Watch and Read: The Princess Bride Edition

The Princess Bride is impossible to summarize or place in one genre: a farmboy is hopelessly in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, so goes off to seek his fortune; a princess is captured by a group of criminals-for-hire; a swordsman is sworn to revenge the death of his father by killing a six-fingered man; the Dread Pirate Roberts is terrorizing the seas and capturing ships; a prince wants to start a war with a neighboring nation; etc., etc., etc.

If you haven't read the novel, by William Goldman, that's a good place to start: though the beloved movie remains relatively close to the novel (as movie adaptations go, at any rate), there are some gems in the book that don't make it onto the big screen (Prince Humperdinck's Zoo, for one). Goldman structures the novel as an abridgement of an even older novel by S. Morgenstern, compiling only the good bits; this framing can sometimes be distracting (the "original" novel by S. Morgenstern is an invention of Goldman's imagination), but is mostly entertaining, as Goldman interjects with his own "author's commentary" throughout the story.

Post-novel: the movie. If you somehow have made it through the last 25 years without seeing The Princess Bride, I'm... not even sure where to begin. It's simply inconceivable. But whether you've seen it or not, it's worth watching the movie after reading the novel to see how Goldman adapted the story for the big screen (Goldman wrote the screenplay).

Post-movie viewing: Cary Elwes' memoir, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride. If you're an audiobook fan, I recommend this one on audio (it's narrated by Elwes himself, with guest appearances from Robin Wright, Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, and others from the cast of the movie). Elwes tells all about the making of the movie, and it's an absolute delight to be treated to "insider" stories of this beloved film.

Some fun facts: 

Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin trained for nearly 40 hours a week in swordplay so they could perform the big duel--noted in the novel to be the greatest swordfight in history--themselves (and, with the exception of a few large gymnastic-esque tricks, they did it, even though Cary had a broken toe at the time).  

Cary Elwes had to be replaced by a dummy of Cary Elwes in the Miracle Max scene (when he's mostly dead on the table), because he couldn't stop laughing during the cuts with Billy Crystal and Carol Kane (all of which were improvised, by the way). Mandy Patinkin had to be on the set for that scene--he has lines there, and isn't mostly dead, after all--and tried so hard to stop laughing on camera that he bruised a rib during the shooting. 

And one more, for good measure: The ROUSes were actually played by men in rat suits. Who knew?

Reading (or listening to) As You Wish is something like attending a cast party rolled into the kindest high-school reunion imaginable. Elwes has nothing but praise and compliments for the cast and crew of the film, and his insider stories are delightful, not scandalous. It's an absolute treat for anyone who's been interested in (or in love with, take your pick) the movie for any period of time.

For good measure, it's worth it to go back and watch the movie again after hearing Elwes' stories of the making of. There are things there you never would have noticed before, and things you'll appreciate more because of his account. Plus, it's the kind of movie made to be watched again and again... and again and again and again, as you wish.

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The Princess Bride | William Goldman | Mariner Books | Mass Market Paperback | 511 pages | Buy from an independent bookstore near you

A copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review:

As You Wish | Cary Elwes, narrated by Cary Elwes (introduction written and read by Rob Reiner) | Simon & Schuster Audio | ~7 hours | Buy from an independent bookstore near you

Celebrate the TFiOS Movie with a Giveaway!

We're only a few short days away from the theatrical release of the movie adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars, and can I just say I am so excited? It's been an emotional roller coaster of a week for me, so I know I'll be in the theater this weekend with lots of tissues having a good ol' cathartic cry.

In case you haven't seen the trailer yet, please indulge me:

Courtesty of 20th Century Fox, I can offer one lucky reader a movie tie-in edition of the novel (in case you somehow haven't read it yet?) and a TFiOS tote bag:

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. US entrants only, please. Winner information will be shared with Big Honcho Media, who will supply the prize. I'll select a winner on Monday, June 9th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And for more info on the movie, check out the official website.

Best of luck!

Bond. James Bond.

This post originally ran in the Tuesday, November 13th issue of Shelf Awareness for Readers. There's also an interview with Sir Roger Moore in that issue...

