Broken

Title: Broken

Author: Daniel Clay

Genre: Adult Fiction

Synopsis: Until that fateful afternoon, Skunk Cunningham had been a normal little girl, playing on the curb in front of her house. Rick Buckley had been a normal geeky teenager, hosing off his brand-new car. Bob Oswald had been a normal sociopathic single father of five slutty daughters, charging furiously down the sidewalk. Then Bob was beating Rick to a bloody pulp, right there in the Buckleys' driveway, and life on Drummond Square was never the same again.

This book was amazing. I loved it from the very beginning and to the very end. 

Daniel Clay grabs your attention from the very first page when he reveals that the main character, Skunk Cunningham, is in a coma! Clay pulls a Quentin Tarantino as he jumps back to the beginning and the reader is left to wonder, "How is the brutal beating of one teenage boy eventually leave an eleven-year-old girl in a coma?" 

It was such an amazing and unique style to read along and find how everything was connected, leading to Skunk's unfortunate state. It's a style I've only seen before in the TV show Seinfeld where several seemingly random events actually build off each other.

It made the reading highly enjoyable and exciting. So much so that it actually ties with Ghostgirl as my number one favorite... And it's his first novel!!

Skunk Cunningham

Strangely named after her mother's favorite English Rockband, Skunk Anansie, Skunk is the opening narrator by way of her thoughts. As we skip back to the beginning the point-of-view switches to the third person, with the exception of a few thoughts and elaborations by Skunk.

She may be fictional, but I love little Skunk Cunningham. She is so cute and innocent, with crushes, short-term thoughts, and a blunt view of the world. In just a matter of pages, you're hooked by the heartstrings.

Clay does a fantastic job sharing this little girl's mind with the world. There's no way the reader won't care about Skunk, which makes her condition hit you hard. 

Rick Buckley

Oh my God. Poor "Broken" Rick Buckley. His story has to be the saddest one I have read since Go Ask Alice. Clay takes you on a terrifying and heartbreaking journey through Rick's mind as he slowly loses his mind after Bob Oswald's brutal attack. 

It's really tricky to write a character that has gone through a trauma, especially if they develop a mental illness afterwards. Clay, despite this being his very first novel, does it flawlessly. He'll help you understand what Rick is thinking or imagining, while at the same time never explaining what is wrong with him. While a thought process may be revealed to the reader, we're still left at a loss trying to understand him.

Kind of like trying to understand the Joker. You may get the fact he thinks in chaos, and wants to "break" the Batman but you never fully understand him at all.

That is exactly what it's like reading about Rick Buckley.

This was such a fantastic novel, and to think it's a debut of Clay's work makes it all the better. Broken is my new favorite novel of all time, while Ghostgirl remains my favorite humorous/light-hearted novel.

I highly recomend everyone to pick the book up. It will blow you away. The only warning I can give as far as reading it is to take note of the genre: Adult Fiction. So be ready for heavy language (mostly from the Oswalds) and sexual content.

Pick this book up online at Barnes and Noble or (for all you Floridians) at your local Virgin Megastore!

I happily award Broken a perfect 5 out of 5 stars!!

= = = = = = = = = = = 

Next chosen read: INCANTATION by Alice Hoffman

Lakeview Terrace

Lakeview Terrace tells the story of an interracial couple who moves in next door to a police officer. It soon becomes clear that they are unwanted, and that Officer Abel Turner will do anything to drive them out.

When I saw the trailer it seemed that Lakeview Terrace had the potential to be an at least "OK" movie.

Just a few minutes into the film I was quickly made aware that I was wrong.

The writing and directing of this film were terrible.

None of the characters were believable, or well developed, and the dialogue was down-right painful at times. It felt as if the film was shot and produced out of the first-draft of the story. 

It wasn't perfected. It didn't even give the feeling that the writers cared for it or really tried.

The plot lacked so much depth and substance it actually hurt me to think about it; because this story did have potential. The writer's could have escalated things much smoother and much more violent. I never felt that this couple was really being terrorized from their home. 

They tried to use a forest fire as a symbol for how the conflict between the two neighbors went from contained, to out of control... But failed miserably. They didn't connect the two in a sufficient enough way to spark the audience's attention. All I could think of was: "Who cares about the fire?"

