A BookLover's Diary

[Friday Links] Selena Gomez Options an adaptation of 'The Sky is Everywhere'

2012-01-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

NBC News has launched a new unit, NBC Publishing, which will produce ebooks based works from its shows including Dateline, Today, and the NBC Nightly News.

Selena Gomez and her production company option a screen adaptation of Jandy Nelson's novel The Sky is Everywhere.

Summit Entertainment has announced that Breaking Dawn - Part I has now grossed over $700 million in global box office receipts, with Japan and China still to come.

Bestselling author Harlan Coben teams up with Lawrence Kasdan on a feature adaptation of Stay Close, Coben's latest novel which is set for publication on March 20.

CBS greenlights a pilot for a new TV drama based on Ayelet Waldman's Mommy Track Mysteries series about a "former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom."

Mental Floss lists 14 literary settings inspired by real places.

D.C. is once again ranked the most literate city in the U.S.

Accredited Online Colleges shares the 10 Best Put-Downs in Literary History

[Video] Because I'm Currently On a 'Doctor Who' Binge

2012-01-24T23:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's my only reason for this post. Bear with me - I've become addicted to the new Doctor Who, especially while David Tennant has been the Doctor. I'm starting season 3 on Netflix so I'm still a DW newbie. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I run out of readily available episodes. I can't even bear the thought right now.

And because of my current addiction, I couldn't help but post this spoof/sketch from The Catherine Tate Show just because it has something to do with DW (and because it's pretty funny):

[Friday Links] Diane Kruger joins the cast of 'The Host' - A Stephenie Meyer Adaptation

2012-01-20T13:56:00.000-08:00

The CW gives pilot orders to Arrow, based on the DC Comics book Green Arrow; an adaptation of Candace Bushnell's novel The Carrie Diaries - a Sex and the City prequel; and a reboot of the 1980's series, Beauty and the Beast.

The Japanese film Battle Royale, based on the novel of the same name, never saw the light of a US release. It's a graphic film about a bunch of teenage kids fighting each other to the death, after all. Now, this controversial film has a DVD release date coinciding with the movie release of The Hunger Games.

After news that Lionsgate acquired rights to Summit Entertainment (the studio that brought us Twilight), the CEO of Lionsgate expresses interest in the possibility of continuing Edward and Bella's story, perhaps in a TV series.

Julie Andrews to direct new musical based on her children's book, The Great American Mousical.

Lionsgate gears up for Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, securing Gary Ross to direct and hiring screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours).

Cormac McCarthy, author of The Road, has had a few of his novels adapted for film. Now, the author has begun writing screenplays and just sold his first script, titled The Counselor, which was picked up by the producers of The Road and follows a respected lawyer who "thinks he can dip a toe in to the drug business without getting sucked down."

Diane Kruger is negotiating to star alongside Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, and Jake Abel in the adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's The Host. Diane Kruger, who can be seen in Inglourious Basterds, will play The Seeker. The Host is one book, but there are three movies planned - the first scheduled for a March 2013 release.

Elton John's Rocket Pictures has acquired film rights to Michael Buckley's best-selling series Nerds, and will adapt them into an animated family feature.

A New Poster for 'The Hunger Games'

2012-01-20T12:18:00.000-08:00

The Huffington Post released the final poster for The Hunger Games, which features Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss taking aim with her weapon of choice.

I don't know about you guys but I'm getting very anxious for the release of this film. So much so that I'm currently in the middle of re-reading the series and I have my husband reading it, too.

Let me know what you think of the poster.

[Audiobook Review] Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

Sixteen-year-old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder’s braininterface has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, herown malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself toher weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annualball. Although eager to impress theprince, Cinder’s intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and onlyhuman friend, is infected with the fatal plague that’s been devastating theEarth for a decade. Blaming Cinder forher daughter’s illness, Cinder’s stepmother volunteers her body for plagueresearch, an “honor” that no one has survived. But it doesn’t take long for the scientists to discover something unusualabout their latest guinea pig. Somethingothers would kill for.

Review

This isn’t the story fromyour childhood.

Marissa Meyer has taken the much-loved and often re-told story of Cinderella and she transformed itinto a futuristic tale where Cinderella is a cyborg mechanic, and the princehas to deal with a relentless plague and threats of war from the Lunar people. The base of the original Cinderella story isevident, yet the author takes enough liberties with her re-telling that add mystery, adventure, intrigue, and, of course, there’s Prince Charming.

I am extremely impressed withthe audiobook version. The storyswitches narrative from Cinder to Prince Kai, there are several characters withdifferent accents, plus a few androids to keep track of, yet they were easilydiscernable both in personality and in voice. I wouldn’t mind listening to the rest of this series in audiobookformat.

Meyer created this futuristicworld with such amazing detail – I felt like I was a player in the story,walking through the streets of New Beijing, unnerved by the looming plague andthe idea that none of the characters were safe. Of course, I must also give credit to thereader for her ability to draw me into the story.

Cinder is a cyborg – she hasmechanical parts - and she was adopted at a young age, so she’s a mystery evento herself. Though somewhat predictable,Cinder’s story is fascinating, especially when she begins to piece together themystery of who she is and why she’s a cyborg.

Iko, Cinder’s android andsidekick, is witty, loyal, adorable, and, hands down, my favorite character inthis book. I hope there’s more Iko inthe books to come.

And then there’s Prince Kai –charming and kind, even with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Meyer didn’tpack a whirlwind of emotion and romance into this book, which I appreciate since there are still three more books in this series.

There’s a cliffhanger endingand burning questions that need answers, but overall, Cinder is a strong debutand I look forward to what the author has in store for the rest of the series.

Audiobook Details

Read by Rebecca Soler.
Running time: 10 hours.
www.macmillanaudio.com
Audio Excerpt

Audiobook provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

'The Hunger Games' Soundtrack Releases First Single

2012-01-13T13:07:00.000-08:00

Have you heard? "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift (feat. The Civil Wars) is the first single for The Hunger Games soundtrack.

Lyrics (source)

I remember tears streaming down your face
 When I said, I'll never let you go
 When all those shadows almost killed your light
 I remember you said, Don't leave me here alone
 But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes
 The sun is going down
 You'll be alright
 No one can hurt you now
 Come morning light
 You and I'll be safe and sound

Don't you dare look out your window darling

Everything's on fire
 The war outside our door keeps raging on
 Hold onto this lullaby
 Even when the music's gone

Just close your eyes
 The sun is going down
 You'll be alright
 No one can hurt you now
 Come morning light
 You and I'll be safe and sound

Just close your eyes
 You'll be alright
 Come morning light,
 You and I'll be safe and sound...

Other artists contributing to the soundtrack include Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, The Secret Sisters, and Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen).

Friday Links: Kate Winslet Attached to Star in 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society'

2012-01-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

Summer brought news of a possible adaptation of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. It looks as though the adaptation is moving forward - Warner Bros. has attached David Auburn to adapt the novel for the screen.

Kate Winslet is set to star in the literary adaptation of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - directed by Kenneth Branagh.

In the UK, McDonald's teams up with HarperCollins to give away 9 millions copies of Michael Morpurgo's (War Horse) books with Happy Meal purchases. The giveaway - backed by a major TV campaign - will run until February 7.

Forever Young Adult blogger analyzes the connection between Pride and Prejudice and Veronica Mars.

The Hunger Games advance movie tickets go on sale on February 22.

Chelsea Handler debuts new sitcom, Are You There, Chelsea? - based on her memoir, Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea?; Handler plays a recurring role as her older sister.

Scholastic announces two new Captain Underpants adventures from best-selling author Dav Pilkey, releasing August 2012 and January 2013.

Cover Reveal of Jodi Picoult's First YA Novel

2012-01-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

The cover has been released for Jodi Picoult's first young adult novel, Between the Lines. This is not only her first YA novel, but her first novel co-authored by her daughter, Samantha Van Leer.

Synopsis on Goodreads:
Between the Lines is a clever, funny, romantic teen novel about a fairy tale prince who wants to break free of the constraints of his storybook existence, and the girl who falls in love with him.

