Reign Over Me

Great movie. The story of two friends, both struggling to reconnect with life in their own way. Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) is a dentist who runs into his old college roommate, Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler), one day, and they start hanging out again. Alan can't quite connect with Charlie emotionally because Charlie is still kind of grieving over the loss of his wife and children who died in one of the 9/11 plane crashes years earlier. Alan also struggles with his relationship with his wife (Jada Pinkett-Smith) during the movie. The characters all go through some tough, odd moments and hilarious ones as well. I cried, of course, and I laughed a lot, too. Adam Sandler was perfect as Charlie, and Don Cheadle definitely earned points with me. I never really liked him until seeing this film. Saffron Burrows and Liv Tyler are in this, also, and I think they rounded off the cast nicely. I very much enjoyed this emotional roller coaster of a movie. And this is random, but I especially love the fact that Charlie got around on a scooter. I want one now.

I avoided this film for a long time because I didn't think I'd like it, but I love it. I like how this movie shows that sometimes people can't be pushed into a place of healing...sometimes they just need time and understanding to find their own way. Highly recommended.

Dear John (Audiobook) - Nicholas Sparks

An army soldier has to chose between giving himself completely to the love of his life or risking that love to serve his country during one of its greatest times in need - 9/11.

This is a bittersweet story about true love and sacrifice in more ways than one. The worst struggles that John goes through are not only during his time of active duty. I can't imagine having a relationship with someone who wasn't there for 98% of the time during it.

I love that the main characters wrote letters, and the moon gazing tradition was a beautiful sentiment that brought me to tears. This is definitely a sadder love story, and I only recommend it to those who know life isn't all about perfect happy endings.

House Bunny

Pretty stupid, but what did you expect? Really. It's cute and has a good message. There are some pretty funny parts. Worth a rental if you're bored and like stupid movies as much as I do.

The Man Who Knew Too Little

AMAZING older movie! I love Bill Murray in this. Funny funny! It's old so it's cheap. Rent it next time you're out. It's about this guy who goes to visit his brother in England, and he's goofy so they want him out of the house for the night. They sign him up for this murder mystery evening, but some how he gets involved in a real murder. It's kind of Pink Panther-ish. He's trying really hard to act tough so he keeps scaring all these real criminals. His cluelessness is so funny.

Check it out!

Four Christmases

I love Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn together. They had such good chemistry on screen, and they are just so cute as a couple since she's so short and he's so tall. This movie was funny right from the start with the opening club scene. And I love how happy the two main characters are together. So sweet. A good movie about growing and changing in love. My favorite part was where Vince Vaughn plays Joseph in the church Christmas play and just takes over the whole play and basically becomes like a superstar in a matter of minutes to the church audience. Hilarious!

I laughed so hard through this entire movie, and it kind of helped to get me in the Christmas spirit. Definitely worth the price I paid to see it on the big screen. I think I'll be buying this when it gets released on DVD. Go see it!

Fatal Attraction

I finally saw this movie for the first time the other day. Um, that bitch was crazy! Dan was stupid for cheating on his wife. I couldn't believe how easily he made the decision to be unfaithful. This movie would definitely stop me from cheating if I was somebody's husband. Good movie, but I could have gone without seeing Glenn Close's pale, saggy boobs and tan lines.

The Shack (Audiobook) - William P. Young

This was recommended to me by a close friend (Thanks, Donna.), and I'm glad I listened to the story. I was worried that this might be another cookie cutter religious healing type of story, but it wasn't. In fact, it was completely different than what I expected. The story doesn't stake a claim with any particular religion or group or organization. It's simply the story of a man, Mack, and his relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I felt like I was witnessing an extremely powerful account of a familiar journey that most of us have taken part in on our paths with God. This story may not resemble every person's life, but I think parts of it are easily identified with by most. Mack could be anyone. And I think that is what makes this story so special. The events and the explanations about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit make a lot of sense and really moved me. It's like the author was answering my own questions that I have about my own faith and relationship with God, and I was so surprised by that fact. I'm not saying that I truly understand everything now or that I completely agree with everything in this book, but I do feel more open and desirous of a deeper relationship with God than the one I have had with Him up to this point. I'm happy about that.

I think the part of the story that struck me most was the discussion about the Ten Commandments and how they weren't really rules for us to live by but more of a mirror for us to see what we have become. That whole section on independence from God, using rules and laws to justify our own passing of judgement on others, and on returning back to God - all that was incredibly mind-blowing to me. I loved it!

And I loved all the quotes at the beginning of each section, and one of my favorites was included in this book; "Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal." - Author unknown

I could go on and on about this, but I'll stop. I'm so glad I bought this book.

The Writing Class - By Jincy Willett

I saw this book sitting on one of the tables at Hastings, and it caught my eye. I wrote it down in my little book of stuff to remember and buy cheaper off the internet later when I have some cash. I found it at McKay's (or Mr.K's if you're Patti and from Oak Ridge). Luckily Angela wanted to read it to..so it's December's book. I started a bit early b/c I've been on a reading kick lately.

I liked it! I had no idea who did it until near the end. There was only a few sentences that gave it away for me. Way to hide it Jincy! Made me want to take a creative writing class but without the whole murder part. I liked how the author wrote short stories from different writers. I've never sat and tried to write like someone else, and I wonder..if someone were to try and write like me, how would they write?

Pick this book up if you like mysteries, writing and don't mind a longer book. Takes a while to read, but it keeps moving. You're never bored. I definitely spent half my Thanksgiving holiday reading this.