From the Vault: Mightnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Apparently I am behind the times, because it took me 13 years to finally see Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and I am thrilled that I finally did. The film begins with a journalist, John Kelso, from New York City who is sent to Savannah to cover the annual Christmas party that is thrown by one of the city's aristocrats, Jim Williams. What begins as a story about Christmas hams, mistletoe, and decorated trees becomes a suspenseful tale about murder and secrets. The real story is not aboutthe murder and trail but about the people in Savannah who are even more colorful than the houses and plantations.

Kelso, played by John Cusak, begins the film as a naive journalist who is a bit aggravated that he has been assigned to cover a Christmas party in the South. He believes that it will be a bore and that nothing in Savannah will compare to the drama and life of NYC. Within the first hour, his judgment on the southern city has changed. Jim Williams, played by Kevin Spacey, is the epitome or southern money. He lives in a giant mansion and has an enormous group of "friends" who are more eccentric than anyone that Kelso has met in NYC. On the night of the party, Williams' lover (played by Jude Law) becomes enraged and becomes violent which prompts Williams to shoot him. Williams' crime only brings out more of the eccentric people in Savannah and further challenges Kelso's beliefs about the south.

Though the movie is over 2 hours, I felt like it flew by and when the credits rolled I wanted more of the characters. I can't remember the last time I was so entranced by a film's characters and the way that they were depicted by the actors and actresses. Even over a month later, I am still thinking about and can't wait to read the book.

-DLP

1001 Challenge: Pride and Prejudice

After reading Northanger Abbey and enjoying it so much, I decided that I would take another stab about Jane Austen and I am very glad that I did. I chose Pride and Prejudice because it is one of her better known novels and has been turned into numerous movies as well as a recent adaptation titled Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The story is about Elizabeth Bennet who is a strong willed and outspoken young woman as she tries to find her true love. The most interesting aspect of the story is not Elizabeth's hunt for love, but her relationship with her parents. Mrs. Bennet is a flighty woman whose main goal in life is to have her daughters wed to wealthy men. While, Mr. Bennet is a sarcastic and cynical man with no interest in martial affairs. Elizabeth's contrasting parental figures is detrimental to all of the daughters and even places them in danger.

Most people identify this novel with the relationship between outspoken Elizabeth and cocky Darcy. However, there is much more to the story than their love. Still, I am looking forward to reading Linda Berdoll's sequel titled Darcy Takes a Wife.

-DLP

Now on DVD: Dear John

Last night I decided to indulge myself and watch the new Nicholas Sparks' film Dear John starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. I really enjoyed the Notebook and attempted to watch other Nicholas Sparks' films but always found them to be too sappy with not enough plot and character development. Dear John falls right in between the excellence of The Notebook and the terrible disappointment of Nights in Rodanthe. Though it was very over the top at times, I was overall pleased with the film.

The film starts with Savannah, Seyfried, accidently dropped her purse off of a pier. Her date runs down the pier to enter the ocean and retrieve it when John, Tatum, jumps off of the pier into the ocean and gets the purse. From this moment on, the two have a connection and begin a two week relationship while John is on leave from the army. When John's leave is up and he must return to Germany, he and Savannah decide to stay together. He only has a year left after which they will be able to be together. However, September 11th happens soon after and his troop decides to reenlist. Though John wants to remain with his troop and defend his country, he knows that he will have to stay in the military for another four years. Such a decision seems impossible for the couple and will push them to the breaking point.

What I liked about this movie is that it was more realistic than other Sparks' novels and movies. Of course there was a layer of cheese, as there is with all Sparks' films. But I found some of the sappiness endearing. You have to be in the right mood for this film, but when you're ready for a little mindless romance...check it out!

-DLP

1001 Challenge: Northanger Abbey

Even though it is already May, I have finally decided to post my April selection for the 1001 Challenge. Last month, I chose Northanger Abbey because it was the only Jane Austen novel that I knew very little about. I am very glad that I chose this novel because it is unlike many of Austen's other novels.