In this story-within-a-story, Delilah, a loner who feels happiest with her head in a book, is obsessed with a fairy tale about Prince Oliver at her library. And then one day, Oliver actually speaks to her. It turns out that Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince and is in fact a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence.

Once Delilah and Oliver connect, she decides to help him break out of the book and they begin to fall head over heels for each other

Between the Lines on Goodreads

I've read a few of Picoult's books and I like that the cover for her first YA novel is similar in style to her Adult novels. And I love the fairy-tale-ish wand. The description of the book and the fact that it's the first book co-authored by her daughter definitely intrigues me, so I'm eager for the release of this book.

Between the Lines is set for release on June 26.

My First Giveaway of 2012: 13 Books, 1 Winner

2012-01-10T12:39:00.000-08:00

We're almost two weeks into the new year and I think it's time for a giveaway! I'm pretty much fitting as many books as I can into a flat-rate box, so 1 winner will take all. Here's what you can get:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (ARC)

The White Devil by Justin Evans (ARC)

Death in the City of Light by David King (ARC)

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (ARC)

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher (ARC)

Radiance by Alyson Noel (ARC)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (Paperback)

Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall (Paperback)

Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin (Hardback)

Annexed by Sharon Dogar (Hardback)

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carry Ryan (Hardback)

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines (Hardback)

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Hardback)

This giveaway is open to all followers (new and old), whether you follow via Google Friend Connect, email, or RSS.

One winner will be randomly chosen...

If the winner is from the US: all 13 books will be sent.

If the winner is international: only 2 books (of their choosing) will be sent.

To Enter:

Simply leave a comment with your email address (so I can contact you if you win).

Optional:

One extra entry when you share/link to this giveaway (twitter, facebook, sidebar, etc.).

Five extra entries if you mention this giveaway in a blog post.

Giveaway ends January 30, 2012.

Note: A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted with the email address they provide. The winner will have 48 hours to reply. Otherwise, I will randomly choose another winner.

First Image of Nicholas Hoult in 'Warm Bodies'

2012-01-09T17:40:00.000-08:00

The first official movie image of a zombified Nicholas Hoult as "R" from Warm Bodies has been released (via Collider). Isaac Marion's debut, Warm Bodies, is about a zombie named R who's a little different from his fellow dead -- he listens to Frank Sinatra, he enjoys riding escalators, and he longs for more out of life than walking aimlessly and feeding on brains; he also finds himself falling in love, with a human.

This photo is similar to the promotional image we saw of R and Julie (Teresa Palmer), except that now, when I look at the new image, I'm starting to see a zombie and not a vampire (OK, maybe it's just that the promotional image looked too much like a Twilight poster). As far as zombies go, R is kind of a cutie - which is probably fitting considering the romance part of the novel. I mean, the audience probably wouldn't root for him to win the girl if his face was falling off. Right?

Still, I'm waiting for an image that shows R looking a little less like a vegetarian zombie, because that stain on his shirt doesn't count.

Read my review of Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion.
Warm Bodies on GoodReads

Synopsis:
R is a young man with an existential crisis – he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. After experiencing a teenage boy’s memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim’s human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R but also his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world. Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, WARM BODIES is about being alive, being dead, and the blurry line in between.

Warm Bodies is set to release on August 10, 2012

[Friday Links] 'Harry Potter' Director Teams Up with Ned Vizzini to Write Fantasy Trilogy

2012-01-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

In this week's Round Up:

Amanda Seyfried is in final negotiations to play Cosette in Les Miserables, joining Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean), Russell Crowe (Inspector Javert), Anne Hathaway (Fantine), and Eddie Redmayne (Marius) in the Tom Hooper-directed musical for Universal Pictures. The film will be released on December 7, 2012.

'Harry Potter' director, Chris Columbus, is set to write a middle-grade fantasy-adventure trilogy for HarperCollins titled House of Secrets. The trilogy will be co-authored by young adult author Ned Vizzini. The first book will be released in 2013.

'Game of Thrones' author, George R.R. Martin, releases new chapter from Book 6.

James Franco sells his first novel to Amazon Publishing. The book is called Actors Anonymous and is said to be a fictionalized version of Franco's experiences as an actor.

HarperTeen's PitchDark is giving away a sampler of some of its hottest paranormal and dystopian titles. The Sampler includes 5-chapter previews of 6 of their titles: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, Hallowed by Cynthia Hand, Magic of the Moonlight by Ellen Schreiber, The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting, Everneath by Brodi Ashton, and Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. Find it for free on Amazon, and Barnes&Noble.

Sarah Polley to direct adaptation of Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace.

"Amazing" tops annual vote for words that should be banned.

Blood Red Road, a dystopian novel by debut author Moira Young, wins the Costa Children's Book Award.

[Review] Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson

2012-01-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

When Your Life Is Not Your Own

Jason 3:3, also known as Martyr—a nickname he acquired because of the way he protects the younger Jason’s and the brokens from the bullies—is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to ‘expire’ in less than a month – to see the sky.

Abby Goyer just recently moved to Alaska when her father took a job at Jason Farms and she already has a feeling that something strange is going on there, but she never would have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn, or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door asking about the stars.

As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures—the one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have.

Jill Williamson created something special here. I was intrigued from the moment I saw this book tagged as Christian Fiction. Cloning farm? Christian Fiction? Wha…? This is the first book I’ve read by Jill Williamson so I was curious about how she would approach this subject and incorporate it into a Young Adult/Christian Fiction novel.

Abby Goyer is a 17-year-old Christian girl who is also interested in science. Her father, on the other hand, is a scientist who doesn’t think that religion and science go hand in hand so, needless to say, they clash a lot in their beliefs. It’s obvious right from the start how smart and confident Abby’s character is; she knows what she wants, she’s witty, and it’s fun to read from her point of view, especially when Martyr comes into the picture because his very existence tests her beliefs – she doesn’t agree with the way he was produced, but she believes that God has a purpose for him.

Martyr is…sweet. He’s innocent, curious and he stands up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Though he’s a copy who looks like hundreds of other copies, he stands out among the rest. He’s always known that his purpose is to die when he turns eighteen because all the Jason's die at eighteen – they’re needed to save humanity from some sort of toxic air, according to the scientists. But when Abby tells him the truth about the air, about the world, about his God-given purpose, Martyr is eager to learn more about this other purpose.

Jill Williamson handles the Science/Religion debate very well and unravels the mystery of Jason Farms at a nice pace; just when you think you know what’s going on, she throws in another piece of the puzzle that will make you stop for a moment to consider how it changes everything.

As far as I know, Replication is a stand-alone novel but I think there’s a little wiggle room for a sequel. Or perhaps I’m just desperate to hang on to these characters a little longer. Either way, Jill Williamson has made a fan out of me.

Friday Links: 'The Notebook' to Hit Broadway and Other News Around the Web

2011-12-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

In this week's roundup:

The latest cast members to join Ender's Game: Abigail Breslin has taken the role of Ender's (Asa Butterfield) older sister, Valentine. Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak will play Ender's older brother, Peter. Hailee Steinfeld will play Petra Arkanian, one of Ender's closest allies. Aramis Knight, Moises Arias, Suraj Parthasarathy, Conor Carroll and Khylin Rhambo will play other kids at the school.

"The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks to become a musical. According to Zap2It, the musical is being written by "One Tree Hill" star Bethany Joy Galeotti and Ron Aniello.

A post on The Awl analyzes how the pricing of books has changed over the decades.

"Go the --- to Sleep" to get a G-Rated version, "Seriously, Just Go to Sleep" and is scheduled to release next year.

According to The New York Times, “'Infinity Ring,' a seven-book series on time travel with an online game component, will begin its rollout in September, the publisher plans to announce officially on Tuesday. The first book, “A Mutiny in Time,” will be written by James Dashner, the best-selling author of 'The Maze Runner.'" Other authors who are signed on to write books for the series are Carrie Ryan, Lisa McMann, Matt de la Peña, Matthew Kirby and Jennifer A. Nielsen.

Tintin: Five things you need to know about the comic-book hero.

