Introducing a new segment - Page to Screen

So its been a little while since I last posted on the blog. As it turns out, not only am I really lazy, but it takes me longer than I thought to get my way through a book. So, I came up with an idea for a new segment on the blog - Page to Screen. Since I happen to watch a lot of TV and movies, I thought that I could add this to the blog, by talking about how successfully I think a book was transferred to the small or big screen. So, in the first post, here is a success story, and a tragedy. 

*Note - clicking on the pictures will lead you to some fun external websites, links will lead you to various places...

The Success Story - Harry Potter

No one can deny that Harry Potter is one of both literature's and Hollywood's success stories. The books have sparked a worldwide following, and the movies have earned almost $8 billion at the global box office. And whilst the movies and books have come to an end, Harry Potter continues to live on, with the online world of Pottermore and the exhibition traveling the world (currently in Sydney). And, honestly, we're not going to forget the likes of Harry, Ron and Hermione anytime soon.

 

 The Tragedy - Confessions of a Shopaholic

I read this book around the time the movie came out and I absolutely loved it! But, the story didn't translate very well onto the screen. For a start, the character of Rebecca Bloomwood seemed a bit too whimsical on screen, when she was so perfect on paper. And what was with the moving  mannequins? They were on their own level of creepy... COAS had potential, but the movie didn't do the book justice, garnering only a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The book, however, has gone on to bigger and greater things, spawning a series of around 7 books and counting.







And there you have it - my first Page to Screen post (I'm sure they'll get better the more I do)! This will be my last post for about a week since I'm going away on holiday tomorrow!!! I'm extremely excited about it :)  Happy Reading

WWW Wednesdays (2)

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly Meme hosted by Mizb @ Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions:

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

*Note: all links go to Amazon

My Answers:

1. I'm currently reading, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I'm pretty much obsessed with anything to do with Sherlock Holmes, but this is the first book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that I've actually read. I was also reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, but I've put that on the back burner for at least 5 years (I think it might be a bit too old for me :/ )
2. Last SundayI finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak {my review here}
3. It's either going to be Juliet by Anne Fortier or Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (I'm desperate to read both)

Teaser Tuesday (2)

Teaser Tuesday is a Meme hosted by Mizb @ Should Be Reading. Anyone can join in, as long as they do the following:

• Grab your current read. 
• Open your book to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. 
• Warning:  Avoid spoilers in your teaser as not everyone has had the pleasure to read your current read
• Share the Title & Author so anyone can add your current read to their list if they wish to do so. 
• Note: links go to Amazon

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmesby Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Release Date: 1st March 1999
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 302

"I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and careless servant girl?"

"My dear Holmes, this is too much. You would certainly have been burned had you lived a few centuries ago."
pg 5

 

Book Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Release Date: 11th September 2007
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Format: Paperback 
Pages: 584
Rating: 5.0/5.0

Summary from Amazon:

"It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul."

Review:

This is both the most uplifting and most saddening book I have ever read. Its a rare find and I can't believe it took me so long to get around to reading this book. I was actually a bit reluctant to start the book at first, being almost 600 pages long, but it's one of the easiest books to read because the story is so enthralling. And the characters - don't even get me started on the characters - Liesel, Rudy, Max, Hans...each character is just so amazing in their own special way. 

The way this story is written is special - from early in the book, you know exactly how it will end. But that doesn't help when you do reach the end of the book, and pray that something different will happen. Zusak - why must you do this to us? You make us fall in love with these characters, and then you stomp all over our feelings about them! And the setting - Nazi Germany, 1939. A perfect setting for this story, and a really great interpretation of one poor, German family's struggle during this time (or two, if you count both Liesel and Rudy's family)

I'll keep this short and simple because I know by now you are dying to go out and buy this book. I'll finish with this...the writing style is poetic, the setting is perfect, the characters are real people, many of whom you can easily relate to, or to the relationships they form with others, and the ending is truly moving. Drop everything you are doing and go out and buy a copy NOW, because this is one book that you just have to read.

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren 
*Note: all links go to Amazon

This is my first In My Mailbox post (the first of many I'm sure). It was an alright week this week since I managed to find a box set of three Kathy Reichs books for only $19 (bargain, right?)

Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs

Death du Jour by Kathy Reichs

Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

So that's all I got this week. It's been pretty slow for reading this week, but I am drawing out The Book Thief by Markus Zusak because it is JUST SO GOOD. Anywho, more posts coming your way soon! 

Show Gratitude for Books...and WIN 19 SIGNED YA BOOKS!

I recently discovered Beth Revis, who is having an AMAZING competition to win 19 signed YA books. To enter, all you have to do is answer one simple question:

What book are you most grateful for?

