Smart Bitches Trashy Books | All of the romance, none of the bullshit.

I so want to see this. Might have to sneak away for a matinee today.

The 17YO (who loved the book) saw it last night and said it was excellent.

NPR also gave it a good review.

I saw the movie and liked it, but I can’t say I liked the way the three gay guys were portrayed. They played into stereotypes with things like (when Nora is taking her shirt off) “we’re all girls here"…

Loved the book, dying to see the movie.

Has anyone ever read the Realm of Possiblity by David Levithan, (one of the authors of Nick & Norah)?

Awesome book of narrative poetry.

I so want to see it, but it might end up being a DVD purchase for me.  I don’t know anyone irl who’d go with me, and I hate going to see movies on my own.  Anyone know when it’s out in the UK?

Another achievement is granting Norah a Jewish identity that’s as much an unremarkable, unshticky part of who she is as the fact that she’s cool, she loves rock, and she doesn’t drink.

Stereotyping Jews is always a pet peeve of mine, in books and in movies and TV. I’ve had a few rants on this while reviewing books in the past. I’m so glad to hear this!

[b-Gillian, it comes out in the UK on the 30th of Jan 2009. Argh! That’s aaaaages away. sadface.

30th...January?!?!  NOOOOOOOO!  D: D: D:

(Hey, you live in Edinburgh too!  *waves*)

YAYY!!!

I am SO excited to see it!

I borrowed the book from the library based on your review and LOVED it. It was one of those books where I thought to myself, “If I had to choose between having hot, meaningful sex right now, or finishishing this book, I’d finish the book.” (Does anyone else have that thought cross their mind when they read?”

spirit84-I’m glad it does justice to the spirit of the book!

I was trying to talk my husband into going to see it, then realized I’d have to explain to him what a playlist is.

*sigh* I think I’ll go with my son.

Excellent--I can send my teenager to it with little remorse:-)

They played into stereotypes with things like (when Nora is taking her shirt off) “we’re all girls here"…

I spent my teens surrounded by gay guys, I practically lived in “boy’s town” and I can tell you right now that I’ve had my goods discussed, looked at and felt-up by more gay men than straight. I probably also saw more penises than any other virgin teen in the world. I’ve had my clothes picked out by gay guys, gay guys have done my make-up and a gay guy taught me how to walk in heels. Somethings may be stereotypical, but that’s because they actually happen and you can’t not say/do something just because it might make you look like a stereotype. I’m Hispanic, should I refrain from eating rice and beans where other people can see me lest I perpetuate a stereotype? You have to be genuinely you, even if it plays to others like a stereotype. If you are a writer, you have to give your characters that same freedom or they’re just two dimensional.

I haven’s seen this yet. I’m going to try to get my aunt and some of my cousins, maybe my nieces, together to go see this. Not my sister, though, because she hates romantic movies and will scoff should you cry during a movie. She also hates to read. Anything longer than ten pages and you might as well forget it. How we came from the same gene pool I’ll never know. My man will watch romantic comedies at home with me, but he only likes to go to the theater for movies with good visuals, special effects or epic action scenes.

I am looking forward to seeing it too. My grandson (19) said it is supposed to be THE movie for their generation. I guess we all have one. Now I have to stop and think about which one is THE movie for each generation. I loved Juno, so I imagine this one will be good too.

I read the book a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it - it’s a short read and has some laugh out loud moments.  It only made me feel the tiniest bit old, though - at 35 I just didn’t get some of the references - I had to get some clarification from a friend who mentors high school students.

