Mom's romance novel is finally available on Amazon!
Amazon says there are only two copies available. I ordered one, and there are still two copies available. lol I think they lie...
I haven't read it, but the cover is HOT. ;)
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Watching the Watchmen
My husband and I saw Watchmen at the IMAX a couple weeks ago, and it was an awesome experience. Fans of the graphic novel, we were apprehensive about the ability of cinema to convey the stunning power of the graphic novel, but we were not disappointed.
Watchmen is not so much a story about superheroes as a story about the nature of mankind. In case you haven't read it, Watchmen converges multiple stories and motifs to dramatically frame and amplify the philosophical dilemma "What price peace?" Set in an alternate 1985, where mankind is on the brink of nuclear destruction and Richard Nixon is holding a third term administration, Watchmen examines the nature of true heroism and the likelihood of peace for flawed humanity, mirrored in the lives of retired masked vigilantes. The book has been called the greatest graphic novel, and it is a truly literary work. The artwork of each frame is rich with symbolic meaning and clues to character. The rich and meaningful detail of the novel is reflected faithfully in the motion picture.
Watchmen is primarily for Generation X, those of us who were born during the bleakest days of the Vietnam War, when new births in the United States fell dramatically, from 1967 to 1970. Generation Y, those born as the U.S. recovered from the Vietnam Conflict from 1971-1975 may also appreciate the tale. We remember our families' sacrifices in Vietnam and, crucially, what it was like to fear nuclear destruction every day as we came of age during the eighties. I think that our Baby Boomer parents can also appreciate Watchmen, but the violence of the novel and the motion picture may disturb them.
Since Generations X and Y have been brought up on such violence in the cinema, it will not faze them. Don't let your kids read the book until you think they are ready for its mature subject matter, which includes adult relationship themes (simply not interesting to kids), nudity, violence, and gore. Kids younger than 12 should not see the motion picture even with parental supervision. Some of the violence is horror show level. The violence in the motion picture is less than what is in the novel. Even if kids are old enough to handle the violence, they may not be able to understand the intellectual force of the story, which, because of the symbols employed, depends somewhat on the experience of growing up during the official Cold War Era.
Perhaps because there were no superstar actors in the film, the actors do not distract from the story. The performances in Watchmen are top notch, each actor employing a wide range of subtle emotions in voice and actions. The character of Rorschach is brilliantly portrayed by Jackie Earle Haley, whom you may not recognize, but whom you may remember from Breaking Away in the role of Moocher. Nite Owl II is portrayed with deep sensitivity by Patrick Wilson, who is the American equivalent of Hugh Jackman in theater, memorable as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in the 2004 film Phantom of the Opera. Matthew Goode portrays the enigmatic Ozymandias with a vaguely Germanic foreign accent, perfectly suited to his mysterious origins. Reflecting the attention to detail paid in filming, Goode adjusts his speech features to the occasion, giving reporters an almost flawless American accent, but relaxing into his natural features when talking with an old friend. Billy Crudup's performance as Dr. Manhatten is mesmorizing.
So, if you aren't put off by a bit of violence and gore, I heartily recommend that you see Watchmen while it is still in theaters. See it in IMAX if you can, but the regular theater is almost as good. I've already seen it twice and plan to see it again. Because of the symbolic detail and complexity of the story, your experience of the film, like the novel, will be enhanced by multiple viewings. This is the first movie that I've seen since Raiders of the Lost Ark that merits at least 3 theatrical viewings. Whether or not you see the film, read the novel. It will blow you away.
Watchmen is not so much a story about superheroes as a story about the nature of mankind. In case you haven't read it, Watchmen converges multiple stories and motifs to dramatically frame and amplify the philosophical dilemma "What price peace?" Set in an alternate 1985, where mankind is on the brink of nuclear destruction and Richard Nixon is holding a third term administration, Watchmen examines the nature of true heroism and the likelihood of peace for flawed humanity, mirrored in the lives of retired masked vigilantes. The book has been called the greatest graphic novel, and it is a truly literary work. The artwork of each frame is rich with symbolic meaning and clues to character. The rich and meaningful detail of the novel is reflected faithfully in the motion picture.
