Books2Movies Club discussion

What's up? What are you reading? What have you seen lately? What are you doing in general? Going on some trips, making plans to do so, tending to your garden, your family, or other hobbies? Do you have any specific plans and reading projects? Share with us, who knows, maybe you'll inspire someone to follow your steps!

My plans - when I stop actually working from home (good point is there's no time lost to commute, the bad is I tend to work more hours than I would in the office) and take days off I still have from the last year - are to start at least one book project (and to stick with it). There are also many books on this B2M Club shelf I haven't tackled yet. (And there's also a 5000 pieces puzzle that's 15 years waiting for me to finish. And Les Mis that I'm (not) reading for three years.)

About that book project - I am still hesitating which one to start, there are currently four I am thinking of: Cadfael, Montalbano, Poirot, Harry Potter. I didn't finish that The Epics Project, maybe it would be wiser to continue with that first.

So many ideas and wishes! I can't be the only one frustrating myself with so many plans at once! What are your plans? What would you suggest?

I was frustrated that my local piece of Heaven (library) has been closed for two weeks and won't be opening soon. I had just finished Crazy Rich Asians and was going to browse for something else. Like many of you, I have a ton and a half of books here at home. I looked at my shelves and one green paperback called out "Read me!" It was Howard's End by EM Forster. I recently watched the new miniseries of it on PBS, so I grabbed it. What a delight to come back to such a beautiful book. Now I have to watch the Older Merchant/Ivory film of it again.
How often do you reread a favorite book?

Daniel wrote: "I was frustrated that my local piece of Heaven (library) has been closed for two weeks and won't be opening soon. I had just finished Crazy Rich Asians and was going to browse for something else..."

Oh I was so sad too when our library closed its doors! They offer their e-books for loan, but the selection is so meager in comparison with myriad of books on their shelves. Besides, it is not so comforting to read an e-book as a real paper one.

It came handy though, to catch up with books you already have on your shelves, didn't it :) I like to reread my favorites once in a while. Austen, Hardy and Tolkien are my favorites. I think I've read A Room With the View three times. Howard's End I haven't yet. It would be one day a nice pick for our club :)

Ohh thankfully I just got a load bought from library replenishing programs through Amazon (super inexpensive and it helps libraries to buy new books for their readers). Shipping was a horror since I had to ship it to Uruguay (almost 90 dollars shipping, cry with me!). But the books themselves were super cheap... Like 2 to 15 dollars for huge Hardcase books.

I am currently taking a Fashion Journalism course, so most of my reading has been centered around the recommended reading for the course. Thankfully it is online, so we completed all the classes without much hassle and are now producing the last assignments.

Winter is starting here, you can tell by the random yellow leaves appearing on the still flower-covered grass in the backyard. So no plans yet for gardening. I should move some dahlias inside though and cross my fingers they still produce a late bloom or two. They got eaten by snails twice, they really are struggling this year.

About recent movies, hmmm... We saw Togo, and it was super emotional and amazing. It is inspired by the story of a real-life dog that ran a sled during the storm of a century to get vaccines to kids in Alaska. I really do recommend it! I tried watching the Call of the wild, but the CGI for the dog was sooooo bad I just couldn't take it. Have you seen Emma? I just saw it yesterday and it is a delightful film. I loved it a lot more than the Gwyneth Paltrow version. Costumes are a wonder too.

Zeljka wrote: "My plans - when I stop actually working from home (good point is there's no time lost to commute, the bad is I tend to work more hours than I would in the office) and take days off I still have fro..."

About that frustrating yourself with plans thing, I completed get it. Been planning to self teach embroidery for ages... And don't even get me started on the small fixes I want to do to the home lol

Daniel wrote: "I was frustrated that my local piece of Heaven (library) has been closed for two weeks and won't be opening soon. I had just finished Crazy Rich Asians and was going to browse for something else. L..."

It's been a while for me since I have re-read a book actually. I don't have any more space to fill with books... I kinda resorted to putting them in boxes and it breaks my heart. So I am currently getting them mostly online and reading on a Kindle. I only have huge design-oriented ones on display since they are like eye candy to me and I enjoy looking at them while doing other stuff in the house.

