The title of this post is one of my favorite lines from elna Baker's book The new York regional Mormon singles Halloween dance.- I cannot wait for the perfect opportunity to say this line to someone But I digress. I love this book and the author is one of my favorite storytellers from the moth/risk/this American life podcasts. She is (was?) A single mormon living in new York. This is a collection of stories about her life and thoughts durring her mid to late twenties. I love this book. I read it about once a year and I always get something out of it. Elna is a comedy writer but her comedy is more like mike birbiglia instead of bill Cosby, kinda slow and more funny in a sadish way. although I have never been single in ny (nor was I really single very long in my adult life) I can relate to her struggles in so many ways.. even if they are slightly different for me. Elna is known as the chubby funny one in her life, a role I seem to step into no matter what company I keep.
The core of the book is about her beliefs kinda. Most of the book she's trying to be in the world and of it a little bit while also keeping in line with what she has grown up with. For her the big issue is (was?) sex. As she puts it "since I dont have sex the longest relationship I was able to maintain was 4 weeks and that was only because the guy was out of town for 2 week." So in the book she'll go back and forth between wanting to have sex and her relationship with God. At one point in the book she states that she feels like she's riding two horses that are getting further and further apart. I can not tell you how many times I have felt that way trying to keep myself in line with my beliefs while simultaneously trying not to be "the weird one who should be interrogated." this book could've been written about me in high school (abd every so often after) if you replace the sex temptation with alcohol.
However this book is not all sad and deep religious turmoil. One of favorite stories is of the time Elna decided that for Halloween she was going to go as a fortune cookie. During the train ride to the dance the costume becomes disfigured and it's hilarious. (I suggest looking up a video of her telling that story after you read it.) However although this is a "Mormon" book (kinda) make no mistake it is written by a Mormon like me so there is swearing and some other such lauguage although its not super prevalent most of the time.
I love this book Especially if I am questioning my choices in life or the church a little ( I sometimes have an existential crisis like every couple years not like a kate kelly crazy pants but a small personal one) and this book always gives me hope and encouragement. (Although the sad post script to the story is elna left the church and abandoned all the beliefs she holds to in this book shortly before/after the john delin excommunication as she is often on his Mormon stories podcast. ) I have heard a lot of people feel like in her storytelling and this book that elna whines in a "I'm mormon so I can't but I really want to" way..
So give it a chance. If anyone does I want to hear about it. Until then off to find another book...
P.s. I linked one of her older bits. Its hilarious and although it is one of the stories in the book it'll give you an idea of how she sounds and acts.
https://youtu.be/lBvVBXpV8tI
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Big Let-Down
I will be honest, I haven't ever posted in this blog because thus far I haven't really read anything worth mentioning. The biggest problem with the novels I have been reading as of late seem to all have one thing in common: a big let-down at the very end of the book. The authors seem to do a fantastic job of developing the story throughout the 100-300 pages of the novel but then you as you get down to the last 2 pages you realize there is not enough time left to resolve anything you expected them to resolve. One prime example that comes to mind is Steamship to Zion by Jerry Borrowman. This book looked like it was right up my alley (I love historical fiction) and it sort of was until the last few pages.
**Spoiler Alert**
The story is about the Chandler family and their journey to Salt Lake. Long Story Short it is their father, Henry, who feels they must move from their home in England to join the Saints in Utah. They begin their journey by traveling to New York City. Things don't go as well as planned and they suddenly find themselves forced to work on a steamship bound for Panama City. Their father passes away during this leg of the journey (dumb! It was his idea to go and it took a lot of convincing to get the rest of the family to agree to go and then Henry dies! But death happens and I was able to accept this and move on :) )
The family arrives in Panama City but they find that they don't have enough money to continue on so the boys must work in Panama City until they are able to save enough money for passage to California. While they are in Panama City Henry's only daughter becomes ill and dies. (Once again, dumb but it happens and is conceivable in the conditions they were living in)
What's left of the Chandler family (mother and 2 boys) journey to California and once again they must stay for a time; until they can make enough to finish their journey to Utah. They face many hardships but they are finally able to get a guide to take them to Utah. This is where the story becomes frustrating. The author gave so many details about their journey and the difficulties they faced but then the story ends...it just ends. We don't get to see the Chandler family in Utah; we don't get to see the Saints. Nothing. I felt like this was a huge let-down after the development of the story. Would it really have killed the author to write 30 more pages and finish developing the story? It feels like he just got tired and gave up or something!
