I adore Kermit the frog, I think he is simply fantabulous!!! So when I found out he had written a book I just had to read it. The title ‘Before You Leap: A Frog’s-Eye View of Life’s Greatest Lessons’ is pretty damn straight forward on what the book is about but it is more than just some book that gives advice. The book is divided into two parts. The first part is an autobiography of Kermit’s life from birth to where he is today with the Muppets. The second part which is the majority of the book is what we expected; Kermit’s advice on life from his experiences.

I would describe the book as humorous and very quirky but at the same time informative. I really enjoyed reading this book and not just because I’m a big fan of Kermit. His autobiography is really an interesting read and it’s encouraging to know that hard work and not giving up is how he became the world famous frog he is today. One thing I found amusing is that he usually makes little witty comments after writing something. Eg. Everyone knows that a swamp is an amazing ecosystem overflowing with all the flora and fauna you can shake a stick at – if that’s your idea of a good time. Hehehe.

When I said it is more than an advice book I really meant it. Some of the stuff written isn’t really advice but just random information to make you smile. So don’t rely on this book to solve all your problems or as a way out of your midlife crisis. However as it is located in the self help section at Borders it does contain useful information. Kermit gives simple advice that you can apply in your everyday life on issues such as love, money, friendship etc. He does this in his usual lovable, goofy way which is much better than being a serious stiff about it.

Something else I liked is that the whole book is not just about Kermit, it reveals the rest of the Muppets especially Miss Piggy. Through Kermit’s descriptions and actual dialogue, we get to see the other Muppets’ opinions and how crazy but likeable they are.

A plus of the book is that it isn’t an enormous, two thousand page, black and white book with microscopic font. The book is 224 pages filled with lots of lovely photos and the font isn’t all the same which makes it even better. So if you’re not a fan of reading then you can just be entertained by all the pretty pictures.

This book is for people who want some fun encouragement for their life or if like me simply enjoy humour with a bit of craziness on the side. Even if you’re not a fan of Kermit I recommend you read this book. As Kermit said, So let’s turn the page and get things started! YAAAAY!
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So my trusty GQ Feb edition arrives in the mail today spurring up uncontainable anticipation at the autumn trends to which I should aspire. However, WARNING, regular readers will experience slow but escalating anxiety at the sight of the cover. To the horror of sophisticates and the svelte, there lay three scantily clad ladies. Now while I’m rarely the one deploring the doldrums of societal sexual objectification of womanity we must all remember this is my GQ. My private cove of style and substance. Please editors, save these harsh images for the back shelf, behind the counter, around in the corner in Dave’s boot publications.

But once the worrier wanders through the opening pages all flutters float away and the steady, tried and tested GQ returns to pure form. Chique officewares showcased include a diabolically designed four armed vase which invariably reminds me of tetra carbon bonds.
Between the materialistic superficialities of gadgets, make up and fashion, GQ hits the pulse of today with an insightful exploration of President Obama and the selections he has made for key positions in the new administration. Key quote “It’s probably better to have him [insert political nemesis] inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.”
As always, GQ puts the icing on with the baking of new lingo. Gastrosexuals are those “whose success in the bedroom begins in the kitchen.” I am definitely one of those. Finally, I have a label.

After hate at first sight, this issue of GQ lives up to the magazine’s lofty standards of style, class and vision. Overall, the picture count heavily skews towards the gentlemen’s side (as it should be); I mean how else will men know how to dress themselves?! Well done old friend!

PS. I now have my dream manbag.

MikeRead more...

Cecilia's first ever novel P.S, I Love You (first published in 2004), became an international bestseller AND THEN was adapted into a film (released in 2007)! So it must be good right? Right?? I will discuss this, review both the novel and the movie and compare the two.

