SheKnows.com has launched a brand new fabulous book lounge and I am very excited to be contributing my book insights for the site!
Check out some of my recent postings:
Hot eBook of the week (I will be posting one each week in January)
Hottest eReaders on the market
I will also be featuring my favorite books (both old and new) each day in January. Click here for my first pick!
Our TV show recaps are back and this time around we will be covering the new FOX comedy, New Girl!
Written by Meg M.
In New Girl, we meet quirky but beautiful Jess Day when she is interviewing to become the fourth inhabitant of an apartment shared by Nick, Schmidt and Winston. Hesitant to let a girl into the mix, the three men change their minds when they discover that Jess’ friends are models.
But we discover that, for the most part, these guys are anything but shallow. When they realize that Jess is immersing herself in a post-breakup Dirty Dancing marathon that may push her over the edge, they encourage her to jump back into the dating world. And when her first attempt doesn’t turn out as anyone hoped, the three guys come to her rescue, ending the episode by her side.
As expected, Zooey Deschanel is delightful as Jess. And while the quirky wardrobe and large glasses are a bit much, they certainly communicate that she is a somewhat nerdy (but beautiful) teacher who’s been unlucky in love.
It’s a shame that Damon Wayans Jr. only shot the pilot, and will be replaced since he is now on the popular ABC series, Happy Endings. He was hilarious as the athletic tough-love spouting Winston. Thankfully secret romantic Nick (who’s still not over his former love) and ladies’ man Schmidt are here to stay regardless of who replaces Wayans.
Did you catch the premiere on Tuesday? What are your thoughts? Is it a must-watch this season?
New Girl airs Tuesday nights at 9 pm on Fox.
Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Marketing professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog, Morning Cup With Meg.
Written by Jennifer Jensen
Check out our post about the chat we had with David Nicholls!
Though One Day is not the first of bestselling author David Nicholls’ books to be adapted for film, it is both the first novel and movie of his that I have seen. In 2006, David Nicholls wrote the screenplay for his 2003 novel, Starter for Ten (also known as A Question of Attraction). In anticipation for One Day, whose preview I saw for the first time while viewing Water for Elephants, I picked up a copy of the book, just knowing that I would absolutely love it.
Unfortunately, I was somewhat wrong about that. I didn’t love the book, I didn’t always love the characters, and the ending…oh, the ending. I enjoyed Nicholls’ writing style, and I appreciated all the effort that he most certainly put into the structure of the novel. One Day is unique because it spans over 20 years, but out of those 20 years, we only get glimpses of the characters on one day of each year: July 15th. July 15th is the day that future best friends Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morton graduate from college and really talk for the first time. July 15th is also St. Swithun’s Day in England; it is said that if it rains on July 15th, there will then be 40 days of rain.
Even though we only check in with Emma and Dexter on one day of every year, we get to know them really well. Nicholls adeptly gives us background on the characters, their parents, friends, and what they have been up to prior to this particular July 15th. During some chapters, Dexter is extremely difficult to like. He drinks irresponsibly, gets heavily involved with drugs, and says really cruel things to Emma. Emma is frustrating at times as well, though for other reasons. She has so much potential, but is afraid to walk away from her dead-end restaurant job, and can barely handle it when Dexter calls her out on it. Despite that there are times when they really don’t get along, I couldn’t help but believe that these two were meant to end up together–it was just a matter of them realizing it, too.
I think to really appreciate the film adaptation, it’s best to read One Day first. Because there’s only so much the screenplay writer can take from the book to put into the movie, some things do get sacrificed. The great thing with reading the book first is that your mind will automatically fill in the gaps. I felt the film stayed very true to the novel, but I also found myself caring more about Emma and Dexter on screen than I did for the novel versions of Emma and Dexter.
I saw the film on opening weekend (tickets were provided courtesy of Big Honcho Media) and was somewhat surprised at how empty the theatre was. I was even more amazed at how little laughter was heard throughout the theatre. I saw the film with a friend who had also read the book, so we found ourselves chuckling before things even happened on the screen. I felt that even without reading the book first, the audience should still have found specific scenes humorous. Either they really didn’t get the subtle jokes, or just weren’t as into the movie as we were.
We also saw the film with two friends who hadn’t read the book; one unfortunately didn’t care for it very much, and the other enjoyed it. However, only the two of us who had read the book found ourselves crying by the end. We’d expected to be the ones with dry eyes, but it simply wasn’t the case.
The chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess is undeniable, though Ms. Hathaway’s accent in certain places is a bit questionable. I loved watching these two together, and hope that they can be co-stars again in the future. The soundtrack is incredible, and I would consider purchasing it; there are some truly great songs included in the film.
One Day isn’t really a chick-flick, but given that there were a pretty decent number of males in the audience, it has the ability to please both men and women readers/viewers. One Day gets two thumbs up from me.
Have you seen or read One Day? How did you feel about the adaptation?
Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She occasionally dabbles with her own fiction writing, particularly with the Young Adult and Paranormal genres. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and daughter.
Reviewed by Amanda Allalunis
100 Puzzle Quizzes is the ultimate electronic puzzle book for any puzzle-lover. Like its name suggests, the e-book contains 100 puzzles in a variety of themes including visual, spatial, counting, geometry, matchstick, coins, and searching. This full-color, interactive puzzle book provides a puzzle-lover with hours of fun.
As a puzzle-lover myself, there were a lot of things that I liked about 100 Puzzle Quizzes. I loved that it was available as an e-book. Instead of having to flip back and forth from a puzzle to an answer, all I had to do was select my answer and I would automatically be taken to a page that either explained why my answer was right or told me I was wrong. I also like that the puzzles offered in this e-book aren’t your standard Crossword and Sudoku varieties. Many of these puzzles I have never seen before, and I enjoy the opportunity to challenge myself in news ways.
However, there are also a few things about the book that I’m not crazy about. For one, I cannot find instructions as to how to do these unusual puzzles anywhere. Some of them are really foreign to me, and I literally have no clue what I’m supposed to do. Also, I downloaded the book on the Kindle application on my Android Phone. I’m not sure if the problem is with the application on my phone or with the e-book itself, but every time I get an incorrect answer, I have to start at the very beginning of the book and search through the pages until I find the puzzle I want. This wasn’t a big deal during the first twenty or so pages, but it got old fast as I moved into the more intermediate puzzles (which were more difficult so I got the wrong answer more often.)
Despite the minor problems I have with the book, I’m very happy to have had the chance to review it. I constantly find myself going back to try to solve a tricky puzzle; and when I’m not actually looking at the e-book, I’m thinking about it. All in all, this is an affordable and enjoyable collection of puzzles.
Rating: 2.5/5
Amanda is mommy, freelance writer, and blogger in her spare time. If you like this review, be sure to check out the blog at Giveaway Blogdom or take a minute to read her most recent article on Childhood Vaccinations.
Review copy was provided free of any obligation by The Grabarchuk Family. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
What His Dating Past Says About Him: The Ex-Files
By Natasha Burton, Julie Fishman and Meagan McCrary, authors of The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags
A man’s relationship record can tell you what to expect from him when he enters into one with you. Whether he’s broken hearts or
had his broken, most guys come with some baggage from their former flames. Here’s our take on what a man’s past might tell you about him.
Serial Monogamist
This guy loves being loved — and isn’t afraid to commit. Yet jumping straight from one serious relationship into another may signal insecurity or a fear of being alone.
He’s Cheated
While his past infidelity doesn’t mean he’ll cheat on you, have a conversation about why he strayed in a previous relationship. If he hasn’t addressed his reason for cheating and worked to change, there’s a good chance it’ll happen again.
He’s Been Cheated On
A man who’s been dogged in the past will likely have trust issues. He may have trouble opening up to future girlfriends for fear of getting his heart broken again.
He’s a Relationship Newbie
This love loner could be super picky or fear rejection. Apt to jump ship when the tides get rough, he may not understand that relationships are hard work.
He’s a Known Player
Even if his debonair attitude seems to speak otherwise, a known player sees you as just another notch in his headboard. He’s liable to wine, dine and lay you . . . then leave you.
He Has a History of Dating Crazies
A man with endless stories about depressed or abusive exes either turns normal gals loony or likes loony girls because he enjoys the drama, needs to feel superior or thinks he can save them. He’ll probably either make mountains of your molehills — by constantly trying to rile you up — or drop you the second he gets bored.
He Was Off and On With His Last GF
A guy this wishy-washy doesn’t know what he wants. Incapable of making a decision and abiding by it, he isn’t the type to ever fully commit and will most likely jerk you around the emotional rollercoaster.
