Summer Reviews To Date...

So hooray for summer. (At least my two week break before I start summer school.) I have been able to read and watch a few movies, and here are the reviews:

By Sarah Dessen: The Truth About Forever and Just Listen. Both novels are adolescent fiction, but very good reads. The characters are very believable and you start to care about them.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I chose this for a book club that I am in. I found it on an NPR summer reading list. I really got sucked into the story and couldn't put it down for the two days it took me to read. It didn't change my life or anything, but I love those novels that you can't put down.

Swapping Lives by Jane Green. I am pretty much getting over chick lit of the British single girl variety, but I think Jane Green is one of the best writers in this genre. Her characters are somewhat more believable than many others in the books with the pink covers.

The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg. I really like her stories. They are more idealistic than many writers today. Her characters are flawed, but they work on these flaws and try to fix things in their lives. This novel is no different, and it reminded me to appreciate some of the good things in my life.

Movies: The Break-Up- I read and heard so many negative reviews I was expecting it to suck, but I mostly liked it. There were several parts where I laughed out loud, and it made me want to move to Chicago. (Oh, wait...) Even Jennifer Aniston, who has seemed to only have two facial expressions lately was likeable and funny. My one beef was with the ending, but I don't want to ruin it for you.

Munich: I know this is pretty old, I just had no intentions of seeing it, but Joel put it on and I got sucked in. First of all Eric Bana, you of the divine cheek bones, next time I have an opening in my womb I'd gladly bear your children. And! You will totally be able to buy Daniel Craig as James Bond, blonde hair or not. But moving beyond the hotties, it is suspenseful and emotional and true. I loved it.

Queen Latifah in Beauty Shop and Last Holiday. These are essentially the same movie. Queen Latifah plays a salt of the earth woman with problems who teaches greedy people of all races how to enjoy the simple things in life. AND! with just a bit of hard work we can pull ourselves up and solve our own problems. BUT! her screen presence is real, and you watch it and buy into both stories a little bit. Neither of those messages are bad ones, and so these movies are light, non-thinkers, but watchable.

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic -She is one funny, extremely raunchy comedian. If you don't like South Park you probably won't think she is funny, but if you do...you will probably love it. I fast forwarded through the musical numbers just to her stand up. Joel and I were both falling off the couch laughing, but hating ourselves for it.

That's all for now...I'm always open for recommendations if you have any.