Also, I am so happy with this thread. I would really like to get us really going and chatting along (as you can see I love writing and sharing with like-minded people).

Lorena wrote: "Ohh thankfully I just got a load bought from library replenishing programs through Amazon (super inexpensive and it helps libraries to buy new books for their readers)...."

I totally understand you, I love buying books cheap, although that shipping really is expensive. However, spread over the number of the books you bought, it was surely worth it. I have trouble finding the space for them too. I even resorted to buying kindle versions of the books I already possess as paperbacks because I fear taking each from the shelf would make them all tumble down on me :) Half-kidding aside, sometimes it is easier to read an e-book version than paper one, especially when travelling. I like the feeling that my favorite book is still with me, even if only as an e-book :)

That fashion journalism course sounds great. Was it a requisite for your work or you wanted to learn about it for yourself?

I loved Togo too! Pity for The Call of the Wild, I had high expectations, now I am not sure if I'll watch it. Emma is on my definitely-to-watch-soon list :)

Oh, yes! It was worth it, almost 10 books and more than 8 kilos total weight. :D It still hurt budget-wise, but they would have probably cost around the same new if I bought them in my country. And I don't really like reading in Spanish too, even though it is technically my mother tongue xD

My greatest fear with kindle books is that Amazon will someday decide they are calling back this or that title because they had a tiff with the author and I might not have it anymore.

I had the same fear when I had a bookshelf on top of my bed, I once had a horrible nightmare that it was all going to fell down on me and had to remove for good! lol

The fashion journalism course was not a requisite for work, but it definitely adds to my cv as a content writer. Still, I did it because I wanted to "upgrade" my writing so to speak, to go from general content writing that includes social media, blogs and writing copy to a more magazine oriented type of writing.

What do you do for a living? I remember that you mentioned you are workig from home right now as well.

Let me know when you see Emma! I really want to know what you think of it and compare notes :P

Lorena wrote: "Oh, yes! It was worth it..."

I do not like to read English books in my mother tongue too. We do have good translators, but the feeling isn't quite the same.

It is always a good thing to learn something new, especially if you love the subject and if it fits so well with your writing!

Personally I love taking online courses about languages, literature, history, and animals. Professionally I am a financial and accounting manager in a tourist agency. A lot of perks, including good salary and casual business trips all over the region, but also some disadvantages such as long working hours during and after the season. Interesting, when I was a child, I wanted to be an archaeologist or a veterinarian, but at the time, the circumstances were such neither was an option. I do not mind, really, because the job I have now is great, and I get to live my dreams through these online courses, hobbies and travels :)

Your job sounds great! Even with the long hours during the season, with lots of chances to get great packages for your own travels.

I was really into archeology as a child too! Once, my dad had to go the Sahara Desert and brought me fossils of marine creatures, I cataloged them all (took me a whole summer in the pre-internet era). However, what I loved the most was Greek and Roman mythology and Egyptian history. Which was your favorite ancient civilization?

Lorena wrote: "Your job sounds great! Even with the long hours during the season, with lots of chances to get great packages for your own travels. I was really into archeology as a child too!.."

Actually we like to arrange our travels on our own, you know, simply buy plane tickets to anywhere and wander around wherever our whims take us :)

I am not sure which civilization I liked most. I was mystified mostly by Mesoamerican, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian cultures. Roman and Greek ruins are all around me, so they weren't such a mystery to me :) But later on travels I learned to admire Greek and Roman legacy more than I used to!

Btw I felt a bit enthusiastic yesterday while doing Easter cleaning, and started listening to Little Women audiobook, and last night started reading Crazy Rich Asians. I'll post some thoughts soon :)

Stumbled upon an interesting Buzzfeed article titled:

17 Books Long Enough To Get You Through A Pandemic

I wonder only one thing... I have a huge pile of books waiting for me, and only some are that long. Why wouldn't I read twenty of shorter ones, rather than only one of those door stoppers (I love that expression!) ?

