Book2Movie: True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet

Movie: True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
Starring: JoJo, Valerie Bertinelli, Lynda Boyd, Justin Louis, Ian Nelson, Melanie Leishman, Leah Cudmore, and Shenae Grimes
Book written by: Lola Douglas
Teleplay written by: Elisa Bell

Plot: Fresh out of rehab, teen star Morgan Carter is taking a step out of the spotlight. She just doesn't realize how big a step. Morgan's mom sends her to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to recover. Even with a makeunder, an assumed name, and a fake identity, Middle America is going to mean a serious lifestyle adjustment for this Hollywood starlet.

This movie was originally released last summer but I didn't get to see it (was out celebrating my cousin's 11th bday) then but i did recently through YouTube. And I have to say it was really good. Though the movie didn't discuss why Morgan started drinking (If you read the book you'd realize it's sort of a big thing) this was a bit disappointing to see that issue unaddressed. That was about the only thing I didn't like. As for the actors, well, JoJo, Valerie, Ian and Melanie weren't who I'd picture Morgan, Trudy, Eli, and Emily to look like. JoJo was good, it was...wierd (a good wierd) seeing her in this role but she handled it fine. Valerie. Valerie, Valerie, Valerie. I (HEART) her so I have nothing negative to say. Ian and Melanie. Again not what I pictured but they passed as the real deal so i'm happy. In conclusion, all I have to say is that I hope there is a sequel because they didn't touch on the matter most important. The reason why Morgan started drinking. It may seem like I'm just harping on this for no reason but it is important. It's like telling thestory of Sleeping Beauty and leaving out the part of why the evil fairy hated the princess. Again Cause and Effect, except this time they forgot the cause.

Privileged

Twenty-three-year-old Megan Smith (Joanna García, Reba) has a Yale education, a relentlessly positive attitude, and a plan to conquer the world of journalism, despite the fact that she is slaving away at a tabloid rag. Megan's plan is thrown off course when, in one whirlwind day, she gets fired, meets cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges (Anne Archer, Ghost Whisperer), and becomes the live-in tutor for Laurel’s twin teen granddaughters in the heady Palm Beach, Florida, a world of wealth and power. The girls, Rose (Lucy Hale, Bionic Woman) and Sage (Ashley Newbrough, The Best Years), are beautiful, rebellious, and less-than-thrilled with their new tutor, but Megan is determined to win them over as she enjoys the perks of her new job: breathtaking private suite, gorgeous convertible, and live-in chef Marco (Allan Louis, Stomp the Yard). Even the neighbors are fabulous in Palm Beach and Megan quickly catches the eye of Will (Brian Hallisay, Bionic Woman), the wealthy and extremely hot dilettante who lives on the estate next door and just happens to be dating Megan’s estranged sister, Lily (Kristina Apgar, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). Completing this romantic quadrangle is Megan's best friend, Charlie (Michael Cassidy, Smallville, The O.C.), who is secretly in love with her. Despite her own complicated romantic and family relationships, Megan is committed to making a difference in the lives of her two headstrong charges as she navigates the treacherous waters of high society in Palm Beach.

After watching the first half of this season, I realize where this show stands in my tv list, under the heading Show To Watch When REALLY Bored. Sad but oh so true. I like my movies and TV shows full of adventure, comedy, mystery, and suspense not necessarily in that order or combination. Romance and drama are two variables that I enjoy when the mood strikes me but when any of those previously mentioned variables become part of the mix it makes for a really good or great story. The shiny newest of Privileged has slowly vanished and my attention is being pulled elsewhere. It was fun but I’m bored now and I feel like I’m watching the same thing in repeat every time. So I’m moving on.

