Meet an "Everyday Icon"

Those cardigans, the necklaces and pins, and of course the kitten heels--these are the hallmarks of Michelle Obama's trademark style. In Kate Betts' new book, Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style, two hundred color photographs, original designer sketches, and historical images give a lavish tour of our First Ladys' style statements. We are taken on a behind-the-scenes journey of how she created her image and, more important, what that image says about American Style today. Much has been written about Michelle Obama but Kate Betts places her in a broader cultural and historical context. This book is the definitive book on how a working mother of two became an unforgettable, global style icon.

Full Dark, No Stars

I haven't read any Stephen King books in a long time, so when Full Dark, No Stars came across my desk, I decided to try it out. The book consists of four short stories in one book: 1922, Big Driver, Fair Extension, and A Good Marriage. The stories are all creepy and scary and give you just enough information that you wish they lasted a little bit longer. This is truly "typical Stephen King writing" and if you love Cujo or Christy, you'll love these stories too. In the book's Afterword, King sums up the books purpose this way: "When it comes to fiction, the writer's only responsibility is to look for the truth inside his own heart. It won't always be the reader's truth, or the critic's truth, but as long as it's the writers' truth...all is well...I have tried my best in Full Dark, No Stars to record what people might do, and how they might behave, under dire circumstances." The people in these four short stories are basically ordinary people that are confronted with a sudden and drastic circumstance and must figure out how to act (or react). The writing is at times tense but never do the heroes and heroines act the way you expect. These four stories are as much an exploration of the human mind as they are creepy thrillers.

Jane Austen...Vampire?

Is it so hard to believe that one of the world's favorite authors is still alive today...running around...as a vampire? This is the premise of Jane Bites Back, a very entertaining novel by Michael Thomas Ford. Jane Austen is living as Jane Fairfax in the sleepy college town of Brakeston, New York. She is the owner of Flyleaf Books, a moderately successful bookstore (who is surprised by this???) and is a bit weary of having lived for the last 234 years. Jane has been trying to get her "big break" by getting her novel, Constance, published while watching the stunning sales of anything having to do with Jane Austen and not receiving any royalties from the sales. Her manuscript is rejected 116 times before she receives her big break and a publisher decides her novel is one of the best things written in a really long time. Things get a little crazy when she begins to be pursued by a local contractor (should she tell him she's undead???) and a suitor from her past. This entertaining novel contains lots of references to dead (and un-dead) authors and literary figures from the past and it is a treat to read. I am a big Jane Austen fan, so it was enjoyable imagining her trying to live a comtemporary life, and doing things such as talking on a cell phone and being a panelist at a romance writers' conference. Jane is charming because she is constantly in turmoil about who should know she's a vampire, and she really thinks feeding on blood is a "necessary evil." This is a great read for vampire and literary story lovers! If you like this story, try also reading Stephanie Barron's, Jane the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, the first book in the Jane Austen Mysteries series.

Humorous Movies

I recently spent some "brrrr-y" days watching movies at my house. Two of my recent favorites were Despicable Me and The Lottery Ticket. Despicable Me stars Steve Carell and is a wonderful story about a villain named Cru who is trying to pull off the greatest "steal" ever by stealing the moon. He and his thousands of adorable minions (trust me, you'll think they are cute too) invent gadgets and steal things in their attempt to make Cru (voiced by Steve Carell) the "World's Greatest Villian." While on this journey Cru ends up adopting three orphaned girls, and the way they wrap Cru around their fingers is one of sweetest things I have ever seen. This movie is rated PG (Rude Humor and Mild Action) and is a great family movie night pick.

The Lottery Ticket is a great "what-if" movie that describes what happens when a young man from the local neighborhood wins the lottery. Kevin Carson (played by Bow Wow) buys a lottery ticket on a whim and ends up winning $370 million--the bad news is that the lottery office is closed for the long July 4th weekend and Kevin must figure out how to keep a lid on his good fortune and survive the three-day weekend. This movie is full of twists and turns and very funny scenes, and the viewer discovers, with Kevin, the "good, the bad and the ugly" in his friends. There is a brilliant cast in this film (Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Loretta Divine, Ice Cube, Bill Bellamy, T-Pain, Ketih David, Terry Crews, and Mike Epps) and it is truly a great experience to watch it. The movie is rated PG-13 (Sexual content, Language including a Drug Reference, Some Violence and Brief Underage Drinking) and could be a great choice for a couples movie night.