T is for Twilight

About the Book

The first book in the series introduces us to Bella Swan as she is moving to Forks, Washington from Arizona. She's moving in with her father who is Sheriff and close friends with local tribe, the Quileute in La Push. When Bella starts in her new school she meets Edward Cullen, who she thinks can't stand her, but there is a much more complicated reason he reacts the way that he does. Their fate is intertwined and he introduces her to his unusual family. Things get complicated when Bella is threatened and the Cullen family come to her aide.  One of my favorite characters in the series is Alice, sister to Edward; which they both have extraordinary abilities. Their abilities make them powerful allies and as you get further into the series you'll uncover that they'll also be desired by other clans. Twilight isn't my favorite book in the series, but it is the first, and the gateway into Stephenie Meyers (author) realm of vampires, shapeshifting wolves, and battling clans.

About the Movie

IMDb.com describes this movie as "A teenage girl risks everything when she falls in love with a vampire" (IMDb, 2014) however there is more involved than just that. First, the movie was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, along with her crew, gave it the edge of visual mystery. Also, the movie included some reputable actors, not as the main characters, but more of a supportive roles. Kristen Stewart is Bella Swan, she stepped into this role from being a princess of the indie scene, and received much criticism over the years of her performances. Her counterpart, Edward Cullen was portrayed by English model/actor Robert Pattinson. What I love about this movie is the simplicity. I also love how they captured true loves first tender moments. I know not everyone is a fan, and there is a lot of skepticism out there. But, if you've read the books, then you have the appreciation and love for the movies as well. Or at least that's my opinion.

Links

Stephenie Meyers Official Site

S is for Silence of the Lambs

About the Book

The Silence of the Lambs was written by Thomas Harris and published in 1981. It was the #1 National Bestseller and in 1988 received the Bram Stoker Award. This introduces us to Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee and her first assignment involves the search for a serial murderer nicknamed "Buffalo Bill." In an attempt to find the murderer Clarice "must visit a man confined to a high-security facility for the criminally insane and interview him. That man, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, is a former psychiatrist with unusual tastes and an intense curiosity about the darker corners of the mind. His intimate understanding of the killer and of Clarice herself from the core of [the book] an unforgettable classic of suspense fiction." (Bantam Dell Publishing Group, 2007)

About the Movie

I've seen this movie probably a dozen times, and each time there are certain scenes that I still find myself holding my breath. Even when I was looking through the list of book to movie adaptations, when I glanced over The Silence of the Lambs, I still held my breath. It's an intense movie that will take you into the deep-dark pits of the psychological realms of crazy town. Jody Foster portrays Clarice, the FBI trainee that gets tangled in Hannibal Lecters (Anthony Hopkins) webbed psychosis. There are so many memorable scenes in this movie. Two of my favorites is the very last scene when the evil psychiatrist is getting off the plane and being stalked... and the scene that makes me draw my breath every time is the intense scene when Clarice arrives at a home and then the lights go out; that entire scene is crazy (crazy intense and good!) If you haven't seen it - watch it.

Links

Thomas Harris Official Site

Wiki The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs on IMDb.com

Q is for Queen of the Damned

About the Book

The Queen of the Damned (1988) is the third novel in The Vampire Chronicles series, written by Anne Rice. It follows Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lastat. The novel explores the rich history and mythology within the origins of the vampires in Rice's realms. There are supposedly suppose to be two more installments in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series entitled Prince Lestat and Blood Paradise.

About the Movie

Aaliyah is one of my favorite artists, gone too soon. I loved her music and I loved her in this movie. She portrayed an ancient vampire, Queen Akasha. She has been awaken by the legendary Lestat de Lioncourt, a rock-star vampire, using his fame as a cover for his plans. Lestat's music wakes the ancient queen. When Queen Akasha awakens, she wants Lestat to be her king.

P is for Pride and Prejudice

About the Book

Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813, is the story about the Bennet family. Mainly, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues between her sisters, dating, and societal standards. In early 19th-century England, and one of five sisters, the crisis within the family is finding husbands for all of the girls. When Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy, first impressions were sketchy. But, after they keep seeing each other within society, their feelings might change. To date, Pride and Prejudice has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

About the Movie

Jennifer Ehle portrays Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest in a line of five daughters. Her family may be in the early 19th-century London, but the characters are so easy to relate to because the family dynamics are true today as they were so many years ago. Colin Firth portrays the misunderstood Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy arrives in society along with his friend Mr. Bingley (who falls for Elizabeth's older sister, Jane). When Elizabeth is presented to Darcy for a dance, he snubs her, and Elizabeth holds a grudge until Darcy reveals his true feelings for her against "his better judgment." I love this movie because (it's long, it was a series) and I love the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, as well as Mr. Bingley and Jane. Pride and Prejudice (1995)

