Giveaway | Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen Book and DVD Bundle

LIFE IS THE MOST SPECTACULAR SHOW ON EARTH

Win a book/DVD bundle of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, out on Blu-ray and DVD November 1! Based on Sara Gruen’s epic novel about forbidden love, and directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Francis Lawrence (Constantine), WATER FOR ELEPHANTS stars Robert Pattinson as Jacob, a man devastated by the sudden death of his parents at the height of The Depression. When Jacob abandons his veterinary studies and stows away on a train carrying circus performers, his life is changed forever. Hired as a veterinarian to care for the circus’ animals, Jacob is temporarily filled with the promise of an exciting life that comes with a traveling circus troupe. However, as he falls in love with the star of the show, Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), they become prey to the circus’s owner, Marlena’s abusive husband August (Christoph Waltz). With their love on the line, the circus begins to crumble from within, and Jacob and Marlena come to a crossroads that will forever change their destiny.

Giveaway

For your chance to win a prize bundle including Sara Gruen’s novel and a copy of the WATER FOR ELEPHANTS DVD, simply fill out the below Rafflecopter form. Please read the Terms & Conditions at the bottom of the entry form before completing any entries! NOTE: Since this widget relies on Cookies, you may have issues doing the daily Tweet. If so please just put TWEET in the mandatory entry field. Questions? Email me!

Book to Movie | Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

On behalf of 20th Century Fox via Think Jam publicity, I have read Water for Elephants and watched a screener DVD of the movie adaptation for the purpose of discussing "book to movie". Here are the discussion questions I'll be addressing.