CinemaBlend lists 8 of the biggest differences between The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo book and movie.

The Hunger Games 'Capitol Colors' Nail Polish Collection Ad Campaign features Effie Trinkett and the tag line, 'What will you be wearing to the opening ceremonies?' You can view the ad here.

Kindle Fire now allows third-party e-book apps, starting with Wattpad.

Video: YA Authors Singing Winter Wonderland

2011-12-22T17:40:00.000-08:00

Check out this fun video of some of your favorite young adult authors as they sing Winter Wonderland and even show off pets or other special talents.

Maggie Stiefvater with her bagpipes... Awesome!

Audiobook Teaser: 'Tempest' by Julie Cross

2011-12-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, I get to share an audiobook clip from TEMPEST, an upcoming debut novel by Julie Cross. You can read my review for Tempest here. You can find the 7 minute preview below the synopsis.

About Tempest:
The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Audio Excerpt:

Tempest is scheduled for release in Hardcover, E-book, and Audiobook on January 17, 2012 and is available for pre-order: Macmillan, Amazon, B&N.

The First Trailer for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' - The First Half of a Two-Part Adaptation

2011-12-22T10:22:00.000-08:00

A trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was finally released this week!

The Hobbit follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining the company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters, and Sorcerers.

Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins and looks to be an excellent fit for the part based on the surprising amount of footage for a first trailer - considering the movie isn't expected to release for another year. Yes, that seems like a long time to me, too. Until then, or at the very least until a new trailer for The Hobbit comes along, here's two and a half minutes of Middle-Earth to hold you over:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first film in Peter Jackson's two-part adaptation of The Hobbit and arrives in theaters on December 14, 2012.

The Hobbit: There and Back Again is expected a year later on December 13, 2013.

Friday Links: New Site Offers Groupon-Style Deals on E-Books and 'Here Lies Bridget' Gets Director

2011-12-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

In this week's roundup:

According to Deadline, the adaptation of Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison will be directed by Kat Coiro. The director says, “Here Lies Bridget is a profound coming of age story wrapped in the glossy packaging of a teen comedy – think an edgy It’s A Wonderful Life meets Mean Girls.” The script was written by Leah Rachel, and casting is underway."

Plans are underway to create a musical based on Kate DiCamillo's book Because of Winn-Dixie with songs by Duncan Sheik and a real dog on stage.

More The Hunger Games merchandise is on the way with nail polish and water, and the movie hasn't even come out yet.

Universal wins rights to Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor.

Jellybooks, a new site that has yet to launch, will offer Groupon-style deals on e-books.

Review: Tomorrow Is Today - A Tempest Series Bonus Short Story by Julie Cross

2011-12-14T20:31:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Today is a short-story prequel to Tempest by Julie Cross, which is scheduled for release on January 17, 2012.

Tomorrow is Today takes place a few months before Tempest begins. Jackson already has a confidant trying to help him figure out the time-travel stuff, but there’s very little traveling through time going on in this book and, therefore, very little explanation. Instead, the story focuses on Jackson and his growing feelings for Holly—who has a boyfriend.

In Tempest, Jackson and Holly already have an established relationship so it’s nice to see them before they were a couple. As a big fan of Tempest, I enjoyed jumping back in time with these characters. I quickly remembered how much I like reading from Jackson’s point of view and how anxious I am for the sequel.

It was a little disappointing that the story ended so soon – there’s still a two month gap between the end of Tomorrow is Today and the beginning of Tempest, but it’s a fun read anyway.

I’m not sure how much I would have enjoyed this one had I not read Tempest first and had that familiarity and connection with the characters. But even though it’s not necessary to read this one beforehand, it’s still a great way to test out this debut author’s writing style and get a sneak peak of her upcoming book.

Tomorrow is Today is still available for free on Amazon and B&N and includes the first four chapters of Tempest.

Trailer for 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' - Inspired by the Bestselling Book by Heidi Murkoff

2011-12-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

When I heard that a screen adaptation of the bestselling pregnancy guidebook, What to Expect When You're Expecting was in development, I wasn't sure what to think about the news. The book incorporates everything about pregnancy, childbirth, birthing alternatives, a preconception plan, etc.

After viewing the trailer, I must say - it doesn't look too bad. The screen adaptation follows the relationships of seven couples as they experience the thrills, terrors, surprises, aches, and pains of preparing to embark on life's biggest journey: parenthood.

The cast includes big names like Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks, Dennis Quaid and Chase Crawford.

Another film with a seemingly winning cast that comes to mind: Valentines Day - not even a plethora of A-listers could save that one. Hopefully What to Expect When You're Expecting will not rely primarily on the cast to hold it up.

Anyway, if you haven't seen the trailer, you can view it here (courtesy of Yahoo! movies):

Set for release on May 11, 2012

Friday Links: New Cast Members Join 'The Host' and 'Ender's Game'

2011-12-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

In This Week's Round-up:

The winners of the Goodreads choice awards are in. If you're interested in seeing if your favorite book made the list, be sure to check out which titles people voted for as the best books of the year.

The newly released Kindle Fire takes second place in the tablet market--surpassing all other tablets except for the iPad (results are ranked in unit shipments).

Huffington Post lists the most criminally overlooked books of 2011.

The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook offers more than 150 recipes inspired by the popular series. USA Today gives a sample of a recipe from the book--Small Critter Casserole.

A new cast member added to The Host adaptation: William Hurt has been cast as Jeb, Melanie's crazy uncle and a leader of the human resistance.

Interesting: First, a crime novelist claimed that Jane Austen may have been murdered, and now a British author is claiming to have unearthed a previously unseen portrait of the Pride and Prejudice writer.

It looks like another Hugo star is in negotiations to play the role of a war hero. Ben Kingsley is the latest to join the cast of Ender's Game.

American Psycho was adapted from Bret Easton Ellis' novel a little over a decade ago and stars Christian Bale. Now, Lionsgate is apparently developing a remake.

Trailer for 'The Lucky One' - A Nicholas Sparks Adaptation

2011-12-08T18:23:00.000-08:00

Here is the first trailer for 'The Lucky One' - a Nicholas Sparks adaptation starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling.

The Lucky One centers on a Marine who survives three tours in Iraq. He attributes his good fortune to a photograph he carried of a woman he has never met, and he sets out to meet his good-luck charm when he returns from deployment.

Release Date: April 20, 2012

What do you think? Do you like Nicholas Sparks adaptations?

Book Adaptations Releasing in December

2011-12-06T23:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at the book-to-movie adaptations hitting theaters this month:

Coriolanus

Caius Martius 'Coriolanus' (Ralph Fiennes), a revered and feared Roman General is at odds with the city of Rome and his fellow citizens. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the exalted and powerful position of Consul, he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public refuses to support him, Coriolanus’s anger prompts a riot that culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city.

Release Date: December 2, 2011
Based on Book: Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
Studio: The Weinstein Company
Director: Ralph Fiennes
Screenwriter: John Logan
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave
MPAA Rating: R

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

The time is 1973. The Cold War of the mid-20th Century continues to damage international relations. Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), a.k.a. MI6 and code-named the Circus, is striving to keep pace with other countries' espionage efforts and to keep the U.K. secure.

Release Date: December 9, 2011
Based on Book: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
Studio: Focus Features
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Screenwriter: Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan
Starring: Gary Oldman, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Svetlana Khodchenko
MPAA Rating: R

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room... until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)—and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective.

Release Date: December 16, 2011
Based on Book: Based on the short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Guy Ritchie
Screenwriter: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Fry, Rachel McAdams
MPAA Rating: PG-13

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

A discredited journalist and a mysterious computer hacker discover that even the wealthiest families have skeletons in their closets while working to solve the mystery of a 40-year-old murder.

Release Date: December 21, 2011
Based on Book: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Studio: Columbia Pictures (Sony)
Director: David Fincher
Screenwriter: Steven Zaillian
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, Steven Berkoff, Robin Wright, Yorick van Wageningen, Joely Richardson
MPAA Rating: R

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Oskar (Thomas Horn) is convinced that his father (Tom Hanks), who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, has left a final message for him hidden somewhere in the city. Feeling disconnected from his grieving mother (Sandra Bullock) and driven by a relentlessly active mind that refuses to believe in things that can't be observed, Oskar begins searching New York City for the lock that fits a mysterious key he found in his father's closet.

