With The Hunger Games movie coming out in less than a week, I got to pondering film adaptations of books.  There is truly a delicate balance filmmakers have to strike when bringing a book to the screen.  Everyone who has read the book will have certain expectations of the film; from how scenes play out, how the setting fits, how characters on the screen become characters from the page.  That is an undertaking everyone involved with a film probably hopes to get right, while still bringing their own vision to the tale.  However, a film must also bring an entirely new element for fans, yes, even the rabid fans hopefully can appreciate some nuance to the story they hadn’t taken in before.  People who haven’t read the book will be presented this “new” story, “new” characters, etc., but will not share that special and familiar relationship those who have read the book will most likely have with the story or characters, that relationship remains for the readers to hold on to.


Some films have maintained that delicate balance well.  I admit I saw the BBC miniseries Pride & Prejudice before I read the book.  It was seeing what was brought to the screen that made me want to read the book.  Key elements of the story and characters shined, making it a truly lovely film that somehow sill paid reverence to the story while maintaining it’s own period piece identity as well.  It was the film/book that gave me my appreciation for Jane Austen.  There was a later film adaptation that was a bit loser with adapting the story, but for me it remains the BBC version that has completely affected me.  A more modern film and recent book, The Help,  was able to keep true to the story of 60s  racial issues in the South.  Some things were left out, but moviegoers were still brought into this affecting story, and readers could appreciate the tale filmmakers told.  Again, the film managed its own identity extremely well, while acknowledging the source material. Jurassic Park was oddly another movie I found that made the most of source material.  It departed from the book, but a truly amazing film was brought to the screen from the book that was a tale of science fiction at its best.  The book and movie were each quite the ride in their own way.


Horrible adaptations have also graced the screen, sad to say.  The Great Gatsby was one of those unmemorable adaptations for me, it just didn’t make much of the story for me.  It was beautiful to look at, but the emotion and depth was lacking.  The Scarlet Letter was just utterly horrible and ridiculous, I went to see that after reading it in my high school English class, and it was truly a waste of time.  In those films, readers never got what they deserved, and the audience new to the story didn’t really get the chance to see what the story could be.


I am eagerly awaiting The Hunger Games, and hope it will not disappoint.  Hopefully filmmakers and the actors have brought this story to life well.  I am glad filmmakers bring books I love to the screen, and love seeing how their own vision is brought to the story, but I will always keep my own special vision of my favorite books.

K

For the last 3 years I have found myself reading vast amounts of Young Adult Novels, in spite of my no longer “young adult” age. It started with Twilight one Thanksgiving Weekend. I freely admit I succumbed to the temptation of sparkly vampires and shape-shifting werewolves. It was a family member, older family member, who suggested I read the series. I was hooked very early on, and never looked back.


Since then I have found other series and books to whet my growing appetite for the genre. For some reason I find myself drawn to stories about coming of age, which is a process that seemingly never ends. Finding oneself in this life is a continually surprising journey, and stories about love, family, life, etc. are always compelling.  In spite of the age of the protagonists, I find it well worth reading.  I still read and enjoy more adult novels, but I can’t get enough “teenage angst.”  In fact, a co-worker continually suggests books, so I find I am never at a loss for new books. 


I love Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instrument and The Infernal Devices series, as well as Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games series, for all these reasons.   I love the feisty heroins, dashing heroes, discovering of oneself, dealing with life and family, and the plain old fun of following an exciting story.  I suspect as long as I have these novels I may just never really have to grow up.

K

Well over a year into my e-reader conversion, I am pleased to say I have no regrets. What drew me to an e-reader all that time ago has yet to disappoint me. The relative ease of finding books to read, purchasing books, carrying a library with me, etc. still satisfies me. Thinking I would end up missing the feel of paper books, I can say after over a year, I really haven’t looked back. I am finding I read so much more, and books I never thought I would, because it is right at my fingertips. I still love the satisfaction of finishing a book, and now I can easily begin reading my next book, so I am never at a loss for something new to read because I am usually anxious to begin my next book. Maybe someday I might read a paper book again, they still are lovely, but with a ferocious appetite for books I am finding it easier to feed the monster electronically, so I will continue my love affair with my e-reader :0)

K

I have recently discussed with a good friend our seemingly opposed reading habits.  Our discussion had me thinking about why I choose to read what I do.  My friend lands clearly on the side of non-fiction, memoirs, or the like; I unabashedly remain a novel reader, going for fiction almost every time.  That realization has made me decide some analysis of such choices would be interesting.  Clearly one would think I must live in a fantasy world, oh contraire, as a stubborn Taurus I am way too grounded set in my ways to live in any fantasy about how things could be.  I suppose it could be for that very fact, that I am so glued to the ground and that “reality” that I enjoy the fiction world for the enjoyment and escape it offers my Earthbound spirit, for I am no dreamer.  Reading on my lunch break offers an amusing escape from the normal routine, the demands of what must get accomplished.  That time I have to get lost in the book I am reading is for my “mental health” as much as a way to pass the time during lunch.  I admit to enjoying the time I get engrossed in what the characters are going through, and fiction it is, but it sure is fun plain and simple.  I know the real world awaits me, it is always there, always looming, so hey, a break for my thoughts to roam along with the feisty heroine, daydream about the amazing hero, or read on to see the villain I sometimes love to hate meet their end, bring it on.  I know a great deal can be learned from the experiences real people write about, it can amuse, teach, etc., but that is not what I am in the mood for when I pick up a book most of the time.  Preachy self-help books annoy me, why should I pay money to read a book of your advice again?  Memoirs, what makes your story interesting enough for me to spend time reading it?  I want the drama, the romance, the fun of it all, and even though I know it didn’t really happen, the journey is a hell of a good time.   I guess my friend and I probably will continue to agree to disagree, and that is fine with me, bring on my next novel I am ready to read since fiction will remain stranger than truth :0)

