Stephenie Meyer Speaks!

Found this today and wanted to make sure you all read it. Stephenie Meyer has updated her site (thank you, Seth, who does all the work! I feel your pain!) and she's got great recommendations for books, music and movies. Well, her movie recommendation is Bandslam, which I sortof left out the "band" and just "slammed" the other day when I posted about it. But she says it was pretty good, so I will take her word for it as I have not seen it. Now "UP" is one I have seen because I, too, frequent Disney movies with my kids. Hey. I'll take my theatre popcorn any way I can get it.

PS - Dear Stephenie, please stalk my blog. Love, Carol

August 17, 2009

Hey everybody! I hope you all had a great summer. I'm sorry I don't update more, but it's crazy how busy you can be without really having anything to update about. I decided to do an end of the summer recap like I did last year—just the books and music and movies I enjoyed most. I love to share good stuff.

First books. I didn't have a ton of time to read this summer, but I did discover one really wonderful two-book series. Dreamhunter and Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox. It is like nothing else I've ever read. The characters are so real, you'll feel like you know exactly what they look like and how their voices sound and what they would say or do in any given situation. More than that, you'll want to hang out with them. Then the world is so amazing and unique. You will want to go there. You will want to walk into "the Place." And you will want to sleep in a dream opera.

I also got an early look at a book I've been eagerly awaiting: Catching Fire, the sequel to Suzanne Collins' phenomenal The Hunger Games. It not only lived up to my high expectations, it surpassed them. It's just as exciting as The Hunger Games, but even more gut wrenching, because you already know these characters, you've already suffered with them. Suzanne takes the story places I wasn't expecting, and she's never afraid to take it to very hard places. Stunning. You won't sleep when you're reading this one. It hits shelves September 1st. I suggest beginning in the early morning and clearing your calendar for the day.

Then music. No matter how busy I am, I can always listen to music, so I have a longer list of recommendations here. So, awesome CDs I discovered this summer:

* Animal Collective — Merriweather Post Pavillion
* Silversun Pickups — Swoon
* White Rabbits — It's Frightening
* The Dead Weather — Horehound
* Grizzly Bear — Veckatimest
* Meese — Broadcast

I really should have known about Meese a while ago, but thanks to a mislabeled CD mix, I didn't realize Meese was responsible for one of my favorite songs until I went to their concert. And then I was glad that I already loved them, because the guys in Meese are possibly the nicest people in the world.

Then some albums that I've had for a while now, but that I can't stop listening to:

* The Weakerthans — Reunion Tour
* Elbow — The Seldom Seen Kid

Seriously, Elbow owns my ipod right now.

Also musical, I got out to a few good concerts. Meese was with Jack's Mannequin and The Fray—lovely. If you haven't seen these guys live, do. And then I got to go see Blue October again. I love their shows. You can't really know Blue October until you see them live. It's an amazing experience.

And finally movies. Mostly when I get out to a movie, it's a kid's movie. So Pixar's Up was the highlight of my summer. And then this Saturday I went to see an actual grown-up people movie, yay! Admittedly, I went to see the New Moon trailer on the big screen (yes, I'm a total dork. Who cares? It was worth it). But then I stayed to see Bandslam because the reviews were so good, and I was glad I did. With my hopeless love of music coupled with my total lack of musical ability, I really dug Will. He's my hero right now. It had a good soundtrack, as one might expect, a lot of very quotable one-liners, and it turned upside down some of those lame female-interaction stereotypes. It's a good time.

So that's my "How I Spent My Summer." I hope you guys had a really good time this summer, and found some great stuff of your own. I love this world full of stories and songs waiting to be discovered! And I also love you, the awesome Twilight (and maybe a few Hosts, too) fandom. I stalk your websites all the time—you guys are hilarious (I recently added LTT to my stalk list; thanks for the laugh lines, ladies). I'm looking forward to seeing some of you in November for a little movie release that I'm excited about. Too many months to go!