Watchmen is primarily for Generation X, those of us who were born during the bleakest days of the Vietnam War, when new births in the United States fell dramatically, from 1967 to 1970. Generation Y, those born as the U.S. recovered from the Vietnam Conflict from 1971-1975 may also appreciate the tale. We remember our families' sacrifices in Vietnam and, crucially, what it was like to fear nuclear destruction every day as we came of age during the eighties. I think that our Baby Boomer parents can also appreciate Watchmen, but the violence of the novel and the motion picture may disturb them.
Since Generations X and Y have been brought up on such violence in the cinema, it will not faze them. Don't let your kids read the book until you think they are ready for its mature subject matter, which includes adult relationship themes (simply not interesting to kids), nudity, violence, and gore. Kids younger than 12 should not see the motion picture even with parental supervision. Some of the violence is horror show level. The violence in the motion picture is less than what is in the novel. Even if kids are old enough to handle the violence, they may not be able to understand the intellectual force of the story, which, because of the symbols employed, depends somewhat on the experience of growing up during the official Cold War Era.
Perhaps because there were no superstar actors in the film, the actors do not distract from the story. The performances in Watchmen are top notch, each actor employing a wide range of subtle emotions in voice and actions. The character of Rorschach is brilliantly portrayed by Jackie Earle Haley, whom you may not recognize, but whom you may remember from Breaking Away in the role of Moocher. Nite Owl II is portrayed with deep sensitivity by Patrick Wilson, who is the American equivalent of Hugh Jackman in theater, memorable as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny in the 2004 film Phantom of the Opera. Matthew Goode portrays the enigmatic Ozymandias with a vaguely Germanic foreign accent, perfectly suited to his mysterious origins. Reflecting the attention to detail paid in filming, Goode adjusts his speech features to the occasion, giving reporters an almost flawless American accent, but relaxing into his natural features when talking with an old friend. Billy Crudup's performance as Dr. Manhatten is mesmorizing.
So, if you aren't put off by a bit of violence and gore, I heartily recommend that you see Watchmen while it is still in theaters. See it in IMAX if you can, but the regular theater is almost as good. I've already seen it twice and plan to see it again. Because of the symbolic detail and complexity of the story, your experience of the film, like the novel, will be enhanced by multiple viewings. This is the first movie that I've seen since Raiders of the Lost Ark that merits at least 3 theatrical viewings. Whether or not you see the film, read the novel. It will blow you away.
Monday, March 2, 2009
I can't believe I forgot to watch this! :P
I have great hopes for Jimmy Fallon as he takes over Late Night. I enjoyed his standup when he went on tour; got to see him at UGA a decade ago. A decade ago?!? Holy...
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Kids and Books
I haven't done anything with kids for almost a decade, and I learned quite a bit yesterday. As I mentioned in my last entry, I volunteered to read to six year olds at the local girls club for about half an hour. I was asked to get some books from the public library and was told that they would be brought in for some reading time before getting picked up to go home. So I thought that I might have time to read one or two books and then they'd be gone. When I arrived, the folks running the girls club told me that this was an 'experiment' and we would see how it went. I had figured this was a regular occurrence and expected the kids to think this was routine, which was an incorrect assumption. Also, the girls club folks did not tell me that the kids would not be picked up by their parents until much later, and that there were other activities for them. So I dutifully tried to read to them for an hour, waiting for their parents to arrive, while these poor kids just wanted to go outside and play. Eventually it came out that the kids didn't have to stay with me and I dismissed them immediately.
As for what I learned, apparently six year olds have the attention span of a gnat. Also, they complained that they don't like to be read to because it's boring. And I don't blame them. At the end of the day, they should have been outside playing instead of trying to sit still listening to me read. At an older age, they might be more interested in listening to a story and using their imaginations. But the interesting thing that happened was that while they were busy not listening to me, they started to find their own books to look at (I'm not very good at corralling kids). So, I really think that if you're going to have a reading time with kids in the afternoon, you should read only one book and then let them explore the books for themselves.