Release Date: December 25, 2011

Based on Book: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Stephen Daldry
Screenwriter: Eric Roth
Starring: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, James Gandolfini, Zoe Caldwell, Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Max von Sydow
MPAA Rating: PG-13

War Horse

Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, "War Horse" begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets.

Release Date: December 25, 2011

Based on Book: War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Lee Hall, Richard Curtis
Starring: Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Kebbell
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Announcement: 'Harry Potter' Movie Marathon

2011-12-02T14:41:00.000-08:00

ABC Family is the network to watch this weekend if you're up for a Harry Potter movie marathon leading up to the Network Television Premiere of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on Sunday 12/4 at 8:30/7:30c, as part of the ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas! Be sure to catch the all-day Harry Potter marathon tomorrow (Saturday, December 3).

According to the press release:

December Brings the “25 Days of Christmas,” Including the World Premiere

of the New ABC Family Original Movie “12 Dates of Christmas,”

Starring Amy Smart and Mark-Paul Gosselaar,

the Television Premiere of “Pink Panther: A Very Pink Christmas”

and the Basic Cable Premiere of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”

Cable’s Biggest Programming Event of the Year

Also Features Network Premiere Broadcasts of

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and Disney∙Pixar’s “Up,”

and Returning Favorites such as “Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,”

“The Santa Clause,” and “The Polar Express”

ABCFamily.com is Decking the Halls with Two Holiday Sweepstakes,

Digital Games, E-Cards and Exclusive Mobile Music

Check out the official 25 Days of Christmas Site:

http://abcfamily.go.com/specials/25-days-christmas/

Friday Links: 'The Lucky One' Featurette and Harrison Ford joins 'Ender's Game'

2011-12-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

In this week's roundup:

The Kill Order, a prequel to The Maze Runner by James Dashner, will be released on August 14, 2012.

Tomorrow is Today, a short story prequel to Tempest by Julie Cross will be available on December 6, 2011 and is available for pre-order on Amazon for free.

Chicago Sun-Times lists the 10 Best-Bet holiday gifts for the book lover.

A screenwriter has been attached to the film adaptation of Forgotten, a novel by Cat Patrick.

Authors share the best book they ever got for Christmas.

The creator of 'Deadwood', David Milch, to adapt William Faulkner's novels and short-stories for TV.

According to USA Today, "Janet Evanovich's Explosive Eighteen enters USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list at No. 2 thanks to fan fever for any new book starring New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum as well as early hype for the first Plum movie, One for the Money. Based on the first book in the series, it stars Katherine Heigl. Release date: Jan. 27."

Harrison Ford joins cast for Ender's Game as Colonel Graff. Ender's Game is aiming for a March 2013 release.

A Featurette on The Lucky One, based on the book by Nicholas Sparks and starring Zac Efron, offers a first-look of the adaptation.

Hollywood Crush compiled the ultimate Dystopian Survival Guide using popular YA dystopia novels as references.

Paramount is currently negotiating to acquire the rights to Laini Taylor's, Daughter of Smoke and Bone. According to FusedFilm, "The deal will reportedly cost $700,000 and there are two other studios who are also bidding for the rights."

ARC Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

2011-11-23T12:33:00.000-08:00

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

This book had me at time travel.

Jackson Meyer recently discovered his ability to jump through time and he’s still trying to figure out how it all works. In an effort to document his travels, Jackson keeps a journal…and that’s when the reader comes in. The moment this book starts, Jackson exudes a laid-back demeanor—it’s difficult not to relax and get sucked in. If that wasn’t enough, he’s also the kind of guy who studies and recites literature, he’s clever, has a sense-of-humor, and he cares about his girlfriend, Holly. Even though Jackson and Holly already have an established relationship when the book starts, there’s still a lot of growth that occurs in their relationship as events transpire. Needless to say, I really like how the romance was handled in this book, it seemed natural and authentic.

What I didn’t like is that it sometimes got confusing when it came down to explaining the science and theory of time travel. It helps though it you forget everything you ever thought you knew about it from books or movies.

Despite the confusion, Julie Cross still manages to make plenty of room for time travel, theories, suspicions, character development, and action. Cross does an amazing job at piecing this story together. It could have been harder to read because of the jumps in time but each new chapter opens with where and when Jackson is, which makes it easier to keep track. Once Jackson gets stuck in 2007, he’s still able to travel back in time—it’s there that we learn more about his past, his sister, his secretive father—but when he returns to the present, it’s in 2007. This is the kind of fast-paced story that made it difficult to set aside, and when I did I couldn’t stop thinking about it—I was anxious to find out if he would get back to the future, if he could save Holly, and answers to why these men were after him in the first place.

While many of these questions are answered and there’s not a big cliffhanger, there are still a few loose ends and new questions that kept me up at night. This book also has one of those bitter-sweet endings, and I was sad when I reached the last page. I perked up, however, when I learned that Tempest is the first in a planned trilogy.

Julie Cross definitely got my attention with her debut and I can’t wait for the sequel!

I would recommend this book to the more mature young adult due to the profanity and the description of a sex scene. Though it’s handled well and not vulgar in any way, it’s not something I would hand off to my little sister.

Tempest is scheduled for release on January 17, 2012.

Movie tidbit: Tempest was picked up by Summit Entertainment in 2010. So it's possible that we'll be hearing more about this project in the future.

E-book provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Friday Links: 'Catching Fire' Has a Release Date and 'Ender's Game' Adaptation May Have a Leading Man

2011-11-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

In this weekly roundup:

What do you get when you cross ‘Peculiar Children’ with Tim Burton? We may get a chance to find out as Burton is currently in talks to develop the book 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children', as a potential directing project.

Stylist counts down the 50 best literary put-downs.

Asa Butterfield, who will be starring in 'Hugo' (releasing this month) and has already been offered the lead role in another book-to-movie adaptation - 'Ender's Game', based on Orson Scott Card's sci-fi classic.

6 writers show you their libraries.

YA books are outpacing adult bestsellers because they’re no longer just for young readers. And because they’re such a big hit, many novelists are pitching their otherwise adult books with young characters as ‘young adult’.

Flavorwire lists 10 famous literary characters inspired by real people—from Tin Tin to Severus Snape.

‘Catching Fire’ is slated for a November 22, 2013 release date. In an effort to fast-track this project, Lionsgate is currently on the lookout for a new screenwriter since Gary Ross (director and co-writer of The Hunger Games) is currently busy with post-production.

Want to deck the halls with Hunger Games-inspired ornaments? This article on Examiner will show you how.

From the looks of it, 'The Hunger Games' is certainly making the rounds, from students acting out Hunger Games survival strategy to surviving a competitive workplace.

The midnight release of Breaking Dawn Part I made $30.25M (Twilight made 7.5M which set a record at that time, New Moon $26.3M, and Eclipse $30.1M).

That's it for this week's roundup. If you had a chance to watch Breaking Dawn, let me know what you thought of the movie, or the crowds.

Watch the 'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1'– Red Carpet Premiere Live Stream

2011-11-14T15:19:00.000-08:00

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 hits theaters in the US and UK on November 18. However, today is the premiere day and you can view a live stream of the red carpet - exclusive interviews and footage - courtesy of Yahoo!

The Live Stream will begin tonight at 8pm ET/5pm PT

The hashtag for the premiere: #BreakingDawnLive

The First Full Length Trailer for 'The Hunger Games'

2011-11-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

The first full-length trailer from The Hunger Games, based on Suzanne Collins popular YA series, was released this morning. It gives a glimpse of all the key characters and moments leading up to the Games, including Katniss hunting in the woods with Gale, the Reaping where Katniss volunteers as tribute, and training in the Captitol. How cool is it to see everyone assume their roles in the movie? Not only the three main characters, but Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy, Donald Sutherland as President Snow, Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, and Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket.