O is for Oliver Twist

About the Book

Oliver Twist is the second novel written by the infamous author, Charles Dickens. Published in 1838, the story is about an orphan who endures a miserable experience and circumstances. When he travels to London he meet Artful Dodger, leader of a gang of young pickpockets. Oliver is naive and doesn't realize their criminal activities, he is then led to the lair of their matriarch, Fagin. The novel is notable for Dickens's unromantic portrayal of criminals, it also exposes the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London during the Dickensian era. Dickens also brings to light to many evils including child labor, early recruitment into gang activity, and the presence of street children. It is likely that Dickens's own early youth as a child laborer helped with the novels development, serious themes, and dark humor (Wiki, 2014).

About the Movie

Barney Clark stars as Oliver Twist, in this 2005 adaption of the classic Dickens Tale, where an orphan meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master, Fagin (Ben Kingsley). On IMDb.com this rendition achieved 6.9 stars out of 10. Directed by Roman Polanski, as suggested by his wife, while he searching for a movie that their children would find interesting. His children have parts in the movie as well. Another interesting factoid; to keep the children actors in character, Ben Kingsley (Fagin) stays in character and kept his mannerisms and his physical appearance as his character even off-set (IMDb, 2014).

N is for Nights in Rodanthe

About the Book

Nicholas Sparks released his sixth romantic novel, Nights in Rodanthe, in 2002. It's a romantic love novel set in Rodanthe, North Carolina. The story follows the purely intense and close romance of a divorced mother, Adrienne Willis, and a divorced father and surgeon, Paul Flanner. The novel's two man protagonists meet in an inn in Rodanthe and fall strongly in love. However, fate and destiny falls upon them when they realize that leaving Rodanthe would mean going back to their separate lives (Wiki, 2013).

About the Movie

When I first watched this movie, I was recently divorced - so, I could relate more to the characters. Even without this though, it's a fabulous movie. Diane Lane plays recently divorced Adrienne Willis, who has been recruited by her good friend to watch over her seaside inn while she is on vacation. Willis agrees and considers it a get away from the chaos of the divorce and the harsh realities. She soon meets the only guest Paul Flanner (Richard Gere), who is a surgeon that is haunted by his past. They connect in Rodanthe and begin a wonderful romance. But, fate has other plans.

M is for Misery

About the Book

Another pick from the King of Horror Author, Stephen King, comes his psychological horror novel Misery, published in 1987. The Novel is about Paul Sheldon, a writer famous for Victorian-era romances involving the character of Misery Chastain. One day he is rescued from a car crash by crazed fan Annie Wilkes, who transports him to her home and, once finding out what he has done to Misery in his latest book, forces him to write a new book modifying the story - no matter what it takes (Wiki, 2014).

About the Movie

James Caan portrays author Paul Sheldon, who's been under a lot of pressure for his latest novel. He had been at his Colorado hideaway and after completing his work, he sets out on a snowy night, when he suffers an accident. He's critically inured and when he wakes up he discovers he's been rescued by his "number one fan" Annie Wilkes. She nurses Paul, gladly, at her remote house in the mountains. When she learns of Paul's plot in the last novel, she flips and the iconic scene (involving a sledge hammer) still gives me shivers to this day! Kathy Bates portrays Annie Wilkes, she's such an amazing actress and catapults this movie above and beyond. It's definitely a must see. Misery (1990)

L is for Little Women

About the Book

Little Women is an American novel by Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888). The novel follows the lives of the March sisters; Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Originally it was written in two volumes and it detailed their lives from childhood into adulthood. It is even known that Little Women is loosely based on the author and her three sisters. The two novels that eventually made the whole of Little Women was published in completion in 1880. It has also been said that Alcott was the first to write about the complexities of the 'American Girl'.

About the Movie

This all-star cast includes Susan Sarandon as Mrs. March, mother to mature and responsible Meg (Trini Alvarado), the quirky and outgoing Joe (Winona Ryder), the reserved and shy Beth (Claire Danes), and two actresses portray the complexities of Amy March, from girlhood to womanhood (Kirsten Dunst -young Amy) & (Samantha Mathis). Little Women (1994) brings the lives of the March sisters, with all of it's drama and comedy into your own home. I love - love - love this movie. I can watch it time and time again. This is also the movie that excited Hollywood to the promise of the up and coming Winona Ryder. This movie also has Christian Bale as boy next door Laurie.