Nearly 60 years after the publication of Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, Casino Royale, James Bond has become the epitome of the secret agent. Featured on the big screen in 23 movies, the Bond film franchise is one of the longest-running in Hollywood history--as well as one of the most profitable--from the original 1962 adaptation of Dr. No, featuring Sean Connery as Bond, to the release last week of Skyfall, with Daniel Craig as the most recent Bond actor.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of this epic film series, DK Publishing has published a collection of the Bond movie art: James Bond: 50 Years of Movie Posters. This book is a film-by-film guide to the artwork and photography surrounding the series, and includes several rare posters, a collection of unused concept artwork, and teasers and lobby cards from Bond movie screenings around the world.

In The Music of James Bond (Oxford University Press), author Jon Burlingame looks at the sounds of James Bond, from the last-minute creation of the now-famous "James Bond Theme" in Dr. No to the trend-setting music found in later films. Burlingame devotes a chapter to each of the movies, exploring how modern technology influenced the scores; the decades-long controversy over the authorship of the original Bond theme; and how Amy Winehouse nearly co-wrote and sang the theme for Quantam of Solace.

For an even deeper dive into the Bond movies, go to The James Bond Archives (Taschen). Eon Productions (the production company behind all 23 movies) opened its archives of photos, designs, storyboards and production materials to editor Paul Duncan, who has compiled this wealth of primary research into an account of the making of the series, including the spoofs of Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again (1983). With stunning imagery accompanied by oral histories collected from more than 150 cast and crew members, The James Bond Archives is a comprehensive tribute to the legendary superspy of the British Secret Service.

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James Bond: 50 Years in Movie Posters | DK Publishing | Hardcover | 304 pages | Buy from an independent near you

The Music of James Bond | Jon Burlingame | Oxford University Press | Hardcover | 293 pages | Buy from an independent near you

The James Bond Archives | Paul Duncan, ed. | Taschen | Hardcover | 592 pages | Buy from an independent near you

Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Dear Friend,

I just finished this incredible book - maybe you've heard of it? It's called The Perks of Being a Wallflower. In case you don't know it, it's a wonderful book about a high school kid named Charlie trying to figure out how to fit in and make friends and "participate." He's really always been more of a watcher -- a wallflower, if you will -- than a participant, but then he makes a few friends and his whole world opens up.

I really wish this was a book I'd read in high school, because as much as I loved it now (and that was a lot), I think it would be have been even more poignant when I was younger. Charlie learns all these great things about friends and relationships and sex and drinking and drugs and cigarettes and being true to himself that are important now, even with high school nearly a decade behind me, but would have been even more important then.

I don't know if you know about Charlie, but he's the kind of kid that sometimes makes you want to cry because he can be so naive, so pure, so simple, and so kind all at once. But this can also be his greatest downfall, because sometimes he gets lost in the process, and you just want to shout, "Charlie! Wake up! Don't you see what's happening here?"

Of course you can't, because it's just a book. But is anything really "just a book," after all? I don't think Charlie would think so, and I don't think so, either.

Love always,
Kerry

P.S. Incidentally, if you do decide to read this one, the audio is great. Charlie becomes very real when he reads his letters to you, in a way he might not if only written.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky, nar. Johnny Heller | Recorded Books | 6 hours, 22 min |  Buy from an independent near you

A Trailer (and A Prayer) for The Great Gatsby Movie

Have you seen it? Have you seen it? The trailer to Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of The Great Gatsby hit the internet this week:

And this is my prayer to the movie gods, the book gods, the Fitzgerald gods: please, please, please, let it be good. No--let it be wonderful. Let it be beautiful. Let it be Baz Luhrmann's best work, and not his worst. Let it be as wonderful as the story and the casting and the costumes and the set suggest it could be.

What do you all think? Will it live up to expectations?

Because this is one movie adaptation I don't think I can't stand to see flop.

In Which I Come Late to the Hunger Games Party

Ok, I know. Everyone saw the Hunger Games movie like... months ago. And blogged about it in a reasonably timely manner. And said intelligent, engaging things about it.

Here's what I have to say about it: the book was better.

