Water for Elephants by: Sara Gruen

PLOT: A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.

OPINION: Loved, loved, loved this book. I was hooked from the prologue. I felt so bad for the elephant Rosie. I wanted to kick August’s ass so many times. I was so happy when Jakob finally had enough and stood up for Marlena & Rosie. I also loved Walter a.k.a. Kinko. He was one of my favorites. I cannot wait to see the movie.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D

PLOT: The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets.

OPINION: How could you go wrong with giant machines fighting? We both enjoyed it and we love 3D. I did however think the movie was a little long. Two and a half hours were a bit much. They needed to wrap it up. I also liked the new love interest. She was a nice addition to the movie. I also loved his parents. They didn’t play a big role but they always make me laugh.

The Social Network

PLOT: A chronicle of the founding of Facebook, the social-networking Web site.

OPINION: I fell asleep about half way through this movie. What I did watch of it was good. I had Aaron tell me what happened in the end.

Mockingjay by: Suzanne Collins

PLOT: Mockingjay is the third installment of The Hunger Games trilogy by American author Suzanne Collins. After her rescue by the rebels, Katniss willingly agrees to become "the Mockingjay", a symbol of the rebellion against the Capitol.

OPINION: I loved the way this book ended. I was so worried at first with Peeta losing control & not knowing what was real & what wasn’t. I loved reading about the Capital. I was drawn into every page and every word. I didn’t want it to end.

Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins

PLOT: Catching Fire is the second book in The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. As the sequel to the 2008 bestseller The Hunger Games, it continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and the fictional, futuristic nation of Panem. Due to the events of the previous novel, a rebellion against the ruling Capitol has begun, and Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta are forced to return to the arena in a special edition of the The Hunger Games.

OPINION: I loved this series! It is one of my favorites. I was shocked that Katniss & Peeta had to go back into the games. It made me so mad. I loved reading about the other victors from the other districts. I was so sad about the stylist. He was one of my favorites.

Bluestone Turnpike Trail

The Hunger Games by: Suzanne Collins

PLOT: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becoemes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

OPINION: I loved every word of it. I couldn't get enough. The ending had me in tears.

Dead Reckoning 'SooKie STaCKHouSE Series' by: Charlaine Harris

PLOT: With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anitshifters in the area. But Sookie suspects otherwise, and she and Sam work together to uncover the culprit-and the tisted motive for the attack.

But her attention is divided. Though she can't "read" vampires, Sookie knows her lover, Eric Northman, and his "child" Pam well-and she realizes that they are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, she is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows.

Caught up once again in the politics of the vampire world, Sookie will lear that she is as much of a pawn as any ordinary human-and that there is a new queen on the board...

OPINION: I love all the Sookie books. This one is not any different. There was not a whole lot that went on in this book. I love that fact that she is with Eric.

2011 Relay For Life

Twin Falls

"The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest" By: Stieg Larsson

PLOT: Lisbeth is recovering in a hospital and awaiting trial for three murders when she is released. Mikael must prove her innocence, but Lisbeth must be willing to share the details of her sordid experiences with the court.

OPINION: I love the Millennium series. I didn’t want this series to end. Lisbeth Salander was a great character to follow. She is very independent and smart. She is a tough girl & didn’t let her past get in her way. This book (third in the series) was my favorite. I was hooked from the beginning. I am so excited for the movie to come out. The first movie should be out sometime this year.

Skyline

PLOT: Jarrod and his pregnant girlfriend Elaine travel to Los Angeles to meet his old friend and successful entrepreneur Terryand his wife Candice. Terry gives a party in his apartment for Jarrod and offers a job position to him in LA. Terry's assistant and lover Denise (Crystal Reed) and his friend Ray (Neil Hopkins) sleep in the couch in the living room, but in the dawn of the next morning, the group is awakened by mysterious beams of blue light. Ray stares at the light and is taken by the mysterious force. The group of friends try to escape from the alien invaders.

OPINION: It was ok. No real plot so don't expect much from this movie.

Black Swan

PLOT: A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odile, the Black Swan.

OPINION: Love, love, love this movie. It was very dark and a couple of parts I wasn’t sure about. Overall I thought Natalie Portman did an excellent job. She was very believable. I wanted more. I didn’t want the movie to end.

Love and Other Drugs

PLOT: Maggie (Hathaway) is an alluring free spirit who won't let anyone - or anything - tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie (Gyllenhaal)




OPINION: This movie was cute. I liked it. They were screwing all the time... a lot of Tits and Ass. And it had a few funny parts in it.

Inception

PLOT: In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception.



OPINION: This was the second time I’ve watched this movie. I’ve fallen asleep both times. The first time I fell asleep in the theater but it was after a long day at the county fair. I also fell asleep at Lisa’s last night. I almost made it though. I missed the last half an hour of it. But we have it on Blue-Ray so I’ll watch it again when I’m not so tired. I’ve always been a fan of Leonardo Dicaprio too.