Seeing as one of my new year's resolutions was to read a book every two weeks, I thought it appropriate to share my feelings on all of the books I've read so far. However, I decided against that when I thought about how little I wanted to talk about books I did not enjoy. So, just the good ones, then. I thought about that a little more and figured out I'd probably sound all preachy if I posted one of those "Oh, you haven't read that?" posts. That's not to say I'm not pretentious and judgmental; just that I feel slightly guilty about it.
In any case, I settled on books I thoroughly enjoyed that were adapted for the screen. If interested, go read the book! If lazy, see the movie and tell people you read the book.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
While the movie differs significantly from the book, both are wonderfully entertaining. The film's casting was terrific with Martin Freeman (of BBC's The Office) as Arthur Dent, Mos Def brilliant as Ford Prefect, and Sam Rockwell as the incredibly hip Zaphod Beeblebrox.
Catch-22
I first read it during my junior year of high school and it's still my favorite book to read and re-read. To my discredit, I've never seen the film, but it features an all-star cast including Alan Arkin, Art Garfunkel, Bob Newhart, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, and Orson Welles.
Breakfast of Champions
If you claim you've "read Vonnegut" because you read Slaughterhouse-Five in your freshman lit class at (insert large, impersonal state university), you're deluded. Breakfast of Champions is fantastic. And though the film leaves much to be desired, it's definitely still worth seeing (if you can't be bothered to read for a few hours).
Into the Wild
I owe much to my high school English teacher Mr. Horan for introducing me to Krakauer's writing during my freshman year. While it is a non-fiction work, Into the Wild grips like a novel telling a story of tragedy, ambition, and spirit (I just slapped myself for typing that). I've heard the movie is terrific, but I haven't watched it yet... despite it sitting next to my DVD player for 2 weeks. Sorry, Netflix. I'll send it back soon.
Note: Read Under the Banner of Heaven if you enjoyed Into the Wild.
That's all I've got for now. Go read. Go watch. I'll do the same.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
dude, i know we spent a good hour on the fine talking points of the hitchhiker's series, but truly...it could be said again: best series ever. as for the movie, i really enjoyed it. it felt like a brand-new episode or a novella, if you will. not exactly ever penned anywhere in the books, but an enjoyable slice of life with the characters. someone asked me where the crazy action sequences were in the books. oh, they weren't there, i replied. no matter.
Oh gosh. Remember when you told me to read the Hitchhiker's guide and I did but it took me so long. I am still proud of myself.
Post a Comment