Reading List Update: AKA Books That Are or Aren't Films Yet!

I`m sorry for the lack of posts recently (for those that do read this, lol), but life and lack of ideas/imagination and inspiration have plagued me lately.

I thought I would do a bit of an update with some books that I have read recently.

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     The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

     The author shows great  talent with her first novel, a bestseller and picked up shortly after its release to be adapted into a film. That is no small feat. 

I found myself engaged and wanting to read on because I was curious as to how it was going to play out and end; how the competition/game would play out between Celia and Marco and affect them and those around them. When I thought I had an idea of what was going to happen next, usually something occurred and I would have to adjust my theories in trying to figure it all out. 

The novel is full of rich details and descriptions of the circus and all the magic that is involved as well as the era, giving the reader what is needed to form the images in their mind. 

Sadly, in a way that is also the one of my minor complaints about the novel. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love the details and the descriptions, and it is important for a book like this, but I think the character development of Celia and Marco and their story slightly suffered from it. I just felt that there was just a little too much in describing the circus, the atmosphere and all the acts, all the talk about the competition/circus from the other characters, that developing the story between Celia and Marco got lost a little. I think there should have been a bit more interaction between Celia and Marco. I understand that they were destined to be together and bound before they even met, the whole love at first sight. Maybe I’m too realistic or whatever, but I would have liked more of their development and getting to know one another and the build up before they admit their feelings to one another. And as much as I liked Celia and Marco, I feel that I still don’t know them that well as individuals/characters like I have with other books. 

     This is being adapted into a film as well, and could be visually STUNNING if done right. I'm thinking something along the lines of The Prestige meets Twelfth Night.  Like the novel, the movie might slightly suffer from focusing on the visuals and not the characters, in particular Celia and Marco. 

·   The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Another book that is being adapted into a film,  naturally,  with director Josh Boone and scriptwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (500 Days of Summer, The Spectacular Now) . The story of two teens, Hazel and Augustus who both have cancer and meet a support group was not exactly what I thought it would be. It was slightly predictable at times but the writing is good and the characters believable that attempts to give a realistic look at a  illness, death and other issues through a teenager’s perspective. Not that I know what it is like to have cancer, but I did have some serious health issues at the same age as Hazel and Augustus and there was an element to them and the story that I related to. I did become invested and although by halfway I did have an idea how it would all end, I was still engrossed and entertained with the read.

No official word yet, but early rumours put Shailene Woodley and Hailee Steinfeld in competition and talks for the female lead of Hazel Lancaster. 

With the right script adaptation, casting and direction, this could be a great film. 

·   The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

    Book one: City of Bones

    Book two: City of Ashes 

    Book three: City of Glass

    Book four: City of Fallen Angels

    Book five: City of Lost Souls

    Book six: City of Heavenly Fire (coming September 2014) 

No judging, but I read this series after I got through a bunch of heavy books and really wanted something fun and light to read. Or as a good friend likes to call it: “literary junk food” that’s good for the soul. There is nothing wrong with that. Simply put, the story of Clary Fray discovering the secret world of Shadowhunters- half human half angels- who fight demons and the like.  Yes, there is a bit of a love triangle between Clary and the bad boy/but not really a bad boy Jace Wayland and her best friend Simon. Without giving much away, the tirangle is solved halfway in the series and not really the main focus. Arguably more in common with Harry Potter than Twilight.   This is a YA (young adult) series, but compared to other book in the same category, and some personal complaints about the writing and plot, it is a fairly solid and fun read overall.  Also, another friend of mine’s father did some set construction on the film adaption of the first book.  If the first film does well (it most likely will) it has the potential to be a big and successful franchise in the same league as The Huger Games and Twilight. Even with six books (with a really tight timeline) that could make it difficult to keep going.

Film Trailer!

    A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons

   Books four and five in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin

   Book one: A Game of Thrones

   Book two: A Clash of Kings

   Book three: A Storm of Swords

   Book four: A Feast for Crows

   Book five: A Dance with Dragons

   Book six: The Winds of Winter (release date TBA)

   Book seven: A Dream of Spring (release date TBA and final book) 

   This series (for those that have not read the books or watched the HBO show) is difficult to summarize and  describe.  It is more than just bunch of crazy people all fighting and killing one another for the Iron Throne of Westeros.

   I admit I am a complete geek when it comes to these books and the show. I have lost hours on the internet reading and discussing theories on how it is all going to go down in the end.

   I applaud those die-hard fans who have stuck with the series since the first novel was written about twenty years ago and have spent an average of three to five years in between novels.

   Season three starts on March 31 and will cover about 2/3 of the third novel in the series, which is mine and the majority of the fan base’s favourite, and considered to be the better written, or one of the better written books so far in the series. I also loved book one and five.   

   And for a little fun... I would never attempt to speed up a writer’s/artists creative process, but, please George..."write like the wind!". I need to know what happens to my beloved Jon Snow.  

On a more serious note: The show does have the potential to run into a serious problem with catching up or maybe even getting ahead of the books-depending how things go. HBO contracted many of the actors for six seasons (unprecedented before) to 2015/2016. That should bring it to the end of adapting book five for the show. Yet, there is no official word on when book 6 will be released, although going with George’s pattern, not to expect anything before the end of 2014.  Book 7...who knows. Many fans (myself included) don't want the show to get ahead of the books, for obvious reasons. Despite show creators and head writers David Benioff and Dan Weiss being told by George R.R. Martin  how it all goes down and to finish the show should he die before he finished the last two novels. 

A neat article with a more detailed look into this potential problem: http://winteriscoming.net/2013/03/what-if-game-of-thrones-overtakes-the-books/                              

P.S. Should the show adapt all seven books (potentially up to summer 2019) it will be the longest running live action television series in history. The Simpsons I believe have that honour for an animated series.                                                                                                                                                

Just like the story, everything is up in the air. 

  The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

I will admit that this was one of the most difficult books I have read. Seeing how the novel was written in 1826, the language is dense and not what I am use to and difficult to understand at times.  I was also silly and ignorant when I first started the book. I thought it would be more like the film, but it was not and I was disappointed. The books is more about Duncun and his perspective rather than Hawkeye and Cora, or are more secondary characters.  Having said that, just like when I read my first Tolstoy and Hemingway  I felt a great sense of accomplishment at crossing of another literary classic off the list.

 The Road by Cormac McCarthy

This is not a light, fluff read. It is one of the most dark, depressing and  realistic books I have read. Without giving too much away, don’t expect and hopeful or satisfying end with this one. The story of a father and son, known only as "the man" and "the boy" and their harsh and intense struggle to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic America . I really don't want to say more than that about the book.  The film adaptation (that I watched after reading the book) does a good job with keeping with the spirit and story as well. 

Happy Reading!