Dancin' in the Street

[annundriel]

Mom and I saw Hairspray yesterday and for basically the whole movie I had a ridiculously huge grin on my face. To the point that I was aware of it and thought, "Boy, if anyone could see me now they'd think I was cracked." I've still got a big grin just thinking about it. Colorful, happy movie. Plus, James Marsden and Zac Efron are totally just shiny pieces of eye-candy. (A friend of EB's can never remember that term and always ends up saying, "eye-food.") Well, basically everyone was. And the theater was actually crowded for Moses and people were into it! It was just a lot of fun.

As I said in my last post, I finished reading Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke and was unimpressed. I picked it up because a classmate recommended it to me when we discovered we had many similar tastes. But this just didn't really work for me. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't engaged. In fact, I kind of felt that Pullman's writing was a little condescending. I was talking to Mom about this and brought up the fact that, well, maybe I just had to remember that this was written for a certain younger age group. Mom pointed out that Harry Potter is (or started out being) written for a younger age group and doesn't come off that way.

Maybe condescending isn't the right word, but there was something about the dialogue between the text and the reader that was very...shifty to me. Or juvenile. Or both. There were a lot of moments where the characters were shown in dialogue but their conversation was kept a secret from the reader, which seemed to be a lazy way of saying, "Look! There is a mystery here! See how there is something you don't know!" Which annoyed me quite a bit after awhile.

So I don't think I'll be looking into the other books in that particular series. I don't remember Pullman's other books reading like that. Although I never did finish The Amber Spyglass. If I remember correctly, the characters started to drive me crazy.

Now I've started The Jane Austen Book Club. That's for when I'm at work. I'm keeping Deathly Hallows for reading at home. Still not finished with it. Lately reading anything has been something I've had to work at. And I'm feeling a little reluctant to finish HP and find out what happens, no matter how much I really want to know. When I finish and post about it, I'll get into just how ridiculously emotional I've been over the actual reading of it.

Comments

[capt-tik-taco.livejournal.com]

As I said in my last post, I finished reading Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke and was unimpressed. I picked it up because a classmate recommended it to me when we discovered we had many similar tastes. But this just didn't really work for me. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't engaged.

I read that book when I was about 10, and I had similar feelings. Couldn't really get into it. It just didn't hold a candle to Joan Aiken's history-mysteries. I grew up reading her Wolves Chronicle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Aiken#Wolves_Chronicles_.28in_narrative_order.29) and if you weren't impressed by The Ruby in the Smoke... then Aiken's books come at the highest recommendation from me. It's been more than a decade since I read any of them, but they are some of the best literary memories of my youth.

[trademybike.livejournal.com]

I don't know why your comment prompted this, but this suddenly came to mind: FATTY HAS FEEEEEEELINGS! Oh I miss you.

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

I rarely feel like a book is just plain old boring, but wow that one really really was.

I'll have to check out the Wolves Chronicle. When I was younger I read Aiken's Jane Fairfax and I'm pretty sure at least one other thing and enjoyed her writing. I've been looking for different, interesting things to read, so thanks for the rec!

[trademybike.livejournal.com]

Don't you just love the movies that keep you stupidly grinning the whole time? I tend to do that with Green Street Hooligans and The Holiday. Dunno what it is about those two, but they keep me smiling like a fool. People must think I'm slightly unhinged.

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

You are slightly unhinged. ;)

But yes, I do love movies that make you grin stupidly. They make life better.

[olivelavonne.livejournal.com]

I hope you like The Jane Austen Bookclub. Last week I read My Sister's Keeper which I highly recommend and will gladly let you borrow. Speaking of borrowing, I should give you back Biff this weekend.

I'm glad you liked Hairspray. I went with someone who I couldn't really tell if they liked it or not and who fell asleep during the movie (which to me is a sort of sign of how interesting you find a movie but she insisted that she liked it). It was downer to see it with someone who wasn't as happy with it as I was. Oh well.

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

Yea, books!

I'm sorry that your enjoyment of Hairspray was tainted by your company. :( How did you feel about the movie?

[olivelavonne.livejournal.com]

I absolutely loved the movie!

[mandapanda0521.livejournal.com]

My Sister's Keeper was such a great book. I couldn't get it out of my head for days.

oh and Hairspray was so terrific. Who could not love that movie?