Book Review: Water for Elephants

Book: Water for Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Source: Recommendation from my mom

GoodReads Summary: An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of "Riding Lessons". "Gritty, sensual and charged withd ark secrets involving love, murder and a majestic, mute heroine (Rosie the Elephant). " Q " Parade."

My Thoughts: I loved this novel. I actually ended up reading the entire thing in a day, I simply did not want to put it down.  What I enjoyed most about this novel was how well researched the historical parts were that I picked up on.  Granted, I didn't know much about how circuses were run in the 1930's except that they traveled on trains but it read really well.  Stopping and thinking about when I was reading this novel, I felt like I was actually there and witnessing everything that happened by the way that Sara Gruen wrote.  My favorite character of the entire novel is Jacob, the main character.  He's been through a lot and then he's stuck in a nursing home but in the end there's a rewarding moment that let's him get away.  Also, part of the reason my mom had recommended this to me was because it talks in little snippets about what it's like for Jacob to be in a nursing home, and how the residents are often not listened to.  My mom recommended it to me for this mostly because she's worked in a nursing home for over nine years now and I've volunteered about seven years there so I hear a lot of things from her and even have experienced them myself.  Reading those parts in this novel makes it even clearer to me about why we do the things we do at the nursing home.  All in all, this is probably my favorite thing I've read.  Also, to note, if I wasn't allowed to pick a main character as my favorite character, I would have picked Rosie, she's an interesting elephant.

Favorite Quote: "The whole thing's illusion, Jacob, and there's nothing wrong with hat. It's what people want from us. It's what they expect."

Rating: 5/5

Film Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane
Director: David Yates
Source: I've been a follower of the book series, the films were kind of a given.
Form: DVD

Summary: Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's immortality and destruction - the Horcruxes.  On their own and on the run, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever... but Dark Forces in their midst threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile, the wizarding world has become a dangerous place.  The long-feared war has begun and the Dark Lord has seized control over the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting all who might oppose him. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort...alive.

My Thoughts:  I'm trying to think back to the first time that I saw this film, but that was quite a while back for me to remember.  I watched it again a week or so ago and I was blown away at the details that were brought forth. Unlike many other times when I watch the Harry Potter films for the first or second times, I didn't compare the film to the book. Which, in turn I think made me enjoy the film a lot more than I would have if I had compared the film to the book while I was watching it.  I really genuinely enjoyed this film.

Extras: The DVD that I own has additional scenes with it.  I really enjoyed seeing these snippets that didn't quite make the cut.  I think sometimes that I enjoy watching the additional scenes more often than the film.

Rating: 5/5

Book Review: Chopping Spree

Book: Chopping Spree
Author: Diane Mott Davidson
Source: a cousin sent it to me

GoodReads Summary: For Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz, business isn't just booming -- it's skyrocketing. Her friend Marla is constantly warning her, "Success can kill you." But Goldy doesn't take the warning literally until her next booking: a cocktail party for the Westside Mall's Elite Shoppers Club.

While setting up, Goldy is nearly run down by a truck with no intention of stopping. Then she finds an old friend in a pile of sale shoes -- stabbed with one of Goldy's new knives. Goldy must catch the real killer between whipping up Sweethearts' Swedish Meatballs, Quiche Me Quick, and Diamond Lovers' Hot Crab Dip. Why was the victim carrying a powerful narcotic? Who hired a private investigator shortly before the murder? Goldy's gourmet instincts tell her the final course in this case will be a real killer.

My Thoughts:  I had a tough time powering through this book.  A lot of the main focus was on describing the food dishes that the main character Goldy is making for her clients.  It seemed that out of the entire book there was more of a focus on the food part of it instead of finding out what happened to Goldy's friend and who did it.  This book is labeled as 'suspense' on the spine and to be honest, there really wasn't much of a suspense to it.  There would have been at least if the food hadn't overpowered everything else in the book.  I did however enjoy how Diane Mott Davidson wrote the characters, especially Goldy and her friend who ends up with a knife to his stomach.

Favorite Quote: "Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe there were a lot of corpses with missing toes, and I was going overboard."

Rating: 1/5