1. The Joy Luck Club. I think this will always be my favorite adaptation even though it's been years since I've seen the movie or read the book it was definitely the first movie I enjoyed more than the book.
2. The Color Purple. I love this book and I love this movie. They are both so rich, I remember my best friend's father asking me in 8th grade what my favorite movie was and my answer was The Color Purple. It made me weird then and I'm sure it makes me weird now.
3. Gone With the Wind. An oldie and a goodie. It's just exciting to watch Scarlett and Rhett and their convoluted romance come alive in this film.
4. Pride and Prejudice. I love the BBC adaptation with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy as well as the most recent movie version with Keira Knightly as Elizabeth. They really make Jane Austen sexy. I also enjoy that the premise of Pride and Prejudice has been woven into other popular films.
5. Like Water for Chocolate. Didn't see this film until last summer and I loved it so much I probably watched it over three times in one week. One of my favorite parts was after the quail dinner when Gertrudis lights the shower on fire and is stolen riding off completely naked On horseback.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird. Another oldie. Love Gregory Peck and all the courtroom scenes.
7. The Secret Life of Bees. I liked what they did with this adaptation even with the changes.
8. Precious. The movie adaptation of Sapphire's book Push. A difficult book to read and a difficult movie to watch but I feel it deserves a spot on my list even though it dug up a lot of PTSD nightmares for me.
9. The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Now I've not actually read the book or books of the same title but I loved what Wes Anderson did with this story.
10. Matilda. One of my favorites from childhood, I often felt like Matilda growing up.
And these are just adaptations of books I've been wanting to see: Brideshead Revisited (the eleven hour miniseries not the recent film), Persepolis, The Road, The House of Mirth, and Where the Wild Things Are.
2.15.2011
it's still Tuesday in Texas: my top ten love stories
Now that I've finally got some time to think here's my list for today.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. This was a favorite summer read of mine and I consider this book to be a magical literary drug/candy. It's not a traditional choice but it gets a spot on my list as the protagonist spends the entire novel falling in and out of love and ultimately meets his end because of his risky affair with some thug's girlfriend. Besides that it's a great display of the intricate love within families.
The Color Purple. Again not a traditional choice I guess but the love and relationships that blossom between the characters throughout the narrative earn it a place on the list. Celie and Shug, Harpo and Sofia (once they work past the domestic abuse) and even Nettie and Samuel.
Le Petit Prince. A dear prince and his dear rose. I love the part where the prince is talking to all the roses he meets on earth after he has tamed the fox and realizes that his rose is distinct from all of their simply because she is his rose.
Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Of course! I'd have to be ill not to include these they're just too essential. I loved reading these books in high school and rooted for both heroines to get their guy in the end.
Like Water for Chocolate. I really enjoyed this book and I'm a sucker for dramatic love triangles.
The End of the Affair and Brideshead Revisted. A coincidence that both Maurice and Charles lose out to God in their romances? I think not.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The House of Mirth. Because romance is tragic.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. This was a favorite summer read of mine and I consider this book to be a magical literary drug/candy. It's not a traditional choice but it gets a spot on my list as the protagonist spends the entire novel falling in and out of love and ultimately meets his end because of his risky affair with some thug's girlfriend. Besides that it's a great display of the intricate love within families.
The Color Purple. Again not a traditional choice I guess but the love and relationships that blossom between the characters throughout the narrative earn it a place on the list. Celie and Shug, Harpo and Sofia (once they work past the domestic abuse) and even Nettie and Samuel.
Le Petit Prince. A dear prince and his dear rose. I love the part where the prince is talking to all the roses he meets on earth after he has tamed the fox and realizes that his rose is distinct from all of their simply because she is his rose.
Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Of course! I'd have to be ill not to include these they're just too essential. I loved reading these books in high school and rooted for both heroines to get their guy in the end.
Like Water for Chocolate. I really enjoyed this book and I'm a sucker for dramatic love triangles.
The End of the Affair and Brideshead Revisted. A coincidence that both Maurice and Charles lose out to God in their romances? I think not.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The House of Mirth. Because romance is tragic.
2.08.2011
top ten names of literary characters/figures I would bestow upon my children (if I didn't already have the names picked out)
Elizabeth. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite romances and I have always loved the sassy Elizabeth Bennett. My grandmother's name was Elizabeth which is another appeal.
Lucille. For the poet Lucille Clifton and the fact that I'm a sucker for names with "light" in the etymology.
June. For the poet June Jordan and June Boatright of The Secret Life of Bees (even though Miss Boatright can be stubborn and guarded, she is also incredibly talented and fiercely protective of those she loves).
Lily. Lily Bart, a tragic and unfortunate character but there's warm well lit corner in my heart for the poor girl.
Sophia. Of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. A strong woman.
Bastian. The Never-ending Story. Enough said.
Nick. Of the Nick Adams Stories written by Ernest Hemingway, some of my favorite prose.
Alyosha. In honor of the Russians. Alexsi Karamazov of Dostoyevsky and Alyosha the Pot by Tolstoy.
Dante. Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise.
Phineas. From A Separate Peace and only because it's a better name than Gene.
Lucille. For the poet Lucille Clifton and the fact that I'm a sucker for names with "light" in the etymology.
June. For the poet June Jordan and June Boatright of The Secret Life of Bees (even though Miss Boatright can be stubborn and guarded, she is also incredibly talented and fiercely protective of those she loves).
Lily. Lily Bart, a tragic and unfortunate character but there's warm well lit corner in my heart for the poor girl.
Sophia. Of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. A strong woman.
Bastian. The Never-ending Story. Enough said.
Nick. Of the Nick Adams Stories written by Ernest Hemingway, some of my favorite prose.
Alyosha. In honor of the Russians. Alexsi Karamazov of Dostoyevsky and Alyosha the Pot by Tolstoy.
Dante. Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise.
Phineas. From A Separate Peace and only because it's a better name than Gene.
making new
in an attempt to make writing part of my daily life I've decided to start blogging again. probably just weekly at first then hopefully more frequently. I'll definitely be participating in top ten tuesdays. and since it's Tuesday I had better get started.
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