Monday, May 19, 2014

How they survive now

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts
194 pages
Released: November 2004
Buy it @ book depository

“Every war has turning points and every person too.”

Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she’s never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.

As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it’s a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy’s uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way.

A riveting and astonishing story.



Review 

It's so hard to like Meg Rosoff books. Because they are always a little strange and hard to relate to. This is only the second book by her that I've read so I can't really judge all of them, but so far the record isn't good. 

It was an interesting book, a book about war, first loves, family and much more. I listened to this on audiobook and I'm so glad I did, because I've seen how it is written, and that could've been a huge downfall for me. Daisy is the main character and the book is written from her point of view with no talking marks or indication of who was speaking at times.

A few things I'm going to mention about the story and they may be spoilers, so read ahead at your own risk. I have to mention the incest, I know you can't help who you fall in love with but I found it a little weird. I didn't see how it was important to the story, Daisy can have love for her family and still want to protect them, she doesn't need to be romantically in love to need to protect them. Something I wished had been explained a bit more was Edmunds mental/mind reading powers. Did he have them? I'm going to say yes!

What I liked about the book was the ending, it was true to how war can affect someone so young. I also liked the strength of the children, surviving all by themselves. I have lots of respect for them!

After finishing this I watched the movie and I got a huge shock. They had changed character's personalities and many other things. People even died who didn't die in the book. It was a terribly sad movie and I don't plan on watching it again. The book is so much better!

 

On the cover 

This is a beautiful cover, you can't see it in this picture but the book actually has shiny parts where some of the butterflies are. I wouldn't think by looking at this cover that this would be the type of story inside.  There are so many different covers for this, but I think I like this one the best. This isn't a pretty book on the inside but it is on the outside.


What I'm listening to next: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein


Monday, May 5, 2014

Good Old Classic Movies ~ Part Two!

I did a post over 6 months ago showcasing some classic movies that I watched for the first time. Here are a few more that I have watched and a small review about each.


Funny Face (1957) In Colour

Starring: Audrey Hepburn & Fred Astaire
  

I am even more in love with Audrey Hepburn after seeing this movie. I love her dancing and her fashion style. She is so adorable and even more because she is working in a bookshop - my kind of gal. I don't know about Fred Astaire as the love interest though, he's an awesome dancer/actor, but not that attractive in my eyes.




Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Betty Gable & Lauren Bacall


I thought this was the movie that Marilyn sang 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend' in, but it's not. I still really enjoyed it. The only thing that I was annoyed with was how they made Marilyn look like a ditzy, clumsy girl. They made her seem like the stereotypical blonde.



To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) In B & W

Starring: Gregory Peck, John Megna & Frank Overton


This was an ok movie, but not a favourite. I haven't read the book and after watching this it doesn't make me want to read it, I still will but I'm not in a hurry to read it. Great acting and story, I just don't think it was up my alley.



The Birds (1963) In Colour

Starring: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren & Suzanne Pleshette


Was a little slow, but I can see that for it's time it would've been terribly scary and the special effects would've looked fantastic. I'm not saying that it looks bad, it still looks pretty good. I just didn't like it as much as Psycho. I also felt there wasn't really an explanation for why the birds were attacking people, which let the movie down a bit for me.



 
Singin' in the rain (1952) In Colour

Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor & Debbie Reynolds


This was fantastic!! The story, comedy, dancing, singing and acting were all of high quality. It has become a favourite movie and I will watch this again for sure! Gene & Debbie are so gorgeous together!


  
An Affair to Remember (1957) In Colour

Starring: Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr


A romantic movie with a twist at the end. Was quite good, but I'm not dying to watch it again.

Do you have any classic movie suggestions for me?

 

 

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