Shocking, I know! A blog post in which a self-proclaimed bookworm stands by the tried-and-true maxim of the book always winning out over the movie. But really, the book was better. Wasn't it?

Don't get me wrong, the movie was interesting. And the Capitol - the Capitol! - was breathtaking and amazing and colorful and vivid and almost exactly like it was in my head. But most of the characters fell flat for me (including Lenny's performance as Cinna; while he looked the part, he really didn't have the oomph that Cinna had in my head), and it just felt... long. For a 300-odd page book (written in a large font with large margins), I was shocked when I found out (during the previews, mind you) that I was in for a two-hour plus viewing. And disappointed that the games themselves didn't really start until over halfway through. And even more disappointed when (spoiler alert) they changed the ending of the movie. Well, maybe not changed entirely, but definitely ended earlier/differently than in the book.

Which is all just a really, really, really long way of saying that the book is still better than the movie. Even an action-packed teen movie with a bunch of heart-throbs in it. Because unfortunately, those heart-throbs aren't great at line delivery (I'm looking at you, Gale).

Of course, I'll see the next two movies. And by the way -- reviews of the second two books to come (one of these days). I read them on the flight to Italy. Perfect airtime reading, if I do say so myself.

The Raven: Edgar Allen Poe on the Big Screen

Did anyone else miss this until recently? Because I certainly did. Apparently John Cusack will be appearing on the big screen in April as none other than Edgar Allen Poe himself.

I've been meaning to read more of Poe's works for some time now - I do live terribly close to Baltimore, after all, and the Poe House is on my list of local sights to see - and this seems the perfect excuse to break out that old collection of creepy stories, no? Does anyone know of a good account of Poe's life, while I'm on the subject?

The Borrowers Arrive on BBC

Does anyone else remember The Borrowers, that darling book in which little people live in the walls of a house and borrow items from the owners? I'd say it offers a perfectly plausible explanation for all those items that seem to disappear from my house for no apparent reason: an earring back, one sock, the tweezers, that rubber band band you know you left on your desk. Seriously, borrowers. Where is my rubber band ball?

I loved this book when I was a kid, and I vaguely remember loving the 1997 movie version featuring John Goodman. And now BBC is bringing the stories to the little screen with a 90-minute adaptation of The Borrowers set to air this Christmas season. Who's excited!?

Game of Thrones Trailer AND Publication Date Set for Dance with Dragons

Whoooooaaaa Nellies. This week was starting to look a little glum - and it's only Monday - and then this link landed in my inbox, courtesy of the never-disappointing Shelf Awareness. HBO has released another trailer for the new HBO mini-series, Game of Thrones, set to premiere April 17. Plus, there's a sneak peek scheduled for April 3. Too bad I don't have HBO... yet. I'd embed the video for you, but I can't. So go to the EW Inside TV page to watch. It's worth it.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, there's a sneaky little link at the bottom of the EW article about the trailer that leads to this amazing page for a discussion of Dance with Dragons. You know, that elusive fifth book that we've been waiting for George R.R. Martin to write for quite literally years and years and years. And it's coming. In July. Another volume for the Song of Ice and Fire series. Now, in addition to re-reading the Wheel of Time series (I'm up to book 11 on that particular venture), I have to re-read the first four Song of Ice and Fire books. But it's ok. It's a good problem to have.

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Not enough Game of Thrones linkage for you? Check out the HBO page for more videos, stories, casting information, airtimes, etc.

The Brothers Grimm Come to the Big Screen: Again and Again and Again...

Has anyone besides Shelf Awareness pieced together all of the Brothers Grimm movies coming to the big screen? Today's issue featured a story on the casting of Julie Roberts as the Evil Queen in Tarsem Singh's The Brothers Grimm: Snow White (2012). This version of Snow White is apparently due out 6 months before the Universal Studios version, Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) starring Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron.

And that's just Snow White. Shelf Awareness reports that Paramount Pictures is working on Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2012). And have you seen the previews for Red Riding Hood (2011), starring that girl with the big eyes whose name I can never remember?