   The elements of the 1930's that I enjoyed the most were the references to the depression and prohibition. Knowing that our current economy is suffering much the same as it did during the depression; it was enlightening to see how Americans worked through the issue of not having money. Bartering for services or goods wasn't uncommon in the 30's. The fact that Jacob's entire situation is the result of the depression is quite sad. His parents decided that his education was worth the bank owning their home. It didn't help any that his father provided veterinary services in exchange for eggs or chickens. Jacob is very much like his father. He quickly puts the safety and wellbeing of himself behind the needs of the animals he loves to take care of. Prohibition is one thing that baffles me. I don't understand why it happened really. I guess I fell asleep during that history lesson. It seems a lot of no good resulted from prohibiting the making, selling and consuming of alcohol. Seeing that first hand in Camel's character was quite sad. The book does a finer job at depicting the close relationship that Jacob has with both Camel and Walter than the movie did. Having written the novel from Jacob's point of view was a great idea. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his thoughts and emotions. I don't think I would have enjoyed it from Marlena's point of view. Maybe switching between the two would have been nice. Jacob had never seen a naked woman and was a virgin in the book. This wasn't portrayed in the movie at all. I was disappointed in that small detail being taken away from Jacob's character. Robert Pattinson added quite a lot of "boyishness" to Jacob. His smile was so genuinely bright, like a kid in a toy store most of the time, you could tell he was a softy, wet behind the ears. Robert did such a great job showing how Jacob matured throughout the movie. Reese Witherspoon did a great job portraying Marlena. I liked what the director, or whomever it was, said in the "extras" of the DVD: Reese spills American from her pores (not verbatim but that's the gist of what he meant). She just looks like the perfect, average American woman. Her style of clothing in the movie was exactly as I'd envisioned while reading. The romance between Jacob and Marlena is a touchy subject for me. First, I am not a fan of any form of adultery. Why Marlena was still married to August if she didn't love him enrages me. I know it has everything to do with the fact that it was the 1930's and again, that enrages me. The fact that woman were stuck in relationships with men that abused them in one way or another is mindboggling. Parents, friends and society should not disown you because you want to divorce an abusive man. The romance between Jacob and Marlena was handled okay in the movie. I do think it was steamier in the book because we know exactly how Jacob thinks and feels for her. There was also a bit more steamy situations in the book than the movie. I had no idea how a circus did it's thing at all before reading Water for Elephants. I didn't even know they traveled by train! I learned so much from reading this book. I haven't ever been to a circus before either, which I now am adding to the list of things I want to do before I die. My daughter went to one this past summer with her grandparents. I really wish we would have been invited to go along. I have much respect for the performers and the working men and women of the circus. There were only a few scenes in the movie where music was played and I honestly didn't pay much attention to it. In the book it's mentioned a couple of times too but music in books doesn't really register to me too much. The glitz and glamour were treated just fine in both the book and the movie. The movie did a great job with the train cars, especially August's and Marlena's, as well as with the overall scenery. This was my first time seeing Christoph Waltz in a movie. I know he was in Inglourious Basterds but I didn't watch that one. I think he did a great job of portraying August's paranoid schizophrenia, which was named in the book but not the movie. He had the look of the charmer and the look of the crazy, angry nut head. I want to know why Big Al wasn't a character in the movie? Why merge his character with August? Those quotes are great quotes. I remember hearing them in the movie. I also remember the movie taking quite a different look and speed at the events in the book. I know quite few scenes didn't happen the way they were shown in the movie as they were in the book. So, to me, these quotes had no impact on me what so ever. I do remember not liking that Marlena said I Love You first to Jacob. I loved that he poured his heart out to her in the book. I wish that would have stayed the same in the movie. The best scene that was done perfectly in the movie as it was done in the book was when Jacob feds Rex with August. It was nearly flawless, minus August telling Jacob which bucket of meat Rex should get, and all sorts of funny and shocking. I watched the movie with my husband. He didn't know what was going on. He was laughing because Rex was roaring and growling at Jacob. He was shocked when Rex latched onto Jacob's arm and he was baffled as to why August thought it was the funniest thing in the world. I sat and watched both the movie and my husband's reaction. It was identical to my reaction while reading the same scene. Very well done. The special features or "extras" as they're titled on the DVD I watched added that extra information you're wondering about while reading and watching the movie. How did Reese learn how to be a performer? Why'd they pick Robert Pattinson to play Jacob? Why switch up the ending of the book and make it the beginning of the movie? Which I HATED! Reading about Jacob's days in the nursing home were some of my favorite scenes. It showed his personality, even in his old age. I really enjoyed hearing the author talk about the research that she did to write the book too. Thanks to 20th Century Fox I will be posting a bundle giveaway of the book and DVD of Water for Elephants! Please stay tuned for that post.

General thoughts on the book

The book was great. I highly recommend it to any one. There were a few adult, R-rated, scenes that I’d be leery of letting a young teen reading but nothing too explicit. I learned a ton about the circus and the 1930's.

Water for Elephantsby Sara Gruen368 pages, Algonquin Books, (2011-03-01) $8.31 (Amazon.com)

Giveaway | ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART 1 DVD

WHO IS JOHN GALT?

Win a DVD copy of ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART I, out on November 8th

Powerful forces trigger a global revolution when the highly anticipated film adaptation of Ayn Rand’s bestselling novel, ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART I, emerges on Blu-ray and DVD November 8. The first installment in a planned trilogy, ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART I uses a talented cast to explore themes of individualism, socialism, and anarchy.

In 2016, the country is on the verge of economic collapse. Dagny Taggart (Taylor Schilling, “Mercy”) runs one of the largest remaining railroads despite her inept CEO brother, James (Matthew Marsden, Resident Evil: Extinction). To save the railroad from financial ruin, Dagny seeks out entrepreneurial industrialist, Henry Rearden (Grant Bowler, “True Blood”), whose super-strength metal alloy holds the promise of the future.

As government interference continues and the country’s most competent and productive workers systematically disappear, Dagny refuses to give up. As she bears witness to seeing the motor of the world stopped, Dagny increasingly hears people reciting: Who is John Galt?

Giveaway

For your chance to win one of three available copies of ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART I on DVD, simply fill out the below Rafflecopter form.

