Pass Me the Yams, Please

I think one of the saddest celebrity break-ups was Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.   I mean...for me it was.  I'm talking in a selfish sense here.

I loved the Thanksgiving episode of Friends with Brad Pitt.

I think one of the things that made it extra funny was knowing that while Brad Pitt's character on Friends hated Jennifer Aniston's character; in real life they loved each other.

The love has vanished.  

There's an additional context to the scene now; and it's a rather sad one.  

Still.  I think the scene has some humor and entertainment value.

Maybe it's best to watch it and ignore the fact that Pitt and Aniston were ever a couple.  

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Premiere of The Big Bang Theory (Spoilers)

Tonight we watched the premiere of season 6 of The Big Bang Theory.

This summer we had a crash course in the big bang.  We watched seasons 1-5.  We watched about 2 episodes 5 days a week.  We were addicts.

I wasn't very happy with the episode tonight.  Although it might be one of those things where I better appreciate the episode on a second viewing.  This has happened to us with episodes of The Simpsons and Modern Family. 

I feel bad not liking this episode, because my reason's somewhat irrational.

I didn't like that the characters acted so much like themselves.

I wanted them to be different.

I wanted to see growth.

I wanted to see a continuation of the Sheldon we saw in the finale of season five; the one that held Amy Farah Fowler's hand.

I wanted Penny to listen to Raj and tell Leonard she loves him.

I'm getting tired of Howard's mother and that whole storyline.

I'm tired of Raj being lonely and dropping hints that he might not be completely heterosexual.  

I guess the show's just getting old to me.  It's losing it's magic.

But then I know you can't have characters change too much. That can be detrimental to a series.

Sheldon Cooper reminds me a bit of Christian Troy from Nip/Tuck.   In one episode, Christian Troy would do something to prove he had a heart.  Then in the next episode, he would completely regress back into being an asshole. 

Maybe that's realistic though. 

Yeah, sadly I think it is.  As we were told in that story from The Crying Game, people don't change. 

Sometimes they may take a step forward; but then usually they later take five steps backwards.

It's realistic for things to stay the same with the characters in The Big Bang Theory.  

Maybe I'm wanting a world that's unrealistic....at least when I partake in my fiction addiction.  

Anyway....

I hope all this blabbing is for nothing, and that next week I love the episode.

I was so madly in love with The Big Bang Theory this summer.  I don't want to imagine that the love has already died.   It would make me feel so fickle.
 

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Neighbors (Spoilers)

We watched the new ABC alien comedy tonight.   Neighbors. 

I knew I wouldn't like it.

I'm not the type of person who likes corny over-the-top silly science fiction sitcoms. 

That's not my style.

Then....

I remembered Third Rock From the Sun. 

I loved that show.

Okay, so maybe it IS my style...sometimes.

I can't say I have fallen head over heels in love with Neighbors.  Sometimes I cringed at the lines.

But I like it enough to watch it again.

I did laugh at some lines.

The Obama one was probably my favorite.

I loved the family portraits on the wall.

Now that I think of it....

We also love Galaxy Quest.

Neighbors is kind of along the same vein. 

One of the stars of the show is Jami Gertz.  

My main association with her is Lost Boys. 

It's been way too long since I've watched that movie, because tonight I questioned whether she had been a vampire or not.

I think she was, right?   She wasn't just some kind of vampire groupie?

I don't remember seeing her with fangs, or anything?

Did she not have a fang scene?   Or am I having a memory block? 

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"Bringing Up Baby" (Modern Family Spoilers)

We watched the season premiere of Modern Family. 

If a show makes me get all choked up, I judge it as being at least somewhat successful.

That happened for me tonight when Jay reacted to the news of becoming a father.    It's an emotional moment in itself; but I think that it being unexpected made it more emotional.

There was some funny moments, including Jay expressing excessive joy over Cam and Mitch's new kitten.  


He did that because of Claire's instructions.  Someone's going to give you some big news.  Be supportive.