How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls by Zoey Dean

Recent Yale graduate Megan Smith comes to Manhattan with big plans for a career in journalism and even bigger student loan debt: $75,000. When she flails at her trashy tabloid job, she's given an escape hatch: tutor seventeen-year-old identical twins Rose and Sage Baker--yes, the infamous Baker heiresses of Palm Beach, Florida, best known for their massive fortunes and their penchant for drunkenly flashing the paparazzi -- and get their SAT scores up enough to get into Duke.Impossible job -- yes. But if she succeeds, her student debts are history. Unfortunately for Megan, the Baker twins aren't about to curtail their busy social schedules for basic algebra. And they certainly aren't thrilled to have to sit down for a study session with dowdy Megan. Megan quickly discovers that if she's going to get her money, she'll have to learn her Pucci from her Prada. And if she can look the part, maybe, just maybe, she can teach the girls something along the way.

I really wasn’t impressed with this story. It was just too predictable the ending was a treat though. But you see I had to read this story before the TV show Privileged premiered or before I even watched an episode. And despite the story’s disappointment the show is appealing at least it will be for a while. I really don’t have much to say on this book. I know many people liked it but I just didn’t. Maybe the audio book would be released and I might give it another go and like it then…but I doubt it. It’s harsh I know but it is what it is.

The Clique Summer Collection: Claire by Lisi Harrison

Will Claire's Florida BFFs become former BFFs?

Back in Orlando for the summer, Claire is reunited with her Florida best friends, Sarah, Sari, and Mandy, after a long year apart. Her FBFs haven't changed at all. Too bad they think Claire has . . . and not for the better. Claire sets out to prove her loyalty by entering Kissimmee's Miss Kiss pageant. But when a very special visitor shows up and vows to win the crown, Claire finds herself torn between Keds and couture. Will Claire finally kiss-immee her past goodbye-once and for all?

I’ve been waiting a long while to read this book. Happy and grateful to be reading it but the high of reading a book you’ve waited so long to read faded way to fast for me. Of course, this book did NAWT disappoint. Claire faces what I’ve been waiting for her to face ever since Massie and the PC accepted her, the reaction of her Florida bffs when they see the new, Massiefied Claire. I wasn’t disappointed (you’ve gotta read to find out—or you can guess—but I’d prefer if you’d read the book). Claire’s solution was an obvious disaster from the get go and I figured it wasn’t gonna end pretty; and I was dreading it.

Let me stop for a minute to explain something. You know how sometimes when I say that a story is predictable but I loved it. It’s just that what ever happened between the CAUSE and EFFECT isn’t what I expected. And that’s what is most important to me in most stories. It could be a big thing or something as small as stepping on a butterfly. If everything is too much like I envisioned it between the CAUSE and EFFECT then the story even though it was full of adventure and so on becomes bland to me…

So Claire’s story was bittersweet not what I expected. She constantly surprises me. Yes I know that many people think that Claire is a weakling for donning the Massie flag and most importantly for wanting to do so. But it’s like Lisi says; Claire is comfortable with who she is on a level that Massie isn’t and Massie sees it and is very threatened by it. Also, it may seem like Claire is being a mindless Massie follower doing what Massie says et cetra, and that Massie has control of her but she really doesn’t. Think about it:

o She eats what she wants (gunny bears, candy heart, whatever)

o She hangs with who she wants (Layne)

o She sometimes wears what she wants

She still has a mind of her own. That’s why I believe she’s stronger than she seems. But I tend to forget and have to be reminded like in the case of this book.

Wow. I went off on a tangent there. I guess in less words what I’m trying to make you see is that when I say a story is predictable it isn’t always so. And it’s also my way of saying that whatever lies in between the cause and the effect (the details) is what I anticipated. And even if I almost always see the ending coming in a certain way I’m often surprised as to what goes down. Oh and if you haven’t guessed. I liked Claire’s story but it was an uncomfortable experience having Massie there but not knowing what she’s thinking.

Miss Marple: The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie

Lymstock is much like any other English village. Those that live there enjoy the peace of rural life until a series of poison pen letters destroy the safety they took for granted. When one villager commits suicide and another is murdered, the village is plunged into suspicion and terror. Once a village of trust, now all inhabitants are on the brink of accusations. Who could be writing the letters and why? Perhaps Miss Marple might be of help...

