Hey There, It's Christa!

Movie Comment: "Amelia"

Considering  that I'm already at the movies several times a month for work (and loving every minute of it...even if I'm watching sometime truly horrible like Couples Retreat because bad movies are still really, really fun to review), many people automatically assume that I don't like seeing movies for fun, too.

But that's definitely not true. Need proof? Just check out my ever-growing Netflix queue, not to mention my matinee-viewing habits, and you'll see. I love, love, love seeing movies...and if they're great, well, that's a huge bonus!

Sadly, I haven't seen a really great flick for a while, but I definitely had high hopes for Amelia, given the compelling subject matter, a talented director and an equally impressive cast with Hilary Swank (who is always far better at Boys Don't Cry-esque drama than P.S. I Love You comedy in my humble opinion), Ewan McGregor and Richard Gere.

While not a total dud, thanks to gorgeous cinematography and a killer score, Amelia still didn't exactly live up to my expectations. After all the time I spent with Amelia Earhart, I still don't feel like I really know her at all. Not only did the screenwriters skip most of the "why" for why Amelia had to fly (the flimsy "for the fun of it" line just wasn't doing it for me), but the storytelling just felt a little too clinical. I felt like I was getting the Wikipedia version of the story—all dates and facts, but little of the "heart of the story," which is what every movie needs to truly succeed. Ultimately, there's just not enough of that in Amelia to stick with you for the long haul, a shame considering what it could've been.

Rating: ** 1/2 out of **** stars

Book Comment: "Italian for Beginners"

On my list (and yes, I really have one) of places I absolutely, positively must visit before I die, Italy has always reigned supreme (with Greece being a close second).

Since I can't just hop on a plane to Rome on a moment's notice (I'm hoping that Will and I will take a planned anniversary trip there in the not-too-distant future instead), I have to live vicariously through episodes of Giada DeLaurentiis' "Everyday Italian," my favorite movie "Roman Holiday," and now, "Italian for Beginners," some of the best escapist literature I have read in a while.

Not only is it clear from the get-go that the author Kristin Harmel really loves her subject (Italy), but the characters she has created here are thoroughly enjoyable, too. Even with the safe, bubble-like existence that she has expertly created for herself, (the clear antithesis of how I like conducting my own life) it's still difficult not to relate to leading lady Cat Connelly's plight. In fact, after the whole debacle with her mother and her fractured love life, you can definitely understand why going to Italy on a whim is a serious leap of faith.

But, of course, that's when her life story truly begins as she experiences love, heartache and reconnection (not to mention the requisite haircut that's a symbol of her new-found independence) during her own "Roman Holiday." And for fans of the Audrey Hepburn film (yes, like me!), there are plenty of parallels between the movie and "Italian for Beginners" that are so fun to discover along the way.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Comment: Nicholas Sparks' "The Last Song"

For me, a new Nicholas Sparks book is the literary equivalent of a big ol' bowl of chicken noodle soup when you have a cold (a pertinent analogy, considering I'm all sniffly and congested as we speak).

It's flavorful (but not overpowering), soothing and always reliable; really, it's just the thing when your body is chilled and in need of a little comfort. I don't know why, but I just can't say the same for Hemingway or Dostoevsky's work.

For the unacquainted, there's three elements that all of Sparks' novels have in common: A charming North Carolina setting, a sad (or at least bittersweet) ending that will sneak up on you and likely require a few tissues to recover from and a feisty female character who'll inevitably help an emotionally stunted man emerge from his proverbial shell.

Even knowing in advance how things will probably shake out once I've read the jacket copy, I still can't resist picking up whatever story that Sparks has dreamed up next—even The Last Song, which I know he wrote with (gasp) Miley Cyrus in mind for the future big screen adaptation. 

I'll admit it wasn't always easy blocking that Hannah Montana visual out of my mind as he described the lead character, Ronnie, a girl with a purple streak in her hair (how positively alternative...ha ha!) and a deep-seated animosity toward the father who left her family a few years before. But as difficult as it was to remove that cheery Hannah image from my brain on occasion, I mostly managed to think of Ronnie as Ronnie, not Hannah, and I still didn't connect with this story.

Unlike the majority of Sparks' other work where character development felt like more of a priority, Ronnie immediately felt like someone created for the big screen with far-too-little backstory to flesh out why she's the way she is. Of course, on the big screen, more literary elements don't often make it into a screenplay, and I totally get that. Yes, moviegoers (myself included) have a short attention span, so we have to keep the character development short and snappy. But it still has to be there nonetheless...

Other than having a "hot little body," something that Sparks mentions again and again, I still have no idea what exactly makes her so attractive to Will. Or why she prefers living in New York, even though we're told that she does several times. I mean, even when the "big reveal" happens at the end of the book, the moment that was supposed to bring on the waterworks, I wasn't moved in the least. And it's because I really didn't connect with, let along like, any of these characters.

Instead, I found the story trite, flat and boring, and I didn't even have that great of expectations. Really, I can only hope the movie won't end up faring the same way. Maybe Miley can make The Last Song something more than it was on the pages...who knows?

And now that I've voiced those unfiltered feelings in cyberspace, I'm curious...any other Sparks' devotees find The Last Song far less memorable than his other books? Or am I "on my own" here? Do tell.

