Short Fat Chick to Marathon Runner

My friend and colleague, Helen, lent me this book after seeing that I wanted to read it. What a hilarious read! A definite must-read if you haven't already.

Kerre Woodham is a well-known radio host and has also presented/appeared in various tv shows. Over the last couple of years she has been in the public limelight for her marathon running. Typically, Kerre was not a runner...by sheer hard work and stamina she first ran a half-marathon, then a full marathon in Auckland. Not satisfied with this, she travelled to New York to complete the full marathon there.

Kerre has a wonderful way of retelling stories...I often found myself laughing out loud. She is up front and honest...and I truly found her story inspirational.

Now, I am about to start Fiona Farrell's book called Limestone. From memory, this story is about a woman who travels to Ireland in search of her father. Apparently, when this woman was a child growing up in Oamaru, her father went out to buy a packet of cigarettes and just never came back. Will let you know what I think...

Oh...and then I am starting Breaking Dawn...

I watched the movie!

Last night I relaxed in front of the box and watched Twilight the movie. The movie was...okay??? Actually I was a little disappointed. As usual the movies never do the book justice, but I am needing to read the original book again - maybe I didn't read it properely? I had no idea that Eric was asian, Laurent was black (African American...which is ever is the correct way to say it) and so is Mike...I didn't get this from the book. It's not that I am a racist person...I am NOT. I just never noticed when I read the book.

As for Edward! I think I may be in Team Jacob now...Edward looked like there was something mentally wrong with him (yes I know he was fighting all desires to eat Bella...but still?) and what was with his hair colour? Some silly orange/brown colour that just did not go with his blueish skin colour! SPeaking of skin colour - I expected his skin colour to glow way brighter in the sun.

Nonetheless...can't wait to see the second movie.

Last night I also bought myself a present. I purchased a collectors copy of the last book, Breaking Dawn. The pages have red edges...very cool! Can't wait to start. However, before I start it I hve two other books to finish first.

I am halfway through Kerre Woodham's Short Fat Chick to Marathon Runner (it is so hilarious that I often find myself laughing out loud) and then I have a book on loan from my colleague, Jenny, called Limestone. I'm not sure what it is about but am assured that it is a good read.

Cinderella

Wairakei School for fortunate enough to have a visit from 3 actors from the Court Theatre of Christchurch. These actors retold the fairy tale of Cinderella.

The show was fabulous! It included the typical characters of the ugly stepsisters, Cinderella, Fairy God Mother (complete with Amy Winehouse style beehive and a clip board!), Prince Rupert (with a lisp) and the messenger (who happened to be an opera singing Italian).

There was plenty of audience participation and humour for the kids, along with plenty of adult humour for the teachers. Absolutely Brilliant!

Oooohhh! Eclipse was soooooo good!

Best book by far! (until I read Breaking Dawn anyway...). Bridget and I went up north for an ICT bus trip (Auckland - Hamilton - Mt Maunganui - Auckland) and on our travels she read New Moon while I read Eclipse.

This third book (what do you call this - a triquel???) develops the rivalry between Jacob (werewolf) and Edward (vampire) and their love for Bella (human - that so readily accepts that her best friends are a werewolf and a vampire - duh???). Anyway, I still love this story!

I am in two minds about the male characters. In the book, Edward is daper, sophisticated and so good-looking...but from what I have seen in the movies (online sneak peeks) Jacob is so so so much better looking than Edward.

Anyway...this weekend I may just have to hire the Twilight movie and watch it - haven't seen it yet!

To Kill A Mockingbird ON STAGE!

This afternoon my friend, Rhonda, and I went to the Repertory Theatre on Kilmore Street to see the stage production of To Kill a Mockingbird.

I have been a fan of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird since I read it in class at high school. I own the book and the DVD (the 1960's one featuring Gregory Peck).

Rhonda and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. It was so good to see a packed theatre and the sudience containing a wide variety of people (children, high school students, elderly, middle aged, adults and even a collection from the Red Hat Ladies!).

Listening to books

My friend and colleague, Bridget, let me know about this cool website. It is a website where you can listen to stories being told out loud. This is great for me as a teacher, because instead of reading to my class after morning roll, I can put the laptop on and the laptop will read the story to them! Usually there are about 8 books to choose from and these change every two weeks. And it's free...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bigtoe/books/

The Lovely Bones

The movie is coming soon!

The movie is based on the best selling book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl from suburban Pennsylvania who is murdered by her neighbour. She tells the story from heaven, showing the lives of the people around her and how they have changed all while attempting to get someone to find her lost body.

I saw the preview to it not long ago...and it looks superb! Can't wait until December!!!

New Moon

I was reading the third book in the Twilight series today (Eclipse) and I realised that I hadn't written about the second book yet!

As with the first book, I couldn't put the book down. However, I found this book a little flat. The lovely Edward Cullen doesn't make an appearance until the last quarter of the book. It was still really worth reading...

The majority of the book was about Belle suffering because of Edward's absence and of her becoming best friends with Jacob Black, who is actually a werewolf (and Edwards enemy). Victoria ( a rogue vampire from Twilight) returns to Forks (where Bella lives) to seek revenge. In the first book, Edward killed Victoria's mate, therefore Victoria wants to kill Edwards mate.

I dont want to give too much away...so won't say anything more.

Apart from...I'm having a little trouble with understanding Bella. She so quickly accepts the fact that her friends are vampires and werewolves...yeah right! This is probably due to the fact that I don't usually read (or enjoy) fantasy genre books.

Am halfway through Eclipse...so gooooooodddd!!!! I think this third book may be the best of them all...so far!