Wow you have been reading quite a lot! Gratz on starting both Little Women and Crazy Rich Asians! I, on the other hand are embroiled in a rooftop fixing operation before the rains. We were planning to wait for a little bit but quarantine seems like it will still be here in a few months so... Had to fix it now. The front of the house looks like something exploded now lol

About reading shorter versus bigger books... For me it could go either way it all depends on the book. If they are so so quality may be shorter ones are better... Like changing topics faster will be better for me if they are not really engaging. However, if I am loving a book I would rather it ever end! :P

Lorena wrote: "Wow you have been reading quite a lot! Gratz on starting both Little Women and Crazy Rich Asians! I, on the other hand are embroiled in a rooftop fixing operation before the rains..."

Now that's the project worth doing :) Just be extra careful, you know, roofs not being very safe places to wander about :)

There's one interesting article about adaptations:

Book Riot: In Defense of the "Modern" Adaptation

Now, I thought the article would be about really modern adaptations, those set in modern times, but it appears it isn't about them per se. It's more about modern visions of the books, that might not be so accurate for the time in which they were written. What do you think?

I have two separate questions actually:
- what do you think of filmmakers that do try to bring something new (modern if you like) to the books they adapt, such as is David Copperfield that is coming out this year, or this new Little Women adaptation? Both are set in those historical times, but are a little bit different.
- what do you think of actual modern day adaptations of our beloved classics, that are set in our, modern, times? Good examples might be Bride & Prejudice, or 10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That?

There were some great examples on the list. I particularly liked Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo di Caprio. In that case I found it really added a new perspective to the play. In the case of the latest Little Women... I am not sure I felt what it really added to the original novel, to be totally sincere. But I really liked it anyways! They were pretty similar to what I grew up imagining them. I would hope for a continuation following their story now that that movie got some traction. No one has done Jo's Boys as far as I know, and I love Bess and Dan's story (even if they don't end together... But maybe a modern look would give them a happy ending!).

I am not sure about what filmmakers try to create when doing a new movie from an old classic. I would believe that they are trying to keep the message that is the foundation for the novel and yet make it feel actual. Although I am not really sure that they really manage it most of the time. Like exploring Jo's character in a new feminist optic or maybe Giving Meg her own place allowing for her wants and validating them as much as Jo's. To me, these would be like doing a recipe and adding a little pepper, for need of an analogy. They don't really change the flavor of the dish. lol

However, in modern retellings, the dish is really different. Like they changed the main ingredient or something. For me these movies are pretty interesting. They really feel new. I didn't even know that 10 things I hate about you and She's all that came from novels, even less from classics! Please, do tell me which, I will certainly take a moment to watch them again and read the books.

I have to say if I had to pick one, I would pick the first kind of adaptation. The historical adaptations really are what I love most, mainly because of the costumes and the fantasy of "traveling" to another time. Modern adaptations seem banaler? Like I could be watching a romcom and it wouldn't feel as intense or rich as the original (book or play).

Lorena wrote: "There were some great examples on the list. I particularly liked Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo di Caprio..."

I liked that adaptation too. Maybe one day we should do Romeo & Juliet in the club, to browse through many adaptations that were done about it :)

10 Things I Hate About You is based on The Taming of the Shrew (we had it in the club a year ago I think, you can check it here - I haven't found the time to tackle it yet, so many adaptations to do). She's All That is based on Pygmalion, which we also did, ages ago when we were still young, here.

I like to see both historical and modern adaptations. Historical adaptations are my favorites, even though they also can misfire, but modern are interesting to see if only to see if they will meet our expectations. 10 Things I Hate About You was really good one. On the other hand, Bride & Prejudice was interesting, but was lacking something.

That's a really good idea about making of the sequel to this new adaptation of Little Women. It makes sense :) I didn't read Jo's Boys, maybe I will after I finish the first one.

Oh, I really liked both 10 Things and She's All that. I will add both to my reading list. Also, I would definitely be up for some Romeo and Juliet! It's bee ages since I read it or saw the movie. Oh, wait I did see that new movie about it with the actor from Gossip Girl... wait, let me see if I can find it. Yes, here it is: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1645131/ This movie was quite good actually. Not wow good, but good enough.

They actually have a lot of material for a couple of Little Women sequels. There is Good Wives (which I don't really remember) and Little Men (Also a blurry, its been so long!) and then Jo's Boys (Which is kind of my favorite, I had an illustrated edition and loved coloring them all as a child). Since all the actors are pretty young it would be amazing if they did them all. Well, dreaming is free, so, a girl can hope :P

Oh, I really liked both 10 Things and She's All that. I will add both to my reading list. Also, I would definitely be up for some Romeo and Juliet! It's bee ages since I read it or saw the movie. Oh, wait I did see that new movie about it with the actor from Gossip Girl... wait, let me see if I can find it. Yes, here it is: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1645131/ This movie was quite good actually. Not wow good, but good enough.

