Category Archives: Entertainment

Review: What Nora Knew

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I had no intentions on reading and writing a review on a Chick Lit novel. This is not necessarily because I dislike the genre in particular, but because most of them tend to be too predictable, stereotypical, idealistic, unrealistically perfect etc so I tend to avoid them – yes, I’m one of those annoyingly fastidious people who demands that a film or novel be realistic to some degree (depending on the genre, of course).  What Nora Knew by Linda Yellin was an exception. I tend to skim over the blurb and take a quick peek at the first page or so of any novel in order to decide whether it’s worth continuing with, and on doing so for this novel, I was immediately and mercilessly hooked.

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What Nora Knew is about Molly Hallberg (a writer for an online newsmagazine) who, having been through a (long) string of unsuccessful relationships – one marriage included – has a somewhat jaded view on love.  Although she is in a steady relationship with her current boyfriend, Russell Edley, she is not a believer in the sort of flowery love that is generally characterized by plenty of passion, elaborate and romantic gestures, and excitement etc – the sort of love that many of the characters in the novel coincidentally have. Instead, she settles for a “comfortable” relationship with him, mainly due to the limiting factor of her age (late thirties), or so she feels. Somewhere along the way, she meets a certain Cameron Duncan (a famous author) who she progressively, unwillingly and inevitably falls for. From this, I’m sure even those of you who are not familiar with/not fans of Chick Lit novels can guess the ending without too much difficulty.

Despite the stereotypical plot, I was quite fond of this novel. For, Yellin’s abilities as an author are more than admirable; the voice of Molly is so internal, witty, sarcastic, sharp, funny, entertaining and likeable. I was constantly chuckling and more than that, she seems very real – indeed it is like she is a real person talking to you instead of for you and that, to me, is one of the marks of a great author. However, that was the best part of this novel. The drama, events and dialogue – albeit quite entertaining in some parts – was mostly just a little bit above average.  At certain times, I actually got a little bored because there wasn’t anything particularly enthralling and some parts were not very believable. But, it was Molly’s amusing and engaging voice that kept me reading right to the end.

One other redeeming factor of the novel that I have to mention is that Yellin readily highlights the fact that most love stories in Chick Lit novels and Rom-Coms are stereotypical and/or predictable, but that people still want to read on or keep watching anyway because they are “mesmerized by the journey”. She does this through the guise of certain characters and with references to some Rom-Coms (the title itself is in reference to Nora Ephron who is most notable for certain films such as When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, for those of you who don’t know). It could just be me, but there is something rather comforting about the author acknowledging that what they’re writing about is stereotypical or clichéd and that they know that people still like to read it anyway to experience the “journey” – it makes them (or their writing, at least) seem more genuine.

Anyway, in short, this book was quite enjoyable but nothing to make you truly go WOW! The ending is very obvious (but then again, it was what Yellin intended), so I suppose some or most will do what she anticipates (as I did) – keep reading until the very end, not because they want to know who Molly ends up with etc, but because they want to experience the journey with her. This is most likely one of those books you might want to take along with you on a holiday (that is, if you like reading Chick Lit novels in the first place and/or if you like reading them when you’re away on  holiday). Even if there wasn’t anything especially riveting, the engaging and laughter-inducing voice of Molly herself would be enough to make most want to read this novel.

Solst-o-meter
Storyline: 6/10
Style of writing: 9/10
Overall: 7.5/10

– by Rosemary Nguyen

Review: Hopeless

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I’m not trying to sound like a broken record a la the last book review I did, but I finally got around to finishing this wonderful novel that I had been in the middle of for a good month. Now that this novel is finished, I’ve realised that I need to do some serious book shopping!

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Hopeless by Colleen Hoover details the life of 17-year-old Sky, an extremely sheltered young girl whose life is turned upside down when she meets Dean Holder, the resident bad boy with a bad reputation to match her, to be frank, slutty reputation… despite not being a slut.

This novel starts out pretty cruisy, until you get to the middle-ish of the novel where:

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Never in my 21 years of reading novels have I read a book that escalated as quickly as Hopeless. What seemingly starts off as a typical teenage romance novel turned upside down on its head and did a Booker T spinaroonie because the drama that followed was so… dramatic. Without revealing too much, the drama was so good.

The storyline was so predictable that it was unpredictable, if that makes sense. I read it thinking “Oh yeah, and now this is going to happen and this is going to happen” and while some of my predictions were correct, most of them were so wrong that I felt the need to say sorry to Colleen Hoover. Colleen, if you’re reading this, please forgive me for doubting your excellent storyline abilities. The characters personalities were expressed well in the novel through the use of descriptive writing and the image of Dean Holder was clear in my head. COUGH Steve Grand.

