TGIF (3): Book Disappointments

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads.  Each Friday Ginger poses a question for us to share our thoughts on.  If you'd like to participate, head on over to her awesome blog and link up!

This week's topic:

 Have you ever come across a book you were so stoked to read, but it failed miserably in your eyes?

This is a tough question.  Who likes to say, "Oh yeah that book I thought was going to rock? Yeah, well, it kinda...didn't."  To be fair, I wouldn't say the books I didn't enjoy or couldn't finish failed miserably.  Really, it just meant that it wasn't my cup of tea or maybe they just didn't suit my need for a particular story at that time.  Sometimes I need to be in the mood for a particular genre.  When I have to put aside a book, I'm always disappointed because I wouldn't have purchased it if I didn't think I would enjoy it.

There are a few books off the top of my head that I either a.) finished and did not get the hype or b.) didn't finish because I lost interest.

-  Fallen by Lauren Kate

-  The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn

-  A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

-  The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

-  The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks

Now do not take me wrong, I have tremendous respect for these authors.  It really isn't their fault that these particular titles did not quench my reading thirst.  I could very well try these books again and my opinion might change.  At least that is what I'm hoping will happen.

How about you?  What book were you excited to read only to have it fall short? 

TGIF (2): Books to Television

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads.  Each Friday Ginger poses a question for us to share our thoughts on.  If you'd like to participate, head on over to her awesome blog and link up!

This week's topic:

Books to Television: Which books would you love to see made into a TV series or movie?
This question should be easy, right?  Wrong!  There are so many movie and television adaptations of books and sometimes Hollywood just does not do the book justice.  Major parts of story lines get the axe or the characters don't fit the image that I have conjured up in my head.  Therefore, choosing a series that I've read and loved and KNOWING it would be butchered in some way is pretty dang difficult.


If I had absolute faith and trust in a production company, I suppose here are some of my choices:

My Fantasy pick:  The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, & The Darkest Road 
This is a work I would probably trust in the hands of Peter Jackson and the WETA Workshop to produce.  It is very much like the Lord of the Rings,  an amazing work of fantasy.  I love this series SO hard.  In one word it is truly EPIC. 

The second in the series is my
favorite and the book that introduced
me to Lady Julia

My Adult pick:  The Lady Julia series by Deanna Raybourn

Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Silent on the Moor, The Dark Road to Darjeeling, & The Dark Enquiry
Victorian London murder mystery series, sassy main leading lady, dashing and mysterious leading man, this would TOTALLY deliver on the screen!  The costumes would be gorgeous and the locales would be breathtaking: London, the Scottish moors, & India.

My YA picks:  
Shade series by Jeri Smith-Ready 
Shade, Shift, & Shine (due out in 2012)
I am sure my fellow members of #TeamKilt are with me on this one and I'm sure Logan's fans would be too!  A big concern I would have is the CGI treatment of ghosts.  It would be interesting to see how Hollywood would handle them.  The series may not be completed yet but it has easily become one of my favorite series.  If you haven't read this series, you should.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han
The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You, & We'll Always Have Summer 
Who wouldn't want to see Belly & the Fischer boys on screen?  A young girl that is learning to navigate womanhood, love, romance, & growing up and two gorgeous boys that she has to choose between.  I would definitely love this one.


What would you like to see on screen?

TGIF (1): Making a Difference

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads.  Each Friday Ginger poses a question for us to share our thoughts on.  If you'd like to participate, head on over to her awesome blog and link up!

This week's topic:

Making a Difference: Which book(s) would you put in the hands of today's teenagers in hopes of making a difference in their lives?

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, & Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins            In order to get the full effect of the series, I think teens should have to read all three.  There are so many great themes and room for discussion.  Dystopian world, politics, radical government, class system, family issues, morality, mortality, love, relationships, revolution...I could go on and on.  


Back when I was in high school, I had to suffer through reading 1984  by George Orwell.  Please don't get me wrong.  I respect that it is a classic and has been on required readings lists forever.  But it was hard for me to relate to as a sophomore in high school.  In my very humble opinion, I think The Hunger Games series could easily replace the idea of Big Brother watching and a corrupt, heavy handed government.  Not to mention, the story is written through the eyes of a teen-age girl, not some middle aged man.  It brings the story down to a teen's level and makes it more accessible. 

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
This story is about the touchy subject of teenage sex.  (I'm not here to preach against it or for it.  That is your own view and I'm not writing this to change it).  But teen age sex does happen.  Sex complicates lives and relationships.  As we grow older we realize this.  However, teens don't often think of the complications and consequences.  They do it because they think everyone else is doing it or for all the wrong reasons (Yes, I realize this is a generalization but more because it is a majority and not an exception).  


Not That Kind of Girl is a story that talks just about reputations and connotations that can come along with losing your virginity for both boys and girls.  The main character feels that she has to hide the fact that she is no longer a virgin to avoid being "that type of girl".  The journey she makes through the book is a pretty typical story with ordinary events but the end message is truly strong and meaningful.  Something I wish I would have realized for myself when I was growing up or that someone had explained to me.  I can see why it wouldn't necessarily be required reading but I think it is something every young woman should read on their own.  The boys could benefit as well.  Labels are a horrible thing and it effects both of the sexes.  

Between the Lines by Tammara Webber 
This book is rated for the mature teen reader based on the content of sexual situations, language, and drinking but I don't think it should stop someone from reading it.  Honestly, it's no worse than the reality crap on TV right now (that I avoid like the plague).  Teens in the public eye being idolized for things such as teen pregnancy, under-age drinking, etc.  But I digress...
  
Another book about complicated teen relationships, Between the Lines is really about growing up, making decisions, making mistakes, making good decisions, and how you handle the cause and effect of your actions molds your life (in my humble opinion again).  You can royally screw up BUT it's whether you take responsibility for that mistake or whether blow it off and let someone else handle it that makes you grow as a person.  I fell in love with this book and there are so many characters that anyone that reads it will be able to identify with one and really get into the story.  Life with all its highs, lows, and inbetweens.  (Read my review here).   


Which book(s) do you think could make a difference?