We all delight in seeing our favorite books brought to life on the big screen. We cringe at casting. We scoff at release dates. All the while, we're gearing up to see if the director's vision lives up to the world we've conceived in our own imaginations. Sometimes it does...and sometimes it doesn't. We could lament the movies that don't measure up, or we could return to the books for a re-read, possibly with a slightly different mind-set. All's fair when it comes to artistic vision, right?
Today, I'm featuring the following movie, which is more of a continuation than an adaptation, but since there's a book spin-off series coming, I'm counting it:
Title: Veronica Mars
Director: Rob Thomas
Stars: Kristen Bell, Chris Lowell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni
Release date: March 14, 2014
Based on: the beloved TV series of the same name
Years after walking away from her past as a teenage private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown - just in time for her high school reunion - in order to help her old flame Logan Echolls, who's embroiled in a murder mystery.
I am a hardcore
Veronica Mars fan. Loved the show when it was on. Watch reruns every chance I get now that it's in syndication. Still think of Logan Echolls every time I see a yellow Xterra. And I had every intention of seeing this movie in the theater with my older sister when I visited her over Spring Break. But, as luck would have it, the movie wasn't widely released and wasn't showing near her at the time. Woe is me...I guess I'll have to drag the husband to see it, even though he detests the tiny, blonde P.I. But, wait! An email just arrived in my inbox on Friday night that let me know that as an AT&T U-Verse subscriber, I have the ability to watch this movie via On Demand
while it's playing in theaters simultaneously.
What?!?!?!? Best. News. Evar!!!
While the husband was out in the garage watching some UFC event with the guys, I snuggled on the couch with a glass of wine and prepared for this movie to right the wrongs of the past. I was bereft when this show was cancelled, and I hated the way things were left. I liked Piz, but he and Veronica never had the same chemistry, the same magnetism that she and Logan did. And I needed to see those two get their happily ever after. I won't spoil anything, but I will say there's a bar fight and V gets in on some of the action herself. Make of that what you will.
I really wish this series was still on. It was way too short-lived, but even so, this movie continuation hit on all the right notes. The sarcasm and wit, the friendships, the swooning. It so didn't
feel like ten years had passed since these characters had all interacted. I mean, there
was the awkward weather chit-chat between Veronica and Logan upon their initial meeting, but they picked up right where they left off with their banter, and it was like old times again.
Sexy old times. (Logan in dress whites is a sight to behold.) =D
The story itself was also made of awesome. Veronica is leading a rather mundane life, doing the good girl thing, graduating from law school and preparing to take the bar. But she seems kind of miserable. I really found it entertaining how she likened her affinity for detective work to an alcoholic addiction, not unlike her own mother's problem with alcohol. And it made a lot of sense because despite how put-together her life seemed, she was missing something. Investigation work is like a drug to her, and she may very well let that addiction cost her everything.
The voice-over monologuing is still ever-present. Keith Mars is still an indominable voice of reason. Dick is still an asshat. And Wallace and Mac are still great friends who tell it like it is. It's like nothing has changed...except Veronica. But she's getting there.
This movie was great, but all it succeeded in doing was making me want more. There are two YA
Veronica Mars novels due out soon,
one of which actually released yesterday. I'll be procuring the audiobook very soon, since Kristen Bell herself is narrating. So, at least I have that to look forward to. But by golly, I need more
Veronica Mars in my life. Or at least heroines like her. Overall, I'm giddy with how this movie turned out -- and in the manner in which I was able to view it, like watching an extended episode from the comfort of my own living room. I'm confident fans of the series will love this movie, and I'm hoping it will make fans of the kids who are too young to remember the show in its prime.
GIF it to me straight:
It was everything I'd hoped it would be...but I still want more.
Were you a fan of the show? Have you seen the movie? What do you think about the Kickstarter campaign and it being made into a full-length feature?
Friday, March 28, 2014
Review: See Me by Wendy Higgins
Author: Wendy Higgins
Series: n/a
Publisher: indie/self-published
Publication Date: March 17, 2014
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
If you enjoy Higgins' Sweet Trilogy at all, I think you'll have fun with this book, though it is a departure from the author's previous subject matter. This time around, we're dealing with magic; an arranged marriage -- to a Leprechaun, no less; and powerful fae in beautiful Ireland.
I think this story might have been a bit more fun had Robyn's intended actually been a typical Leprechaun, but then the romance might have taken a nosedive, and as it was, McKale wasn't winning me over at the start. Truth be told, he was a tad boring and standoffish and maybe a little bit ostracized because of his unwieldy height, thanks to his people's preconceived notions of what normal was. However, Robyn's acceptance of his larger than normal stature won him and the Leprechauns over.
