Posted by Kirsty in Amanda Keats, Competitions | Permalink
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REVIEWED BY AMANDA KEATS
A car accident has left Luke in a vegetative state in hospital and his daughter Cara recovering from surgery on her shoulder. Cara's mum Georgie wants to be there for her daughter but has the twins and her new husband waiting for her at home and as she is no longer married to Luke, she has no say when the doctors start talking about life-support and using extraordinary measures. At 17 years old, Cara is underage so the only person who can legally make any decisions is Edward, the son who left the country six years ago and hasn't spoken to his father since.
An author known for dealing with taboo subjects, Jodi Picoult has chosen to explore who should have the right to switch off life-support when the family is as fractured as this one. But of course, as this is Picoult, the conflicts don't stop there. Luke is not your average father, having spent a lot of his adult life infiltrating wolf packs in order to study their behaviour from the inside. Famous in his field and respected the world over for his results, Luke has developed his animal senses to the point where he often struggles with basic human interaction. He loves his family, but he loves the wolves just as much and feels incomplete with either of them. Georgie still blames her ex-husband for all his prolonged absences and obsession with the wolves and for all the time spent away from his family to be with them. Edward still can't bring himself to talk about what really happened the night he left without saying goodbye. Cara blames her brother's departure for the breakdown of her family and clings on to her dad as the only place she still feels at home.
Posted by Kirsty in 8/10, Amanda Keats, Reviews | Permalink
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BY AMANDA KEATS
Adaptations are everywhere nowadays. Filmmakers are starting to see the brilliance in novel plots and turning them into films. But it isn't just books that are being adapted. This February, there are plays too.
RELEASE DATE: 3 February
RELEASE DATE: 10 February
The Woman in Black
Based on the book by Susan Hill, this is not the only adaptation in existence. A long-running London play of the same name has terrified me and many others across the world. A simple but powerful ghost story, The Woman in Black looks at what happens when Solicitor Arthur Kipps heads to a small northern village to settle an estate but ends up unearthing a long-feared secret of who the woman in black actually is and just what she can do.
Big Miracle
Based on a true story and the book written by Tom Rose, this is the tale of how people from across the world came together to try to free a family of whales stuck in the frozen Arctic waters in Alaska. The film stars Drew Barrymore as the activist set on doing all she can to get the government to act.
RELEASE DATE: 17 February
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Based on the book by Jonathan Safran Foer, this is the adventure story of young Oskar, whose father died in the 9/11 attacks, as he hunts for meaning in a key he's found in his father's closet. The film stars Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock.
RELEASE DATE: 24 February
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Previously published as These Foolish Things, Deborah Moggach's book looks at a group of retired Brits who embark on a life-changing relocation to India to live in a run-down hotel run by an ambitious young Indian man. The film has an incredible cast including Dami Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton and stars Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire as the hotel's owner.
One for the Money
Janet Evanovich has written numerous novels in her Stephanie Plum Series, all with a consecutive number in the title. One for the Money is - quite obviously - the first in the series. Stephanie Plum is a woman who needs work and gets a job as a bounty hunter. The film stars Katherine Heigl as Plum.
So which of these adaptations take your fancy this month? Let us know in the comments below...
Posted by Kirsty in Amanda Keats, Movies | Permalink
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REVIEWED BY AMANDA KEATS
In a cold wintery Montreal, people are going about their lives. There is the life-model coming between two best friends, the gay man living in denial with a woman and the former waitress looking to make it big in New York.
Rowena Macdonald takes an honest look at the everyday lives of Montreal's inhabitants as they strive to find work, love, acceptance, fulfilment and happiness and beautifully weaves their tales together in one clever book. Though the stories could easily stand alone as a series of short stories, there are links to connect them to each other. A person who is in the background of the first story suddenly becomes centre stage in the next.
There is no real beginning - middle - end to this book, rather a glimpse into the people's lives over the course of a year. It is a snapshot, nothing more, but in looking at how each life connects to others around it, Macdonald manages to build a bigger picture of what makes people move from one city to another, what makes them accept their lives and what makes them finally say that they've had enough and want better. The connections are great if you remember them but it doesn't detract anything from each person's story if you don't remember exactly where you read about them earlier. It is an adult book, as it deals with adult stories - apart from one - and the sex and complications that go along with it. But it does not use sex as a selling point or make it the raunchy focus of the book. It simply glides along and is relevant when it is relevant.