Please read the Terms & Conditions at the bottom of the entry form before completing any entries!

NOTE: Since this widget relies on Cookies, you may have issues doing the daily Tweet. If so please just put TWEET in the mandatory entry field. Questions? Email me!

Movie Trailer: Prom

I’m not usually a fan of dramatic high school movies but there’s something about this one that has me hooked!

Prom

Thomas McDonell may have something to do with it.

I think he’d make a pretty good Prince Ash from The Iron Fey series, what do you think?

Movie Trailer: I Am Number Four

Man. I haven’t wanted to read a book because of a movie trailer before but to do now!

I’m not sure if I’ve paid this book any attention but it is now one that I’m putting at the top of my list.

Apparently there’s some controversy about the publishing of this title involving James Frey and some ridiculous contract made with the writer of the story.

While I may not agree to the contract, meaning I personally wouldn’t sign it, someone else did. It was their decision and they will need to live with the outcome, which looks pretty good considering the book hasn’t been out that long and a movie is already being made. I hope whoever did write this book has learned from their mistake: they can write and will make it just fine in the publishing business if they want to make an effort to join in.

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies) by Pittacus Lore 448 pages, Harper, (2010-08-01) $17.99 (Amazon.com) The narrator of this action adventure novel calls himself Number Four, but the three previous numbers have all been caught and killed. Each of these superhuman entities resembles we mere earthlings, but that resemblance conceals powers new to our weakling planet. Pittacus Lore's unconventional fantasy will cause you to look closely at suspicious strangers. Editor's recommendation.

What You’ve Missed!

Still subscribed here? You’ve been missing out!

Please update your feeds and follows to the new blog address over at The Cozy Reader!

But here’s a list of the posts you’ve missed! Check them out!

Giveaways Around the Web

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox: Week 16 & 17

In My Mailbox: Week 18

In My Mailbox: Week 19

In My Mailbox: Week 20

In My Mailbox: Week 22

In My Mailbox: Week 23

Author Guest Post

Author Guest Post: Kelly Link

Kelly Link Blog Tour

Cover Art

Cover Art: Unraveled (Intertwined, Book 2) by Gena Showalter

Cover Art: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Trailers

Trailer: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Trailer: Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, # 2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Movie Trailer: Easy A

Book Trailer: Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Trailer: My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, Book 3) by Rachel Vincent

Reviews

Review: Gone (Wake Series, Book 3) by Lisa McMann

Review: Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson

Review: Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Review: My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, Book 3) by Rachel Vincent

First Line Friday

First Line Friday: Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

First Line Friday: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

First Line Friday: Spirit Bound (VA, Book 5) by Richelle Mead

First Line Friday: Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

First Line Friday: Promise by Kristie Cook

Tuesday Teaser

Teaser: Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

Teaser Tuesday: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Miscellaneous

Waiting on Wednesday: Manifest by Artist Arthur

Fun Facts: Reading Habits

BEA 2010! Here I Come!

Sneak Peek! Torment (Fallen, #2) by Lauren Kate

Free Reads!

Post BEA 2010!

Happy Reading!

Movie Trailer: Eclipse | June 30

Just incase you haven’t seen it yet! Here’s the trailer for Eclipse which will be in theatres on June 30, which isn’t that far away! Woohoo!

What do you think? Pretty cool huh? Looking forward to it.

New Moon November!

Yes, I’m a Twilight Saga fan. I’m loving the movies more than the books though. Some how I finished the series with a hatred of the books and the movies are repairing that bond. :) Why? I blame Breaking Dawn. Of all the books I hated that one the most. It ended in a way I would never have thought. I’m a huge Twilight (book 1) fan though.

I will be updating this post with all things New Moon for the month of November. Please check back often! :)

 (Twilight month image was borrowed from Pure Imagination’s blog)

New Moon November Desktop Calendar Wallpaper (scroll down for it)

New Moon – The Condescend Version (Hilarious!) from Pure Imagination

Pure Imagination is also hosting a contest! Enter by 11/16!