As with most of Austen's books, the plot is simple because the drama is within the people and their relationships. Catherine Morland is a sheltered girl who lived with her family in the country and never had nay friends or suitors. When a friend of her parents decides to take Catherine to live in the city, her whole life changes. She immediately befriends Isabella Thorpe, a deceitful and self-centered girl. Isabella's brother, John, attempts to court Catherine but she remains unswayed for her interests lay with Henry Tilney. As the story continues, Isabella becomes more demanding and almost tries to force Catherine to be with John. Eventually, Catherine finds her voice and refuses John's advancements. Yet, it takes Catherine almost the entire novel to completely come into her own. The title comes from the abbey that Henry Tilney's family owns. Catherine, who spent the majority of her youth reading Gothic novels, is completely enthralled with the abbey so when she is finally invited she just about bursts at the thought of hidden chambers and locked away skeletons. However, what she finds it nothing like what she had planned and when her imagination runs away with itself her relationship with Henry is put at risk.

I really enjoyed this novel much more than I thought I would. I found other works by Austen to be boring, dated, and bombastic. Yet, Northanger Abbey is charming and has a message that still rings true today: don't allow yourself to be naive or prone to deceit because people will take advantage of you. In addition, I liked that the romance in the novel took a backseat to Catherine's development. Though it felt sluggish at times, I was never disinterested. I also loved Austen's defense of novels and the Gothic elements in this book. Definitely a worthwhile read that I doubt I would have ever explored before this challenge.

-DLP

Now on DVD: Nine

I was so disappointed when I missed Nine in the movie theater. I have a huge soft spot for musicals and thought that the all star cast would make for an outstanding film. Boy was I wrong!! There is on word that can summarize this movie: BORING. With a cast that includes such actresses as Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Judy Dench, and Penelope Cruz, one would think that the film would explode with action and fantastic acting. If this wasn't enough, the cast is led by the phenomenal Daniel Day Lewis and includes a musical appearance by Fergie. Yet, when all of these things are added together it proves to be a huge letdown and results in two hours of cinematic sludge.

The plot, if you can call it that, centers on the director Guido Contini and his various loves which range from his wife to his mistress, leading lady, and even the whore who gave him his first striptease. The characters aren't woven into the narrative. Instead, they are introduced, sing a song, and then are virtually removed from the film. Contini's wife has a bit more involvement as does his mistress, but the rest of the ladies are basically paraded through as a way to show Contini's philandering. A bit of a back story is tied together through flashbacks of Contini's childhood, but it does not add much to the plot or the understanding of his character. Even the songs seem lacking because they do not add anything to the plot. Instead, it feels like a concert in which each woman comes on stage to sing a song about her relationship with Contini and then is dismissed. With such powerhouse voices as Fergie, Penelope Cruz, and Nicole Kidman, I was expecting something more akin to Chicago or Moulin Rouge. But even their voices could not hold the film together. Eventually, I found myself wanting to fast forward the film to the songs only to be disappointed by their lack of emotion and impact on the audience.

Overall, I was clearly disappointed. The music was sub-par and the story wasn't compelling at all. The dancing was definitely exciting but overly sexual to the point that after three musical numbers, I felt like I was watching pornography. Sadly, Nine didn't even reach the least of my expectations.

-DLP

Book Review: The 27s

From the first time I heard about this book on a podcast, I felt mixed feeling. I immediately requested it from the library, but when it came in I was hesitant to pick it up. I thought that it would be dry and uninteresting, like many books written about rock and roll. (It never fails to astound me that though rock and roll has the most interesting and exciting history, writers always seem to make it dry and boring as if they are writing about the history of lint.) Eventually, I bit the bullet and picked it up and from just from the cover I knew that it would be a wild ride!

The book is about the rock and roll myth/legend that all influential and groundbreaking rock musicians die at the age of 27. Such casualties include Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain (just to name a few). The book gives a brief biography of each of these famous, and at times infamous, singers while showing their impact on history and culture. The authors also try to integrate the myth, its history, and culture into the story of each artist.However, the most impressive aspect of this book is the artwork. Every page has a different theme and design; each of which is beautiful. At times, it even distracts the reader from the narrative. Still, it ensures that the entire book feels like rock and roll with flashy colors, shocking collages, and thought provoking cartoons.

