BOOKS

Firstly, I’m halfway through The Fault in Our Stars by John Green…I suspect it will end up on my “best” list when I’m done.

Secondly,

The Pandora series by Carolyn Hennesy is ADORABLE.  Yes, capital letter adorable.  Or the first book “Pandora Gets Jealous” is, and I’ve got plans to read the rest later this year.  They’re MG so expect friendships, adventure and a dog!  Oh, and plagues and stuff.

Entwined by Heather Dixon – LOVED!  And to think, I almost passed it up because it looked so long.  But there are princesses!  Who dance!   And magic!  Plus, some hilarious lines, especially from the second eldest, Bramble.  (there are TWELVE sisters – can you imagine?)  I want this to be a movie.  Do you hear me, Hollywood?  Chop, chop!

If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Here is my physical state after finishing the first:

insides heaving

Looks up classical music on YouTube

Feels like a husk*

I have a younger brother, just like Mia, and my love for him is similar – part older sister and part fiercely overprotective Mama-bear.

And Mia’s parents and her parents’ friends.  I know these people.  The rockers, the ones having babies in birthing centers, and the guys dressing ironically (or maybe not) like they’re from the 50s.

Not to mention I’m insanely close to my family.

In Where She Went

Oh, Adam…

I needed closure, too.  I think we have it now.

Bonus points because you mentioned Fugazi.  Hurray for shout-outs to DC-area bands!

MOVIE

Battle Los Angeles

It had three of my fave movie things:

A reluctant hero, explosions, and a big, dramatic speech.

The only thing that would have made this movie better (although it would have been insanely out of place) would be Will Smith punching an alien in the face.

WRITING

I figure I’ll post an update once a month on how my writing is going, that way if I’ve slacked I can feel publicly shamed.

I have done major edits this month.  Unfortunately, I really only have time to edit on the weekends, so my edits go slow.  But I’m at the big climactic scene now, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

And in the process of editing, I came up with TWO new shiny WIP ideas.

RANDOM THING I LEARNED

Crickets can play dead (see under Thanatosis, for defense)

I looked this up after a cricket I shooed away fell down dead, even though I didn’t even touch it.  Later, it popped up and went on its hoppity little way.  It was much luckier than its friend who tried to play dead with the cat.  The cat didn’t fall for it.  I’ll leave it at that.

*Remember that Runaway Train friend I mentioned in yesterday’s post?  Well, we used to have this habit of going to the video store and buying random, discounted VHS tapes.  Once, we got this movie that we thought was supposed to be funny, based on the box info.  It turned out to be some scientific documentary about a guy going through dialysis.  By the time we realized, we couldn’t stop watching, even though it was horribly depressing.  After it was done, my friend said she felt like “a husk.”  All empty and drained.

^Wow, that’s the longest footnote ever.

What is everyone else reading/watching?

I’ve never been one of those “Holy crap, it’s Valentine’s Day, buy me jewelry, flowers, etc!” types of people.  I’m more likely to demand candy, but that’s just because I want candy.  I demand it most days.

But one V-Day does stand out to me.

My friend and I stopped in this Amoco station to say hi to one of our friends who worked there and so I could eat a sub from the Blimpie inside.  We sat in the little dining area, complaining about what losers guys were.  We were both single and the guys we liked were oblivious or unavailable, and were off on some grand, band adventure (damn those musicians).

And since we were only about 21, the fact we had NO plans on this magic holiday of holidays made us feel kinda low.  To cheer ourselves up, we bought scratch-off lottery tickets from the ticket vending machine thingy.  It wasn’t about winning, it was mostly to annoy the guy we’d dubbed “lotto creep” who was this old man who was always in there and who practically guarded the machine, like he was the only one allowed to buy tickets from it.

We browsed the touristy postcards and laughed at this inside joke we had about how my friend had once looked at “Virginia, home of eight Presidents” and twisted it in her mind so it said “Virginia, home of BEEF Presidents” and we imagined eight people made of steak.  Even odder she’d misread it, considering she was a vegetarian.

So we were slowly cheering ourselves up, when the song “Runaway Train” came on over the speaker system and we completely lost it, practically on the floor laughing.  (Lotto-creep was not amused).  It’s obviously not a funny song, but if you were a teen in the 90s and heard it four million times, the song sorta takes on this mythical quality and loses its meaning.

Instead of an anthem for missing/runaway children, it became a sign to my friend and I that one day we’d look back on our night at the Amoco and remember it fondly.

