Sundays at Tiffany's By James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Honestly, the book far outweighs the movie in amounts of happiness distributed.  There is   more of everything including plot, humor, and heart in the book.  A read it till the end and find it's past one in the morning.  It was worth the dark circles.  A delight of a read with a pace that ambles by like an old friend.  

I  admit that I caught the movie version first.  Not typical of me, since the book version is always better.  Movies are great but you don't get the same feeling for the characters and in this case you get a weaker story on screen.  The movie version is certainly a feel good romantic comedy.  Yet, it lacks a few things from the book like the fact that the imaginary friend is an adult from the start.  I suppose someone down the line thought it would be less weird/potentially creepy that way.  

Truly though, it works.  I mean it's not as if we're introduced to perverts here.  Imaginary friends are not creepy no matter their age or gender or species.  They fall under that category of magical helpers who basically can do anything they like and still be certified as normal.  They key is the sincerity.  If they weren't truly out to help their kid(s), then it would be unwanted attention or harassment.

Basically, Jane has an imaginary friend that has to leave her when she turns nine.  It's one of the rules.  Except that Jane is supposed to forget all about Michael so it doesn't hurt.  She remembers him and he ends up seeing her as an adult.  The story winds around why Jane and Michael are meeting for a second time which has never happened to any imaginary friend.

The magic is the best part in my opinion.  Magic is best left alone and it is.  Michael can just snap his fingers and things happen.  He doesn't know why and can't explain it.  Jane asks about it but there are no answers.  The point isn't in the magic because it's all about Michael and Jane.  

So, if you're looking for a love story without exaggerated drama and with a touch of magic, then this might be the perfect book for your next gloomy day.  Not all stories have this much warmth without the cheese.  

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy by Douglas Adams

I wrote a review on the first book in the series.  I would try to review each of the books individually, but they become so interconnected through plots that it's complicated.  Plus the endings give things away and have a way of reversing plots and changing character dynamics.  I'd say that if you read the first one and like then you'll love the others equally.

Although, perhaps you'd prefer the radio version or the television series or the computer game or the movie.  It's obvious that the world enjoyed the series.  It's hard not to love a trilogy in six parts.  Or to ignore a book which allows you to poke fun at the world and ourselves.  I have taken some of the advice to heart. "Don't Panic!" is excellent advice and while I have no robots or aliens to interact with I believe that they are as equally mundane as the human race.  Why shouldn't they want to build a highway in space?

I can't remember not loving any of the parts.  The sixth part (And Another Thing...) was written by Eoin Colfer with the permission/request of Adams family after his death while it is not written by Adams it does remain true to the core characters.

The series kept growing but even Adams had some issues keeping his plots from attacking each other.  The bits of time travel and parallel universes complicate things and it's hard to  keep the same level of humor from the meta when one piece of information can change the entire story.

MILD SPOILER WARNING

That's just a reason why I love science fiction because things can change so much with one line from one character or the creation of totally foreign cultures and species that you can't help but like.  Why shouldn't an author play around with the distinctive characteristics of alien lifeforms?  I love the cows that want to be eaten.  They're total opposites of an Earth cow.  They're personalities are so distinct and they annoy the humans with their pleas to be enjoyed.  The humor is still there.

There is an entire book where Arthur becomes stranded and becomes the sandwich maker.  That's his main job to make sandwiches and the natives love it because they never had a sandwich before his arrival.  I certainly love the entire series even if Adams didn't get to finish it himself, but like Colfer, I love the characters so much that I don't need him to tell me what other adventures they could have.  I can think up my own adventures.

Mostly though, I know that ideas will continue to sprout in my mind after having read this series.  I found a different perspective from a person that knew not to take everything too seriously.

The Vow

Tonight I had advance screening tickets to see The Vow starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum.  (Did I mention that I thought it was a Nicholas Sparks book?)  Along with a couple other actors I recognized.  I have to say I kind of live in a bubble when it comes to what movies are coming out or what's currently playing.  That comes from rarely watching any TV at all.  When you don't watch TV you don't see commercials and when you don't see commercials you miss almost all movie previews.  So for me to be aware of a movie it's got to get a lot of hype online.  The Vow didn't exactly have that. 

I got an email about a week or so ago about the screening.  Even if I don't know what the movie is...I normally sign up if its close.  The thing about advance screenings is you have to get there at least an hour before the movie starts because they always overbook the theater to make sure its a full house.  So we got there early and there was quite a crowd.  Which surprised me because I really didn't think it was going to be a hugely popular movie.  The story is a little sappy and sad as its based on a true story and not a Nicholas Sparks book like I originally thought.  (That's what happens when you never watch TV.)  I won't ruin the movie for those of you that really are interested in seeing it, but I was surprised at the amount of nudity in the movie.  I mean I've never seen a Channing Tatum movie where he hasn't been shirtless...but also bottomless was quite the shock.  Especially since it was a PG-13 movie.

All in all the movie wasn't bad.  Wasn't something I'd typically pick as I prefer either truly laugh out loud comedies, action flicks or thrillers.  So if you like a true life story, don't mind seeing a lot of Channing Tatum and want something kinda sappy..this is definitely the movie for you.