He Broke Off an Engagement
Calling off his wedding doesn’t necessarily make a man a bad guy. If the relationship wasn’t fulfilling, not getting married was probably the right thing to do. However, it wouldn’t hurt to ask him why he proposed in the first place — the answer to that question should be quite revealing.
He’s Divorced
While “divorced” is no longer a stigma, how and why a man’s marriage ended can shed light on his character. Before things between you get serious, inquire about his marital split . . . and make sure the divorce is final.
His Wife Left Him
A man who’s been ditched by his leading lady may still be bitter or heartbroken. Either way, his ego is definitely bruised. You’d have to know the details of why she chose to leave, but whatever the reason, this guy’s going to come with some baggage.
He Dates Younger
Whether they date younger women to feed their egos or they like to keep things light and fun, men who continuously choose girls half their age aren’t interested in dating an equal. He might only be interested in arm candy, have a fear of commitment, or have control issues.
He’s Never Been Married
A 37-year-old man who’s never tied the knot might still be searching for the right girl to call his own; a 47-year-old man who’s never been married is probably a dedicated bachelor. Age is definitely a factor, but if a dude’s never been married nor been in a long-term relationship, don’t expect a proposal any time soon.
© 2011 Natasha Burton, Julie Fishman and Meagan McCrary authors of The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags
Author Bios
Natasha Burton, co-author of The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags: Relationship Warning Signs You Totally Spotted… But Chose to Ignore, is the Relationships Editor of Glo, a women’s website partnered with MSN.com. Her work has appeared in People, Glamour, WomansDay.com, FHMOnline, and Outblush.com. When she’s not grilling her friends about the most intimate details of their love lives, she’s most likely in the kitchen whipping up some Italian food.
Julie Fishman, co-author of The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags: Relationship Warning Signs You Totally Spotted… But Chose to Ignore, is a humor writer who works in screen, print, and web. She currently teaches at a college in Hollywood, pens a weekly cocktail column for Glo called “Hump Day Happy Hour,” and dreams up irreverent sitcom ideas. Aside from writing, she’s either hanging with her pooch and drinking wine, or talking about hanging with her pooch and drinking wine.
Meagan McCrary, co-author of The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags: Relationship Warning Signs You Totally Spotted… But Chose to Ignore, is an L.A.-based yoga teacher with an adventurous spirit for romance who has written about health and wellness for a variety of local lifestyles magazines. While she spends most of her days teaching Anusara yoga and giving private lessons to her various clients, she finds time to work on “being present” (and her tan) at the beach under the California sun.
Natasha, Julie, and Meagan are all Santa Monica — dwelling Pisceans who met while earning their Master’s of Professional Writing degrees at the University of Southern California.
For more information please visit http://www.BigRedFlags.com and Amazon.com, and follow the authors on Facebook and Twitter
Written by Meg Massey
It’s what any TV junkie dreads: the announcement of cancelled shows. Some are justified, but it always seems like a few series are cancelled too prematurely – and never given their chance to shine.
ABC cancelled a list of short-lived series, including Thursday night’s comedy Better With You, Matthew Perry’s latest venture Mr. Sunshine, the superhero-sized No Ordinary Family and the maybe-peaceful, maybe-not alien invasion story that was V. Also cancelled was fan-favorite drama Brothers and Sisters, after five seasons. The Gates, a summer series, was also removed from the network’s schedule.
CBS cancelled $#*! My Dad Says, the book-based comedy starring William Shatner. Also on the chopping block were Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior and The Defenders. After saving Medium from cancellation by NBC after five seasons, CBS axed the series after it failed to deliver high ratings.
NBC also removed a number of shows, including the suspenseful drama, The Event. Also gone are Chase, an action series that never seemed to resonate with viewers on Monday nights, sitcom Perfect Couples, the spy-centric Undercovers, and controversial comedy Outsourced. And after five seasons, Friday Night Lights also ended. Law & Order: Los Angeles, which was reviewed here at Luxury Reading every week, ended shortly after it began.
On the air for 20 years, Fox cancelled America’s Most Wanted, but announced that the show will continue to air in the form of quarterly 2-hour specials. After three years on the air, Lie to Me is over, and newer shows like Human Target, The Chicago Code, The Good Guys, and Running Wilde were cancelled after failing to capture large audiences.
The CW’s Life Unexpected was cut short when the studio decided not to order a full second season due to lackluster ratings. ABC Family’s Greek endured a similar fate. While narrowly avoiding cancellation, the series creators pulled together a series finale for season four, effectively ending the series.