There were too many mediocre arguments, too many drawn out scenes that would have been most effective if short, and a too poor of an attempt to connect the audience with the story behind Turner's past.

The story itself may not have been enough for a full-length movie, but it could have had enough to be enjoyable: with the potential of earning at least three "stars" from its viewers.

But the production team seemed to give up and not put their best foot forward. They could have done so much more with the story than they did. It was very disappointing. 

What might be even worse than the writing, were the actors.

Samuel L. Jackson, who played Officer Abel Turner, did not impress me in the slightest. The dialogue didn't seem to fit him at all through the entire film. His character was much too flat for me to care about anything he did. 

You'd think the role of a terrorizing police officer would be fun to portray, but Jackson seemed to sluggishly move along in the role. If the actor can't show that he cares for the character, how can the audience feel anything differently?

I'm going to try to give Partick Wilson the benefit of the doubt, because he did fantastically in both Hard Candy and The Phantom of the Opera, so maybe his complete disaster-of-a-performance in Lakeview Terrace was the fault of a bad Director.

Wilson plays the role of Chris Mattson who moves into the house next door to Turner with his wife, Lisa (played by Kerry Washington). Wilson seemed to struggle with this role more than with his troublesome neighbor. Chris is supposed to be a white man who smokes and loves rap music.

I didn't believe him on either point. [[And since when is a mint and hand sanitizer enough to cover the smell of smoke?!]]

As the actions of his neighbor "escalated" he failed to show me that he was growing increasingly angry or frustrated. He reminded me more of a child pouting in his corner than a grown man fighting against a "terrifying" neighbor.

Kerry Washington, who is well known for her role in Fantastic Four as Alicia, did little to improve on the rest of the film.

She seemed much too casual throughout the entire film. It always seemed she was talking to a friend of hers, even when she was supposed to be angry. She just didn't convince me to be a woman tormented by her neighbor and her struggling marriage.

It was a shame because I expected more from her.

Overall this movie was not ready to be made. It desperately needed to go through two or more drafts before reaching a final script, let alone the big screen. I wasn't expecting this movie to be fantastic, but I didn't expect it to be such a disaster either.

((Barely)) 1 out of 5 stars.

EAGLE EYE

Last weekend I had the pleasure to catch Eagle Eye with a good friend of mine. The next day I was able to catch Lakeview Terrace which I will review after this. If things go well there will be THREE reviews today because I finished reading Broken Wednesday. ((Yes I could review them all in one long post but I'd like to keep them separate so I don't have like 20 Labels.))

EAGLE EYE

The film tells the story of Jerry Shaw (played by Shia Labeouf) who, after attending his brother's funeral, walks into his apartment to find boxes upon boxes of weapons and chemicals. His world is turned upside-down as he is hunted by the police, and receives a series of mysterious phonecalls that direct him to his next location or task. Along the way he meets Rachel Holloman (played by Michelle Monaghan), who has also received the mysterious calls. Who is this woman who calls and threatens them? How does she know so much about them? How does he see their every move? And how far will they have to go before she releases her hold on their life?

Any doubts I had with the story were gone the second the first call came in. The movie starts out a little slow, showing you what a regular-Joe Jerry Shaw really is. It's supposed to be boring because then, when the story takes off, you are as shocked, confused, and afraid as he is. 

You're kept at the edge of your seat as one thing after another continues to go wrong for Shaw, and you find that the truth behind the mysterious caller is more terrifying-- and possible --than you ever imagined.

Shia Labeouf gets a lot of bad publicity from movie-goers and the like. These are the people who can't get past his role in the Disney Channel Original Series Even Stevens where Labeouf plays a wacky, not-too-bright younger sibling who is always causing mayhem.

What they fail to see is how much he has grown as an actor. To me, he doesn't even look like the old Disney character anymore; He's completely different.

One strengh I see in him that I never saw in the television series, is his ability to perform emotional scenes. In Disturbia, he showed the world with one look how devastating the blow of losing a father is. In Transformers, when Megatron has him trapped on a rooftop, he shows us how someone could be completely terrified, yet determined all at the same time. In Constantine, when his character is beaten to death, he shows the innocence of a teen who just wanted to aid in something greater than himself. 