A moment of honesty here: the scene of the Reaping where Katniss takes her sisters place as tribute made me tear up in the book and now I'm tearing up at the trailer's pieced-together version of the scene. Please tell me I'm not the only one. It just looks so grim with the Peacekeepers standing there and the fearful faces of all the potential tributes.

The trailer definitely won me over, especially since it looks like we'll get scenes of the audience as they watch the Games (something I was very curious about when I read the book). Is it too early to start counting down the days until March 23, 2012?

If you haven't seen the full-length trailer, you can view it here:

What do you think?

Friday Links: 'The Host' Narrows Down Male Leads

2011-11-11T12:04:00.000-08:00

In this week's round up:

'The Hunger Games' Trailer is set to debut on 'Good Morning America' on Monday and then posted online.

After Jake Abel (The Lovely Bones) was announced as the frontrunner for the role of Ian in Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host', it was reported that 'Red Riding Hood' actor Max Irons has landed the role of Jared. Filming will begin in February in Louisiana and then in New Mexico. The film is scheduled for release on March 23, 2013.

Summit Entertainment and Twilight Saga producers acquire feature film rights to Deadmail, a novel by Laurie Frankel. The novel will be published next year and is about a computer genius who invents a way for people to email loved ones who have passed on. When he unexpectedly loses the woman he loves, he must face his own creation to keep her close or lose her forever.

Universal Pictures acquires the Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel novel, Lunatics. Steve Carell is attached to star. Lunatics on Goodreads.

39 Clues, the best-selling adventure/mystery series aimed at kids 8 to 12, has inspired a series of e-book short stories. Seven short stories will be released on seven consecutive days starting December 25. Each story will sell for 99 cents.

Theatrical Trailer: Snow White and the Huntsman

2011-11-10T14:42:00.000-08:00

From the Producer of Alice in Wonderland comes this action-adventure loosely based on the fairy tale. In 'Snow White and the Huntsman' Kristen Stewart (Twilight) plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Charlize Theron) who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) who was dispatched to kill her.

You can view the trailer and character posters below: If the trailer stops working, you can also view it on Apple.

Release Date: June 1, 2012

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

2011-11-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

I really like the premise for The Pledge—words have power, and the language a person speaks determines their Class and social standing. While there is one universal language among each Class, there’s also a language for each that sets them apart, keeps them divided. Charlie has the rare gift of understanding all languages, even the ones that go unspoken. And if anyone outside of her family ever found out, it could mean death.

As a huge fan of Dystopia, Fantasy, and Kimberly Derting’s first two books, I was extremely eager to jump into her upcoming novel, The Pledge. Seriously, Dystopia + Fantasy + Kimberly Derting’s amazing storytelling… it’s like a California Roll in book form. Yum! The prologue definitely got my attention - I was intrigued by the queen and her strange powers. Unfortunately, The Pledge couldn’t really hold my attention as the story developed. The characters were uninteresting and forgettable; as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t bring myself to care about them. The romance also lacked interest and, well, romance – “you intrigue me” just doesn’t seem like a viable excuse anymore for insta-love. Max went from normal to borderline stalker and “I just want to protect you” somewhere between the first time he sees Charlie to the second time he has a few words with her. Why? Oh yeah, intrigue – powerful stuff.

Similar to The Body Finder, chapters in The Pledge alternate from first person to third person as the point of view changes. Other than that, I had to keep reminding myself that it was, in fact, written by Kimberly Derting. That it was written by the same author that brought us Violet and Jay.

I really wanted to like this one, but despite the interesting premise, the story didn’t really go anywhere and the twists that were meant to shock, just fell flat.

This is the first book in a planned trilogy and even though I’m uncertain about whether I’ll pick up the sequel, I’m still looking forward to The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3).

The Pledge is scheduled for release on November 15, 2011.

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Friday Links: A New Benefit for Kindle Owners and a Short-list of Actors for 'The Host'

2011-11-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

In this week's round-up:

There is speculation that B&N will announce a lower-cost Nook Color tablet computer that matches or beats the $199 price of the upcoming Amazon Kindle Fire.
[Update: B&N plans to launch its Nook Tablet on November 16. The Nook Tablet will reportedly have Wi-Fi., feature a 7-inch VividView IPS color touch panel with a 1,024x600 screen resolution, a 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of inbuilt storage, and a microSD expansion slot. The Nook Tablet will retail for $249, while the Nook Color's price will be reduced to $199.

Amazon announced a new benefit for Kindle owners with an Amazon Prime membership: the Kindle Owners' Lending Library where Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free, including over 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers — as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates. An Amazon Prime membership costs $79.99 a year and also gives free access to Amazon's Prime Instant video service. Amazon Prime keeps looking better and better.

Now that the Twilight franchise is close to the end, a lot of focus seems to be going into The Host, an adaptation of another book by Stephenie Meyer. Saoirse Ronan is still set to play Melanie Stryder. Now, a short-list of actors who are up for the leading male roles is out and it includes: for the role of Jared (Melanie's love interest) - Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games); Kit Harington (Game of Thrones); Jai Courtney (One Shot); and Max Irons (Red Riding Hood). For the role of Ian (Wanderer's love interest) - Dane DeHaan (In Treatment); Thomas McDonnel (Prom); Augustus Prew (The Borgias); and Jake Abel (Lovely Bones). Stephenie Meyer has been so busy. I wonder when she'll put out another book.

If you haven't seen the Vanity Fair photo shoot with the cast from The Hunger Games, you can view the photos on their site. March is only five months away!

Have you seen Helen Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham, the witchy character in Great Expectations, Mike Newell's adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel? I know it's supposed to be Miss Havisham, but all I see is Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter. I can't help it.

An exclusive excerpt (the first chapter) of The Fault of our Stars, the latest novel by John Green, is available on USA Today. The Fault of our Stars is novel about a kid with a life-threatening illness and is set to release on January 10.

First Look: R and Julie in adaptation of 'Warm Bodies'

2011-11-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Collider posted a promotional image from Warm Bodies, the adaptation of Isaac Marion's popular novel about a zombie (Nicholas Hoult) who falls in love with a girl (Teresa Palmer) after consuming the brain of her ex-boyfriend (Dave Franco) and absorbing all of his memories. You can read the official synopsis below the image.

[Update: Image replaced with a higher resolution image]

Official synopsis:
R is a young man with an existential crisis – he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. After experiencing a teenage boy’s memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim’s human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R but also his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world. Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, WARM BODIES is about being alive, being dead, and the blurry line in between.

Warm Bodies is set to release on August 10, 2012

Book Adaptations releasing in November, 2011

2011-11-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

I still can't believe it's November. I always get a little anxious around this time of year - warm weather is practically non-existent, my birthday is really close, and then there's Thanksgiving and turkey-induced comas - it's great! But before we get caught up in all of that, here's a look at the literary adaptations that are coming to theaters this month.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1

Based on the final installment of Stephenie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, and the first in a two-part finale: Bella and Edward, plus those they love, must deal with the chain of consequences brought by a marriage, honeymoon, and the tumultuous birth of a child.

Release Date: November 18, 2011
Based on Book: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Studio: Summit Entertainment
Director: Bill Condon
Screenwriter: Melissa Rosenberg
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Hugo

"Hugo" tells the story of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. With the help of an eccentric girl, he searches for the answer to a mystery linking the father he recently lost, the ill-tempered toy shop owner living below him and a heart shaped lock, seemingly without a key.

Release Date: November 23, 2011

Based on Book: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Director: Martin Scorsese

Screenwriter: John Logan

Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jude Law

MPAA Rating: PG

Check it out!

2011-11-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Hand held a Hallowed for Halloween contest on her blog where she gave away 4 ARC's of Hallowed. And I won a copy!

I repeat, I won an ARC of Hallowed! I'm so excited right now, I just had to share the news. If you want, you can check out my entry (Jessica M) and the entries of the other winners on Cynthia's blog. We "dressed up" the Hallowed cover for Halloween for a chance to win 2 out of the 4 ARC's. It was a lot of fun!

You can also view a compilation of entries for the cover contest here if you're curious.

Oh, and if you're interested in winning an ARC, it looks like there will be more opportunities on the author's blog coming soon.

