Meg's Diary

Precious, District 9, and Alice, I Have Been

It’s cold. Seriously, even the iguanas here in Florida are going into hibernation and falling out of the palms trees onto unsuspecting people’s heads.

(OK, it’s not really that cold in Key West. But tomorrow it’s supposed to be going down into the 40s at night!)

Obviously, since many Floridians don’t even have heat, during this on-going crisis we’ve had no choice but to huddle in front of the warmth of our TVs.

That’s how I finally ended up watching the film Precious last night (which I was super excited about, because I just love Gabourey Sibide, who plays Precious, and who was so funny on this clip from her appearance on Conan where she talks about how she used to stand outside MTV’s TRL, screaming for ‘N Sync, when she was 16).

But oh my God, how many terrible things could happen to Precious? Too many and too awful to list here…although the incredible performances (including Mariah Carey’s!) almost made up for it.

To cheer myself up afterwards, I decided to watch District 9, a movie about what happens when aliens land on earth.

But District 9 proved to be somewhat dispiriting as well, since the twist in this movie is that instead of the aliens attacking us (see: V, ID4, Day The Earth Stood Still, etc), we earthlings are super mean to the aliens.

In fact, we discussed making a District 9/Precious mash-up, in which Gabourey Sibide gets into one of those armored alien suits and blows Precious’ parents away.

I hope this cold weather doesn’t continue much longer, because the only DVD I have left is JCVD. After this I’ll actually have to see Avatar, and NOT in 3-D (I’m told there are scenes in it in which simply do not work unless they’re seen in 3-D).

But things are looking up! Someone loaned me their copy of the new book Alice I Have Been, and swore that it’s incredible (it’s an Elle Magazine Pick of the Month). Have you read it yet? Here’s what Publisher’s Weekly has to say about it:

Melanie Benjamin draws on one of the most enduring relationships in children’s literature in her excellent debut, spinning out the heartbreaking story of Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Her research into the lives of Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) and the family of Alice Liddell is apparent as she takes circumstances shrouded in mystery and colors in the spaces to reveal a vibrant and passionate Alice. Born into a Victorian family of privilege, free-spirited Alice catches the attention of family friend Dodgson and serves as the muse for both his photography and writing. Their bond, however, is misunderstood by Alice’s family, and though she is forced to sever their friendship, she is forever haunted by their connection as her life becomes something of a chain of heartbreaks. As an adult, Alice tries to escape her past, but it is only when she finally embraces it that she truly finds the happiness that eluded her. Focusing on three eras in Alice’s life, Benjamin offers a finely wrought portrait of Alice that seamlessly blends fact with fiction. This is book club gold.

Nice! So at least I have a big meaty read to get as I try not to freeze!

Plus the new Michael Cera movie, Youth in Revolt, opens this weekend. This is seriously one of the funniest YAs I have ever read. How could the movie not be fun, too (plus Zack Galifinakis is in it)?

Finally, if this Glee flash mob in Rome doesn’t warm us up, nothing will, right?

Stay warm this weekend!

More later.

Much love,

Meg

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