EPBOT Readers discussion

Hi all,

Been another really cold week here, so tired of winter! But luckily, it's starting to warm up this weekend. Next week it's supposed to get into the 40's! Looking forward to getting some snow melted. Maybe even going for a walk outside.

I just checked in on Monday so already covered some stuff, but I did read a couple short ones since then:

The Z Word - this is a queer version of the zombie apocalypse, involving corporate appropriation of pride. It's billed as laugh out loud funny, which I didn't find accurate. I'd say it's a dark comedy at best. There's a lot of queer drama, some darkly funny moments, but overall it's a commentary on some pretty dark themes about capitalism and how queerness is only acceptable when it's useful. Also lots of death and violence. I liked it, but it's not a comedy/light hearted type book that the cover and blurbs imply.

Homicide at the Haunted House - This was cute and fun. Cozy mysteries aren't my usual thing, but i liked the supernatural add ons.

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity - finally finished the audio book. This was really good, and helpful for me. Really made me feel seen, explained a lot of challenges I've had in my life. I've always kind of known/suspected I've had ADHD but guessing about the autism has only been in the last couple years. This pretty much confirmed it for me.

Currently reading:

A Letter to the Luminous Deep - just started this, no real opinions yet.

QOTW:

Are there any movie/tv show adaptions that you enjoyed more than the book?

There's actually a fair number I'd say. A few off the top of my head are:

True Blood. I never really liked the books that much. The show rounded the characters out more, gave them more personality.

Princess Bride - I didn't really "get" the book, I hadn't understood that the whole reference to the giant version was a joke, (I think i was in high school maybe) and i thought it was weird. I think the Grandpa scenes worked way better in film.

Forrest Gump - I kinda hated the book. There were a lot of really gross parts.

Alas Madame Doubtfire - It's the book the movie was nominally based from, very loosely. I read it as a kid because I loved the movie and uh...yeah it was NOT very similar. The father was way less charming than Robin Williams and it made the whole deal seem way creepier.

Sheri, thank you for getting a post out this week!

My husband and I both came down with flu A this week. We cut short our ski trip because we were not capable of skiing and we'd rather be sick at home. Today I feel better than yesterday. If I'm just sitting around, I don't feel sick. But I get tired quickly if I get up and move, so that's progress.

I finished Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books. This one was just okay for me all the way to the end. People were portrayed as one extreme or the other.

I started rereading Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal for neighborhood book club in early March. It was my suggestion and I haven't read it in a few years so time to refresh. At least one person sent me an email saying she loved it so that's good!

I'm still working on Bookshops & Bonedust. I'm listening to the audiobook and enjoying it.

I'm also still reading Some Other Time. It is a time travel/alternate universe novel that is fairly enjoyable so far.

QOTW:
While I can't say I liked it more than the book, I liked The Expanse as much as the books. I saw nearly all of the seasons of the TV show first. Then decided to listen to the audiobooks. I am glad I did it in that order because I think I enjoyed the books more having liked the TV show. They were, um, a commitment, and I don't think I would have embarked on that otherwise. (Nine novels, each about 18 hours and I listened at "normal" audio speed.)

That's the only one that quickly comes to mind where I've actually seen it and read the book. I am definitely looking forward to making this comparison with The Thursday Murder Club soon too!

Happy Friday!

This week at work was much calmer. Next Tuesday is my birthday, so I'm taking off this coming Monday and Tuesday from work and gifting myself a long weekend.

Finished:
Just some comics & manga this week:
Chihayafuru, Vol. 30
Chihayafuru, Vol. 31
Chihayafuru, Vol. 32
Rainbow Days 14

I am currently at 9/50 for Popsugar (7/40 and 2/10).

Currently reading:
This Ends in Embers by Kamilah Cole - for Popsugar's book set in or around a body of water, since it mostly takes place on islands.

Upcoming/Planned:
A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall for Popsugar's book with two or more books on the cover.

