50 Books Challenge - # 26: One Day by David Nicholls

Title: One Day
Author: David Nicholls
Story: Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years, two people, one day.
Start: may 5th 2011
End: may 11th 2011
Comment: When I started reading I found several similarities with "When Harry met Sally", but as the story developed it became a story of its own. I thought the way the story was told was unique. Each chapter covers the same day every year over two decades. I love how Nicholls described the relationship between Emma and Dexter. It's a realistic bond between a man and a woman, who think they can be just friends after spending a night together. Even though at least one of them is in a relationship everytime the meet each other again, the reader knows that Emma and Dexter are supposed to be together. I especially loved Emma. She was such a sweet woman. That's what made this ending so sad. And also because Dexter is growing on you as well, you feel sorry for him at the end. I can recommend this book to anyone, especially when you also like Nick Hornby books. This is a book that made me both laugh and cry, I truly loved it.
Rating: 5/ 5

Best of... Kirsten Dunst

I've always found her very charming and pretty. I like watching her movies. Kirsten Dunst is one of those actresses that you just can't resist. And she made some nice films. Here are my favorite Kirsten Dunst movies.

"Interview with the Vampire"
Allthough Tom Cruise was the big star in this movie, everyone was talking about Kirsten Dunst and that kiss. This is also one of the best vampire movies made.

"Little Woman"
A great story, about four young girls and their mother during Civil War, where their father is fighting. A close family with a very strong bond. Very touching.

"Jumanji"
I loved it as a kid and I still do. I can watch this film over and over again and still enjoy it as it is the first time I watch it. I always liked the idea of the boardgame coming to life, so original. My favorite part is the one where the stampede comes out of the game.

"The Virgin Suicides"
This movie was filmed so beautifully. The colors, the seasons, the actors. And well directed by Sofia Coppola. Kirsten Dunst did an awesome job with her role. Powerfull and flawless.

"Bring It On"
OK, not the best movie ever and certainly not with the best actors. But you have to admit that this is a fun movie. Sort of a guilty pleasure. And it wasn't as predictable as you thought it would be. The ending was a bit surprising.

"Crazy/ Beautiful"
It's not just another stereotypical teenmovie. The characters are more complicated and so is the story. This one surprised me.

"Spider-Man"
Still the best in the trilogy. Even though I'm not a superhero movie fan, I enjoyed "Spider-Man" so much. And there's great chemistry between Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.

"Mona Lisa Smile"
I think Kirsten's role was pretty excellent. She was sort of a heartless b****, but that's a side of her we don't see very often. It's not a very special movie, but quite entertaining. And I love the time it's set in.

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
Awesome. Wonderfull. Genius. And Kirsten Dunst isn't even the best part of the film.

"Spider-Man 2"
The first is slightly better, but still this superhero flick is such a treat. I think the villain in the second movie is cooler. The Green Goblin wasn't scary enough for me, Doc Octopus is a little bit more believable.

"Wimbledon"
Oh how I love this one. I've never seen another movie about tennis before, so this is definitely the best their is ;) . And the combination of Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany is surprisingly good. They were great together. Even though the ending is a bit cheesy, I love this movie all the way!

"Elizabethtown"
Not your typical boy-girl story and a movie I liked right away. Allthough I'm not a Orlando Bloom fan at all, I kinda liked him in this one. And Kirsten, charming as ever.

"How to Lose Friends and Alienate People"
The reason I like this film is mostly because of Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunst. They are also the reasons why I watched it. And I actually liked it. And again a surprising good combination.

I haven't seen "All Good Things" which also stars Ryan Gosling. I actually want to see that someday.

Favorite Hollywood Couples

I'm not a girl that's all for the glitter and the glamour, but I do like to watch Hollywood stars on the red carpet or read about them in magazines or on the internet. Especially about Hollywood couples. Some even more then other, because I have my favorites. Here are my favorite Hollywood couples in random order:

- Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber
- Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar
- Emily Blunt and John Krasinski (They are probably my favorite couple)
- Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
- Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly
- Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz
- Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
- Diane Lane and Josh Brolin
- Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith
- Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor
- Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
- Claire Daines and Hugh Dancy

Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson were my actual favorites, but I also wasn't surprised to hear about their break-up either. Now Scarlett is dating Sean Penn. I also liked Jake Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger and Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams when they were together. I think the couples in my list are pretty stable, most of them are together for quite some time now. Who's your favorite Hollywood couple?