We were obviously right.  Hearing that song makes me happy.  Unless I really stop to think about what it’s about.  Then I feel guilty for laughing.

Does anyone else have a song like that, one that makes them smile, even though it probably shouldn’t?

1. Hunger Games

This falls under the “of course” category.  I feel like I don’t even need to explain my choice.  Click on link to watch trailer, in case you’ve been living under a rock and had no idea this was going to be a movie.  Or that it’s even a book.

2. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

(okay, so it’s been pushed back to early 2013, but since it was initially slated for 2012, it’s going on the list!)

(source)

It stars Jeremy Renner and some other people who I’ve neglected to remember.  Because, you guys, it’s Jeremy Mother-Cussing Renner!  There’s something solid about him, like he would carry you from a burning building and get you a blanket.  It’s possible (like 100% so) that I’m basing my opinion of the actor on two roles I saw him in:

Twelve and Holding (former firefighter) and The Unusuals (cop)

3. The Great Gatsby

(source)

The promo shots are gorgeous and I have high hopes for this being all atmospheric and awesome.

4. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

(warning, sappy trailer under above link)

Okay, I admit, this movie looks blecky to me.  It’s all heart-warming and all those other things I don’t particularly care for.  But it stars Sandra Bullock and I like her.  So yeah.  That’s pretty much the only reason I’ll watch it.  When it comes on cable and I don’t actually have to pay for it.

5. Um…I can’t think of a 5^th one, so I’ll just list some movies coming out this year that I’m looking forward to.

Return

Stars Linda Cardellini (of Freaks and Geeks fame) so there’s a big plus right there.  And the trailer (click on above link to watch) is all tense, which is a double bonus.  It looks like limited release, so I’ll probably be ordering this off pay-per-view.

Red Dawn

Mostly I want to watch this so I can point out all the ways it’s not the original.  Yeah, I’m that person.

Men in Black III

I LOVE the first movie.  In such a way that every time I catch sight of it on TNT, I sit down and watch it.  I’ve seen it like two million times and it still cracks me up.  And there’s time travel in this one so it’s like Men in Black to the Future.  I’m down with that.

The Expendables II

The first one disappointed me.  It was muddled, there wasn’t enough Dolph Lundgren, and it was way sillier than I anticipated.  I guess when you have so much awesome in one place, you run the risk of getting burned.  But I’m not one to learn my lesson, so I’ll watch the sequel.  It’s sort-of like, how can I NOT watch it, you know?

What about you?  Any movies (based on books or not) that you’re looking forward to this year?

• We had a six and a half year reunion.  I’m not kidding.  It was seriously like that episode of Wonderfalls (if you know what I’m talking about, I adore you automatically), although I didn’t attend, so not sure how far the similarities go.
• There may or may not have been a 10-year one.  No clue.  I ignored the whole affair.  I think the majority of people did.  Apathy.  That was most likely the problem.  Whatever.  *brushes thought aside*

The pressure is on for the 15^th.  So far it sounds like everyone wants to hang out and drink.  It’ll be like high school all over again!

Because of Facebook, I’m already connected to dozens of my former classmates.  Assumedly they all know I’m living my post-graduation prediction that I’d spend my life attempting to sell my novels to strangers.

Assumedly some of them are also living their dreams.

Or I hope so.

I started thinking about this life dreams thing the other week when I went on my massive cleaning spree and found this “senior memories” book I’d half-assedly filled out when I was 18/19.

On one of the pages was the question:

My friends will become

The first is what I thought, while the second is what they actually do.

S – biochemist (sales)

M – photographer (works in some capacity for a non-profit)

S – photographer (vet tech or similar)

J – veterinarian (works in some capacity for law enforcement)

I was surprised that I didn’t remember my friends ever wanting to be these things.  I guess because when you’re a teen, “real life” and everything that comes with it, just doesn’t compute.  You’re so in-the-moment and life just stretches on and on endlessly.  Anything is possible.

Then one day, it’s all “hello, adulthood” and your dreams change (or evolve or whatever) due to reality.

Some of them anyway.

Others (like writing for me) continue to cling, even though I am firmly in the land of adult – a job, rent to pay, a husband…

Although, I must admit that I still don’t always fully feel like an adult.  I did when I worked 9-5, M-F, in an office.  But since I’ve been contracting the past few years (flexible hours), it’s like I have the best of both worlds: money to live on AND freedom.

And it’s a great feeling.

If you couldn’t use your own name, what would your pseudonym or penname be?

