The Help - Kathryn Stockett

"Everyone knows how we white people feel, the glorified Mammy figure who dedicates her whole life to a white family. Margaret Mitchell covered that. But no one ever asked Mammy how she felt about it."

For two years I had read and heard that "The Help" was a must-read novel, and after reading it for myself, I have to agree. Kathryn Stockett's first published book transports the reader into a world that those of my generation and location have only heard about. The tension and the humor of this story work well together to take you right into the heart of Mississippi in the 1960's.

On the surface, this is a story of a white woman wanting to write a book to prove she can, but "The Help" is a coming-of-age tale not only for that white woman (Skeeter) but also for 'the help' (Abilene and Minny). The characters in this novel are so vividly drawn that we not only get to know them, we want them to be in our world. The heartache they endure, the courage and the strength that they demonstrate, create a fully developed story that is hard to put down.

At times hard to read, because it is so vivid in describing a racist world that I have only heard about, the book is at one moment heartwrenching and the next moment heartwarming. It is definitely a "must-read" book, and now is the best time to do so - the movie based on the story is set to be released in August 12.

Winter's Bone

"Never ask for what ought to be offered."

If not for the fact that a movie nominated for Oscars (review to come) had been made of this book, I might not have ever heard of it. Thank goodness for Oscar nominations! Daniel Woodrell has written a gritty but gorgeous novel, full of descriptions that put you in the Ozarks. However, these are not the Ozarks that have become a tourist destination.

Ree Dolly is living in extreme poverty, but wants to hold her family together despite the mental illness of her mother, the absence of her meth dealing father and her younger brothers who have come to rely on her for everything. The story of what happens when Ree learns that her father has disappeared after putting the family home up as bail, is a story that is both hard to read, and hard to put down.

Reading this story will make you both admire the determination a young girl has to make her life better, but feel depressed for her inability to escape from her desperate surroundings. Daniel Woodrell writes a heart-wrenching story of a clannish community that is well worth your time, it is a quick read, but a harsh story.

The Hunger Games

"And may the odds be forever in your favor."

This book was originally recommended to me when it was first published. However, I just couldn't see how a book about teens killing one another would be one that I could not only like, but really enjoy. How wrong I was!

Taking place in the future (but not something I would classify as a science fiction story), the United States is now a place where "The Capitol" rules the "districts" with an iron fist. To proof its power over and over again, the Capitol conducts a competition every year between the districts. However, the word competition is not strong enough to convey what is involved here. Two teenaged "players" are chosen from each district (one male, one female) and they are placed in an Capitol designed arena. There can only be one winner, and that winner is the one person who ends up as the sole survivor in the arena. Now, if you are like me, you will think this may not be your cup of tea, however, I highly recommend that you, too, give this series (as Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy) a try.

This generation's "1984" or "Brave New World", "Hunger Games" is a story that warns about the consequences of allowing political authority to rule unchecked, and how a hedonistic society can be the downfall of us all. In author Suzanne Collins' hands, this heavy sounding topic is not off-putting at all, in fact, she wields such an artful way with words, that she has us despising the Capitol, but at the same time, reading each detail of death with intense fascination. Drawing us in with the imperfect main character of Katniss Everdeen, we cannot help but root for her to end up as the victor in this brutal killing game.

Even knowing that this was only the first in a series, I had no idea just how the end would turn out. An enjoyable read, and one that I hated to put down, this story had me smiling, grimacing and tearing up as I saw the world through the eyes of Katniss Everdeen.

How to Train Your Dragon

"I...don't wanna fight dragons."

Hiccup, the Viking who would be voted the least likely dragonslayer, discovers a dragon and he not only doesn't slay the dragon, he befriends and trains the dragon. Because this wonderful story of two friends relies on gesture and visual interaction instead of dialogue, we are able to focus on the animation that DreamWorks has so artfully created. The movie begins and ends with battle sequences, which could be frightening to the youngest viewer, but the traits that Hiccup possesses such as cleverness and braveness, make this a good choice to watch with young ones. A highly principled young man who not only tolerates, but accepts someone who everyone tells him is the enemy, Hiccup is a good role-model to see and immulate. A beautiful film that can be enjoyed by all ages, "How to Train Your Dragon" is a delightful story that soars, and I recommend it.

