East of Eden by John Steinbeck

I had read this book in high school, and just remembered liking it, but didn't remember too much more than that except that it was about two brothers. So, when I was given it last summer, I was stoked to read it again. I started it in Costa Rica, so I had a lot of time to read it , and I love that, when I really have time to read and get into a book.

It doesn't only talk about two brothers, but several different families and generations of brothers who, to put it really basically, represent good and evil, and how they are in everyone of us to different degrees.

There is one woman, who even as a little girl, doesn't have the guilt of doing bad things, and she knows how, and does manipulate everyone around her to do whatever she wants. She is able to read people and see thier weaknesses and play off those to tortue them and get whatever she wants from them.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is a boy, who doesn't understand why people would do anyting bad and always gives people the benefit of the doubt. He is genuinely innocent and giving and loving.

These are just a few of the fascinating, well develpoed characters in this book, I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read.

ENCHANTED!

What a great, chick flick! My mom had loved it, but said for sure not to take any boy to it, so I was amazed when one of the doctors at work said he had loved it, and told us about some of the scenes. So, after seeing some of the songs performed at the Oscar's my mom and I made a date to see it at the dollar movies.

It is very cheesy. The begining is in Utopia (that's not the name, but I can't remember what it was, some cheesy cartoon land name) and Giselle is pining for her Prince Charming to come give her True Love's Kiss. And it just so happens that Prince Edwards is feeling restless with killing trolls and knows he needs to find the love of his life. But his evil step mother doesn't want to get kicked off the throne, so she's a little upset when Giselle and Edward have this amazing, singing, riding into the sunset meeting and they're going to get married the next day. She dresses up as an old lady, and pushes Giselle into this fountain thing that teleports her to New York city. I knew all this was going to happen, but it was really cheesy, but it only got better once she got there. Mc Dreamy from Grey's was there to take her in, and be there while she was waiting for Prince Edwards. I loved all of the things she'd say about things in Utopia, just like when she's going to go to a ball "oh, I wonder if I can get a fairy god mother on this short of notice!" I liked all those one-liners. And though it's chick-flick ish, it's good. I found myself smiling through most of it, and I think if boys aren't too tough to pretend they don't like it, that they actually might. So, take the fam, and it'll be a good fun night out!

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

This book came highly recommended from a lot of different people, and luckily Joselyn had it, so I could just borrow it from her.

The thing I liked the most about this book, was the way she spoke in the first person from the different people's perspectives. Usually books are from one person's point of view, or just the authors, but she'd change and speak in the first person and I really liked that.

This book is controversial in it's subject matter. It is about stem cell research, and genetically engeneering children to have organs ready to another person. It's subject reminds me of the beginings of the movies Gataca and The Island. Both of which I loved. When is it OK to put someone else's life at risk for another's? In this book, the oldest daughter, Kate, when she is 2 is diagnosed with APL, a form of leukemia, and not given too much time to live. Cells that can only come from the placenta and the umbilical cord will give her some of what she needs to survive. So, the parents, with help of a geneticist, genetically program and artifically inseminate .... (see, I finshed this book like a month ago, and I can't remember the mom's name, we'll call her Judy) Judy. So, she gives birth to Anna, and thus the story begins. At her birth, little attention is really paid to Anna, only that she is the life giver to Kate. Throughout her life she is not even asked, more like expected to donate, blood, marrow, granulocytes and many other things, even up to her kidney, which is what is the final straw for her, and why she deicdes to get a lawyer to protest that she is sick of giving everything and never being asked for what they expect of her.

Throughout the whole book, Jodi explains things from every side and it is really easy to see things from everyone's point of view, so it's hard to say what I would do. I think medical technology is amazing and that we are coming into an age where we really may stop ourselves from ever getting old, or sick. (Although, those absolutes are still a little far away) But, the fact that we may be prolonging someone's life at the risk of another doesn't seem acceptable. Giveing birth to another human being for the sole purpsoe of harvesting things from them? I just don't know. I don't think it's OK. If we can make some of the stuff in a lab and some smarty-pants figures out how to chemically create whatever life saving thing we need, I'm all for it.

However, what about if someone in my family needed a kidney and I was a match? I'd donate it, no questions asked. But I wasn't created for that purpose. So, where do we draw the line, from donating blood, plasma, platletts, or a kidney, to creating a clone like in The Island ? Who knows? Is that kinda mocking God a little and trying to take over the job of creating things and life? I'm not one to say. Hopefully I'll never have to make any type of decisions like that.

The book's ending is for sure a good twist. I was debating about talking about it, just so that I would remember, but for any of you that haven't read it, I don't want to ruin it. So, I'll say just read and enjoy. It was a great book, that really makes you think about moral and life changing issues.

WELCOME!!

I have a bad memory. Trying to remember things I learned in school, is an ordeal. Even trying to remember things that my frined Marian remembers about high school, is hard. She reminises about things we did and knows what we wore and what was said and so much about everything. I am so bad at that!
So, to try to help myself be better about remembering, I'm going to write a book and/or movie report so that as my teachers would say, it'll help get it in my head, and I'll remember them better. So, if you want to know about what to read or watch, look here.