So what's with all the fairy tales? These aren't the first - remember when Matt Damon and Heath Ledger paired up to play the brothers themselves in The Brothers Grimm (2005)? I haven't seen it, but it looks intriguing. And I'm interested in the new Snow White movies. Nothing like some live action to combat the standard 2D Disney flick we all grew up with. Maybe I need to finally read the actual fairy tales to see what all the fuss is about. I hear they're pretty gruesome. Thoughts?

Book to Movie: One Day Adaptation Slated for July 8th Release

Fans of David Nicholl's One Day, rejoice! The film adaptation of the novel, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, is slated for a July 8th release date. Yes, of this year. IndieWire calls it a "highly anticipated" follow-up on Lone Scherfig's successful release of An Education, starring Carey Mulligan.

Based on images from both movies, the director seems to have a thing for actresses with short hair. Both Carey Mulligan and Anne Hathaway are sporting new, short hairstyles. As is yours truly. I chopped off all of my locks post-wedding into a 'do that closely mimics Carey Mulligan's short style.

But I digress. Why am I talking about hairstyles when I could be rambling about how much I loved David Nicholls' book, and how I can't wait to see the movie? This from the girl who doesn't watch a lot of movies. As with any book-to-film adaptation, I'm worried that the movie won't do the novel justice, but on this one, the casting and direction look sound enough that it seems worth the chance.

If you haven't already been persuaded to read the book, go back and take a peek at my review of One Day. And I'm not alone in my gushing:

• Maylin at The Dewey Divas and the Dudes called it a "perfect summer read"
• Savidge Reads claims that it's a book he'd like to hug.
• Rachel at A Home Between the Pages says it's one of the only books she's marked up, written in, and flagged with post-its, in an attempt to remember her many favorite passages

Have you read the book? If you answered no, stop reading immediately and go do so. Any thoughts on the casting? Will you see the movie?

Book to Movie: Julie & Julia

I realize I am about a year behind the times on this, both in reading Julie Powell's book, Julie & Julia, and in watching the movie. I reviewed the book last September, well after the initial buzz had come and gone, in honor of my strict read-the-book-before-you-see-the-movie policy. And then I waited nearly a year to finally watch the movie...

Let me tell you, I am very sorry not to have seen it sooner. Nora Ephron, who produced and wrote the screenplay, did an excellent job of weaving together Julie Powell's story of her 524 recipes in 365 days and Julia Child's story of learning to cook. Making allowances for a few forced transitions between 1949 and 2002, the movie was well-done, well-written (a must for any book-to-movie adaptation) and, perhaps most importantly, well acted.

As when reading the book, I found myself identifying with Julie's strange neuroses and oddball breakdowns, her habit of speaking to figures that aren't there and can't hear you, and occasionally - ok, not so occasionally - cussing at the oven when whatever meal I'm attempting to prepare refuses to cooperate. In the end, I was left yearning for more - more Julie, more Julia, and more French food.

Bottom line: If you're like me and you haven't gotten around to seeing it yet, for whatever reason, make it a point to do so. Just make sure you have a bottle of decent wine on hand, as well as a plate or two of butter-rich food, because it will otherwise leave you wanting.

One Day - the Movie!

Earlier this month, I posted a review of David Nicholl's ONE DAY. That was weeks ago, and I find myself still thinking about the book - if you haven't read it yet, do so ASAP, because in addition to being a fantastic book, it will soon be a movie starring Anne Hathaway as Emma and Jim Sturgess as Dexter. Check out the full story at GalleyCat.

Don't trust my review alone? Check out some other reviewers' thoughts -

Maylin at the Dewey Divas blog
Mary at Bookhounds

"Jersey Shore" Book to Hit Shelves in July... What Will They Think of Next?

Well, we all knew that television - particularly reality television - had gone to the shitter when MTV aired its first episode of "Jersey Shore." It only got worse as the show gained popularity, sparked 'controversies' and created quasi-celebrities of the Jersey Shore house residents.

