News for the new year...
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Aloha friends--
I'm going to have to put the whole Africa storyline on the back burner for a few moments because now we're in the month of December (how did that happen so quickly?), and that means I have lots of book news to share. Where to begin???
Well, first and foremost, I'm thrilled to announce that Firefly Lane is finally coming out in trade paperback. I'm really excited about this. I hope that the lower price point will get a lot of new readers to take a chance on the book. I know I can count on my fireflies to spread the word on the web and let book club members know that this is a story they can sink their teeth into. And thanks so, so much for that. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of you who read my books and stay in touch online.
The dates to keep in mind are January 5th for Firefly Lane in trade paperback and February 3rd for True Colors in hardcover. Wow. It's amazing that it's finally happening, that True Colors is actually getting close to release. It's up on Amazon and BN.com and everything! I really can't wait to hear what you all think of it, and to that end...
Here's the biggest news of all. I know that a lot of you are waiting patiently for the sisterhood essay contest. Well, the bad news is that you're all going to have to wait just a little big longer, but the good news--the GREAT news--is that Hallmark magazine has just jumped on board and they've decided to host a big national contest and they're giving away a top secret prize. I can't spill all the beans yet, but believe me, you all will be the first to know.
And about the advance reading copies of True Colors--which I know you all are waiting for--I have talked to my webmaster and my publisher and we're going to give away a lot more than five copies. I don't know the exact number, but it certainly gives you all a much better chance at winning. The final contest rules and information will be posted on the main page of the website no later that Wednesday. Keep checking! (I think you might be reading an early excerpt of True Colors and answering an easy question--but don't tell anyone I told you). And don't worry--there are still several earmarked just for fireflies. So remember to identify yourselves in your online entry. We're going to give the winners a chance to post their "early reviews" of True Colors. I look forward to discovering what you all think!
I guess that's the big news for now, but it's really starting to pop, so if I hear anything else, I'll jump right onto the blog to let you all know.
Thanks again so much for all of your fun conversation on this blog. You all make it so fun and easy to keep in touch.
My movie recommendation for the month is: Twilight (of course), which I ended up really liking. I had problems with "Edward" at first, but Robert Pattison won me over in the end; and Australia, which I wanted to LOVE but didn't quite, but I did really really like it. I cried a few times and loved the love story and the story of the little boy. And the cinematography was wonderful. It's a great, old fashioned, sweeping love story with a happy ending. Who doesn't love that?
I am in between books at the moment, so I don't have a recommendation. What about you? Can someone recommend something for me?
And I am still MAD for Prison Break, which is going to be over any moment...
Happy Holidays---
Kristin
I'm going to have to put the whole Africa storyline on the back burner for a few moments because now we're in the month of December (how did that happen so quickly?), and that means I have lots of book news to share. Where to begin???
Well, first and foremost, I'm thrilled to announce that Firefly Lane is finally coming out in trade paperback. I'm really excited about this. I hope that the lower price point will get a lot of new readers to take a chance on the book. I know I can count on my fireflies to spread the word on the web and let book club members know that this is a story they can sink their teeth into. And thanks so, so much for that. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of you who read my books and stay in touch online.
The dates to keep in mind are January 5th for Firefly Lane in trade paperback and February 3rd for True Colors in hardcover. Wow. It's amazing that it's finally happening, that True Colors is actually getting close to release. It's up on Amazon and BN.com and everything! I really can't wait to hear what you all think of it, and to that end...
Here's the biggest news of all. I know that a lot of you are waiting patiently for the sisterhood essay contest. Well, the bad news is that you're all going to have to wait just a little big longer, but the good news--the GREAT news--is that Hallmark magazine has just jumped on board and they've decided to host a big national contest and they're giving away a top secret prize. I can't spill all the beans yet, but believe me, you all will be the first to know.
