Reading and Watching Wednesday

Hello all!
I'm sorry I missed last week. I was really good and wrote a post to come out on the Wednesday  I was away on vacation, but I didn't take into consideration that I got back on a Tuesday and was too exhausted to think about blogging for about a week. NYC will definitely do that to you, especially if you try to see EVERYTHING in 3 days like I did!

Anyway, I had a great time, but hopefully I can get back to business as usual. This week I will be comparing the book version against the television version of The Sookie Stackhouse Novels / True Blood in honor of the new season starting soon (who else is WAY excited?!)

Admittedly, I have only read the first 2 Sookie Stackhouse books, and have seen all 4 seasons of True Blood that have come out. When I read the first book, I had already started watching the show as well. When I started the book, the biggest shocks were Tara and Layfette considering book Tara was the polar opposite of show Tara, and without giving too much away, Layfette's story line goes a lot differently in the books. There is definitely some minor character differences as well, but they are less noticeable. And as always, the characters physical descriptions aren't completely accurate, but they are good enough in most cases. Book Sookie seems to be a more voluptuous Southern girl than Anna Paquin is capable of portraying, but she does a good job. 

Since, as I mentioned, I had watched the show first, and the book seemed to be playing true to the show for awhile, I found I kept waiting for things I new happened in the show to happen in the book, and this never did. I guess since the book is short, the TV show had some filler added to make a whole season.

For the second book and the second season, much of the story line has changed, and much like my review of the Vampire Diaries book vs show, I think that they are going to be completely different, and almost incomparable. For this reason, I think I will continue reading the books (otherwise I honestly think I would stop reading them).

Verdict: Show is definitely better than what I have read so far, but I'm going to keep giving the books an honest chance and maybe they will get just as good!

PS: I found this link and thought it was good too :)

http://www.tv.com/news/10-reasons-why-true-blood-is-better-than-the-books-its-based-on-26101/

Reading and Watching Wednesday

For this week, I'm going to compare 'Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging' with the movie 'Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging'

I read this book a number of years ago on a complete whim purchase from the book store, and it has ended up being one of the most LOL series' I have ever read (and I still have only read the first 5-6 of 10 books). Then, about 4 years later I had a roommate who had the books as well (before book blogging, I had never met someone else who knew about them) and she asked me if I saw the movie.

Hold up - There's a Movie????

Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie!!!!!!!

So, I watched this movie, and it was only kinda funny. It was also only kinda funny because I had relatively no expectations about it, because 5 mins after I found out it existed, I was watching it. If I had had more time to become even remotely excited about this movie, I think I would have hated it.

Some notable difference are:

-They make Robbie younger in the movie (which is maybe a good thing).

-They make Georgia and her friends less awkward 14-years-old funny, and more OMG shoot these people in the face annoying.

-The ending is different, there is a big birthday party at a club or something like that (it's been awhile, and I can't be bothered to Google for a memory refresh)

The main difference though is its sort of missing that Georgia narrative charm that made the books so amazing. The main stuff is there, its just not the same as real time acting as it is in Georgia's journals.

This is a 10 book series, and to the best of my knowledge this is the only movie made, and its probably for the best.

Verdict: The book is better by a long shot. The books are such quick reads that it not even worth the time to watch the movie, just grab the book.

Reading and Watching Wednesday

Hello All!

Before I get to my weekly feature, I thought I would give you a little update on what's up these days. I have started some new series' which I have been wanting to get around to, namely The Infernal Devices and The Iron Fey. I'm still reading the Iron King but I'm about half done. I'm working on 4 books right now, and that has me sort of feeling overwhelmed (my own fault, I know). But the thing is, I started reading The Scarlett Letter, and I'm just not feeling the older style language right now, I'm about 30% done it, and I'm not even sure I have a clue what's going on... Probably not a good sign. I also started reading Modelland by Tyra Banks, which is so bad it's hard to not finish, but god is it ever LONG. I have the ebook so I didn't realize, but it just keeps going on and on and... well, you get the idea. I also have a paper book that I'm working through, and that's fine, I always have one on the go for when I am flying or my ereader dies, and it's The Debutante Divorcee and it's okay enough, and finally I'm reading the Iron King as I mentioned. And I'm enjoying that one, but do you ever feel guilty when you have books outstanding? I started Modelland and The Scarlett Letter before I started Clockwork Angel, now I have that finished and posted about, and now I'm half done The Iron King and I still haven't finished those 2! I want to just keep reading The Iron King, but I feel bad for the other 2! Does this ever happen to anyone else?! Maybe I'm crazy, haha. Anyway, I'm going on vacation on Friday (a big road trip) so hopefully I'll knock out both Modelland and The Scarlett Letter then, and be able to read only awesome stuff for a little while.

