Where the Wild Things Are

I have been reading a lot about this movie lately. It seems to be one of those films that people either love or hate. I gladly went to see it and will never be sorry. I have a great lingering fondness for the book this movie is based on. In fact I always liked this book more than my children did. I don't consider this a children's film. Max Records,the child who plays Max in the film is mesmerizing. The camera loves this face and you can't stop watching him. I related to the fact that the wild things expressed a child's emotions and imagination. This is how it should be because after all this whole experience truly takes place in a child's imagination. The fact that the wild thing characters aren't complicated is as it should be. They are after all figments of a child's imaginary world and feeling. Based on that you should expect the pouting,anger and violent play. The time Max spends with his family is just as engaging as his time with the wild things. Any person who has children themselves can empathise with Max in this film. We have all watched our own children express these same emotions. I say bravo to Spike Jonze for going ahead with his vision and making a memorable film that feels like a revisit to childhood, maybe your own,maybe your child's. See the movie and view it in the spirit it was intended.

HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY

I recently read Audrey Niffenegger's new book HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY. I have been long awaiting this book after her last THE TIME TRAVELERS WIFE. I can't say I was disappointed. The characters are fascinating and well developed. The author definitely has a fondness for quirky people. While I saw early on where the book was heading the ending wasn't what I imagined. I'm not sure if this is a happy,heartwarming novel or not, I just can't decide. The more I pondered her last book I realized that Time Traveler didn't have a textbook happy ending and it still became one of my favorites. Niffenegger definitely knows how to weave a tale and this story is as original an idea as her last novel was. Fans of her work won't be disappointed in the least. Like Time Traveler , Her Fearful Symmetry is a novel I will reflect upon long after its left my shelf. I have passed my copy on to my sister and can only hope she gets as much enjoyment out of the story as I did.