Category Archives: reading

Book-to-Movie Adaptations!

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme over at The Broke and the Bookish.  Today’s topic is

TOP TEN BEST/WORST MOVIE ADAPTATIONS.

However, I’m changing it a little.  Below are my TOP FIVE MOVIE ADAPTATIONS and my TOP FIVE PLEASE-GOD-LET-THEM-BE-AMAZING MOVIE ADAPTATIONS.

MY FAVORITES:

5. Where the Red Fern Grows | Classic!!

4. Anne of Green Gables | Megan Follows is Anne Shirley to me.

3. Prisoner of Azkaban | The first Potter movie to really hit the nail on the head.

2. Deathly Hallows 1 & 2 | Cinematic dreams.  I had so much fun at the midnight showings of these!

1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe | A well-done adaptation of a favorite book.

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MY PLEASE-GOD-LET-THEM-BE AMAZING ADAPTATIONS:

5. The Magician’s Nephew | To my knowledge, this one has not yet been confirmed.  But I NEED it.

4. The Night Circus | This is going to be a sensory masterpiece.  David Heyman is producing!

3. The Book Thief | Released on my 32nd birthday!!

2. The Fault in Our Stars | Nervous about the casting choices for this, but trying to have faith.

1. Jellicoe Road | This is currently the most important adaptation to me.  It basically ALL hinges on whom they cast for Jonah Griggs.

What are your favorites and soon-to-be-favorites?

Jackie’s Favorite YA Books

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Ahhh, YA lit!  So near and dear to my heart!  There are so many books I could recommend, but let’s start with these:

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
This book is seriously one of the best-written young adult books I have ever read.  In my life.  Period.  I love so many things about this book: the language, the characters, the structure, the humor.  It gets a 10 out of 10 from me.
Must-read: anyone who loves YA or a clever, quirky romance that is not at all cliche

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Okay, I suppose I should just be upfront and say that everything Melina Marchetta writes is fantastic.  She’s definitely my favorite YA author right now.  Saving Francesca is about Frankie Spinelli the year she and a handful of other girls (none of them her friends) begin attending a previously all-boys school.  She’s trying to navigate a school of boys who don’t want the girls there, girls she doesn’t want to become friends with, and her mother’s mental breakdown.  The characters are incredible.
Must-read: anyone who loves character-driven stories, fans of nerdy-but-hot Italian boys (i.e. the Will Trombal Experience/Extravaganza)
Bonus: this book has a sequel– The Piper’s Son— set five years down the road!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
TIME’s 2012 book of the year!  This YA book will make you laugh and cry and think.  It’s a cancer book– but not one of those cancer books.
Must-read: people who love YA, philosophy, and incredible characters

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Prior to the start of this book, Lennie’s sister Bailey has died unexpectedly.  Now Lennie is trying to navigate her grief all while falling in love for the first time.  This book is full of Lennie’s short poems, and they– along with the rest of the novel– are startling beautiful.
Must-read: people who are aching for a literary-quality YA novel, anyone with a beloved sister

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
A Printz honor book narrated by Death himself, this is “just a small story really, about, among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.”  I love books that are about the joy of words– and it’s even better when you mix in unforgettable characters and gorgeous writing full of incredible imagery.
Must-read: YA lovers, people who love words, anyone interested in Nazi Germany and the Holocaust

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The story of Puck and Sean, both set to ride the bloodthirsty water horses in the Scorpio Races.  I’m not sure I’ve read anything quite like this before; it is laced with an incredible raw savagery, making it an instant favorite for me.
Must-read: anyone who loves horses, readers ready for wild, tribal-drum-pounding YA

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
This is the very first book that made me cry.  The classic book of a boy and his two hunting dogs.
Must-read: animal lovers, anyone who loves a tear-jerker

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
A delicious tale of first love between the two titular characters, the writing in this book has an outstanding and unique voice.  I love the characters of Eleanor and Park, and I love the way that Rowell can make your brain about explode when they hold each other’s hand.
Must-read: fans of the contemporary genre, readers who love great imagery, quirky characters, and a sweet romance

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Like so many others, the hype around this series intimidated me into not reading them for years.  I’m so glad that I finally did!  This is one of my favorite series– seven separate stories that really tell just one about a boy wizard fighting against evil.
Must-read: fans of epic fantasy, anyone who wants to have their mind blown by creativity

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
A story about a homeschooler joining public school for the first time, this book is full of quirkiness and whimsy.  A brilliant novel about being different.
Must-read: misfits, anyone who loves a misfit
Bonus: This book also has a sequel!

Also, here a couple middle grade (MG) suggestions!