Long-time soap watchers mourned the loss of longtime favorites including ABC’s All My Children and One Life to Live. Several reality shows also slipped into oblivion, including America’s Next Great Restaurant, Dating in the Dark, Last Comic Standing, and Skating with the Stars.
Which shows will you miss? Which cancellations do you agree with? Sound off in the comment section!
Visit the TV IV for a full list of this year’s cancelled shows.
Meg M., our resident TV show reviewer, is discussing episodes of Law & Order: Los Angeles right here at Luxury Reading!
Written by Meg M.
If you’ve tuned in to Law & Order: Los Angeles the last two weeks, you may have noticed something a little strange. Detective Winters is back, but it’s not what it seems.
Though the series has been cancelled and will officially end this month, NBC is airing episodes that were filmed previous to the change-up of the series, where Skeet Ulrich exited, and actor Alfred Molina stepped into his place as a detective.
While the last two episodes have, in my opinion, felt disjointed after viewing the death of Detective Winters, it was nice to see him and his chemistry with Detective Jaruszalski again. I missed the ease of their conversations, the jokes that often found a way into their investigations. In last week’s episode, the detectives investigated the murder of a woman whose boyfriend was immediately suspected. But when they discovered him dead too, the case took a dramatic turn. And in the previous episode, the detectives looked into the death of a man who had been tortured in his bathtub.
I have been a fan of the series since the beginning. I liked the fresh characters and the new crime scenes that often times felt all too familiar, as they reflected real-life Hollywood tragedies. And even though I was open to the changes that took place midway through the first season, I found myself missing the original characters that had departed. While the writers gave a plausible explanation for Morales’ return to the other side of the law as a detective, the relationship between him and Detective Jaruszalski lacked the ease of that between Jaruszalski and Winters. And Jaruszalski’s quest to find justice for his partner, a storyline that really could have gone somewhere, was repeatedly pushed to the side. What’s even more disappointing is that the series featured some truly fantastic actors who could have made it great if the show hadn’t received such a dramatic change-up so early on.
What are your thoughts? Have you been tuning in to Law & Order: Los Angeles? Or did you call it quits when the series was cancelled? Episodes will continue to air on Mondays at 10 pm until the end of June.
Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Marketing professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog.
Meg M., our resident TV show reviewer, is discussing episodes of Law & Order: Los Angeles right here at Luxury Reading!
Written by Meg M.
This week’s Law and Order: Los Angeles found inspiration from the real-life Tucson, Arizona shooting when a schizophrenic Larry Shephard opens fire, killing State Senator Celeste Kelman and six other innocent people.
Detectives Morales and Jaruszalski discover that Larry Shephard, who was living under another name, believes that his daughter Ariel is missing. Seeking help from the senator, Larry was enraged when she did not help him, and murdered her. Through investigation, however, the detectives discover a more disturbing truth: Larry Shephard does not have a daughter. So who is the girl pictured on the flyer he carries with him?
And while the defense, and even DDA Rubirosa, is convinced that Shephard committed the crime due to insanity, DDA Dekker is not convinced. He and Rubirosa discover that Shephard actually got his girlfriend pregnant in college. But when he had his first psychotic break, the girlfriend terminated the pregnancy, infuriating an already volatile Shephard. When she gives the two attorneys threatening letters that he sent to her while he was in prison, the two believe they may have enough to convince a jury that his attack on the seven innocent victims may have been premeditated. In the end, Shephard agrees to serve a life sentence, after he is forced to hear the manner in which all of the innocent victims died.
Meanwhile, Detective Jaruszalski continued to pursue Cesar Vargas, who killed his partner, Detective Winters. This leads him to an informant in Mexico, a woman dating Vargas. But when Jaruszalski heads back to L.A., he is not alone. Two of Vargas’ men follow him, attempting to kidnap him, but the detective is able to subdue them. Horrified when he realizes that one of the men was carrying Detective Winters’ address, he is forced to reveal his trip to Morales, and the two warn Winters’ family to get out of town until the dust has settled.
Will Jaruszalski continue on his search to bring Vargas down? Or will it cost him his life?
Tune in to Law & Order: Los Angeles on Monday nights at 10 pm on NBC. It was announced this weekend that the series has been cancelled and will not return for a second season, but episodes will air until the end of June.
Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Marketing professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog.
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