Children of Men, a movie starring Clive Owen, is excellent. I saw it on pay-per-view a few weeks ago, and some of the scenes still haunt me.
Based on my reaction to the movie, I suggested that my bookclub read The Children of Men by PD James. I polished it off last night (it's not a long read), and it is a good book, it is a completely different story than the movie. The characters in the film have the same names as those in the book, and really, that's the only thing the two have in common. That worked well for me, as I could not predict where the book was going based on the movie. And the movie would have sucked if it were actually true to the book.
Now that I am done with the book, I could definitely use some reading suggestions, as I will be spending lots of time on planes in the upcoming weeks...
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Oh....where to begin. Reading suggestions:
ReplyDeleteWell I guess that depends of what kind of reader you are? Are you a "anything as long as it's good" reader? Are you a "I like most anything, but I prefer one genre over another." reader? Are you a,"I usually like genre A, but am adventerous enough to try genre b" reader? Because I can give you suggestions based on any one of those scenarios.....I can give you suggestions for anything from the serious read to the casual, "this will only take a moment" read....
Where to begin, where to begin....
I also finished that book this weekend. Then This morning as I was rushing off to work, I remembered I needed a new book, so I grabbed something Hemingway.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of books, if you want to come over and peruse my shelves. You're welcome to them.
Julie & Julia is next on my list of things to buy.
And VR, I hear from a little bird that you read as much as me (maybe more), so we should definitely swap recs.
I'll pretty much read anything that is interesting. I know that is not helpful, but I am not too discriminate. My most recent reads were "The Children of Men" and "The Namesake." Liked both a lot. Someone just suggested that I read The Glass Castle, a memoir by Jeannette Walls, which I heard was great.
ReplyDeletei recently finished 'the kite runner' and though tear-inducing at times, the writing was quite lovely.
ReplyDeleteand i really liked julie & julia, too.
lately i've been reading mostly children's mags for an article i'd like to submit.
You must read White Oleander by Janet Fitch. Its also a movie with Renee Zelweiger and Michelle Pfiefer. The book is AMAZING! It was an Oprah Book Club Book- but I wont hold it against this amazing book. (Usually I hate everything Oprah picks!)
ReplyDeleteHave you read A High Wind in Jamaica yet? Or Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close? I did not like White Oleander but perhaps you will. And perhaps we will talk before we set out on our international adventures?
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about" A High Wind in Jamaica," Mara. I am definitely psyched to read it.
ReplyDelete"White Oleander" I read a few years ago, and I think I liked it, but sadly I can't really remember. Thanks for the suggestion, though, Missypotamia!
"Julie & Julia" I read on my way back from India, and I loved, loved, loved it. I should read it again more carefully and learn things from it, ie - what makes good writing.
"Kite Runner" I read a while ago and I had mixed feelings about. I hated the end, but otherwise it was a good read.
This is great getting all the recommendations from folks!!! And one thing I don't like is "classic" literature. No Hemingway for the hamster who runs on the wheel in my head. It gives him a headache.
I totally second "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." Big time.
ReplyDeleteI also recently enjoyed "What is the What" by Dave Eggers, "Dark at the Roots" by Sarah Thyre, "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson, and "Don't You Forget About Me" which was a book of essays on the films of John Hughes -- surprisingly entertaining.
Oh, and I just read the second book by the dude who wrote "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime," but I can't remember what it's called, and that's hardly a ringing endorsement, is it?
Have you read
ReplyDeleteAugusten Burroughs? I enjoy his writing.
-Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett (a memoir that made me realize a career in writing isn't a hopeless goal)
ReplyDelete-The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby (a collection of his What I've Been Reading columns from The Believer...quick, fun, and full of reading ideas)
-How To Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer (one of the best short story collections I've read in a while)
-Dogwalker by Arthur Bradford (also another one of the best short story collections I've read in a while)
-Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (no description necessary...I think you'll really like it)
this is great! i've been asking people for recommendations for the past year and no one's given me much to work with. guess i just needed suzanne's influence to bring out the readers.
ReplyDeletere: 'kite runner' i also disliked the ending, but there were definitely some excellent bits of prose in there.
have you read daniel handler? not lemoney snicket, but writing as himself. it's quirky and strange, but i read it overnight stuck in o'hare.
i also liked 'extremely loud & incredibly close' a thousand times more than 'everything is illuminated' though i liked the movie.
Isn't it funny - I also enjoyed 'Everything is Illuminated' more as a film than as a book. Perhaps this is the first time in history the movie was better?
ReplyDeletemar - if you have not read it, try Devil in the White City by Eric Larsen. It's non-fiction but reads like fiction. I know Suzanne has read it already . . .
I thought I was the only one who liked the movie. I've seen it three times. It was intense and did leave me thinking and replaying scenes in my head. I'm definitely gonna be reading the book. I like the Birth House. It's a book about a midwife from the 1800's. You might want to try that one.
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