Well, since I was born in the 70s, I have a rather bland, common name:

Jennifer Lynn (Pickrell)

My last name was unique at least, so much so that I didn’t change it after I got married.  It also may have had something to do with me being lazy and not wanting to go through all the hassle.

Whatever.

I’ve had a variety of nicknames over the years, since half the people I went to school with were named Jennifer.  One of my closest friends was also a Jennifer P.  It might have gotten confusing, but she’s about six foot, outgoing and outdoorsy.  I’m small and grumpy.

Mostly I was called “Pickel,” but I’m not sure I could work that into a professional name unless I wrote kids’ books:

Jenny Pickel

Which would actually sort-of rock.

My mom wanted to name me “Melody,” but my dad vetoed.  Thank you, dad!  Nothing against the name, but I’d feel the need to be upbeat and sunshiney with a musical moniker.

“Hi, I’m Melody P.!  Are you ready to Jazzercise today?!”

Later, my dad later lost all naming privileges when my mom was pregnant with my little bro and, wanting to give him a “family” name, he suggested:

(I’m not kidding)

Bushrod*

While this is fine for a last name…can you imagine the torment of it for a first?

“Heh, heh, let me put my rod in your bush…heh”

So I guess I could go by:

J. Bushrod or J.L. Bushrod

That sounds manly and strong, like I write Jack Reacheresque best-sellers.

But I wouldn’t be able to say it without laughing.

I could go on and on with potentials, but I’ll spare you.

My purr-fect (groan) pseudonym:

Jen Parker

It just sounds so clean and memorable.  And it’s unassuming, like Peter Parker.  Am I a writer or an unlikely hero?

Who cares that “Parker” is the name of my little brother’s cat?  The one I named before I gave to him.

Nice, huh?

“Here’s a cat I got you, I’ve already named him!  Enjoy!”

And now I’ve stolen his name.

Double nice.

So what about you?  What would your new name be?

* This is where I stepped in and my bro has the best name ever.  But since he’s a teen, I feel weird broadcasting his identity.  So you’ll have to take my word for it – his name is seriously awesome.

I don't believe you. Give me back my name, you thief!

The hubs grumbled, “It’s not even spring.”

To which I responded, “But it’s a new year, full of possibilities, I need to get rid of old junk!”

So five bags of trash and several Freecycle giveaway posts later, I am feeling much lighter and ready to take on 2012!

I’m fairly certain the Paper Hangover topic this week is:

What are your FIVE New Year’s resolutions (writing/reading/or otherwise)?

So here goes:

One:

Wake up with my alarm, not an hour later or whenever I feel like it.  Since I work from home, this is usually one of my resolutions; I always start off the year well, but by the last quarter, I’m all, “eh…”  But in order to get everything done, I need to spend more time in the land of awake.

Two:

Finish editing that WIP that I’ve been staring at for months.  I got beta notes back, jotted down more notes and then…blerg…the Holidays and the merrymaking and the eating began.  I went completely off-track.

Three:

THEN, once I whip that WIP into final draft shape, start querying.  And while I’m waiting for responses, I solemnly swear not to freak out and/or cry and/or eat entire pans of brownies.

Four:

Finish at least a first draft of a half-finished WIP that has been calling my name.  I literally dream about these characters.  I need to finish their story!

Five:

I signed up for the 50/50 challenge!  The first part – reading 50 books – is a snap.  Y’all know I love to make reading themes each month (even though my hubby teases me about my nerdiness) so this is an excuse to carry on with my geeky ways.

The other part – watching 50 movies – eek!  Will I finally have to watch all that stuff on my DVR???

Bonus Resolution:

Don’t stress if I fall off-track.  These goals are loosely made and I’ll adapt and rearrange as needed.

So I guess that’ll be my keyword for 2012:

ADAPT

Here’s to 2012!

P.S. I’m doing a little tidying up of the blog over the weekend, so don’t be alarmed by a new look.  It’ll be the same basic layout, just slightly rearranged.

In this movie, where people have “The Internets” and modern conveniences, but still speak lines directly from the play…

Eh

Stuff like that rarely gels for me.  It just seems awkward and stiff.  Bizarre.

I much prefer things like 10 Things I Hate About You where the lines are as modern as the backdrop.

Side note: Why is Julia Stiles in so many Shakespeare adaptations?

Anyway, rambling aside, here’s my list!

Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy

Obviously a take on Pandora.  The first in a series.  Written by Carolyn Hennsey who is on my soap.  This makes me doubly happy.  Which perhaps makes me lame.  But I embrace that!