The Blind Contessa's New Machine

"On the day Contessa Caolina Fantoni was married, only one other living person knew that she was going blind, and he was not her groom."




So begins Carey Wallace's first novel. The writing is elegant, the story is moving and it as if you are reading a grown-up fairytale. The story-telling draws you in and you are dreading the inevitable conclusion that you can't but hope will not happen.

The short novel is based on a true story and it is a quick read. The details that the Contessa recalls as she loses her sight are so well detailed, that you feel you are seeing what she no longer is able to. I would have liked if the story was more fleshed out however. I felt that it was almost too short - mostly due to the pacing of the story. It did seem like it was a great idea that was not completely put down on paper.

The characters end up being the type of people I am glad I don't know in person, and I would not put this high on a list I would recommend due to this fact. I do wish that the beautiful descriptions would have led to a better read, but a Victorian morality is evident as those who lack a good moral compass end up paying for this lack. So, a mixed review from me. Beautiful language, but not a story that I felt was well-developed.

The Jone$es

"If people want you, they'll want what you've got."

A clever premise, and unfortunately a believable one, this little known film is worth watching. The story of consumerism and the way that people succumb to keeping up with "the Joneses" is well done, both by the cast and the director.

The casting seems ideal. Demi Moore seems perfect in her role as a controlling "boss" of the family, Duchovny is a good fit for the more laid back "Dad". Amber Heard as the daughter is just wonderful. She goes from manic, promiscuous "teen" to the emotional girl just looking for someone to love her, and she does it very well.

Similiar to other films, like The Truman Show and American Beauty, this story has moments of light-hearted banter and biting satire. The Jone$es is a bit too close to the truth to dismiss it. Although it does contain language and sexuality that makes it inappopriate for younger audiences, the positive elements outweigh the negative, and it is worth taking the time to check out this film.

Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson

"When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time."

Beginning on her first day of high school, this story is one of how Melinda finds her voice. In a matter-of-fact manner, we are told the story through her point of view. We discover that she has become an outcast because she called the police at an end of the summer party. The consequences of an action that she is unable to explain, are heartbreaking and seem to be told by someone who is really experiencing them.

Every day high school events, such as attending an assembly when you have no one to sit with and walking into a lunchroom alone, are told with such honesty that you want to cringe for the pain she feels. The characters that interact with Melinda are believable and even though you might think they are stereotypical, it feels as though they couldn't be more real.

The struggles Melinda goes through, especially highlighted by her art project, are believable and the reader just feels for her as she wonders what she thinks she should do. This story made me want to look more carefully at the teens who might be hiding themselves because they don't know how to speak.

Black Beauty

This classic story by Anna Sewell is heartwrenching but not overly sentimental. A believable autobiography of a horse, you will begin to feel every emotion that Beauty does. The writing takes you right along with him from the countryside to the city of London in Victorian England.

The pictured copy is from the "Whole Story" publishers, which is the one I read this time (I realized while reading, that indeed I had read this wonderful story when I was young and in my "horse-loving" stage) and it was a delightful edition, because it included facts, pictures and paintings from the time the book was originally published. I liked the added information on conditions and how things would have been when Anna Sewell wrote this novel.

Occasionally sad, the overall story is hopeful and an enjoyable read. The tale is for young readers, but an overly sensitive child may need to be told that because of books like this, the cruelty that Beauty faces (due to ignorance or carelessness) no longer exists. Even an adult, such as myself, needs to remember that although the practices of the uninformed before animal rights are no longer acceptable thanks to activists of the past, that we need to be vigilant that animals never face harm due to careless or intentional acts of humans.

The Fighter

"You were the pride of Lowell. You were my hero, Dicky."

