Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: The Movie?

NEWS ABOUT BOOKS

(NOTE: THIS IS NOT A BOOK REVIEW)

P&P&Z THE MOVIE?

As if I wasn't already beside myself excited about the novel which will release in April, I hear now the book of our dreams is going to be the film of our dreams. Thanks to Megan for the Book tip and to Vlad for the film tip.

Article Source

"Jane Austen is rolling around, decayed and foul, in her grave. I am sure by now you have heard about the novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which Seth Grahame-Green has 'tweaked' from the original Pride and Prejudice romance novel by interspersing scenes of terse, reserved protestations of love and propriety with zombie carnage. Genius, you say? Yes. Total genius. But now, studios are in a bidding war over who gets to make this into a movie. Now that Jane Austin is public domain, her work is up for grabs (hear that, people?) and studio execs with no original thoughts can mush her work into anything they think will make money. What's next for studios, Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights where Catherine returns as a Japanese ghost to haunt and terrorise Heathcliff? Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre where Mr Rochester keeps something worse than his wife in the attic? George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss with human sacrifice?
Er, you better read on...
“It quickly became obvious that Jane [Austen] had laid down the blueprint for a zombie novel,” said Pride and Prejudice and Zombies author and comedic genius Grahame-Smith to The UK's Sunday Times. “Why else in the original should a regiment arrive on Lizzie Bennet’s doorstep when they should have been off fighting Napoleon? It was to protect the family from an invasion of brain-eaters, obviously.”
Zombie slayers, kung fu, and Fitzwilliam Darcy as a ninja, cannibal hordes from London sweeping the moors putting a damper on croquet games and garden teas - it just doesn't get better than that."

The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, Book 1), By James Patterson

By: James Patterson

Publisher: Little, Brown

Publish Date: April 11, 2005

ISBN: 031615556X

Page #: 432

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science-Fiction, Fantasy

Age Level: Teen

Series Titles: Maximum Ride

• The Angel Experiment
• School's Out - Forever
• Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
• The Final Warning
• MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel

Subjects: Thriller, Adventure, Mutants

Reader's Annotation: A group of kids who are the product of genetic mutation have to rescue one of their winged "family" memebers from another group of mutants called erasers.

Synopsis: Maximum Ride (or Max as her mutant family calls her) is one of a small group of kids that survived and escaped an ongoing lab experiment that leaves them into 98% human and 2% bird. They range from child to teen, and though not actually related, live as a family of mutants. Along with wings they have other special gifts that come with the 2% avian DNA that was forced upon them. The thriller starts of fast and thrilling as the youngest of the flock is stolen back to the lab by another cross-mutated group called the erasers. The erasers are designed to hunt and kill with wolf and human DNA. After the youngest is taken Max and her family set out to confront their makers, their prison, and the dreaded erasers. The Angel Experiment is the beginning of the popular series which kids, teens, and adults alike rave about. Patterson creates a world in the tradition of the X-Men that is sure to hook you in from beginning to end. This is a series that gives the imagination "wings."

Notes:  The audio book of The Angel Experiment is read by Evan Rachel Wood. Having read the book and heard the audio which is exceptionally performed, I can say that either is recommended. Great to listen to as a family since its benign nature is ok for the younger kids as well. However, the audio book is abridged.

Manga: The series has been adapted into Manga (official website link): http://www.max-dan-wiz.com/page/excerpts-maximum-ride-manga

Stars: 5

Extras: Series Website: http://www.maximum-x.com/page/max-a-maximum-ride-novel

This just in! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825283/ 

'Twilight' director Catherine Hardwicke may direct 'Maximum Ride'

Categories: Books, Film, Twilight Three months after Summit Entertainment announced that Catherine Hardwicke will not be filming the Twilight sequel, the director is in talks to helm an adaptation of another young-adult fantasy series, Maximum Ride. Ride is a five-volume series by perennial best-seller list chart-topper James Patterson that follows six genetically altered teenagers known as "the Flock." (The teens are half human, half bird). According to The Hollywood Reporter, Patterson will executive produce the film while screenwriter Don Payne is signed on to pen the script.

Original Unlibrarian Fan Trailer, Little Brother

Little Brother, By Cory Doctorow

The Unlibrarian has created a Book Trailer for Little Brother just for YOU! We hope it inspires you to read the book. Hands down the best read you'll have all year! Check your libraries for available copies, or visit this link:





For a direct link to Little Brother on Indie Bound Cut and Paste the link below:

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780765319852

Who's Watching the Watchmen?