What other big story let-downs have you had?
**Spoiler Alert**
The story is about the Chandler family and their journey to Salt Lake. Long Story Short it is their father, Henry, who feels they must move from their home in England to join the Saints in Utah. They begin their journey by traveling to New York City. Things don't go as well as planned and they suddenly find themselves forced to work on a steamship bound for Panama City. Their father passes away during this leg of the journey (dumb! It was his idea to go and it took a lot of convincing to get the rest of the family to agree to go and then Henry dies! But death happens and I was able to accept this and move on :) )
The family arrives in Panama City but they find that they don't have enough money to continue on so the boys must work in Panama City until they are able to save enough money for passage to California. While they are in Panama City Henry's only daughter becomes ill and dies. (Once again, dumb but it happens and is conceivable in the conditions they were living in)
What's left of the Chandler family (mother and 2 boys) journey to California and once again they must stay for a time; until they can make enough to finish their journey to Utah. They face many hardships but they are finally able to get a guide to take them to Utah. This is where the story becomes frustrating. The author gave so many details about their journey and the difficulties they faced but then the story ends...it just ends. We don't get to see the Chandler family in Utah; we don't get to see the Saints. Nothing. I felt like this was a huge let-down after the development of the story. Would it really have killed the author to write 30 more pages and finish developing the story? It feels like he just got tired and gave up or something!
What other big story let-downs have you had?
A Touch of Stardust - Kate Alcott
A coworker and I have been exchanging books back and forth lately. I like the system, because I get exposed to a lot of books that I have never heard of, or have never considered reading before. A Touch of Stardust is the most recent book she lent me.
I don't know what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It follows three major stories.
The first (and main) story is that of Julie Crawford, an aspiring screenwriter who wants to be discovered in Hollywood. Julie is trying to escape her Midwestern upbringing, and is determined to stay in Hollywood, even though her parents want her to come back home and get married. As the story begins, she is working a mediocre job at MGM Studios doing grunt work, until she is asked to deliver a message to David Selznick, the producer for Gone with the Wind. Despite the negative encounter she has with him, it turns out to be a turning point in Julie's life and career: she meets Selznick's right-hand man, Andy, whom she later begins dating, and she also bumps into Carole Lombard, who is on set with Clark Gable (the future Rhett Butler) to finish negotiations for Gone with the Wind. Julie somehow becomes involved in their lives--first as Carole's personal assistant, then--as Julie gets more settled into a career in screenwriting--as a lifelong friend.
The second story is of Carole Lombard and Clark Gable. According to the author, Lombard was a firecracker; loud, straightforward, and flashy. At the time the story starts, Lombard and Gable are in the midst of their "secret" affair, since they are waiting for news of Gable's divorce to come through. Eventually, the divorce is finalized, and they rush off to elope. Their love story (as Alcott tells it) is really quite beautiful, and it is amazing to see the love they have for each other, and the support they show. Carole shares with Julie the things she has learned in Hollywood, and helps Julie make the hard decisions that come with growing up.
The final story is of the filming of Gone with the Wind, and how it ties everything together. I suppose I hadn't realized what a huge undertaking it was--or, for that matter, how important it was. There were countless setbacks, and still a lot of racism in the United States that made the movie premiere bittersweet. Gone with the Wind completely took over the lives of the people involved, and was a huge undertaking for MGM. As this book is fictional, I don't know which parts of the filming are accurate. However, if it is true, then there were barriers such as an unfinished script when filming started, a reluctant Rhett Rhett and Scarlett, the head of MGM demanding a "happy ending," and the United States teetering on the edge of joining WWII. This book touches on all of those.
