Book to Movie: Minority Report, by Philip K. Dick

It took Minority Report to open my eyes to a brilliant science fiction writer, Phillip K. Dick.


The Minority Report, 2002
starring Tom Cruise
rated: PG-13

Based on the short story by Philip Dick of the same name, and directed by the infamous Steven Spielberg, this sci-fi action thriller rivals The Matrix for sheer genius. Set in the future, 'Precrime' specializes in taking down would-be killers and other law-breakers by catching them before they commit the crime. The catch? They haven't actually committed it yet. But the precognitive psychics know they will, right? When John Anderton (Cruise) is confronted with his own name, he knows he's not a killer, and runs for his freedom. But actions have been set in motion, and before he knows it he'll be confronted with the ultimate question - does he have a choice?

A fabulous plot, a non-stop action movie, it was amazing from start to finish, and seriously just jaw dropping the entire time. Spielberg and others changed the plot, modernizing it from the original short story, making it better in a way. However, I didn't like some of the characterization - Anderton turns out to be a drug-user, and there are a couple of scenes that made you wonder if perhaps it ought to be rated R. That said, it was a top notch film all the way.

Graded an A-.




The Minority Report, by Philip K. Dick
Adult, 1956

With the same basic plot line as the movie, Minority Report confronts John Anderton with the fallacies behind 'Precrime'. Such a fabulous idea all packed into a few pages! I don't think it matters if you watch or read first, since they are so different in their styles. For coming out in the 50s, it was a short story way ahead of its time, yet so behind ours in many ways. Read it, and then check out his other works.

Graded a B+.

Need some motivation to read Philip Dick? What you don't know is that his short stories are the inspiration for these famous movies:
Blade Runner (1982)
Screamers (1995)
Imposter
Paycheck (2003)
Minority Report (2002)
Total Recall (1990)
The Adjustment Bureau (2010)

And coming soon:
King of the Elves (Disney, 2012)

Memory Monday: A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle

This week we have a fine old favorite:



A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle
Juvenile/Young Adult, 1962

Despite the rash of disappointing covers, this book remains a classic nearly 50 years later. The first in the series of book about the O'Keefe and Murray families, it is arguably the best. (This doesn't excuse not reading the rest.) Winner of the Newbery Award, this Sci-Fi/Fantasy favorite should be on your shelf!

Meg Murray has always felt a little 'off', not fitting in and being just too smart. Her disappeared scientist father plays the catalyst for her adventures, with a new friend Calvin and her genius little brother Charles Wallace helping her along the way. With new ideas like folding space and tesseracts, this book is a page-turner from start to finish.

Grade: A

The series includes: A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, Many Waters, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, although a few other books include characters from this series. Try L'Engle's other works and check out her website.

Review and Interview: The Body At The Tower, by Y. S. Lee

I enjoyed A Spy In The House so much, that I gave it an A- AND offered it (or its sequel, The Body At The Tower) up for grabs in a giveaway.

I impatiently waited for The Body At The Tower to come, and while Amazon was a couple of days late (I gave the post man a pointed look when he handed it over.), it didn't lessen my excitement any! I immediately read and enjoyed Ms. Lee's latest and then I did something truly marvelous. I interviewed her! I don't do interviews as often as I should, but that's typically because I have to feel motivated to talk to that author. In this case it was a complete delight. But I'm getting ahead of myself....first the review!

The Body At The Tower, by Y. S. Lee
Young Adult, 2010

Mary Quinn is back again, this time trying to discover the mystery behind the suspicious death at the clock tower. Only this time, she's disguised as a boy. If only she didn't keep running into someone who sees past her disguise...

First, I want to say how much I love these covers. A Spy In The House has a similar one, and while the background is perfectly appropriate per the mystery, what I love best is the depiction of Mary. Her exotic looks draw questions to both her identity and heritage, which I won't giveaway since it's a nice subplot of book 1. The point is that the cover seems to catch that exotic flavor without being too obvious.
The story was intricate, like the last book, but this time disguising Mary as a boy, the way she was before she was rescued. Only, in this case it isn't for her safety, it's so she can more easily solve the case. I think I prefer Mary as a woman - she has more confidence and she just seems so much more like the powerful with-it girl she is. (Oh, don't worry, she's a woman plenty in this one, I was just musing about her personality.) And again, of course, I love the banter between her and J----. There were a couple of crass references to gender role - I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but a couple of suggestive comments sort of rubbed me the wrong way. However, I enjoyed the mystery, loved the romance, sighed heavily at the ending (since of course it leaves you on tenterhooks), and am eagerly awaiting the 3rd book (which I hear will be titled The Traitor and the Tunnel)!