Free-Style Review for a fine Graphic Novel Adaptation:

OK, I am gonna try really, really hard to stay focused here and not make this an ode to Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

But, it's gonna be hard. Because he was on fire. His character's depth along side Jeffrey Dean Morgan's acting was like an explosion of intransigent coolness. Already a fan of Morgan, I fell apart with excitement that he would be staring as The Comedian, in such a staggering adaptation. Whether or not you have already read The Watchmen doesn't matter at this point. Do not, NOT see this film in the theater because you want to read it first. And don't walk out saying the book was so much better, because we already know that. And in this case, redundancy is just plain offensive, because the film is absolutely beautiful. In a league of its own now. In fact, it's the shortest three hours you'll spend, unless you hate having to think. If this is the case, don't go. Cause this movie is intended to make to think. You WILL be cursing your liquid intake for having to miss a second. The intro to title scene is seamless and it could almost stand alone. And the music is soft and lovely (take this with a grain of salt and when you see it you will know what I mean) against the brutality of the the unfolding events.

I am not going to get into the grit of what makes this movie tick, pardon the pun, but I will say if you hadn't read the Hugo award winning comic first (like me, so don't feel bad-I have worked with books for over tens years now and sometimes things just get by) you may be pleasantly surprised to find that you are going to have the unique opportunity to watch the Watchmen unfold without knowing what's gonna happen. That, together with the exceptional film making of Zack Snyder, the cast, the special effects, and the genius of Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons, you get one brutally smart, imposing film. It's weak parts were a mediocre movie's best day. And if you have read the comic, the you won't be disappointed. Unless you are one of those people who are chronically disappointed. If you can't help it you'll probably not be happy unless you are complaining anyway. If this is the case, and you are one of those peeps, maybe you are just such a mess that you need someone to save you from yourself. Enter you know who.

Expect violence. And sex. And Blue nudity. And by the way: Maybe Watchmen really means...the whole era of naked women as the only acceptable full frontal is over. And we are entering the age of the watch. men. Literally. Speaking from a woman's perspective, it's been a long time coming!




Directed by Zack Snyder, Produced by Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Deborah Snyder; Written by, Screenplay: David Hayter, Alex Tse;

Comic Book: Dave Gibbons, Alan Moore

Starring:

Malin Åkerman

Malin Akerman ... Laurie Jupiter / Silk Spectre II

Billy Crudup ... Dr. Manhattan / Jon Osterman

Matthew Goode ... Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias

Jackie Earle Haley ... Walter Kovacs / Rorschach

Jeffrey Dean Morgan ... Edward Blake / The Comedian

Patrick Wilson ... Dan Dreiberg / Nite Owl II

Carla Gugino ... Sally Jupiter / Silk Spectre



Music by: Tyler Bates
Cinematography: Larry Fong
Editing by: William Hoy

Studio: Legendary Pictures DC Comics

Distributed by North America:
Warner Bros.
International:
Paramount Pictures
Release date
March 6, 2009

Budget: $120 million[1]
Gross revenue:
Domestic:
$59,099,598
Foreign:
$26,632,667
Worldwide:
$85,732,265

Living Impaired. Again.

What I am waiting for:

Generation Dead: Kiss of Life

Release Date May 12, 2009



Pre-Review via Amazon

The Kiss of Life.

The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay. Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time. While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends. Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie -- her Homecoming date Tommy Williams -- her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her. Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave. Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story, By Christopher Moore

(Adult Book ONLY...Unless your parents say it's ok!) 

Bloodsucking Fiends 

By: Christopher Moore

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster 
• Publishing Date: March 2008
• Age Level: Adult
• ISBN: 1416558497

Series Titles: Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story

You Suck! A Love Story

Reader's Annotation: LOVE BITES! No seriously, it really does bite. 

Synopsis: Attention! I am about to review a title that is one of my favorite romps of all time. It's funny as hell, and no it's not YA, but if you can stomach a little crass, tongue in cheek, dig in! This the red velvet cake of vampire satires.