*deep breath* OK, back to regular blogging now. :)

Friday Links: 'The Scorpio Races' Nabbed by Warner Bros. & Other News

2011-10-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

In this week's roundup:

Have you heard the latest news on the adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's, The Host? Andrew Niccol had this to say during an interview: "Stephanie gave me her 650-page book to adapt. That's a workout to start with but I've managed to get it down to a script and there are two more movies coming after the initial movie." That's right - a planned trilogy.

I was starting to doubt we'd ever see Ender's Game in theaters, but now it has a release date set for March 15, 2013. There's still no news about casting, so far there's just a release date.

Another literary adaptation with a release date is Warm Bodies, the zombie love story directed by Jonathan Levine (50/50). Looks like we'll be seeing Nicholas Hoult as "R" on August 10, 2012.

Adapted from Robert Kirkman's long-running comic book series, The Walking Dead gets renewed on AMC for a third season.

Ben Affleck steps up to direct Stephen King's, The Stand. I can't imagine this mammoth of a book being adapted into a movie unless it's broken up into a few films.

The Dark Tower series, also by Stephen King, may have found a TV home with HBO. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's are attempting to adapt this series over multiple films and television series. This project has slipped through the clutches of Universal due to cost concerns. But now a pitch has been made to HBO. In other words, nothing is final but, so far, that's the latest news on this project.

Have you seen the 8 character posters that were released for The Hunger Games? The Hob put them all into a single post.

Earlier this week news emerged about Unearthly, a TV Show based on the book of the same name by Cynthia Hand, being in the developmental stages. Here’s what the author had to say about the news.

Fox and producer John Davis have acquired feature rights to Myra McEntire’s debut novel Hourglass.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater has been on shelves for a little over a week and it has already been picked up by Warner Bros.

H&M will launch a 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' clothing line.

Amazon announces a new Kindle format. Format 8 will replace Mobi and add over 150 new formatting capabilities for better e-book reading, including enhanced resolution for graphics-rich e-books. Amazon will roll out this new format with the new Kindle Fire. If you're wondering whether you can get this new format on your kindle, I found this: "The newest generation of Kindles–the Kindle Fire, the touchscreen Kindles, and the latest keyboard Kindle–will soon support the new format. So will Kindle reader apps for iPhone, Windows, the Web, etc. Older Kindles won’t."

Theatrical Trailer: Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

2011-10-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Lorax, based on Dr. Seuss' environmentally-conscience children's book, looks just as bright, colorful, and imaginative as the previously adapted Horton Hears a Who.

The Lorax is about a young boy named Ted (voiced by Zac Efron) and his journey to find the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl-next-door (voiced by Taylor Swift). To find it, he must discover the story of the Lorax.

Danny Devito, Ed Helms, and Betty White also lend their vocal talents. You can view the trailer and movie poster below.

Coming to theaters March 2, 2012

Review: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

2011-10-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

The monster showed up just after midnight.
As they do.

And so begins A Monster Calls. Conor is thirteen-years-old and he’s been suffering from the same nightmare for months—the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming. When the monster calls his name at 7 minutes past midnight, Conor fears that his nightmare followed him into the world of waking.

This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.

I think that it's important for you to know that I read the Kindle version of this book - just in case you’re wondering why I’m not fawning over the “beautiful illustrations". The truth is, they’re not present in ebook format. I know! I don’t get it either. The story, though, is amazing. Even without the illustrations.

Trying to put into words why this book is amazing is a difficult task because it’s hard to translate a whirlwind of emotions. In A Monster Calls, the reader is perched on the shoulder of a lonely kid who has a mother with cancer and a father who is living in another country with a new wife and a new baby. This young boy is trying to come to terms with the kind of horrible and scary truths that make a person want to believe comforting lies instead, it’s about grief and dealing with loss. It’s a beautifully written, thought-provoking, haunting book that’s filled with lessons and well-crafted quotes that are worth remembering.

It’s also worth noting that Patrick Ness didn’t write this one on his own (as you can see from the credit on the book cover). The idea belonged to Siobhan Dowd (author of 4 YA novels, including Bog Child). This would have been her fifth novel, but her battle with cancer claimed her life before she had a chance to finish it. That’s where Patrick Ness stepped in and turned her premise into a book.

For such a small book—215 pages (hardcover)—this stand-alone packs one heavy punch. It’s a quick read, but one you might find yourself taking your time through. Though told from the point of view of a thirteen year old boy, A Monster Calls is so honest and so creative in its execution that it would also appeal to an older audience.

If you’re thinking of reading this book, I would recommend reading it the way it was meant to be read – with the illustrations included. In fact, I’m thinking of getting myself a hardcover copy.

And since I can't seem to get this quote from the book out of my head, I'll leave you with this:

“You do not write your life with words…you write it with actions.”

Random House Has 3 Audiobooks Available for FREE Download

2011-10-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Random House has 3 audiobooks available on their website for FREE. All you have to do to claim these freebies is sign-up for the Random House monthly newsletter.

Here's what you can get:

White Cat (The Curse Workers #1)
by Holly Black, read by Jesse Eisenberg
Approx. 6 Hours 41 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Nate the Great Goes Undercover

by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, read by John Lavelle

Approx. 14 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]

Somebody is raiding Oliver's garbage can each night, but who? The list of suspects is long—Rosamond and Esmeralda, the girls down the street; Rosamond's cats; and all the shrews, moles, skunks, birds, and racoons in the neighborhood. Nate courageousely encounters a skunk (nose first) and a telephone pole (head on), but not until he goes under cover of the garbage-can lid does he narrow the suspects down to one.

Survival

by Louis L'Amour, read by Richard Crenna

Approx. 66 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]

This harrowing adventure of shipwreck and survival is L'Amour's fictionalized account of the heroic true story of merchant seaman Tex Worden and his efforts to save the passengers of the doomed Raratonga. A unique look at the early life and times of one of our most cherished writers, Survival is the action-packed oral biography of a true American original.

Direct URL: http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/features/boston-summer2011/newsletter-signup.php

4 Books That Are Headed to the Small Screen

2011-10-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

The Murder Room (CBS),

based on the book by Michael Capuzzo

True story of a world famous profiler, forensic artist, and leading investigator for the FBI who form a team to investigate crimes that have stupefied law enforcement around the world.

EP/W: George Nolfi

Two Badges (CBS),
based on the book by Mona Ruiz and Geoff Boucher

Mona Ruiz is a decorated police detective, the wife of a gangbanger in prison for murder and the mother of a son destined to follow in his father’s footsteps. A woman who oscillates between two worlds: the barrio she was born into and the city she protects.

EP/W: Ted Humphrey

Unearthly (CW),
based on the book by Cynthia Hand

Clara learns that she's part angel and she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

EP/W: Kevin Murphy
EP: Robin Schorr

The Hollows (CW),
based on the bestselling book series The Hollows by Kim Harrison

Set in an urban fantasy world, Rachel Morgan, a PI witch, works with local law enforcement agencies to combat threats both mundane and supernatural.

EP/W: Jordan Hawley

Source: Deadline

Friday Links: Dreamworks Wins Bidding War for 'Captain Underpants'

2011-10-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

In this week's round-up:

Chances are that by now you’ve heard Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ at least a hundred times. Right? Well, here’s a remix as sung by Jacob Black.

Dreamworks wins the bidding war for the film rights of 'Captain Underpants'—the 8 book children’s series by Dav Pilkey.

HarperCollins launched Authonomy in 2008 as a way to discover unpublished and self-published authors. Now Authonomy has launched a digital imprint which will “hand pick” the best writers on the site and publish their work as e-originals.

Ever wonder what beloved authors did before they were famous? This article by Huffington Post gives a little insight: Strange Day Jobs of Authors Before They Were Famous.

Want to give new life to old books? Why not turn them into Autumn/Halloween decorations?

This 'Breaking Dawn' sneak peek is just another reminder that the movie will be out very soon.

