Sunday, July 11, 2010

A book- racy and intriguing!!

Intrigue is probably the best one word description of Sidney Sheldon's ,' The Other Side Of Midnight'. In two words, brilliant characterization!
It is said that he is repetitive in his plots and characters. But, this is my first.
I could not put down the book. It kept popping newer plots and twists!
'What next?' was always in my mind!
It revolves around two women and two men.

Catherine Alexander-Douglas grew up in the usa. She is a typical teenager,checking on her looks, all the time. She blossoms into a graceful woman. She is intelligent and gentle. She wants to make a mark in life. She's strong and determined. Her obvious and innate drawback is her lack of confidence. She's easily gullible and alternatively emotional and reticent, at the wrong places!
She is all set to marry the kind and respectful Bill Fraser when Larry Douglas jumps in and she gets carried away. Later, it is revealed that Larry is interested in Noelle Page, the next character.

Noelle Page is the pivotal character of the book. She was born to be a legend, a star. No, she was not born with a silverspoon. It is a rags-to-riches journey. Her beauty is her biggest asset, notwithstanding her intelligence, for she isn't the familiar, dumb blonde! Before Catherine, Noelle falls in love with Larry. For Larry, it's just a fling. This starts the central plot of the book. Noelle Page turns into the most sought-after actress, all in a bid to lure Larry back and kill him. As the plot is revealed, she falls in love with him, all over again and they conspire to kill Catherine!Larry does not remember the Noelle he once knew. He falls for Noelle, the actress.
Noelle too has one inexplicable weakness. It's her capriciousness!

Lawrence(Larry) Douglas is a strong,determined and accomplished pilot. A former employee of the RAF, he's a strong man, the hunk whose life is intertwined with that of Noelle and Catherine. Larry is considered charming. He turns out to be flustered, moody, self-obsessed and nonchalant. He is perceived to be intellectual and accomplished. However, by the end of the book, he's a remorseful man. He's Noelle's other half, childish,immature and capricious!

The man who emerges victorius is Constantin Demiris, the legendary greek tycoon, Noelle's beau in the eyes of the world. She pretends to be his mistress just to lure Larry. Demiris is the strongest character in the book. He controls with his fingers the lives of the other three. He is known for his paybacks. He is grateful to the people who helped him. He's insatiably greedy to witness the destruction of his enemies! At the end, Noelle and Larry become his players. As said earlier, they almost murder Catherine and are tried, for the gory murder. That's when the country's best lawyer, Mr.Chotas turns the tide to Demiris's favour and both are executed!There ends the life of Ms.Noelle Page! The world missed a highly talented performer.
In the epilogue, it is unfurled that Cathy's life is saved! Demiris was fair after, all!

It was a good way to spend my extrememly numb holidays. I liked the book.
The book is truly intriguing, for the umpteenth time, with strong and real characters.

A movie to remember?

A walk to remember.
It strikes a million chords! It is because thousands of homo sapiens love this movie!
This is not a movie review. Frankly, I saw nothing in it!
It is highly stereotypical. 'Bad boy', Landon Carter(Shane West) meets 'good girl', Jamie Sullivan(Mandy Moore) and they fall in love, over drama rehearsals! It is done overtly, in particular,the tear-jerking parts of the storyline . Jamie's mother died when she was young.
She is made fun of, at school for owning just one sweater. As you may now know, she'a a geek. And Landon's a boy who grew up too early, being indifferent and insensitive.
Afterward, their relationship is on a dreamrun. He gets a star named after her. He metamorphoses into a caring, respectful man, full of awe.
As destiny has it, she reveals to him that she has Leukemia. There ends the candy floss! And then begins the heartwrenching part!
The lines in the movie are widely quoted. Some are cliche! "Our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it."and "Without suffering there would be no compassion.". Some are genuine. "Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful."
All in all, not a must see movie. If you can shed some tears, watch it!
Not a great cast. The only good thing about it is the song 'Only Hope' by Mandy Moore.
It's wonderful. Great lyrics and soft melody.
Well, it might not be a movie to remember. But, it's widely pampered!