Although the title of this film would make you expect the story of one character, this couldn't be further from the truth. The title is misleading because there are really two fighters that we follow. One fighter is the older brother, Dicky, who is past his prime and has become a crack addict. He is now the trainer for his brother, Micky. Micky is the one with the chance to do something that Dicky didn't and he is the one who we cheer for in the ring. But, we cheer for both brothers to win outside of the ring.

Based on the true story of stepbrothers in Boston, this film is filled with spectacular acting. You forget that you are watching a movie, but feel like you are watching life unfold in front of your eyes. Christian Bale, as the crack addicted brother who missed out on his shot at success, is superb. He is a manic, bizarre man that you want to save from himself. Part of his problem is that he is surrounded by his mother, played by Melissa Leo, and seven sisters that seem to support his belief that he is going to make a comeback. His brother, Micky, played by Mark Wahlberg, is the one with the chance to be a champion, and we want his success almost as much as he does. Micky is the younger brother that has always done what ever the family has told him to do, but that is now changing. Because he has a new girlfriend, Charlene, played by Amy Adams, who is not going to stand still and be pushed around by this family, Micky finally has someone in his corner that wants him to succeed for himself.

Watching the story is hard at times because of the realistic portrayals, the language, the fighting, the drug use, but the payoff is worth it. This character-driven drama will have you chuckling one moment and then tears will be flowing the next as you see the poignant moments of love and forgiveness. The story is not only well-acted, but told in such a way that we feel compassion and interest in this family that lives a life that we would not believe if we didn't know that it was real.

PostMortem by Patrica Cornwell

"The dead have never bothered me. It's the living that I fear."

Having read and heard about Kay Scarpetta, the heroine of Patricia Cornwell's medical examiner mystery series, I decided to read the first novel where this character is introduced. More of a suspense novel than a true who-dun-it, the story gets started at the middle - a serial killer has struck for the fourth time. Told from the point of view of the woman who is faced with performing the autopsies and delving into the way the murders were committed, we are given a unique insight to the crime.

Reading a series that started 20 years ago involves taking yourself back in time. In 1990, when the book was originally published, the computer was not a common household item, DNA testing was not a common medical procedure, and crime scene investigation was not a common topic on television. Some of the details are obviously dated, but the sign of a good storyteller is that those dated details are overlooked when you are interested in the story itself.

The details of the crimes, the characters who could be good or bad, the pace of the story, all draw you in and make you keep turning pages wanting to know exactly who is committing these horrific murders and why these victims were chosen. The finale is somewhat anticlimatic and seems to have been rushed to me.

I have only read this novel by Patricia Cornwell, so I hope the promise of her storytelling lives up to what I expect of the following novels. These characters are ones I hope to learn more about and I plan to revisit the medical examiner series that follows this debut.

The Secret Garden

"As long as you have a garden you have a future and as long as you have a future you are alive"


Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publication of the story in its entirety, this year is the perfect time to pick up Frances Hodgson Burnett's telling of a contrary orphan, Mary, and discover the delights she finds in The Secret Garden.

Set in Victorian England, the nearly destroyed garden is a symbol for a family that has suffered devasting loss, but is transformed with attention and love. This transformation of the garden and the people in the home is a enchanting story of friendship, love and positive thinking.

I enjoyed the Yorkshire setting of the story as well as the charming characters from the countryside. The descriptions of the animals and the garden were so well told, that I felt I could see them. I highly recommend the pictured edition with illustrations by Tasha Tudor. Not only is Tudor's work always lovely, it fits the story just perfectly.

A children's classic, this story is a treasure for adults as well, as we are invited into a world that we wish still existed.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

"She closed her eyes and conjured up the smell of gasoline."

The second book in what ended up being a trilogy (the author had planned 10 books, but tragically died before finishing the promising series), this was the opportunity to get reinvolved with Lisbeth Salander, and learn more about her. Being hunted by police and enemies (for reasons we learn throughout the story), Lisbeth has to use her skills as computer hacker and crack researcher to protect herself from those who wish her ill. She has an ally in her old friend, Mikael Blomkvist, who she worked with in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo".

