DVD: American Teen

Documentary Film

This is a great documentary that follows 5 teens from various cliques through their senior year in a small town high school. We see the ups and downs, the worries about college, relationship crises, and major bitch fests.

I think it would have been nice to see more information about these kids friends and families than was shown. But over all it was a great glimpse into high school experience. Okay, if you are in high school you know what that experience is like, but its a nice view of how its the same no matter where you live.

The best thing about this doc is that there is a one year follow up on the kids to see how they are doing.

Worth the watch.

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Bloomwood is now a household name in London since she has been appearing on a daily talk show as their financial expert. She and Luke are a real item. She is finally out of debt. Well, she was but the shopping she has been doing has been controlled...somewhat.

Then Luke springs Manhattan on her. He is starting a new business there and wants her to come with him. She will find a job on American television and life will be perfect. Once there, however, she just can't fight the lure of the 5th Avenue shop windows. When a tabloid exposes her as a shopaholic with no real understanding of personal finance her life is turned upside down and when she needs Luke the most he is not there for her.

In typical 'I Love Lucy' fashion she does eventually find a surprising way out of all the mess. Kinsella had me laughing out loud yet again. Looking forward to #3, Shopaholic ties the Knot.

Write your name is Elvish!

I just thought this site was way cool:

http://www.starchamber.com/paracelsus/elvish/elvish-in-ten-minutes.html

Confessions of a Shopaholic: Book and Movie

by Sophie Kinsella

I adore the author Sophie Kinsella. She is a great crossover writer for adult/YA. And best of all she is witty. I love witty authors, and they are so rare.

The book is absolutely adorable. Rebecca Bloomwood is a financial journalist who knows nothing at all about finance. What she does know is shopping. She knows so much about shopping that you could say it is what she lives for. And her love of shopping has her deeply in debt.

Becky doesn't even realize how much debt she has because she has a little habit of losing her bills, under her roommates bed, in a nearby dumpster, in the trash bin at work. When she finally takes a look at her balances she realizes that she is in deep trouble.

She can't tell her parents, they and their friends think that Becky is a financial genius. Her roommate is filthy rich, old money, and really just can't understand. Becky is on her own.

In the midst of all of this she meets Luke Brandon, a successful financial publicist. Oh, and he is handsome as well. These two flutter in and out of each other's lives until....

Well, you will have to read it to know. Its hilarious really. Becky just can't help lying at every turn. Some lies had me laughing out loud as I read. She reminds me of Lucille Ball in her crazy plans. And then there is the devastatingly handsome Luke. The book is adorable and an incredibly fun read.

The Movie:

I imagine had I never read the book I would have liked this a lot. It was pretty funny. The problem is that Becky is American, not British. She looses her job and gets one as a financial journalist where she meets Luke who is not a brilliant millionaire.

She still id quite funny and painfully ridiculous. The romance is still a bit adorable. But the funniest bits of the book are left out and the funniest bits of the movie are not even in the book.