The Help - Kathryn Stockett (Movie/Book Review)

A couple weeks ago my mother and I went to see The Help after reading the book. Mom loved the book enough to suggest we go see the movie. To be honest, I passed over the book until I heard it was a movie. I figured if it was a big enough deal to make a movie then it might be a good read and I was right.



The Help (Book):

I really liked it! Sometimes with longer books you worry about most of it being filler, but with The Help I can say that none of it felt like it was unimportant to the story. Although, the way some of the dialogue was written did take some getting used to. I think that was only because that's not how I speak personally. Usually when I read I don't think about it because I kinda know what's coming next. But the way some of the characters spoke kind of took me in and out of the moment a little.

For example, they might say 'gone ahead without me' instead of 'go on ahead without me.' Once I got over that though it was great because it let me know what the character really sounded like.

The Help (Movie)

Overall, GREAT movie. The actors were great and for a two hour movie it seemed to go by pretty quick. That's a good thing because usually if I'm not interested in a long movie I start checking the time and getting distracted. Lol. It might actually be unfortunate that I read the book before watching the movie. They tied some of the scenes together in a way that didn't change the story any but was definitely noticeable if you got the book first.

Overall, both were great. I'm even considering asking for the movie for Christmas. Lol. Have you seen it yet or read the book? What did you think?

NaNoWriMo LIVE?!

More detials about the 24 hour NaNoWriMo chat I hope to be doing. Feel free to pass this around!

Embarrassment for a cause!

So I'm going to California for Nanowrimo's Night of Writing Dangerously!! This video explains how I'm going to fundraise, so whether you donate or pass this video along to others I really appreciate it!

POETRY SLAM! #8

So... I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought of after realizing that it was September 1st was that I didn't do a Poetry Slam Yesterday! So here it is now!


Which is the Witches

Two witches went too the cauldron store
They went by broom to buy pots and more
They parked in the lot beside the park
And browsed the tops, top to bottom, til dark.
They left the store and went left toward their broom
With bags on their back they came back with no room
They tied them together, both tying for most
Rode with them between, bumping the roads and posts
Just when a rest was due, they got home and didn't know what to do
They got all the same things and couldn't tell whose was whose.


So this is really impromtu and it probably shows. Lol. I hope you guys liked it anyways though. I'll see you all later!

Sell Out

My 'Dream Job'? Sitting in my office, writing. Going on book tours, seeing people holding my book, signing them, maybe even working up nerve to talk to groups if asked...

Yeah, I know. From where I'm sitting now, way far off from my dream office, that's a pretty big day dream. For now I need a little bit of a more 'realistic' job. I've been looking into bookstores and such (right now I'm crossing my fingers for a phone call) but so far no luck.

I'm probably just being weird (no comment) but somehow I think I put it in my mind that if I didn't work somewhere that had something to do with books or writing then that's a sign I'm giving up. Like taking any other job said 'Oh well, I tried'. Finally though, after the hope of the phone ringing for me this time has lowered only slightly, I can see around that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You know, it's been a couple days since I wrote that first part. I didn't get called back, but I've had some time to think and I believe I've come to a conclusion. Some big steps have to be taken soon in the direction of building my writing career.

If I got a job at the place I applied at that would've rocked. I mean, it was a bookstore. What more could I have asked for? But even so, I would still have that day dream dangling just over my head. Sure, I would have a stable, dependable cash flow but I shouldn't treat a job somewhere else as my end point when what I really want is for it to be a stepping stone on the way to my real goal.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not being naive. I know that I'm not going to send out one query letter then become the next J. K. Rowling or Stephanie Meyer. I know I'll need a job to pay the bills if not forever then for at least now. Maybe not something that deals with writing or selling books but hopefully one that I don't wake up dreading. Meanwhile, I have some heavy plans to make. Believe me, the wheels are turning.

I'll let you guys know if anything solid comes up. :)

Challenge!!

I had a thought for a post to day but honestly my brain feels like mush. Lol. So instead I wanted to issue a challenge here that a got at my writer's group.

CHALLENGE: Write a 26 word story where every word starts with a different letter. No repeats and it doesn't have to be in alphabetical order.

So this is the first one I did and let me tell you, it's really hard to make sense using 26 words, much less making sure you're not starting with the same letters.


Alpha bears climb down every frostbitten ghastly hill impaitiently jousting kelp loosely mangling, nearly obliterating, part quails refused suddenly tearing under various winds xeroxing your zenith.


Uhhh... yeah, I don't know how I have bears running down kelp strewn hills trampling things that quials don't even want but it completed the challenge! If you want to give it a try put it in the comments!

Room - Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It’s where he was born and where he and his Ma eat and play and learn. At night, Ma puts him safely to sleep in the wardrobe, in case Old Nick comes.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it’s the prison where Old Nick has kept her for seven years, since she was nineteen. Through ingenuity and determination, Ma has created a life for herself and her son, but she knows it’s not enough for either of them. Jack’s curiosity is building alongside Ma’s desperation -- and Room can’t contain either of them for much longer...

Told entirely in the inventive, often funny voice of Jack, Room is a celebration of the resilient bond between parent and child, and a brilliantly executed novel about a journey from one world to another.

-- http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/Room-Emma-Donoghue/


Room was seriously an amazing book. I don't even know what to say about it outside of that. It's told in the the voice of the little five year old, Jack, and was written mostly in the kind of broken grammar that a kid would use.

I got upset, laughed, got scared all in one in this book. I honestly can't rmember the last time I felt genuine fear for a fictional person. Ha! I don't know if it's just when it's a child character that you start to feel more for them, but Jack was able to bring out all those emotions.

Again, it was a great read. Emma Donoghue did an excellent job on building these characters and conveying their emotion. It's a must read.