Literary Characters Who Should Have Died

2011-10-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

I know that fiction isn’t meant to be realistic. However, have you ever finished a book and wondered how certain characters could still be alive? How the author could write a convenient way out of a seemingly hopeless situation, or how a character could make the poorest decisions and still live to see the next chapter or even the next book in the series? I’ve wondered that, too. In fact, I was so inspired by one particular case that I decided to write about it.

Please keep in mind that there are major spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution. I put the character and book title first so you can make that crucial decision before jumping into the spoiler zone.

Anyway, let's start off with the character who inspired the list...

Sam Goode from 'The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2)' by Pittacus Lore

Sam survived 'I Am Number Four' and I was actually looking forward to how the story developed with him along for the ride. However, having a couple of aliens with special powers as allies doesn’t seem to justify how Sam, the human in their midst, managed to get through the sequel. I mean, there is an army of trained (and kind of scary) Mogadorians hunting them down, and he learned fighting techniques on the internet! Plus, he may have made a few poor decisions throughout the book that made him look like a complete fool. It’s obvious - the authors are working miracles to keep this boy alive for some reason.

Lucius Malfoy from 'Harry Potter Series' by JK Rowling

Many characters died in this 7 book series—likeable characters who fans adored, complex characters who kept readers guessing where loyalties really fell. That’s why it kind of annoys me that Lucius Malfoy survived. Not only was he extremely unlikeable throughout a majority of the series, but he displeased Voldemort so often that I’m surprised Voldemort didn’t kill Lucius himself.

Vee Sky from 'Hush, Hush' by Becca Fitzpatrick

Vee is the carefree, self-centered, boy-crazy sidekick—AKA, one of the worst literary BFF’s ever, who constantly made dumb decisions. She’s the girl who thinks it’s a good idea to disguise herself as Nora and lead a mysterious stalker and potential psycho to a secluded spot to confront him. Who follows cute boys into a dark high school after hours, watches them chain up the door, and believes them when they say it’s for an “innocent” game of hide and seek. If 'Hush, Hush' was a slasher flick, Vee would be the one running up the stairs instead of out the door, the one who picks up the creepy hitchhiker in the middle of the night because he might be kind of cute. Therefore, Vee makes the list because she was way too dumb to survive.

Jacob Black from 'Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga #4)' by Stephenie Meyer

I know, Stephenie Meyer would have never let our beloved Jacob Black die. She had to give him his happy ending, too. Even when it didn’t seem like he could have one without Bella. However, taking a step back and analyzing the ending, I think that Jake dying to save and protect Bella would have been a noble way to go. Instead, we find out that the third player in an epic love triangle never really loved the girl like he thought he did after all, and quickly moves in (I mean, "imprints") on her baby. I wanted Jake to have a happy ending, too—with Leah. Since that wasn’t the case, a noble death would have been a good alternative.

Which characters do you think should be on the list? Disagree with the ones listed here? Let me know why.

Cover Reveal: Revived by Cat Patrick

2011-10-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

Cat Patrick revealed the cover of her second literary creation, Revived. You can also see it on her blog.

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

The synopsis for 'Revived' is intriguing. If Patrick's second novel is anything like her first, then we're in for something good. Expected publication is May 8, 2012.

Revived on Goodreads

Haven't read her first novel? Cat Patrick's debut, Forgotten, brought us London Lane, a 16-year old whose memory is erased at 4:33 every night and the following morning, all she can remember are events from her future. Forgotten was picked up for a movie adaptation with Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) signed on to play London.

Forgotten on Goodreads

Cast Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage of Breaking Dawn Part I

2011-10-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

Entertainment Tonight released a featurette with cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the upcoming Breaking Dawn: Part I.

Brief interviews with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner give further insight into the characters. The behind-the-scenes footage is sporadic but it's good to get a glimpse of a few of the scenes.

Breaking Dawn Part I will hit US theaters on November 18.

Friday Links: Want to Dress Like Pregnant Bella Swan for Halloween?

2011-10-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

In this week's round-up:

If you are a lover of Western Literature, you'll want to add these 10 landmarks to your travel itinerary--including the The Brontë Parsonage Museum and Ernest Hemingway's House.

One of the latest dystopian novels, "When She Woke" by Hillary Jordan, redoes Hawthorne's, "The Scarlet Letter" in a futuristic setting and taking it a few steps further--turning it into a pointed, blunt warning about the consequences of an America run by the church, not the state. You can find When She Woke on Goodreads here.

After slowly releasing each poster to the public, The Hunger Games finally reveals all 12 District Posters.

Newsagent WH Smith + Kobo = Kindle Killer? According to The Guardian, WH Smith struck a deal with Kobo to sell its e-readers and a library of 2.2m e-books.

Are you a fan of The Walking Dead comic series? Or maybe the AMC TV Show? Well, now The Walking Dead can be found in the pages of a novel written by Robert Kirkman and horror novelist Jay Bonansinga, titled The Walking Dead: Rise of The Governor.

The wildly popular Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is getting the graphic novel treatment.

Speaking of graphic novel's. Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, is busy with a graphic novel trilogy of her own - a new paranormal mystery series called Cemetery Girl that's set for publication in 2013.

In 8 Stars You Maybe Didn't Know Auditioned for 'Twilight' we see what could have been. What if Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen) snagged the role of Bella Swan instead? Things that make you say, hmm...

Looking for costume ideas for Halloween? BuzzSugar has the Ultimate Pop Culture Guide. Want to dress like Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Pregnant Bella Swan? How about Katniss Everdeen? They'll show you how. There's also a guide for the guys, including Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter and Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead.

Happy Friday!

Review: White Witch Pond by Jody Kihara

2011-10-13T05:07:00.000-07:00

Shaya Solen’s walk home from school takes her past an eerie pond, where one day she finds an old bracelet made of raven feathers. Soon, strange events begin to unfold: a shadowy figure glimpsed across the water, ominous nightmares haunting Shaya, and rumors of a witch who once drowned in the pond. With the discovery of a strange family connection to the witch, Shaya is drawn into a mystery that must be solved before the approaching Halloween, which is the thirteenth anniversary of the witch’s death – and Shaya’s birthday.

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to pick up a ghostly tale that will keep you up late. Enter White Witch Pond. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book, but based on the creepy cover (I know, I’m a cover judge), I had a pretty good idea that it would fall somewhere along those lines—and it did. Considering it’s a Middle Grade novel, I also figured that I didn’t have to worry about it getting TOO creepy—and for the most part, it didn’t; though there were some moments where I got the heebs and had to steal a glance over my shoulder (I feel like such a wimp). Anyway, the fact that this book is also fun, engaging, and suspenseful is an added bonus. I quickly found myself being drawn into the mystery of what Shaya was experiencing and piecing together. I felt like I was right there with Shaya as she dug around for answers and had some really close calls.

Shaya is the perfect leading lady for this novel. She’s twelve-years-old and she comes across as such, and yet, she also exudes a certain maturity, strength, and courage that you wouldn’t expect from someone her age—it’s impossible not to root for her.

Her brother, however, was shown in a negative light from the start, and he only grew more obnoxious as the story developed. Since his behavior is imperative to the story, it definitely added to the intrigue.

Apart from Shaya and her brother, none of the other characters really made much of an appearance or impression. But they all played a part in keeping the story moving and making it interesting.

The writing is simple enough for the youngsters, and entertaining enough for all ages. It kept me reading, rooting, and wondering and, by the end of the book, with a goofy smile on my face.

Jody Kihara is giving away 5 copies of White Witch Pond on her Facebook Page! - http://www.facebook.com/JodyKiharaBooks

Jody Kihara's website

White Witch Pond on Amazon

Follow the rest of the tour:

October 14th – Rebecca @ Everything To Do With Books
October 14th – Velvet @ vvb32 Reads
October 15th – Heidi @ Pages of Gold
October 16th – Shannon @ Write-To-Read
October 17th – Yara @ Once Upon A Twilight
October 18th – Jennifer @ Can’t Put It Down
October 19th – Cassandra @ Book & Movie Dimension
October 20th – Kristin @ Kristin Can Read
October 20th – Rachel @ Rachel’s Book Reviews
October 21st – Beckie @ Bittersweet Enchantment
October 22nd – Natalie @ Purple Jelly Bean Chair Reviews

Blog Tour Presented by Lightning Book Promotions

Mysteries and Thrillers You Can Get for Free

2011-10-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

If you're anything like me then you're probably always interested in books you can get at a decent price or, better yet, for free. Well, I was on the look-out for some good mysteries and thrillers to add to my eBook collection and thought I would highlight these 15 finds. Many are only available for a limited time.

