Reading ‘Games of Thrones’

I have a whole list of books to read but never thought I’d read the Game of Thrones series. I started watching the HBO show which is kick as btw, and even though it’s a few episodes in, I’m completely enraptured. Which leads me to the books. Some friends in LA mentioned they LOVE the books. Did you hear that? LOVE – Capital letters, in love. I knew the books harnessed a cult following but capital letters love? I thought the books were more for superhero fans or people who dressed up like them for Comicon. But given that the show was so entertaining and that my friends endorsed the crap out of the books, I gave it a shot.

Now let me just say that this book is fat. The fattest of all fat books. Also the cover just exudes some dungeons and dragons, barbarians and chambermaid saga. This is not my kind of book. In fact, I used to make fun of one of my girlfriends who read books like this throughout school. She may have already this… I hide myself in shame for myself her.

For those who are interested in reading this book here’s my advice.

• There are four books and the next is coming out in July. So there’s a lot to read. Pace yourself!
• My friends said read at least 100 pages before you toss it. I’m reading it on the kindle, so… what’s 100 in percentage? Lol.
• Watch a couple of episodes of the HBO series first. This will help you identify characters because there are a lot! And it can get confusing. I’m still confused actually. It makes the read so much easier.

On that note, I may never read a new for a year. Wish me luck.

Ready for the Final Harry Potter Film

I have a feeling that this may not be the last post I write about Harry. As many of my friends know, I’m addicted to Harry Potter. I have no idea what it is, but I love it! And I can’t get enough of it.

I never read the books immediately when they were released. In fact, I would wait until the next book would come out before I read the one before. I just didn’t like the idea of being left on a cliffhanger and then having to wait another 2 years until another book came out. That sucks! So I would queue up the books and read them slowly – a chapter a night! That’s basically 10 pages. I know, I don’t know how I did it either. But I just didn’t want the books to end. What was most remarkable was the fact that I never read any spoilers and never heard what happened in the plot, for years! Until Dakota Fanning.

December 2006. I still hadn’t read Half Blood Prince. I pick up a copy of Vanity Fair January 2007 issue. I flip through. I see a story on Dakota Fanning. I don’t read it, I don’t care. But then I see this!

Did you read that? “DUMBLEDORE DIED!” What? Dumblore died? What! Are you fricken kidding me? I was literally shocked, sad and pissed all at the same time. Thanks Dakota Fanning, thanks a lot! You know, I still don’t like DF to this day.

Fast forward to 2011, the obsession continues and I wait anxiously for the last film in the Harry Potter series. And July 15 cannot come any faster. And since I’ve learned my lesson with the whole Dakota Fanning fiasco, I never read articles, check out pics or even cruise the Harry Potter website. No spoilers – zero!

Help me pass the time! Where are you July 15? I smell a Harry Potter marathon on the horizon…

My First Book Club

I’ve never been in a book club before mainly because I lose interest in books quite easily. I was an English Literature major in university and I averaged a novel a week per course. That’s a lot of reading and when the books are boring (ahem, The Canterbury Tales), getting through them is taxing! But now that I’m a full fledged adult, I’ve gone back to reading books at a more relaxing pace. And if the books bore me, I move on. Enter the book club. When I moved out to Los Angeles my girlfriends in Toronto decided to start a book club. I think it was another way we could all stay connected, and just gab. Plus I thought it’d be cute skyping in for our book club meetings. How fun is that? Since we all love True Blood, we decided to read the first book of the series: Dead Until Dark. Big mistake.

I tried several times reading it. I’d put it down and then weeks later I’d pick it up again. Start over and then put it down after a couple pages. I’ve read chapter 1. It’s been 4 months. Our book club meeting has come and gone and I’m still at the end of chapter 1. Best part, my girlfriends didn’t finish it either. We all agreed that it was just not an exciting read. So collectively we tossed it on the back burner. And since I’m all about the read and toss, I am LOVING this book club.

So, we’re on to our next book. But we’ve yet to select it. Any suggestions?

The Attack of the Fairytale

As you know I’m pumped for Red Riding Hood which opens this Friday mainly because the interpretation of this fairytale seems to step outside the fuzzy happy versions we’ve seen before. It looks dark and gloomy and I’m all over it.

Movie making lately mostly fall into the remake, prequel, sequel or adaption category. It’s very rare to find an original script these days. There are some out there, but it’s rare to find. Studios and distributors tend to bank on the films that will make the most money. Sometimes that means whatever’s safest. I think that’s why Christopher Nolan’s Inception was so remarkable. What’s been trending lately are the fairytale remakes. Red Riding Hood is just one of many that are on the horizon.

1. Snow White

• Snow White and the Huntsman – It was announced a couple days ago that Kristen Stewart was cast as Snow White. Really? I honestly cannot see KStew dressing up in period costumes prancing around.
• The Brothers Grimm: Snow White – Brett Ratner produced-version which probably means it’ll have some whoop ass in it.
• Snow and the Seven – The Disney version. For some reason there are some serious Asian influences on this one and I have no idea why. It’s set in Hong Kong and China. I don’t get it. The seven dwarves are “seven international warriors.” I still don’t get it. Supposedly Natalie Portman will be playing the Asian Snow White and Jet Li is rumoured to be one of the seven international warriors. I’m still not getting it.
• Once Upon a Time – a TV movie starting Ginnifer Goodwin who is a nun but discovers she was actually Snow White in a previous life. Snore.

2. Peter Pan – Channing Tatum will be playing the flying boy in an prequel called Pan which places Peter Pan and Captain Hook as bros. Honestly, I can only see Channing Tatum in Step Up and nothing more. Sorry… Remember what I thought about the trailer of The Eagle?

3. Pinocchio – There’s a new stop-motion animated version that’s in production. I’m a huge fan of stop-motion when done well. But a stop motion Pinocchio is an easy sell. The others on this list, not so much.

Now I admit, if I hadn’t seen the trailer of Red Riding Hood, I probably would feel just as lukewarm. But I did. So I’m hoping maybe a trailer may change my mind about Channing Tatum in green tights. Just maybe.