They actually have a lot of material for a couple of Little Women sequels. There is Good Wives (which I don't really remember) and Little Men (Also a blurry, its been so long!) and then Jo's Boys (Which is kind of my favorite, I had an illustrated edition and loved coloring them all as a child). Since all the actors are pretty young it would be amazing if they did them all. Well, dreaming is free, so, a girl can hope :P

Lorena wrote: "They actually have a lot of material for a couple of Little Women sequels...."

There's no reason not to do them really. Budget wise, they shouldn't be expensive to do, and surely there would be an audience for them, especially via streaming channels if not for cinemas. I would certainly like to see them. And read them also!

Oh, yes! Me too! They should ride the publicity tail from Little Women!

A new list down here that makes me wonder if my definition of feel-good movies is a bit off:

Book Riot: THE BEST FEEL-GOOD ADAPTATIONS TO STREAM RIGHT NOW

I wouldn't put The Witcher, The Haunting of the Hill House and Pride & Prejudice in the same box :/

Good list though. Some I've seen, some I want to see.

Definitely their definition of feel-good movies is off!

The Hautning of Hill House is as fas as feel good as movies/series go! And The Witcher is so not about making you feel good either! I mean descendants, Black Panther? The person writing this is all over the place. I can get behind the Princess Diaries, Stardust, the Host, even maybe Aquamarine (it is kind of silly, but hey, mermaids make me feel good xD). Ouran High School Host Club is super "feel good" if you like anime, I completely recommend it, it's super funny. Pride and Prejudice, well, it is one of my favorite miniseries ever and there is no question that watching Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy makes me feel great lol Anne with an E maybe, though I wasn't a fan, it would still fit... The rest I have no idea why someone would pick them!

Lorena wrote: "Definitely their definition of feel-good movies is off!..."

Yeah, probably they ran out of ideas and put in any movie or series that was good in their opinion, but it is not exactly the same thing :)

Here's another popcorn article we might dissect:

10 Times Hollywood Ruined Our Favourite Book Characters And 11 Times They Absolutely Nailed It

It strikes me odd that some think color or style of hair or eyes matters in adaptations. These things I usually forget an instant I read about them in the book. Don't you just imagine your own version of the character? I even tend to picture some actor or actress in the role.

Do you have your own favorite character translations from books to movies? Your own bad ones?

I disagree a lot with some of the opinions there... For example Edward Cullen I think for me was a great portrayal. I never imagined him looking boyish, maybe because that wouldn't have felt right for my age? lol Also, Kirsten as Bella Swann was just like the book, it was a tough character to portray, and she did look as uncomfortable as Bella always said she felt.

With Ron, I think the essence of the character shone through like he was flawed yet lovable and goofy and loyal even through his jealousy. I do agree that Ginny got mainly left out, but there were just too many characters for the movie to deal with fairly... She was mostly in the fringes, though.

I also loved Amy March in the new Little Women movie. Didn't love Jo... But it was okay.

My favorite of all time is Mr. Darcy by Colin Firth from the Pride and Prejudice miniseries. Elizabeth too. They are amazing and have great sizzling chemistry. I HATED Keira Knightley and that whole Pride and Prejudice remake movie though.

Another great pair is the vampire and the witch (good God I forgot their names) from A Discovery of witches.

Let me think... Oh! Outlander! The series is just like I imagined them to be. Passionate, loving, superb chemistry. Roger was a little letdown, but he has been gaining on me recently.

Let me think what else have I seen recently... Hmm mmm...
Nothing else comes to mind, but in general I do mind when a character goes against the description of the book. Oh! like in The Witcher Triss Marygold should have been a redhead and instead they put someone with dark brown hair and brown eyes but her emerald green eyes were a super important feature thoroughly mentioned in books and games. That really bothered me.

