'The Host' by Stephenie Meyer

So, to continue reading Stephenie Meyer novels...

If you didn't know, I've been reading 'Twilight' for the last six months. It didn't take me that long, I've just been reading and re-reading it for that time. I was tossing up whether or not to read 'The Host' after finishing the saga, but didn't want to try finding it at the local library.

Today, though, that has changed. The school at which I work had the book in their library. Problem solved! I borrowed it from there. (I didn't want to try at the local library because I knew I wouldn't be able to get the chance to - it would be out already and bound to have a waiting list.) Anyway, I was searching for the next 'Percy Jackson' novel - which I found with the help of the librarian - and borrowed it and 'The Host' until after the school holidays. One whole month to try reading it.

My first thought was "Gee, it's a big enough novel, don't you think?" But then, I believe it is a complicated story, and worth reading all of it. I've only just started and read up to chapter 3. Am looking forward to getting further into it when I have the time. It might even replace 'Breaking Dawn' as the novel beside my bed that I read of a night...Then again, probably not. Love that one too much. Especially the ending. Last two and a bit pages are my favourite bit of the novel.

Anyway, I'm rambling now. Will write more about it when I've read further. And I'll try not to give the story away.

Girls Night In!

Girls Night In!

So, the above link is to an event about raising money for the Cancer Council of Australia. I'm very much in to raising money and awareness about cancer, having lost many relatives to different types of the disease, as well as my Mum having had a bout of it three or so years ago. Thankfully that was very small, picked up early, and easily dealt with. Unfortunately, it's not the case in many people's lives.

Therefore, anything that can help raise money is a bonus, so we can, possibly one day, live in a cancer free world.

'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief'

This is a book that I've come across recently due to some kids I teach. We post on a blog some ideas that we would like to learn about, and me reading this book (because I had never heard of it) was something the kids were wild for me to try. We (the class) have just started learning about ancient Greece, hence why the students suggested the novel. I decided to put it to the test about a week after the suggestion...

So far, so good. I'm about two-thirds to three-quarters of the way through the novel, and am enjoying it. It's aimed at the pre/early-teens audience, but I can understand why the kids were wanting me to read it. It's got a lot of humour in it that can appeal to older readers as well.

The main idea about the story is that Percy is the son of a Greek god. I won't give away whom. It becomes obvious fairly early on in the story, anyway. The really great thing about the novel is that there are a lot of ancient Greek mythology references throughout it. This is something I've never really been able to remember so well - which god or goddess was responsible for what thing in life, and what deeds they had done/performed/achieved. Through this novel, the reader can find out a lot of things about the Greek gods/goddesses and actually remember what they did due to the situations in the novel that Percy is placed - if one is wanting to use the novel as a way of remembering things. Very helpful.

One last thing: Rick Riordan (the author) has done a very good job at honing in on the charcteristics and jargon of kids. Probably due to having children himself, but he does it well, nonetheless.

Anyway, here is a link about the books if you are interested. Enjoy.

UPDATE: I finished the book today. It ended well. I guessed who would be the 'chief' bad guy, as well as who was the minion, and it is well done how the book ends with you knowing that there is a sequel. I mean, I know there are three more books in the series so far. It's just that, the book is written for a sequel to easily occur - for the author to be able to write.

Anyway, it is a good read. Enjoyable. Nothing mindbending. And, it does teach you well for the Greek gods and goddesses.

'Vampires Suck' - in some ways...

This movie is funny in very many ways. It is meant to be funny, but I don't think it is funny for parents to bring children who are clearly under 15 years of age to it. 10 year olds should definitely sit this one out - it's humour is not exactly aimed at them. And it can be crude at times. Then again...what the children are exposed to at home, who knows! Maybe they get this kind of stuff these days?

Anyway...on to the actual movie...

It has all the jokes that one expects for a spoof on 'Twilight', but it takes the vampires-hiding-out-in-Forks thing not so seriously. Which is good. It makes the film funnier. The whole population of Sporks knows that there is something strange about the Sullens, and they list what is weird (vampire 'characteristics' as described in 'Twilight')...but they must be 'Canadian' because of it. There are a lot of vampire jokes in the movie and most of them are funny. There is the whole Jacob-and-Bella/Becca-Romance thing happening, as well - but it ends nicely with Jacob running off (after going several ks hanging onto the front of a classy yellow Porsche) after a cat. Jacob has a thing for chasing cats. Becca's Dad, Frank, is also completely oblivious to the fact that anything weird is happening around him - it must be the Kardashians causing all the problems (and who can blame him for thinking that?).

I don't think that I'll really ever need to see this movie again. Yes, it is funny, but it is fairly pathetic in some parts, as well. I liked all the 'Twilight' jokes, and there were tonnes of them, but they missed some lines and things that were in the trailer for the movie that would have made it funnier. I liked the whole Prom King and Queen scenario thing that happened, and the things that kept on being thrown at Becca. But it didn't all add up to a great movie.

One thing I'll admit. They did do a good job at fitting two movies into one, and making the scenes fit together so it had some kind of storyline.

However, they're just going to have to work harder next time in making a spoof movie that is hilarious, not just funny.

Maybe I'm just a tough audience...

Why would you? Why???

The other day I was driving along in my car when I saw one of these:

My question is: why would you buy a 4WD-looking Porsche in the first place? Why? Yes, the sales for Porsches have increased by 50% since they introduced the Cayenne, but WHY?

If you want a Porsche, be a traditionalist, and go for their trendy, beautiful cars that have style. If you want a 4WD to take the family off-road, buy a Pajero, or Patrol, or one of them!

If you want to add something that says "Look, I have tonnes of money to waste" why not get a BMW 4WD instead?

Okay, so I haven't looked at the specs to see if the cars are better or worse in steering and all that, but to spend money on a Porsche...when it's a 4WD...SO NOT WORTH IT!

When is someone going to take one of them 'off-road'? No one would want to take one of their fancy Porsche 4WD off-road - they might get it muddy! That's why I'll never understand it!

Go spend your money in a more sensible fashion when buying a 4WD - get something that is going to take the mud, and you're not going to care, when you take it off-road. If you want a Porsche, get one that is beautiful, like this one:

So much better than having a 4WD version of a Porsche. Too much money for sense, methinks!