Static and Silence

Monday Movie Meme: John Hughes... How Do I Love Thee?

This week I'm hosting the Monday Movie meme at The Bumbles. This week's topic is all about the films, written, directed or both by the late John Hughes.

Admit it. Once upon a time (in your life), you were bitten by the John Hughes bug. I haven't seen all of his movies, but those I saw still beat those chick flicks running around these days. Show how much you love John Hughes' movies by answering this:

John Hughes... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

I would like to thank Molly for giving me my debut as a guest blogger. To see my choices, please go and visit The Bumbles Monday Movie Meme blog where I'm the featured guest blogger. Our usual host, Molly, already has her selections and I'm featuring it here in my blog.

Here are Molly's answers:

For letting me know I wasn't the only embarrassed and overlooked teen in the world, and giving me hope that "my" Jake Ryan just might notice me some day.

For letting me know that everybody should get their priorities straight and play hooky to take in a baseball game.

For letting the world know that Dads can take a turn raising families too.

For teaching me that not even bears, bats and uninvited in-laws can spoil a vacation.

For teaching me that not even busted lights, unpaid bonuses and uninvited in-laws can spoil the holidays.

For always giving me something to chuckle about to myself as I wait impatiently for my rental car.

Not familiar who John Hughes is? Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone, Curly Sue, Uncle Buck and if you're still not familiar, just go to Wikipedia to learn more.

Now it's your turn to play! Anyone can join. Just go to your blog and create a post on the topic linking The Bumbles Blog as the host of the topic. Visit back to The Bumbles Blog and leave a link to your post in their Comments section.

Happy Monday!

BTT: Evolution

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted here:http://btt2.wordpress.com/.

This week's question:

Have your reading choices changed over the years? Or pretty much stayed the same? (And yes, from childhood to adulthood we usually read different things, but some people stick to basically the same kind of book their entire lives, so…)

Reading, just like any natural process in this earth, is an evolution. You start from the most comfortable and when that becomes banal, you go seeking for new challenges.

I started with books that are thin. Easier to read. Remember those Sweet Valley Kids and Twins? Then I graduated to Sweet Valley High and SVU, then to the thicker novels: Johanna Lindsey and Sidney Sheldon. As time passed and on my way to reading maturity, my tastes changed and I look for novels with more substance and hook. I evolved into a book snob and would not read books with shallow plots no matter what they say that it is a fun read. About a few years back, I tried to balance my reading list by adding a few non-fiction books like those of John Maxwell.

Recently, I want to challenge myself to read the books of Leo Tolstoy: Anna Karenina (Penguin Classics) & War and Peace: Original Version to name a few. I remember when I was in high school, my professor (God bless his soul) would push us to read the books of Leo Tolstoy, Ernest Hemingway and other classic authors. I think I've mention in my previous post that he gave us this list of 100 books to read. We asked him how come the books of contemporary writers, like Sidney Sheldon are not included in the list. He then harangued us and called Sidney Sheldon crap. Hahaha... but back then I'd rather read Sidney Sheldon than Leo Tolstoy. I've never read one single book from that list (even until today) because I think it will take me one year to finish one book. I'm still boosting up my confidence to even touch one of those books. Okay, that was too over acting, because I have The Picture of Dorian Gray lounging in my bookshelf and the book was part of that list (and yes I've never read the book).

One thing that never changed though: books that are way too explicit still don't have a place in my reading list. Again, when I was still in high school, some of my friends would push me to read Harold Robbins. Ick Factor to the highest level. Read one and never again.

I thinks others would agree that our reading preference have changed over time. Change is inevitable.

What are your thoughts? Feel free to share.

Thursday 13: Musicians/Bands Worth Hearing or miss 1/16th of Your Life

To quote William Congreve: "Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak." It's music time again for my Thursday 13. Whether I'm sad, angry, inspired or in need of inspiration, music never fails to give me transcendence.

Here's 13 musicians or bands that you should hear to make your existence more worthwhile. Keyword: more worthwhile (I'm not saying your existence is not already worthwhile... smile). I'm naturally a music pimp, so if an artist is worth listening to, I promote them with zeal.

Nina Gordon - "My hero said you can't hold the hand of a Rock n' Roll man, but what if I can?"
The Sundays - "Hope I'll never wake when I'm thinking about you..."
Dan Mills - "She may not know the finest wines but she knows a fast way home."
Damien Rice - "If you don't shoot it how am I suppose to hold it."
Tori Amos - "I won't hold on to the tail of your kite."
The Temper Trap - "Oh, reckless abandon like no one's watching you."
Regina Spektor - "We're living in a den of thieves, rummaging for answers in the pages."
Feist - "He's my Brandy Alexander always gets me into trouble."
Florence + The Machine - "A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes."
Skunk Anansie - "So you should be by yourself instead of here with me... secretly."
Morcheeba - "It's all part of the process. We all love looking down."
Charlotte Martin - "I have only stalked a couple guys but they were not about surprises. Don't run away 'cause baby I'm your dream."
Dishwalla - "Download my dread. Disarm my mind. Make it dry."

What's your 13? Feel free to share!

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?

* What did you recently finish reading?

* What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Déjà Dead by Kathy Reichs

I had this book as my next-book-to-be-read two weeks ago but since I'm not loyal to my reading list, I ended up reading 5 books that were not in my list. I've always promised not to stray but promises are made to be broken hehehe...

What did you recently finish reading? Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery

The synopsis held such teaser but the story kind of disappointed me. I thought there will be more drama and there was only little. Fun read but I was looking for more.

What do you think you'll read next? Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs

This is her second book and though I'm still in the first chapter of her first book, I've already planned to read this one next. Let's see and maybe I'll be compelled to write a book review.

Waiting on Wednesday: I Can't Take My Eyes Off You

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm highlighting the highly anticipated book of Judith McNaught: I Can't Take My Eyes Off You. The release date has been pushed back many times and last I heard it's on December 2011. People said that Judith's mother was sick and she helped in nursing her and then her mother passed away which pushed the release date further. Ms. McNaught's books are always worth the wait so I just have to be patient with this one. =)

Here's some information about the book from Judith McNaught's site:

One of the most popular authors is set to dazzle readers again. Can't Take My Eyes Off of You is the story of a complex, charismatic man and a successful, spirited woman who in their youth fell in love, married, and divorced--but years later are given a rare second chance to rediscover that love can rekindle their relationship.

A brilliantly written, triumphant tale of love lost and regained--with appearances from popular characters from her previous books-- Can't Take My Eyes Off of You will remind millions of fans exactly why her books have won their hearts.

What's your pick this week? Feel free to share.

Teaser Tuesdays: Match Me If You Can

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from, that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given

Spoilers not allowed! XD

Try as she might, she couldn't get past what she'd come to think of as the "ick factor". She'd made love with a man who wanted to be woman.

from p. 119, Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Note: I've actually finished reading this book way back. Since I'm not currently reading anything at the moment, I scanned my bookshelf for my Teaser Tuesday entry and here's another one from Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

What's your teaser for today?