Alcott does a beautiful job of tying the three stories together; so much so, it is difficult to pick them apart. A Touch of Stardust explores a lot of interesting themes--following your dreams, racism, war, love, growing up, World War 2--and how people tried to ignore it, and the illusion of Hollywood. The book feels like you would expect a book based in Hollywood to feel like--it is glamorous and exciting, and changes very quickly. But, at the same time, there is a dark underbelly that the glamor tries to cover up. Julie finds herself wondering what is real and what is a facade, and the reader asks the same question.
My one real issue with this book was the end, to be completely honest. I have thought a lot about how it ended, and can't decide if it was a nod to Gone with the Wind--it ended appropriately, but not necessarily happily-- or if the author wanted to leave an ambiguous ending for the benefit of the reader.
Either way, it was a really good book, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a historical fiction-type book. And when you do, I would love to hear your thoughts on the ending!
I don't know what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It follows three major stories.
The first (and main) story is that of Julie Crawford, an aspiring screenwriter who wants to be discovered in Hollywood. Julie is trying to escape her Midwestern upbringing, and is determined to stay in Hollywood, even though her parents want her to come back home and get married. As the story begins, she is working a mediocre job at MGM Studios doing grunt work, until she is asked to deliver a message to David Selznick, the producer for Gone with the Wind. Despite the negative encounter she has with him, it turns out to be a turning point in Julie's life and career: she meets Selznick's right-hand man, Andy, whom she later begins dating, and she also bumps into Carole Lombard, who is on set with Clark Gable (the future Rhett Butler) to finish negotiations for Gone with the Wind. Julie somehow becomes involved in their lives--first as Carole's personal assistant, then--as Julie gets more settled into a career in screenwriting--as a lifelong friend.
The second story is of Carole Lombard and Clark Gable. According to the author, Lombard was a firecracker; loud, straightforward, and flashy. At the time the story starts, Lombard and Gable are in the midst of their "secret" affair, since they are waiting for news of Gable's divorce to come through. Eventually, the divorce is finalized, and they rush off to elope. Their love story (as Alcott tells it) is really quite beautiful, and it is amazing to see the love they have for each other, and the support they show. Carole shares with Julie the things she has learned in Hollywood, and helps Julie make the hard decisions that come with growing up.
The final story is of the filming of Gone with the Wind, and how it ties everything together. I suppose I hadn't realized what a huge undertaking it was--or, for that matter, how important it was. There were countless setbacks, and still a lot of racism in the United States that made the movie premiere bittersweet. Gone with the Wind completely took over the lives of the people involved, and was a huge undertaking for MGM. As this book is fictional, I don't know which parts of the filming are accurate. However, if it is true, then there were barriers such as an unfinished script when filming started, a reluctant Rhett Rhett and Scarlett, the head of MGM demanding a "happy ending," and the United States teetering on the edge of joining WWII. This book touches on all of those.
Alcott does a beautiful job of tying the three stories together; so much so, it is difficult to pick them apart. A Touch of Stardust explores a lot of interesting themes--following your dreams, racism, war, love, growing up, World War 2--and how people tried to ignore it, and the illusion of Hollywood. The book feels like you would expect a book based in Hollywood to feel like--it is glamorous and exciting, and changes very quickly. But, at the same time, there is a dark underbelly that the glamor tries to cover up. Julie finds herself wondering what is real and what is a facade, and the reader asks the same question.
My one real issue with this book was the end, to be completely honest. I have thought a lot about how it ended, and can't decide if it was a nod to Gone with the Wind--it ended appropriately, but not necessarily happily-- or if the author wanted to leave an ambiguous ending for the benefit of the reader.
Either way, it was a really good book, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a historical fiction-type book. And when you do, I would love to hear your thoughts on the ending!
Monday, March 23, 2015
As You Wish...