And then, in Eagle Eye, he expresses his sorrow over losing his brother, and his guilt in not being there more all in one look over the casket.

So no one can say he can't act.

His performance in Eagle Eye was just as impressive as his performance in Disturbia. What starts as fear and awkwardness turns into strengh and determination as he fights for his, and Rachel's, lives.

Michelle Monaghan seems to be a new up-and-coming actress. I never really heard of her until this year with her leading role in Made of Honor-- which I have not seen. However, I will definitely be looking her up from now on based on her performance in this film. Monaghan plays the role of Rachel Holloman, a mother whose son's life is threatened unless she, along with Labeouf, obeys the commands of this mysterious caller. 

Monaghan effortlessly convinced me she was a mother worried sick for the safety of her child. It was in her eyes, her face, her very stance. She isn't an amazing person, she's just a single mother working to make ends meet. But when her own is threatened she will do anything, even if she's almost paralyzed with fear while doing it.

At one point in the film she really steps it up and holds two men at gun point. Rachel doesn't care what happens to her anymore. She just wants to get things done and keep her son safe.

This film had a fantastic cast, with the one exception of Billy Bob Thornton.

Thornton played the role of Agent Thomas Morgan. He wasn't terrible, but he never convinced me he was an agent. His performance seemed to lack confidence and control. Even an agent who has made mistakes in the past always come through in the end with flying colors. But Thornton didn't. 

As the story neared the end I saw no growth with his character. Sure, I saw what was supposed to be there: knowledge, trust, determination-- But Thornton failed to perform them convincingly. He never seemed like an officer to me. Just a man staying close by putting his two-cents in on how to figure things out.

Fortunately, his performance did nothing to hinder the film overall. I was completely overwhelmed with stress and anxiety as I followed Jerry and Rachel's story all over the country.

It's definitely a movie you don't want to miss.

4.8 out of 5 stars.

= What's to Come =

Just to run a few Post-It Notes by you:

Upcoming Movie Reviews:

Eagle Eye

Lakeview Terrace

Currently Reading:

I'm almost done with "BROKEN"

NEXT Reading Choice (So Far):

"INCANTATION" by Alice Hoffman

'POWERS' Series - Mina:

Will re-write soon and re-post.

Hopefully will be much better w/ mistakes fixed

Comments:

THANKS TO THOSE WHO COMMENTED ON "MINA"!!!

I love learning from the feedback

NOW:

Cram for my Astronomy Exam

WISH ME LUCK!!

'Powers' Series - Mina

Mina gathered her things and made her way out of her History class. As she reached the door her books slipped through her hands, sending various sheets of paper to flutter around her. Sighing, she tucked the strands of her thick brown hair behind her ear and knelt to gather the mess. 

The other students walked by her-- none offering to help her, none even acknowledging her. Mina brushed it off and continued to place the papers back in their respective notebooks and folders; she hadn't expected anything different. She had only been at this school for a month, and so hadn't gathered the nerve to speak to anyone yet let alone make friends. 

Her father had passed away two months before, she and her mother still haven't recovered from it. Unable to afford the house without him, Mina's aunt, Karen, invited them both to live with her. Karen owned her own bookstore and had plenty of room for them in her apartment upstairs. Mina's mother gratefully accepted. 

While her mother was able to land a job as a waitress at a local Cafe, Mina was unfortunate in her attempts to find a job. Karen then offered her a position in her bookstore, where she could work everyday after school if she liked. Relieved that she can now help her mother with the finances, Mina accepted.

As Mina walked out of the classroom building she glanced at her watch. She had missed the bus but if she took the shortcut home she could still make it in time for work. Walking along the sidewalk leading off campus, Mina found herself behind two girls she recognized as cheerleaders. She slowed her pace, not daring to get too close and risk being spotted. The girls carried on, the Sun's rays shinning in the gold of their hair, their pom-poms bouncing lightly on their waists, with their voices dancing around each sentence.

They seemed to be talking excitedly about something, but she was too far behind them to understand it all. From what she could make out, something had happened during last night's Ballet Recital. 

Before she could hear more, Mina spotted the dirt road that cut through the woods: her fastest way home. Suddenly remembering where she was supposed to be, she drew away from the girls and quickly made her way down the path. 