Graded a B+.



And now for the interview!!!
Y. S. Lee kindly answered all of my questions, but in case you need more, her website is here.

1. Your PhD in Victorian Literature and Culture - first of all, I'm sure every female is jealous of such a fun degree, but second, what was your undergrad in? Did you get a masters? What motivated your PhD, and what was your Dissertation about?

My undergrad was a dual concentration in history and English literature, since I've always been reluctant to choose one over the other. I did get a Masters, but that wasn't focused on a particular area. I started my PhD because I thought I wanted to be a university professor. Although I changed my mind pretty quickly about that, I loved the research aspect and it was an easy decision to finish the degree. My dissertation was about working-class masculinity and the way it's represented in Victorian novels and autobiographies. It's published as Masculinity and the English Working Class and you can read a review of it here, if you're truly curious: http://inscribe.iupress.org/doi/abs/10.2979/VIC.2009.51.4.723

2. How many books will be in this series? Do you have any other series or novels planned? (Say yes, please. :)

This is a tricky question right now because I planned the Agency novels as a trilogy, but couldn't pack everything I wanted into the third book, The Traitor and the Tunnel. So I'm currently working on a fourth Mary Quinn novel. And yes, I have another stand-alone historical novel planned and a bunch of ideas for others, including another series.

3. Along those same lines, do you have a publication date and cover yet for #3?

The Traitor and the Tunnel will be published in spring 2012 by Candlewick (North America) and, tentatively, June 2011 by Walker Books (UK & World). I haven't seen the new Candlewick cover yet, but I'm so impatient. I know it's going to be gorgeous and relevant.

4. What kind of flowers would you want in your nosegay/tussie-mussie?

I love wildflowers, weeds and poppies, and all the kinds of flowers that Send the Wrong Message About a Young Lady.

5. I'd love to know what you're reading and enjoying - are you on Goodreads or Shelfari?

I love talking books but am terrible at updating book lists. I have a representative list up at LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/yslee/yourlibrary and started keeping track at my website: http://yslee.com/the-author/what-i-read/ but have fallen off the wagon (again). Sorry! Also, I just finished James Ruddick's Death at the Priory in one huge gulp, and recently really liked Armadillo by William Boyd and What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell.

6. Along THOSE lines, what are your top 10 favorite books - now, without looking around at shelves or peeking anywhere, just off the top of your head.

George Eliot - Middlemarch
Madeleine L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Jane Austen - Persuasion
Jane Gardam - Old Filth
Claire Tomalin - Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self
LM Montgomery - Emily of New Moon
Wilkie Collins - The Moonstone
Shakespeare - The Sonnets
Dorothy L. Sayers - Gaudy Night
Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, vol 1

7. If you could only take 3 books with you to a deserted island, which 3 would they be?

Oh, man. Um, Middlemarch, the Sonnets and Gaudy Night. I'm going to move on now, because I could dither over this question all day.

8. What food would you never say no to?

Potato chips! (Tacky, I know.)

9. What books do you read to your little boy?

He likes a lot of made-up stories. In print, his current favourites are:

Sarah Hayes & Barbara Firth - The Grumpalump
Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler - Tiddler
Mara Bergman & Nick Maland - Oliver Who Travelled Far and Wide
Anna Dewdney - Llama Llama Red Pajama

10. And what is your favorite fashion bit about the Victorian era?

My favourite fashion factoid: after crinolines grew massive and women stopped wearing layer upon layer of petticoats, they could pee anywhere. Their pantalettes had a slit that just meant they stood with their feet slightly apart and let go. I have never tried to verify this claim because I'd be crushed if it were untrue.

I hope you enjoyed the interview - for those that want an extra entry to the giveaway, leave a comment here. A REAL comment, if you please. Perhaps what you'd put in a nosegay. Or what books you'd take to a deserted island...

Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman is one of those authors you keep an eye on - whenever a book of his comes out I make sure I double check the flap to see if I want to read it. His stuff is sci-fi/fantasy at its best - well done, with an edge that sets him apart. I haven't read much of his, because reading him can be a bit stressful (I get nightmares easily. I know. I'm an adult, but that's just how my head works.), but I encourage those that haven't heard of him to try him - you won't regret it.

Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman
Young Adult, 2005

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Tennyson:
Don't get me started on the Bruiser. He was voted "Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty" by the entire school. He's the kid no one knows, no one talks to, and everyone hears disturbing rumors about. So why is my sister, Bronte, dating him? One of these days she's going to take in the wrong stray dog, and it's not going to end well.
Bronte:
My brother has no right to talk about Brewster that way - no right to threaten him. There's a reason why Brewster can't have friends - why he can't care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can't be explained. I know, because they're happening to me.

First of all, don't you LOVE those names? I could totally name a little girl Bronte - how cute is that?! Second, uh, I'm not actually reviewing this. Trackgeek is. So he's going to take it away:

Trackgeek: I an incredibly interesting plot. I guess that I shouldn't give away what is going on with Brewster, because figuring out what's happening and how it affects him is fuel behind the plot. What I can say is that it is an interesting phenomenon that gets you thinking about what we give and take from those we love. It was very thought provoking while keeping your eyes wide open the entire time.
It was clean with some mild swearing. Highly recommended for teens on up.

Graded a B.

The Shadow of the Bear, by Regina Doman

The Shadow of the Bear, by Regina Doman
Young Adult, 2002

In this modern day retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, Blanche and her sister Rose befriend a scruffy looking boy named 'Bear'. But Bear has a secret that he's hiding as he slinks between dark alleys at night and everyone seems to want to know where he lives...and does it have anything to do with the murder everyone's talking about?

I'm a big fan of fractured fairy-tales, so I was delighted to find yet another author to oblige. I realized just be looking at the cover (which isn't bad...not great, but not bad...) that it was published by a Christian publishing company. This can be a good and a bad thing - you get squeaky clean literature, but sometimes get distracted from the plot by sermons. This time around it was just clean - SO clean, in fact, that some teens might say it was unrealistic. I hope very much there are still teenagers like the ones portrayed in this book out there, that it isn't unrealistic - Christian or no.

Sorry for the brief soap-box. At any rate, it was a cute story with a twist of a mystery attached. It ended a bit too perfect like many fairy tales are apt to do, but it was an enjoyable read, and I hope to try her others at some future date.

Graded a B-.

Book to Movie (4): Basil of Baker Street, by Eve Titus

This is technically a Memory Monday as well - Basil of Baker Street was published over 50 years ago and is found in the 'nostalgia' section of our library. A cute series of books, I read the first after finding out it was what the movie The Great Mouse Detective was based on:

Basil of Baker Street, by Eve Titus
Juvenile, 1958

Basil is the mouse-counterpart of Dr. Sherlock Holmes, and his stories are told from the viewpoint of his friend and colleague, Dr. David Q. Dawson. They are silly, cute, and imaginative little stories, perfect for whetting the appetite for future Holmes readers.
Suggested for ages 5 - 8 (ish).
Graded an A.


The Great Mouse Detective, 1986

More of a suggestion of the plots created by Eve Titus, the Great Mouse Detective's plot is much more complicated. While the story is as ridiculous as any child could wish for, it is a bit over the top. Clips of Basil Rathbone's voice (Sherlock Holmes in the old black and white series) are played in the movie, and Vincent Price plays the bad guy - of course. While the movie has it's place, may I recommend the book instead.
Graded a B-.

The Diamond Secret, by Suzanne Weyn

The Once Upon a Time series has some gems and some let-downs, but when this retelling of Anastasia came out, I didn't hesitate to check it out of the library. A big fan of the Romanov mystery, I've always enjoyed the different conclusions authors come up with:

The Diamond Secret, by Suzanne Weyn
Young Adult, 2010

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Nadya is a mischievous kitchen girl in a Russian tavern. Having nearly drowned in the Iset River during the turmoil of the Revolution, she has no memory of her past and longs for the life she cannot remember.
Then two young men arrive at the tavern and announce that Nadya's long-lost grandmother has sent them to find her. Yearning for family and friendship, she agrees to accompany them to Paris for the joyful reunion. Nadya eagerly embarks on her journey, never dreaming it will be one of laughter, love -- and betrayal.