The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 12 by Natsu Hyuuga - not for a prompt

QOTW:
A lot of times, I think it depends on which version of the story I experience first. For example, I saw the movie of The Neverending Story before I read the book, and even though the book came first, I didn't like it as much as I did the movie.

Agree on The Princess Bride. Also, Wicked - I haven't seen the movie yet. I have enjoyed the live musical (not my favorite show but still good) but hated the book.

I hope you feel better soon, Susan!

The Chairs Are Where the People Go: How to Live, Work, and Play in the City - I don't remember where I got this recommendation, as it's been on my list for a while, but it finally popped up on Hoopla. So, these are the thoughts of a guy who hosts sort of "noise music" events where he plays various games to try to get people to make interesting sounds. Not all of the chapters are about that, although some of them are, and they're all by that sort of guy, you know? In fairness, he wasn't usually prescriptivist about it, just "this is what interests me". Also it's from 2011, and I wonder whether he has changed his mind about some things since then.

Delta County - This author was recommended to me by an effusively drunk young woman at a neighborhood event who had attended the same university (Central Michigan, apparently) and thought Michigan's Upper Peninsula deserved more literary recognition. I'm glad I went in with low expectations. I actually enjoyed some of the characters, their interactions, and scenes of the town, but it was badly in need of copy editing and would have been better if the author hadn't tried to make it a thriller with the most twists. So many weird commas and grammatical errors ("my parent's car" referring to a vehicle seemingly owned by both mother and father), and at least two "final" twists too many.

QOTW: It's hard to think of things, because I don't watch that many movies (although somehow I have seen but not read the last three of Sheri's list). My sister agrees with Jen about Wicked, so I will pass on reading that one. Moonflower Murders is a possibility; the book was great, but the miniseries really worked (adapted by the author, although so was the previous book/series, and I definitely preferred the book for that one). Also, not movie/TV, but I really love the musical version of Fun Home. Again, the book is great, but it's so detailed that it's specifically Alison's story, whereas with the sparer set and pared-down story of the show, I think some more universal themes come through.

I never updated last week because I had a really hard time getting into Mr. Timothy so I wasn't really reading much.

Eventually I gave up and returned it to the library and instead went back to Maud with An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed. Just as fun as the first set.

One of Us Is Lying: YA mystery that I've seen my students carrying around. I always like to read what they're reading so I grabbed this one when I saw it available. A solid 3 star read, which for me means I liked the book, I'm glad I read it, but I'm also glad I didn't spend any money on it.

A Whale of the Wild: my fourth grader read this and loved it, and she wanted me to read it too so we could talk about it. I never say no to that request! It was a beautifully written little middle grade book about an orca who gets separated from her family and has to find her way back, informed by solid science from orca researchers (detailed in an appendix).

My other GR book is reading The Other Valley in March. My loan came in earlier than I anticipated, so I just went ahead and read it. I stayed up way too late finishing it last night. Absolutely loved it. Such an interesting take on a time travel book. I found the ending a bit predictable but it was so well done that I didn't mind. 5 stars!

QOTW:
I can think of a few. Possible unpopular opinion, but I loved the Lord of the Rings films by Peter Jackson, and found them more engaging than the books (which are also favorites, but the writing is a bit dry).

Princess Bride, I'm torn on. I agree that the interludes with the Grandfather are better in the movie, but I loved the additional backstories for Fezzik and Inigo that are only hinted at in the film, and the whole segment in the Zoo of Death that is completely skipped in the movie.

Sheri, I agree about Forrest Gump. The character was a LOT less likeable in the book.

It's been many years since I read the book OR saw the film, but I remember thinking that Stephen King's Misery was much better as a movie.

addendum: I have not seen (and don't plan on watching) the Hobbit films, because I think it's ridiculous to turn a sweet little kid's story into a trilogy of long movies.

I would also have to say The Martian was an as-good-as-the-book movie.

From long ago I also enjoyed the North and South mini series (with Patrick Swayze) as much as the books. I used to be a big John Jakes fan back in the 1970s and 1980s.

Oh yes, I was pleasantly surprised at how well The Martian translated into film! I still like the book better but the movie was very well done.