The House of Mirth, By Edith Wharton

By: Edith Wharton

Publisher:  Everyman's Library

Publish Date: 1905

Reprint edition Publishing Date: February 5, 2008

ISBN: 0679406670

Page #: 400

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fiction, Literature, Classics

Age Level: Older Teen, Adult

Series Titles: n/a

Subjects: Tragedy, Old New York, High-Society, 

Reader's Annotation: Lily Bart, one of literatures finest contradictions, lived in New York at the turn of the Century, when everything was lavish and opulent: for the rich. For the less secure like Ms. Bart, running in these circles were nothing short of a gamble. Unrequited love, a caged life, & shear loss are explored through Lily in Wharton's classic tragedy.

Synopsis: Edith Wharton's doomed novel The House of Mirth is a tale of class and gender, elegance and disaster. It is time-sensitive tale (yet ageless) set in Old New York at the turn of the 20th Century. At the center of The House of Mirth is Lily Bart. Merely a female embellishment, Ms. Bart struggles to stay afloat in a wealthier society then she has means to exist, while at the same time trying to temper a spirit which far out weighs her societal cage. She acknowledges the contradictions of love and marriage, social climbing and luck, while playing the game of turn of the century survival. After a series of terrible mistakes (of which no woman is allotted many in her day) Lily Bart takes a disheartening and tragic, spiraling dive into the darkest place a human soul can exist: a place that many don't return from.

Notes: The House of Mirth was made into a wonderful and (in my humble opinion) underrated film in 2000. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200720/

A modern library greatest 100 books of all time.

The House of Mirth is one of my favorite novels of all time.

Stars: 5 

Extras: 

Free Content on Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/284

Edith Wharton on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Wharton

The House of Mirth on LibraryThing http://www.librarything.com/work/11880

Twilight: The Directors Notebook, The Story of How We Made the Movie Based on the Novel by Stephenie Meyer, By Catherine Hardwicke

By: Catherine Hardwicke

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

Publish Date: 2009

ISBN: 0316070521

Page #: 176 pages

Classification: Non-Fiction

Genre: Art/Film

Age Level: Older Teens

Series Titles: n/a 

(Tie-in to The Twilight Saga franchise in both film & book)

Subjects: Film, Art, Journaling, Twilight

Reader's Annotation: An inside look at the Twilight's film director Catherine Hardwicke's Director Journal. This is a rare inside look at not only the production of Twilight, but at the mind of a movie director. 

Synopsis: Twilight, the first film in the Twilight Saga's screen adaptation, hit the movie world with a slam. Grossing the most money to date for an opening director who is female, Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke opens up her visionary style to her fans. In The Director's Notebook Hardwicke shows illustrations, story boards, costume and set notes, & virtually everything that went through her head and into the film. Visually the small hardcover book is page to page beauty, but at the same time shows a rare side of film making that most fans don't know exists. With this little gem, Twilight fans and aspiring filmmakers can revel in the art of filmmaking at the young adult level. 

Notes: One does not have to have read the Twilight Saga to enjoy the Directors notebook. A fan of the film can enjoy this tie in art book as well as students interested in art and film.  

Extras: Author website http://www.catherinehardwicke.com/

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, By Lewis Carroll

By: Lewis Carroll, & 

Illustrated By: John Tenniel 

Publisher: Random House UK

Publishing Date: 2007 

Series Titles & Original Publishing Dates: 

1865 (Adventures in Wonderland) 

1872 (Through the Looking Glass)

ISBN: 0099512076

Page #: 336

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: Children, Teens

 

Subjects: Alternative Realities, Fantasy, Adventure 

Reader's Annotation: Alice's boredom takes her to following a white rabbit that leads her down a hole into a world of her wildest dreams.

Synopsis: After following a white rabbit down a hole Alice travels through an alternative reality of strange places. From the Mad Hatter's tea party to the Queen of Hearts garden Alice is subjected to strange situation after bizarre situations. She drinks potions and pops pills and grows large and grows small. Carroll's vivid story telling mixed with classic illustrations, the adventures of Alice remain to this day not only a literature great, but a cult classic. 

