Opinion: Books I Don't Want to See Made into Films

With all the amazing book to film adaptations coming up at the moment, it got me thinking about which books I don't want to see made into films. And not because I don't like them, but because I think they just work better as they are - as books. Here are a few I could think of off the top of my head. I am sure there are much more so maybe I'll do another post like this down the road. Enjoy!

 Feeling Sorry for Celia/Ashbury/Brookfield series by Jaclyn Moriarty

 This book, and the rest of the series, is told through written letters and notes between the characters. It's something that works so briliantly written down but I can see being really hard to translate onto the big screen!

Shiver/Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater

 Now I do love this series but there's something about the writing style that makes me think it could be lost if translated into film. It's so poetic and beautiful and I think getting inside the characters' heads is a huge part of the story with the multiple perspectives.

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

When I read this, I felt it was a book for book-lovers. The whole premise is based around a girl escaping to a book and I think you'd get the most enjoyment by reading it yourself. It certainly reminded me why I love reading.

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

The great part of this book was the internal monologue between the two main characters, two souls who are sharing a body. I don't know how that would be done well on screen because in the book the speech between the souls is set out differently on the page making it easier to differentiate. Internal monologue is usually the one big sacrifice when it comes to films so in this book it's even trickier, because you have two internal monologues.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Again, this is a book with a very distinctive writing style, due to the main character's illiteracy. That unique way it was written made me really love the writing. Whilst you could portray Todd's voice with the use of an accent or dialect in a film, I'd really miss reading it and getting lost in Todd's thoughts.

Are there any books you'd prefer stayed as books? Or do you hope to see a film adaptation of all of your favourites? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this so let me know in the comments!

 

July's Book of the Month!

At the end of each month I pick one stand out book (that I've read in that month, not necessarily released that month) that did enough to earn a 5* review and shower it with even more praise!

So without further ado, July's book of the month is...

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer!



This book was everything I hoped for and more. The idea behind the story was wonderful, the book itself was beautiful, I was captivated throughout and I felt it was a book that all book-lovers would appreciate. You can read even more of my thoughts on Between the Lines in my review right here!

My runners up:
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness



Review: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Author: Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer. Website, Twitter

Publsihed: 5 July 2012 (Hodder & Stoughton)

Pages: 384

Buy: Amazon, Waterstone's, Book Depository

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)

What happens when happily ever after…isn’t?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

My Review:
I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan and I've been looking forward to this book since she first announced she was writing a YA book with her daughter. Jodi Picoult + YA is literally a dream come true for me! I was worried about how I'd review this; whether I'd be comparing it to her other books etc. but this book completely stands out on its own, and it's going to be pretty easy to talk about!

Firstly, this book is beautiful. Not just the cover, but the stunning illustrations that appear throughout the book, and the way the chapters are given different fonts and even different colour text. It's obvious that so much love and care has been put into making this a book that you'll want to treasure. I had to be so careful reading it because I didn't want to damage it at all! (Ok, so I'm like that with all my books but this one even more so). There's several full page illustrations which are just wonderful, and smaller, cute little silhouettes dotted throughout some of the chapters. I just want to stroke this book all day long!

Now on to the actual story. The book tells the story of Oliver and Delilah. Oliver is a character in a fairy tale. When the story is being read he must act out his part in it, fighting to rescue Seraphima and live happily ever after. But when the book is closed the characters are alive, waiting until the next time someone reads the book and they have to spring into action. Delilah is a misfit teenager; unpopular, always last in swimming races and happiest with her head in a book, particularly this one fairy tale. Then she realises that the characters are alive and strikes up a friendship with Oliver.

The whole story is so brilliantly done. It's such a fab little idea! I think what impressed me most is that it's exactly the kind of story a dedicated reader should love. Not only is Delilah a girl who loves reading, but the whole story bases itself on the idea that characters are alive when we're not reading them. I think the best books and the best characters are those where you play out scenes with the characters in your head, long after you've finished the book. Between the Lines really plays on that idea and turns it into something even bigger. What if the characters are only acting? What if you could change the ending of a story? What would happen if you could speak to your favourite character? What happens when you close a book? Plus, if you've ever read a book and been able to totally relate to a character and wish they were real (who hasn't?!) then you will love this story.

The story is told from both Delilah and Oliver's perspectives, with the chapters alternating between the two, and between chapters of the fairy tale from Delilah's book. Not only is the main story between Oliver and Delilah brilliant but the fairy tale itself is an absolute delight to read! I loved reading those parts and escaping into that world just as Delilah does, with the magical tale of a prince and princess, plus added dragon, mermaids and fairies really hooking me in.

I couldn't put this book down. I just loved spending time with the characters and waiting to find out what would happen. It's not like anything Picoult has ever written, but it makes me want her to write more YA in the future. I'm so glad she helped her daughter's idea come to life! (Samantha originally pitched the idea to her mum and they decided to write it togther). It's a book I know I'll want to re-read over and over.

Anyone who loves and appreciates books should absolutely adore this one. If you love fairy tales then it's a must as well!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks.
Books like this: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, Enchanted by Alethia Contis.

In My Mailbox/Weekly Round Up - 8th July

In My Mailbox is hosted over at The Story Siren. Be sure to pop over there and check out a great selection of books and blogs!

In My Mailbox

This week the latest book by one of my favourite authors was released! Between the Lines is a YA novel written by Jodi Picoult in collaboration with her daughter. It arrived on Friday morning and I couldn't have been happier with it! I don't want to talk too much about it now because I sense an epic review coming next week ;) Here's my copy <3

Love the cover!

And the illustrations are so beautiful <3

Mug shot! Me and my book.

I tried holding off and saving my money but I just couldn't resist. Jodi Picoult books are the books I always have to have as soon as they come out! I was lucky enough to meet her at a signing last year for Sing You Home. I think she's brilliant.

I've also been trying out my library's online e-book borrowing service this week. I was amazed at their range of YA titles! I've just downloaded 2 for now which I'm hoping to read soon. The books I've downloaded are The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, which I've read amazing things about, and Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I've been wanting to read this series for a while but the library didn't have it in physical form so thank goodness for e-books!

 

I also received an e-book to review this week - Catching the Fever by Kylee Gwartney which sounds like a really cute read.

Weekly Book Round Up!

2nd - 9th July

Currently Reading: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Books finished: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer (review coming soon!) Silenced by Simon Packham, Evermore by Alyson Noel, The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter by David Colbert, Justice by Jade Varden, Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

Library books: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness and Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

Book Trailer: Between The Lines

Ok, so outside of YA fiction Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors (her books include My Sister's Keeper, Handle With Care, Lone Wolf, Sing You Home and many more). So imagine how excited I was when I heard she'd be teaming up with her daughter Samantha van Leer to write a YA novel! (very excited) It's one of my most aniticipated releases of 2012 and now it has its very own trailer, check it out below:

You can pre-order the book on Amazon now. Will you be buying it? Are you a huge Picoult fan? Doesn't it look awesome?!