The relationship between Sky and Dean was cute, albeit a bit clichè. Two unusually attractive teenagers with troubled pasts fall for each other and are completely in love after a month or two of being completely inseparable. Sky was a hit-or-miss with me; she was either really annoying and “Wah feel sorry for me” one minute and next, she was this funny, sassy spitfire who I found myself to really like. Dean Holder was perfect… almost too perfect. He was so swoon-worthy that I didn’t feel the need to swoon. He had his shining moments just like Sky, though, so I will praise him as a character.

Colleen Hoover’s use of language in this book was almost flawless. The action in the novel was impeccable and the use of imagery and other descriptions painted a clear picture in my head as I read this novel. I can no doubt see why this novel is so acclaimed and why it’s a New York Times bestseller – the author is great and the story is even better. The fact that nearly all the loose ends in this novel were tied together in a nifty little bow by the end of the story demands a round of applause for Hoover who really, in my sweet and humble opinion, knocked this one out of the park.

Solst-o-meter
Storyline: 9.0/10
Style of writing: 8.6/10
Overall: 8.8/10

I can guarantee you, whether you’re a romance reader or not, that this is definitely a must read. I was so wowed with the entire novel as a whole that I don’t know what to do with my life now that I’ve finished it. I can also guarantee you that you will not want to put this book back down once you’ve gotten into it. It is that damn good.

– by The Black Widow

Review: Nobody But Him

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So guys, I finally did it. I got around to finishing the romance novel I have been in the middle of for well over four months now. It’s not to say that the book was terrible, it was just because I lacked the motivation to finish off the novel. Oops.

Anywho, Nobody But Him by Victoria Purman is a romance novel set in the fictitious beachside town of Middle Point in SA, near Radelaide. The story features the two main characters, Julia Jones and Ryan Blackburn, as they encounter each other after years of trying to forget each other after that “one summer” that I’m sure everyone has had.

Follow the love story of Julia Jones and Ry Blackburn. You won't regret it!

Follow the love story of Julia Jones and Ry Blackburn. You won’t regret it!

I’m just gonna say it. There were too many mistakes in the novel that somehow made it past the editors that made it difficult for me to fully enjoy. The sub-editor in me did not approve in the slightest. I understand one mistake or two in the final copy because not everyone is perfect, but when the mistake count requires two hands, that’s when you know that someone stuffed up. With all due respect to Ms. Purman and her superiors, I really feel as if this problem should’ve been rectified before the novel hit the shelves. The wrong use of “your/you’re” was enough to do it for me.

Sub-editing aside, the storyline of it was okay. It didn’t wow me but it did make me feel that bubbly sensation inside when I am experiencing fictional love. The sprouting love, or re-love as it were, between Julia and Ry was inevitable and the developments of their relationship throughout the novel kept me reading on and on. I didn’t feel as if there were any other major stories in the book that were properly explored, but that just only shows you how important the relationship between Julia and Ry is.

I found the style of writing to be effective but I don’t think it suited my style of reading. The books I like to read and the style I like to write my novels in (shameless plug for My Best Friend and I) has action after action and quick, snappy dialogue. Nobody But Him had action and snappy dialogue but it also had a lot of detailed descriptions and imagery used in the book; the language used to illustrate these images was on point and it definitely added to the homely beach feel of Middle Point. However, because I have the attention span of a fly, I found myself lost in these words and I eventually skimmed the lovely descriptions to get to the main juice of the story – the love of Julia and Ry.

Victoria Purman managed to achieve something in this novel that not many other romance novelists manage to do – create a book heroine who isn’t a complete moron. I found myself actually liking Julia Jones, although she had her questionable moments. She wasn’t helpless or needy or whiney and was the epitome of a woman-in-charge. I liked that in her. Ry Blackburn was just a dreamboat, not gonna lie. I couldn’t help but picture Caleb Geppert in the role of Ry as I read this novel, and that is most definitely a good thing.

Solst-o-meter
Storyline: 7.0
Style of writing: 6.2
Overall: 6.6

Nobody But Him is a keeper and I have no regrets in purchasing this book and adding it to my nearly overflowing bookcase; however, I feel as if the entire novel could have been executed better, especially without the typos and grammatical errors. That’s just me talking, especially because I’m anal when it comes to grammar and spelling. I think all you SolSatters out there would enjoy this novel.

– by The Black Widow

Hitchcock’s Hotties

Posted in Entertainment, Movies by

In an attempt to make myself seem and feel more cultured, I have embarked on a movie journey, watching and re-watching Hitchcock films, one movie a night. Alfred Hitchcock, despite being a troubled and eccentric director, is definitely my favourite movie director in the history of cinema. Sorry Spielberg.