Love,
Steph

My Breaking Dawn Playlist

OK. I know it's early. I know it's premature. But. I. Just. Had. To. And there is barely anything on it. But I feel so incredibly strongly about "Lightning Crashes" from Live being on this playlist, that I had to explain. This sound might not be new. It might not be edgy and full of teen angst. But holy hell - I have never, EVER, felt more strongly about a song being used in a Stephenie Meyer adapted film in my LIFE. Here's what I want (my demands, if you will): I want the ENTIRE SONG played - with no interruption - during the birth scene. OK - humor me. Hit "play" and listen... and picture this: Edward and Jacob yelling back and forth and trying to save Bella while the early, more quiet part of the song is played. Then as the song progresses and the momentum starts building, we see Edward and Jacob in slow motion - Edward stabbing Bella with the syringe of venom... and Jacob watching in horror. Jacob comes down the stairs, sees the baby and imprints. And Edward's face is just devastated while he waits by Bella's bedside, holding the baby. Then - as the song is coming to a close, Bella wakes up and jumps up and is looking around... OH. MY. GOD. This song has given me goosebumps from the very first time I heard it (back in the early 90s when some of you were being potty trained, but whatev.) And to pair it with the most awesome - literally AWESOME - scene in Breaking Dawn. Wow. Just... Wow. And don't take my word for it; listen to the lyrics...

iloveitiloveitiloveitiloveitiloveit

If this fan art doesn't remind you how much you freakin LOVED Eclipse, I'll be in shock. Squeeee! (REFRESH THIS PAGE if the graphic looks all white and funky.)


Twilight Saga : Eclipse Poster by ~Julushko-navara on deviantART

What. EV.

I don't care WHAT they're doing. All I care about is that someone PLEASE make Kristen Stewart STOP dressing like CHACHI for the love of god.

BADslam

Whoa. I could have told you this would happen. It's one thing to expect people to see "The Proposal" because a New Moon trailer is showing beforehand. But Bandslam? Really? I think we all knew it would bomb. Don't get me wrong; Summit tried. They really did. The other day my 7 year old was yelling "Mommy Mommy! They just said "New Moon" on the TV!" because Summit put a teeny New Moon trailer MENTION at the end of the Bandslam commercial. On Nickelodeon. AFTER SPONGE BOB. Yes, that's right, they were so desperate, they were advertising to the "under 8" crowd. Wasn't too hard to predict the outcome there. (Actually, I think that horrifying, reggae version of Bread's "Everything I Own" was to blame, but that's just me.) Even Vanessa Hudgen's second set of naughty nekkidness pics couldn't save that flick. Oh well. Maybe this is Summit's payback for dumping Rachelle. Karma IS a boomerang.

NEW New Moon Trailer

Sorry I'm a little late to this party. Had a lot of stuff going on yesterday... and...uh...I dunno...I have been suffering a little withdrawal since my party the other night. I've definitely pulled back from the movie hype a little - and started reading again. Just bits and pieces of the last third of New Moon - but enough to make me feel a little more connected to the books - and a little less connected to the Hollywood bullshiz. Gah. Like I care what kind of car Rob Pattinson drives?! (Now you just hush, Jenn M.) You just get to this point where the Robsten reports start taking over - and Edward and Bella are just these figures in the background. And that is NOT cool. So let me show you something very cool that will get your juices flowing for November 20th. And I don't mean cranberries and stuffing. (LOL sorry that was bad.)

The Twilight Saga: New Moon 'Meet Jacob Black' Preview in HD

Twihard Central

My 100 Days Party!

OK so I think I pulled it off! What a great time last night. My thanks to everyone for coming to the party and helping to make it so much fun! Only 99 more days!!

If you were here and have photos, please send them to me! More to come!!

The location (my patio)...


















The cake (Jenn M. and Shannon ROCK):























The ice cream cake (Maggie is my hero for finding this):


















My sister, Tracey, Master of Ceremonies, if you will, and that's Jenn M in the background:



















Some serious thinking during trivia:


















Me, looking downright scary while asking trivia questions:

Last minute "Required (Twi)Reading"

My sister, Jill, reading the tail end of Breaking Dawn about an hour before my 100 Days til New Moon party started:

New Moon Ambiance

Pretty cool, eh? I got these on Ebay. When I have a few minutes, I'll post the info if you want to order some of your very own. They rock. Wait. What does that one on the right say? Oh that's right. MY TWILIGHT PURGATORY, Baby!

Carol's picks for playlists

MY New Moon Playlist

 My Eclipse Playlist (not complete!):

 My Breaking Dawn Playlist (not complete!):

Party Prep

I give you... the VIP Pass of Life. I'm sure the Rowan girls will come up with an amusing little game to play with this. They are the creators of the Edward Cullen Beer Bong, after all...