I actually found this question hard to answer; how can I choose only one book? So, I went to my book shelf and pulled out the oldest book I have, the one book that I can't bring myself to part with. Time Stops for No Mouse is a book I've had since I was at least 10 years old, and one of the only books I've ever read more than once. Its a delightful mystery with a twist - the main characters are all mice - think something along the lines of The Tale of Despereaux. This is probably the book that ignited my interest in mysteries/crime and it's one of the earliest books I remember reading, so it may even be responsible for my love of books. If you have the time, I definitely recommend checking this one out.

And there you have it! If you're interested in entering the competition, head on over to Beth's blog by clicking on the picture below:

  UPDATE: This competition has officially CLOSED

WWW Wednesdays (1)

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly Meme hosted by Mizb @ Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions:

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

*Note: all links go to Amazon

My Answers:

1. I'm currently reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which has been sitting on my bookshelf for almost a year now, patiently waiting to be read. I'm half way through at the moment :)
   
2. Last Saturday I finished reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro {my review here}
   
3. Not entirely sure. I think it will be The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, but Juliet by Anne Fortier and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen are also beckoning for me...

Teaser Tuesday (1)

Teaser Tuesday is a Meme hosted by Mizb @ Should Be Reading. Anyone can join in, as long as they do the following:

• Grab your current read. 
• Open your book to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. 
• Warning:  Avoid spoilers in your teaser as not everyone has had the pleasure to read your current read
• Share the Title & Author so anyone can add your current read to their list if they wish to do so. 
• Note: links go to Amazon

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Release Date: 11th September 2007
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Pages: 584

"For Max Vandenburg, there was cool cement and plenty of time to spend with it.
The minutes were cruel.
Hours were punishing." 

"It was when Liesel came down, however, that Max found himself most interested in life again"
pg 270

 

2012 Off The Shelf Challenge

So in keeping with the theme of signing up to a bunch of different challenges to further encourage me to read, I've signed up to the 2012 Off the Shelf Challenge hosted by Bookish Ardour. The aim to to read any of the neglected books gathering dust on your bookshelf that you just haven't got around to reading. Books acquired during 2012 won't count, so if you don't happen to have books spilling out of you bookcase, use a reading list of books published before 2012 (I'm sure you have one lying around somewhere...). There are different levels depending on the amount of books you want to read, and this (coming) year I'll be participating at the 'Trying' level, meaning I'll be aiming to read 15 books from my reading list. My reading list is as follows:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
   {review here}
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
   {review here}
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
   {review here}
4. A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander
   {review here}
5. Abandon by Meg Cabot {review here}
6. Shatter Me by Tahere Mafi {review here}
7. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
   {review here}
8. The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory {review here}
9. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott {review here}
10. The Magician by Michael Scott {review here}
11. The Sorceress by Michael Scott {review here}
12. The Necromancer by Michael Scott {review here}
13. The Warlock by Michael Scott
14. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley {review here}
15. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger {review here}
16. Vixen by Jillian Larkin {review here}
17. Ingenue by Jillian Larkin
18. Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper {review here}
19. Asenath by Anna Patricio {review here}
20. One Day by David Nicholls {review here}

And no, I haven't made a mistake, I did intend to list 20 books from my reading list (which consists of around 30 books, but I don't want to set my goal too high for my first year). I'm hoping that I'll finish at least 15 of these books if it turns out that some of them I don't finish or even get around to reading. Wish me luck! 

Book Review: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Release Date: 4th November 2005
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Format: Paperback 
Pages: 282
Rating: 3.5/5.0

Summary from Amazon:
“From the Booker Prize-winning author of The Remains of the Day comes a devastating new novel of innocence, knowledge, and loss. As children Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were. 

Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special–and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together. Suspenseful, moving, beautifully atmospheric, Never Let Me Go is another classic by the author of The Remains of the Day.”

Review:

This book was an interesting read. To be honest, I struggled to start reading

the book and it took me two sittings just to get through the first 60 pages. This was partly my own fault, since I already had a vague idea of the plot due to all the hype surrounding the movie when it was released last year, but to me the beginning seemed unnecessarily slow. To me, dedicating the first six chapters to establishing the setting was a bit excessive, but then again, the book is split into three parts, with part one being dedicated to Kathy, Ruth and Tommy’s life at Hailsham.

But once this book starts, boy, does it get interesting. Learning about the three friends lives became all the more interesting when their true origins and the reason why they were created begins to be fleshed out, subtly, by Ishiguro.  From chapter six onwards, I was completely enthralled in the story, and the dystopian world depicted. I began to like each of the characters for different reasons, but the character of Ruth bothered me. She was mean and cruel to her best friend Kathy and her boyfriend Tommy, and her last act for them couldn’t redeem her in my eyes. Everything she did, actually, irritated me.

This book had the potential to be a 4.0 or even 4.5 out of 5.0, but the excessively long introduction pulled the rating down. However, even with its faults, it is a fascinating read because the world it depicts is something which is plausible; a world in which medical science has evolved to an almost inhumane point. The points the book makes are valid and interesting, and I have to say, it really gets your mind thinking about the world as it is today, and its possibilities for the future (well at least it made me think about this).