Never thought we'd say this but.....

...but A Reader's Respite really needs to watch a story on a screen every once in a while.  We haven't watched television since the first season of Downton Abby ended.  We've seen one movie in the past year (J. Edgar....meh....and really, who didn't know that J. Edgar liked girl clothes?).  One would think that there was nothing worth while to be seen on a screen...and we know that's just not true.





In our quest to read the existing books on our shelves in 2012, we're also determined to actually watch some of the screen adaptations of the books we'll be reading.  First, we'll have to play a little catch-up, though.  Last year, we started re-reading the entire Harry Potter series with the intent of watching the movie following each book.  You wouldn't think that would prove a difficult task, given that we own each of the Harry Potter movies in DVD.  Yet there they all sit...still in their shrink-wrap on their pathetic, little DVD shelf.  A Reader's Respite really needs to get on the ball with this if we ever want to see the two finale movies.  At the rate we're going, we'll be so old we'll have to use the handy close-captioning features of the DVDs.





Another movie/book combo?  Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.  We have the book on our shelf and the movie on our DVR.  The movie didn't get the best reviews, but it's a fun incentive to read the book, something we've been meaning to do for years.




Since we bravely signed up for the Game of Thrones reading challenge, we want to follow it up and watch the HBO Series.  After all, we should do something to justify the HBO subscription that we've had for two years and never once watched.  Never. Once.





War Horse is an obvious choice.  We just really, really want to see this movie.  A Reader's Respite just finished reading the book and, believe it or not, it wasn't all that great.  But this is one of those books that is going to make a fabulous movie. 





Another World War I book and movie combo we're going to tackle is Sebastian Japrisot's A Very Long Engagement.  We bought this book a few years ago and....wait for it....here it comes....never got around to reading it (surprise!).  The story of a wheelchair-bound young woman searching for her fiance who was left to die on the battlefield, the movie almost looks more compelling than the book.






And we'd be remiss if we left out the upcoming (May 2012) airing of the BBC's production of Great Expectations.  Before you even ask, NO, A Reader's Respite has not ever read this classic by Charles Dickens (*hanging head in shame*).  May is really right around the corner, though, so we're thinking about watching the movie first, then tackling the book.  Is that breaking a cardinal rule of the Bibliophile's Honor Handbook?

Any other book/movie combos that we really shouldn't miss?  Let us know!

13 comments:

  1. I started listening to the first Game of Thrones book in the spring. I have 4 hours left on the fifth one. Totally addicting.

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  2. My son loves the Game of Thrones books and series.

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  3. I think when it comes to Dickens, book before movie! Much more enjoyable that way! Have fun. Great Expectations is my favorite of his.

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  4. I love Dickens! Great Expectations is a great book; I can't imagine watching the movie first.

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  5. I didn't know there was a movie for Cold Comfort Farm. I have the book out from the library at the moment.

    I really want to see War Horse, but I know that I am going to cry...a lot!

    I have read Great Expectations, so will definitely be looking forward to watching the adaptation.

    And finally I have wanted to read A Very Long Engagement for the longest time, but my library doesn't have the book. Time to look for an ILL I think!

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  6. What a fun project! I really need to get back to both watching and reading Game of Thrones... I really enjoyed the book A Very Long Engagement, but I have never seen the movie.. For shame! Good luck!

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  7. Ok, so I'm guessing from what you all are telling me that I really need to read Dickens first. Alright, but it's gonna take me a while so thank goodness for DVRs. Ha!

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  8. I'm with you....I know how daunting it can be not only to read a series but then to also watch the movies!! I could probably do Harry Potter and watch the movies pretty quickly but I am not 100% sure on that though :). I am also going to read Game of Thrones and then watch the HBO series, season 1...but I'm not sure that I will be able to read the second book before Season 2 starts but we shall see :)

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  9. That's a fun list. I recently added Cold Comfort Farm to my list of "Classics to Read." Didn't even know there was a movie version.
    Beth :-)

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