My husband brought something else to my attention after I told him the story. At the beginning of the reading session, the lady in charge of the kids made a bargain with them that if I told her they were good and everyone paid attention to me, they would get a prize. So the whole time I'm trying to read to them, they are asking me over and over, "Are you gonna say we were good?" My husband reminded me that child behaviorists warn that this tactic should be avoided because it placed the responsibility on me instead of on the kids. The kids didn't behave because they didn't associate their own behavior with obtaining the prize. When their caretaker asked me in front of them if they behaved, I gave them two undeserved thumbs up, because I couldn't blame the kids; they were as set up as I was.
While the experience was not at all what I expected, it was valuable, and I'm glad I did it. At the very least it was some practice for the kids to pay attention, even if they mostly didn't. I'd volunteer to do this again, but next time I'd try reading just one book and then tell them to find a book they like and tell me about it. Then they should go play!
As for what I learned, apparently six year olds have the attention span of a gnat. Also, they complained that they don't like to be read to because it's boring. And I don't blame them. At the end of the day, they should have been outside playing instead of trying to sit still listening to me read. At an older age, they might be more interested in listening to a story and using their imaginations. But the interesting thing that happened was that while they were busy not listening to me, they started to find their own books to look at (I'm not very good at corralling kids). So, I really think that if you're going to have a reading time with kids in the afternoon, you should read only one book and then let them explore the books for themselves.
My husband brought something else to my attention after I told him the story. At the beginning of the reading session, the lady in charge of the kids made a bargain with them that if I told her they were good and everyone paid attention to me, they would get a prize. So the whole time I'm trying to read to them, they are asking me over and over, "Are you gonna say we were good?" My husband reminded me that child behaviorists warn that this tactic should be avoided because it placed the responsibility on me instead of on the kids. The kids didn't behave because they didn't associate their own behavior with obtaining the prize. When their caretaker asked me in front of them if they behaved, I gave them two undeserved thumbs up, because I couldn't blame the kids; they were as set up as I was.
While the experience was not at all what I expected, it was valuable, and I'm glad I did it. At the very least it was some practice for the kids to pay attention, even if they mostly didn't. I'd volunteer to do this again, but next time I'd try reading just one book and then tell them to find a book they like and tell me about it. Then they should go play!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
What's next?
As an experientialist, I revel in adventure and discovery, but I prefer experiences that have a predictably positive outcome. Selling our house during the housing slump was an intense, consuming experience which I appreciate for what it taught me, but I'm more than relieved that it's over. Now that it's done, I'm really not sure what to do next. I feel like a house cat that sneaks out the front door only to freeze on the stoop, overwhelmed by the infinite possibilities that lie ahead.
So, I thought, why not write a blog about discovery beyond the burden of a major life change? I'm going to revisit some interests that fell by the wayside, and in the process share my observations of whatever I notice that's cool. There are a few subjects that I'm especially interested in pursuing now, including entertainment, art, travel, philanthropy, and science.
Today, I'm giving back to the community by volunteering at the local girls club. I'm a member of an organization that supports the club and I've been asked to read to the kids this afternoon. This is a first for me, so it'll be interesting to see how it goes. I've never read to a group of kids before, but I'm sure it'll be fun. This little project renewed my husband's interest in writing his own series of books for beginning readers. At the library, I found that there are a gazillion books for kids to read, but there are remarkably few books with brightly colored illustrations on topics that are uplifting and not just instructive. So I think there is room for a few more kids books.
So, I thought, why not write a blog about discovery beyond the burden of a major life change? I'm going to revisit some interests that fell by the wayside, and in the process share my observations of whatever I notice that's cool. There are a few subjects that I'm especially interested in pursuing now, including entertainment, art, travel, philanthropy, and science.
Today, I'm giving back to the community by volunteering at the local girls club. I'm a member of an organization that supports the club and I've been asked to read to the kids this afternoon. This is a first for me, so it'll be interesting to see how it goes. I've never read to a group of kids before, but I'm sure it'll be fun. This little project renewed my husband's interest in writing his own series of books for beginning readers. At the library, I found that there are a gazillion books for kids to read, but there are remarkably few books with brightly colored illustrations on topics that are uplifting and not just instructive. So I think there is room for a few more kids books.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)