Straight from the Twilight Lexicon:

Borders will host and present a live video Webcast featuring the Web’s top Twilight and New Moon fansites from the Borders Westwood store in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. PST, 5 p.m. EST.

The event will be streamed live at www.BordersMedia.com/NewMoonLive.

Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is giving away a Twilight charm bracelet. Enter by 11/06!

Pure Imagination also posted an awesome link to some fan made Midnight Sun videos. I’ve watch 1 – 3 and they are pretty good! Here’s video #1:

 

I saw this video on SciFiGuy. It's way too funny not to share!

 

Thanks to TwilightGuy I'm adding this very interesting spoof of Twilight SNL style to the New Moon November post.

They call it Firelight and it stars Taylor Swift. She does an excellent job as Bella. :)

Enjoy!

 

Taylor Lautner Interview

I saw this posted on Twilight Lexicon and just had to share.

How great is that picture?! I did not think the Jacob in Twilight would be the same Jacob in New Moon. I have been pleasantly surprised by Taylor's transformation. I think he is going to do a great job at portraying Jacob Black. And he's some yummy eye candy! Even if he is only 17.

There's a great interview on Metro News. Check it out!

Official New Moon Trailer!

The "Official" New Moon Teaser Trailer.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer in HD

Source: Twilight Guy.com

All I have to say is yum. I wasn't expecting Jacob to be so yum. I should have expected it though. I <3 shape shifters but I didn't not <3 them in this book. I was never a Team Jacob fan. This movie might change my mind though. And Edward! ARGH! I do not love Robert Pattinson as Edward! I just cringe when he talks. Sad, I know.

I'm not sure if I love the wolf though. Hubby and I were hoping they'd be true to the book. Very large wolves, bigger then bears. It's not terrible though. :)

Enjoy!

New Moon Scene Photo Montage

Wow. I saw the pictures floating around yesterday from the Italy filming of the Edward and Bella reunion scene.

Don't watch if you don't want it spoiled. It's done fairly well and is quite amazing. :)

The hype surrounding this movie is tangible! I can't wait for it. Even though it's my least favorite book of the series.

Source: Twilight Lexicon

New Moon Trailer & Poster

The "official" teaser poster is out:



Source: Shock TIll You Drop.com


Wow. And an amazing trailer by a very talented person.

ETA: This is NOT an official trailer, if anyone is confused after watching it. :)

Source: Saw this on Bridget's blog over at Readaholic. Thanks Bridget!

Enjoy:

Oh, and thanks to Cinnamon over at A Journey of Books there's news, rather dated, but news the same, on the third movie, Eclipse!
From Summit Entertainment's website:

Los Angeles, CA April 22, 2009 — Summit Entertainment announced today that David Slade has been hired to direct THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE from a screenplay written by Melissa Rosenberg. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, the third film in the studio's TWILIGHT film franchise based on the Stephenie Meyer's blockbuster book series, will be released theatrically in North America on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. The announcement was made by Erik Feig, Summit's President of Production.

Meyer stated, "I am thrilled that David Slade will be directing ECLIPSE. He's a visionary filmmaker who has so much to offer this franchise. From the beginning, we've been blessed with wonderful directorial talent for the Twilight Saga, and I'm so happy that ECLIPSE will be carrying on with that tradition."

Hunger Games Movie Rights Acquired

Lionsgate has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to produce the movie of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Source: Shocktilyoudrop.com

This book is on my list of TBR. I haven't purchased it yet but I've heard good things.

Good idea for a movie?

My Immortal Protector by Jen Holling

This was a very cool book to read! It's set in Scotland, in primative times ie horses, carriages, castles.
The book follows the story of Deidra MacKay, the daughter of healing witches, who's power is to communicate with the animals. She doesn't use her power to talk to the animals because when she was about 8 years old she watched a "pastor" torture her father, got upset, and told the animals to attack the man. The paster has since put Deidra at the top of his list to burn her at the stake for being a devil possessed witch.

