This year's book plan is based on type rather than on quantity. It's impossible for me to do "fifty books in a year" as I've done in the past, or "a hundred stories in a year" as I attempted to do last year (and failed miserably). I've decided that, though I am a short story writer and this is amajor flaw/weakness in my writerly character, I do not gravitate toward the short story. I just don't, and I try to force myself every so often and it's a disaster. That's not to say I don't love certain short stories--I do--but they're not my bread and butter. Novels are--always have been and always will be. Maybe that means I should write novels. Anyway, I digress...
This year's book plan is to read books that have had movies based on them. The release of 'Revolutionary Road' and 'Benjamin Button' and 'The Reader' all started me thinking about how I could incorporate those books into my annual plan and as I started to look around for other books that have movies based on them, I was...well...stunned by the sheer amount of them. I'll of course include short stories like 'Benjaman Button' and '3:10 to Yuma'...pretty much whatever I can get my hands on.
I'm not setting a number, but I am going to make sure I watch the movie also. I've got a list going but would love to hear suggestions on books I should read--so post in the comments if you've got any favorite books that have become movies (of any time period--don't think I'm not going to be reading 'Age of Innocence' this year!!)
6 comments:
I'm reading Revolutionary Road right now and loving it. Even more than the marriage stuff, the office-work-in-the-50s is terrific (and scarily accurate even today). I also just finished Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, a great example of what the young adult novel is today. And the movie version is even better!
If you’re looking for books made into movies, you should check out Leonard Gardner’s “Fat City.” It turned out to be one of John Huston’s best movies. (Stacy Keach and Jeff Bridges as down on your luck fighters -1972). The book is full of unique moments.
White Oleander, if you haven't already read it.
T--I started RR awhile ago and couldn't get into it. Now that the movie is coming out I'm going to give it another go. Everyone I know who has read it has loved it.
Mckeeg--I haven't heard of 'Fat City' before--I'll definitely check it out!
Skye--I read the book back in '07 and *loved* it...never saw the movie. I may do a second reading and make sure I see the movie this time.
Thanks for th suggestions!
Kelly,
I read the first couple of pages of RR a dozen times before it hooked me. It sat in the discard pile for years. Now it’s a reference for great writing.
April and Frank will start following you around, getting into your business.
One more note on RR: wow. You know those reviews that always a say a book or movie or play was "searing" ... well, in this case that word is nearly perfect. Boy, no one really escapes in this book, but Yates is never cheap or unfair. Every time I thought he was going to do something just for effect, he'd dig in a little deeper, or give in a totally different direction and just surprise the hell out of me. Highly recommended!
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