Bridge to Terabithia by Kathleen Patterson
The story of two young friends who create their own make-believe world.  This book is a classic, and unless you have a heart made of cement and broken glass, you will cry.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
I can’t say too much about this story because I don’t want to give anything away, but it is brilliant, one of those books that ties up all loose ends so perfectly in such a satsifying way.  I highly recommend this book– I read it when I was 30 and loved it!  Great voice.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis|
These are classics!  I seriously cannot get enough of them– I read them over and over and over and love them every single time.  I am just finishing up the series for the first time this year, and– no joke– after book 7 is over, I will start again on book 1.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Classic tale of a pet pig and his spider friend who is trying to save him from slaughter.  Lovely.

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Jackie’s Favorite Adult Fiction

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So, it’s no secret that I’m a YA junkie, but I still have adult novels that I adore (like, head-over-heels-feeling-giddy-and-lightheaded adore):

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
This is the story of Reuben Land, who– along with his father and sister– set out on a journey to find Reuben’s outlaw brother Davy.  Filled with his sister Swede’s hilarious epic poetry and his father’s deep faith, this story is some of the most beautiful prose I’ve ever read.
Recommended for: anyone who loves literary fiction, parents, folks from the Midwest, readers looking for a masterful roadtrip book

The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle
If you click here, you can read my desperate plea for people to read this incredible grown-up fairytale.
Recommended for: people who want the meat of fantasy, not the candybar version (i.e. vampire lit), people who love incredible writing, people who just plain-and-simple love story

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book is richer than chocolate.  It has magic and competition and romance– and it avoids all cliches.  It is a sensory extravaganza.
Recommended for: people who love Harry Potter and are ready for magic from a grown-up perspective, anyone who values great imagery

C.S. Lewis’s space trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hiddeous Strength
In general, I’m not a big sci fi fan.  But then there’s C.S. Lewis sci fi, a whole different breed.  It’s like mixing deep thoughts, deep theology, and deep space into a hearty stew.  Each book is better than the one that came before it, so don’t stop reading!
Recommended for: fans of C.S. Lewis, deep thinkers, people who love theology, readers who love rich writing

East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Forget Grapes of Wrath– this is Steinbeck’s magnum opus.  This is the story of Adam Trask, his brother Charles, and Adam’s sons Aron and Cal.  It’s a re-telling of the story of Cain and Abel, mixed with Steinbeck’s own history, and it is brilliant.
Recommended for: people who enjoy generational stories, theologians, connoisseurs of fine writing 

Rosie by Anne Lamott
I wanted to add another contemporary writer to this list, and Anne Lamott is one of the best out there.  While I think her truest forte is in memoir writing, she still writes incredible fiction.  Rosie is the first book of a trilogy, but it can also stand alone.  It’s the story of Elizabeth Ferguson and her daughter Rosie while Elizabeth is sinking into alcoholism.  It is great.
Recommended for: people who want to laugh and have their heart broken by the same book, readers who want incredible characters and great writing, fans of Anne Lamott’s memoir

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
A work of “theological fantasy” from the best of the best.  A fascinating look at heaven and hell, which uses Dante, Augstine, Milton, and Bunyan as sources.  Brilliant.
Recommended for: Christian thinkers, non-Christian thinkers

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
I have to admit here that I’ve only read the 500-page abridged version, but it was fantastic.  What an incredibly well-written story of grace.  I gobbled this one up!
Recommended for: anyone who loves the classics, anyone who loves grace

I also recommend the following:
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Exodus by Leon Uris
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

Most Intimidating Books

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme over at The Broke and the Bookish.  Today’s topic is

TOP TEN MOST INTIMIDATING BOOKS (due to size, content, hype, etc.).

10. Persuasion by Jane Austen | In general, any “manners” book is intimidating to me.  This one is all about waiting, and I actually ended up liking it– though I have never re-read it … or any other Austen book.  (Does that make me a bad English major?  Just wait– there’s a bigger confession on its way.)

9. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling | Sheer numbers, baby.

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8. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo | … aaaaaaaand numbers again.  I read the 500-paged abridged version though and thought it was masterful!

7. Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder | Essentially a philosophy textbook disguised as a novel.  Still, it was amazing.  Then again, I’m not sure that I could spout back much to you about Aristotle and Plato.  But I trust it’s in my head somewhere!

6. Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel | The premise is a little overwhelming: a writer … who meets a taxidermist … who is writing a play about a monkey and a donkey … in the Holocaust.  As I’ve said before, only Yann Martel could pull that off so perfectly.

5. Meditations by Rene Descartes | I love philosophy– maybe because in my OCD hey-day it was a little too dangerous for me.  I wasn’t sure I’d be able to understand and follow this work by Descartes … but I loved it.  It was a must-read as research for my novel.

4. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling | After the world fell desperately in love with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I think we were all a little worried about Jo Rowling’s venture into the adult world.  And let me tell you, although this book has incredible writing, the content matter is harsh and depressing.

3. Exodus by Leon Uris | I can still remember Mrs. Grams promoting this book from the front of my 11th-grade English class.  It was the story of the Jewish nation, and it looked ginormous— which it is, at around 600 pages.  I didn’t choose it for that particular assignment, but I decided I would read it over the summer.  And I did.  Once each summer for the next 3-4 summers.  It’s incredible.

2. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck | It’s supposed to be one of his best (though I would argue that East of Eden is his magnum opus), and you’re supposed to like it … and I just didn’t.  At least, at first.  But as I journeyed across the country with Tom Joad, somehow I came to love him.

1. Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien | English geeks everywhere unite around this book.  I knew I was supposed to love it … and again, I didn’t.  And with this one (confession time!), I never did grow to love it.  It was a painful, torturous reading that I only slogged through because it was assigned reading for class.  I never read the second or third books.  After I read a biography of Tolkien, though, I came to a real appreciation for The Lord of the Rings.  And that’s where I remain to this day: appreciative, but not a fan.  Commence hateful comments. 🙂

Summer TBR List

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme over at The Broke and the Bookish.  Today’s topic is

TOP TEN BOOKS AT THE TOP OF MY SUMMER TO-BE-READ LIST.

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1. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness | The third book in the Chaos Walking trilogy.  I’m reading it right now, and I can’t wait to review this series for my blog!

2. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay | The early reviews of this book were so phenomenal that I pre-ordered it MONTHS ago, and it just arrived in the mail this week!  Can’t wait!

3. Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

4. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi | I loved the first book in this series, although I had thought it was a standalone book, so I was frustrated by the ending of the first book.  But now I’ve built my bridge and gotten over it and am ready for more adventures with Perry and Aria!

5. Golden by Jessi Kirby

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6. UnWholly by Neal Shusterman | Gosh, Unwind was so just thought-provoking and engaging, I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to read the next book.  It’s been on my shelf for a bit, and I can’t wait to get to it this summer hopefully!

7. Science Set Free by Rupert Sheldrake | I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but after watching this banned TEDtalk, I requested this book from the library immediately.

8. Son by Lois Lowry | This is the final book of the Giver series!

9. Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli

10. The Book of Everlasting Things by Arthur Mee

How about you?  What’s on your summer TBR list?

Love in the form of Story

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One of the ways I experience God’s love is in my enjoyment of story.

Does that make any sense?

What I mean is that when I lie awake in bed at night with ideas, characters, and stories tripping capriciously through my mind, I feel like God’s beloved.  When I read incredible writing that makes my brain fizz and my fingers itch, I feel confident that God is good and that He loves me deeply.  Why else would he offer me something so unfathomably beautiful?

Beauty, period.  Why invent loveliness, color, sound, except out of sheer grace?

And for me, story.  The delight of it all is like a resting place.

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My word isn’t law … but it should be.

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Someone recently asked me what order she should read The Chronicles of Narnia in.  C.S. Lewis didn’t originally plan for Narnia to be a series, and the order in which the books were written differs from the order in which they were published, and both of them differ from the chronological order of the story of Narnia.  So, which order is correct?

I argue for an entirely different order than any of the three.  As someone who reads a little Narnia almost every single day, I feel qualified to make a recommendation (ha!).  For maximum enjoyment of the series, here is my suggested sequence.

narniaorder  Agree?  Disagree?  Need me to lay out my argument? 🙂

Books Featuring Travel

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme over at The Broke and the Bookish.  Today’s topic is

TOP TEN BOOKS FEATURING TRAVEL.travel2

10. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness | Does “escaping” count as travel?  Todd and Viola are fleeing an army from Prentisstown on their way to the safety (they hope!) of Haven.

9. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis | Especially Voyage of the Dawn Treader (destination: the end of the world)!

8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Amsterdam, baby!

7. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi | Aria and Perry making the hazardous journey through “the Death Shop,” the unprotected world outside her biosphere!

travel6. East of Eden by John Steinbeck | From Connecticut to the Salinas Valley, though the journey is not the main feature of this story, as it is in Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

5. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta | Finn has been trapped outside of Lumatere for 10 years, but there are rumors that the Lumeteran king is still alive, so he and the young novice Evanjalin begin a crazy journey back.  So good.

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling | The only book of the series that doesn’t take place primarily at Hogwarts, this book was at first frustrating to me but has grown to become my favorite of the lot!

3. The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle | Our magician-cook-and-unicorn trio makes its way toward King Haggard’s country … and toward the Red Bull.

2. Perelandra by C.S. Lewis | Dr. Ransom travels to Venus!  Fascinating novel that will make your brain hurt.

1. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger | Reuben, his sister Swede, and their dad set off across Minnesota and North Dakota to find Davy, their outlaw brother/son!

 

 

Young at Heart

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childrensstoryDid you know that 55% of the people purchasing YA books are 18 and older?

I did.  I’m one of them. 🙂

Know what else?  I think I enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia more and more with each year I add to my age.

I write YA primarily for teenagers, but I hope to write in such a way that my stories will appeal to adults too.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!