Recent Reads

I recently joined paperbackswap.com and I'm really enjoying it so far. I mailed out some requested books that I no longer want (i.e. my fourth copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) and in return, I've gotten I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides--for free! I already finished the former and absolutely loved it--if you haven't read it, you must. Now I'm going to start Middlesex, which is by the author of The Virgin Suicides and The Marriage Plot (I'll be reading those next, I think). 

Also, my boyfriend got me Diane Keaton's memoir, Then Again, for Christmas. I just finished it and found it unexpectedly sad--she writes about her mother, who had Alzheimer's, and includes excerpts of her journals. I love reading memoirs; by the end of them I always feel like I've become fast friends with the writer. We watched Manhattan Murder Mystery last night (which I definitely recommend; I might like it more than Annie Hall even) and I felt compelled to root for her through the whole movie.

What about you? Read (or watch) anything good lately?

Let the Right One In

One of my English seminars this semester is "Vampire Narratives." It's really interesting; we're studying everything from Dracula and Nosferatu to Twilight and True Blood. I've never been all that big on the vampire genre explosion, particularly not when it comes to Stephanie Meyer creations. One vampire movie that I really like, however, is Let the Right One In. It's Swedish, and based on a book of the same title. I already own the movie, but in the interest of a potential paper for my class, I read the book and watched the American remake, Let Me In.

So here's my recommendation: Watch the Swedish, original version of the movie; read the book (it's long but worth it, and a fairly easy read); skip the American remake.

You don't have to be a huge vampire fan to enjoy this story. It's mainly about a young boy who is bullied in school, and then befriends a young girl who turns out to be a vampire. Be warned, however, that the book delves much deeper than the movie into some heavy topics such as pedophilia. The Swedish movie was a great, faithful adaptation of the book and has a great mood. The American remake was basically unnecessary, in my opinion. You can check it out and form your own opinion, of course, but definitely make sure you check out the book and original movie first. You'll thank me later.

Has anyone else seen the movies/read the book?