More to follow...

100 DAYS TIL NEW MOON!!!!

Stay tuned for coverage of tonight's festivities...

NEW New Moon Trailer

Dear Jacob,

It's not my birthday. But can I ask for something? Kiss me.
No wait, you're 17. Nevermind.

Love,
Carol

Teen Cheese Awards

OK so while Tom was asleep on the couch next to me I decided to just check FOX and see what was happening on the awards. Oddly enough, Josh Duhamel was introducing the cast of Twilight. Wow. Just... wow. It was an odd ensem. The first thing I noticed was Justin Chon - aka Eric ("La Push baby... La Push"). I noticed him because boyfriend was wearing a short sleeved shirt, a scarf around his neck and black Buddy Holly glasses. And what I'm noticing in this video from the awards is a new Rob Pattinson Patented hairdo which he runs his hands through no less than twice while speaking. That seems to be the thing to do these days. At any rate, my sister refers to him lovingly as Bobby Trendy - and the title just seemed to suit him well this evening. Anyway, they all got up to accept the award, and as usual, Taylor Lautner sounded like he was running the show. Totally professional. Now here's where it gets weird. When I watched it on TV, Rob Pattinson sounded like a complete dope. Like he couldn't think of what to say and was laughing at inappropriate times. Yet when I watched this clip from the BBC News site, I realized they cut up his speech. So we only saw the beginning - and the end - but it seemed like he just didn't know what to say. So yeah...I'm thinking I'd be mad if I were him. I'm also thinking someone in Teen Choice Editing isn't too much of a fan...

Breaking Dawn Hilarity

My comedian sister, Jill, is reading Breaking Dawn... and just referred to Bella and Edward's daughter as "RENESMERELDA".

:::DIES:::

Laurens-bit the dust?!

OK I just went to check Laurensbite - AND IT WASN'T THERE! I admit, I haven't checked it in a few days, so if she said she was pulling it down, I don't know anything about it. I checked her Twitter page and that's gone, too!!! SOB! She's my absolute favorite Twilight site on the planet (and lord knows there are many.)

If anyone knows what's going on with Laurensbite, please let me know! :(

Twilight wins BIG at the Teen Choice Awards

NICE. Twilight won 11 Teen Choice Awards last night (big shocker.) The awards air tonight on FOX so they'll have 24 hours to bleep out Britney and Madonna, but it's not necessary for the Jonas Brothers, gosh darnit. SET THE DVRs!

Let's get this party STARTED!

So check it out - many cast members are in Vancouver already for Eclipse and you can feel the lurve jump right off the web page! I hate to say it, but it's somewhat refreshing to see the rest of the Cullen clan (as well as Riley and Miss new thang Bryce Howard who looks awesome) - WITHOUT Rob and Kristen. These people deserve their rightful comeuppance. There is more to the Twilight series than Edward Cullen. (ROFLMAO did I just say that???) A big THANK YOU goes out to Alison Genet over at Twifans for the awesome post. And PS - I am so, so sorry Rachelle. I love you and I miss you as Victoria. I truly do. You were ROBBED and I hope you don't take this shit lying down. Not only am I upset for you, but I'm upset for me and everyone else in the Twilgiht blogosphere. It's uncomfortable to keep saying "I dig Bryce but I miss the hell out of Rachelle". Bottom line - I dig Bryce - but Rachelle IS Victoria. No further comment, your honor.

I am so not kidding..

My sister and I had a debate today, which started over email and ended in a phonecall. We were actually discussing - get this - whether or not Edward Cullen would ever go commando. No, I am so not kidding. It started because my sister, Jill, is feverishly reading Breaking Dawn so she can come to my "100 Days til New Moon" party on Wednesday. Here's how it all went down:

Tracey: Are you still reading????
Jill: They're on Esme Island
Me: Oh mother of god.... to merely be the tree he leaves his undies on when he goes for the moonlight swim...
Tracey: How long have they been there???
Me: "a while..." ;)
Tracey: Undies??? MY Edward goes commando.
Me: Edward Cullen is way too high brow to go without undies. He knows his real mother would be mortified if he didn't wear any - and he would have ended up mocked on the Chicago society pages if it was ever found out. PS - Ok then his PANTS he hung over the tree branch!

I just thank god I'm not alone in my Edward Cullen obsession.