Notes: Many film and animated version of Alice exist. Most recently Tim Burton is shooting a new adaptation die out in 2010 starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/

Stars: 5

Extras: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice's_Adventures_in_Wonderland

Free Content from Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11

Watch the 1933 Disney classic free here: http://www.squidoo.com/watch-alice-in-wonderland-free-online

Extras, By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publish Date: 2007

ISBN: 1416951172

Page #: 432

Reading Level: Young Adult

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Series Title: Uglies Series

Uglies 
Pretties 
Specials 
Extras 

Bogus to Bubbly (Companion)

Mind-Rain (Famous Authors Talk About the Uglies Series-June 2009)

Subjects: Dystopia, Friendship, Plastic Surgery, Fame, Romance

Reader's Annotation: Extras is the unexpected 4th book in the awesome Uglies "trilogy." In another city, also affected by the "Mind-Rain" Tally Youngblood (of the first three Uglies books) induced, Aya Fuse is at the center of a fame-centric universe and all she wants to do is not be an extra.

Synopsis: Aya is a nothing. Her feed shows her fame status at a very high, high level. But high is not good. Your stats are better as you get lower because they signify your level of fame: 1 being the most famous person in the world. Any level of fame Aya has is due to her paparazzi like brother who manufactures fame in a Perez Hilton manner at the expense of others. But suddenly Aya has a chance to be outrageously famous and she plans on doing anything possible to kick her own story, even at the expense of others. But when Aya meets her new love interest and begins to find out more about her feed, things get increasingly dangerous and twisted. Is fame worth all that?

Notes: Another provocative take on a socially conscious issue, Westerfeld makes everybody reflect on the world we live in now. This story could stand alone, but I think it delivers much better having read the Uglies first. A new cast of characters leave you wondering what happened to Tally Youngblood, and when we finally find out it ends to fast. But Westerfeld is the master of topic not the master of giving you what you want, which makes me love him even more. 

Stars: 5

Extras: 

The Westerblog: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/

Scott Talks Extras:

 

Fan Made Video:

Nothing, By Robin Friedman

By: Robin Friedman
Publisher: Flux
Publish Date: 2008
ISBN: 073871304X
Page #: 232
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: Older Teen
Series Titles: n/a
Subjects: Eating Disorders, Eating Disorders in Boys, Bulimia

Reader's Annotation: Everyone always thinks its just the girls who worry about their weight. Meet Parker, who seemingly has it all, but for him the pressure results in a secret that has him ill inside and out.

Synopsis: Parker is in high school. He is on the track team, he is gearing up for college, and he even has a girl who he likes more then just a little. It seems like he has it all, but his father is overbearing (planning out his future to be a doctor) but never really asks Parker what he wants to do. Parker is uncomfortable in his skin and doesn't like the way his body looks. Under the pressure of school, family, and image issues, Parker turns to food for comfort. He eats until he can barely stand it and then releases it into the abyss of the bathroom toilet. His sister, though jealous of the attention her brother gets, begins to suspect that things aren't right with Parker and she is faced with how to help her brother (or if she should even confront him at all). Parker is definitely not ok. His body is weak, and his personality is becoming more and more irritable. Nothing is a stunning book for both boys and girls to read. It deals with issues that are even harder to talk about then drugs and death. A shaming disease, eating disorders are something that in our culture have risen to un-calculated heights and Nothing is one step in the right direction. It is a book that can appeal to both the sufferer and the people around them as it gives a heartfelt but realistic window into a taboo subject.

Notes: Inspiration for Novel: By Robin Friendman

I met an old friend from college years after we graduated, and he mentioned in passing that he had an eating disorder when we knew each other.

“An eating disorder?” I said.

“I didn’t know that.”

“Nobody did.”

“But you’re a guy!”

“So?”

“Guys get eating disorders?”

“Yup.”

That’s all it took.

Read the first Chapter here http://www.robinfriedman.com/books/chapters/firstNothing.html

Stars: 5

Awards:

• A 2009 Notable Book for Teens by The Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee of the Association of Jewish Libraries.
  