It makes me wonder if his reaction to Gloria was faked.

No...

I don't think so.

But maybe it did influence him.   Maybe it put him in a more positive mood?

As for the rest of the episode....

I loved the jump in time.   That caught me by surprise.

I liked the Mitch and Cam storyline the most for this episode.    The cat stuff was fun.

I wasn't thrilled with the other storylines until it all came together in the end.  

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Inconsequential

I'm reading The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan.

Bess, the protagonist of the story thinks:  My most troubled moments come when I realize I have not thought her for several days or more. It is then it seems that her life was inconsequential, that mine may be as well and everyone else's too.  We all matter so very little, not at all after a generation of two.  And it is the same for all mankind; not even the greatest of men amount to anything that will survive the forward march of time.   
 
Maybe Bess would feel differently if she watched It's s Wonderful Life.

We all play our part.  We're all important in some ways.

I can agree with the quote though.

We matter now, and our actions might have some type of domino effect...positive or negative.

But most of us will be forgotten.

I used to think celebrity was an antidote to this.  But I think it's rare for a celebrity to have staying-power.

I used to think if I got a book published, it would be my ticket to a sort of immortality.  I would protect myself from being forgotten.  I wouldn't end up as letters and photographs in the attic, barely looked at.

Lately though I realized how false this is.  Out of all the books published, how many continue to be published?

My guess is most of them go out of print.

They might be read by future generations, but not on a regular basis.

On most days, the characters are in a state of suspended animation...waiting for the rare moment of awakening.    

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Modern Family

The 4th season of Modern Family begins tonight. 

I'm excited, but also a little weary.

I loved season 1 and season 2.

I liked season 3 less.

I'm not sure why.

Maybe some of the writing decreased in quality.   Although I guess the Emmy people disagree with me. 

I'm surprised Modern Family won again.  I'm especially surprised that "Baby On Board" earned the show an award.   I didn't see that episode as the icing on the cake of mediocrity.  

There were some episodes that I did like.

"Phil on Wire" was lovely, especially the ending.   I got a bit choked up.

I liked the deep thoughts expressed in "Punkin Chunkin."

I could relate to issues in "Lifetime Supply" and thought that episode was well done.

I thought "Little Bo Bleep" was probably the best episode of the season; not just for Lily's new vocabulary word, but the hilarious references to YouTube. 

I liked "Disney Land".  That had it's funny moments, as well as some touching ones. 

"Express Christmas" was fun, but one scene partly ruined it for me.   It was the scene with Hailey and Claire at Target.  Suddenly Hailey is presented as this master shopper. 

Yes, shopping fits with the stereotype that Hailey represents: popular, beautiful, bad at school, dates a boy her parents don't approve of, picks on siblings, etc.

But prior to that episode, Hailey hadn't been shown as a shopaholic.  Yes, I did assume that as a teen Hailey probably likes shopping, but not to the degree that's painted in that scene.   It seemed forced and out of character. 

It makes me wonder if the writer got confused and thought they were writing for Mallory Keating rather than Hailey Dunphy. 

A part of me wonders if winning awards lessened the quality of the shows.  For the cast and crew....there could be a case of overconfidence and arrogance.  More likely though, it's probably a case of them now feeling too much pressure.  They raised the bar so high in season one and season two.   I think they failed to reach it in season 3.

I hope I'll feel differently about season 4. And if I don't....I wonder whether or not the Emmy people will agree with me this time.  

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Interruptions

Why must people interrupt me while I'm reading a book?

I'm fine with quick interruptions when information needs to be conveyed.

I'm fine with simple questions and requests.

I'm going to the store.  Is there anything you need?

But what's the deal with people who see me reading and then try repeatedly to start a conversation?

My monosyllable answers don't seem to deter them; at least not at first.

They continue to interrupt.

I think it's rude and inconsiderate.

Do I do it to others?

I hope not.

I might.

I know I interrupt my husband's television watching.  But I usually ask him to pause it first.  And I think I ask if it's okay for me interrupt?