Oh! in Doctor Sleep, the girl is supposed to look like Dan because he is the granddaughter of his father making him an uncle to her, that is why she is so strong. In the movie she is black and her parents are both black. I didn't mind the swap of colors, but they should have made her mixed at least, and her parents one black and one colored, so as to continue the relationship in the book. It felt like that was completely glossed over. To me, that was a super important part of the book, how he almost gave up his life for her because she was family and he knew that, felt it before he knew. They are said to even look like each other.

So, I think it comes down to whether if the description of the character is something very prominent in the book or not. If it means changing blue eyes for green I wouldn't even notice that. Or changing someone's skin color. The thing is, most of the time, those things have cultural or story plots attached and they rip through part of the book just to be inclusive or to fit this or that actor. Those times, it feels wrong. There are ways to do it respecting the book's essence but producers don't even care.

I guess I always imagine the characters very vividly when an author describes them and I tend to get attached to my idea of they ought to be :D Sorry, I'll be finishing this rant now lol

Lorena wrote: "I disagree a lot with some of the opinions there... ..."

I envy you because I honestly tend to forget physical descriptions once I finish the book, and let the filmmakers make what they wish with them. You are right though, if some physical characteristic is essential part of the character they are playing, it should be so, because that's something one remembers if it's important to the story. Ron had to be a redhead, as his entire family was.

Game of Thrones characters were all over the map, and for some they tried to be faithful, but for most they didn't. I was making comparisons for the first few episodes, but then stopped, as it was all so overwhelming, and to be honest, irrelevant if the actors were so so good in playing them.

I remember watching a new adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. Family and friends definitely weren't as described in the book, and I loved these casting choices. I didn't feel in the book that their skin or hair color, whatever, was important for the subject matter of the story, so I didn't see why it was so a big deal for some fans.

I usually remember, especially if the author is particularly insistent about it. There is this author Laurell K. Hamilton (she writes supernatural fantasy and it used to be good romance/action/supernatural then it got to be too much about the erotica and the plot went out the window) that has a series Anita Blake, and there is this particular vampire that has cerulean blue eyes. I could make a drinking game about every time she mentions his eye color or Anita's curly ebony hair. I swear you would end up totally wasted!

That is so true! I felt the same in the case of GOT. For the Starks they all looked somewhat similar as a family. There was only one thing that I would have kept intact from the books and it is the fact that Arya and John were supposed to look like the Starks of old and very similar, and the others were supposed to look like their mother. I think that they looked somewhat like they could be siblings (Arya and John), but the rest except Sansa didn't give that feel of the South. Sansa was great though.

I think I haven't seen or read a Wrinkle in Time, is it good?

Lorena wrote: "I usually remember, especially if the author is particularly insistent about it..."

Lol I read somewhere an advice to authors, if you tend to repeat same things using the exact same wording while describing a character or an action, skip the description part or give up on writing :) I think that's true. If you can't say something in different words, just don't. I read one book in the same vein, can't remember which it was, and it got so tedious after a while, because it seemed so poorly written for all that repetition. I simply stopped caring for those stunning blue eyes and how her entire body trembled each time those dashing eyelashes looked at her. I got that the first time it was said, the tenth time was a bit too much :)

Lorena wrote: "I think I haven't seen or read a Wrinkle in Time, is it good?..."

It was our book of the month (here's the link: A Wrinkle in Time). I read it, but didn't really like it. You should at least try. Maybe you'll like it. It surely didn't win so many awards for no reason! I probably just wasn't in the right mood.

One article to make all Jane Austen fans smile in this time of social distancing:

Josephine Tovey: Sense and social distancing (The Guardian)

Lol I read somewhere an advice to authors, if you tend to repeat same things using the exact same..."

LOL so true! It felt like she had a collection of descriptive snippets and would copy-paste them on every single novel to make up its bulk. Ugh! Ghastly!

That article was simply delightful, it made me giggle and recite a few snippets to my husband (who was playing on the computer right next to me and probably didn't get much of it since he didn't produce A SINGLE GIGGLE). I can get behind the idea that the best adaptations are the ones simmering with repressed lust. Truly, the new Emma, Colin Firth's Pride and Prejudice... any and all of the best adaptations have had that intensity and electrifying quality that just screams chemistry between the actors.

Speaking of which, what are your favorite period renditions? Which do you hope for a better remake?

