Whew, another Monday down. This Monday marks a milestone for me, my first It’s Monday! What are you reading? post. It’s Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme that showcases different blogs where you can find even more book reviews and recommendations sponsored by Shelia at bookjourney.wordpress.com.
Whew, what a week. I have been kind of silent this past week on the blogsphere so I am going to do a couple things here.
My reading has been going a bit slow. I finally finished “The Wind in he Willows” after months of periodic listening to multiple narrators. It was an OK book, not a classic I would really recommend. Although it is geared towards children, and I can see them happy at learning about animals being people and all that jazz, a lot of it just dragged on with kind of annoying characters. If you read my review, you could see I absolutely disliked the Toad. Of course, there needed to be one entitled animal, right? Just picture him as Bernie Madoff, ripping people off, fooling them, and getting their way. That may be a tad harsh, but hey. It’s my blog. 🙂
I had a sleepover at my best friend’s apartment where we watched Warm Bodies. As I did not have time to write a review of it this week, I am going to now.
oh yes he is!
If you haven’t watched Warm Bodies, it is a hysterical take on zombies. Based on the book Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion, the main “character” is R, a recovering zombie. Now, why is he in recovery, you may ask. Because he is getting warmer! Warmer! Like human. Oh my word! After a raid, R spots a girl that he decides to “rescue” in a nice zombie/human way. Slowly, his body and mind start getting attuned to each other.
R is played Nicholas Hoult. In case you don’t know who he is, you should check him out! He was the little boy in About a Boy with Hugh Grant. And, recently, broke up with Jennifer Lawrence and stars as Hank (the beast) in the X-men revamped movies. This role was perfect for him. He still looked kind of cute, struggling to walk and looking like half death. Because he is a zombie, a lot of his dialogue is spoken coming from his mind, not actual words out of his mouth. Because of that, Hoult’s narration was great. It was dry, with so much humor.
As you guessed it, though, there is a girl who just makes him “warm”. Teresa Palmer played Julie, one of the few humans not infected and a recruit to kill the zombies. Although I never read the book, I thought she was great for the part. I may be biased, since I loved her in the movie I am Number 4. She plays Jane Doe (number 6).
I expected cheesiness from this film. C’mon with a poster like this how can you really take it seriously? You can’t. But, you should. It was great fun. Just Hoult’s commentary alone is worth spending the hour and a half. I may not run to the bookstore to buy the book, but I recommend the movie if anything.
And, if you are in fact interested in the book, I just noticed on goodreads.com it’s part of a series. Yay for you series lovers. I can imagine it would go by quick. It just isn’t your typical zombie movie and that alone makes me happy. There are too many out there now, but go see Warm Bodies if that is your only one. It is not serious and life threatening like World War Z. It really plays (and reads I would imagine) as a great satire about the new zombie obsession our culture has developed.
Starting tomorrow, I will be going to LA and Disneyland, coming home bright early on Sunday. Hopefully, there will be some new reviews. A six hour flight? Six hours both ways? Yeah, lots of reading going on there. Currently, I am still reading Havisham, getting closer and more into the end. Still not going to be one of my favorites if the year, but I can see Great Expectation fans loving it. I am also listening to The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Sadly, Karen Savage is not the reader. Instead, I am back to listening to a recording of new people each chapter. The woman speaking in chapter three is terrible. She sounds like a big smoker.
Lastly, I am reading Ruby Red (The Ruby Red Triology #1) by Kerstin Gier on my nook. I am excited about this one. The cover is so pretty.
Another plus, it is about time travel throughout all eras and secret societies. Two of my favorite things. I got the book for under $2.99 a couple of months ago. I am finally sitting down to reading it and I love it! Check it out if you enjoy YA, YA Fantasy, time travel, and secret societies. I will hopefully have a review of that book for sure.
I think I am set. Got all three types in action. Plus, a classic, a classic retelling, and YA Fantasy. Yeah, I’m set. And well-rounded to boot!
Happy (almost dinner time) Monday! And good luck with your reading this week. I am looking forward to my trip and sharing more reviews with you.
Also, on a non-literary note, if you want to see a good movie, see Sofia Coppola’s new Movie The Bling Ring with Emma Watson. It is great!
Jun 25, 2013 @ 00:29:22
Just finished The Wierd Sisters and now starting on The White Queen. I love long, lazy summer evenings!
Jun 25, 2013 @ 01:37:49
I loved The Weird Sisters. I donated that book for a group event. Just absolutely loved all the characters faults and all.
Jun 25, 2013 @ 00:39:15
I enjoyed Ruby Red and look forward to reading the third in the series as soon as I can. I have never tried The Wind in the Willows and am unlikely to because I dislike books about talking animals. Come see my It’s Monday… if you get a chance. Happy reading!
Jun 25, 2013 @ 03:29:34
Welcome to “It’s Monday!” Have a great time in Disneyland – I wish I was taking a similar trip! 🙂
Jun 25, 2013 @ 09:52:01
Life, childhood and literature (and movies) have changed so much since Wind in The Willows was first written, I imagine it’s hard for many used to contemporary fiction to enjoy the much slower pace. When I re-watch movies or re-read novels that I loved as a kid, I’m always bored to tears. Even the literary language has changed so much that I get frustrated reading anything that sounds too formal.
Warm Bodies sounds like a fun movie – at first when it was being advertised I thought, oh man, that’s going to suck. But as I kept watching the trailers, and really paying attention to the nuances, I’m thinking it’s going to be a fun movie. So I’m glad you watched and reviewed. 🙂
My Reading Week
Jul 01, 2013 @ 02:33:36
Yeah, it is strange sometimes reading classics. The language is sometimes difficult to understand. The was definitely a wider vernacular that we are not used to. So many words to look up at times. But, I read The Secret Garden and loved it. Just The Wind in the Willows was not my cup of tea.
Yes to Warm Bodies. It is nice to be surprised that movies that looked bad is a joy to watch. I just watched Beautiful Creatures, too, and would recommend that. I think, for that movie, I am interested in reading the series.
Jun 25, 2013 @ 18:20:36
RUBY RED looks good.
ENJOY your week.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
Jul 01, 2013 @ 02:28:37
Ruby Red was great. You could probably read it in one or two sittings it was so good. And the e-book format is really short. the paper and hardbacks are over 300 pages.
Jun 25, 2013 @ 21:49:56
Everyone keeps telling my Warm Bodies is good… like you I thought it looked cheesy 🙂 I like secret societies too so that book you mention interests me.
Jul 01, 2013 @ 02:27:10
Yeah, Warm Bodies is a great movie. It isn’t that long, either.
I just finished Ruby Red and would highly recommend it. Such a fast read. You feel instantly transported and on a constant quest. The characters are great. If you have a nook, or maybe another e-reader, it is pretty cheap. Worth it.