to make her own fate instead of others deciding for her.

The novel jumps around a lot from the POV of different people in Whistle Stop through newspaper articles as well as third person narrative as well as Ninny's narrative. Sometimes it got a bit confusing since there were so many characters to follow.

There are also plenty of themes running through the book: lesbianism, sexism and women's rights, racism, etc. I didn't agree with everything Flagg had to say, but I enjoyed the journey of listening to it anyway.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben H. Winters

I received an advance review copy for Android Karenina from the lovely people at Quirk Classics. As part of the blogger review explosion of Android Karenina Quirk Classics is offering a few prizes along the way today.
Readers have a chance to win over one of twenty-five Quirk Prize Packs. Each Prize Pack, with a retail value of nearly $100, will include:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith

Dracula's Heir: An Interactive Mystery by Sam Stall

Extreme Encounters by Greg Emmanuel

How to Tell if Your Boyfriend is The Antichrist by Patricia Carlin

An Android Karenina Poster

And more!

So check out the links and mention my blog and I hope you win some good stuff!

Genre: classic mash-up, steampunk, sci-fi, Russian lit.
FTC Disclosure: Received ARC from Quirk Classics
Published: 2010
Pages: 538
Content: PG, for some robot and alien violence

Maybe it takes a lover of Tolstoy to really enjoy this work, I'm not sure since I've never read Tolstoy before. I had a really hard time getting into the characters. They never spoke to me.

Many times the events happened slowly and the next we have a paragraph describing a few years. I especially had a hard time with Anna Karenina. She's very complex, I'll give you that, but she was pretty messed up. She's willing to leave her son behind to run off with her lover and in the meantime she says she doesn't really love that son. She has a daughter with her lover and ends up trying to love that daughter. Just weird.

The steampunk version was fun. I enjoyed reading all the nuances of a groznium-filled world and robots. I also enjoyed how Winters ties in the title character Android Karenina with the character Anna. It's an interesting twist, for sure.

But overall, the book was just OK for me. I had a hard time following all the characters and all the events. Just because something is a classic doesn't necessarily mean I'll enjoy it. And Tolstoy may be one of those writers I won't be able to get into. Oh well. It looks like other authors who appreciate Tolstoy say they enjoy it and think Winters did a superb job of splicing this mash-up together.

But I think it opens up the classics to more people and I think that's important as well.

Rating: 3/5

Changeless by Gail Carriger

Genre: mystery, steampunk
FTC Disclosure: bought from Book Depository.com
Published: 2010
Pages: 374
Content: PG

Since I loved the first in this series I was really looking forward to the second. I must admit I was a bit disappointed. I felt that it took a bit too long to get into the good parts of the story. And the ending...well, I didn't like it that much...it was really, really maddening!!! You just want to grab a few of the characters through the pages and give them a good throttle!

But overall, I enjoy Alexia very much. Gail Carriger does a wonderful job with her. She gives a nice modern flair from the pages of Jan Austen. Alexia is as snobby as they come yet still very loyal and open. Her relationship with Lord Maccon is always a hoot. She makes it seem like she's not sure if she really loves her husband, but you know she does. It's hilarious! The supporting characters are always a hoot to read as well. And you throw in more steampunk goodness and it's still a very enjoyable story.

It ends in a major heart-wrenching cliffhanger! And I can't wait until the next one! Thank goodness it comes out soon.

Rating: 3.75/5