For Future Reference: A List of Movie Books

Thought I'd share a little list that I found of newish books-soon-to-be-movies :)

• The Abstinence Teacher - Tom Perrotta

What it's about: A liberal sex-ed teacher butts heads with the conservative element of the new town she works in, and her new, born-again Christian love interest.  Starring: Steve Carell, Sandra Bullock.

• The Devil in the White City - Eric Larson

What it's about: The unbelievable true story of Daniel Burnham, the architect responsible for the construction of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and Dr. H. H. Holmes, a serial killer who used the fair to lure victims to his own "World's Fair Hotel" — and to their deaths.  Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio.

• It's Kind of a Funny Story - Ned Vizzini

What it's about: A depressed teenager, Craig, checks himself into a psychiatric institute and meets a variety of affected but friendly acquaintances.  Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts

• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer

What it's about: The post-911 novel follows a young boy, Oskar, as he searches for answers about a key that belonged to his father, who was killed in the World Trade Center attacks. Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks

• Back Roads - Tawni O'Dell

What it's about: A 19-year-old, Harley is burdened with taking care of his sisters while his mother is in prison. His life gets more complicated when he falls for the mother of one of his sister's friends. Starring: Andrew Garfield, Jennifer Garner

• Another Bullshit Night in Suck City - Nick Flynn

What it's about: While working at a homeless shelter, a 20-something guy crosses paths with his down-and-out father who lives on the streets.  Starring: Robert De Niro

• The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins 

What it's about: Set in the post-apocalyptic future, society has devolved into a place where teens are picked to fight each other to the death for entertainment. Main character Katniss Everdeen becomes one of the fighters in order to save her younger sibling. Starring: Jennifer Lawrence

• Important Artifacts - Leanne Shapton

What it's about: Well, the full title is actually Important Artifacts and Personal Property From the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry.  In this fictional auction catalog of one ex-couple's belongings (325 total to be exact), we witness the beginnings and ultimate unraveling of their relationship via various mementos they left behind. Starring: Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Seth Grahame-Smith

What it's about: It's a twisted spin on Austen's classic novel that puts heroine Elizabeth Bennett in the middle of protecting her family and town from the undead.  Starring: casting in progress 

• One Day - David Nicholls

What it's about: A couple of friends who have a one-night stand and we check in with them on the same day for the next 20 years.  Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess

Round 2!

Hey ladies!  We have each hosted a Booksters meeting...so now it's time for another go-around!  We've talked about a couple of new ways to go about choosing books for this second round.  I thought I'd throw these options out there to see what everyone's thoughts are:

1.  Choose a book you've already read that you'd like to share with the group.

2.  Choose 3 books (can be ones you've read before or not) and have the group vote on which of the 3 they'd rather read [I can easily set up a poll on the sidebar to make voting simple].

3.  Lastly, we could read books that are soon going to be adapted into movies (we talked about this one a long time ago but I thought I'd include it too).

Thoughts?  Preferences?

Next Up: The Eyre Affair

Katie has chosen The Eyre Affair for our April book!

 
Despite being written in 2001, The Eyre Affair takes place in an alternate version of 1985 where the Crimean War has waged for hundreds of years and time-travel - and much stranger things - are commonplace.  The story follows a female protagonist named Thursday Next who is a "Literatec Operative," meaning...she investigates literary crimes.  In this alternate reality, literature is taken as seriously (if not more) than religion...for example "Baconites" go door to door trying to convince people that it was Bacon who actually wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare.  As you may be able to guess, the literary crime in question involves Jane Eyre...for the rest of the story you'll have to read it yourself!  So let's get a thread started about when we want to meet up next :)

Next Up: The Year of Living Biblically

Christine has chosen The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A. J. Jacobs as our next book!

 

As Amazon.com's best book of Sept. 2007 review states: "Though no fatted calves were harmed in the making of this book, Jacobs chronicles 12 months living a remarkably strict Biblical life full of charity, chastity, and facial hair as impressive as anything found in The Lord of the Rings. Through it all, he manages to brilliantly keep things light, while avoiding the sinful eye of judgment."

For a year, the author intends to follow the commandments of the Bible as literally as possible: not just the well-known ones (like "Thou shalt not kill") but the obscure ones as well (such as wearing clothes of mixed fibers).  And it's supposed to be quite the laugh...can't wait to see what Mr. Jacobs delivers!  Again, let's start a thread about when we want to meet up next, Christine...if you wanna take the lead on this that'd be super!

Catch-Up...for those who have just joined us

There's a few that've just joined...Miss Ernst, Miss Dooley...and Christine was here last time, but she's relatively new as well!  So, a recap of previous reads in case anyone wants to try these out!

First off, The Thirteenth Tale...great gothic mystery!

Next, Probation...an interesting look into the psyche of a closeted homosexual male.

And lastly Zeitoun a true story of struggle during Hurricane Katrina.

Next Up: Unbearable Lightness

Lyndsey has chosen Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi (er, I think it's Degeneres now??) as our next book!  The very book that sparked this headline:

Should make for some very interesting discussion!  Let's get a thread started in the comments section about dates/times etc.

P.S. Once I get you're email...all new comments and posts should show up in your inbox! :)

Let's Get This Party Started!!

Hey ladies!  I thought it would be fun if we had a space that is solely dedicated to the book club...that way we can send out reminders, bounce book choices off of eachother, and ask for help with food/beverages, etc!