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It's time for a new book review!
This month I'm reviewing The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March. I heard of this book through Jessica Brody's Free Book Friday website. It was spotlighted and a designated number were to be given out. I registered to win but, alas, didn't. But my interest was strong enough that I purchased a copy to read. :)
At the heart of this story is an extended family (cousins and aunt), broken and shattered by a tragedy fifteen years ago. As humans do, they each process and deal with the tragedy in their own way - in a way that creates distance (physical and emotional) and hard feelings between them. They only see each other at Thanksgiving and Christmas anymore but they dread it like the plague. So when Aunt Lolly calls a "family meeting" and expects everyone to come in for a huge announcement, alarm bells go off.
Aunt Lolly owns an inn on the coast of Maine and the belief is that her big announcement will be that she's selling the inn. When they find out that's not the case, they all pitch in to help run the inn. Among the tasks of running the inn is hosting a weekly movie night for guests, friends and family. Meryl Streep is Lolly's favorite actress of all time and she has all her movies so when the movie selections are made, it's not a surprise that Meryl's movies are featured.
Each movie they watch addresses an issue that one of the family members is dealing with. Discussions after the movies help them to reflect on their individual situations and move forward in their lives. It's through watching movies with Meryl Streep that the family is able to heal itself and begin to work as a family unit again, as opposed to the fractures souls they'd been before.
The story itself was fairly predictable but it's the ending you want for the characters so you don't care. In the discussions about the movies they give away major plot points and spoilers so if you've wanted to watch a particular Meryl Streep movie but haven't yet gotten around to it, you may want to watch it before you read the book (unless you're okay with knowing the ending beforehand).
I watched The Bridges of Madison County for the first time a few years ago. My friend had warned me that I'd find myself crying unexpectedly so when I watched it I was waiting for this big thing to happen that would affect me this way. Two hours into the movie I was still waiting and thinking my friend was nuts. Then all of a sudden I was bawling for reasons I couldn't even say now. Well, there's something similar to that in this book. I was reading and all of a sudden I realized I was crying in a "Hm, my face is wet. Ohmygosh I'm crying." kind of way. I couldn't tell you what was going on at that point in the book or why it impacted me that way but if you had a similar experience when watching The Bridges of Madison County, well, let's just say, you've been warned. :)
This month I'm reviewing The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March. I heard of this book through Jessica Brody's Free Book Friday website. It was spotlighted and a designated number were to be given out. I registered to win but, alas, didn't. But my interest was strong enough that I purchased a copy to read. :)
At the heart of this story is an extended family (cousins and aunt), broken and shattered by a tragedy fifteen years ago. As humans do, they each process and deal with the tragedy in their own way - in a way that creates distance (physical and emotional) and hard feelings between them. They only see each other at Thanksgiving and Christmas anymore but they dread it like the plague. So when Aunt Lolly calls a "family meeting" and expects everyone to come in for a huge announcement, alarm bells go off.
Aunt Lolly owns an inn on the coast of Maine and the belief is that her big announcement will be that she's selling the inn. When they find out that's not the case, they all pitch in to help run the inn. Among the tasks of running the inn is hosting a weekly movie night for guests, friends and family. Meryl Streep is Lolly's favorite actress of all time and she has all her movies so when the movie selections are made, it's not a surprise that Meryl's movies are featured.
Each movie they watch addresses an issue that one of the family members is dealing with. Discussions after the movies help them to reflect on their individual situations and move forward in their lives. It's through watching movies with Meryl Streep that the family is able to heal itself and begin to work as a family unit again, as opposed to the fractures souls they'd been before.
The story itself was fairly predictable but it's the ending you want for the characters so you don't care. In the discussions about the movies they give away major plot points and spoilers so if you've wanted to watch a particular Meryl Streep movie but haven't yet gotten around to it, you may want to watch it before you read the book (unless you're okay with knowing the ending beforehand).
I watched The Bridges of Madison County for the first time a few years ago. My friend had warned me that I'd find myself crying unexpectedly so when I watched it I was waiting for this big thing to happen that would affect me this way. Two hours into the movie I was still waiting and thinking my friend was nuts. Then all of a sudden I was bawling for reasons I couldn't even say now. Well, there's something similar to that in this book. I was reading and all of a sudden I realized I was crying in a "Hm, my face is wet. Ohmygosh I'm crying." kind of way. I couldn't tell you what was going on at that point in the book or why it impacted me that way but if you had a similar experience when watching The Bridges of Madison County, well, let's just say, you've been warned. :)
3 comments:
A very clever idea for a book and her movies have covered a range of subject right from THE DEERHUNTER and KRAMER V. KRAMER through the most recent HOPE SPRINGS. I have seen every one.
I wonder if Meryl Streep has read this book!? Ha! Interesting premise. Thank you for reviews!
If I just happened upon this book on the bookshelf at the library, I'd probably pass it up. But your review of it makes me want to read it! Besides, Meryl Streep is one of my favorite actresses, too:)
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