SHOPPING, SEDUCTION AND MR. SELFRIDGE (2007)

Shopping, Seduction & Mr. Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After watching the first season of Mr. Selfridge on PBS, I decided to read Lindy Woodhead's wonderful exploration of the great man's life since the second season won't be shown until 2014.

I became fascinated with Harry Gordon Selfridge when I learned he had grown up in Jackson, Michigan and that his mother had been principal of Jackson High School. At one time a stock boy for the L.H.Field Company here, which closed its doors in the late 1980s, Harry headed to Chicago with a recommendation from L.H. Field, Marshall Field's cousin. Although he had a successful career at Marshall Field, he wanted his own store.

An extraordinary visionary, Harry eventually built Selfridge's in London changing how people shopped forever as he constantly found new ways of enticing them into his magnificent store. Add to that his love of family, his fascination with beautiful women, and his gambling and you have a great read.

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Update on NIGHT FILM (2013)

I just barely finished reading Night Film by Marisha Pessl this past weekend, in one pretty huge gulp, and already it is being talked about for a movie! Check out this article from Casting Call.

If you've read the book, feel free to make your own casting decisions!

NIGHT FILM (2013)

Night Film by Marisha Pessl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What did Ashley Cordova want to tell him before jumping to her death? Investigative reporter Scott McGrath decides to track down Ashley's father, the elusive director of dark and disturbing films, Stanislas Cordova, to find the truth behind the myths. Night Film is one incredible roller coaster ride.

Using made-up documents to help tell a story has been done before but never as well as Marisha Pessl's detailed and realistic newspaper clippings, photographs, magazine articles, and other documents scattered throughout the book.

Some of the print reviewers aren't as enthusiastic about this sophomore effort of Marisha Pessl, who won recognition for her debut novel Special Topics in Calamity Physics (2006). However, most readers (and that includes me) are totally enthusiastic.

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Breaking News for LIFE AFTER LIFE

My book group is discussing Kate Atkinson's Life After Life this evening so I googled the title to do a little more background reading and made this discovery!

Twilight’ Producers to Adapt Kate Atkinson’s ‘Life After Life’

Click on the headline for more details from Variety.

Book versus Movie

"Because 99% of the time, the books are better than the movies," Buzzfeed suggested 14 books to read before they hit the big screen.

There are a few of these titles I want to read, but the truth is that I can't imagine a movie can be made that is as good as the following titles I've read: The Fault in Our Stars (John Green); Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn); Reconstructing Amelia (Kimberly McCreight).

Addicted to Libraries

Caught in a used bookstore AGAIN

Today I stopped at my local library branch to pick up two books. I have been waiting impatiently for Beth Hoffman's Looking for Me and curious about Michael Hainey's After Visiting Friends.

The head librarian knows how to hand sell and I left with Beth Hoffman's earlier Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, which someone had just returned. As a matter of fact, the librarian and one of her staff members had just been discussing wanting to read Looking for Me before they even noticed it was sitting on the reserve shelf waiting for me!

Then because I am random and impulsive, I picked up two movies that I've been wanting to watch. Somewhere in Time, of course, is a re-watch but I missed Les Miserables when it was in movie theatres.

When am I going to have time for all this reading and watching? I think I better head to my comfy chair and get back to Bonnie Jo Campbell's Once Upon a River.

The Great Gatsby (Movie)

Currently Showing in Theatres

I like movies. I just don't often take the time to sit quietly and watch them. So on a recent trip to visit family in Minneapolis, we chose to see Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby one evening.

Chris Nashawaty's review in Entertainment Weekly only assigned a B- to the film. There was controversy over the manic feel and 21st century hip-hop tracks. None of that bothered me. I enjoyed the spectacle.

What the movie did was encourage me to read the book. I borrowed a copy from my niece and plan to read it this summer. Can you believe I have never been required to read F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jazz Age classic? It's true.

LIFE OF PI (2001)

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A friend handed me her copy of LIFE OF PI and I took the gift even though I have not had any interest in it, thinking I knew what the story was about.

Of course, it received Oscars nominations and won several including Best Director for Ang Lee so I moved it to the top of my list and started reading.

It was hard at first. I wasn't particularly won over until Pi Patel began to relate his story about surviving at sea with only a Tiger for company, I was drawn in.

