Friday Memes and Bushnell's 'Killing Monica'

It's Friday and it is my last ever Friday in Nottingham, which is slightly sad! The three years I spent here doing a Bachelor, working, meeting people etc. are over and, although I'm excited to start a new part of my life in St. Andrews, it's bittersweet to go. But let's leave my emotions behind for a second and focus on the memes!

Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. This week's question was suggested by A Kernel of Nonsense:

What is your favourite movie?


Good question! I really love watching films, almost as much as I love reading books. I am incredibly picky when it comes to films as well though. When you ask me what my favourite one is I will always start thinking because, for me, there are a few films which are simply outside of choice. I will always, I repeat, always, choose Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter saga over anything else. That doesn't mean I don't like other films, I will just always love them the most. But below is a list of films I absolutely love which everyone should watch:

• Pan's Labyrinth - Guillermo del Toro
• Das Leben der Anderen - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (great name, no?)
• The Bridge to Terabithia - Gabor Csupo
• Beauty & the Beast - Gary Trousdale
• Spirited Away - Hayao Miyazaki
• Pacific Rim - Guillermo del Toro (see a pattern here?)
• Imitation of Life - Douglas Sirk

I'm going to leave it at that because I have a feeling this list could go on for a very long time!

Book Beginnings and Friday 56 are hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader and Freda at Freda's Voice respectively. This week I'm using Killing Monica by Candace Bushnell. I haven't read anything else by her so I'm excited to see how this one will work out for me! I definitely know I love the cover though, just look at it!

Pub. Date: 23/06/2015
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

In KILLING MONICA Bushnell spoofs and skewers her way through pop culture, celebrity worship, fame, and even the meaning of life itself, when a famous writer must resort to faking her own death in order to get her life back from her most infamous creation--Monica. With her trademark wit and style, KILLING MONICA is Bushnell's sharpest, funniest book to date.

The quotes below are from the ARC copy so may appear different, or at different places, in the final version.


BB:

'IT WAS SUMMER, and Monica was everywhere again.
She was there, in the supermarket, on the rack of tabloids between displays of candy and sugarless gum at the checkout counter. And there, on the side of the bus kiosk. And there, on the cover of the fashion magazines in the salon. She was all over the morning shows, recommending what to wear, store, or toss from your summer wardrobe. She was with you in the backseat of the taxi, on the screen in front of your knees, telling you where to go, what to see, and what to buy. Selling, always selling. But mostly, what she was selling was happiness.' p.1

I really like the beginning, the way Bushnell drops you straight into the main character's mindset. I do wonder when she created Monica and why?

F56:

'They laughed the whole way through the long, long drive up the coast, stopping for fried clams and Bloody Marys, screaming profanities out the window at other drivers—“Asshat!” “Asswipe!”—and even talking their way out of a speeding ticket.' p.56

This is the kind of road trip I want to have! Hours in a car, an amazing view at the same time, completely letting go and just driving. However, I'm not a bit fan of drinking and driving, so I think the Bloody Mary's would have to wait until we got to a motel or something. But talking my way out of a speeding ticket is definitely something I want to do one day.

So, what are your favourite films? Do you have any set favourites like I do? And have you read a Candance Bushnell book?