K

As I read I am continually struck by how literary heroes I encounter in novels do nothing to make accepting the realities of what (or whom) is actually out there any easier.    Elizabeth Bennett encounters the arrogant and off-putting Darcy, only to come to find him to be really not so bad as the novel concludes, and women to this day seem to swoon over the guy.  This has set up countless women to think they can actually experience a similar lovely metamorphosis in that boorish man-child they just met.  Sadly, it is not to be so. While in kindergarten it was pulling pigtails and telling saying we have cooties, as adults it is the not calling but letting us think you were interested in us because they are not man enough to say at the end of the date, “yeah, let’s not do this again, sorry.”  I guess despite Darcy, or any other bookish girls fantasy man, the sad fact is, they are a fantasy and not the reality.  There will never be a guarantee of the “meet-cute” in real life, the silly and inane way the two destined-for-life-and-love-and-passion characters meet in a book.  I admit I am particularly guilty of getting wrapped up in the literary fantasy men.  I guess as escapism and for pure fun it is not so bad, but as for being any model for how to conduct a real life relationship, I know it is imperative to look elsewhere or face total annihilation of the heart.  So sadly while Darcy, Gilbert, Captain Wentworth, etc. remain pretty on the page, they are destined to break your heart in reality.

K

After a great deal of resistance to going the technological route, I finally broke down and got a Nook this past June.  For the longest time I had said I didn’t want to lose the feel of reading while holding a book in my hands.  I was old-fashioned about it, and knew there was something about simply turning pages.  However, I do like my gadgets and realized that it wouldn’t be so bad for me to get hip to an eReader in the end.  A whole library is now with me wherever I go.  Meaning when I have the urge to go back to a favorite book, no matter where I am, I can have it at a moments notice (my own personal book genie, yippie).  Any time I want to read Pride and Prejudice, I can without any fuss or much consternation.  I see it akin to moving my music to an MP3 Player, where I have so much music at my fingertips in a small device (my own DJ with me all the time).  You see I am an avid reader (as if that was hard to guess when I have decided to blog about books and reading), so having books with me is like a fantasy come to fruition after never realizing it could be mine for the taking.  I also love, not being of a patient persuasion, having a new book whenever I want it practically as soon as I want it.  I can now get the book as soon as I want it any time of day, without having to get in the car to go get it at the store or library.  That truly is a blessing to the impatient.  I have clearly jumped on the technology bandwagon and I am on it for the duration.  To those who say what about turning pages, yup, I seem to be making do and my fingers are thanking me :0)

K

A few weeks ago my best friend Stephanie texted me and asked what I was up to that Friday evening.  At first, because it was a rainy evening I wasn’t really up for anything and was about to decline, until she said the magical words Barnes & Noble.  After that I was ready to go in a heartbeat needing no further incentive.  You see, we both kind of have a thing for the store, and we aren’t ashamed to admit it.  This got me thinking about why I personally love Barnes & Noble so much.


I kind of compare it to how Holly Golightly describes her love for Tiffany’s in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  When she describes loving the proud look of the place and her belief nothing bad can ever happen there, I know exactly what she means.  For some reason I am drawn to the store; Whether I am alone or with someone, I can’t pass up a chance to go and browse for whatever available length of time.  Something comes over me, like a kid in a toy store, and I lose myself to the place and time seems to almost not exist.  I especially get lost in the endless book choices.  There are books to simply enjoy; books to learn something from; books about exotic places; books about dogs (which is another passion of mine); there is endless choice and it never gets dull.


I also find I have two kind of personalities there, my “alone” self and my “social” self.  When I am alone I am engrossed in the books, the cafe there, the various other items there and I kind of go inside my head, enjoying the place, the ambiance if you will, and simply being there.  On the other hand, when I am with a friend I love being silly there.  We go looking at stuff and saying “haha, yeah, that is creepy” or sometimes I do get more serious and see things that bring back memories.  That is time I always treasure.  Although not the most exciting of evenings some might say, for me it is what makes a perfect evening.


Since I profess myself a book geek it isn’t to hard to imagine how I can have such great passion for a bookstore.  It is all par for the course with book geeks; I love books and want to find a place I feel I fit in with other people who most likely love books too.  So if Holly has Tiffany’s, I have Barnes & Noble.  I say breakfast at Barnes & Noble anyone ;0)

K