The Carrie Diaries, EPL and The Shred Day 5

Happy Saturday night!!  Right now I’m watching a marathon of Hot In Cleveland on TV Land.  Another rockin’ Saturday night at my house!! lol

So, in my last post I mentioned that I’d finished reading The Carrie Diaries and would post a review, so here goes…..

To be honest I wasn’t really expecting much since, if you’ve read my previous posts, I haven’t really liked Candace Bushnell’s previous books.  As we’ve all come to know, this is supposed to be about Carrie Bradshaw before Sex and the City.  Unfortunately, I didn’t see anything of the Carrie Bradshaw that we’ve all grown to know and love from the series in this book.  I think she did a disservice to the character by trying to tie it, as a prequel, to Sex and The City.  She would have been better off starting a whole new character and gone from there.  Then she could have had a whole new series.

But even so, overall I enjoyed the book.  I really didn’t think of it as our Carrie Bradshaw, but a different character so that I could enjoy it as a separate entity.  Ms Bushnell still tries to cram everything and the kitchen sink into the storyline to try and cover every cliche teenage angst known to man–and then some.  Honestly, she really needs to learn some restraint–as well as how to edit.  And if she’s going to tie it to the series, I wish she would have at least went back and watched the TV series before submitting this to her publishers if she really wanted it to be a prequel to the show.   It’s much more enjoyable if you don’t tie the two together….honestly!

There were several discrepancies in the book including the fact that in the show Carrie said that she didn’t know her father, that it was just she and her mom.  But in the book her mom is dead and she has an overprotective father and 2 younger sisters.  Yet, if she had that father in the show, would she have had all of the relationship issues that are the cornerstone of her character??

Also, remember David Duchovny as her high school boyfriend who comes to visit her while staying at the psychiatric facility?  Yeah, well he’s nowhere to be found. And, yes, they discuss her 2 previous boyfriends before Sebastien Kydd, her boyfriend in the book.

And besides the discrepancies, compared to the series, I have a question:  In what state is there a law that people under the age of 18 can go to a bar or restaurant and order alcohol???  The book starts in September of their senior year–I doubt they ALL, if any, were 18 years of age at that time.  I know that I didn’t turn 18 until spring of senior year–and I was older than most of my friends, so……hmmmm

So, this afternoon I went to see Eat, Pray, Love.  Is it exactly like the book?  No, of course not.  Does it matter?  No, of course not.  Could you imagine anyone other than Julia Roberts playing the part of Elizabeth Gilbert?  No, of course not.

The book was fantastic.  And, honestly, once I finish reading all of the books I currently have checked out of the library….I really want to re-read it.  I actually own this book…purchased a long time ago but just got around to reading a couple/few months ago.

The book was changed to fit everything into a 2 1/4 hour movie.  Everything was summed up okay and  some things were left out (which was okay).  The only thing I didn’t like about the movie was the way they changed scenery (between Italy to India to Bali).  It was startling and a little confusing.  It would have been nice if, at the beginning of each place, they would have just put “Italy”….or “India”….or “Bali” on the screen in the first few seconds of the sequence.  Yes we knew what was coming, but it didn’t need to be so jarring.

But, let’s not nitpick.  The movie was beautiful and it made me want to visit each and every place.  Richard Jenkins was terrific as always and really did steal the scenes he was in.

And how can you not love Javier Bardem?!  I’ve always been a fan of his and he is also terrific in this movie.  I love the scene when he is saying good-bye to his son, who is leaving Bali.  It was touching and made you love his character even more.

Even if you haven’t read the book go see this movie as you will not be disappointed.  The book is a tough read to start out, but once you get past the beginning, you just get immersed in the story and it’s hard to put down.  Through Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing you are transported to each place.  I really did feel that I was in Italy, India and Bali.  It, like the movie, made me want to visit each of these three magical places!!

I did manage to squeeze in The Shred-Day 5.  I put my all into the workout and really concentrated on each exercise and found that I was able to do the push-ups without slowing or stopping (although I still did them “girly” style).  It’s still a tough workout but I’m getting better at it.  I’m still on level one and will probably stay on it for a while–possibly the whole 30 days.  Maybe the next 30 days I’ll move to level 2 and then level 3 for another 30 days???  That kind of sounds like a plan!!  Well, I’ll just play it by ear….

Hope everyone’s enjoying their weekend so far…….

Book Reviews

Well, the last book review I did was for Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell.  I have been trying to read Trading Up by Ms Bushnell for over a month, but it’s been very very difficult because, quite frankly, her writing (in my opinion) is so bad!!

I’ve read 3 of her books so far:  Sex and the City, Three Blondes, and Lipstick Jungle.  I haven’t really had good things to say about any of them.  Talk about long winded and boring.  Even worse, her characters are not interesting  so you end up not really caring what happens to them.  How tragic….especially since I love to read and can usually find something good about anything I read!!