Jody, is in her mid 20's with a series of bad relationships under her belt when she hit's satan's lottery and is turned into a newborn gorgeous vampire. The vamp who made her leaves a fat bundle of cash with her and with that she sets off into her new life. Or un-life in this case. But she needs someone who can do her bidding in the daylight. Enter C. Thomas Flood. No, you are not reading it wrong. It's hysterical. And as accurate a literary name as you could get for this young boy who left Incontinence, Indiana to come to San Francisco to be the next Jack Kerouac (personally, with a name like that he might one to stick to dollar a page erotica, but at any rate...) While working a night job at a supermarket, Jody vamps her way into his life, and turns it upside down and inside out.

From turkey bowling in the supermarket, to raunchy un-dead love-making; From failed date-o-holic to rockin' hot vamp, Bloodsucking Fiends is a ride that will have you flying through the pages at a preternatural pace!

Notes & Warning: Terribly lewd & Hysterically bad launguage ensues; References to drugs and the drinking of blood follows; Undead & living, outright sexual gambols prickle their way through the book. SO don't say I didn't warn you...

Now, if you can handle THAT, which I believe you can (because you are smart enough to read into the implications of Moore's insanely funny, bizarre, & sometimes freaky style), then you will be in for a big treat. Bloodsucking Fiends is and always will be one of my favorite books ever.


Extras: 

Quote from Bloodsucking Fiends

"This is horrible."

"What is it?" Tommy insisted.

"I just realized-I'm always going to be a pudgette. I have jeans I'll never get into. I am always going to need to loose five pounds."

"So what, every woman I've ever known thought she needed to loose five pounds."

"But they have a chance, they have hope. I'm doomed."

"You could go on a liquid diet," Tommy said.

"Very funny." She pinched her hip to confirm her observations. "Five pounds. If only he'd waited another week to attack. I was on a yogurt and grapefruit diet. I would have made it. I'd be thin forever." She realized she was obsessing and turned to Tommy. "How's your neck by the way?"

READ BLOODSUCKING FIENDS ON GOOGLE BOOKS FOR FREE HERE! 

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1), By Richelle Mead

By: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Publish Date: 2007

ISBN: 159514174X

Page #: 336

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: Older Teen

Series Titles: Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow's Kiss, Blood Promise

Subjects: Vampire, Romance, Friendship

Reader's Annotation: Rose and Lissa share an fantastic friendship, even by vampire standards. Now, after two years on the run, they have been returned to Saint Vladimir's Academy, the learning facility from which they ran away only to face judgement, teasing, testing, lessons, and danger. 

Synopsis: School has never been this much fun! In Vampire Academy, Mead create new world of vampirism. Rose is the half-vampire, half-mortal best friend and protector to the Orphaned Lissa, a Vampire Princess. Hoping to leave their Vampire Academy and live out on their own, the book begins as the two try to escape an ambush. But the ambush isn’t the immortal vampire enemies the Academy trains it’s student to defend them selves from. It’s the Academy and they have come to take them back. Mead writes to a teen audience that can handle the intricacies of teenage life. Sex and Cursing abound but don’t overshadow the deeper issues that many teenagers feel: abandonment, insecurity, forbidden romance, & social ranking. Only, in the Vampire Academy, we get the added sense of royalty & reverie. Mead’s Vampire Academy is the first in a series. The following tales are titled, Frostbite and Shadow’s Kiss. The Vampire Academy is published in New York, by Razorbill Publishing.

Stars: 4

Notes: Swearing and a harsh nature appear in this thriller that is frankly a lot darker then most YA. But by the same token it is easily digestible. Parental discretion is advised.

Extras:http://www.richellemead.com/vampireacademy.htm

"Read the Good Trash" January 2009-December 2009

Yup, you heard right.



Sick of the same old bad writing? Try some old bad writing! Full of angst, filth, and wonderfully sinister ways...V.C.Andrews is the queen!

"READ THE GOOD TRASH MOVEMENT" January 2009-December 2009
(Ahem...That's a long time people...Cough it out. You can do it.)

I just have to give a nod to Reviewer X. In my ravenous youth of which I never truly departed, a superbly trashy group of books entered my life. First Flowers in the Attic, then...Dawn, by V.C. Andrews. Ah the memories of the Logan Family Woes. So alas, I will put my weight behind what I find to be the best trash ANYWHERE. If you are gonna read crap. This is the best crap you can find.

AS Reviewer X put it, "Their are two kinds of trash in the world. The GOOD and the BAD."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++