Book Comment: "Under the Table: Saucy Tales From Culinary School"

I had a truly frightening dream the other night. Instead of writing, I'd decided to quit the biz and enroll in culinary school. And as I was getting ready for my first day of my new career, I was sweating bullets because I was convinced I'd forgotten how to use a whisk.

Really, a whisk?

Thankfully, when I woke up, all was right with the world, and I had a writing deadline that morning to prove it.

Now anyone who knows me well knows how much I enjoy cooking. Hands down, it's one of my favorite hobbies. Not only am I a bonafide Food Network junkie, but I read cookbooks just for the sheer fun of it, fawn over a ball of fresh mozzarella as if it were my own child and can't wait to get to a new city just to see what its restaurant scene is like.

But as much as I love to cook, I'm not likely to make an actual career out of it. I mean I have no interest in learning how to take a chicken apart properly (ewww!) or making my own pastry without the help of my food processor, so I'm guessing culinary school probably isn't for me.

I must say it was pretty fun living vicariously through Katherine Darling's experience in Under the Table, though. Without even getting my apron dirty, I got all the benefits of a culinary education without any of the hassle. Like me, Katherine used to work in publishing. But one day, she decided to jump ship (probably not a bad idea considering how bad the biz is in NYC these days) and try to parlay her love of cooking into an actual profession.

And I couldn't give her more props for doing so because that's a gutsy thing to do—especially when you have to go into some serious debt to do so. Unlike Julie & Julia, Katherine doesn't learn to cook the French way by whipping through her copy of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Instead, she goes the old-school route and has the memories of many wrecked omelets to prove it.

While there's nothing particularly flashy about Katherine's actual writing style, she does know her way around a good story, and there are plenty of memorable ones along the way. That, along with some mouth-watering descriptions of what she's making (complete with a few great recipes to boot) make this a really engaging read. So if you're into foodie memoirs, I'd highly recommend it.

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, however, I'm still glad my dream was just a dream. I'm not sure I'm professional cooking material—even if I do feel pretty confident with a whisk. :)

Meet the Scribble Chicks

Yes, I'm one of the Scribble Chicks.

This week fellow authors Erynn Magnum, BJ Hambrick, Betsy St. Amant and I launched a blog by that name where we talk about writing, the publishing industry, how we develop our zany characters, etc., so be sure to bookmark it (and leave comments) because we will be updating it weekly...

Your input about what we write about is also appreciated, too. So feel free to let us know what you'd like to see on the site. :)

Pop Culture Mash-Up

Will and I just made our way through all seven seasons of "Gilmore Girls" again (and Will rarely complained, which qualifies him for "Husband of the Year" for reason #1,535).

With all that time spent in Stars Hollow alongside Lorelei, Rory, Luke and the bunch, it's no surprise that these fictional characters even creeped their way into my dreams.

But what's even funnier is how they merged with another pop culture world I've also been immersed in—Twilight. Yes, I finally caved in like everyone else on the planet and quickly got swept up in the Edward/Bella romance. So much so, in fact, that I even dreamed that Luke was a vampire.

Yes, Luke Danes of flannel shirt-wearing, diner-owning fame.

Fan fiction writers would have a blast writing that story, don't ya think? Heck, if I had more time, I might even take a stab at it.

More thoughts on my Twilight reading experience to come, I promise...

Return to Stars Hollow

Like most TV shows that rank high on my small, highly elite list of series I'd watch again and again, I didn't watch much of "Gilmore GIrls" when it was actually on TV. An episode here and there, sure...But it wasn't until Will got me the first season for Christmas back in 2007 that I was properly initiated into all things "Gilmore Girls."

As addictive as the show is with its crazy coffee-obsessed protagonists, Friday night dinners with the girls' elitist family in nearby Hartford and the antics of cooky townspeople like Sookie, Kirk (!!!) and Miss Patty, it probably comes as no surprise that Will and I zipped through seven seasons (TV on DVD rules!) in no time flat.

Once Rory graduated from Yale and made her way into the world outside of Stars Hollow (campaigning for Obama long before he was president...who knew Rory was clairvoyant?), I must say that I really missed all the Stars Hollow shenanigans. Whether it was those daily visits to Luke's for java (not to mention the burgers and fries that Loralei and Rory never really ate much of, but sure liked to order), the countless, over-the-top Stars Hollow town festivals, and of course, the inevitable twists and turns of the characters' respective love lives, you felt like you were there, right along with them.

But all good things must come to an end, right? I'm sure if the series had gone on, it would've only deteoriated significantly...seven seasons is a good, long run—especially in today's A-D-D culture.

After some distance from all things Gilmore, however, Will and I recently started watching again and are currently about 2/3rds of the way through season 1. While it's a good fun in the absence of many good TV shows (aside from "LOST," "The Office," my favorite Food Network fare and newbie "Castle"), it's also a great time for me to tune in since I'm in the beginning stages of writing my third Sydney Alexander novel.

Since the Gilmore Girls (and the rest of the Stars Hollow crew) are characters I actually cared about for hundreds of episodes, it's not a bad place to take a few chick-lit writing cues from. Oh and the dialogue is an absolute hoot, too! I'm sure that drinking games were established just for the pop culture references alone...