This read very similarly to the Disney movie that came out awhile back. Basically Anastasia has lost her memory and the guys that are in it for the reward money realize she's the real deal. While this version was a little more detailed, especially with the nitty grittys of traveling across Russia, Germany and into France on mostly foot, it did have the same basic but sweet romance and lovable characters. I did feel that the villain could have been...well, more a villain - it was a little underplayed. And the ending felt a little abrupt. However, it was a cute story, and a sweet version of what could have happened.

Graded a B-.

Want more fractured fairy-tales? Check out the entire series:
(I've read a variety of these, but don't typically review them. Violet Eyes has a link to my review, and I know Crimson Thread, while I didn't review it, I enjoyed quite a bit.)

• The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey (The Arabian Nights, 2002)
• Beauty Sleep by Cameron Dokey (Sleeping Beauty, 2002)
• Snow by Tracy Lynn (Snow White, 2003)
• Midnight Pearls by Debbie Viguie (The Little Mermaid, 2003)
• Scarlet Moon by Debbie Viguie (Little Red Riding Hood, 2004)
• Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey (The Magic Flute, 2004)
• Spirited by Nancy Holder (Last of the Mohicans and Beauty and the Beast, 2004)
• The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn (The Twelve Dancing Princesses, 2005)
• Golden by Cameron Dokey (Rapunzel, 2006)
• Water Song by Suzanne Weyn (A Retelling of The Frog Prince, published October 2006)
• Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey (Cinderella, published March 2007)
• The Rose Bride by Nancy Holder (The White and the Black Bride, 2007)
• The Crimson Thread by Suzanne Weyn (Rumpelstiltskin, 2008)
• Belle by Cameron Dokey (Beauty and the Beast, 2008)
• Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey (Mulan, 2009)
• The Diamond Secret by Suzanne Weyn (Anastasia, 2009)
• Winter's Child by Cameron Dokey (The Snow Queen, 2009)
• Violet Eyes by Debbie Viguié (The Princess and the Pea, 2010)
• The World Above by Cameron Dokey (Jack and the Beanstalk, 2010)

Review and Giveaway!: The Bent Sword, by Stephen Gashler

A friend of ours from when my husband and I were dating, has recently published a book, and asked if we would review it. For those of you that don't know, we won't review a book sent to us by an author unless it's a B- or better so we only give them good press. AND, we're so cool, we're giving away a copy as well!

The Bent Sword, by Stephen Gashler
Juvenile/Young Adult/Adult, 2010

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
When a daydreaming peasant named Steffin decides to take control of his own destiny, an adventure begins that has serious consequences. Though his adventures are reckless, Steffin's passion is contagious, and he eventually recruits men to fight against his nemesis, the Lord of Boredom. Yet, the journey is difficult, and problems constantly block the path these comrades are taking. Will the Lord of Boredom succeed in quelling what could be the greatest of all adventures?

Trackgeek: I picked this up and could immediately tell this was my friend's voice coming out through the pages. The story was humorous and a bit farcical but was amusing and moved along well. I did like the device of the book within the book and the movement of dreams into life. It made for an interesting way to convey the power of our dreams and the ability for us to achieve great things in our lives. The voice of the story really feels like something that you would expect at a story-telling festival- quick moving, frequent plot twists and an ending that keeps the story alive.

Grade: B-

Giveaway:
This is U.S. only, ends September 17, 2010, and yes there are extra points available. One of them includes commenting on Stephen's blog...

To enter, fill out this form.

And p.s. for you international folk and everyone who just wants another great giveaway...don't forget to enter "A" Summer Giveaway! We're giving away two favorites, so hurry and enter!

Toads and Diamonds, by Heather Tomlinson

When I first found this book, I wasn't particularly fond of the cover, but the title suggested a fractured fairy tale based on those two opposite sisters - one who was kind and had diamonds fall from her mouth, the other who was mean and ugly (of course) and had toads fall from her mouth. A fan of fairy tales, I put it on hold, and enjoyed this twist using Indian culture and lore added to a favorite story.

Toads and Diamonds, by Heather Tomlinson
Young Adult, 2010

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Diribani never expected to meet a goddess at the village well, much less one who grants her a remarkable gift: flowers and precious jewels drop from her lips whenever she talks. Tana is happy for her beloved stepsister, yet when she encounters the goddess, she finds herself speaking snakes and toads. While Diribani's newfound wealth brings her a prince, Tana is chased out of the village because the province's governor fears snakes, though thousands are dying of a plague spread by rats. As their fates hang in the balance, each sister struggles to understand her gift. Will it bring her wisdom, good fortune, love . . . or death?