1. Penumbra by Carolyn Haines

Jade Dupree is a beautician and an undertaker's assistant with a gift for smoothing the ravages of death from the faces of her clientele. But her strange talent isn't the only thing that sets her apart from the townspeople of tiny Drexel, Mississippi.

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

2. The Brotherhood by Jerry B. Jenkins

Boone Drake has it made. He's a young cop rising rapidly through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department. He has a beautiful wife and a young son, a nice starter house, a great partner... everything is going right. Until everything goes horribly, terribly wrong.

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This classic is a compilation of 12 adventures, including A Scandal in Bohemia, The Boscombe Valley Mystery, and The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor.

Get the Kindle Version

Nook Version is not free at the moment

4. The Perfect Plan by Ty Hutchinson

For Blade and Angel, everyday is about their next high. Tired of the daily jobs needed to support their habit, Blade hatches a scheme for a bank heist. It's the perfect plan. This short psychological thriller is about 6,000 words and includes the first three chapters from Chop Suey

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

5. The Fashion Police by Sibel Hodge

This chick-lit thriller combines murder, mayhem, and romance.

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

6. The Sway of Disaster by Mikael Aizen

A man who fantasizes about disaster gets put to the test when a real disaster happens in this short story.

Get the Kindle Version

Nook Version is not free at the moment

7. The Written by Ben Galley

His name is Farden. They whisper that he’s dangerous. Dangerous is only the half of it.

Get the Kindle Version

The Nook Version is not free at the moment

8. The Variant Effect by G. Wells Taylor

VARION was a popular medication that could cure anything from Anxiety and Depression to Schizophrenia and Zoophagia. Everybody took it back in the day, because there were no side effects... ...AT FIRST

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

9. The Night Walk Men by Jason McIntyre

A short story and introduction to Jason McIntyre's The Night Walk Men Novel Series.

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

10. Lot's Return to Sodom by Sandra Brannan

Sequel to In the Belly of Jonah.

Get the Kindle Version

Nook Version is not free at the moment

11. Invisible by Lorena McCourtney

She's not your average crime fighter! Ivy Malone has a curiosity that sometimes gets her into trouble, and it's only aggravated by her discovery that she can easily escape the public eye.

Get the Kindle Version

Nook Version is not free at the moment

12. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant - Ace Detective, Snappy Dresser, Razor–tongued Wit, Crackerjack Sorcerer, and Walking, Talking, Fire-throwing Skeleton.

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

13. The Halloween Collection

The Halloween Collection showcases spooky reads from nine very different authors.

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

14. The Ylem by Tatiana Vila

An ancient book, a seventeen-year-old girl and an exotic boy from a supernatural world hold the key to freedom for a long-oppressed race, but that freedom could come at the cost of the human world.

Get the Kindle Version

Nook Version is not free at the moment

15. Death Whispers by Tamara Rose Blodgett

When teens receive a government-sanctioned pharmaceutical cocktail during school, paranormal abilities begin manifesting... making the teens more powerful than the adults.

Get the Kindle Version

Get the Nook Version

Review: The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

2011-10-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

God is a slick god. He makes it so you don't miss out on nothing you're supposed to witness firsthand.

Temple was born ten years after the world was infested by zombies. She doesn't remember her parents and the only two people she considered family were taken by the infection. This post-apocalyptic world is the only one she knows. Temple is a 15-year-old girl—though she seems much older at times—wandering in a zombie-infested wasteland, being hunted by a man seeking his revenge, and trying to find redemption as she fights to survive.

The fact that this book has zombies in it was enough of a reason for me to pick it up. I wasn’t expecting the beautiful story that followed, and considering the flesh-eating, disease-ridden monsters that make an appearance, that was the first thing that surprised me. You see, this book isn’t really about the zombies—it’s so little about the zombies, in fact, that Bell never mentions what happened when the world fell apart and the zombies came to roam. It’s more about the world—how it’s changed and how it’s remained the same. It’s about people and how they either find the will to survive or give up entirely. It’s about a vulnerable, damaged girl who’s had to grow up way too fast, how she fights the lonely fight of survival and does it with a heavy heart, about how she’s running from the past that haunts her– it’s about how that girl sees the world.

The writing style took a little getting used to—the lack of quotation marks sometimes made it difficult to decipher when someone was speaking and when it was just narration. However, Bell’s writing is lyrical, beautiful, and, at times, haunting. I couldn’t help but fall into the story and let the words wash over me.

The Reapers are the Angels is simply written but wonderful in its simplicity. It's not your average YA fiction. Actually, after reading it, I don’t think it falls into that category at all. It’s a tough world and Alden Bell doesn’t shy away from that fact— there’s a lot of violence and some sexual content. Also, the ending to this stand-alone book is hit or miss. To avoid spoiling the ending, I won’t go into detail. I will say, however, that despite the dark and seemingly hopeless world, Bell manages to give us a complex heroine who sees the beauty and wonder in the world. And it’s that same heroin that makes this book worth reading and impossible to forget.

Theatrical Trailer: The Raven

2011-10-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

Edgar Allen Poe is the author of strange and gruesome deaths... and now we get to see them translated to the screen.

The Raven is a period thriller starring John Cusack as Edgar Allen Poe, who joins a young detective in the hunt for a serial killer who is replicating the deaths in Poe's work.

This definitely sounds like a great concept for a movie. Based on the trailer, though, Edgar Allen Poe is nothing like I imagined. In my mind, Poe is morbid and mysterious. But I guess it wouldn't be Hollywood if they didn't turn him into a hero. Unless... :)

The Raven is scheduled to hit theaters on March 9, 2012.

Friday Links: Another Young Adult Literary Adaptation in the Works

2011-10-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

In this week's roundup...

The producing team behind Twilight is gearing up for another Young Adult literary adaption—this one is about ghosts. Okay, suspense over: a new supernatural romance called “In the Flesh” is coming to the big screen and is based on Laura Whitcomb’s, A Certain Slant of Light! I love that book. I wonder how much of the film will actually be based on the novel.

The official Steve Jobs biography was originally going to be published on November 21, but has been rushed forward and will instead be released on October 24. It's already a best-seller from the pre-orders.

Pottermore will be teaming up with Google Books this fall as a way to provide the fans with a larger platform to read the series (Up to 50 different ereaders and any device that has an internet connection). This will definitely be a boost for both Pottermore and Google Books.

Did you know? Real Steel is loosely based on a 1956 story written by Richard Matheson (author of I Am Legend) called "Steel," a fantasy/science fiction story

Ready for Twilight Saga Tuesday? Summit Entertainment will be releasing the first three installments of The Twilight Saga in theaters nationwide for the first three Tuesdays in November leading up to the release of Breaking Dawn Part I.

Johnny Depp has his eyes on playing the role of the great Dr. Seuss himself.

Writers of 'X-Men: First Class' Adapting 'The Magicians' for TV

2011-10-05T23:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to FOX, there's possibly going to be a little more magic in the world. Well, in the world of television at least. According to Deadline, The Magicians by Lev Grossman has been picked up by FOX and is being optioned as a television series.

The Magicians, which was published in 2009, has been called "Harry Potter for adults" and follows Quentin Coldwater as he finds himself unexpectedly admitted to a very secret, very exclusive college of magic in upstate New York, where he receives a thorough and rigorous education in the practice of modern sorcery.

Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz, co-writers of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Thor and X-Men: First Class, are adapting the pilot.

As with most adaptations, there's always the possibility that this doesn't make it to screen, but with the writers they have behind the pilot and the critically-acclaimed novel that they have to work with, I'm really interested to see that it does.

Add The Magicians to your Goodreads To-Read list.

Have you read The Magicians? What do you think of the news?