Lorena wrote: "Speaking of which, what are your favorite period renditions? Which do you hope for a better remake?..."

I am not sure really, and I am always up for new adaptations! I think my favorites are Emma from 1996 with Kate Beckinsale (I still have to watch that new one!), Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth (even though MacFadyen's Mr Darcy is my favorite - the movie is great on its own, but as an adaptation it missed quite a few marks). From other period movies and shows, I love Nicholas Nickleby with Charlie Hunnam, Middlemarch with Rufus Sewell, North and South with Richard Armitage, Far from the Madding Crowd with Matthias Schoenaerts. The book I wish they make properly is Mansfield Park (that 2007 TV series is abominable) and Middlemarch. It's time to see a new one.

It seems my taste leans a lot toward the 19th century authors. I would like to read all their books and watch all related shows one day, but that'll have to wait a bit. Maybe when I retire :) I'll make a plan to read all of them chronologically, starting with Jane Austen again and ending with Thomas Hardy :) Which are your favourites?

Ohh I am not sure I have seen Emma 1996 with Kate Beckinsale, I always liked the Romola Garai version from 2009 that was a mini-series done by the BBC. I will check it out though!

Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth, well, I think I have already said how much of a fan am I... Even though I didn't like it as much, the newer version from 2005 (the MacFayden's one) got me to visit the mansion they used as Mr. Darcy's home (Chatsworth). It was truly spectacular both in photography as well as in locations.

I haven't seen Nicholas Nickleby! Oh my! I do love Charlie Hunnam since the Sons of Anarchy series... got to add that to my list. Same with Middlemarch and Rufus Sewell. Have you seen him in Victoria? That is a great period series by the way. It chronicles Queen Victoria from her teen years until her adult life (3 seasons and it might get a 4th one yet).

I absolutely love North and South as well. And Far from the Madding Crowd is great too! I couldn't agree more that Mansfield Park is horrible! There is a Mansfield park rendition done in 2007 that I have listed as a favorite, but truth be told I don't remember much about it. lol

Now, onto my favorites... Outlander, even though it has a bit of fantasy thrown in I think it is a superb rendition of the novels. Gritty and beautiful at the same time. They do not shy away from the ugly things of the past like fleas and the rampant raping of unprotected women.

The Crimson Petal and the White based on the novel The Crimson Petal and the White is a 4 episode miniseries with Romola Garai and it is simply great.

Regarding movies... Emma (2020) is amazing. One of my favorites when it comes to dialogues. Little Women (2011) is another great take. Madame Bovary (the 2014 remake) is striking, although I am not a super fan of the story itself. The costumes are to die for.

Cheri with Michelle Pfeiffer is delightful, as well as the Age of Innocence with Winona Rider, and I haven't read the novel but the movie was really well done for the Duchess with Keira Knightley. Oh! and the Great Gatsby!

Would you say Murder on the Orient Express (2017) fits in? It is a period movie but maybe it should better be cataloged as a mystery. It is really good, though.

I have a very hard time defining period movies. Would you say that if they depict a past period in time they qualify even if that period in time is more modern? Like in the case of the Orient Express and the Great Gatsby.

Lorena wrote: "Ohh I am not sure I have seen Emma 1996 with Kate Beckinsale, I always liked the Romola Garai version from 2009 that was a mini-series done by the BBC..."

I believe the timing is crucial with these adaptations. I watched that 2007 Mansfield Park right after reading the book and disliked it terribly because it was so different from the book. The same happened with 2005 Pride & Prejudice, and I absolutely loved it when it came out. Sometimes it's really worth to watch something before reading the actual thing :)

I watched only bits of Victoria, because well, I would like to read the book first. Ha :) But yes, I saw those few episodes with Sewell. He was an utter charm there. You'll definitely like his character in Middlemarch :)

I didn't see any of those series and movies you mention, I'll note them. I didn't even know for The Crimson Petal! The Age of Innocence I watched so long ago I really should watch again. Maybe we'll manage to put it on our shelf :)

Lorena wrote: "Would you say that if they depict a past period in time they qualify even if that period in time is more modern? Like in the case of the Orient Express and the Great Gatsby...."

