Recently I was looking at EW.com's 40 Bad Romantic Comedies, not for the first time, and it got me thinking.  Now, I think I need to start trying to be more positive, but sometimes a good "Worst" list just helps you blow off some steam.  So in the interest of keeping the peace, I thought I'd do a little ditty about Some Romantic Comedies I Find Problematic.

You see, a lot of these are movies that I like to watch (maybe not pay moolah for them, but spend a couple hours watching them on TBS).  However, a part of my viewing pleasure comes from pointing out what I don't like - a plot twist, annoying characters, silly lines, or just plain predictability.  But I will acknowledge that there are people - in some cases, tons of them - who enjoy these movies and would rather not think about them too deeply.  Which is probably just as well.

Let's get it on:( There's 10 of them. It just worked out that way. )

This is another of my library finds, a short and sweet offering from Carolyn Mackler.  Apparently it's a sequel of a previous book, but the main character is different.


Interesting that this should be a road-trip story, since I've been thinking of writing a road-trip story of my own. (This may or may not have to do with the fact that a good friend of mine recently moved to Oklahoma, and many of my school friends are back in Manhattan KS).

( Or maybe we should meet in St. Louis? )

I bought this book because the sequel, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, is out right now.  I decided that I had to read this, partly in order to glean how much I'd like the sequel, and partly because it would help me in my quest to read more Austen-inspired books.


Side note: Even in paperback form, it's $4-$6 more than your average YA novel, some of which are just as long as this.  I wonder why this is? 

( I'm sure wherever the real Jane is, she's just as eager to get back to her own life as I am to mine. So why not just relax in the meantime ...? )

After literally months of putting it off, I was finally bored enough to return to this book.  Willpower!


DISCLAIMER: One of the biggest reasons why it took me so damn long to read it is because my mother actually started reading it (!), got farther along than I had (!!) and had accidentally told me the ending (or at least, her guess at the ending, which turned out to be right).  Major turn-off.  Another turn-off?  The narrator never tells us her name.

( She looked ridiculously sophisicated for a girl in her mid-twenties, but all the Park Avenue Princesses are. )

I've been having a very nice freebie of a day, so I thought I should continue the fabulous S.P. series.  Today, we're moving on to #3.


The glaring redhead on the cover?  Envy Adams, one-third of the popular "art rock" band Clash At Demonhead.  Scott's band, Sex Bob-Omb, has just opened for her at a concert.

( Most people just can't take it. It's a fact of science. The main thing to know is that I'm better than most people. )

I just finished reading it today.


Originally, I wanted to go with a cover that had Clark Gable in all his opened-shirt glory, but then I saw this and thought it better reflected what I thought of the book.  Yes, there's a great whirlwind romance between two of the largest personalities to ever grace the pages of any novel, but the Civil War, its aftermath, and the political and cultural atmosphere it created are just as prominent. 

( Read more... all 1,038 pages if you dare. )

I really should be working on my application to grad school, so of course I'm going to procrastinate by reviewing S.P. vs. the World for my own entertainment.


This is the first book in the series I read, and let me tell ya, I was pretty confused at first.  The hottie on the cover is Scott's cool new girlfriend, Ramona.  She is awesome, for many varied reasons.

 

( Look, Scott. I'm going to issue an ultimatum. )

Since I have no YA lit to review (currently reading: The Breakup Bible, Bergdorf Blondes, and Prep), I thought I'd dip into my supply of classics.  These include, naturally, all 6 of Jane Austen's novels, but there are one or two others that aren't as well known.  This one, however, deserves as much praise.


Think of it as the Pride and Prejudice of its time.  It was published in 1778, a somewhat different time than the 1810s, in which most of Austen's books were published.  But it deals with many of the same themes.

( Oh sir, shall I ever again involve myself in so foolish an embarrassment? I am sure that if I do, I shall deserve yet greater mortification. )

This is kind of the question, or at least one of many, that this books asks.


I picked this book up as soon as I saw it, and since then I've read it at least three times.  I'd definitely equate it to the nearly perfect Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and even suggest that Naomi and Ely goes above and beyond.  This is in no way a Nick and Norah copycat; it has a different story, different characters, and different lessons that each of them must learn.  Let's get into it.

( Somehow I think he's never looked more beautiful. Teary-eyed, splotchy-cheeked, runny-nosed, laughing and crying. My boy. )

Another survivor from my booklist for Shakespeare & Children's Lit class last semester.


Flipping through it again, I don't remember why I kept it.  It's based on A Midsummer Night's Dream, although the actual plot of the play doesn't play out (no pun intended) until the very end, making for an odd adaptation.

( I do not pine, and I am not fond of lavender OR skirts, so I do not see how anyone could get us confused. )

I read this because this was the only Rachel Cohn book at my university's library, other than Nick and Norah.


I have no interest in the music business, and even less after reading this (assuming this is an accurate portrayal, which it seems to very well be).  But I loved the story nonetheless, mostly because the main character is much smarter and funnier than Britney and her ilk.

( Lick it, chew it, blow it, pop it ... )

Some time ago, I decided that I absolutely had to read a book written solely by David Levithan, for two reasons: a) I read a book solely by Rachel Cohn, and I didn't think it was fair that I hadn't read a book of his, and b) his protagonist would more than likely be a guy, and gay on top of that, thus - me broadening my reading horizens. 


This was part of my graduation present for me (the other half being Toy Monster - review to come).  It felt so good to check this off my Amazon Wish List.

( I've always known I was gy, but it wasn't confirmed until I was in kindergarten. )

Here's the deal I made myself concerning Meg Cabot: I wanted to read one of her books, but not any in the Princess Diaries series.  The movies (yes, the first and second) were enough for me.  I believe this is her most recent offering - published in March 09 - and I snatched it up at a used book store.  About $5 for a four-month-old book - and in hardcover.  I was proud.


Great ass, right?

( Tommy Sullivan is a freak. )

I had to read the second volume in this series for a class, and it was so insane I had to check out the first one.


Two things you need to know right away: a) it's a graphic novel and b) it's a video game.  No, I don't mean it's based on a video game - I mean that the world Scott lives in is a video game.  Got it so far?  Because there's so much more.

( I mean ... there are ... reasons ... for you to hang out with me? )

Blah.  I bought this book with the vague intent of snarking it for 1bruce1, but it's still too soon.


Quick background: Random House decided to reissue the first dozen of the Sweet Valley High series for ... well, I'm sure they had a good reason.  I'm guessing they thought it'd be the perfect thing to bring back to compete with Gossip Girl, A-listers, and other bitchy books.  Only because of my loyalty to 1bruce1 did I spend $5.99 (plus tax) of my money on this slight contribution to the world of YA literature, Playing with Fire.

( The girl would not be able to pull off Jessica's outfit after a month on Weight Watchers, but it wasn't as if she could say that to her face. )

I read a so-so review of this book a while ago, but I was so curious to see how it all plays out, so I felt okay in picking it up for myself.


Plus, I think the cover is intriguing.  It's all bright colors and big font, not to mention the Ken doll.  Kate Brian has many books out, including two series that look like Gossip Girl copycats (judging from the covers).

( We can make him as incredible as we want him to be! )</div>

I gotta get this over with.


Alyson N. has written at least five other YA novels, so I guess she's carved a nice niche for herself.  I say this with the utmost sincerity: Good for her.  Obviously she's got a lot of fans, and is much more successful than I am at this point in my life.  Having said that, I didn't care for this book.

( Could I trade this book in for two cases of lip gloss? )