I was intrigued by the idea of both sisters being decent - and although it's made clear that Diribani is beautiful and Tana is merely 'normal', I liked that they were basically on even ground as well. I expected a little more selfishness from the mother, and her character never seemed to get finished. The romance between the two couples was cute, but the ending stopped a bit too soon for me - so many questions were left unanswered.

Graded a B.

Heather Tomlinson has also written The Swan Maiden and Aurelie.

Memory Monday: Sabriel, by Garth Nix

Garth Nix is one of those intensely unique authors that is so individual that you either love or hate him. While he has a few books that I have read and 'nixed' (sorry...bad pun), for the most part it's hard not to love the imagination and writing of Garth Nix.
This is one of his young adult novels, the beginning in a trilogy:

Sabriel, by Garth Nix
Young Adult, 1995
Old Kingdom Trilogy, book 1

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Sabriel is sent as a child across the Wall to the safety of a school in Ancelstierre. Away from magic; away from the Dead. After receiving a cryptic message from her father, 18-year-old Sabriel leaves her ordinary school and returns across the Wall into the Old Kingdom. Fraught with peril and deadly trickery, her journey takes her to a world filled with parasitical spirits, Mordicants, and Shadow Hands -- for her father is none other than The Abhorson. His task is to lay the disturbed dead back to rest. This obliges him -- and now Sabriel, who has taken on her father's title and duties -- to slip over the border into the icy river of Death, sometimes battling the evil forces that lurk there, waiting for an opportunity to escape into the realm of the living. Desperate to find her father, and grimly determined to help save the Old Kingdom from destruction by the horrible forces of the evil undead, Sabriel endures almost impossible challenges whilst discovering her own supernatural abilities -- and her destiny.

Trackgeek: The plot was absolutely fantastic. The details to the plot were incredibly creative and fascinating. The characters were well done - basically the guy can write. It was pretty dark - the evil guy is basically a world-class villain, but good conquers evil, and the girl gets the guy rounding out a nice ending.
Grade: Some of the best fantasy I've read in quite awhile, so I'm going to give it an A-.

Raspberry: It's been at least 6 or 7 years since I read this and I can't honestly grade it, but I do remember thoroughly enjoying it - enough to recommend it to Trackgeek and enough to try it out again soon!

Note: This is definitely for the older teen audience as well as adults.

Friday Finds

I love posts about new books to read and hope for. In fact, my TBR list is so large that I despair of ever finishing it. However, I can't seem to stop myself, and am sharing some find with you this week in hopes that I drag you all down with me. :)





The Shadow of the Bear, by Regina Doman
This is the first in a fractured fairy-tale series that I recently discovered through a friend on Shelfari. While I have no idea if they're any good or not, I am a fan of fairy tales, and they all sound delightfully unique.






Eon, Dragoneye Reborn, by Alison Goodman
This was recommended to me by my dad awhile back, but I just couldn't get up the motivation to read it. However, once I saw it on the YA Fantasy Tournament, I decided I was being silly. Eona must be the kind of character I'd love if she's that amazing, so it's back on my TBR list.






Cloaked, by Alex Flinn
January 25, 2011

Alex Flinn is the new buzz word around the internet, first and foremost for her upcoming movie based on her thoroughly enjoyable book, Beastly.
Wikipedia states:

Flinn has stated that her upcoming novel, titled Cloaked, is a melange of several fairy tales, including The Frog Prince, The Shoemaker and the Elves, and The Six Swans. Set in Miami, it tells the story of a teen who works at the shoe repair counter at a posh South Beach hotel until he is sent on a quest by a princess, whose brother has been turned into a frog and set loose in the Florida Keys.

The Magic Thief: Found, by Sarah Prineas
Having enjoyed the first two books in this series, I already have this on hold!


Just a note: A variety of blogs have Friday Finds on the web, and it's not something I came up with, merely a terrific idea I'm borrowing.

The Darkangel, by Meredith Ann Pierce

The Darkangel, by Meredith Ann Pierce
Young Adult, 1982

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
The servant girl Aeriel must choose between destroying her vampire master for his evil deeds or saving him for the sake of his beauty and the spark of goodness she has seen in him.