The details, believable for the reader, morph into a fascinating tale. Life of Pi will stay with you for a variety of reasons including the discussion of religious beliefs, the overwhelming need to survive, the descriptions of nature and the ocean, and the absolute horror of what Pi lived through.

Although author Yann Martel was born in Spain, his parents were Canadian. Growing up he experienced life in France, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada. He studied philosophy but took a number of unrelatedl jobs before beginning to write.

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Update to EVERY SECRET THING (2003)

Soon to be a motion picture!

And today word comes that the movie of Laura Lippman's book Every Secret Thing is finally coming to fruition. Check out the details HERE. Stars will include Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Banks, and Diane Lane.

Read my review from a few years ago HERE.

Update to BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (2011)

Nicole Kidman

Colin Firth

Not surprised Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson is going to be a movie with Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman. Check out the details in Variety HERE.

You can read my earlier review HERE.

Book I Should Be Reading

I won a copy of Where'd You Go Bernadette a while back and carefully placed on the shelf with every intent of reading it in a timely fashion. There it has languished while lesser (and greater) books have consumed my attention.

Then I see today that it has been optioned for a movie! Read the details HERE at Huffington Post.

HUNGER GAMES (Movie)

I stopped to drop off some donations at the library and was able to score the DVD of  The Hunger Games. I watched it instead of the debate between Biden and Ryan. I don't know about the debate, but the movie was excellent. It seemed to be true to the book, as I remember it, and didn't linger over the deaths, which had concerned me.

Katniss's humanity trumped the banality of evil.

Now I need to read the rest of the trilogy! Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, and especially Lenny Kravitz were perfect. What a relief!

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

$55

Did you know that one of the most beloved Christmas movies was based on a short story called The Greatest Gift?

Philip Van Doren Stern couldn't find a publisher so in 1943 he gave 200 copies to family and friends as a Christmas card. In 1946 Frank Capra filmed the movie version It's a Wonderful Life. It was considered a box office flop and although nominated for five Oscars it didn't win a single one.

The film is now "recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made, and placed number one on their list of the most inspirational American films of all time." (Wikepedia)

$149

Copies of the book are pricey editions ($55) available from Amazon reprinted in 2011 as well as an earlier edition ($149) if you are looking for a very special gift for a very special person. There are also used copies and other editions if you hunt around a bit.

New Michael Crichton Book Out November 22, 2011

Author Michael Crichton

This will be the second title published since the author's death in 2008. Flipping channels a couple of days ago, I came across Jurassic Park. As much as I love the movie, the book was better. It left you with an eerie feeling and sense of dread about the future.

Crichton finished about one third of Micro and Richard Preston, who wrote The Hot Zone, completed this tale in the same high-concept thriller vein as Jurassic Park. You can read more HERE at EarlyWord.

Hunger Games News

"In a move bound to delight even the most wary of Hunger Games fans, Lionsgate announced today that Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) will play smooth-talking interviewer Caesar Flickerman in the film adaptation."

Suzanne Collins Has Her Say

If you aren't sure about Jennifer Lawrence (see below) playing Katniss in the Hunger Games movie, you better read what author Suzanne Collins has to say on the issue HERE.

Hunger Games News

Jennifer Lawrence

Early Word has shared the news that Jennifer Lawrence, nominated for an Oscar for Winter's Bone, has been selected to play Katniss in the Hunger Games. I don't know enough about her to comment. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Read more HERE.

Update on ONE DAY

I  loved the book One Day by David Nicholls and was excited when I found out there was going to be a movie with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. There's no trailer yet but you can find some still shots and more information HERE.

Emma and Dexter meet on the evening of their graduation from college. The story checks in on them every July 15th as their lives converge and separate over the next twenty years.

Movies from Books!

If you read and loved Olive Kitteridge, there are plans to make an HBO movie with Frances McDormand producing and playing Olive too! Take a look at the information at Deadline. McDormand is also involved with bringing Laura Lippman's Every Secret Thing to the screen.

Update on One Day (2010)

At least one reviewer has decided that One Day by David Nicholls is not only THE book of the summer but that its popularity will go BEYOND partly because of the announcement that Anne Hathaway will star in the film. Get or reserve your copy now! (I'm on the reserve list at my local library waiting with baited breath. See earlier postings.)