I am 18 and a freshman in college this fall, and I appreciated this book and movie so much. One part I really like is how Norah is “straight-edge” and still considered really cool. I can relate to her struggles surrounding that because I myself do not drink or use drugs, but all of my friends do. Anyone who knows me understands I still like to party and I am not judgmental about others’ decisions to participate in those things, but it can be difficult when meeting new kids. Seeing Norah and her friends so successful at just being who they are was a great message to other people (of all ages, but especially young adults).
As for the romantic aspect, it was brillant. When one of Nick’s friends was explaining to him (refrencing The Beatles) that what most people really want is to “hold your hand”, it was so simple, yet powerful. So many people today, particularly in my generation who were brought up with sex around constently us feel as though that having hot sex at all hours is the point of a relationship. This story portrayed it in a healthy light, where physical affection is an aspect of a relationship, but not the purpose.
And lastly, to add to what others have said about they way the gay characters interacted with others - it was so awesome to see a straight guy being really comfortable with homosexuals. I can not tell you how influential this could be upon young men.

My 15 y/o daughter and I saw it last night.  It was great, very entertaining.  I liked that it addressed the world my kids actually inhabit, sex, drugs, rock n roll, teenage alcoholism, absentee parents (no mention of Norah’s mother, evah).  My daughter just said, “Well that was weird.” But if you think of this as a “safe” teen film, think again.  My teens are more sophisticated about the world than I think they ought to be.

In response to Madd:

I didn’t mean to imply that no gay guys ever act like that, or that they should change their behavior to avoid stereotypes. It’s just that I’m bisexual, as is my brother, I know several gay guys, and none of us act at all like those guys. (Of course, I’m not a guy so I guess I wouldn’t act like them) I just wish that one of the guys in the movie had acted like the gay guys I know. I guess that’s my main problem with them--I could see bits of people I know in all the other character, but I didn’t with those three.

I saw it last night and LOVED it. It’s so much fun! I highly recommend it to anyone who likes humor, music, and romance. A really enjoyable film.

I can’t wait to see this movie.  Michael Cera is adorable.

Gillian-- D: D: I KNOW. WHY?! Stoopid studios/distributors. Ugh.

(*waves back* Hello hello! Gorgeous today, wasn’t it? Apart from that whole not very warm at all thing.)

I saw this last night (I had picked up the book after reading the review on this very website, actually) and I enjoyed it.  I thought the scene in the music studio was very tasteful (you know which one I am talking about, unless you haven’t seen the movie...). 

I thought the gay guys were a little stereotypical, but I thought that one line was the only real part that made me roll my eyes.  For one thing, if I hadn’t read the book I wouldn’t have guessed they were gay until Nick says his awesome line about how they “Don’t know how hard it is to be straight” or something along those lines.  But his two band mates, and the guy one picks up at their show, are pretty awesome.  I liked that Nick and his friends were very comfortable touching- which doesn’t seem like a big deal, until you consider how homophobic our culture is, and really, how often do you see straight guys casually touching their qay guy friends, or slinging theirs arms around each other shoulders, or even holding hands while giving impassioned speeches on love and the Beatles?  I thought that was sweet and wonderful.

The movie was pretty close to the book.  The one scene from the book I really missed was Tris and Nora in the bathroom, which I thought really made Tris more dimensional, instead of just being the pretty girl. I am not sure it would work in the movie without being picketed, but it would have been cool. 

Great movie!  I hardly ever pay to see movies these days, but I am glad I went and saw this one.

(*waves back* Hello hello! Gorgeous today, wasn’t it? Apart from that whole not very warm at all thing.)

It was lovely yesterday!  And then...not so much today.  Ah well!

Gillian—I know! Annoying, because today was my day off. Ugh.

Yay!  I work with David Levithan (well, not with him, but I’m on the same floor as he is and pass by his office routinely.  Maybe one day...), and I’ve been dying to see this.  Unfortunately, my friends, who share a David Levithan crush with me, haven’t been able to get our schedules together yet.  I’m thrilled that there are folks out there recognizing his worth.  It couldn’t happen to a sweeter, more talented guy.

(Little bit of D.L. trivia...he discovered Ann M. Martin and The Babysitter’s Club when he was only 18.  The man is truly a god.)

Jen C, ITA on the bathroom scene with Tris. I was hoping the movie would keep that aspect of the book, that Tris has this other dimension that the guys don’t see. Alas. I still loved the movie, though.