To my eternal shame, I have seen every episode of Jersey Shore. While I'm confessing, I might as well announce that I also watch Tool Academy and the Real Housewives of New York City. What? Shocked, you are? Well I can see that - my television choices don't always jive with my stance on reading choices. But to me, they are separate worlds: television is for mindless entertainment, books are for intelligent, thoughtful entertainment. [The bookworm ducks under her desk as the film and television gurus start throwing books at her.]

Sadly, the line between my self-imposed categorization is becoming more and more blurred. Case in point: St. Martin's has just landed a deal for a Jersey Shore book, written (these people can write!?) by none other than J-Woww and Ronnie. The two started dating while in the Jersey Shore house, and the book is thus named Never Fall in Love at the Jersey Shore. The title, however, is misleading, as the book will have nothing to do with not falling in love at the Shore. According to the PW announcement, J-Woww and Ronnie will "two explain how to balance work, love, and partying, while properly taking care of hair, nails, and skin -- as well as everything else that goes into living an authentic Jersey Shore lifestyle."

Why anyone would want a how-to guide on a Jersey Shore lifestyle is beyond me. Entertainment Weekly hit the nail on the head with their sarcastic announcement: "That’s right, folks! You too can be a lowest common denominator!" I just hope they remember to cover GTL (Gym. Tan. Laundry.).

I have a sinking feeling that the book will be a hit, flying off the shelves just in time for the premiere of season 2 of the show... which, naturally, will take place in Miami... What is the world coming to?

The Help Proves Its Worth

According to Monday's issue of Shelf Awareness, Deadline.com has recently reported that Kathryn Stockett's break-out hit has been optioned for film. The movie will be done by Dreamworks, and written and directed by Stockett's long-time friend Tate Taylor. According to one of the comments on the original article (which I haven't been able to verify), Taylor's rights to the film adaptation expired soon after the book became widely popular, and in a very classy move, the author renewed the rights to her friend. If it's true, then good move Stockett.

The Help is currently ranked #2 on Amazon, and has been on the NY Times bestseller list for 48 weeks (the NYT book review of the book called it "button-pushing, soon to be wildly popular novel about black domestic servants working in white Southern households in the early 1960s, one woman works especially tirelessly"). It was also featured on the Today show's "10 must-read books for spring."

This is the first book published by Amy Einhorn books, which launched its first list in February 2009. Other titles from the publisher's first lists include The Postmistress, Kingdom of Ohio, an The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, all of which have garnered significant amounts of blog/book club/review outlet attention. Is there something special about this new publisher? What is Amy Einhorn doing so... right? Any theories? Any other Amy Einhorn books worth noting? This might prove fodder for a further post...

Alice in Wonderland In Theaters Friday

Friday is a big day in my little world:

• the fiance's birthday (present: check. dinner reservations: hmm...)
• the day that I will announce the winners of the Black Hills audiobook (if you haven't entered yet, go do it now!)
• the theater release of Alice in Wonderland!

This promises to be no ordinary movie release; this is Tim Burton directing material that seems to have been written with a director like Burton in mind (yes, yes, I know Carroll wrote it long before Burton came along... but don't the two seem to go together somehow?). A quick fact about the movie: Lindsay Lohan lobbied for the role of Alice.

In honor of the release of Alice in Wonderland, I've done a quick round-up of some key Alice in Wonderland titles that I've been dying to read. I've decided that before picking these up, though, I'll be re-reading Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass on my iPod via the Classics app - expect a follow-up post on the joys and difficulties of e-reading.

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The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition - After a quick cameo on Lost last week (which I didn't actually see, but read about on Galleycat), this title's sales spiked. According to the Media Bistro article, it was ranked 314th in books this week, and 1st in the history & criticism category. The book presents the full text of both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, as well as "The Wasp in the Wing" (a suppressed chapter of Through the Looking Glass). All of the text is annotated with commentary exploring Carroll's sources, allusions, mathematical puzzles, etc.




Alice I Have Been is a relatively new release from Delacorte, a historical novel based on the relationship between Alice Liddell (the basis for Alice) and Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll). This one has been popping up in promotion a lot recently, and according to Amazon, is currently #365 in books.