This story is cute and funny and absolutely fluffy, even when it tries to hit on a deeper subject. (That one story arc was completely over the top and absolutely unnecessary.) But it also makes fun of itself and the situation: "Do me a favor," she said to Rock. "Say 'They're always trying to steal me Lucky Charms.'" Also, I swore there was a Twilight dig in there, whether unintentional or not, and those are always a treat. =)
But if you're a hardcore feminist, you'll probably want to steer clear. That whole "arranged marriage" thing should have been a dead giveaway, but the Little People are living the way that have been for hundreds of years: the men toil away in the shoe house -- where it's considered bad luck for a woman to step -- making fancy shoes for the fae, and the women do all of the cooking and cleaning. The women aren't necessarily subservient to the Chaun men, but they have their place in the village, and it's definitely not out on the field playing ball with the men.
The world-building is a little sparse, and even venturing into Faerie didn't provide much detail. And then there's the Clourichaun, who I've never heard of before. There's a little backstory on them, but I'd have liked to have known more, especially with the importance one of them had to the story. I did, however, like the importance place on family and duty in this story. And I liked the Irish lore that was explored in this novel. The progression of the romance was probably my favorite aspect, though. Robyn was stubborn and McKale was shy. And once they did start to fall for each other, the faerie princess Khalistah proved vengeful.
All in all, See Me was a fun read, one that I'd been looking forward to since I'd first heard that the author was planning to self-publish it. The story wasn't as deep as I had hoped for, but what it lacked in depth, it made up for in heart. This was a great palate-cleanser, and it's made me even more eager to get to Sweet Reckoning.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Review: Salvage by Alexandra Duncan
Title: Salvage
Author: Alexandra Duncan
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Greenwillow books, HarperCollins Children
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Review: Storm Warning by E. Lee & C. Quinn
Title: Storm Warning
Author: E. Lee & C. Quinn
Series: Broken Heartland #1
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: December 12th, 2013
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
There are multiple points of view in this one. Five teenagers who are connected in ways some of them don’t even realize. You’ve got 3 guys and 2 girls. This one’s dating this one, but is on a break with that one, but that one is now dating someone related this one. It’s a hot mess, and I liked every second of it. The lead up to when all hell breaks loose was quite amusing.
As I’m sitting here writing this review I can’t even remember these characters names. That’s sad, but they were not very memorable. I didn't really find any connection with any of them. It’s an entertaining story, but not the type that sticks with you. It’s a quick read though! It’s just as well that I can’t remember all their names, because to tell you what goes down with them would be totally spoilery. There isn’t too much that happen’s other than the boy/girl/dating drama.
There is a cliff hanger. A total WTF cliff hanger, and I’m not sure how I’ll feel about the next book. I think for sure I will get it, because I do want to know what happens, but I’ll be honest. Cliff hangers like these piss me off. I don’t mind a cliff hanger, but I do like a little bit of closure. There was no closure here, it was all …. “BAM, you better buy the next one!” Which is the point I guess, but still.
Storm Warning was just okay for me. Not bad, but not amazing either. I believe it's 99 cents for kindle right now.
{Movie} Review: Veronica Mars
We all delight in seeing our favorite books brought to life on the big screen. We cringe at casting. We scoff at release dates. All the while, we're gearing up to see if the director's vision lives up to the world we've conceived in our own imaginations. Sometimes it does...and sometimes it doesn't. We could lament the movies that don't measure up, or we could return to the books for a re-read, possibly with a slightly different mind-set. All's fair when it comes to artistic vision, right?
Today, I'm featuring the following movie, which is more of a continuation than an adaptation, but since there's a book spin-off series coming, I'm counting it:
Director: Rob Thomas
Stars: Kristen Bell, Chris Lowell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni
Release date: March 14, 2014
Based on: the beloved TV series of the same name
I am a hardcore Veronica Mars fan. Loved the show when it was on. Watch reruns every chance I get now that it's in syndication. Still think of Logan Echolls every time I see a yellow Xterra. And I had every intention of seeing this movie in the theater with my older sister when I visited her over Spring Break. But, as luck would have it, the movie wasn't widely released and wasn't showing near her at the time. Woe is me...I guess I'll have to drag the husband to see it, even though he detests the tiny, blonde P.I. But, wait! An email just arrived in my inbox on Friday night that let me know that as an AT&T U-Verse subscriber, I have the ability to watch this movie via On Demand while it's playing in theaters simultaneously. What?!?!?!? Best. News. Evar!!!
While the husband was out in the garage watching some UFC event with the guys, I snuggled on the couch with a glass of wine and prepared for this movie to right the wrongs of the past. I was bereft when this show was cancelled, and I hated the way things were left. I liked Piz, but he and Veronica never had the same chemistry, the same magnetism that she and Logan did. And I needed to see those two get their happily ever after. I won't spoil anything, but I will say there's a bar fight and V gets in on some of the action herself. Make of that what you will.