I think they all qualify as period movies. Just think about it, they are set in time almost a century ago. The costumes and locations are so distinctly in past, it's impossible not to be immersed in those details! That Baz Luhrmann's adaptation did a stunning job of depicting crazy 1920s.

Zeljka wrote: "Lorena wrote: "Ohh I am not sure I have seen Emma 1996 with Kate Beckinsale, I always liked the Romola Garai version from 2009 that was a mini-series done by the BBC..."

I believe the timing is cr..."

Oh yes! The only reason I remember them all is because I have a huge collection at home of favorite movies. :D All my favorite period movies, horror, classics and whatnot. My top collections are fantasy and period movies/series.

Sometimes I have trouble classifying some like Dance with Wolves that is both period and western, but I think the same thing, if its in the past and the costumes are worthy: it's a period!

I haven't been able to find Middlemarch anywhere near here, so that might take some digging but I'll watch eventually! I shall not be defeated!

I haven't been able to much reading or watching lately... I just finished season 5 of Outlander and I am currently watching Siren (the season is almost finished as well) which is only one episode per week. Oh! And Motherland Salem Fort, which is also one episode per week. And filling in-between when I go to bed I'm re-binging Teen Wolf on Netflix. Do you have any recommendations of new stuff I might have missed?

Lorena wrote: "Do you have any recommendations of new stuff I might have missed?..."

Oh my, I have no idea what to suggest, I think you are way ahead of me! Right now I intend to watch The Witcher, Carnival Row, The Mandalorian, and The Expanse (season two). And I have to finish The Little Women series, I think I will this weekend. That's pretty much that, sorry :(

From the recent shows, if you didn't watch, maybe you can check on True Detective (the third season was amazing), The Terror (this new season was a bit slow, but still quite scary), and Mindhunter (the second season is even better).

Maybe someone else can suggest something :)

Ohhh I really liked both The Witcher and Carnival Row. I wasn't a fan of the Mandalorian... There was this particular incident with a blast gun that disintegrated ppl that was so against cannon that I just had to quit it. Hubby (huge classic Star Wars fan was so incensed he dropped the series like it was a hot potato!) lol

Oh, I haven't finished The Terror! I should at least complete it. I didn't get hooked on S1 but S2 was really cool because it was a cultural side of the Japanese American that I hadn't seen much of. And the oni was super spooky and yet sad.

There is this period rendition that I haven't seen yet... It is only 1 season... It is called Picnic at Hanging Rock. I know it is a remake of a classic movie but I am not sure if it is based on a book. The lead is Queen Margaery from GOT. Who also plays demon in the spinoff Penny Dreadful Los Angeles. :D Costumes look great though!

Edit. Had to go check, turns out its a novel! Picnic at Hanging Rock

Zeljka wrote: "Lorena wrote: "Speaking of which, what are your favorite period renditions? Which do you hope for a better remake?..."

I am not sure really, and I am always up for new adaptations! I think my favo..."

Speaking of adaptations of Emma, there is a 1972 BBC version that is really excellent and worth hunting for.
I found the 1999 film of Mansfield Park to be really entertaining, but it sure wasn't Jane Austen's novel. I think it's her most puzzling novel anyway.

I finished rereading my favorite E. M. Forster novels. I also watched the films made from them- A Room With a View, Howard's End, and A Passage to India. I love when beautiful books are made into beautiful movies.

Lorena wrote: "There is this period rendition that I haven't seen yet... It is called Picnic at Hanging Rock. ..."

I saw Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock years ago, and understood nothing, it was too surreal. I bought a book in hope to get better grasp of what the heck I watched, but I didn't find time for it and eventually just shelved it. Now with that new series maybe I'll pick it up again. Or nominate it for our bookshelf :D

Daniel wrote: "Speaking of adaptations of Emma, there is a 1972 BBC version that is really excellent and worth hunting for..

I finished rereading my favorite E. M. Forster novels..."

Oh, I think I missed that Emma totally. The only ones I saw are from 1990s and 2000s.

I absolutely love A Room with the View. A Passage to India was fascinating, and Howard's End I wish to read. Which A Room with the View do you prefer, if you've seen both 1985 and 2007 version?

I have only seen the 1985 version. I read some bad reviews of the 2007 version.

