Something I haven't done in a while...

I have completely ignored the other purpose of this blog- my reading and movie watching habits. I saw about 20 movies in 2006, and never got around to writing reviews! So I will just do a quick rundown of my favorites (which are now all on DVD)...

Little Miss Sunshine- A+ A wonderfully quirky story about a family of misfits trying to get their little girl to a beauty pageant.

Dreamgirls- A Entertaining adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. Fantastic music and costumes, even if the story is a little bit weak in places. Jennifer Hudson rightfully won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

The Queen- A Great film about Queen Elizabeth II and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Helen Mirren gave a great, Oscar winning performance. Lots of unexpected humor.

Stranger than Fiction- A Will Ferrell is an ordinary guy who realizes that his life is being narrated by author Emma Thompson. It's a great little film about trying to change your destiny.

A Prairie Home Companion-A Robert Altman's final film. It's a fictional story about Garrion Keilor's real life radio show. Great ensemble cast, like any Altman film.

I'm a little bit of a movie snob. I like the quirky art house films the best. But that doesn't mean I don't like a good popcorn flick or low-brow comedy. The best of that lot last year for me: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby; Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest; The Devil Wears Prada; and Cars. I also enjoyed, but have no interest in seeing again, Over the Hedge; Nanny McPhee, and the remake of The Shaggy Dog. They were nice time killers but otherwise forgettable.

2007 hasn't been a busy movie year for me so far. I've only seen Blades of Glory (even funnier than Anchorman!), Shrek the Third (good, but not as good as the first two), and Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End (better than Dead Man's Chest).

Movies are fun, but I love books more. I've been reading a lot lately. Here is what I've been reading, have read, or will read in the near future...

First book I read this year was Carl Hiaasen's latest, Nature Girl. It was fun but not his best.

Currently reading but almost finished with:



This is a great book. I can't believe I've waited so long to read it. I love how it turns what everyone thought of the land of Oz upside down! I can't wait to see the musical on Broadway! I plan on reading the sequel, Son of a Witch, soon.

Another great book I've recently read is The Namesake. Great storytelling. I wish I could have seen the movie. Oh, well. It will be on DVD soon.



Also re-read Jane Eyre this month. I enjoyed the new miniseries that aired on PBS last winter.

Upcoming reads: The 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner, The Road . I'm a sucker for end of the world type stories (Alas, Babylon is one of my favorite novels), so this should be a good read.

The Old Curiosity Shop I do love Dickens. I've never read this one. It is being made into a miniseries next year.

The only Jane Austen I've never read: Mansfield Park I hope it's good.

That should cover me for the next month! I do love to read. I don't read enough.