Such a book is a huge undertaking, which is why I was not surprised when it fell short. Though the beginning was exceptional, the biographies of each person eventually melded together and became confusing. I thought that each chapter would focus on the biography of a different musician. Instead, each singer is introduced only to be dropped within a few pages and picked up again in the next couple of pages. The authors also jump around in time which is quite confusing for someone who is not completely familiar with the lives of each musician. I enjoyed how the narrative wove the myth into each person’s story but found that it led to some tangential issues that did not need to be addressed in the book such as the history of Dionysus. There are supplemental stories and tid bits in the margins, most of which help the reader understand what is being stated in the overall narrative. However, some of the marginal stories are misleading and just distract the reader from the larger story. As previously stated, the drawings and designs on each page are gorgeous and make the reader feel as if he/she is immersed in the rock and roll culture.  The beauty of these pages also has negative side effects because it distracts the reader. Personally, I found myself turning the pages not because of the narrative but to see the next drawings. Overall, I think that the premise of this book is exceptionally fascinating but this particular book is a bit too confusing and distracting to be as effective as I had hoped.

-DLP

Book Review: After the Fall

Next month, Kylie Ladd’s first novel titled After the Fall will hit bookstores and libraries. Of all the pre-release novels that I have read, I have to say that I was most disappointed in this one. Perhaps some of the fault lies in the fact that it is Ladd’s debut novel, and therefore needs some more polishing. However, there is no escaping the fact that the novel is (overall) weak.

The plot is extremely simple and one that has been used any times before in movies, books, plays, tv shows, etc: adultery. Kate and Cary have been married a couple of years and their life together appears perfect. Kate is an extrovert who enjoys parties and flirting while her husband is introverted and loves to watch his wife work the crowd. Though Kate catches the eye of both men and women, she never dreams of falling in love with someone other than Cary. The second couple in the novel, Cressida and Luke, who haven’t been married as long as Kate and Cary and who seem to be comfortable in their relationship even if they are not completely happy. Luke is a tease and will lead women on even though he has no intention of being unfaithful to his wife. Cressida is not proud of Luke’s intense flirtation with other women, but she rests assured that he is handsome and all hers. Trouble begins when the two couples meet and become friends. It is not long before Kate and Luke become entranced with each other and share an adulterous kiss and at wedding. They are caught and agree to never speak to each other again. Of course that makes their forbidden love even more enticing, and the two being an illicit affair.

What makes the novel so disappointing is that it doesn’t bring anything new to the classic story of adultery and betrayal. Ladd tells the story from each viewpoint and bounces back and forth between the four people involved. This was interesting, but only to a point. Instead of delving into the minds and psyches of these characters, it left them  as two dimensional and further perpetuated the stereotype of cheating and cheaters.
At times, the viewpoints seem to read almost like case studies and not even like a novel. The multiple narrations became even worse when Ladd integrated the viewpoints of Luke’s best friend and two of Kate’s friends. Both characters are moralizers and attempt to summarize the importance of monogamy and the disappointment of all people involved when someone betrays his/her spouse.This seemed unnecessary and took away from whatever story there was. The writing was decent but filled with cliches and statements that were supposed to make a bang but inevitably fell flat.

Overall, I was clearly disappointed. I do believe that Ladd has potential to be a good writer but this book, unfortunately, does not show that. I did like how she focused solely on the affair and act of adultery. However, I would still like her to delve deeper by making the characters more three dimensional and real. With some more work on writing and plot/character development, I think that she could write a great book in the future.


-DLP

Down and Out in Boston: Monster Mini Golf

If you are looking for something really fun and different to do on the weekend, check out Monster Mini Golf. Though it's not located directly in Boston, there are locations all across the country so you are bound to find one close enough. This place combines four of my favorite things: miniature golf, good music, monsters, and black light!! That's right, there is an indoor mini golf course that is lighted entirely by black light. The mini golf course is straightforward and typical of other mini golf places with barriers that prevent you from hole-in-ones and holes that drop your ball into a different part of the course. But the true beauty of this place is the atmosphere. The employees are dressed in white lab coats that glow under the lights (as do the balls that you use). All of the walls are painted with ghouls, goblins, and monsters of every variety that also glow. The course is peppered with giant monsters that range from the headless horseman to evil pumpkins, and piles of skulls. A large disco ball is suspended from the ceiling and makes these ghouls glitter even more. On weekend nights, a DJ comes to spin some tunes and everyone is focused more on the fun atmosphere and great music than on holes-in-one. Each course also features an arcade with the usual games as well as function rooms for parties.

So, if you're thinking about a great first date or an interesting outing with a group of friends...you definitely need to check out Monster Mini Golf. It's inexpensive and a complete blast!!