I really wish this series was still on. It was way too short-lived, but even so, this movie continuation hit on all the right notes. The sarcasm and wit, the friendships, the swooning. It so didn't feel like ten years had passed since these characters had all interacted. I mean, there was the awkward weather chit-chat between Veronica and Logan upon their initial meeting, but they picked up right where they left off with their banter, and it was like old times again. Sexy old times. (Logan in dress whites is a sight to behold.) =D
The story itself was also made of awesome. Veronica is leading a rather mundane life, doing the good girl thing, graduating from law school and preparing to take the bar. But she seems kind of miserable. I really found it entertaining how she likened her affinity for detective work to an alcoholic addiction, not unlike her own mother's problem with alcohol. And it made a lot of sense because despite how put-together her life seemed, she was missing something. Investigation work is like a drug to her, and she may very well let that addiction cost her everything.
The voice-over monologuing is still ever-present. Keith Mars is still an indominable voice of reason. Dick is still an asshat. And Wallace and Mac are still great friends who tell it like it is. It's like nothing has changed...except Veronica. But she's getting there.
This movie was great, but all it succeeded in doing was making me want more. There are two YA Veronica Mars novels due out soon, one of which actually released yesterday. I'll be procuring the audiobook very soon, since Kristen Bell herself is narrating. So, at least I have that to look forward to. But by golly, I need more Veronica Mars in my life. Or at least heroines like her. Overall, I'm giddy with how this movie turned out -- and in the manner in which I was able to view it, like watching an extended episode from the comfort of my own living room. I'm confident fans of the series will love this movie, and I'm hoping it will make fans of the kids who are too young to remember the show in its prime.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
{Audiobook} {New Adult} Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
Author: Colleen Hoover
Narrator(s): Zachary Webber, Angela Goethals
Series: n/a
Length: 10 hrs 40 mins
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: March 18, 2014
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Like so many of Colleen Hoover's fans, I was eagerly anticipating Maybe Someday. And while some were disappointed by the turn the romance took in this book, I rather enjoyed the story as a whole. It's also reaffirmed my need to read the Slammed series because if she can so beautifully weave music and lyrics into this story, I need to see what she does with poetry.
I went the audio route for this book, and I think it paid off for me, except maybe when I was listening to the narrator read the lyrics from the book at the same time that I was listening to the soundtrack for the novel. In that respect, it might have been wiser to simply listen to them separately because while I was listening to the audiobook and the actual song, I also found myself reading the lyrics on the website for the soundtrack. A little confusing, but that was totally my fault for not experiencing the three formats separately.
Angela Goethals narrated Hopeless, so I knew I could trust her to do a fantastic job with this novel. And since it's been awhile since I listened to Hopeless, I didn't have to worry about separating the two main characters in each of those books even though they are voiced by the same person. Zachary Webber, on the other hand, is a new-to-me narrator. The first chapter he read had me second-guessing my decision to listen to the audiobook because he sounded a bit monotonous, but as the story went on, his narration grew on me. Webber no longer sounded flat but rather subdued, and as the narrative progressed, it became evident why. And I may be making undue assumptions with that statement, but it worked for me, so I'm going to leave it at that.
As far as the actual story goes, it was frustrating at times to watch these two characters develop such intense feelings for each other and be unable to act on them, but it was also rather seductive. I couldn't turn away from it, even knowing that it might end in catastrophe. The synopsis for this novel is a little lacking in that it doesn't depict a very realistic picture of what the story really seems to focus on. Fair warning: some may find what I'm about to say spoilery, so don't click the button if you want to go into this book knowing next to nothing.
As frustrating as the romance was, the characters were equally as perturbing at times. I feel like Sydney should have realized the situation was precarious to begin with and removed herself from it. Likewise, Ridge should have taken matters into his own hands, but ultimately, he should have never invited Sydney into his life to begin with. They both played it safe for as long as they could, but it was still like playing with a lit match. And I loved that Warren never hesitated to point this out to either of them. It was kind of crazy that Warren was the voice of reason in this case, especially since he was falling for the frosty Hooters waitress at the same time, but I liked how realistically his character dealt with it all. And then there's sweet, understanding Maggie. But I still have to wonder if she was only as kind and wonderful as she was because of her own situation.
Colleen Hoover's Maybe Someday is a very engaging story -- at least, if you can overlook the immorality of the situation these characters are facing, and even then you may still find yourself reading to the end before you realize what's happened. I felt like I was playing Devil's Advocate the entire time I was listening. I can't say that I condone everything that occurred in this story, but I did find it entertaining. It was one of those stories where you cover your eyes and shake your head, dreading reading the next line of text because you think you know what's about to happen and you don't want it to happen, but at the same time, you do. You so do.
but others are going to love it, and I'd just really like for us all to be friends.
Also, I have a lot of feelings, and cake would help.
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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