• A 2008 Book of the Year Finalist from ForeWord magazine in the Young Adult category.
  
• Bronze winner in young adult fiction by FOREWORD magazine
  

Extras: Author's Website http://www.robinfriedman.com/books/Nothing.html

Author's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/people/Robin-Friedman/508415693

The Host, By Stephenie Meyer

By: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little Brown
Publish Date: 2007
ISBN: 0316068047
Page #: 624
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Level: Adult
Series Titles: No sequel has yet to be published, alhtough Meyer has said she intends to release it as a trilogy.
Subjects: Romance

Reader's Annotation: Earth has been taken over by an alien race of parasite's called Souls who implant themselves in their hosts. A small group of human's fight back but are faced with a runaway host who has taken over the body of one of their own.

Synopsis: The famed author of the Twilight Series introduces herself to the adult market with her first novel. Like twilight it revolves around a grand quartet of love and temptation, death and life. For Melanie Stryder, the world is an evil, apocalyptic place taken over by something unthinkable. To her, her boyfriend Jared, and her younger brother Jaime, life is only about survival. But when she suspects that another of her family may be alive, she leaves Jared and Jaime to find her. She never makes it having instead been captured by the Souls and used as a host. When the host is placed inside her the Soul called Wanderer is astounded to find that Melanie's voice not silenced. She see her memories and images of Jared and Jaime. Instead of taking the normal path a Soul takes on Earth (living a violence free, happy pseudo-life) she sets out to see if they are still alive. But when she finds them, she quickly realizes that they want her dead, not knowing that inside her Melanie still lives.

Notes: Although directed to adults, the story line is generally harmless. Small amounts of sex and violence do exist, but for the most part it echoes the feel of Twilight's innocent nature even with war, beatings, love, and loss. Ok, for teens.

Stars: 4

Extras: Official Book Trailer from Little Brown here: The Host's Website http://thehostnovel.com/

(I think mine is better, laugh out loud.)

Author Website http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/thehost.html

Extra's: Book Trailer (Made by Courtney)

Marie Antoinette (Film), By: Sofia Coppola

Written & Directed By: Sofia Coppola
Publisher: Columbia Pictures
Publish Date: 2006

Rating: PG-13

Length: 1 hour 85 minutes
Classification: Drama, Indie Film
Genre: Historical Drama
Age Level: 13 and Up with Parental Consent
Series Title: n/a
Subjects: Royalty, Execution, French History, Indie Films

Reader's Annotation: In a world of royalty where you can have everything your heart desires, what happens when you can't have anything? Even your own life?

Synopsis: "Let Them Eat Cake" ~Marie Antoinette

Did this infamous child Queen ever actually say those words? Whether or not she did, one thing is historically true: Marie Antoinette lost her head for it. In time just before the French Revolution, indulgence and intrigue ran rife in the the court. Marie Antoinette is given in marriage at a young age to King Louis XVI and sent to live as France's Queen at the Palace of Versailles. Sofia Coppola sets out to show the rock star status and the sensual life of The Queen whose life so tragically ended. A stunning soundtrack and otherworldly costumes and sets, the film looses its magic in the writing. It also fails to stay true to the accuracy of history. Then again, history is in the eyes of the writer isn't it?

Notes: Parental Advisory for Sexual Content, Partial Nudity, & Innuendo. VERY loosely based on on the beloved book "Marie Antoinette: Journey By Antonia-Fraser." Do not watch this film in place of your French history homework. Do watch this film to make your French history homework more visually stimulating. Order cake after watching this film.

