Can the Movie Match the Book?

Upcoming Adaptations

Adaptation of books into movies often cause a split amongst book fans. Some fans hate them, claiming that the movies never live up to the expectations set by the books; however, other fans love them, as they are visual representations of some of their most beloved characters and story-lines. In the remainder of 2013 alone, many of these movies are scheduled to come out.

November 8th: Great Expectations
            Based on "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

This movie is being remade... Again. But with Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane and more, it'll he sure to draw attention back to Pip's classic story.

http://www.movieinsider.com/m9846/great-expectations/#.UnQtJJm9LCQ

November 8th: The Book Thief
            Based on "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

The Dreams Continue

The Dream Thieves (Book II in the Raven Boys Cycle) by Maggie Stiefvater

Last year, I was fortunate enough to review the first book in the Raven Boys Cycle. At the end, I was so wrapped up in the suspense that I couldn’t believe the book was over. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to review the second book, and it does not disappoint by any stretch of the imagination.

Blue and her friends are back again, picking up where the last book left off. Gansey is continuing his search for Glendower, the old Welsh king, trying to deny his unusual attraction to Blue. Blue is trying to keep Gansey at bay, knowing all too well his fate –  Blue comes from a family of psychics (but possesses no psychic ability herself), and it has been predicted that he is her true love, and if he is to kiss her, he will die. Adam, the boy who has worked hard for everything he has (overcoming an abusive home in the last book) has made an unusual sacrifice that causes him to become more important to the quest than he ever dreamed he would be. And Ronan, the underplayed character in the first novel, becomes crucial.

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Ronan has the ability to steal objects from dreams. While not quite understanding himself, Ronan comes to realize that he is not only important to Gansey’s quest, but also is being targeted by several who are searching the ley lines (the sources of magical energy which are being used to find Glendower) as well. The possibility of murder and a desperate sense of urgency underlie this book, leaving the readers scrambling toward the finish line, only to be left with a new series of questions that beg to be answered in book three.

Stiefvater has done it again. Her writing pulls the reader in, engrossing them in the story so completely that the book becomes impossible to put down. The dialogue sounds so realistic, and there are some quips that make the reader laugh out loud. The complex plot line is woven in such a detailed manner that forces the reader to pay attention to even the slightest details. In short, it is a work that should definitely be considered one of the greatest in current YA fiction. The plot is unlike anything else on the market, yet plays into the themes that are so hot right now – the sense of a ticking time-bomb, a hint of magic, and a dash of romance combine to create the second in a series that leaves readers begging for more.

By: Natalie Hamil