Ok, first, that description is so incredibly vague, and if you want to find more about The Darkangel and it's trilogy, check out the wikipedia description. Feeling more like a revamped fairy tale (no pun intended), this story is about how Aeriel becomes the maid of sorts for the Darkangel's wives. When he gets one more wife he'll become a full vampire and words like apocalyptic and end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it start being banded around.

I enjoyed the idea - the simple but kind girl who saves the man with remnants of good in him. It felt incredibly dark, however, and I just felt grey all over when it was done. I also wanted more interaction between her and the darkangel to make the love possible, but on the other hand...it worked as is. The story behind who he is was interesting and really added to the depth of the book, and I liked the pseudo-Aslan character as well, although I'm sure C. S. Lewis turned in his grave a bit.

Graded a B-.

Note: Things can get a little violent and/or graphic. It's not something you read to 'feel good', so perhaps lay off it when you're having a 'rainy day'. :)

If you liked this, you might enjoy these (or vice versa):
Companions of the Night, by Vivian Vande Velde
Midnight Predator, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
The Silver Kiss, by Annette Curtis Klaus

YA Fantasy Showdown

Ok, so a few blogs have a post up about this, and I just got so excited I have to too.
It's a battle of the fiercest, the best, the brightest of YA Fantasy characters, and they are oh so cleverly matched!
Check out the blog that explains why it was put up, the inspiration (go Drizzt!) behind the set up, and get ready to rumble!

Oh - and in case you didn't know - go to the character descriptions to read a little more about them and vote!

Book to Movie: Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke

First off, I'd like to just stand up and brag a little - we're at 100 followers. I realize this isn't as much compared to a few old-timers out there with 1000, but it's a good start, and one I hope to keep going strong. So, woot!


Today's book to movie was a little differently approached. When I was a children's librarian, I noticed that Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke was immensely popular. While the back of the book synopsis didn't really get me at 'Hello', I appreciated that it catered to the right ages and let it at that.

A couple of years ago, however, the movie came out. When it did I heard a variety of oral reviews from children to adults either complaining about how the movie didn't do the book justice, or it was their favorite movie to date. Not having read the book and not feeling it was really my 'speed', I didn't bother watching it.

And then a couple of months ago Blockbuster went out of business in my area. I wasn't paying too much attention until someone said all movies were on huge discount. I hopped on over and was pleased to find a variety of movies for 3 bucks, some even cheaper. Inkheart was one of them, and I thought it was worth a shot.

And THEN, a couple of weeks ago we remembered we had it, pulled it out and watched it.


Inkheart (2008)
starring Brendan Fraser

from the Amazon.com review:
When Meggie’s father, Mo reads aloud from books, he brings the characters to life--literally. Mo discovered his power when Maggie was just a baby. He read so lyrically from the the book Inkheart, that several of the book’s wicked characters ended up blinking and cursing on his cottage floor. Then Mo discovered something even worse--when he read Capricorn and his henchmen out of Inkheart, he accidentally read Meggie’s mother in.

Meggie, now a young lady, knows nothing of her father's bizarre and powerful talent, only that Mo still refuses to read to her. Capricorn, a being so evil he would "feed a bird to a cat on purpose, just to watch it being torn apart," has searched for Meggie's father for years, wanting to twist Mo's powerful talent to his own dark means. Finally, Capricorn realizes that the best way to lure Mo to his remote mountain hideaway is to use his beloved, oblivious daughter Meggie as bait!

Raspberry: This is, of course, the premise for both the book and the movie. The movie is cute and well done considering...but really much more suited for children. I can't imagine ever really wanting to see it again, but it was enjoyable for a one-timer.
Graded a B-.

Trackgeek: The movie held fairly true to the book, except plot changes that made the movie not as open to a sequel as the book. In someways I liked the completeness of the movie better than the book (all though the whole happy ending part may seem more pat than the book). An enjoyable family movie.
Graded a B.



Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke
Juvenile, 2003

The plot is the same as the movie, although I didn't feel as motivated to read it as Trackgeek did. His review:

Enjoyable - I like the author's unique ideas, especially the effects of bringing characters to life from books by reading them out-loud. I liked the greater emphasis on the details of characters coming out of the book. It was more based on how good a person could read, etc. and it seemed more realistic than just they read and it happened. The characters were well done, doing a little more developing of Capricorn, and the author's intent. What's enjoyable is that the back story that the author never wrote applies to the characters, creating a base for a real person/character.
Graded a B.