But firstly I'll give you a little run down of what P.S, I Love You is even about. We follow the story of Holly Kennedy and her perfect husband Gerry. Despite Holly's dislikes of every workplace she has been to and the quarrels with her husband, Holly's life is perfect because of her perfect Gerry. If the beginning starts out this happy, then you must expect impending horribles.
Yes, Gerry DIES.
So now Holly barley copes with her life and everything is a mess until she receives mysterious letters from her perfect and dead Gerry. This is a story about Holly's coping and about crazy families and friends.

This is for those who like to read/watch romance, love and the struggles of ordinary people going through life. If you like action or the supernatural, sorry there's none in here.

A nice heartfelt storyline so far. But how was this story depicted in the novel and the movie? Quite often people would say to movies that have been adapted from a novel would say "OMG this movie SUCKS!!!, the novel was SO MUCH BETTER". What people say is so VERY true in this case for P.S, I Love You.
"But whyyyyyyyyyyy???" You may whine... "I can't be eff-ed and bothered in reading the book, I'd rather torture myself through ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX minutes than read the book!" you may sulk. But I assure you the novel owns the movie 'FO SHO.

The movie cuts out a huge GUNK out of the novel. So much happens in the novel!! Though,I can understand why they must do so due to the associated limitations of being on screen. HOWEVER consequently, I felt that the characters DIED in personality. The potentials of seeing the characters grow and evolve is completly obliterated. The extra warm fuzzies/sentimental scenes are erased and IMPORTANT CHARACTERS WERE WIPED OFF COMPLETELY. By watching the movie, you miss out on Holly's large crazy family. I thought they had a HUGE influence on her character but no, the movie leaves them out. The movie depicts Holly as plain, boring and typical.

As you probably could have guessed, I was so disappointed in the movie. Holly played by Hilary Swank was even more so shameful. Sure she is pretty but she is NOT how Holly was suppose to be. I mean, Holly was meant to sing badly. And I mean REEEEALLY badly!! In the movie though, she sung pretty good! She sings better than me anyways and that's not how it is suppose to be. That's ANOTHER black mark on you P.S, I Love You the MOVIE! Though it isn't just Hilary that was a disgrace. Pretty much every other character is. The sister was not crazy enough, the friends were not pushy and witty enough and the mother was not wise nor motherly enough. Perhaps a character that stayed true to the novel was possibly Gerry. Their lack of building their chacracters made the entire movie and its charm suffer.

What I also disliked about the movie was their so-called "creative added scenes". Were they trying to make up for cutting out SO MUCH from the book? An added character played by that SUPERNATURAL daddy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, How Holly and Gerry met...and what the heck? A funeral in a pub! Was it suppose to be funny? I'm not even smiling. Added oomphs in its sentiments? More like extra CRAP... in the face!

All in all, if you want a heartfelt story, a story you could laugh, cry, and sigh...please PLEASE save yourself 126 minutes and just read the novel. I did cry reading it (but I do cry easily..). I assure you will FEEL MORE EMOTION than watching the movie. Read the book! It isn't even chunky!

The Chicken rates P.S, I Love You the novel:


The Chicken rates P.S, I Love You the movie:


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This novel would have to be one of my favourites and is probably the one that made me fall in love with the romance genre. It is definitely worth the time and would have you weeping for the love, joy and wretchedness of it all!

However, the main male character in this novel may seem like someone who stems from reality, do not be fooled! Or you'll be disappointed once reality has returned to your senses! This is the downfall of reading any of Sparks novels, the characters aren't perfect, which may make you feel hopeful in reality. As in the characters were "jerks" in the past but changed when they meet the main female character, let me just say that it definitely DOES NOT HAPPEN!

For message in a bottle, I give it 5/5 stars. Worth the read, worth having in your book collection. I've read the book about 3-4 times, every time I end up distraught and sobbing hysterically! I love this novel most ardently. The movie version isn't that bad either (I cried watching the movie too!).

-VeebleRead more...

I present you, He's just not that into you a.k.a Er steht einfach nicht auf Dich! in Germany.