And about the advance reading copies of True Colors--which I know you all are waiting for--I have talked to my webmaster and my publisher and we're going to give away a lot more than five copies. I don't know the exact number, but it certainly gives you all a much better chance at winning. The final contest rules and information will be posted on the main page of the website no later that Wednesday. Keep checking! (I think you might be reading an early excerpt of True Colors and answering an easy question--but don't tell anyone I told you). And don't worry--there are still several earmarked just for fireflies. So remember to identify yourselves in your online entry. We're going to give the winners a chance to post their "early reviews" of True Colors. I look forward to discovering what you all think!
I guess that's the big news for now, but it's really starting to pop, so if I hear anything else, I'll jump right onto the blog to let you all know.
Thanks again so much for all of your fun conversation on this blog. You all make it so fun and easy to keep in touch.
My movie recommendation for the month is: Twilight (of course), which I ended up really liking. I had problems with "Edward" at first, but Robert Pattison won me over in the end; and Australia, which I wanted to LOVE but didn't quite, but I did really really like it. I cried a few times and loved the love story and the story of the little boy. And the cinematography was wonderful. It's a great, old fashioned, sweeping love story with a happy ending. Who doesn't love that?
I am in between books at the moment, so I don't have a recommendation. What about you? Can someone recommend something for me?
And I am still MAD for Prison Break, which is going to be over any moment...
Happy Holidays---
Kristin
33 Comments:
KIM! I figured it out! In order to follow this blog, you have to first subscribe and link to Google Reader. Then, when you go to Blogs I'm Following on your Dashboard, you have to import it from Google Reader. So, now it shows up on my blog and updates. If you want step-by-step instructions, let me know.
As for the post, I um already submitted my entry so you can ignore it. :)
I've only seen Zack & Miri Make a Porno and Harold & Kumar 2 lately. If you like that sort of thing, they're great, but I hesitate broadly recommending them. I'm not a Twilight fan, but I'll see the movie on video.
I just read another Dark Hunter book and found it ok. Right now, I'm digging through the Nora Roberts pile and reading Salvation in Death with The Pagan Stone and Suite 606 in the wings.
Will the Firefly Lane cover be different for paperback than hardcover?
I have a question regarding True Colors's release. February is a crazy month for book releases for me. Does the competition bother or affect you? I'm buying all of them anyway, but there are like 3 hardcovers that I'm getting that month. Do you look or obsess over the numbers, reviews, etc.? I don't know anybody else who is interested in all the books coming out that month. They're varied.
~ april
SO Awesome! I subscribe to Hallmark magazine and love it. Great that they are jumping on board.
I couldn't be more proud of you if you were my own sister! Or, if I even knew you in person. HA. Seriously, what I'm now learning were years of hard work for you, are paying off big time. You go girlie girl! You deserve every bit of this ride!
My latest book recommendation - I haven't read yet, but am chomping at the bit! Wally Lamb's new book just came out. It's titled The Hour I First Believed. It's the first book he's written in 10 years, and I love, love, love his writing. I rushed right out and bought it, and it's on top of the reading pile. It's next for sure! His other two that I enjoyed: She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True. Great author!
OK, back to work for me. Can't wait to hear how to get my contest entry in the ring!
Best to all .... Firefly out, Lisa
Kristin- hi~ I loved your comments! How special! I also love Hallmark and I'm getting crazy excited. I know you're still waiting for some funny "buffalo" lyrics, ha ha.
I wanted to tell you I FINALLY finished Barbara Delinsky's Looking For Peyton Place. It's a wonderful story and full of the relationships we all love to read about, so I kept thinking, "Kristin would love this." Alas, when I got to the end, I wasn't crying as usual, so I guess that says something, but oh well.
I just picked up The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck, so I guess I'm going to be crying like crazy. Also, a librarian recommended Where the Heart Is, and I loved the movie, so I'm glad to read the book.
All Talked Out, talk later ;)
Hi Kristin!