This is a really good story. However, it seems more like a romance than a mystery. I like it though. This story had a different flow to it—I guess it’s because I’ve read mainly Poirot mysteries with him being the central focus; knowing what he sees what he doesn’t see and especially, most of what he’s thinking. While in this story Miss Marple’s character isn’t even in the foreground we’re not sure what she sees or what she’s thinking until the very end when she reveals all. Instead it is the visitors of Lymstock who notices all but isn’t too intrigued by the goings on of the sleepy town. In a way it’s a case of the stranger visiting a household seeing what the family doesn’t want to or just truly isn’t seeing. In the end The Moving Finger was a good story but it probably wouldn’t be fave among Agatha Christie’s books.

Away Working on a BIG Project....

Hey guys; I'm finally back after over two months of trying to be a very good student (due to a New Years resolution). I missed wishing you Happy Valentines Day -- I had a really cool/cute layout-- and I don't even think I wished you a proper Happy New Year, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and/or Merry Christmas. So, Happy Belated:

Valentines Day
New Year
Kwanzaa
Hanukkah
Merry Christmas

And there was the Birthday celebration for the blog (another cool layout wasted). ::Sigh:: It's done and in the recent past; and Granddad always says, "The past is past. It doesn't do us much good to dwell on it too much. So move on."

Moving on. If you haven't noticed, there are a few changes (more like two soon to be three).

First there's the BOOKS I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON slide show which is an improvement to the BOOK (singular) I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON picture posted from time to time. Why the change? It's like my mom and this season of Dancing with the Stars, there's just too many favorites to choose from.

There's also the music. Yes I added music. The story; my mom was checking out my blog and a few others one night and after checking out about two/three blogs with music in the background she turns to me and asked;

"Why doesn't your blog have music?"

Being the snarky, smart-alec child I sometimes am I replied;

"Because I don't want music on my blog."

Matching my tone she said;

"Well. Without the music your blog is boring. The music makes it interesting"

I could go on and on what was said afterwards but I'd rather not. I thought about what she said and realized she had a point. But I wanted to have the music have something to do with the blog. Then I had it.But I'm not telling you. I want you to figure it out. There may even be a prize involved. A book (of course) of your choosing.

If you have caught on I just stated the terms for my very first contest.

The Dare: Figure out how the music (on the blog) is related to the blog. Yes there is a connection.

The Reward: Any book of your choosing. Whether it's out or not. My Treat!!

As for the big project mentioned in the title of this blog. It's a revised version of the former Teen Lit Central (TLC) MSN Group that was handed to me the day before MSN dropped the bomb that they were closing MSN Groups. So I'm working on rebuilding it on Angelfire a free web hosting site. It should be up by summer of this year. I'm keeping it there until I can find a suitable web space that I can afford.

There's also a comment I want to rebut on.

From EXTREMELY Late Halloween Book Recommendations

Noelle Lange said...

i was wondering why you keep comparing vampire books with twilight, which isn't even a vampire book. twilight was poorly written.

all of these books should be stand alones instead of constantly being in a lineup with twilight. the author has a big head and only writes for herself - big mistake if she calls herself a real writer, which she definitely is not.

Well Noelle; you have a point. Stephenie Meyer isn't a good writer everyone knows it. But it's not her writing we, Twilight fans, are in love with it's the story she's telling. And as for comparing the other two vampire books to Twilight I do it to other books and in other posts like; The Ashleys by Melissa de la Cruz, Book2Movie: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, and most recently Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot. If a story reminds of another I've read I'm gonna say so it's something I do sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. Vampire Kisses was published way before Twilight was if I'd read that story before Twilight I would saying; "Twilight. A story similar to that of Vampire Kisses..."

Is that all? OH. I haven't stopped reading if anyone is wondering; remember BBL that means you can make the girl focus on nothing but school and read nothing but text books but you can't stop her from reading non-related school books on the bus to and from school. So I have A TON!!

Still months behind but determined to catch up. TTYL guys. Thanks for hanging in.