Book: Hamlet by William Shakespeare

I had high expectations for Hamlet after hearing its famous quotation over and over again. Although it was a good read, I was not enthralled by the story. Even the "To be or not to be" soliloquy was not as exciting as I thought it would be. Hamlet's lack of action or passion dampered the action that could have been. He spent more time talking than taking action. Also, the climax happens too quickly to make an impact.

Grade: B

Movie: The Day After Tomorrow

I recently saw this movie on TV and I was disappointed. From the reviews, I expected a much more fast-paced thriller. The phenomenon was incredibly done with special effects, but it was the acting that was a bit boring. I didn't connect with the characters and that is usually what makes disaster movies hit me.

Grade: B

Website: Bing.com

I checked out Bing.com because I heard it was a vast improvement of Windows Live Search. However, nothing I saw want to make me switch from my regular search engine, Google. In addition, the results I got were not as relevant as those I got on Google for several searches. It may be an improvement but doesn't have anything that would want to make people switch.

Grade: B

Book: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

The appealing aspect of this book was not the storyline, but angst of the antagonist, Shylock. The racial prejudices and stereotypes were, I hope, products of the time. Yet, no matter how base Shylock's request, I saw justice in his words. He may have been harsh, but the harshness was only a result of the undeserved criticism and slander he's received all his life. Expecting better from Shakespeare, I was shocked he concluded by converting Shylock into a Christian.

Grade: B

Book: The Scandal of the Season by Sophie Gee

A long read, but recommended. This historic fiction novel brings you to 18th century England. A peek into the world of the young and privileged engaged in parties, love affairs, and the struggle of a young poet trying to make a name for himself.

Grade: B

Movie: The Ramen Girl

Stupid start--but good teen movie. Great ending--happy. Totally non-conventional movie. Nicely done.

Grade: B

Book: Small Change: It's the Little Things in Life that Make a Big Difference! by Larry and Susan Terkel

This book was a common sense approach to self-improvement! It was interesting and an easy read.

Grade: B

Book: Many Ways to Say I Love You by Mister Fred Rogers

A refreshing, wholesome book! Parents can put things into perspective after reading this one.

Grade: B

Book: Tempting Evil by Allison Brennan

Recommend this mystery book as a summer read. The setting is a small rural community in Montana with a fierce winter blizzard approaching. Main characters: Joanna Sutton a mystery writer who has experienced heartbreak in the past with the murders of her husband and son by the hand of the boyfriend of her sister, Sheriff: Tyler McBride whose son's Boy Scout troop needs to be rescued in the blizzard. Added to this mix, is three escaped convicts. One of the convicts has an obsession with the mystery writer, Joanna and is heading towards the lodge. The sheriff warns Joanna to be award of strangers in the area, but the escaped convicts are already on the premises. The author , Allison Brennan describes the setting very vividly and you can almost hear the sounds of the storm with all the elements including the suspense. It was well done even though the ending was predictable.

Grade: B

Book: See No Evil by Allison Brennan

I recommend this mystery book as a summer read. Main characters: Julia Chandler, a district attorney, Connor Kincaid, private eye, and Emily, a troubled teenager suspected of murdering her stepfather. Julia is Emily's aunt who strongly believes that her niece is innocent of this heinous crime. Connor and Julia have a checkered history with some bad blood. Connor was forced off the police force and still harbors feelings of resentment towards Julia but also has romantic feelings towards her. Together, Julia and Connor investigate this murder which is complicated by a therapist who encourages his patients to go online with anger management issues. It is an online wish list where patients expressed not so nice thoughts about people who have wronged them in some way. There are several twists in this mystery.

Grade: B

Book: The Vinland Sagas

THE VINLAND SAGAS, translated by Keneva Kunz, with an introduction by Gisli Sigurdsson, are about the Vikings' attempts to settle North America. (The Penguin edition I read was translated by Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Palsson, with the introduction by them as well, so it was almost an entirely different book!) Both editions include "Graenlendinga Saga" and "Eirik's Saga", as well as a long introduction on history, literature, etc., a glossary of proper names, and several maps. I have not seen the new edition; one suspects that there have been many discoveries affecting the belief in the accuracy or translation of various parts.

For example, Chapter 5 of "Eirik's Saga" mentions Thjodhild's Church, but the 1932 excavations of Eirik's farmstead at Brattahlid/Kagssiarssuk found no such building. So people used this as an example of the inaccuracy/unreliability of the saga. Then in 1961 a workman digging in Kagssiarssuk found remains and when that area was excavated, a very small medieval church was found which is now believed to be Thjodhild's Church.

There is definitely some humor in the sagas: "They stayed there [Straumfjord] that winter, which turned out to be a very severe one; they had made no provision for it during the summer, and now they ran short of food and the hunting failed. They moved out to the island in the hope of finding game, or stranded whales, but there was little food to be found there, although their livestock throve. Then they prayed to God to send them something to eat, but the response was not as prompt as they would have liked." ["Eirik's Saga", Chapter 8] Perhaps the best-known, though, is "[Eirik] named the country he had discovered Greenland, for he said that people would be much more tempted to go there if it had an attractive name." ["Graenlendinga Saga", Chapter 1]

Grade: A-

Book: Countdown to Terror

It is shocking in that one has to think in these views. But it does show how people with power believe that, after all the years, they can be strong enough to hold the fort cuz of who they have become.

Grade: B

Book: The Scandal of the Season

A long read, but recommended. This historical fiction novel brings you to 18th century England. A peek into the world of the young & privileged engaged in parties, love affairs, and the struggle of a young poet trying to make a name for himself.

Grade: B

Book: The Last Song of Dusk

Sensuous!

Grade: B

Movie: The Scent of Green Papaya

It was good but it really would have been better. Ending also.

Grade: B

Movie: Under the Sun

Swedish film that evoked a lot of emotion. Cried. Very different movie.

Grade: A

Book: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

I recommend this chick lit book with reservations. It is very light reading. The setting is in London. The main characters consist of a single businesswoman , Lara who gets involved with a spirit, or ghost of a neglected relative who just passed away, Sadie. Sadie has one request that Lara must find a missing necklace that has been in her possession for many years. It is amazing but Lara and Sadie from two very different generations form a bond. The book has humorous parts, but for the most part it was very predictable for me to guess what happens next? I do recommend it as light summer read. Definitely a chick book!

Grade: B

Movie: Transporter 3

Could be better but as a stand alone film it was awesome.

Grade: B

Movie: Doomsday

It was different definitely. I just didn’t think it had as much depth as it could. I like the violence and etc. though.

Grade: B

Book: The Final Truth by Mariah Stewart

I recommend this mystery by Mariah Stewart with some reservations. It wasn't as suspenseful as her previous books, and I was able to determine who was responsible for the murders. The setting is in the beach area of the Outer Banks. The characters are familiar favorites. FBI agent: Mitch Peyton and crime journalist, Regan Landry. The plot consists of a convicted murderer set free due to DNA irregularities at a Lab and murders are committed with strong resemblance to the original heinous crime. In addition, Regan is still looking for answers pertaining to documents of E. Kroll. Although the book is titled " The Final Truth", I found the evidence pertaining to E. Kroll a distraction to the murders. It's not the worse mystery I have read, and it can be a summer read for those individuals who enjoy mysteries.

Grade: B