Sooo, how can I get in on being a firefly? I know that I have been gone a long time, but I am a faithful fan.. does that work? :)
I am currently going through a lot of Fern Michaels books in the Sisterhood Series. Are you familiar with that series? I also just finished What You Wish For, Yesterday, and Bertrice Small's The Twilight Lord, book #3 in the World of Hetar. I read book #4 before I got the 3rd one because it was on backorder at my local B&N. I finally got around to reading The Choice by Nicolas Sparks as well. Now my bathrooms are aching for more books to occupy the book basket.. :)
All of those are good reads or great audiobooks.
I haven't seen a movie that moved me in a really long time. I have seen a few that made me tear up once or twice, but not one that I can think of that really, really MOVED my soul.
I will have to check out the Hallmark Magazine and see what all the fuss is about. I have seen it in my local Hallmark store where I go this time of year to add to my ornament collection.. but I have yet to pick it up and purchase it.
Anyway, even though it is early December, I want to make sure that I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season! I hope that it is all that you hope for it to be!
Take care,
Linda Hensens
**Who really, really hopes that Kristin makes it to Raleigh on her True Colors book tour! Please, pretty please??? I have a TON of KH books that need your loving attention.. ;)
Hi Kristin,
I found the book Sunday's at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet had many parallels to your writing style. If you haven't read it already, you may want to pick it up - it's a quick read, reminiscent of your novel Comfort and Joy - which I just finished - it has the same dream-like quality to it, but I liked the ending to Comfort and Joy better - you added a twist I didn't expect there!
Oh Kristin,
I love you even more! I loved Twilight too! My husband even took me and HE loved it! Can you believe that?! And now he wants me to read him the 2nd book Eclipse. I am cracking up, he's too funny. Just love him! I felt the same as you about Edward. Not so sure about him at first. Then by the end. . . LOVED him! I did think it was a little cheesy, but I still loved it. Haven't seen Australia yet. I do want to though. I saw Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman on Oprah talking about it. Looks good. And Hugh Jackman being Peoples Sexiest Man Alive! Woohoo! Love that man. . . :) Used to watch Prison Break then stopped two seasons ago. So mad I did now. But I didn't like the whole jail in Panama thing. Thats when I stopped watching. Bummer. Anybody watch ER?!?! Ive watched every episode! But Im glad it's ending. It's been on like 15 years or something. But its so good right now. Ok, enough for now fellow fireflies!
Andi
PS. Kristin, have you read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult? If not, it's an EXCELLENT read! (of course not as good as yours) ;)
Andi, they are making a movie based on My Sister's Keeper. I haven't read the book yet, but it's on my shelf. Jodi Picoult got in a bit of trouble for telling everyone to write to the movie studio and demand they keep the original ending (at that time, it was possible they were going to change it).
I just saw Four Christmases very late on Friday. It was SO good. I don't know if it's a family film due to some of the conversations, but it is hilarious and a lot of fun. I can go either way with holiday movies, too, but I'm glad I saw this one. It has a lot of big names and both Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon were good. I wish there had been a little more on Vince Vaughn's character to understand what he was going throuh, but it was fun enough to overlook that.
Hello Kristen and all. This is my first post here, and I want to say that YES, there are plenty of men who love your books as well. In fact my neighbor's macho boyfriend secrets copies of your books into his reading room and devours them, then talks about football, construction, etc. Hahahah. Here is a book that I think you and all your readers will love, and that most likely you have not yet heard of. The title is "A Crack in Everything", and the author is Catherine Ingram. Here's a little about the plot: "We follow the young child violin prodigy Fiona as she is uprooted from Ireland and cast into the fast moving and shallow world of Hollywood. She is the offspring of a brief affair in India years ago, and her surprising entry into her father's life prompts him to reassess his life. She meanwhile, buffeted by loss, finds her own ground to stand on in the shifting social sands of Los Angeles." There is a sensitivity in Catherine's style that reminds me of yours, Kristen. Hope you enjoy.