Dull Boy, by Sarah Cross

Dull Boy, by Sarah Cross
Young Adult, 2009

from the publisher:
What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you're fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you're a former jock turned freak, you can't afford to let the secret slip.

Trackgeek:
Interesting twist on the superpower/mutant genre. One nice part of the book was that it didn't have the teenagers acting quite so much like college students like many other books in the Teen genre. Some good plot ideas, but over all not amazing. The highlight for me was the mention of Wagner's Ring Cycle and leitmotif.

Grade: B.

Book to Movie: Your Ideas!

While we have slowly become experts on Books to Movies, I have been hoping to pick your brains for a few ideas. (I hate that expression.)
Perhaps you have an old favorite you'd like to tell us about:

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

Or a new favorite you're looking forward to:

Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen

We'd love to know what you're wishing we'd review!

A few coming up:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Inkheart
Random Harvest
The Man from Snowy River
The Inheritance

Book to Movie: A Gravestone Made of Wheat, by Will Weaver

My mother is a big fan of independent films, something I typically don't have much use for. The script usually needs some work, the costumes, cinematography, etc. just isn't up to par. Ironically, I find the acting to usually be pretty decent, but rather than risk it, I usually just steer clear. However, visiting my family's place a couple of weeks ago I was told I just had to see this movie, Sweet Land.


Click to get the full effect of the picture...

Inge is a mail-order bride from Germany post WWII. The man she is to marry is an American farmer originally from Norway as well, and having never met they are to be wed the minute she arrives. However, no one trusts Inge and her German accent, and despite their best efforts no one will marry them. Inge steps up, though, and does the laundry, cooks good food, and helps harvest in the fields. And slowly, slowly, the local people come around as they see what kind of woman she is.

This is a sweet story, with plenty of humor. The scene above is Inge teaching her husband how to dance. I truly enjoyed the simplicity of the story and how well it was acted and played out. I wanted things to be slightly more fleshed out, and a few things were a big vague, but it was a cute movie that I hope to see again someday.

Graded a B.

After watching the movie we all wondered if it was based on a book. In fact, it's a short story by American author Will Weaver. Published in 1989, A Gravestone Made of Wheat is the very short but very to-the-point story of a young Norwegian-American farmer who receives a letter from his parents (back in Norway) about a young woman that would be willing to be his wife. He has no idea what she looks like and yet he knows he'll never get another opportunity, so he says sure send her on over. The writing is well done, the story cute, and the ending satisfying.

Ironically, it had one of the same problems as the movie - I wanted things to be much more fleshed out. I wanted to know more about these characters, who they were and the in-between bits you don't get to see. The ending was sweeter in the book, in a way that almost made me want to cry.

Graded a B.

I realize they both got the same grade, but if I had to pick I'd choose the movie to win for the details and extra scenes they were able to add. I felt the script, while lacking Weaver's touch, was still well done.

"A" Summer Giveaway

This should make everyone excited....we're having a wonderful giveaway inspired by the summer. My father said he never really entered giveaways because I hadn't given away anything that I graded an A. I responded that of course I hadn't - I never wanted to give those away! But this time around we're offering two up for grabs (links to our reviews included) that we've read this summer:



A Spy in the House Or The Body at the Tower.
If you need to start the series or we'll preorder the sequel for you.




The Lady in the Tower OR Between Two Seas, by Marie Louise Jensen OR Daughter of Fire and Ice
All are historical fiction and stand-alone novels.

Also, if anyone would like to donate an "A" or "A-" book to the giveaway, please use the contact form on the right. We'd love to have you participate!

A few rules - PLEASE read for my sake. :)
1. There will be one US winner and one international - with the provision that The Book Depository ships to you.
2. These may be used and/or paperback depending on what I can find - I'm going for cheapest here, especially since there's two winners.
3. There will be a 'comment contest' - whoever is in the number one spot by the contest end gets an extra couple of points. Don't worry about adding those, I'll do it for you. You can see who's in the lead on the left side.
4. I have a number of family and friends that read this blog and who typically hesitate to enter. Please DO - I don't show favorites when drawing names with a random number generator. :)
This giveaway ends September 1, 2010. I'll draw names on the 2nd.

To ENTER - Fill out THIS FORM.