05 January 2015

Book Reviews/Movie Reviews

Some things never change, especially when it comes to me and my love of reading and movie watching.
Up first, Emily Giffin's The One and Only.
UGH WORST BOOK SHES EVER WRITTEN! I can honestly say I am done reading Emily's books. She had a gem with Something Borrowed and Something Blue, and after that all her books kinda lost their sparkle for me. But this one, was by far her worst one. Too much football and a slightly incestuous-like relationship ruin this book. The characters are great on their own, but their relationships and the story in general don't feel authentic. It is actually a bit disturbing, if you really think about the true dynamics/power structure of it all. My opinion SKIP IT! 


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Loved Sparrow by Sara Mack. Great read. 

Sparrow tells the love story of Kyle and Addison. After meeting at the lake when they were sixteen both feel a connection that transcends time. But after a lovely summer together everything ends abruptly. Kyle's world is turned upside down and he lives his life wondering what happened with Addison. 


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Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. I just finished it, it was alright. A lot like previous ones I've read by her. Not sure any of her books will top her book "Slammed."



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As a teenager, Toni Murphy had a life full of typical adolescent
complications: a boyfriend she adored, a younger sister she couldn't relate to, a strained relationship with her parents, and classmates who seemed hell-bent on making her life miserable. Things weren't easy, but Toni could never have predicted how horrific they would become until her younger sister was brutally murdered one summer night.

Toni and her boyfriend, Ryan, were convicted of the murder and sent to prison.

Now thirty-four, Toni is out on parole and back in her hometown, struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. Prison changed her, hardened her, and she’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back. This means having absolutely no contact with Ryan, avoiding fellow parolees looking to pick fights, and steering clear of trouble in all its forms. But nothing is making that easy—not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who doubts Toni's innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni's life hell in high school and may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. No matter how hard she tries, ignoring her old life to start a new one is impossible. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out what really happened that night.

But the truth might be the most terrifying thing of all.
 


I loved this one. Probably my second favorite by Chevy Stevens since she wrote her first big smash "still missing." I recommend reading this one as well! 




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Next up...

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I read the book first before seeing the movie. I felt like I could relate to Cheryl's story a little bit, you see she loses her mother and basically self distructs and has to "find herself." I will say there was one particular part of the book that I had a really really hard time getting through mainly because I do NOT deal well with any type of animals and harm to animals in books or movies. I pretty much threw my book across the room and didn't want to read any further it was just to much and to graphic for me. 


I do recommend reading this book, and seeing the movie, as there are quite a lot of differences from the book to the film. 



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Speaking of the film holy boobies Reese! You see them A LOT in this movie! I had no idea she'd show em all! Be prepared if you haven't seen the film yet! 

And the author, Cheryl makes a cameo at the very beginning of the film, she drops Reese off at the PCT trail in the truck. It happens pretty quick and if you don't know what the author looks like, most will never catch it! 

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I saw Unbroken on Christmas day. Two words about this movie: MIND BLOWN. The story of Louis Zamperini is so moving. It's mind boggling how much he went through, suffered, you name it to survive. I highly recommend seeing this film. 
And if you are a fan of the hottie Garrett Hedlund, he's in the movie. If his name isn't ringing a bell, think of the movie Country Strong, and also he's in the movie Troy, and Tron. 

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He also is quite smitten with Kristen Dunst! 

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And lastly, the film The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. (I did read the book, but not recently as the book came out a few years ago) 

I liked this one. 
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I can honestly say the movie made me want to go to Lousiana really bad. It was so beautifully filmed! 

I feel like there are many others I could review, but it's getting late, and I do resume work tomorrow, and have to get some shut eye in! 







7 comments:

  1. I am with you on the Emily Giffin book. HATED it. It was just too bizarre. I still need to read Wild and Unbroken. Everyone keeps telling me to read Unbroken, so that one may happen first :)

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  2. Hated The One and Only! I agree, I'm done reading her books, too! They have lose their appeal and her writing seems to have taken a disturbing dark turn...maybe I am alone here? Regardless, I'm glad I'm not alone! If you get a chance, read Unbroken! It has so many details that the movie didn't include :)

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  3. I completely agree with you about Giffin's book. Terrible!!! I had to quit by about chapter 7. And with Wild, I loved the book but I HATED the exact same scene you are talking about with the horse. Oh goodness I was crying and I don't know if I can watch the movie now. Otherwise the book was great. I want to try those other books!

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  4. I love Emily Giffin and was so disappointed in The One and Only! It was just weird and awkward I almost couldn't finish it but I was just hoping it would get better somehow and it didn't.

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  5. Hooray I do love some good recommendations. I'm reading The One and Only right now.. Can't get into it

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  6. Did you just read all these?? I'd say you definitely will meet your 25 goal this year!

    I feel the same way about Giffin - I've been disappointed by all of her books after Something Borrowed & Blue. I really like Still Missing though, so I'll have to check out the rest of Stevens' work. Thanks for posting these!

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  7. so happy for this post! i'm always looking for books to read and the last couple of ones I read were just ok to me. Glad to have a list of recommended (and ones to avoid)! Thanks!

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