Where's Wally?

It is book week at school, and today everyone came to school dress up as a book character. We had fairies, Harry Potters, Wizards, Hannah Montanas, plus some traditional characters like Cat in the Hat, Pippy Long Stockings and Moonface. Of course, teachers like to dress up too! I thought we all did a fabulous job dressing up; Winnie-the-Pooh, Bottomly Spots, Gruffalo, Peter Pan, and me - Where's Wally. There was a prize for best teacher's costume...I won! Lol! Here is a picture.

The Lovely Bones

Seeing the movie (directed by Peter Jackson) is being released soon, I have read The Lovely Bones again. It was written by Alice Sebold in 2002 (she also wrote Lucky). The book starts with..."My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. My murderer was a man from our neighbourhood. My mother liked his border flowers, and my father talked to him once about fertilizer." I really enjoyed this book because the murder happens at the beginning of the story, and the remainder of the book tells how Susie is looking down from her heaven and watching how her family and friends deal with her death. A little bit eerie - but fascinating.

Anyway, I have added a youtube video of the movie trailer...can't wait to see the movie. Thanks, Renee, for the instructions on how to embed the video - so easy!

I definitely recommend you read the book before seeing the movie...I can see some subtle changes made to the story even in the preview. I always think the books are much better than the movie anyway.

Breaking Dawn

I have finally finished...

Am I allowed to be disappointed in the final book of the Twilight series? I'm not sure if it is because of end-of-term-i-tis or the 'fantasy' genre finally got to me...but I have to say - I didn't actually like the final book.

Well...I did like from p530 to about p672. I hated everything before and I hated the ending...hugely disappointed!

However...on the good front...the second Twilight movie is due out very soon. I've seen the preview and it looks SSSSOOOOOOOOOOO GGOOOOOOOOOOOOODDD!!!!

Still alive...

Just letting you know that I am still alive.

I am currently reading Breaking Dawn (last book of the Twilight series). It is obviously not as addictive as the first three books...taking me awhile to get through it.

I don't like it actually...hopefully it gets better.

Limestone

My friend and colleague, Jenny, lent me Limestone (written by Fiona Farrell). What a great read! I was a little disappointed about the ending...it seemed to finish really quickly.

Anyway, Fiona Farrell is a relatively new author, who was born and raised in Oamaru (only 20 minutes from Waimate!).

The story is about Clare Lacey, who is on a quest. In Ireland to attend an Art History conference, she sets out to find her father who walked out one day to buy a pack of cigarettes when she was a child, and disappeared. She is urged on her way by chance encounters: with a woman in a high tower, a blind man at a crossroads, a couple of rotund earthlings, a singer whose song she does not understand . . . Clues lie all around on a labyrinth of walls - but the final clue lies deep within.

A definite MUST-READ!

Have already started the fourth book in the Twilight series....

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.