Dear readers, we haven't forgotten about vampires have we? I know Young Dracula may be too childish for you, the teen vampire genre too trashy and you'd rather stake yourself than get through Bram Stoker. The answer lies in Elizabeth Kostova's elegantly written The Historian. It is a very long book but the kind you want to continue for much longer. It is a very well researched book, seeped in vampire lore and history. It'll take you from modern day Oxford to the Ottoman Empire and Transylvania, all described vividly enough to make you want to go visit the places. The historical perspective on vampires is very interesting and fuses the novel with some real meat.

The scholarly overtones with many references to libraries, various librarians, ancient documents and classic languages such as sanskrit, latin and greek renders the vampire legend very real and very chilling. The presence of Dracula looms broodingly as the main character, a teenage girl, slowly uncovers the secrets.  The plot is too complicated to try and summarise but you'd rather discover it for yourself, wouldn't you?

Readers who enjoy vampires, mystery, historical, gothic, horror or something fantastic to lounge about reading for hours during holidays won't be disappointed. 

There are no repetitious descriptions of hot-guy-vampires. Indeed, this literary thriller may require some brain activity and garlic garlands against the undead.

(Feel free to borrow from me and pass on.) Read more...

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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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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