Movies, Books, and Tomatoes: The Weekend in a Nutshell

Basically, this was my weekend:

1) I finished the book Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. The plot involves a thirty-something-year-old woman who finds out, after her father's arrest, that she was kidnapped when she was four years old. First, I'll say that the story was interesting; I didn't have to force myself to read it. However, there were places that made me roll my eyes, such as the author's extremely overt attempts to incorporate symbolism/metaphors/analogies, as well as her depiction of prison, which included rap lyrics by some of the inmates of the cell block. The book gets a mixed review from me.

2) Darryl and I saw two movies this weekend. Yesterday, we saw Cars. When I was a kid, I wasn't really into cartoons, but I think I'm making up for it in my adult years. Anyway, it was really good. It was a long movie--a full two hours--but very enjoyable.

Today, and I'm almost ashamed to type this, we saw The Lakehouse. When the trailers for this movie first ran, I swore I would not see this movie. I can't stand Keanu, and the movie seemed hokey. But, doggone it, I like Sandra Bullock, and with every talk show interview I see with her, I like her even more. I think Sandy and I could be friends, going to Starbucks and watching chick movies together. :) So I was suckered in by Sandy's appeal...and the movie was bad. I will say that Keanu wasn't too bad in this movie, and the movie was okay for me until about a third of the way through. My main issue with it is the movie never explains why these two people can communicate two years apart; I wanted that explanation. Willing suspension of disbelief can only take me so far. (I can believe in a world populated only by cars, though.)

3) The Tomato Recipe of the Day was tomatoes broiled with olive oil and feta. This one was super-delicious and extremely easy. The recipe called for fresh oregano, but I left that out because I'm not a huge oregano fan. Seriously, tomatoes+feta=perfection.