Well, that pastor is back in town and looking for her. She decides it's the best time to leave now and pursue the legend of a "vampire", they use a nifty word I can't remember, that's living a few days walk away that can take her witch powers away. On her way she stops at Stephen Ross's castle. He's a crippled man from a bullet to the spine. He lives in perpetual pain and is lucky to be able to walk around. He welcomes her company and is intregued by her mission to find this person who can heal others. He decides that he wants to go so he can be healed himself. Stephen may be crippled but he's still a very handsome man. Deidra is attracted to him and he's attracted to her as well.

They embarq on their mission and it's full of all kinds of obstacles. Stephen does his best to be as much of a man as possible but it never fails that Deidra ends up saving him in some way. I guess they both went back and forth with the savings though. They make a very good couple.

Do they make it to the vampire and get cured? You'll have to read to find out!

9/10!

The Tale of Despereaux - Trailer

Another great upcoming movie!
The Tale of Despereaux

I read the book by Kate DiCamillo last year sometime and it was great.



I'm really looking forward to taking my daughter to see this one!
It's release date is set for December 19, 2008.

The trailer is available from FirstShowing.net.

Yes Man featuring Jim Carrey

I am a BIG fan of Jim Carrey. I love his Ace Ventura movies and basically anything with him in it, well, except for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which was just freaky really.

His newest release Yes Man is due in theatres December 19, 2008. I just watched the best trailer for it tonight!

Available from FirstShowing.net is the current trailer for Yes Man. The first trailer is still available too!

Will you go see it in theatres or wait for the DVD release?

TrueBlood - Charlaine Harris Series turned HBO

So I just found out that there is going to be a HBO series centering around Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels! It will debut on HBO on September 7th at 9:00 pm.

It's to be a direct adaption of her novels with a little bit of a change for the secondary characters in the novels. The best part, I think, is that Anna Paquin is playing Sookie. She played Marie/Rogue in X-Men.

I'm not crazy about this image though. Sookie is not a vampire and this is definitely a woman. I was trying to see if I could remember a woman vampire from the story but I can't. I remember the one fairy (or something) that guards Sookie, but I don't thin she had fangs either. Oh well. It's definitely intreguing. Also the name of the series "True Blood" is kinda cool.

I don't subsribe to HBO but I think I might for this show. Otherwise, I'll have to figure out another way to watch it before it comes out on DVD.

Official Twilight Cast Pictures

I don't like these pictures of the "Edward". He doesn't look like "my" Edward. I also don't like the Carlisle. He looks too old and not sexy enough. Alice's hair needs to be shorter. I like the Jasper. LOVE the Esme. She was in Grey's Antomy and she will be awesome as Esme. The choice for Emmett is good but the Rosalie isn't pretty enough, maybe if she were skinner?

All-in-all I think they did the best with Jasper and second would be Esme. The others could be better. Just my 2 cents.

clipped from www.stepheniemeyer.com Summit Entertainment Welcomes the Cullen Family to Twilight

Jackson Rathbone cast as Jasper

There aren't very many pictures of see of this guy.
Not a bad choice.

clipped from www.twilightlexiconblog.com Jackson Rathbone Cast as Jasper clipped from www.twilightlexiconblog.com We have from a reliable source that Jackson Rathbone has been cast as Jasper.  If you all remember Stephenie had originally had him as one of her Edward picks.  Jackson’s IMDb can be found here.  There is also a Jackson Rathbone fansite. On another note MTV has posted an article about new cast members Nikki Reed, Cam Gigandet, Michael Welch, and Rachelle Leferve.  There is also this article on MTV.

Current Cast of Twilight

Here's a cool collage of pictures of the actors confirmed and unconfirmed casted to play in the movie version of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight.

It's looking good to me.

clipped from www.twilightlexiconblog.com