Anyway, I really couldn’t “get into” the book, so I set Trading Up aside and tried to read several other books instead.  I read The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it made me a Sophie Kinsella convert.  Better late than never, right?!  It was cute and funny with a bit of a serious side….and a love story.  It’s a great summer read!!

Next I read The Towering World of Jimmy Choo which showed the rise of not only the Jimmy Choo empire but of how the fashion world came to be what it is today.  It was a very interesting read.  I learned a lot about the fashion industry and, honestly, found that I am not a Tamara Mellon fan.

Since I read the book I have scoured the internet looking at all of the designer shoes:  Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, etc.  I found Manolo’s and Louboutin’s that I really really want and are on my wish list….. but, I didn’t find one pair of Choo’s that I “just had to have”, or that I even “kinda” wanted to own.  So, I guess I really don’t get the hoopla over Jimmy Choo’s.  If I’m going to spend that kind of money–I wanna LOVE them!!

So, anyway, the next book I read was Secrets of a Shoe Addict by Beth Harbison.  Kinda appropriate, huh??! lol  I honestly didn’t read the jacket to see what the book was about.  I strictly went by the cover and the title.  Now that I think about it, that’s kind of lame! haha  Yes, I was surprised at the actual subject matter of this book (how 3 women got into debt & how they got together to get those debts paid off), but enjoyed it none-the-less.   It’s not a “fun-loving, summer read” like Sophie Kinsella, but I did like the book.

Next on my list was Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella.  It’s a loooong book but very enjoyable.  I loved both main characters (a dead Great-Aunt and her much alive Great-niece) and the storyline (they are looking for Aunt’s necklace so she can “rest in peace”).  I didn’t want the story to end!  Now, that’s a good book when you don’t want it to end, right?!  I will, at some point, buy this book because I really did love it so much…and will want to read it again.

I just finished Hope In a Jar by Beth Harbison.  Her writing is darker than Sophie Kinsella but much more mature and interesting compared to Candace Bushnell.  I loved her references to ad’s for old products at the beginning of each chapter.  Again, I didn’t really read the jacket to see what the book was about, I picked it solely from the title and cover.  I guess that means Beth Harbison picks great titles and covers!!  It does make you think about class reunions and all the drama from high school.  Excellent book!!

Right now I’m back to reading Trading Up.  It’s still a tough read, but I’m finally about halfway done.  I’m so disappointed because the writing world seems to really like Candace Bushnell but her writing is so incredibly boring and immature….what are these “professionals” thinking??  When I read reader reviews, most of them are harsh!!

She has another book, One Fifth Avenue, that I haven’t checked out (yes I got all of the above from the library) and am afraid to at this point.

I’ve been on a waiting list for The Carrie Diaries since the beginning of June.  It’s finally my turn and I picked up the book from the library yesterday.  Hopefully, I can slog through Trading Up and get it finished by tomorrow so I can get started with the Carrie Diaries  on Sunday.  That’s my plan, anyway.

On top of those, I have a stack of books on my nightstand to keep me busy, 14 in fact!!  Well, I’d better get reading………………

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!!

Tuesday Wrap-Up, RealityTV, & a Book Review

I haven’t been very good at logging my food & everything else this week so far.  Today I haven’t written anything down but it’s pretty easy so here goes:

Sleep:

Last night I slept a total of 7 1/2 hrs, which is a lot for me lately!!  Too bad it wasn’t all at once.  I slept for 6 hrs, was awake for about 45 min’s and then slept again for 1 1/2 hrs.  At least I got over 7 hrs of sleep!  If it’s going to take baby steps to get back on track, then I’ll take it!

Eating:

Breakfast:  1/2 cup Shredded Wheat, 1/2 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup blueberries

Snack:  Venti sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Lunch:  1 cup of watermelon, 1 Klondike bar (I know, not good–but I wasn’t really that hungry and ice cream sounded soooo good!)

Snack:  2 Wasa crackers, 1 wedge Laughing Cow cheese

Dinner:  Herb & Gorgonzola Frittata, 1 bottle of Snapple diet Trop-A-Rocka

Dessert:  It’s It (another ice cream sandwich…what can I say??)

Water:

So far I’ve had 4 cups of water and I’m still drinking…..I’m hoping to get to 7-8 cups by bedtime

Exercise:

**crickets**

I only ran once last week but it was a good workout.  The heat has been so bad the past couple of days (Sunday and Monday were both over 100*F.  Today was in the high 90′s.  I really need to start getting up early in the morning to workout otherwise I won’t do it since it’s so hot.  Let’s see what happens tomorrow morning….I really need some motivation!!

As for Tuesday night TV, I am watching the San Francisco Giants get beat by the LA Dodgers.  I’m so NOT happy right now…..I had to change the channel to Hell’s Kitchen.  I watched part of Losing It With Jillian.  Later on I’ll be watching The Hills, The City and Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D List.