And, now on to the book vs. movie!
This week we're going to take a look at:

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is one of my favorite book series' and I had high hopes for the movie when it first came out (some time in 2005). I went to see it in theaters, and I Was really disappointed... at first. They changed so many things in this book. Some things that I can remember that really stood out as different are the fact that Perry (Bridget's twin brother) was missing, Tibby and Bailey meet differently, Kostos and Lena's relationship with each other and their families is different, Eric is Mexican in the book (not a boy-next door American), and Brian was not Asian in the book. I never understand why they have to change such simple details like these. Why can't you cast people that are some what similar to how they are described in the book? And why make it an apple when it's supposed to be an orange, know what I mean?

Other difference that I can actually understand why they were different (too complex, time issues, etc.) are things like Lena going to visit Bridget in Baja, Tibby's depression over Bailey, how the pants were actually found, how Carmen's father's wedding played out, etc. These changes I noticed, but didn't really bother me.

As for the 4 main girls, I thought the casting was great. At first I wasn't thrilled with Carmen and Lena's actresses, by in the movie they were perfect. They had such chemistry as friends, and after awhile I grew to love the movie for different reasons than I love the book.

Verdict: Book is better, but movie is great too :) However, don't ever let me start talking about the 2nd movie, because THAT was a piece of trash.

Anyway, I am hoping to get one of these scheduled to come out next Wednesday while I'm away, but time is short, so we'll see!

Happy Reading :)

Reading and Watching Wednesday

For this week's Wednesday post I am going to compare the television/book versions of The Vampire Diaries (not a movie, but still something you watch!)

I didn't read The Vampire Diaries Books when they first came out (I still haven't finished The Return books). I only started reading them because I wanted to watch this show. So, its important to put the books into perspective when you read them if you do it as late as I did. These books were written awhile ago for YA's and it really shows. Things aren't as shocking or risque as they are in today's literature, and Smith's writting style is much more descriptive then I find today's authors writing styles to be. But, I mean it hasn't been that long, and the books are still good. I read Book 1 and started watching the show. This, in hindsight was probably not the best idea. Book 1 was decent, but then I started watching the show, and I like it a lot more. Book 2 seems boring. Then Book 3, 4 and The Return series as sooo drastically different from the show they are almost incomparable, but I'll try :)

This photo sums up one of the main differences in the two, Elena:

The book Elena is also very superficial in the beginning, slightly malicious, and very into herself. I never really got that sense from the show Elena.

For the show, they almost COMPLETELY change Elena's family and friends as well. In the book, Elena has a little sister. She has an Aunt Judith (who is oldish) and a Uncle Robert. She has a redhead, pale friend named Bonnie, who is a wimp, and a strong willed friend Meredith. Her frenemy is Caroline. Not really like the show, hey?

Another biggie is that the show and the book don't even take place in the same town?! What is the point of that?! What was wrong with Fell's Church?!

And, Stefan and Damon are actually Italian in the books, the Katherine bit is very different (although she is in there) and some other things were just changed for no real reason as well, some better, some pointless, some worse. Like Caroline's last name, making Vicki Matt's sister, etc.

The verdict: I like each of them for their own reasons. At first I didn't think the books were going to live up to the TV series, because I love that, but again, they are SO different that it's like the books are just as good as the TV show in a completely different way. So, I feel like I can't even decide! What do you guys who have read/seen both think??

Although, one huge bonus the books can't provide: VISUAL STIMULATION!!

Reading and Writing Wednesday

This week the book versus movie match up I'm going to do is My Sister's Keeper

I haven't review My Sister's Keeper on the blog, but I think I mentioned it somewhere. Anyway, this was the first Jodi Picoult book I had read, so I wasn't yet used to her book's "formula" and I really liked this book. Kate, the eldest daughter suffers from leukemia (a cancer which my mom fought - and beat) and her parents have a second daughter, Anna in order to keep Kate alive. Through the book, you see the perspectives of many of the characters involved, which leaves you feeling empathy for all parties. Then, there is a massively shocking ending. And that pretty much sums up the book. Since I read this book, I have read a few other Picoult books, and I can't describe this book with as much hoorah as I probably did when I first read it, but alas, I really did like it when I read it.