Hello fireflies,
Life is busier than hell here at this time (is hell busy anyway?), so I'm using one of my scarce spare moment to write this.
No time to read books, no time to watch movies, just trying to "survive" in a world of courses that need to be finished by the end of the semester (next week!), test corrections, exam preparations, Christmas concerts, Christmas cards that still need to be written (and I'm one of those suckers who always writes something special on each and every one of them - between 50 and 60 in total, usually), and - there IS light at the end of this tunnel - planning my Christmas trip to Canada, for which I don't even have the plane tickets at this moment!
I still want to enter the contest - I'll use another ten minute break for that - even if it's just for the sake of getting to share my loooooong sister story (as well as my short version - did I mention yet how very SHORT a 250 words essay is?). It's amazing how fast time is passing by anyway - "True Colors" is gonna be in the stores so fast that I'll probably just get to buy it somewhere before I catch my next breath. After coming back from Canada, that will definitely be the next thing to look forward to!
Break time is over, though! No rest for the wicked. Back to school preparations for tomorrow!
Love,
Leen
Yep, the holidays are coming fast. I don't have time to notice because of finals, then work. I don't get done until dec 19, giving me a measly 5 days to get into the holiday spirit before it's come and gone! Add to that it's going to be around 14 degrees here next week and I'm a little Grinchy. But there's a silver lining somewhere.
Someday I'd like to be done with school so I can actually enjoy the approaching holiday without finals. Tell me, fellow Fireflys, is it as wonderful as I imagine?
Ok, done grumbling. I'm excited to see what Hallmark has in store for the contest! Congrats on all the book success!
No book recomendations for now. Except I can tell you to avoid Evan's Anatomy of the Dog. Unless you need a cure for insomnia, then go for it.
Kristin,
Have you read Water for Elephants? It's captivating.
Hi Kristin,
I am so glad you mentioned books because I wanted to say something about one of yours. This is hard for me to say, since I absolutely LOVE the way you write, so I hope this doesn't come across as negative. I read "Comfort and Joy" when it first came out. I expected to love it, but I didn't. Without giving away too much, I did love it up until the "reality" set in. Those who have read it will know what I'm talking about. Well, right before Thanksgiving, I was in the mood for a good Christmas read. I have all your books on my bookshelf, so I decided to give it another try. I figured that this time I would know what to expect, so maybe the second time would be better. That was an understatement! I completely fell in love with this book after reading it again! I finally understood the "meaning" of it and that I shouldn't take it too seriously, which is what happened before. In fact I loved it so much that I re-read the last chapter about three times.
Just wanted you to know that your books get better after reading them a second time!
I *love* Comfort and Joy. I couldn't put it down and I was sorry to see it come to an end. Andrea, maybe you have to be in the right 'place' for this kind of book, and the second time you read it, you happened to be there.
I recently finished a book titled If Only in My Dreams by Wendy Markham (a pen name for Wendy Corsi Staub who writes suspense novels as well, of which I've read several). Under Wendy Markham, the books are more romance and much lighter. This book was of a Christmas theme and it had a time travel twist. It was great entertainment, if you like that kind of read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Speaking of tv (um, not sure if we were, but I am almost always talking tv), does anybody watch Friday Night Lights? It's on Season 3. Season 1 and 2 are available to view on Hulu and NBC.com, I believe. The seasons are like $20 or less to buy. Season 2 has its ups and downs, but the show is so good. Season 3 is some of the best tv ever. I've laughed and cried at almost every episode. Plus, I love Kyle Chandler. In the interest of full disclosure, there is a big chance that this is the last season. It's airing on DirecTV now and will start next year on NBC (re-airing the DirecTV episodes). You don't have to watch anything previous to Season 3 though. It doesn't hurt but I don't think you'd be confused. Anyway, publicity never hurt the show and it doesn't seem to get much (especially because NBC stinks). :)
Dear April--
I'll answer about your entry in the main blog in a couple of minutes, but you raise--as usual--a bunch of other interesting questions. First of all, about the paperback cover of Firefly Lane. It will be substantially the same. the front image will be exactly the same but the information on the back, etc. is different. I think because there's less space on a back cover than there is on the hardcover flaps. Here's a question for you, and all the fireflies, what's your favorite form of book to read? Hardcover, trade, mass market paperback, kindle??? Please weigh in, I'd love to hear.