Ahh, a good ol' chick flick. The typical ROMANCE and LOVE and LUST and even SEX (Which makes me wonder why is it labeled a CHICK flick? Do these categories only attract the chicks? I'm sure roosters out there would love a bit of romance etc too? who labelled it a chick flick anyways? aaanyways OFF TOPIC).

It was out on our screens on the 12 Feb is AussieTraLia. Before watching the movie I had NO CLUE of the casts (Nor am I familiar with much actors anyways...) so throughout the movie I was surprised to see familiar faces but couldn't put their name to them. I did recognise DREW BARRYMORE and that FRIENDS chick JENNIFER ANISTON (...and that was it. haha). The rest, well you could see it on the poster. The story of the movie, and its many characters of whom I got confused with until the middle of the movie is conjured by the concept of MEN'S BEHAVIOUR in rejecting "us poor girls". It cleverly and humourously depicts this concept in not just a one-sort-of-girl but of different cultures (just a hint) and girls in different relationships. It was also all too conveniently but cleverly (I have already used that word but pfft.) had linked all the seemingly unrelated characters together.
As you would expect from a chick's flick there would be romance and light humour. It did have all that but nothing more.

I admit, there was this ONE TIME, ONE SCENE where I really did LOL (like, LAUGHED OUT LOUD) but that was it. It isn't a movie that YOU MUST WATCH, but something to pass the time. But by passing the time, it may involve dissecting all the references and the reactions of "OH MY GAWD THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME or THAT IS SOOO TRUE" to the scenes. Then afterwards, you might become more aware of your own actions, or reflect on your own relationships with the other sex or ponder the very fact that... HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU!! Yes you.

The Chicken gives this movie a...

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Dear Reader,

Thank you for coming along to read our frighteningly chaotic site!
The Crazy Cat Women Literary Society welcomes you! That name of ours is a bit of a mouthful isn't it? You can just shorten it to CCWLS, if you want. Or even shorten that to CCW. Or just C if you want it to be monosyllabic (my lord, you're lazy).

SO, FAQs!

1. So who are you guys and what's with the blogspot?

Well, my blog reading compadre, we're university students from diverse courses, who enjoy reading and have disparate tastes in literature, music, blah blah blah (erm, sorry, I guess I enjoy the perks of monosyllabism too), who also happen to be bored enough to start a joint blogging site.

ANYWAY, we don't really have any specific purpose for the site, so I suppose it's just a place we go to write if we have something to share to with our friends... yes, including YOU. So expect book reviews, music reviews, movie reviews, food reviews... anything... maybe even chaotic rants! We do hope that our writing might come in handy one day. You know, when you're looking for something to read, watch etc, and you're feeling a bit befuddled at where to start, maybe this can help! (Fingers crossed)

2. I am manful sort of fellow, so will I develop effeminate tendencies from reading CCWLitSociety?

No way! Are you kidding me? We're so muscular and strong, we've got abs on fingers. Shheeesh. (Flexes finger muscles)

3. I am concerned, will I become crazy too after reading your blog?

Yes, perhaps.

4. Why is your blog site named Crazy Cat Women Literary Society? Isn't that name a bit queer?

Crazy Cat Women Literary Society was chosen to celebrate the existence of Eleanor Abernathy, from The Simpsons. She's the crazy lady who throws cats and speaks jibberish. She's our hero.

5. Are you guys extraordinarily intelligent cats or women or men who pretend to be crazy women who throw cats?

That's a secret. Shhhh.

6. I would like to shower you guys with expensive gifts, flowers, food, australian dollars. How do I contact you guys?

ccw.literary.society [AT] gmail [DOT] com

We hope our FAQ section has satisfied your curiosity!
(Reader: Errr, I don't really care about your site)
(CCW: LALALALALA)

Much love on behalf of Crazy Cat Women Literary Society Team,

Chau. Read more...