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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

 

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.

Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures (Tweet Chat)

Last night I got a message from Penguin that the next tweet chats would be with the author of Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, which is high on my list of books to read. This is Emma Straub's first novel although she has written lots of other stuff. So I went to Amazon on my Kindle Fire and downloaded a sample. That hesitation to purchase on my part turned out to be a good thing; because when I went to my friendly branch library today to pick up the two books waiting for me, there was a third.

I've never fully participated in a tweet chat so I am really looking forward to the opportunity. There are three times and that is a relief since I am in the middle of a wonderful mystery by Dennis Palumbo. But more about that later. Details below if you want to join me. There is actually a reading guide. Click HERE.

Tweet #readpenguin

Join @PenguinUSA on Twitter for a chat with the author on these Wednesdays:

Sept. 12  4:30-5 pm EST   
Sept. 19  3-3:30pm EST   
Sept. 26  8-9pm  EST

Gone Girl (2012)

My Christmas present this past year was a Kindle Fire, to which I have not entirely adapted. I've collected several books to read but still pick up 'real' books when the opportunity presents itself.

But then a couple of exciting things happened. I turned on my Kindle and it immediately downloaded Gillian Flynn's third novel, Gone Girl, which was just released on June 5th! Raves are popping up everywhere and the prediction is best seller lists in a week! On top of that, word is out that her 2009 title Dark Places will be a film. Guess I know what to read next!

The other exciting thing I discovered was something called Buzz Books 2012. The blurb in this weeks Entertainment Weekly read:

This new free e-book offers something usually reserved for publishing insiders: previews of major titles months before they're released. Read excerpts from more than 30 fall books by big-name authors like Dennise Lehane, Junot Diaz, and Barbara Kingsolver.

You can find this online at Amazon.com for free! And I did! Scanning the introduction, which covered other titles likely to be in high demand, I jotted down what appealed to me to take a more careful look. It will be interesting to see if my reading habits will evolve as I pursue the elusive perfect 'read' during the second half of 2012!.

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.

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.

Looking for Katniss

Book One

Book Two

Book Three

I just brought Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, the first book in the trilogy, home from the library last week thinking it was about time to see what all the fuss is about. Apparently the large group of readers has now moved past books two and three and are now waiting to see who will be cast as Katniss in the movie. I have a lot of catching up to do!

Early Word (the Librarian / Publisher Connection) has posted this link about who might be in the movie. Looking for Katniss

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.)

HP and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

One Day (2010)

One Day by British writer David Nicholls seems to be taking the USA by storm. Entertainment Weekly featured it recently saying it should make a great film (word is that Anne Hathaway has already signed on). People magazine has given it 4 out of 4 stars. It has just been released in trade paperback and Early Word suggests that someone here must be kicking themselves for not publishing it in hardback.

I made my reservations with my local library, which doesn't have a copy in stock and has only ordered 4. Big mistake.