As to the competition in Feb. It IS a really big month for women's fiction, and on the qt (you didn't hear it here) there were a few other big guns coming out that were moved by the publishers because of the competition. I think, ultimately, it's good and bad. Obviously, I'd rather come out with a little less competition for real world reasons--its so hard for a book to get good positioning in the stores and clubs; they only take so many books, and it's possible that they only want so many of a certain kind. On the flip side, I think it's absolutely true that people like Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts, Susan Phillips, Barbara Delinsky, Luanne Rice, etc all bring people into the store and more people in the store helps us all. A rising tide floats all boats as they say. I choose to look at it this way and celebrate the competition. A glass half full mentality is always better. How is it for readers? Does your budget mean that you have to prioritize and choose or do you plan and save for it?
thanks, April!!
aloha,
K
Dear Lisa---
What do you mean? You guys all know me as well as a lot of people I see every day. :) This blogging is really like forming friendships; we know a fair amount about each others' lives. And thanks so much for saying your proud of me for the Hallmark thing. As I told April, I'm going to go explain it in detail now, but it really is exciting.
Are you, by the way, in a book group? Just asking... you'll see why... :)Let us all know what you think of the Wally Lamb
aloha,
K
Dear Michelle--
I've heard a lot of good things about Barbara Delinsky's Peyton Place. My fav of hers is still probably More than Friends. It's an oldie but a goodie. So you sound like one of those readers who like to cry in books. Do you actually judge a book by whether it's poignant enough, emotional enough to make you cry? Or do you only want to cry occasionally? I ask because, as you can imagine, I hear about readers crying all the time, and I often worry about that. I think I'm such a funny girl, but...
thanks for the scoop--
aloha,
k
Dear Linda--
Welcome back! We've missed you around here. And if you're on the blog, you're a firefly.
You bring up a great question, too. Has anyone seen a movie in the past year that really, really moved them? I really like Australia, but it wasn't an emotional powerhouse. Don't get me wrong, I cried (I cry at Hallmark commercials), but it wasn't a punch to the gut that I will remember forever. What are some of your--and all fireflies'--favorite emotional movies?
aloha,
K
Dear Kelly--
thanks for the recommendation on James Patterson. I remember when I read the flap, it made me think of Comfort and Joy, too. I think I have it around here somewhere. It's a pretty quick read, isn't it?
aloha,
K
Dear Ms. Heiner (kind of formal--what's your first name again?)
I love your post, and I have to say I checked out your blog and your look like you have a totally fun family! Anyone who go carts in the dunes is too much fun.
My husband actually liked Twilight, also, which is really amazing because he hates all vampire movies. And here's a little tidbit for another Twilighter (although I'm team jacob, sorry), I went to high school for a couple of years very close to Forks, Washington...
I'm sorry you gave up on Prison Break, but that Panama stuff was kind of dark sometimes. And of course I watch ER. I've been a fan of Michael Crichton from the get go, and I don't think I've ever missed an episode. It's been good this season. Last night was particularly good. I am going on record saying that I want Neela with Lucien or Ray..and I hope Archie meets someone fast!
aloha,
K
April--
Jeez, I read all the hollywood stuff and I haven't heard anything about Jodi and the adaptation of My sister's keeper. What have you read???
aloha,
K
April--
Jeez, I read all the hollywood stuff and I haven't heard anything about Jodi and the adaptation of My sister's keeper. What have you read???
aloha,
K
April--
Jeez, I read all the hollywood stuff and I haven't heard anything about Jodi and the adaptation of My sister's keeper. What have you read???
aloha,
K
Spencer--
Welcome to the blog. Thanks for coming out of lurk mode to give us all a book recommendation.
aloha!
