Monday, October 27, 2008

The Brothers by Chris Stewart

I didn't love this book. The book took a lot of effort for me to get into it and enjoy but it was recommended by my dear friend and one of the woman I visit teach, so I gave it a try.


This book is the first in a series following a group of people from the preexistence and throughout their lives. The first book is about the War in Heaven, the different sides and views and the main characters choices before they come to earth. Although a central part of my religion, it was difficult to imagine, simply because I had never read it dramatized before. Think of it as reading a story from your parents childhood. A story your dad continually tells but now you are reading it from an outsider's perspective.


The book wasn't terrible, it just took a lot for me to get into. It did make me reflect on the War in Heaven, choices made there, Agency and the Plan of Salvation, so it wasn't a complete loss! I just couldn't read page after page, I had to focus to read pages. Apparently, they get better and turn out to be a really fantastic series. I imagine they would get better as it would be easier to imagine stories of people on earth. I guess I am a book snob in the sense if they didn't hook me with the first book, there is little chance I will read the rest... but there is a chance!

Matchstick Men


Another great movie with Nicholas Cage! Keep them coming Cage!


Roy (Cage) is a hypochondriac, OCD (and possibly more) who happens to make a life the not-so-honest way. He is a "con artist, not a crook" but tells all he is an antique dealer. He takes pills for his condition until his business partner, Frank, suggests he sees a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist tells Roy, his medical issues are because of his guilty conscience.


Roy finds out he has a 13-year-old daughter, Angela, and starts on a journey to form a relationship with her to ease his conscience. Angela wins his heart with her youthful and carefree attitude. In an argument Roy confesses he is a con artist and after some nagging he agrees to teach her a con. He even lets her take part in their biggest con yet. The act doesn't go as planned and his new found relationship with his daughter catapults his desire to change his life around, including his hypochondriac/ OCD tendencies. He is conned at the end but has a new life to start.

Moonstruck

I guess you could say I was "moonstruck" by this movie. Loretta's (Cher) first husband died and she swears it was due to their courting and not being engaged properly. At dinner as Ronnie is proposing she is determined to have luck on her side as she makes him get down on one knee and provide some sort of ring. Ronnie and Loretta split shortly after as Ronnie visits his mother on her deathbed. He asks Loretta to contact his brother as they are no longer on speaking terms and Ronnie wants to start fresh. Loretta tries calling and ends up visiting Johnny (Nicholas Cage) at his bakery. They meet and have a little feud at the beginning, discussing the other's blunders, but in the end Johnny and his fake hand win Loretta.

A new side of Cher and Nicholas Cage you do not want to miss! Just beware as you will have, "when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore" stuck in your head after the movie. Hey, it's a great song and the movie is well worth it!