I almost don't need to reference the movie that this well-known line comes from. The Princess Bride has long been one of my favorite movies, and (once I learned it was based off a book) it quickly became a favorite book. It is one of those rare occasions when the book and movie are equal in greatness, and "book or movie?" has been a common debate among Princess Bride fans for a long time.
But the book and movie came out a long time ago. Imagine my surprise when I was scrolling through my Facebook feed one day, and there was an article about Carey Elwes (Westley) and the Princess Bride movie trivia he reveals in his new book, As You Wish. When I double checked Barnes and Noble online and realized that this was a real thing, the book shot to the top of my wish list. Luckily, We were about to go to Florida, so I needed a good book to read for the plane ride.
This did not disappoint. From pre-production to the twenty-five-year anniversary, Elwes takes the reader through his own memories, as well as the memories of the other actors and actresses involved in the film to paint an entertaining image of the behind-the-scenes happenings on the set.
For example: Did you know that the scene with Miracle Max and Valerie is almost entirely improvised? Carey Elwes kept laughing so hard during the shooting of these scenes, eventually a dummy was placed on the table, while he and Rob Reiner (the director) were asked to leave because they kept ruining takes.
Or, did you know that when the six-fingered man hits Westley on the top of his head, Westley really was knocked out? The actors couldn't get the timing right, because the six-fingered man's sword was not even touching Elwes' head, so Elwes suggested that the sword be tapped lightly on his head so he would know when to faint. Unfortunately, the sword fell harder than expected, and Carey Elwes was knocked unconscious, waking up later in the hospital. That is the take used in the film.
Page after page, I learned trivia tidbits. I loved it so much, and I kept interrupting Jeremy's reading to say "Hey, did you know..." and proceed to share the interesting tidbit I had learned.
I LOVED this, and I highly recommend it to any Princess Bride fan. It made me laugh, and it made me think. When I finished, all I wanted to do was sit down and read it again, then watch the movie, then read the original novel. Sadly, I haven't gotten to reading the novel yet, but I did watch the movie, and with my new knowledge of the behind-the-scenes action, I had a great time adding that extra depth to the story.
Read it!!
Saturday, March 14, 2015
contemporary books that should be taught in school
Hello y'all
I found a list online of contemporary books that should be taught in schools and while I totally agree with some of the titles on the list like 13 reasons why by jay Asher and speak by Laurie halse Andersen, it got me thinking What other books would you add to school curriculum and why? I would add lone survivor by marcus littrel because I think its important for almost adults to see what people went through to protect their freedom.
So lets hear it what would you add and why. ( I also tried to link the article here. If it doesn't work then I also posted it to my Facebook page)
26 Contemporary Books That Should Be Taug... http://www.buzzfeed.com/brettvergara/26-contemporary-books-that-should-be-taught-in-high-school
I found a list online of contemporary books that should be taught in schools and while I totally agree with some of the titles on the list like 13 reasons why by jay Asher and speak by Laurie halse Andersen, it got me thinking What other books would you add to school curriculum and why? I would add lone survivor by marcus littrel because I think its important for almost adults to see what people went through to protect their freedom.
So lets hear it what would you add and why. ( I also tried to link the article here. If it doesn't work then I also posted it to my Facebook page)
26 Contemporary Books That Should Be Taug... http://www.buzzfeed.com/brettvergara/26-contemporary-books-that-should-be-taught-in-high-school
Sunday, March 8, 2015
What are you reading?
Hello friends,
I am currently reading a Dystopian type book, "Sneak" by Evan Angler (the second in the series). It is more geared for teen readers and I find it moves a little slow for my taste, so I find myself wishing for something new to read. What are you reading tonight? What are your top, recent, reads?
I am currently reading a Dystopian type book, "Sneak" by Evan Angler (the second in the series). It is more geared for teen readers and I find it moves a little slow for my taste, so I find myself wishing for something new to read. What are you reading tonight? What are your top, recent, reads?
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