Cue a few months later, and a movie comes out. I was surprised by the casting of Cameron Diaz, as she is almost always a joker, and I didn't have much exposure to Abigail Breslin so I didn't have any preconceived notions. Well, I watched this movie on a plane, and the ride was over before the movie was. Up to the point that I got off the plane, I sort of though, "ehhh, not bad, not great but still good" The acting and casting ended up being really good, my biggest problem with the movie was that the passage of time was a little awkward, and that the writing style didn't translate to film very well (almost like they didn't care to try very hard). Then, a few nights later, I finished watching the movie and.... WTF?!! That's not what happened!! First of all, the kidney issue is dealt with differently, making movie Anna seem like a bit more of a jerk, secondly the ending is a bit reversed, no? Like why not just take what happened in the book and make it the complete opposite for the end?? Cause that's what they did! It really irritated me. I get that movies aren't always going to go exactly the way they book did, but why instead of making a movie on 3/4 of a book and then doing whatever you wanted, write a different 3/4 beginning and then do that for the ending. So stupid. The movie also lacked the relationship the brother, Jesse had with his parents in the book, which I thought was kind of important.

Overall, I think each on their own were fine, but that they should of either followed the book, or made a different movie.

Verdict: Book was better, and movie was not close enough to the story line.

My OWN Meme

Memes are something about blogging which I always enjoy, and I decided to start my own (sort of, but not really at the same time - I'll explain). It's probably being done by someone somewhere else, so I won't claim that it is my own original idea, but I haven't seen it thus far and want to write about it.

With many books being made into movies, I thought it would be nice to do a movie review about a book I have read. Many people do this anyhow, as I noticed quite a few blogs I follow with Hunger Games recaps.  Some weeks I may even do a small spin on it and talk about just a movie that had originated from a book that I want to see, but have no desire to read the book.

Today, I'm going to do both! Because it's my meme and I'll do whatever I like!! Also, the reason that it's not really a meme but kind of is that I'm not going to be adding a linking tool (at least not right now) until I show myself that I can a) actually commit to doing this weekly, b) learn enough about HTML and stuff to do it right, and c) see if any of my followers actually like it enough to want to participate (as really, that is the essence of a meme...)

So, what do you name a meme?? Hmm, I'm going to go with...

Reading and Watching Wednesday

I thought this pretty much summed up everything I'm trying to do nicely, and included a day to post, and a little alliteration too (always a bonus). I am by nooooo means skilled at pictures on the computer, but I did come up with this little one for now. I am thinking about (slowly) learning a few computer basics (someday) so hopefully it will evolve over time! Another good thing about this meme is that Hollywood is constantly supplying me with new material! So here is my picture :)

Yes, I used Picnik... but it's Audrey, so that makes it better :)

And, without further explanation, here we go with Reading and Watching Wednesday!

Today I'm going to compare: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (American movie version)

Goodreads Summary: Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there’s always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson’s novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don’t want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

IMDB Synopsis: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker.

I haven't done a review of this book yet (I'm going to review the trilogy when I finish book 3).

I won't get into the pros and cons of the book, I'll save it for the review, but I will for the movie. I thought the movie did a good job of keeping true to the book, especially in the more hard to swallow situations, right up until the end, which was changed quite a bit. I think this was done in the interest of time, as the movie was already quite long. I liked the casting for every character I think, no one let me down, even the characters that don't matter a lot were well cast, which was great. Biggest let downs of the film were:

• The ending, I don't like when a movie changes the book so much. I don't think it really matter all that much, however it does seem a little less believable than what happened in the book.
• There is a huge spoiler in this movie for book 2. If you have not yet read book two, I would hold off on seeing this movie until you have. I'm not sure if it was important enough in the movie to be memorable, but it irked me that it was in there. It just means that they will have to change the second movie quite a bit to make up for that blunder.
• I had a love-hate issue with the accents used. LOVED they were there, as it made it better, sometimes hard to understand what they said though.
• The very beginning - what a waste of like 8 minutes during the opening credits.

Some high points:

• Again, great casting. Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig did a fantastic job. Craig has so much more range as an actor than I would have expected.
• The soundtrack was rocking, it really helped you get into it, which is always great in book to film adaptations.
• The setting, god I want to go to Sweden now!

Verdict: I really liked both of these, but the book was better.