50 Books Challenge - # 25: Ape House by Sara Gruen

Title: Ape House
Author: Sara Gruen
Story: Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships—but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn't understand people, but animals she gets—especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she's ever felt among humans ... until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what's really going on inside. When an explosion rocks the lab, severely injuring Isabel and "liberating" the apes, John's human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he'll risk his career and his marriage to follow. Then a reality TV show featuring the missing apes debuts under mysterious circumstances, and it immediately becomes the biggest—and unlikeliest—phenomenon in the history of modern media. Millions of fans are glued to their screens watching the apes order greasy take-out, have generous amounts of sex, and sign for Isabel to come get them. Now, to save her family of apes from this parody of human life, Isabel must connect with her own kind, including John, a green-haired vegan, and a retired porn star with her own agenda.
Start: may 1st 2011
End: may 4th 2011
Comment: After reading "Water for Elephants" I fell in love with Sara Gruen's writing. So I decided to read "Ape House". I found the plot very interesting and I was drawn to it. It's clear that Gruen is an animal lover, such as I, and that's what makes her writing so good. She writes as from heaven. Isabel Duncan is a wonderfull character. Her love for the apes was so genuine and honest. She was my favorite. I liked John too, but I didn't care much for his relationship with Amanda. I didn't like the fact that the humans get more pages then the animals. I thought it was supposed to be about them. The parts about Isabel and her apes were far more interesting, heartwarming and breathtaking. It actually makes me sick to my stomach that people would go this far for TV ratings. I liked the book, but her first was definitely better. But again Gruen proves she has a way with words and I wil continue reading her books.
Rating: 3,5/ 5

50 Books Challenge 2011 Update - April

April was a good reading month. I read seven books! For me that's a lot. And I read some really good ones too. Here's an update.

# 18. Watership Down by Richard Adams
# 19. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
# 20. Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
# 21. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
# 22. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
# 23. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
# 24. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Favorite of the month: "Watership Down"

I started "Ape House" today by Sara Gruen. She also wrote "Water for Elephant" one of my absolute favorites. You will see a review of that book as soon as I finish it. I have some other books I need to read, but for now it's just this one. I'll keep you updated and to all the booklovers: Happy reading!

Pic Spam: Chris Evans

I'm really looking forward to "Captain America: The First Avenger". Not because I'm such a fan of superhero movies. No... I just want to see Chris Evans in a superhero role. Mostly he's not the leading man, but just a supporting actor. Sometimes the love interest. I actually loved him "Cellular", a very exciting movie which also starred Kim Basinger. And he was really funny in "Fantastic Four", althought the movie itself sucked. I just like looking at Chris Evans and that's why I went searching for his best pics. Here they are.

50 Books Challenge - # 24: The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Title: The Nanny Diaries
Author: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Story: Who wouldn't want this job? Struggling to graduate from NYU and afford her microscopic studio apartment, Nanny takes a position caring for the only son of the wealthy X family. She rapidly learns the insane amount of juggling involved to ensure that a Park Avenue wife who doesn't work, cook, clean, or raise her own child has a smooth day. When the Xs marriage begins to disintegrate, Nanny ends up involved way beyond the bounds of human decency or good taste. Her tenure with the X family becomes a nearly impossible mission to maintain the mental health of their four-year-old, her own integrity and, most importantly, her sense of humor. Over nine tense months, Mrs. X and Nanny perform the age-old dance of decorum and power as they test the limits of modern-day servitude.
Start: april 27th 2011
End: april 29th 2011
Comment: I work with children, but I never see this side of the kids' life. The life they have at home. That's what a nanny sees. This book is about a girl named Nanny, who becomes a nanny for a wealthy New York family. The book has a nice flow to it. It was easy to read and I finished it in only two days. It caused some laughs and I also felt sad sometimes. Mostly for Grayer and Nanny. Nanny was bossed around by Mrs. X and she was putting up with it only because she loved the boy so much. That's why I liked Nanny. She is so passionate about her job and about caring for Grayer. I felt sorry for Grayer, a little boy that just needed some attention. His parents didn't give him that. That's what bothered me a bit. The X's are certainly rich and NOT raising their son, but it's almost like wealthy family equals dysfunctional family. But it's a book and I should probably not take that part all too serious. Everytime Mrs. X gave out an order I was like: Oh no she didn't! In it's total this book is a lot fun to read and I couldn't put it down.
Rating: 4,5/ 5