THE QUEENE'S CHRISTMAS,
by Karen Harper, #5 in a series starring Elizabeth I as detective. CHRISTMAS JOURNEY
by Anne Perry who specializes in the Victorian period. SHEPHERDS ABIDING,
Jan Karon's gift to us this year. THE CHRISTMAS SHOES
last year's entry by Donna VanLiere and this year's, a continuation of the first book,
THE CHRISTMAS BLESSING.
For more Christmas books, take a look at Bookreporter.com's
list.
Books to Movies
The novel, SEABISCUIT
was published in 2001, a best-seller. At Amazon.com's website, the book has an impressive 406 reviews
and a 5 star rating. This is one I missed, probably because I didn't think I'd be interested in
horseracing. However, after seeing the wonderful movie, I might read it!
Go here to find out details about the movie.
You can find out all about the book here.
Go to PBS's "American Experience"
website where you can hear vintage radio broadcasts of Seabiscuit's races.
The new movie that came out on July 11, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", has
its roots in Victorian literature according to Post Dispatch writer, Daniel P. Finney. Here are
the characters and books from which they originate:
THE INVISIBLE MAN, both the book title and the character in the book written by H.G. Wells
Wanna know how Bookreporter.com's readers answer the question:
"What was your favorite movie based on a book and what was your biggest disappointment?"
Take a look here.
Below are a few of their choices for best movie based on a book:
THE PIANIST
by Wladyslaw Szpilman. Here's a compelling review from reader Eric J. Lyman found at Amazon.com.
I rarely read a book after I have seen the movie it was based on because it seems almost akin to
reading the final pages of the book first. Why start reading a book when you already know how it
ends? When the movie already gives you a mental picture of what the characters are like?
When it would be impossible to read the description of a scene, a conversation, an expression,
or a mood without thinking first of the director's and screenwriter's interpretation of those things?
I stand by that view, but I also suggest throwing it out the window when it comes to The Pianist.
I was so moved by the film that when I saw this book in a store, I could not help but pick it up.
Once in my hands, I could not help but read the first few lines. Once I read them, I could not
help but buy the book. And once I bought it, the next day and a half of my life was dominated
by the chilling, horrible, graphic and compelling story.
I won't go into an overview of the plot, since my fellow reviewers have covered that territory
very accurately. But I will say that this is a rare case where the value of a book is not
compromised by the movie -- the story is so well told and the details (most of which the movie
screenwriter was forced to leave out) are so evocative and potent that they flow over and around
any preconceived notions.
The film is well done, and by all means it should be seen. But don't let seeing the movie deprive
you of the pleasure of this powerful book, which illustrates once again what we have known
all along -- that great literature succeeds where other art forms fall short.
More books coming out as movies can be found
here
. Just discovered this website at Mid-Continent Public Library called
Based on the Book, a
compilation of over 850 book titles, short stories, and plays that have been made
into motion pictures.
Want to see if your favorite book has been made into a movie? Search here:
Amazon.com describes
MY COUSIN RACHEL as a 'thumping good read' from a 20th century master. If you have never
read a Daphne duMaurier book, this one's for you! Here are some of her others, also highly recommended:
This section reflects what I am currently reading and will change as often as I find
something really good to read, old or new, fiction or nonfiction. Books mentioned here will
eventually end up on
Marty's Summerlist.
You've noticed many book reviews on these pages from Bookreporter.com. Thanks to one of those,
I just finished reading
THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT by Walter Tevis. The writer of that review raved about reading this book
she could hardly put down even though it was all about chess, she had never played chess
and wasn't interested in it. That enthusiasm inspired me to read it, too, and I'm glad I did.
Yes, every page was about the game that's a complete mystery to me, but my interest was in an orphan,
Beth Harmon, child prodigy chess player, who learned to play at age eight from the janitor of
the orphanage. In a way, it reminds me of a very different book favorite of mine,
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT, where the determination of the main character to fulfill the
duties of her job and motherhood was carried to the ennth degree. Beth's determination was to
win the World Series of chess in Moscow, where the popularity of chess might be compared to baseball.
And she did it. This is her story, not the best book I've ever read, but a character I won't soon
forget!
Looking for something good to read, I was always at the mercy of
whatever was on the best-seller shelf at the library. Nowdays, I have several books in mind, both
new and old. Get reading ideas from my prize-winning all-time favorites reading
list at Marty's Summerlist. There's a
place at bookreporter.com called "Word of Mouth"
where people tell what they are reading...lots of ideas here!
Another place to look for reading ideas is in a
"Books Made Into Movies" list.
You can use this list to find videos, too.
The Internet Movie Data Base will give you info about movies made
from your favorite book.
Sometimes Amazon.com's search does not locate what you want. Here are some other places to try online, other than retail bookstores. You may find used books, "remainders", listings of bookbuys from the least to most expensive, and other goodies.
ABE.com Access the bookshelves of thousands of used, secondhand, rare, and out-of-print booksellers around the world.