And I don't interrupt just because I feel like chatting.   I interrupt because I feel the need to pass on information or ask a question.  

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Reader Symbolism in The Host (Spoiler Warning)

The Host (novel) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Stephanie Meyer's The Host a body snatcher named Wanderer is put into the body of a young woman named Melanie Stryder.

Usually in this situation, the original soul of the body disappears and the alien soul takes completely over.

With Melanie, it's different. She stays with the new soul.

The two souls share one body, with the alien soul having control of body movements and speech.  

In the beginning of the novel, Wanderer experiences Melanie's memories.  She takes in what has happened to Melanie, and they become part of her.   It's not just on an intellectual level, but an emotional level as one.

Wanderer quickly grows to love Melanie's younger brother, even before meeting him herself.

She falls in love with Melanie's boyfriend.

And she falls in love with Melanie herself.  

The whole process reminded me of the process we go through when reading or viewing fiction.

We're very much like Wanderer when we read a book or watch a TV show or film.    We share in the character's memories and experiences.  If the fiction is effective enough for us, it's likely we'll fall in love with who the character loves. And we'll love the character. 

When we talk about two characters having chemistry with each other, maybe this is what it's about.

If we can't connect to the character's emotion....if we can't feel the love that they're feeling; then this might be when we don't support the romantic relationship.  

I feel the best books are ones in which I feel fully included in the adventure.   I become the character or characters;  I go with them on their journey.   Temporarily I lose myself and become them.  

On some occasions I'll read a book, and I'll feel left out.  I feel there's a wall between myself and the characters.  It's like to eavesdropping on a conversation, rather than being part of the conversation.   It's interesting; but kind of lonely.  

I don't enjoy books that give me that feeling.  

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers Through the Eyes of the Snatcher

I recently read The Host by Stephanie Meyer.

I loved it.  I loved Meyer's Twilight series.   I feel most people who are fans of the series will love this other book.

I'm betting people, who do not like the Twilight series will dislike The Host for the same reasons they hated Twilight.  

I enjoyed the premise of the story. The novel's plot centers around a invasion of the body snatchers situation.  Yet the story is told through the eyes of a snatcher.  

And guess what.

The snatcher isn't evil.

She's not even remotely bad.

None of the snatchers are evil.    They're actually very good, except for one minor thing.    They snatch bodies without any significant concern for the minds that are being erased. 

Can we fault them on this when we ourselves frequently erase living things for our own use?  

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JK Rowling's New Book

I've been nervous about JK Rowling's new book; not obsessively nervous, but a little nervous.

What am I afraid of?

I don't know.

I guess I fear the book is going to be a failure; that it's going to get awful or medicore reviews.

Am I fearful for Rowling?   Or am I fearful for us...her readers?

Maybe a little bit of both.

I should relax about it.

If it does fail, we have other books to read.  We'll be fine.

As for Rowling, she can always try again.

The Casual Vacancy could end up being fantastic.

Anne Rice's vampire books were famous; but then she wrote the witch books and I loved those.

I recently finished reading Stephanie Meyer's The Host.

I liked that as much as the Twilight trilogy.  

So I do have some hope alongside the worries.

What I wonder is what I'll do if The Casual Vacancy gets mostly bad reviews.   Will I read myself, anyway.   Or do I avoid it?

Wait....

I just looked, and reviews are already coming out.

They seem to be fairly medicore, unfortunately.

I probably will read it for myself though.   Eventually.   

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Introduction

Hello!

I've decided to start yet another blog.

Why?


So often I want to talk about things that do not relate to my Australia obsession.    Often these things are related to books I'm reading or TV shows that I watch.

I often find excuses to talk about these thing.  It's called going off on a tangent.

But I'm thinking maybe it would be better to have a separate blog.

What I'm wondering is where to put posts regarding Australian fiction.   Should I put it in the Australia blog or this blog?

Right now I'm thinking the Australia blog; but I may change my mind later.