Just Wild About Harry (Booking through Thursday)
7 comments Posted by 1morechapter at 7/19/2007 03:00:00 AM
- Okay, love him or loathe him, you’d have to live under a rock not to know that J.K. Rowling’s final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, comes out on Saturday… Are you going to read it?
- If so, right away? Or just, you know, eventually, when you get around to it? Are you attending any of the midnight parties?
- If you’re not going to read it, why not?
- And, for the record… what do you think? Will Harry survive the series? What are you most looking forward to?
For the record, I tend to think that Harry WILL die.
1. In your opinion, what is the best translation of a book to a movie?
2. The worst?
3. Had you read the book before seeing the movie, and did that make a difference? (Personally, all other things being equal, I usually prefer whichever I was introduced to first.)
And, by all means, expand this to as long a list as you like. I’m notoriously awful myself at narrowing down to one favorite ANYTHING. So, feel free to list as many “good” or “bad” movie-from-books as you like. (Heaven knows that’s what I’ll be doing….)
Answers:
1. I LOVE the "Colin Firth" Pride & Prejudice. Is there anyone who doesn't? Even Mr. 3M enjoyed it! Though I enjoyed the 2006 version of Jane Eyre, my favorite is the one with Ciaran Hinds and Samantha Morton. I also really liked Wuthering Heights with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, although it was very depressing.
Some people will absolutely shoot me for this, but I LOVED the DiCaprio/Danes Romeo & Juliet as well as Ethan Hawke's Hamlet. I loved the modern setting while keeping (most of) the original wording. I've probably seen them at least 10 times each.
Of course, The Lord of the Rings trilogy was absolutely brilliant. There was only one thing I didn't like at all in that movie: the change in Faramir's character.
2. I haven't seen it, but my kids didn't like the film adaptation of Eragon at all. That's too bad, because the cast looked so great! I don't know if this is a "worst" but thought it worth mentioning.
3. I rarely read the book after I see a movie, but I did read Wuthering Heights after seeing the film. I tend not to read the book if I liked the movie, though. Like most people, I usually prefer the book to the movie.
This was a great question this week!
Booking Through Thursday--Great American Novel
5 comments Posted by 1morechapter at 7/05/2007 03:00:00 PM
What, in your opinion, is the (mythical) Great American Novel? At least to date. A “classic,” or a current one–either would be fine. Mark Twain? J.D. Salinger? F. Scott Fitzgerald? Stephen King? Laura Ingalls Wilder?
It doesn’t have to be your favorite book, mind you. “Citizen Kane” may be the “best” film, and I concede its merits, but it’s not my favorite. You don’t have to love something to know that it’s good.
Now, I know that not all of you are American–but you can play, too! What I want from you is to know what you consider to the best novel of YOUR country. It might be someone the rest of us haven’t heard of and, frankly, I think we’d all like to get some new authors to read.
In fact, while we’re at it–I’m curious about the geographical make-up of this meme. So, while you’re leaving your link to your post, tell us where in the world you are! (For the record, I’m in New Jersey, USA.)
Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!
Answer: I live near Cinci right now but will soon be moving near Omaha.
Seasonal reading
Does what you read vary by the season? For instance, Do you read different kinds of books in the summer than the winter?
If so, do you break it down by genre, length of book, holiday, or...?
Answer:
The only seasonal reading I do is at Christmas. In November, I try to read a Christmas-related book. Last year I read A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg and enjoyed it very much. This year I hope to read Mr. Ives' Christmas (Hijuelos).
If Carl does a RIP Challenge, I may participate in that. I wasn't blogging last year, but it looked like fun.
Truly Biblical (Booking through Thursday)
1 comments Posted by 1morechapter at 4/05/2007 10:44:00 AM- Just out of curiosity, as we enter into Passover and Easter season... have you ever read the Bible? Just the odd chapter or Psalm? The whole thing? (Or, almost the whole thing? It's some heavy reading, of course, and those "begats" get kind of tedious.) Answer: I have read the New Testament numerous times and all but parts of Isaiah and Jeremiah in the Old Testament.
- If so, was it from religious motivation or from a literary perspective? Stuck with nothing else to read in a hotel room the Gideon's have visited? Any combination? Answer: I read the Bible for personal inspiration and to hear from God.
- If not, why not? Against your religious principles? Too boring? Just not interested? Something you're planning on taking care of when you get marooned on a desert island? N/A
- And while we're on the subject... what about the other great religious works out there? Are they more to your liking? Answer: I do plan on reading the Koran someday.
Short Stories? Or full-length novels?
Definitely full-length novels, but I appreciate a good short story now and then.
And, what's your favorite source for short stories?
This year I will be reading some short story collections from the 2006 New York Times Notable Fiction list.
- Speaking of writing in books, what about writing the entire thing? Do you write? Aspire to write? Dream about writing? Answer: I don't currently write, but I do feel the inspiration sometimes and also feel there's a book in me somewhere. My 13 year old son is writing a book, though!
- If you do write, do you do it for yourself, or because you hope to be published? (Or because you ARE published?) Answer: N/A to me, but my son hopes to be published someday.
- Do you lend your books to other people? If so, any restrictions? Answer: I try not to, but I will on occasion if I really trust the person
- Do you borrow books from other people? (Friends or family—I'm not talking about the public library) Answer: Yes, but rarely.
- And, most importantly—do the books you lend/borrow get returned to their rightful owners?? Answer: I have had to wait a looooong time to get some of my books back. That's why I try not to lend anymore.