Her mother never liked it when Mina took this path-- partly because she feared over the possibility of snakes lurking in the bushes --but mainly because once Mina was inside the woods, no one would be able to see her, nor barely hear her. 

But Mina was used to neither being seen or heard.

She walked quickly, but carefully. She had seen rabbits make their homes nearby and didn't wish to frighten them. She heard a rustle, and her gaze landed on a squirrel darting across the path. Mina smiled for the first time that day as a memory of her father reached her. They had always taken a weekly walk through the woods, just the two of them. Her father had always loved to study the animals with her. 

She looked to her wrist on her right hand, and admired her mood bracelet. It was the last gift he ever gave her.

Mina heard another rustle, one too heavy to be the weight of a squirrel or rabbit. She tensed and studied her surroundings. When nothing moved she started on the path again. It wouldn't be long until she reached the end.

She heard the rustle again, louder this time, but before Mina could turn a hand was pressed firmly against her mouth and waist, her books falling around her as she reached up and attempted to free herself from the hold.

She was spun and pinned against a tree. It was a man who was attacking her-- Mina's blood ran cold as she realized what was happening. The man leaned in and began kissing her neck, his body holding her firm against the tree. Tears filled her eyes as she tried desperately to get the man off of her. She could see her bracelet turning an ugly black as he struggled to keep her still. Then, deciding on a better tactic, he pushed her to the ground and pinned her, one hand holding both of hers above her head, the other trying to rip through her jeans. She was crying heavily now, her body struggling under his weight.

"Please don't! No! Please! Let me go!" 

He landed a punch on her right cheek, knocking the fight out of her. Pain seared across Mina's face, causing her to cry harder. 

"Please.... please..." 

He was pulling her jeans down, trying to reposition himself without taking his weight off of her. 

"No..."

His face was wild and ugly, his eyes dark with hunger. Mina's heart raced as she felt her jeans pass her ankles. She sobbed harder as he went over her body... kissing... biting. 

"P-Please...."

She was struggling, but the weight of his body was too much.

"No..."

She felt the world grow dark around her. She looked passed the trees to the sky and realized it had gone black, the Sun completely covered.

"No."

It was starting to thunder.

"No!"

He was reaching for her underwear.

"NO!"

Her eyes snap shut as a blinding light passed her, forcing the man off of her. He flew through the air and landed several yards away. Smoke emitted from his body.

He lay still.

Breathing heavily, Mina lay there a few seconds before slowly sitting up. What had happened? Her legs weak, she crawled toward her jeans and gripped them firmly. Her hands were shaking. Using a tree as a base, she slowly stood, leaning heavily against it. Standing, she had a better view of the man.

His skin was turned white, incredibly so, and emitted smoke as if it were burned.

Mina slowly pulled her jeans back on, the button had been popped off so she had to hold it up herself. 

Keeping a hand on her jeans, she used her other hand to lean against the trees as she slowly walked closer. Why hadn't he moved? Why was there smoke?

It wasn't until she was about twenty feet away that she understood.

Lightning. The man was struck dead by lightning.

But wait... He had been on top of her. Wouldn't she have been struck too? Mina lifted her gaze back to the sky. The thunder had subsided but it was still dark. She closed her eyes and forced herself to think back to what happened:

He was on top of her, pinning her... She cried, pleaded... He ripped off her jeans, and the sky went black--

Wait. Black? Her eyes opened wide and studied the sky again. When she left campus it was sunny, so sunny in fact that the hair on those cheerleaders heads shined. How had the weather changed so suddenly?

She looked down at her bracelet, it was slowly returning to the shade of blue it had been before the attack. It had been black during the struggle.

Then she remembered. 

When the man attacked her, Mina grew increasingly stressed, angry, and terrified. Her bracelet changed colors to reflect that. 

Had the weather...? 

Mina looked upwards and saw that just as her bracelet changed back, the clouds dispersed and the Sun shined brightly again.

It couldn't be... Could it?

When she screamed she remembered feeling something rush past her. She remembered moving the object away from her and toward the attacker.

Was the thing she moved the... the lightning?

Quickly gathering her things, Mina ran out of the woods in the direction of home.

What was she?