You Have To Look...

Kate and Leopold

This is the best of all feel-good movies. In "Kate and Leopold", Leopold (Hugh Jackman), Duke of Albany, is supposed to find a bride by midnight, but can't seem to choose a woman because none of them are right. Then, a thief breaks into his palace and starts rummaging through his precious things. Leopold, in hope of catching the thief, accidentally stumbles through a time portal into the present where he meets Kate (Meg Ryan), single woman flirting with her boss in hopes of getting a promotion. When she meets Leopold, at first she thinks he is a freak from a Renaissance parade who's one true goal is to ruin her life. But then, she realizes the truth: Leopold is in love with her. And slowly, she begins to find herself loving him too. But can a love so great exist between two people from different time periods?
There are a couple of parts in this movie that I absolutely adored. I love the part when Kate falls asleep in Leopold's lap and he tucks her into bed. Then, he lays down by her and spoons with her (it was really cute). I also like the part when he washes the dishes then makes her a really nice breakfast, which makes Kate cry because she's so happy. My other favorite part is when Kate's old boyfriend is in a mental home for talking about time travel and he is talking to a girl named Grechen about how he's being judged for seeing what others couldn't. He compares time to something as real as the chair she is sitting on, and then says that he feels like a dog that saw a rainbow, because all the other dogs wouldn't believe him because dogs don't see color. Then, Grechen said "I believe you," and burst into tears.
In conclusion, if you are a lover of romantic comedies, you will love this movie.
Grade: 100%
In the movie "Kate and Leopold", Hugh Jackman plays the Perfect Man. He's kind, beautiful, considerate, and has a nice voice with a highly developed vocabulary. I want a man like Leopold some day, that is, if any men like him exist.
I love "Kate and Leopold"! In this movie, Hugh Jackman is the definition of sexy!

What Happened To Twilight?

Has anyone noticed that Twilight has gone down hill ever since it was made into a movie? I mean, I know it's more popular all of the sudden, but the real, honest Twilight fans should be ashamed. The books have been changed so much that it's barely the same story anymore. Now, there are all of these ugly actors like Robert Pattinson (he doesn't even wash his hair. People who work with him say he smells bad), and Taylor Lautner (Okay, he's got an all-right body, but I've grown up living in a native community, and none of them have a body that good). Yes, the movies have really good special effects, but that's not what makes me like it.I remember when I first started reading Twilight. I saw the first book on display in a book store in Ketchikan, and I thought it looked cool. So, my mom bought it for me. I remember when I started reading it. I was totally hooked. It wasn't long before I'd gotten the books New Moon and Eclipse. Since then, I have been a faithful Twilight fan.

When I was in sixth grade, the fourth book, Breaking Dawn, came out while I was up north in Juneau at Girl's Camp for Mormons. I purchased a copy and began reading it on the ferry on the way home to Prince of Wales Island. I'll tell you right now, I broke my reading record. In the past, the most I'd ever read of a book in a day was 250 pages. Well, that night, I ended up reading 478 pages! I just couldn't put it down. The only time I stopped was to get dinner from the cafe and also to buy an occasional Rockstar energy drink so I could stay awake. So, Breaking Dawn has always had a special place in my heart.

Since then, I read my favorite parts of the Twilight Saga occasionally, and even read her adult novel, The Host. I've folded over my favorite pages and marked my favorite quotes so I can go back to them and read every once in a while. I was thankful that someone had written a book that was a romance that wasn't full of sex and lame, girly crap.

Then, one day, I found out that they were making Twilight into a movie. I was excited because I wanted to see how someone else saw the book visually. I was excited... but now I see, I was wrong.

The movies were so manipulated! So many things were added in and taken out. My favorite quote was removed from the first movie! What will become of Breaking Dawn? What has become of Twilight? Here's a hint:

Odd Thomas By Dean Koontz

I admit, I didn't think this book was going to be any good. But, this book is a prime example of how you can't judge a book by it's cover. This book had me guessing and in suspense the whole time. I loved the way the characters were structured and the way Odd Thomas narrated the story from a first person point of view. This book is unlike any other I have ever read because it is unique in a good way. Last night, I finished the last chapter, and I started to cry my eyes out because, let's just say it ends in an "Odd way". Odd Thomas will have it's readers cheering and flipping through pages at the speed of light. Dean Koontz is a good author because he makes sure to show the cruel, sick fantasies of a serial killer's mind at the same time as adding some humor to the story.

Odd's parents claimed they meant to put the name "Todd" on his birth certificate, but had mispelled the name. He doesn't mind, though, because he thinks there isn't any better name to describe himself than "Odd". Odd Thomas is about a fry cook who works at a grill in Pico Mundo, California. But, unlike any other cook, he has a gift: he can see the dead. They don't talk to him, but they ask him in their own, paranormal way, for help in finding their murderer. Though he finds satisfaction in helping the dead, he also provides them company. Sometimes, Elvis will drive around in his car with him and listen to his greatest hits. If he's lucky, sometimes he gets free dancing shows from Elvis as well. All seems good and calm. Odd and his girlfriend, who have been living in a chaste relationship for years, decide they want to get married. But, when a freakish person comes to the Pico Mundo Grill, followed by a swarm of evil spirit entities called Bodacks, that suggest he may be a killer. Odd Thomas is destined to prove him guilty... but what he finds is going to make your blood run cold...

Grade: 100% (Yes, this is one of my rare perfect grades)

This is the author, Dean Koontz, with his golden retriever named Trixie. I like his writing style and the way he adds so much suspense to a story. I also noticed that he really likes dogs, wild or tamed. He's obviously had some kind of crime work as well, because he knows how to find evidence in a deceased body. I also noticed his vast vocabulary. There were some parts in the book when I had to look up words which I didn't know the meaning of.

I've read one other book by Dean Koontz called "The Darkest Evening of the Year", which I thought was really good. If you like that book, you should definitely read "Odd Thomas". It will blow your mind.

Help Me... Please...

Dear Reader,

I am in need of some new, good books. I'm kind of trapped with a bunch of lame teen novels lately that kind of suck. Understand my pain? Well, if you do, please send me a list of book titles that are either science fiction, romance (doesn't have a billion boys fighting to win the hand of one girl or isn't a harlequin), or even just a feel-good book. Please!!! I need help!!!

Sincerely,

Taylor

Author of the TwilightWhales blog

P.S If you find any good book titles, please send me the name and author. My email is taylor.stumpf@gmail.com. Thank you for your support.

Hush, Hush

Okay, this has got to be the DUMBEST book I've read in a while. Actually, I'll start with the positive. The author did a good job for her first book and she had a lot of suspense and surprises. I was kind of hooked on this book at the beginning, or maybe it was just the picture on the cover, I don't know. But, if you're looking for some cool, angel fighting and something similar to the book "Eternal" By Cynthia Leitech Smith, you're in for a big surprise. Okay, now for the negative (this may take a while). THIS WAS TWILIGHT!!! I'm not kidding, this had the exact same story line as "Twilight". A girl meets a strange new boy at school who she is attracted to, she looks him up on the internet and finds out he's an angel, and the boy is torn between emotions of wanting to kill her and wanting to love her. OH MY GOSH! Half the time I was reading this book, I felt like I was going to puke because it also sucks because she's got this "best friend" who's a total slut and really annoying! Seriously, I'm starting to hate the stupid teen romance novels. They are all so overrated!
Grade: 43%

WARNING....HOT...!!!!!