book club - thousand splendid suns

thousand splendid suns
khaled hosseini
(four stars)

i can't tell yet if i loved this one more or less than his first book, but i will say it is equally as captivating. my brother says he thinks he liked kite runner more because it is a man's perspective. this one is definitely through female eyes. so brilliantly written.

again, i reiterate, that if this book were to become a movie (inevitable) it would have a similar cultural feel to it as slumdog (that movie that is brilliant that you need to see before it wins best picture this year).

ultra depressing, very close to the female experience of the lifestyle/wartime Afghanistan. it makes me think of the end of a jason mraz song, "its like an island of reality in an ocean of diarrhea." it is so beautifully personal that you wont be able to avoid the investment.

worth a read. but also read kite runner.

i will admit that i love being able to choose the books i read instead of being forced to read large crappy textbooks. happy thoughts.

if you read it, do tell!

i can sleep at night.

quite frankly, beeyach, we didn't think you'd last long.
way to be "best friends"

and as much as i love you dane and blaine....

i want these two to bring it all the way home for me....



talk about the raddest tongans....
filipe and friggin sione?! powerhouse.
done.

long-winded movie review #4 — waitress

waitress

ok, so i saw this one a while ago whist in the district, but nevertheless, it must be mentioned...

i have always held a special place in my heart for my fellow mesa stars dancing former LDSer keri russell. i love her innocent curls and porcelin doll-ness... and she has really grown as an actor in the last few years. kudos. oh- and it has a bit part by andy griffith that is charming as all get out too...

the style of this one is what is so fun and yes, charming. very independent, aka cheaply filmed was the key here and a great gimmick of sorts. the gimmick being the pies. the story revolves around this woman (russell) who bakes pies of all kinds. they serve a new one a day that she makes up and they all have random names like "pregnant, miserable, self-pity, and loser" pie. it just makes you smile all the way through as you root jenna on to her happy life.

ya know what else i love? i love the way it ends. won't tell you, cause i want you to rent it and see for yourself, but i just adore it. it is empowering, even for a suberbanite like me with far fewer trials than the waitress...

in my humble, yet correct, opinion: 4.5/5
owner/renter: yes. definitely. own it, that is.
great pick me up/chick flick/comedy/dramas are always good to have around in a funk.
in fact, i could go for some waitress right about now...

don't forget to vote over there. looks like it is getting heated.
hope one side can pull out all the phone call rallies he's got to win it...

needing some inspirational television for your new year-ish goals?

watched the first two hours. 

(tuesday nights: NBC) 

set the tivo. don't argue with me...

loving the four AZ guys defiitely worth cheering on: Dane, Sione, Filipe,  and Blaine.  is it fair to ask why they keep finding their best fat people in mesa?  6 in the last 3 shows?  really?

we should host our own, here!  

maybe we will do it!  weekly weigh-ins?  put in 50 bucks and the winner takes all?  love it.  not joking though. actually quite serious.  

let me know if you would do it... apparently mesans need it, 

and it would be a lot of fun!  we could even do it all online... keep a blog of the weekly percentages...

member my obsession with Alli? still have it. this season is going to be great though.  after the first week of hard-core training and the two-limbs in weight each they dropped, they sent nearly half of them home!  i loved it.  brilliant way to get us all involved real quick and to weed out the ones who really really need a militant lesbian to whip their butts into shape with demeaning fat-talk.

.. and it gives those who stay a huge motivation to stay because in 30 days if they are still there... they get to bring their partner back.  

i am keepin my eye on the old guy though. ---> Jerry.  he almost won the weight loss this week and he and his wife are sicka cute... he's going to be fun to watch.

in other TV news: 

i have been waiting patiently to see if the new season of scrubs was going to do me proud.  who knew it only took a short 15 minutes to get me back in and in tears... i love it.  back to the old days with a fun story and meaningful characters... zac braff and courtney cox for kicks... 

its going to be good...

oh, and maybe i am catching up on this show too... just so i can be part of the family in a few weeks when we get to season 5...(jan 21) it isn't at all because i actually like the show... no. not at all. some of us are in denial and faithfully pursue all of JJ Abrams's endeavors... period. currently still lost in season 4. and loving it.  for all intensive purposes: good time to be unemployed.

long-winded movie review #1 — 7 lbs

i have normally posted lengthy reviews
about my films on the other blog. to no avail.
i started that one for a class and enjoyed it well.
it hosts my reviews on most of my
media findings of the past few years.
i think i will just keep you posted here instead.
i have a lot, so just you wait.

7 lbs —

i will say this: if you are one that enjoys shows like LOST or maybe an M. Night Shyamalan movie that give you many things to question but few answers until the end when it comes all together in just a few minutes of either euphoria or complete dread, then you will enjoy this one.

it keeps you thinking. throughout the film you are left to guessing... what is it that they are they talking all around? why aren't they telling me?! but it is fun to piece together and the somewhat hard-to-believe circumstances are easy to follow when they circle one of the better male actors of our time: Will Smith. who just might get a nomination for this one. i guess we will know that on the 22nd though... (who is getting reading for the Oscars?: that would be me.)

the acting is great. the writing is great. if you are one to cry, and the four moffats seated in that room were definitely thus, it will make you tear some. it was like watching the Prestige. you will talk about it all the way home...


in my humble, yet correct opinion: 4/5
owner or renter? perhaps a renter.
(it may be like the 6th sense, the novelty might wear off
after you know the facts from the beginning.
but you might need to see it a few times perhaps for that to happen.)

great flick. go see it. then let me know what you thought!