Daniel wrote: "I have only seen the 1985 version. I read some bad reviews of the 2007 version."

I am sorry for seeing this post so late. I don't know what were the complaints about, maybe they are just in their own. I don't think the 2007 version is bad. Lucy and George are very likable, not to mention the Spalls are great to see together, the father and the son both in real life and here in the film. I think the only thing I didn't like was a quite racy ending that was a bit off and unnecessary. On the other hand, I watched it a long time ago, and I didn't read the book beforehand to make just comparison between it and the movie. Maybe you should at least try it. The script was written by Andrew Davies who also did some other recent great British period dramas, like Vanity Fair, Sense and Sensibility, Daniel Deronda, Little Dorrit etc.

To continue our chat about miscast book characters:

BuzzFeed: 20 Book-To-Movie Castings That People Actually Kind Of Hated

I actually agree with some of them. Number 1, 7, 8 and 14. For the others I would have to (re-)read the books and watch the movies again to take notice. Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook was way too young for that character, and I was a bit insulted by her choice, as if filmmakers weren't sure people would watch the movie if any older actress was chosen. She was splendid in the movie, but it wasn't the same character.

I agree with 1 as well. She didn't connect for me.

Number 2 as well, I hated that they were much older than in the book, the fact that wizards seemed to die young in the books was part of the dangers of going against the Dark Lord.

Divergent... well.. let's just say it is totally different from the book and leave it at that. Like they used as a very light guideline lol

John C. Reilly as Larten Crepsley in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant was absolutely ridiculous. I agree that Willem Dafoe or someone with a creepier attitude would have been better.

I didn't read Silver Lining Playbook so I didn't hate Jennifer there, how old was she in the book?

Oh Fifty Shades! How I love/hated Jamie Dornan as Mr. Grey. But he grew on me. I wouldn't have cast Damon, sorry Ian lol Maybe Eric from True Blood? Like he has that edge of charming creepy dangerous like in his part on Big Little Lies.

Don't get me started on Antonio Banderas as a vampire! He was supposed to look cherubic and YOUNG! Ugh, it must be the one I have hated the most.

I loved Gary Oldman as Sirius Black and David Thewlis as Remus Lupin. And Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series.

The Mortal Instruments... it was all bad. The guy that was in the series looked more like what I imagined with the book, but that or had series acting issues in the whole cast xD

Oh well... I think that for filmmakers sometimes it's really hard. They want to make the movie theirs and they picture a character in a way and fans of the novel can rarely be persuaded to change their fandom when they love a character they imagined so and so.

Lorena wrote: "I agree with 1 as well. She didn't connect for me...."

You have very impressive memory :) Yes, it is quite difficult to please the fans, everybody has their own vision of the characters. Sometimes filmmakers opt even not to read the source material (script only), thus infuriating the fans more. Nothing good can come of it if you are not willing to read the book you are trying to adapt. I mean, screenwriters can have their own vision of the story too. If you as a director do not know what they omitted or added to the story, you are not going to make a good movie of it, because you don't know what you are missing out.

Zeljka wrote: "Lorena wrote: "I agree with 1 as well. She didn't connect for me...."

You have very impressive memory :) Yes, it is quite difficult to please the fans, everybody has their own vision of the charac..."

Lol some of those movies I have seen a loot of times :P and yes, that is so true!

That is true for actors as well. Like the best portrayals, for me, are when actors read the source material.

Like how Henry Cavill read the novels and played the books to do the Witcher. He is amazing, just like how we were used to seeing him. I think that is why he was so popular with fans of the franchise!

Lorena wrote: "Like how Henry Cavill read the novels and played the books to do the Witcher. He is amazing, just like how we were used to seeing him..."

Oh I plan to watch The Witcher next. I have just finished The Mandalorian. It was quite fun! Simple space adventures, a dash of humor and cuteness, appropriate for all audiences. The last episode was a bit over the top. Still worth my time :)

Ohh I dropped the Mandalorian because there were lots of non-canon stuff and my husband is a hardcore fan and he went out in a blaze of rage after the pulverize-people gun lol

He is also a huge fan of the Witcher and he checked and double-checked stuff, but even though there were a few liberties, he gave his seal of approval "they managed to keep the spirit of the novels" was his very serious comment, lol