Friday, May 29, 2009

Sunday at Tiffany's by James Patterson -- A Book Review

Janet: I really did not like this book. I thought the whole thing was a little ridiculous...I guess I wasn't expecting her to end up with Michael. I think that she should have figured things out for herself and maybe Michael would come into her life again to help her see that she could find someone better on her own. It was creepy to me that she knew this guy when she was nine. I know that I was supposed to get caught up in the romance of it all, but I just thought it was weird. So, overall, I did not enjoy it much.

Lisa: This book is Drop Dead Fred meets City of Angels. You have a little girl with an imaginary friend whom she is suppose to forget all about, but doesn’t. Then in-between “jobs” he’s in New York to help her once again. I don’t ever remember having an imaginary friend, but if we go by what these authors are saying we wouldn’t remember would we? Of course that’s just stupid because the parents would remember and then tell them, as they got older. I’m being a bit technical I know! Overall I think it was an average book. It was a nice easy read and it entertained me for the time.

Stacy: All in all I thought it was a decent book, I probably wouldn't read it again, however it was good for what it was. It was a quick read and it kept me entertained. I did think that there was a bit of a creepy factor that he was her imaginary friend...I'm not sure why.


Q & A:
1.Michael says that the role of an imaginary friend is to make children feel less alone and to help them find their place in the world. Do you think imaginary friends help children deal with their lives or keep them from dealing with life head on? In what other ways do we use our imagination to cope with life or hide from it?

Janet- Being honest, I think imaginary friends are ridiculous. But PJ had a 'little PJ' that would just appear wherever he wanted him. I thought that was cute and I liked that he was using his imagination, but that was it. I definitely think that using your imagination to get you though tough times can take on many different forms. I know that if you can control your thoughts, you can control a bit of every situation. Like when I was in labor, I counted. I imagined the numbers as I said them and it had a calming effect on the hardest physical times of my life.
Lisa- I think it keeps them from dealing with life head on. Instead of having a real friend at school that she could confide in she had to make one up. Of course this books wants you to believe that they aren’t imaginary at all, but invisible friends. Daydreaming is another way people cope or hide from life.
Stacy- I think without our imaginations we would be lost. Imaginary friends only help kids; they have friends to fit their needs.

2.When Michael leaves Jane on her ninth birthday, Jane is devastated and says, "I'll never forget you Michael, no matter what." Do you think there is one perfect love for each of us? How influenced are we by portrayals of love and love affairs in the media, movies, and on television?

J- I do not believe that there is one perfect person out there for each of us. I do think that your choices in your life can help define who the person you are with will be. I believe that there can be a connection between two people that can be unexplainable. I also think that sometimes, even said connection or even love, is not enough to hold two people together. I think all of the outside sources in our lives can give us a skewed idea on love. I think true love is wonderful but it takes sacrifice and compromise (but not too many!), which much of the media leaves out.
L- I don’t believe in a perfect anything. Nothing is perfect. When I was younger I used to think that there was one person for everyone. I was also a pessimist and believed whenever I heard of a young boy dying on the news that he was probably my one. I know a bit morbid as well huh? I think personality-wise people can match in so many different ways. It’s all about choice. I think the media and such give us the impression that everyone cheats and has affairs and so on. I don’t believe it’s as commonplace as that although I don’t doubt it happening.
S- I don't think that there is one love for everyone; I think that there are many different kinds of love for everyone. Yes it would be everyone's dream to just be able to see someone and know that that was his or her perfect person, but that's not how life works.

3. Jane's play Thank Heaven, is based on her childhood friendship with Michael. Would you have an interest in seeing the play? Do you prefer the play's ending where Michael leaves Jane on her ninth birthday or do you prefer the book's ending where Jane and Michael meet again as adults?

J- I think that I like the plays ending. Obviously there would be no story if it did, but I think Jane needed to figure things out on her own.
L- It is hard to say really. In the scene where she buys herself a diamond ring is suppose to show that she’s an independent women (Destiny’s Child song playin’ right now!) but to me this is a contradiction to the whole story. She needed him to feel whole. I think if you can’t be happy with yourself your chances of ever being happy are slim.
S- I would see the play, I am a theatre person and I think that ending the play where he leaves and doesn't come back brings some emotion to it. It really makes the audience feel something. As a movie though you would need him to come back, because viewers would suggest that. That's the difference in movies and plays.

4. Michael gives up has immortality to be with Jane. Do you think he could have made another choice? Do you support his decision? If you had been presented with a similar situation, what would you have done to be with the one you loved?

J- I think Michael's decision was out of his hands and I would do anything, realistically, to be with the one I love.
L- I don’t think he knew he was making a choice. He was slowly falling in love and it happened. I don’t believe love is enough. Michael’s “life” concerns so many other people that if it were a conscience decision I would object. As for what would you have done to be with the one you loved…is moving to England mean anything?
S- I think that you only have one life to live and if you can't be with the one you think you are meant to be with then what is there to live for. Mine as well give it a shot right?

5. Michael takes Jane to Nantucket because he doesn't want to waist a minute of the time they have together. Michael says, "Is it so difficult to imagine or believe that a man and a woman can find happiness together for a little while, which, after all, is all that we have?" Is this the moral of the story for you? If not, what is?

