Fifth Avenue, 5AM: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, by Sam Wasson
Rating: 3
If you like the movie, 'Breakfast at Tiffanny's', you'll enjoy this quick read. It has quite a few interesting tidbits about the making of the movie, some main points of how it differs from Truman Capote's novel, and how revolutionary the main character was. Much is said about how the producers had to change the book (an obvious call girl and gay new neighbor would not be allowed in a movie in the 60's), yet the resulting character, Holly Golightly, was unique and very modern. This book made me want to watch the movie again and read Truman Capote's original book. I will say the discussion of Mickey Rooney's interpretation of the Japanese neighbor was cringe-worthy - it doesn't represent a modern view of a Japanese immigrant!
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
Rating: 5
Reading Jane Eyre again is kind of sad - it reminds me that I can never read it for the first time again and experience the mood and surprises. I have always preferred it to her sister, Emily's, 'Wuthering Heights' in which I found the main characters to be so mean (note: I need to reread that one again to see if I enjoy it more as an adult who doesn't have to like the main characters!). What I find so enjoyable about Jane Eyre is that she has tragedies in her life, but is strong and sticks to her own true self and you have the confidence that she'll prevail and even find happiness. Unlike Jane Austen's tales, where the characters feel like they are in straight-jackets of their time. Jane Eyre is not and is loved for her uniqueness and isn't caught in society's rules, just her own. [Note: the movie (3/11) is quite good... Mr. Rochester truly smolders, and that's not a pun on his propensity to be in fires :).]
