Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

True Colors, Kristin Hannah

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Kristin Hannah is becoming one of my favorite authors.  I really loved Firefly Lane.  Comfort and Joy was cute.  True Colors did not disappoint in the slightest.  One thing I admire about Ms. Hanna is that she will take on serious issues and that nobody is safe from death or tragedy.

True Colors is the story of three sisters, Winona, Aurora and Vivi Ann.  When we meet them, as teens, they are living together, close as can be on their father’s ranch.  Then their mother dies.  We follow the story, told through the eyes of Winona and ViviAnn, through early adulthood.  Typical for a middle child,  Aurora tends to be the peacemaker, and we don’t get her point of view.

The girls grow apart, fight, come back together again.  There are plot twists.  It’s a love story at heart, love between three sisters, and the men who love them.  It’s not easy, as Winona watches both of her sisters get married, while the love of her life leaves town after being in love with and engaged to Vivi (you see that coming).  Vivi ends up falling for Dallas Raintree and has a son with him.   Aurora is there too, married with children.  Trying to keep peace with the other two sisters who always seem to fighting.

But it’s not completely a love story.  There is also a murder mystery thrown in there!  I will not spoil it for you here.  There are other places that can do that for you.

The way Kristin weaves the stories together will leave you breathless, and keep  you turning the pages long after you had hoped to stop.

Highly recommended.

Posted in Crime, Family, Fiction, Literature, Mystery | No Comments »

Toy Story 3

Friday, July 16th, 2010

I do have to say that I didn’t expect this movie to be as good as Parts 1 & 2.  Part 3 always declines in quality, doesn’t it?  Well, Toy Story 3 broke that trend.

The premise is that Andy, the little boy in the previous films, is going to college.   He has to decide what he is taking with him, what to give away and what to put it in the attic for long term storage.  So he goes through his toy box and throws Woody in his college box and puts the rest in a trash bag.   A bit of confusion ensues and the toys end up in the trash for pick up and Woody, of course, has to rescue them.

They end up at Sunnyside Day Care Center and boy are they happy!  They will be played with every single day except weekends.  They think they will be happy at the daycare center.  Boy, do they turn out to be wrong!

We meet some new toy characters.  Barbie finally meets Ken.  Big Baby, Lotso,  Trixie and Mr. Pricklepants are also introduced.  We also meet a sweet little girl named Bonnie, the daughter of the daycare center.   Not all of the characters are what they seem though!

Sinister plans, adventure and love are the main plot points and the ending will have you in goosebumps, if not tears.

Do NOT miss this movie.   The 3D effects are awesome, but I don’t believe necessary to the movie.  I also predict a Toy Story 4: The Next Generation.

VERDICT:  Rush out and see it if you haven’t.  A fun time for the entire family!

Posted in Animation, Family, Films | No Comments »

Last Night in Twisted River, John Irving

Monday, February 8th, 2010

There is nothing I like more than a long novel, with a good plot.   Add in a multi-generational story, and I am hooked in.  In that regard, this book did not disappoint.

The simple storyline is about a father, Dominic, and his son, Daniel, and their friend Ketchum.  One night, Daniel mistakes the local town’s sheriff’s girlfriend for a bear and kills her.  The rest of the story deals with the actions they take immediately afterwards and for the next 50 years as they flee from Twisted River.  Irving takes us on a journey, from New Hampshire, to Boston, to Iowa, to finally, Toronto.  Along the way, we meet many interesting characters who played a part in Dominic and Daniel’s lives in all of the cities.

A friend of mine once told me that all of John Irving’s books had a bear and wrestling in them.  Now, I don’t know if that is true, as the only books I’ve read prior to Twisted River was A Cider House Rules, The Hotel New Hampshire, The Fourth Hand and A Widow for One Year.  I loved the first two of those books and I was fairly disappointed in the latter two, although they weren’t horrible.   There is wrestling in this book, but the bear is more metaphorical.

Twisted River is definitely more on par with Cider House and Hotel, though.   One of my main criticisms of the book was the lack of development of the female characters.  I would have loved to have gotten to know Carmella better, for instance.  It’s true, yes, that the women weren’t in the story line for long, but they could have been developed further.  And why the obsession on size?  Don’t we get enough of that in the media?

The other problems for me were the extensive use of both names, the 9/11 and political ranting, Lady Sky’s storyline was a bit contrived and there was unnecessary dog killing.   Irving used the name Dominic Baciagalupo many, many times instead of just one or the other.  Let’s face it, that name doesn’t just roll off the tongue as easily as John Smith.   And as the characters changed names it got worse.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book and I recommend to anyone who has ever read John Irving.  If you haven’t then don’t start with this one.

Verdict:  B;  borrow or buy in paperback unless you are a die-hard Irving fan

Posted in Family, Fiction, Mystery | No Comments »

Ponyo

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

I have to admit right off that I am a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.  They are responsible for such films as Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.   I am always excited to hear about a new release.   And Ponyo did not disappoint me in the least.   It is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, of sorts.

Ponyo is a story about a little magical sea creature, called a goldfish in the movie, but resembling a starfish.    Ponyo lives with her father under the name Brunnehilde and about a million little siblings.

On an excursion, Ponyo’s curiosity got the better of her and she snuck away from the family and ended up being washed ashore.  A little boy named Sosuke rescues her, renames her Ponyo,  and cares for her for a day. Ponyo and Sosuke bond, and fall in love.  Its a little freaky to think of a five year old boy and a fish falling in love, but hey, just let it go.

When Ponyo is reunited with her father, she tells him that she loves Sosuke and wishes to become human, even if it means losing her magical powers.   He, of course, tells her she cannot.   She manages to escape again after using her magic to take on a human form.  Adventure and hijinx ensue.  Eventually, Ponyo’s father gives in and says that if Sosuke can prove that is love is pure, she can remain human.

This movie, while not my favorite Miyazaki, is definitely one of the best movies I have seen this summer.  It’s geared more towards kids than the previous films, but that in no way takes away from the enjoyment.

Verdict:  See this movie in the theater, then buy on DVD or Blu-Ray.  I give it 5 stars out of 5.

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Posted in Adventure, Animation, Family, Films | No Comments »