Book-a-Day 12: I pretend to have read it

I try not to do this, though I have to confess I started Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden in 2007 and still have about 30 pages to go.  I should finish it, it’s a great book, but there it sits on the shelf.  Not quite finished, even though it’s on my ‘read’ list on Goodreads.  

Shame on me.

Book-a-Day 11: Secondhand bookshop gem

I don’t know of any secondhand bookshops local to my old home, and shame on me I haven’t checked out any here in Cambridge, but I did manage to get second hand copies of the first three books in the Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman for 50p each at a car boot sale.  I have decided that that counts.

Number 4 will have to wait until either another car boot contains a copy, or I've finished reading 1-3 and am compelled to buy number 4.

Book-a-Day 10: Reminds me of someone I love

Not much to say with this one, it pretty much speaks for itself.  My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult.  Love my sister and would willingly donate an organ for her.

Book-a-Day 9: Film or TV tie-in

What a choice!  There are some atrocious adaptations out there, but keeping the mood positive there are many really good adaptations too.  

Recently on holiday we had a Superman marathon, watching all the movies (except the terrible Superman 4), and at home I'm re-watching Smallville, and may then move onto Lois & Clark.  But in case we're not counting graphic novels, which I haven't read by the way, my choice would have to be The Green Mile by Stephen King.

Originally published as a series of 6 in 1996, it has since been published in a single volume.  Not only is it a fabulous book to read, it was turned into a fantastic movie in 1999, directed by Frank Darabont, starring several notables including Tom Hanks and the late Michael Clarke Duncan.

Darabont also directed another King adaptation, The Shawshank Redemption.  I love both of these films, but have not read Shawshank.  I couldn't pick between the two in terms of the film.  Both have wonderful mixes of sadness, glimpses of evil, humour, and also great hope.

I can't read a Stephen King horror without being genuinely frightened (fully fledged, paid up member of the scaredy cat club), but I do really enjoy his general fiction stories.  This will sound strange, but he has a wonderful way of showing that the worst kinds of monsters are the human kind, while at the same time showing you the beauty of humanity right along side it.

If you haven't read or watched The Green Mile, go do both now.  I watched the film before realising that it was a book, and I don't think that it detracted from the book at all. A rare thing indeed.

Book-a-Day 8: Have more than one copy

It has to be The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein.  If I truly love a book I may find that I end up with multiple copies.  I have a few books I 'discovered' as Kindle favourites, but loved so much I wanted that sensory experience of holding and smelling a copy of my very own.  I haven't got to the point where I will seek out a first edition, because unless it's a recent book I just can't afford them.

However, I do have several copies of The Hobbit.  Somewhere in my parents' loft in a dusty box of books yet to be rediscovered I have the first ever paperback copy I read, and another copy in hardback. In addition to those I have a copy on the kindle that I bought to read on holiday while in New Zealand, and I have a beautiful Folio copy which I treasure.