I know that it is nearly impossible for the BC Collegiette™ to find just a moment of free time, but sometimes it’s necessary to make room in our busy schedules for some much needed “me time.” If you ever want a break from the constant studying, volunteering, exercising, and socializing that surround the typical BC student, I recommend grabbing one of the following books and preparing yourself for the movie versions that will be hitting theaters this Spring and Summer!
Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen’s bestseller recounts the life of Jacob Jankowski, an older man who worked in a circus in his youth after losing his parents and dropping out of Cornell University. With an unfinished veterinary education, Jacob is hired to care for the circus animals. The story follows his relationships, both friendly and romantic, as well as his struggle to find himself. This is an excellent novel filled with action, emotion, and seemingly real characters. It’s on the longer side (335 pages to be exact), but don’t let its length scare you – this book is totally worth it! The movie, featuring Robert Pattinson as Jacob Jankowski and Reese Witherspoon as his love interest, hits theaters on April 22, 2011. I don’t know about you, but I am eager to see Pattinson’s acting ability outside the confines of the Twilight saga. And who doesn’t love the always-adorable Reese Witherspoon?
Something Borrowed
An international bestseller, Emily Griffin’s chick lit novel explores the stigma against single women in their thirties through the story of two friends. Rachel White and her best friend, Darcy Rhone, have been friends since childhood. Rachel has constantly been in Darcy’s shadow, until the night of Rachel’s 30th birthday when Rachel drunkenly sleeps with Darcy’s fiancé. The rest of the novel delves into the true meaning of friendship and love. This is an easy, quick read – a good break from the work being piled on at this point in the semester. I recommend making some “me time,” grabbing some coffee, and just relaxing while you breeze through this fun book. The movie will be released on May 6 and features Kate Hudson as Darcy, Ginnifer Goodwin as Rachel, and John Krasinski as Rachel’s best guy friend. Sounds like the perfect girls’ night out!
One Day
After seeing the movie trailer with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, I knew I HAD to read this book. The novel begins with the two main characters, Emma and Dexter, spending the night together after their graduation from Edinburgh University in 1988. Each subsequent chapter of the novel checks in with Em and Dexter on July 15 (St. Swithin’s Day in England) of every year. While Em seems to be finding her way, Dexter struggles to survive. We learn of their careers, relationships, friendships, and more – sometimes seeing them together and sometimes seeing them when they are apart. This engaging love story hits theaters July 8, 2011, and is sure to be a summer hit!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I don’t know about you, but I have read this book more times then I can remember. The Harry Potter phenomenon will be coming to an end this summer when the final installment of the series hits theaters on July 15, 2011. This is sure to be THE blockbuster event of the summer. For the very few people who are clueless about Harry Potter, here is a quick summary. Harry must finally defeat Voldemort (his enemy) by destroying all 7 horcruxes (magical objects that Voldemort has hidden part of himself in). For all those diehard Harry Potter fans at BC – you definitely have enough time to reread the 7th book before the movie comes out. Feel free to read it multiple times (I know there are definitely some of you who will be doing just that). Although it is a long book, it is a quick read and will definitely be the talk of the summer.
The Help
A recently popular book-club read, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is set during the civil rights era and looks at the role of African-American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi. The story is told from the perspectives of three characters. Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who spent her life raising white children and recently lost her own son. Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who frequently offends her employers despite her family’s struggles with money and her desperation for employment. Eugenia Phelan is a white woman who returns home after graduating college and finds that her childhood maid has disappeared. These three stories intertwine to show that life in Jackson during the 1960s would not have been possible without “the help.” The movie hits theaters at the end of summer – August 12 – and features Emma Stone as Eugenia, Viola Davis as Aibileen, and Octavia Spencer as Minny.
Photo Sources:
http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1563738/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491152/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067583/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1201607/