Last night I watched Real Housewives of NJ.  What is up with Danielle?  She is the craziest person on TV (well, she’s tied with Kelly from Real Housewives of NY).  But the difference between Danielle and Kelly, I think, is that Kelly is crazy cuckoo and needs to go see a psychiatrist but I don’t think she’s dangerous; whereas Danielle is off-her-rocker, she’s-gonna-snap-at-any-moment, scary crazy.

Both Kelly and Danielle live in their own little worlds, which don’t even come close to reality…..but Danielle is the one I think I would be afraid to be anywhere near at any time!!  Neither one should be on a reality show or anywhere on TV or the public eye.  Hopefully Bravo does what’s best for those two and let’s them out of their contract so they can get the help they desperately need!!

I have been trying to watch The Bachelorette this season since Ali is from the Bay Area.  I’ve never seen this show before this season, but to be honest, I cannot believe people watch it.  Has anyone on the show that matched up ever actually marry each other?? And if so, how many?? It HAS to be a very low number.

This seasons bachelorette, Ali, is a little dim, I think.  She’s very cute and all, but not so bright.  And, as for the guys, I am so NOT impressed!!  I have honestly found this show to be one of the most boring reality shows that I’ve ever seen!!  I’ll see it through to the end, but this is one girl who will not waste another Monday night watching this sham of a show!!  And, I can’t imagine watching the Bachelor where it’s a house full of women.  That would have to be the biggest catfight every single week.  I don’t think I could take it!! haha

I finished reading Lipstick Jungle this weekend.  It started off really slow and took a while for me to warm up to it.  The warm up, however, was lukewarm at best!!  Ms Bushnell has managed to have her characters appear in 3 books:  Four Blondes, Trading Up (which I’m still trying to read) and Lipstick Jungle.  What’s the matter, couldn’t she come up with any original characters??

If the characters were really interesting, then it would be okay.  However, they were cliched Hollywood or wealthy types and I was very disappointed to see them rehashed!!

After reading 3 Candace Bushnell books (Sex & The City, Four Blondes, & Lipstick Jungle), I find her writing sub-par and amateurish at best.  I’m so disappointed considering all of the hype around her and the fact that I am a HUGE Sex & The City TV show and movie fan.  But then, she didn’t write any of those, now, did she??  Thank goodness for that!!

After I finish reading Trading Up (so far just as boring as the others with forgettable characters) I will read The Carrie Diaries.  Luckily I didn’t buy any of these books, but  checked them out of the library.  I’m on a long list for the Carrie Diaries at the local library and it should be my turn in about a month or so…..

I started reading The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella last night.  It’s okay so far but at least it’s more entertaining than what I’ve been reading!!

Book reviews-Four Blondes/Sex and the City

I finished reading Four Blondes by Candace Bushnell (of Sex and The City fame) last night.  It is four stories about four different blondes. After reading this book, as well as Sex and The City I am not really that impressed with Ms Bushnell’s writing.

The first story was okay.  It kept my interest and for the most part moved along.   The blond character in this story, Janey, is the main character in the book I just started today, Trading Up.  Since this is the only story I liked from this book, I’m hoping I enjoy it.  So far it’s okay, but I’ll let you know when I’m done.

The other three stories were boring and pointless.  The second story, about a married couple (she is a shrew, and I’m being nice) was rambling and the ending was, in my opinion, ridiculous.  I didn’t like this character at all and didn’t really care what happened to her.

Then there was the third story, about a girl who married royalty, which was just too weird.  I, again, didn’t like the main blond character (or really, any of the characters) and couldn’t wait for the story to end.  I kept reading because I was hoping it would get better.  I was wrong.

The fourth story……….about a girl who goes to England to do a story and find a man, was very short and, yet again, boring and kind of rambling.

I have one more Candace Bushnell book after I finish the one I just started.  The last one is Lipstick Jungle. I actually never saw the series, but since it only lasted a few episodes, I’m thinking that it wasn’t very good.  Hoping the book will be better.

After that book I will be taking a break from Ms Bushnell’s books and moving on to Sophie Kinsella.  I have a few of her books ready and waiting.  After a while I will come back to Candace Bushnell’s books and read One Fifth Avenue and The Carrie Diaries.

In my opinion, I don’t get the mass hysteria over this author.  I normally like reading about the fictitious rich, famous and powerful (give me a Jackie Collins novel anytime!!) but Ms Bushnell’s first two attempts seem amateur at best compared with Ms Collins and other vet’s.

After I finished Sex and The City (the book) last week I was completely underwhelmed.  Being such a huge fan of the series and movies I was expecting something similar.  Was I in for a shock!!  Besides the title and a few lines that they put in the series, I didn’t really see much resemblance. I found the book to be much too dark.   And, how they came up with the series and the 4 BFF’s from that book is beyond me!!

Who else has read these books?  I would love to hear other opinions.  Am I missing something??

Well, wish me luck on the rest of her books……