K
Dear Leen---
I get tired just thinking about all that you've got going on! I'll bet people love to get your personal Christmas cards. It's worth all the trouble when you're done, I'll bet.
There's news of the contest coming out today or tomorrow and I promise that your chance at True Colors will NOT overburden your schedule. :)
Talk you soon!
K
Dear Sheila---
Evan's Anatomy of the Dog?? Oh, no, that was the top of my Christmas reading list...are you telling me I won't like it? That the characters won't sweep me away?
You poor thing. I wish I could tell you that it's better after school, but honestly, sometimes life feels like one big finals week. I know that's not very optimistic, but it's true, especially around the holidays. Am I alone fireflies in saying stay in college as long as you can???
Good luck on your finals to you and Leen. We know you girls are going to rock it!!
aloha,
k
Dear Andrea---
I loved reading your comments about Comfort and Joy. As you mentioned, it's a book that has a huge twist and as such, I get a lot of mixed reviews on it. I had never thought that maybe some of that was because it simply wasn't what people expect from me, and that once one knows what to expect, it is more "me." Thanks! Honestly, it was really, really hard book to write (that twist again), but I loved the first person voice. I'd never done that before. So I'm glad you enjoyed it more the second time! Thanks for giving me a second chance...
aloha,
K
Dear Lynn and April---
First of all, of course we're talking about tv. Aren't we always? Hey, that reminds me, we should come up with a firefly recommends list that encompasses our favorite shows, movies, and books. Let's start collecting them...
And thanks for the C & J pitch, Lynn. I'm glad you liked it. I don't expect to do something like that again; it really is all about getting a cool idea. I thought it was really a big, fun, different idea, and maybe that was the problem for some. Just too different. :)
aloha,
k
I'm not in a book club, but have recently wondered why that is. I've been playing KENO with a great group of ladies for about 14 years and to be completely honest, I've lost that loving feeling. I am not sure I'm continuing on with the group next year. My closest friend of that group belongs to a book club. The books they've chosen in the past haven't really blown my skirt up, so I was thinking of starting my own. May be a great goal for 2009!
I LOVE your firefly recommends... idea. I would love to contribute to that!
Forgot to add, my book preference is hardcover. I'm bad about that. It's my biggest weakness! I don't budget for them, I just choose books over other things I probably could use like new clothes. HA! And, everyone who knows me keeps me pretty stocked in B&N Giftcards! Lucky me! If I discover an author I like and have missed past books, I'll try to find the hardcover at Half Price Books.
Hi again,
Yesterday, the concert that I organized took place, so that things should slow down a bit now. Hopefully, I'll get some breathing time from now on. Which also means some more time to reply on this blog again.
The comments from the crowd that attended the concert were wonderful, so that I didn't just get into the Christmas spirit because of yesterday's events, but I also felt loved and proud to have accomplished this. Always a good feeling!
In the mean time, I'm thinking there was some kinda misunderstanding in all this. At 35, and being still single, I can assume you might think that I'm still writing exams, but I'm actually just composing them. In college, the students over here don't get to write exams until after Christmas break, so that I'm now in the process of thinking up questions for the exams. Means less teaching hours (so that everybody seems to think I've got nothing to do, since I'm not even leaving the house) but more work at home to be done. That's not too bad, though!
On another note, I saw the contest on the site and I wanted to enter right away, but... in the rules it says I'm not eligible because I don't live in the US. No biggy - I'll just have to wait patiently until February, I guess. When the essay contests start, I'll try and hand in my story anyways, just because I feel like sharing it, but I don't really need to win any prizes anyway. Even though I'll admit it would be nice to get to read the book before anyone else does.
