Sunday, July 27, 2008

Sunday Salon - Reading and Movies

Well...I guess it's that time again!! Sunday night and I'm just now posting my Sunday Salon. I'm giving myself props for actually making it 3 weeks in a row!!

It was a busy weekend here in the Toland household. Lots of work.....a couple of movies and even two finished books! I went to see Mamma Mia yesterday. I have a secret love of ABBA music. Damn. I hate admitting that. But it's like a disease. For some reason, those songs just seem to worm their way into my brain, and I can't help but love them!! It was a really good movie, and now I really want to see the live version. Meryl Streep is wonderful, as always. And Amanda Seyfried, as Sophie, was, in a word, incredible. Colin Firth is just so adorable. Not so much Pierce Brosnan though. I think someone told the man he could sing. They lied. Still, it was fun....and Dancing Queen has been in my head ever since!

We also watched Gone Baby Gone on video. Very good movie. I was really impressed with Ben Affleck's screenplay and his first Directing attempt. One of these days I'll have to read the Lehane novel.

I finished up reading du Maurier's Jamaica Inn. I was really impressed by this one. For a novel that is over 70 years old, it reads easily and has lots of excitement....even a little romance. It's a classic "Gothic" novel. When I read Rebecca, I enjoyed it....but I was a little disappointed. I expected to be "wowed". And I wasn't. It's one of those books I've heard so much about....and then it just didn't live up to the high expectations I had. With Jamaica Inn, on the other hand, I didn't have any high expectations.....and I really loved it.

I also finished Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's a YA book about the life of a senior boy named Tyler. Tyler was a kid that spent all of jr. high and most of high school being picked on. But by his senior year, he was 6'3" and all muscle. He also got into some trouble, was on probation, and now finds himself considered "dangerous". The thing about Anderson is she really knows how to write like a teen. I was impressed by Speak when I read it a few months ago....but I think Twisted was even better. Reviews to both books are forthcoming!!

Other than that, I'm still taking my time walking the Appalachian Trail with Bill Bryson. The man is nothing if not hilarious. And I'm also reading an ARC by DeLaune Michel. I haven't gotten too far into it yet, but so far so good. Maybe I'll also start on of my Vine books. I need to keep on top of these ARC's, that's for sure.

So.....now I'm off to read a little more. Happy Sunday....and Happy Reading!

12 comments:

Amy said...

I also just recently watched Gone Baby Gone. That was a good film.

Literary Feline said...

I was able to catch the live show in Las Vegas a few years ago and I really liked it. The movie was good too, although I am glad that I decided against buying the movie soundtrack and stuck to my stage show soundtrack.

Gone Baby Gone really was a good movie, wasn't it? That ending is one my friends and I discussed for days and weeks after. Like you, I haven't yet read the book, but I'd like to.

I hope you have a good week. I'm off to bed now so I can be at least half a wake for work tomorrow.

chrisa511 said...

I need to start on my Vine books too! I think Jamaica Inn is going to be my next Dumaurier...I loved Rebecca and I've been wanting to read more of her ever since then. Glad it was even better! And yay for another good Anderson book....if it's better than Speak I know I'll enjoy it!

Anonymous said...

I still haven't seen Mama Mia yet. Colin Firth is one of my favorite actors!

Ladytink_534 said...

Lot's of good books! I think I'll like Mamma Mia but I'm waiting for it to come out on video.

Chrisbookarama said...

Glad you liked Jamaica Inn. I think I'll be reading that soon.

Suey said...

We got to see an ABBA "revival" group... or whatever you call them... this weekend. Very fun. It sounds as if you would have loved it! We were on our feet singing "knowing me knowing you" at the top of our lungs, and then when they sang "Dancing Queen" the crowd went wild. Very fun!

Carl V. Anderson said...

Sounds like things have been busy but good. I wouldn't feel bad about loving ABBA, you're not alone. I have been a fan since my childhood and still love listening to their infectious music. Glad the movie was enjoyable, it looks like a fun one.

Sorry Rebecca didn't live up to your expectations when you read it. It was a book that wowed me when I read it years ago but at the time I hadn't really heard too much about it other than knowing it was a classic. Jamaica Inn is one I've wanted to read...maybe for R.I.P. this year.

I just had a friend telling me about Gone Baby Gone over lunch and how I just had to see it. Better put it in the Netflix queue.

I read an ARC of that Bryson book waaay back when it came out and I really enjoyed it. I have his book Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid on my shelf waiting to be read.

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson!

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Hubby and I went and saw Mamma Mia on Friday and he came home and downloaded Dancing Queen. He'd die if he knew I was telling people that! ;) Meryl Streep did such a great job, huh? Like Lit Feline, though, I'm glad to have the Broadway Soundtrack rather than the movie one--not sure Pierce Brosnan can sing...

samantha.1020 said...

Sounds like you have had a good reading week. I've been hearing good things about Momma Mia

Anonymous said...

I liked Ben Afflect's work, but I was impressed with Casey Afflect's acting more. He's much better than his brother in that area methinks.