I saw two new movies: Get Smart and The Incredible Hulk. Get Smart was very good and very funny. The Incredible Hulk was also very good. Those are two movies you should see.
Sam
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
NBA
The NBA consists of 30 different teams. The teams I like are the Hornets, Suns, Cavaliers, Magic, Celtics, Rockets, Bulls, Lakers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bobcats, 76'ers, Warriors, and Raptors. The teams I kind of like are Jazz, Nuggets, Nets, Blazers, Mavericks, Hawks, Wizards, Pacers, and Kings. The teams I hate are Knicks, Supersonics, Pistons, Spurs, Bucks, and Timberwolves. The best teams in the League are Pistons, Celtics, Magic, Lakers, Spurs, and Hornets. The worst teams are Heat, Supersonics, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves. As for the rest of the teams, some are good and some are bad.
WILL BROWN
WILL BROWN
More Book Thoughts
NPR is running a commentary on occasion this summer, "Three on a Theme," where a reader suggests three books on a related theme. Of course, I had to submit a suggestion to the powers that be at NPR, as I have taught this exact topic in my UNCG book groups. NPR did reply and apparently liked my idea (they even requested my phone number), but, alas, here I sit still patiently awaiting their call. So I think my two minutes of talking about books Oprah-style has passed and I will simply have to settle for my blog. Here are a couple "Three on a Theme," and if you have any other suggestions, please feel free to suggest, too:
1) "Bella Italia": Want to go to Italy but don't have the money? Then travel with Daisy Miller, Lucy Honeychurch, and Mary Leonard, as they experience Italy throught the novels of Henry James, E.M. Forster, and W. Somerset Maugham respectively. James' novel is titled Daisy Miller; Forster's is A Room with a View (which, by the way, is listed in Entertainment Weekly's list of one of the top 25 new movie classics of the last 25 years so read it and then watch the excellent film); and Maugham's Up at the Villa (which also was made into a film but I wouldn't bother).
2) "Governesses": This summer I am educating myself on all things Jane Eyre as I prepare to teach that novel in the fall in my Women in Art & Literature class. I decided to include it this semester rather than Madame Bovary (I love Flaubert; I just needed a change!). So my recommendation is to begin with the classic, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre; then read Jean Rhys's short novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, which tells the story of Bertha & Rochester before Jane enters the picture (their courtship and her ensuing madness); and finish with the recently released Governess by Ruth Brandon, which is about the real Jane Eyres of the 19th century.
One final book note: check out Entertainment Weekly's list of the top 100 reads of the last 25 years. It's an interesting list and includes one of my favorite novels of all time at #27, A. S. Byatt's Possession. I have read a great many of the novels on the list, but plan to work my way through the list. Who's with me? Let's have an on-line book club!
1) "Bella Italia": Want to go to Italy but don't have the money? Then travel with Daisy Miller, Lucy Honeychurch, and Mary Leonard, as they experience Italy throught the novels of Henry James, E.M. Forster, and W. Somerset Maugham respectively. James' novel is titled Daisy Miller; Forster's is A Room with a View (which, by the way, is listed in Entertainment Weekly's list of one of the top 25 new movie classics of the last 25 years so read it and then watch the excellent film); and Maugham's Up at the Villa (which also was made into a film but I wouldn't bother).
2) "Governesses": This summer I am educating myself on all things Jane Eyre as I prepare to teach that novel in the fall in my Women in Art & Literature class. I decided to include it this semester rather than Madame Bovary (I love Flaubert; I just needed a change!). So my recommendation is to begin with the classic, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre; then read Jean Rhys's short novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, which tells the story of Bertha & Rochester before Jane enters the picture (their courtship and her ensuing madness); and finish with the recently released Governess by Ruth Brandon, which is about the real Jane Eyres of the 19th century.
One final book note: check out Entertainment Weekly's list of the top 100 reads of the last 25 years. It's an interesting list and includes one of my favorite novels of all time at #27, A. S. Byatt's Possession. I have read a great many of the novels on the list, but plan to work my way through the list. Who's with me? Let's have an on-line book club!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sam's Movie Recommendations
The best movies I've seen in 2008 are Iron Man, National Treasure 2,Indiana Jones 4 The Spiderwick Chronicles, Drillbit Taylor,and Kung Fu Panda. I didn't like The Chronicles of Narnia 2 or The Bucket List. More recommendations to come.
Summer Reading List
Since many of you ask me what I am reading, I thought I would quickly catch you up on my 2008 list. I keep a log of the books I read, comparing the number I read to years past and to remember titles. So here's my list for 2008 thusfar (with an asterick by titles I highly recommend):
1. *Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth
2. *Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
3. *Rachel Cusk, Arlington Park
4. Lloyd Jones, Mister Pip
5. *Nancy Horan, Loving Frank
6. Brock Clarke, An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England
7. *John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
8. Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants
9. *E.M. Forster, A Room with a View
10.Philip Roth, The Human Stain
11. Greg Mortenson, Three Cups of Tea
12. *W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil
13. Levitt & Dubner, Freakanomics
14. Mario Vargas Llosa, The Bad Girl
15. *Lionel Shriver, The Post-Birthday World
16. *Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre
17. Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
18. *Geraldine Brooks, People of the Book
19. *Mary McCarthy, The Group
20. John Grisham, The Appeal
21. Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel
22. Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea
It's a mixed bag: a combination of books I obviously teach (A Room with a View,The Painted Veil, Jane Eyre); Will's summer reading (Scarlet Pimpernel); and books for the various book clubs I try to keep up with (Freakanomics, The Bad Girl, People of the Book, Loving Frank, Three Cups of Tea, Mister Pip, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and Water for Elephants). Then, of course, books I simply want to read for whatever reason and really liked (The Group, The Post-Birthday World). A book without an asterick does not mean I disliked it, but would I read it again? Probably not.
1. *Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth
2. *Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
3. *Rachel Cusk, Arlington Park
4. Lloyd Jones, Mister Pip
5. *Nancy Horan, Loving Frank
6. Brock Clarke, An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England
7. *John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
8. Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants
9. *E.M. Forster, A Room with a View
10.Philip Roth, The Human Stain
11. Greg Mortenson, Three Cups of Tea
12. *W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil
13. Levitt & Dubner, Freakanomics
14. Mario Vargas Llosa, The Bad Girl
15. *Lionel Shriver, The Post-Birthday World
16. *Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre
17. Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
18. *Geraldine Brooks, People of the Book
19. *Mary McCarthy, The Group
20. John Grisham, The Appeal
21. Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel
22. Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea
It's a mixed bag: a combination of books I obviously teach (A Room with a View,The Painted Veil, Jane Eyre); Will's summer reading (Scarlet Pimpernel); and books for the various book clubs I try to keep up with (Freakanomics, The Bad Girl, People of the Book, Loving Frank, Three Cups of Tea, Mister Pip, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and Water for Elephants). Then, of course, books I simply want to read for whatever reason and really liked (The Group, The Post-Birthday World). A book without an asterick does not mean I disliked it, but would I read it again? Probably not.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
WELCOME TO THE JACKSON BROWNS BLOG
As many of you know, since moving to Jackson, MS, exactly two years ago today, we have shared many of our favorite stories and memories in our regular "Mississippi Moments" e-mails. With our blog, we will continue to post these memorable moments, as well as let you know what we are reading, watching, and just thinking about. The Brown Family--Lus (49), Carolyn (45), Will (12)& Sam (9)-read regularly, and we intend to review the books we read as much for ourselves as for our friends who often ask us for recommendations. We look forward to your questions and comments. Enjoy our blog!
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