Ash by Malinda Lo

The tagline is: Cinderella retold

I have to say up front I’m wary of Cinderella stories b/c there are just so many of them.  But I’ve heard good things about this book and it sounds dark, which I’m excited about.  As much as I like Disney’s version with Gus Gus the Mouse, it’s just so sugary sweet.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Oz from the POV of the Wicked Witch of the West.  I’ve been warned there’s lots of S-E-X (just like that, too, all spelled out).  I’ll be the judge of that!

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Take on the Grimm Bros The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  I’ve read the entire (what felt like) 2 million page volume of their tales.  I remember like one story.  It wasn’t this one.  But I’m still psyched!

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Gah, there are so many others I want to read (like Sweetly by Jackson Pearce – modern retelling of my fave, Hansel and Gretel) but time and the library collection dictate otherwise.

What’s everyone else reading?  Any favorite twists on old favorites?  Does anyone know a good retelling of Snow White?

Also, I still have a pile of books to read before the year is over, so there could be more awesomeness in my future reads.

In no particular order:

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King 

It was different.  Quirky.  But it still tackled heavy issues.  Death, grief, secrets.  The alternating voices are some of the best (and most unique) I’ve ever read.

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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead 

I can’t get this book out of my head.  Even months later, parts of it still pop up in my mind.  The subject matter, the setting, that haunting feeling it left me with…this book is the total package.

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The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks

(the cover isn’t the one on Goodreads, but wanted to show the same one my library had)

This is one of those rare cases where I liked the book and the movie equally.  I bought the movie (VHS so that shows how old it is) on a whim at a video store sale years ago and it’s stuck with me for years.  The book is just as heartbreaking, about a small, economically depressed town torn apart by tragedy.

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I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

There were some parts of this I found dry and confusing, but it’s the whole concept that won me over.  Vampirism caused by a virus.  The last man on earth.  And the ending – brilliant and frightening.

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Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Two stories that are really one, the past catching up to the present, the concept of family and love…beautiful, gut-wrenching book.

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Honorable mentions:

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

The reason I wanted to read this was the reason I liked it.  Friendship, finding yourself, adulation, being trapped in a dead-end town…all these great themes and no hot, mysterious, solves-all-problems-like-magic boy in sight!

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

This is one of those quiet books that sneaks up on you.  The writing is beautiful, the descriptions of the ocean made me feel like I was there, and the story made me cry.

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And there it is, my bloggy friends, my last post for 2011 – I’ll see y’all* in 2012!

*I so want to use y’all since I’m from Virginia, but it just doesn’t roll off my tongue.  I’m more of a “you guys” type of girl.  But regardless, have a great Holiday and here’s to lots of writing and reading in the new year!

Clinks glass, discards for a piece of cake, stuffs face, happy carb coma….

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (January 2012)

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last….

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In Honor by Jessi Kirby (May 2012)

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

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Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (March 2012)

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria’s a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan’s a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they’ve got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can’t run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

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The Story of Us by Deb Caletti (April 2012)

Cricket’s on a self-imposed break from her longtime boyfriend—but she’s picked a bad week to sort out her love life. For one thing, her mother’s romance is taking center stage: After jilting two previous fiancés, her mom is finally marrying Dan Jax, whom Cricket loves. But as wedding attendees arrive for a week of festivities at a guesthouse whose hippie owners have a sweet, sexy son—Ash—complications arise:

Cricket’s future stepsisters make it clear they’re not happy about the marriage. An old friend decides this is the week to declare his love for Cricket. Grandpa chooses to reveal a big secret at a family gathering. Dan’s ex-wife shows up. And even the dogs—Cricket’s old, ill Jupiter and Dan’s young, lively Cruiser—seem to be declaring war.

While Cricket fears that Dan is in danger of becoming ditched husband-to-be number three, she’s also alarmed by her own desires. Because even though her boyfriend looms large in her mind, Ash is right in front of her….

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Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall #3, March 2012)

(hah, and you thought I’d have all contemp!)

Not putting the blurb because it contains some possible spoilers from first two books.

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Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock (May 2012)

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

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How about you – what books (YA or otherwise) are you looking forward to in 2012? 

So here it is:

Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Stay by Deb Caletti

+

I sorta have this huge shelf full of books to read.  So I’ll be tackling some of those, too.  Not sure which ones yet, I guess whatever’s on top.

What about you – what will you be reading in December???

P.S. My life is a bit crazy at the moment, so I won’t be blogging much this month – I hope to be back with a vengeance in the new year!