The Looking Glass Wars is the first in a trilogy of modern fiction based on the story of Alice. The main character, Alyss Heart, has fled her homeland and found herself in Victorian England, where she is adopted by the Lidells and re-named Alice Lidell. A friend, Charles Dodgson, tells Alice her real story, which of course no one believes... until the royal bodyguard Hatter Madigan crashes Alice's wedding, and it's pretty much all downhill from there. There are two further volumes in this series: Seeing Redd (vol. 2) and Archenemy (vol. 3). You can see reviews of these titles on Bookgasm - Vol 1 & 2 together, and the new Vol 3 review (and interview with the author).




The Mystery of Lewis Carroll aims to unravel the veil of rumors and mystery that surrounds the life of the author of Alice in Wonderland. Through a variety of rare and first-hand sources, author Jenny Woolf places Carroll in the realm of Victorian England. There is also a review of this one up on Bookgasm, if you're interested.







So, it seems I have to get some reading done - both e-reading and book reading. If anyone has read any of the above, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Did I miss any must-read Alice titles? Anyone else excited for the movie release?

The Little Prince, A Movie

Last week, Variety reported that a French film duo will tackle a film production of The Little Prince.

Aton Soumache and Dimitri Rassam will be creating a "stereoscopic 3D animated feature adaptation" of Antione de Saint-Exupery's classic work. According to the article, the pair are set to spend nearly $61 million.

The duo hope to follow the book very closely, focusing on the friendship between a downed pilot and a boy with magic powers. To keep the story as accurate as possible, Saint-Exupery's great-nephew, Olivier d'Agay, has joined the project to advice the producers.

Academy Awards Give Nod to Literature

This year's nominations for the Academy Awards were announced last week, and as usual, several of the movies nominated are adaptations of books (whether literal or very liberally adapted).

The Blind Side is a loose adaptation of Michael Lewis' book of the same name. The movie focuses primarily on the story of a young homeless man who learns to play football under the guidance of a local housewife; the book tells this story while simultaneously addressing the evolution of the game of football and the industry that surrounds it. Both look promising.

Julie and Julia

I picked up a copy of Julie and Julia about a year ago because it had this subtitle: 365 days, 524 recipes and 1 tiny apartment kitchen (the subtitle changed in later editions). And it was about a woman have a bit of a life crisis. In Queens. It was like it was made for me.

Then I didn't read it. Until the movie came out, and it skyrocketed to the front of everyone's reading lists, and suddenly I was victim to that classic faux-pas I love to hate on: reading a book because it was made into a movie...

And let me tell you, Powell's memoir is well worth the read, whatever your motivations. She is quick, witty and poignant, scattering her adventures in the kitchen-and in life-with enough life lessons to keep one's mind turning. Not to worry, however: her self-deprication and humor, combined with her refusal to wallow for too long in self pity, keeps it from turning into her own personal sob story.

This is not a me-me-me memoir, as so many are wont to be. Instead, it is an honest, laugh-out-loud (dear, instant messaging has ruined that turn of phrase, hasn't it?), touching and thought-provoking account of one woman's realization that her life is in shambles -- and her (relatively successful) attempt to change that.

What Powell has created in this process is an imagination of Julia Child - and it turns out to be just that, an imagination - and a lot of buttery French food. What she learns in the process is that life is what you make of it. And what she made of it was 524 recipes, a popular blog, and a great book.

Bottom line: Prepare to laugh, cry, and suddenly find yourself craving bone marrow and lobster at odd times of the night. Powell's writing is as delicious as one would imagine her food to be.

Tie-Ins to Promote Books

Last week, I posted about the success of Julie and Julia and Mastering the Art of French Cooking following the release of the movie. The cookbook was vying with The Time Traveler's Wife for the number one Amazon spot, which, not so coincidentally, was also released as a movie just recently. The success of these books only following their tie-in movies is a bit depressing to book snobs such as myself, but I tried to find the happy note by focusing on the fact that at least people were reading, and books were selling.

Now, with a new edition of Charlotte Bronte's (sorry, don't know how to make the little dots here) Wuthering Heights released as a tie-in to the Twilight books, the question is raised again: does it matter what motivates readers, so long as they are reading?

Read the full Guardian article on this; the author has some good insights.