-DLP

Book Review: The Irresistible Henry House

Every week I read Entertainment Weekly so that I can stay up on my movies and music because I am pretty pop-culture resistant. Therefore, I save the book section for last as my reward. I am used to EW giving most books in the "B" or "C" range; so when I saw that they gave The Irresistible Henry House an "A" I knew that I just had to read it! I was not disappointed. Since its publication in March, it has received a lot of publicity and been compared to Forest Gump and the World According to Garp among other modern classics. While it does have elements of these two novels, I think that it stands completely on its own and does a fantastic job!

The foundation of the plot is based on the historical practice from the 1940s-1960s in which orphans were used as "practice babies" in home economics classes. College home economics instructors would go to orphanages and request babies that were younger than a year old. These children would then live in a "practice house" for about two years where students were taught how to be a mother and practiced on the children. After the two years were up, the orphan would be returned to the orphanage where they were adopted by another family. Henry House was a practice baby who won over Martha Gaines, the instructor, and was later adopted by her. Out of the dozen children that she helped raise, Henry was the only child she wanted as her own. However, Henry was raised by 12 different mothers over the course of two years and therefore was never able to bond with Martha or any other woman in his life. Their relationship becomes even more complicated when Henry discovers a secret that Martha has tried in vain to keep from him.

The novel spans from Henry's first year through his personal development (or lack thereof), to his multiple failed relationships, a stint working for Walt Disney and eventually his landing of a job working for the Beatles. Throughout all of this, Henry remains unlikeable to the reader though completely irresistible to all of the women in the book. This makes the reader wonder how one can love a book whose main character is completely unlovable. Whatever it takes...Lisa Grunwald has it! At times I did think that Henry was too hard on Martha and his grudges were a bit too unrealistic, but I believe it suited his character even if it was unlikely. I have to say that the ending was a bit of a letdown and felt too much like Forest Gump but a weak finish cannot nigate the beautiful performance. Though I can see why EW gave it an "A", my personal scale would give it a B+ though I encourage readers to pick it up because it is quite entrancing!

-DLP

Book Review: Just Kids

It took me over in hour to decide to by this book and even after I brought it home I was worried that I would be disappointed. I have read other memoirs written by artists and singers and they all came off as narcissistic which led me to dislike them as artists and people. When I bought Just Kids, I thought that it would be different because I am ambivalent towards both Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe. I think that this was the key to my not only enjoying the memoir but adoring it!!

The story is very simple: two friends decide to live and sacrifice themselves for each other and their dreams. Smith is in dire straights when she decides to move to Brooklyn and become an artist. She spends her nights sleeping in parks and her days wandering the streets looking for a job or food. One night she is on a date with a man when he becomes violent and she fears that he will rape her. The two are walking in a park when she sees Mapplethorpe sitting on a bench and asks him to pose as her boyfriend in hopes that it will scare off her date. Smith's plan works so well that she feels indebted to Mapplethorpe. The two go their separate ways only to find each other again through mutual friends. After their second meeting, they know that it is fate that they had met and soon they begin a relationship. Both are 21, naive, and working through their own ghosts. What begins as a sexual relationship becomes a symbiotic friendship from which the two promise to never leave. Though they move from place to place and Smith scrambles to make money for the two of them, they never lose sight of their dream to become artists. But Mapplethorpe's demons plague him so terribly that it pushes his work, morals, and friendship with Smith to the breaking point.


In a time when everyone and their dog is writing memoirs, it is hard to separate the wheat from the chafe. But Smith does it! Her writing and the structure of the memoir should be heralded for future writers in this genre. Personally, I was hooked from the first paragraph. I found her descriptions to be exceptionally well written, clear, and vivid. Unlike other memoirists, Smith does not shy away from the details that do not show her in the best light. Yet, at the same time, she does not dwell on her poor choices and sink into self pity. This is not a story about her life but about her love for her best friend.

Overall, Just Kids is a eulogy for Smith's best friend for whom she sacrificed everything with no regrets. It is a beautiful story that is tender and heart-wrenching. Though Smith and Mapplethorpe did become famous, it is not a memoir of the rich and famous; it's a tale of two down and out youths who found each other and lived for each other. It didn't make me want to rush out and buy her CDs or prints of his photographs, but that isn't the purpose of the memoir and for that I am very grateful! For now, it's one of by favorite books on 2010 and certainly one of my favorite memoirs of all time.

-DLP