Release The Geek

Posted by | February 27, 2013 | 14 Comments

I’m in the middle of tracking down an article deep in the belly of my Facebook feed, when I see the announcement:

All adult responsibilities are forgotten, including the article I was so intent on finding. The Book Thief – a MOVIE?  Inside my head, my inner-geek/nerd/fangirl is jumping on the bed squealing and throwing confetti, until a well-aimed pillow knocks her off balance. Ah, yep, there’s Wary Skepticism  sitting patiently in the corner. We all know (from sad, bitter experience) that there is no guarantee that a good book will be made into a decent movie, let alone a brilliant, true-to-the-story-and-characters-exactly-as-I-saw-them-in-my-head kind of movie.

Books and movies are almost a screening tool for my friendships. My excitement at finding a kindred spirit who loves the same book, series, singer or movie brings a happy shimmy to my conversation and mood, as well as a magic sparkle to the relationship. At times I feel like a superhero, pushing a specific something into some poor soul’s hands who has never read a particular book (cases in point: The Book Thief, Old Man’s War, A Town Like Alice) or watched a series (Firefly, Doctor Who, Friday Night Lights) or movie (Departures, Stranger Than Fiction, Monsoon Wedding) that the conversation suggests they’d like/need/adore.The connection made over a character’s choices (deciding to get food to the prisoners), or actions (the brief holding of the hand in Pride and Prejudice) or words (“I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar!”) has – in so many situations, locations and volumes – caused arguments, hot flushes and tears, just for starters. One of my favourite, enthralling things to do is peruse other people’s bookshelves and DVD collections, to get a better idea of who they really are, and what conversations to avoid (Twilight) and instigate (the well-thumbed and dog eared titles).

I hope “To Kill A Mockingbird” will never be remade. I hope someone will be happy to be a superhero, and push something important to read/watch/think about into my hands and head. I hope that The Book Thief is made into a beautiful, stunning, tragic movie, and I can watch it with someone who hopes it just as much as I do, so we can talk/gush/argue about it afterwards.

What book/movie/series do you love to recommend to people? Any book you hope is never made into a movie? Which movie are you looking forward to seeing, or book to be reading? What makes you jump up and down and throw stuff around inside your head?

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Comments

14 Responses to “Release The Geek”

  1. Chocolate on my Cranium
    February 27th, 2013 @ 12:33 am

    Just David by Eleanor Porter. Best children’s book ever! We started it as a read aloud for my family and my husband couldn’t wait to read the end so he stayed up late one night reading the rest of the book. That is HUGE – all he ever reads is church books. I keep several copies in stock to give away as gifts.

  2. Cindy
    February 27th, 2013 @ 10:00 am

    I LOVE “A Town Like Alice.” My dad used to read it to his 6th grade class every year (with some important omissions) and I have read it several times since.

    Have you read “What Alice Forgot”? A friend recommended it last summer and I just reread it last week for our book club. Not often I find a novel that keeps me entertained through a 2nd read that soon after the first, and keeps me thinking as well…

  3. Jeannie
    February 27th, 2013 @ 10:02 am

    I am sometimes afraid to offer some of my favorite book choices to people until I get to know the person better. I fear they may say something that will tarnish the experience for me….lol I will still love the book and cherish my experience with it, but will often wonder how they missed what I read and felt…. I really can only talk “books” with 1 friend….and that was after getting to know her for a year.

  4. m2theh
    February 27th, 2013 @ 12:55 pm

    I hope the new Rowling book isn’t made into a movie as it is possibly the worst book ever written.

    I only recommend books to people if they actually read books, and only after we’ve talked about books they’ve read. For example, if you only read Anita Stansfield and James Herriott, I will be unable to suggest any books that you will like. In fact, I will probably secretly hope that you quit coming to book club and take your suggestions with you.

    But if you read a lot, I will probably pressure you into reading Jane Austen until you do just to shut me up.

  5. Angry Baker
    February 27th, 2013 @ 5:50 pm

    The Book Thief is one of my all time favorites. Most times I won’t go to the see the movie because it kills the book for me. TKAMB is an exception. Gregory Peck will always be Atticus Finch in my mind.

  6. Marm
    February 27th, 2013 @ 9:45 pm

    I loved the book Peace Like a River. A number of years ago I read they were making a movie of it, but now I wonder if the project got shelved. Was anyone else interested in it or has anyone heard anything about it?

    I totally agree about the book/friend connection. It’s important.

  7. Blue
    February 27th, 2013 @ 11:05 pm

    Ender’s Game. Was my favorite book when I was young. Been waiting years for the movie. The only good thing is the progress with cgi and digital film means that when it ever IS produced (was optioned and screen play written ages ago), the technology is just that much better than it would have been in the 90s.

  8. Catherine A.
    February 28th, 2013 @ 1:23 am

    Oh Kel, would you believe I haven’t read it yet? But since it’s coming now on your recommendation, I think I will! xoxo

  9. Kellie aka Selwyn
    February 28th, 2013 @ 1:59 am

    Chocolate On My Cranium – your book is now on my library list!

    Cindy – I really like that your Dad taught “A Town Like Alice” (with omissions!). “What Alice Forgot” sounds fascinating, and has also joined my reading list.

    Jeanne – I’m intrigued: which book did you recommend after the year? Books are my friends, and I only recommend them to people I think will “play nice” with them.

    M2theh – I understand the sentiment. I wish people were open to reading new things (especially books I love!)

    Angry Baker – Ditto re Gregory Peck. Books to movies are so dangerous! Though I’m soon to start Warm Bodies before it comes out in theatres…And I’ll go watch it regardless!

    Marm – is that the Leif Enger one? Last I heard it was still “in development”.

    Blue – I have wonderful news for you, which involves Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Abigail Breslin and Sir Ben Kingsley: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1731141/?ref_=sr_1 I’ll be seeing that one the day it releases!

    Cath A – oh, you must! Have tissues handy, and water to keep yourself hydrated!

  10. Marnie
    February 28th, 2013 @ 5:38 am

    I’m not game to recommend anything to you as you have read more widely than I (I read much less fiction than non-fiction these days, by a LOT), but I do hope they never make a movie featuring any members of or tales about J.D. Salinger’s Glass family. One of my all time fictional families. I fell in love with them at university and the passion has never quite died away.

  11. Melody
    February 28th, 2013 @ 7:22 am

    I used to dislike the book-to-movie thing. But lately I’ve enjoyed the experience of discovering via film someone else’s interpretation of a story we both love. . . I guess I should finish reading The Book Thief. If I can find it . . . Then after the movie maybe we can all gather here and discuss.

  12. AmySo
    February 28th, 2013 @ 9:40 am

    I’m actually sort of sad to see The Book Thief as a movie! I think that some stories just work better as books, while others as I’m reading I am wishing they’d also be movies.

    As for recommendations…I’m super careful these days. What I really love to read is not always appreciated by everyone.

  13. Jennie
    February 28th, 2013 @ 3:45 pm

    I started the Book Thief a couple of years ago and left it on an airplane. I think I need to repent and start over. Can we still be friends?

  14. Tracey (Carpe Librum blog)
    March 1st, 2013 @ 5:35 am

    Exciting news; I can’t wait to see this movie either, I loved the book!

    I tried to look up Departures and Stranger Than Fiction but there are a number of movies with those titles. What years were they?



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