J- I do think that it is the morale of the story - to cherish the moments you have together.
L- I never believed Jane was supposed to die. It was all the sudden thrown in and thought it a bit odd that he would have thought that when his job is to help kids deal with things that are wrong in their life; in Jane’s case a neglectful parent. Life is short. I think the moral of the story for me is that love can be found in unexpected places or that friends make the best lovers or something like that ;0)
S- I do not think this is the moral of the book, I am not sure what it, but I don't think it's that just because it is suggested. I will have to get back to you.

6 comments:

  1. I have to apologise for our one day delay in getting this up!! Time zones!!

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  2. I agree with Janet, this 30-something guy falling in love with a girl he was friends with when she was only nine was way to creepy. I also didn't like the 2 page chapter and choppy-ness of the writing. However, it was VERY City of Angels which I though was interesting. (Does anyone know which came first? I suppose I could look it up...)

    Anyway, on to the discussion:
    1. I never had imaginary friends but I remember trying to have them. It sounds silly, but I thought the idea was fascinating and wished I could have on of my own. I think that imaginary friends can be beneficial to a kid but I wonder how many kids who had serious imaginary friends become schizophrenic as adults?
    2. I think love is more of an action than a reaction and therefor love for someone is often a choice and something that needs to be worked on. That's not to say I don't believe in falling in love; I think initially there is an attraction that connects us that some people call love but ten it comes down to commitment. This also means that I think any of us could be happy with almost anyone, it's just a matter of how hard you are willing to try. However, there are definitely people whom are better suited for us than others.
    3. I second Lisa's motion on this one ;) I would rather think that the imaginary friend left her and she turned into a strong independent woman with no more need for this imaginary friend.
    4. Within the context of the book, I totally support his decision and think it was the right one. He loved her and wanted to be with her and that's all that matters.
    5. Again, I second Lisa...I think the moral of the story is more about finding love in unexpected places and doing whatever it takes to be with the one you love despite the potential for the love being cut short.

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  3. Sunday at Tiffany's just came out last year so City of Angels was first.
    I don't mind the short chapters so much, if you've read James Patterson he writes like that. But I think this book lacks because it was written with another Author. Which is something else Mr. Patterson does. I haven't read anything by him except Maxium Ride and those were cool!!

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  4. Girls, did you get my questions answered via email? I didnt see them up, so I was just wondering. Excited for Junes Book!!!! :)

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  5. I got your answers and I'll be sure to post them on the website, but for the blog I'll post them here as a comment! Sorry if there was any confusion we're still trying to find the best way to "discuss" the book on the blog! ;0)

    WHAT AMY SAYS:
    1. Michael says that the role of an imaginary friend is to make children feel less alone and to help them find their place in the world. Do you think imaginary friends help children deal with their lives or keep them from dealing with life head on? In what other ways do we use our imagination to cope with life or hide from it?
    I think they do both. If you use have an imaginary friend, you are using it to sort of seperate yourself from reality of what is actually happening, but at the same time sometimes you need that "somebody" to help you sort out your feelings and thoughts. Who doesnt talk to themselves still?! I think majority of people do, it is just with kids they use an imaginary friend to "talk to", and as adults we find friends and family who will listen to us about our thoughts and feeling, and how often to kids get ignored about their feelings? Or they dont let us know about it in the first place.

    2. When Michael leaves Jane on her ninth birthday, Jane is devestated and says, "I'll never forget you Micheal, no matter what." Do you think there is one perfect love for each of us? How influenced are we by portrayals of love and love affairs in the media, movies, and on television?
    I do think there are soulmates and a person you are destined to be with. I could not imagine myself with anyone but my husband. It is like we fit perfectly within eachother, despite our differences. I do think there may be more than one person destined for you, but at different times (like when a spouse dies or something else tragic happens, and you find another love)

    3. Jane's play Thank Heaven, is based on her childhood friendship with Michael. Would you have an interest in seeing the play? Do you prefer the play's ending where Michael leaves Jane on her ninth birthday or do you prefer the book's ending where Jane and Michael meet again as adults?
    I would just because I am a sap for a good love story!!!! I of couse would be DEVASTATED if it ended where Michael leaves and there is no "resolution".

    4. Michael gives up has immortality to be with Jane. Do you think he could have made another choice? Do you support his decision? If you had been presented with a similar situation, what would you have done to be with the one you loved?
    There was no other choice he could have made....well ok.....he could have not been with Jane, but even that wasnt a choice for him. I think there is a destiny, and despite what you WANT, you dont always get it "your way". For my husband, yes I would do absolutely anything if it meant making him happy and being with him. For anyone else.....well, I dont know, it depends, because obviously I dont love them like I do Brent.

    5. Michael takes Jane to Nantucket because he doesn't want to waist a minute of the time they have together. Michael says, "Is it so difficult to imagine or believe that a man and a woman can find happiness together for a little while, which, after all, is all that we have?" Is this the moral of the story for you? If not, what is?
    Myu moral of the story is love finds a way, no matter what. But it is a true point!

    Thanks Ladies! It was a great book! Cant wait for next month!!!
    Amy

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  6. Thanks Lisa. Sorry too if there is any confusion. I didnt know how you guys wanted "our" responses too. :)

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