Stars: 3 (1 for writing, 2 for sublime visuals & an awesome soundtrack)

Awards:

Oscar, Best Achievement in Costume Design Milena Canonero

Cannes Film Festival-Cinema Prize of the French National Education System

Extras: IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422720/

Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WjsqVwWyrI

Wikipedia Marie Antoinette http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette

Marie Antoinette Online http://www.marie-antoinette.org/Welcome.html

OMFG: The Gossip Girl of French History

Fruits Basket, Vol. 1 By, Natsuki Takaya

Title: Fruits Basket

Title in Japanese: フルーツバスケット Furūtsu Basuketto

By: Natsuki Takaya

Publisher: Tokyo Pop

Publish Date: 

ISBN: 1591826039

Page #: 216

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Manga, Fantasy, Shojo

Age Level: Teen

Series Titles:

23 volumes in total

22 currently published

23rd to be released on July 6, 2009 pre-order here

Subjects: Romance, Love-Triangle, Chinese Zodiac

Reader's Annotation: Tohru Honda is alone in the world. The orphan's world changes when she meets a mystical family that represents each animal of the Chinese Zodiac.

Synopsis: After Tohru Honda's mother dies she is sent to live with her grandfather. Feeling like a burden while he gets his home renovated she pretends to have somewhere else to go. Unfortunately Tohru doesn't have a place to go. She ends up sleeping in tent in the wilderness with only a few things, herself, and a picture of her mother. Despite the situation, Tohru remains spirited, goes to school, and about her daily life as best she can. One day she is found in her tent and to her dismay she learns that she has been sleeping on someone's land. That someone happens to be a quiet boy she recognizes from school and his older cousin. The Shoma boys, Yuki and Shigure, take Tohru in and give her a place to live in return for her doing some cleaning. Tohru, who clearly has an innocent crush on Yuki, the younger of the two, hugs him which in turns lets out the secret that nobody else knows: The Sohma family are the incarnations of the Chinese Zodiac. Entrusted with the family secret Tohru becomes part of their lives and their secret. As is well until things get turned upside down when the cat comes to stay. There is no cat in the Chinese Zodiac, right? Or is their? And even though Tohru is becoming more and more connected to Yuki, she always wished there was a Cat in the Zodiac.

Notes: It was made into an anime series as well in 2001. [Worth noting is that that the Anime ends at half way through one of the eighth volume of the manga. Several plot lines are left unfinished and not all members of the Sohma family cursed by the zodiac are revealed.] Source: wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruits_Basket

Stars: 5

Awards: 

• The Fruits Basket manga received the 2001 Kodansha Manga Award in the shōjo manga category 
• The "Best Manga" award at the 2007 American Anime Awards.
  
• In 2001, the Fruits Basket anime won a Animage Anime Grand Prix award.
  

Extras:  

• Tokyopop's Fruits Basket Link: http://www.tokyopop.com/product/1194
  
• Fruits Basket was introduced in 1999 the magazine Hana to Yume 花とゆめ
  
• The Fruits Basket is in itself a phenomenon.  It is called "Faruba Fever" in Japan. 
  

Guitar Hero: Metallica, By Activision

Guitar Hero 

By: Activism Inc.

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Publish Date: Mar 29, 2009 

Classification: Video Game

Platform: Nintendo Wii, 

Works with both World Tour & traditional guitar

ASIN: B001PKHRVY

ESRB Rating: Teen

Series Titles: (For Wii) 

Guitar Hero III-Legends of Rock, 

Guitar Hero World Tour

Guitar Hero Aerosmith

Reader's Annotation: Guitar Hero fans who enjoyed Legends of Rock will love rocking out to Guitar Hero: Metallica. Guest acts will appeal to heavy metal, punk, and hard alternative music lovers. Guaranteed to have you playing Air Button at school!

Summary:  A new Guitar Hero is out and its designed for those of you who want to ROCK, button, button, button style. Guitar Hero fans who were frustrated with World Tour and it's pop rock licks can breathe a lot easier now. With the best songs from Metallica (old & new alike), Guitar Hero: Metallica offers Motorhead, Slayer, and many many more. The bulk of songs are Metallica and it you thought you weren't a fan, this game will may just change your mind!

Notes: Would not suggest this Guitar Hero for Younger Teens due to the sophisticated nature & suggestions of the songs by featured artists. Parental discretion is advised. The rating is Teen although, no official parental advisory is issued.

Stars: 5 

Awards: N/A

Extras:  http://metallica.guitarhero.com/