A puzzle with an "Aha" , this was not a simple who-dun-it. The mysterious past and the tragic present have a entertwining storyline that entertains while it keeps you turning pages. The unique character of Lisbeth Salander is someone who you would maybe avoid in real life, but who you wish you had on your side. She is one of the most emotionally vulnerable characters in literature, but one of those you wouldn't want to have mad at you. I love the contrast in her character.

The story involves the sex trade, murder and violence and the descriptions are not pretty, but the story draws you in so quickly, that you don't get bogged down in the ugliness, you want to know how this is going to unfold. We can only keep turning pages, racing to the end as fast as we can. But knowing that in the end, no matter what, Lisbeth Salander has become one of the heroines we can't wait to read more about, and sadly will only have one more opportunity to do so.

(500) Days of Summer

"This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story"

Zooey Deschanel. Need I say more? One actress that is just a delight in everything she does. A great reason to watch this film is summed up in the two words - Zooey Deschanel.

The story in this movie is as quoted "not a love story". What it is, is an offbeat, very well scripted, quirky telling of how a relationship didn't work out, and exactly how it got there. I love that you know at the beginning that the two main characters, Summer and Tom, are going to end up apart. It gives a unique take on the Hollywood romantic comedy. Instead of waiting for the two characters to figure out that they "belong together", you get to see exactly how they meet, become "friends" and then how they end up without one another. The fun in the telling is that it is a non-linear telling. The middle, then the end, followed by the beginning and a mixture of all time and place make for a more intriguing romantic comedy.

The fact that the two main characters are played by such likeable actors only adds to the delight in watching their story unfold. With a fun cast of supporting characters, the film is even more entertaining - each part is played with enthusiasm and adds to create a complete picture. You can't help but like the friends and relatives that you meet, and you want to spend more time with them.

Watch this one - even if you think you already know how it is going to end...

The American

"You're American. You think you can escape history. You live for the present."

George Clooney is "the" actor with expressive eyes. In very few words, he conveys a tremendous amount through his eyes. He is able to use this ability to portray a "bad" guy who is in reality much more complex, by using minimal dialogue. This man who has been an assassin wants to have a fresh start, but is learning you cannot escape your past.

The cinematography is gorgeous in this film. The Italian countryside makes for a wonderful backdrop, but I felt the breathtaking views were a stark contrast to the slow-paced action. The small village life plays a balance to the life The American leads.

The violence in the film is not the disturbing part for me. I got tired of seeing the nude prostitute with the heart of gold The American takes up with. Enough already! If it wasn't the "reason" behind his wanting to leave behind the profession, I would have liked this movie better. He makes a friend of the village priest, and the interactions between the two men were much more interesting to me. I would have preferred a change of heart based on that relationship.

The film is more arthouse than mainstream, but the marketing was aimed at the mainstream - George Clooney, assassin, guns, beautiful women. Unfortunately, this was probably the movie's biggest downfall.

"But when you upgrade it from room service, it's quite serious.

The Tourist

A reminder of the movies from the 50's where Johnny Depp would have been Cary Grant and Angelina Jolie would have been Audrey Hepburn, the film was a treasure of well-known actors in a decent romance-thriller. After seeing that the movie had received poor ratings, I wasn't expecting such an entertaining film. It was not as good as some of classics, however, it was a good choice for a family with teens to watch together.

I loved the beauty of Venice (which was as important of a character as Depp and Jolie) and a bit of Paris that made you wishing for more. Jolie is just delightful in her role as the femme fatale. I thought Depp played his role well - the man who was funny in a bit of a "fish out of water" way. Adding to that the casting of Timothy Dalton and Paul Bettany, and you end up with a good group of actors in the film.

The fact that this film got such poor reviews just reminds me that people have forgotten the simple pleasure in a film that doesn't include the main characters ending up in bed, gratuitous violence or unnecessary profanity.