While watching movies such as Dial M for Murder and Strangers on a Train, I couldn’t help but notice just how damn attractive the main actors and actresses were. I don’t know whether this is because being that beautiful was the norm during the 50s or because over time, we have just become uglier and uglier (unless your name is Jase Dean). Either way, I feel as if the actors and actresses of today’s generation need to step their game up compared to the likes of these hunks and bombshells.

Naturally, I felt the need to rank these amazing guys and girls in order of personal preference. If you aren’t familiar with Hitchcock’s films, prepare to be wowed. Some of these stars were in more than one Hitchcock film and some of them only appeared in one. Either way, I still consider them Hitchcock’s stars.

The Boys
5. Farley Granger
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This handsome bloke was featured in two of Hitchcock’s films, Rope and Strangers on a Train, the latter being one of my favourites. Granger has this innocent, cute boyish charm about him, sure, but you want to know the cutest thing about this guy? He was with his partner Robert Calhoun from 1963 all the way to his death in 2008. Longevity in a Hollywood relationship is a rare gem, so that definitely boosts Granger up the list.

4. Sean Connery
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I really shouldn’t have to explain what makes Sean Connery attractive. You have the choice of his dashing good looks, his sculpted body or his “Connery voice”. If you’re surprised that Connery is on this list, he just made the cut, appearing in one of Hitchcock’s last films Marnie. Despite one questionable scene in the film, Connery is just as charming in the film as he is in general.

3. James Stewart
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As the kids nowadays would say, dat drawl tho. One of Hitchcock’s legends, Stewart appeared in four of Hitchcock’s films – Rope, Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much and Vertigo. While Stewart is a handsome man with a gentleman charm to him, his distinctive drawl voice was probably the sexiest thing about this cinema legend. If you want a modern sample, a snippet of his voice can be heard in McFly’s Love is Easy song around the 2:46 mark. Game, set and match.

2. Cary Grant
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Probably Hitchcock’s greatest male protege, Cary Grant is also featured in four of his films – Suspicion, Notorious, To Catch a Thief and North by Northwest. If the picture isn’t enough to show you just how damn attractive this man is, may I suggest you rent To Catch a Thief from your local video store and watch the scene where he comes out of the water at the beach and lays down on the sand, rather suggestively might I add. You’re welcome.

1. John Gavin
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Unfortunately for us, John Gavin only appeared in Hitchcock’s Psycho, but at least you got a good shirtless glimpse of this Hispanic hunk (alliteration 101). I don’t really need to explain why he is number one on the list. Just let the picture and your subsequent Google stalking speak for itself.

The Girls
5. Doris Day
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With a face like that and a voice equally as beautiful, it should be no surprise that this bombshell is on the list. Day appeared in The Man Who Knew Too Much and is probably most well known for the song Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) which was made for the suspense film. If you want to have a listen to Day’s original version of the song, here’s a quality link.

4. Janet Leigh
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The third star from Psycho to be included in this list, Janet Leigh played the all important role of Marion Crane in the film, which earned her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Besides the all important shower scene, Leigh appears at the beginning of the film in her bra alongside a shirtless John Gavin, which I am assuming was the back-in-the-day equivalent of a full on nude scene today. An interesting note: Janet Leigh is the mother of Jamie Lee Curtis, who went on to become a Scream Queen in her own right.

3. Kim Novak
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Not at all related to Jack Novak, Kim Novak is best known for appearing in Hitchcock’s Vertigo. While her character was originally a brunette, there’s no denying that Novak looked better as a (Hitchcock) blonde. If watching this blonde bombshell babe isn’t motivation enough for you to watch Vertigo, let me tell you this – the film is one of my personal favourites just because it took me nearly a whole day to understand what happened in it.

2. Tippi Hedren
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One of my personal favourite actresses, Tippi Hedren has the acting ability to match her stunning good looks. It’s no surprise that Alfred Hitchcock was obsessed with her (depending on which series of events you want to believe). Beautiful Miss Hedren was featured in two of Hitchcock’s greatest films, The Birds and Marnie, the latter of which is widely considered as Hitchcock’s last great. In my opinion, it’s because Tippi Hedren is a legend.

1. Grace Kelly
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To those who know me well, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this cinema goddess is number one. If perfection were personified in any human being that has ever walked this earth, it would be Grace Kelly. Without a doubt Hitchcock’s most popular actress, Kelly appeared in three of his films – Dial M for Murder, Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. Words cannot express just how beautiful Miss Kelly is. It is no surprise that Kelly won the heart of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and subsequently became Princess Grace of Monaco. Kelly’s legend still lives on; one of the most mainstream examples of this would be MIKA’s song Grace Kelly.

I really think that this article alone should motivate people to partake of the genius that is Alfred Hitchcock’s cinema legacy. Excellent storylines, great films and, of course, hot men and women. One more time: you’re welcome.

– by The Black Widow