As for reading: I've started "The tales of Beedle the bard" just a couple of days ago. It's good, but I kinda miss the whole craziness about expecting a new Harry Potter book and all. After that, I've got the new Nikki Gerrard to read and by then, I should have gone to the book fair where I'll pick up a lot of new titles (got some of my fellow fireflies' recommendations written down on my list of things to look for too!) of which I'll bring a few to read while I'm in Canada also. Dates are definite now, by the way: I'll be gone from December 22nd until January 4th. (So Kristin, if you happen to be in the Amsterdam airport... give me a yell... lol)
Ok, I'm back to my usual length of posts, so I'll leave it to this. Looking forward to attending another Christmas concert tonight, which I should get ready for!
Love,
Leen
Dear April,
I really was amazed that you try to respond to all your "fireflies"! Wow!
Regarding the Patterson book - Yes it is a quick read - I think I read it in a few hours. It has a twist like yours, and the main character deals with big relationship issues, which is also a focus of your books. The co-writer, Gabrielle Charbonnet, Has a real down to earth website of her own, James' of course, is a bit more polished. She is comfortable working under pseudonyms and as a ghost writer, and has written many children's books. I found it very interesting to read her comments about co-writing with James. I imagine that might be challenging!
Have you ever considered co-writing?
Couple of extra comments after reading all the other remarks...
About the form of book I like to read most: when I buy a book when it first comes out, I usually get hardcover. Then again - I think I have more paperbacks than anything else. I'll admit to wanting to save those few extra dollars (or euros, in my case). Plus I read a lot in bed, which kinda makes it easier when I'm reading a paperback. I have suffered from stiff necks and cuts from lying on top of hardcovers sometimes (really!). Plus paperbacks are usually in a handier format to take along on a trip or such too.
As for the "Firefly recommends...": great idea indeed! I am looking for recommendations for next Thursday when I got get books at the fair, so I was checking out all these posts for names of authors and titles of books, but it would be much easier on me if they were grouped together. Same for all other things we can get recommendations on. I'm always open for such things!
Which seamlessly brings me to the subject of crying. My friend in Canada used to watch a lot of movies with me everytime I was down there, where she had seen the movie already but thought I should watch it too. For some kinda reason (being that she knows me so well) she always picked the movies that really moved me.
Then again: movies seldom make me cry. Books do, though. And even just watching something on tv where something great happens to a person whom I think deserved it, can bring me to tears. Like when our former tennis champion Justine Henin (I'm sure that rings a bell with some of you) would win an important match (like the finals at a grand slam or the time she won an Olympic Gold medal), I could shed a few tears. So all in all, I am very emotional.
For books, it is usually a case of feeling "part of the story". Sometimes the characters really start to feel like friends because they are described so vividly that they seem to have really come to life and if the way they act resemble something you recognize and you'd like to be there for them or so, it's really difficult to not open your heart for all that. Like with Tully and Kate, I really felt like the both of them could have been friends of mine, so some of the things they went through was really hard on me, also because of the fact that some of it was so close to what I was feeling myself. So I bawled because of that. Once when I read it in English and again, when I read it in Dutch, even though I thought it wasn't gonna hit me as bad the second time around. Darn Kristin for writing it so well that it keeps on moving me - makes me wonder if I would actually need Kleenex for the "Firefly lane" movie also.
I didn't cry over "Comfort and joy", by the way, but I found it a good story anyway. Not my all time favourite Kristin Hannah book, but one of my favourite Christmas stories anyway. Did I mention yet that I got two copies to hand out as Christmas presents this year? Well, I do anyway. My Belgian friend is always telling me: "Oh, that's just when I wanted" every time she gets a novel by Kristin, so I think this present is gonna be a big hit too...
Love,
Leen
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