Continue reading "Review - Smoked Meat by Rowena Macdonald" »
Posted by Debs Carr in 7/10, Alternative Thursday, Amanda Keats, Debs Carr, New Releases, Reviews | Permalink
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By Amanda Keats
Last week I got to join in with the launch for Lynn Shepherd's new book Tom-All-Alone's, a Dickensean style mystery, inspired by Bleak House and set in the mirky depths of 1850's London. The launch itself was far from mirky. At the Dickens museum in London, we got to walk the halls of his former residence and see his original works.
Shepherd was evidently delighted to be holding the launch in the museum, saying that if it's true that your life flashes before your eyes when you die - this moment will certainly make the reel. Then we were treated to a reading of the prologue to Tom-All-Alone's - Shepherd's homage to Bleak House.
Thank you to PR lady Emily for the invite and congratulations Lynn and all at Constable and Robinson for a great launch.
You can read my review for Tom-All-Alone's here
Posted by Debs Carr in Alternative Thursday, Amanda Keats, Book Launch, Events, New Releases | Permalink
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Posted by Kirsty in Amanda Keats, Cover Lover, Movies | Permalink
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Reviewed by Amanda Keats
Policeman turned Private Detective, Charles Maddox has been hired to find a man - just to find him and pass on his whereabouts to his new employer. But his new employer - lawyer Edward Tulkinghorn - underestimates just how enquisitive Maddox really is. As he begins to delve deeper in his search for the truth, Maddox will put his life more at risk with every new piece of information he finds.
Continue reading "Review - Tom-All-Alone's by Lynn Shepherd" »
Posted by Kirsty in 8/10, Alternative Thursday, Amanda Keats, Reviews | Permalink
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By Amanda Keats
Moving with the times or losing the sanctity of the written word?
Last week I was called a "grammar Nazi" because I'm annoyed that Waterstone's has become Waterstones. To some, it might seem like something very trivial and I should move on and get a life. But to others, for a book shop (of all places) to lose correct grammar in their name is a sad day for anyone who believes in the sanctity of the written word.
So is it snobbish to believe in "correct" English and strive to uphold it? In dialogue, the way people speak is forever changing and I for one love that each region has its own accents, slang words and mannerisms. But when it comes to the written word, there is written English with rules of grammar and spelling that should be stuck to.
Times have changed. People write in text English and use shortened words or abbreviations to cram a message into a 140 character tweet. And I am just as guilty of this as anyone. If there is something I want to say and can't fit it in with correct grammar, I will shorten it. As long as it makes sense, what does it matter? I don't care about using semi-colons and occasionally it just sounds better to me to end with a preposition.
But I can't imagine picking up a book written entirely in text English.
So should we let go of the rules and move with the times? Or uphold the grammar of our language, apostrophes and all.
Let us no wot u fink in the comments below ;-)
Posted by Kirsty in Amanda Keats, Novelicious Natters | Permalink
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REVIEWED BY AMANDA KEATS
Continue reading "Review - The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks" »
Posted by Kirsty in 8/10, Amanda Keats, Reviews | Permalink
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BY AMANDA KEATS
In 2011 the cinema audiences saw the release of many book to film adaptations including Jane Eyre, One Day, I Don't Know How She Does It and We Need to Talk About Kevin. And the adaptation phenomenon doesn't look to be slowing down any time soon. 2012 has a great mixture of adaptations to look forward to, from fairytales to horror, from classics to modern hits.
One of the most hotly anticipated adaptations is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The book is set in a dystopian future where teenager Katniss Everdeen from District 12 has volunteered in place of her 12-year old sister Prim to compete in the annual Hunger Games – a game which can have only one winner, after all the other 23 participants are dead. The book is one of the select few young adult books that has crossed over into the adult world with massive success and if the trailer is anything to go by looks to be a massive hit, with action and emotion to pull in the viewers.
The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss alongside Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci.
Nicholas Sparks fans will be delighted to hear that after the success of The Notebook and Dear John, another of his gorgeous and often slightly dark romantic books is going to be hitting the big screen this year. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks sees Marine Logan Thibault go in search of the woman in a photo he believes has kept him alive while at war. It's a passionate love story about two people on a journey to find peace but with the brilliant Sparks twists and turns along the way.
The film stars Zac Efron as Logan Thibault alongside Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner.
For those looking for something a little scarier, the popular Woman in Black by Susan Hill - which has already been adapted into a hit West End show – has now been made into a film, starring Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps. The story is about a young lawyer who goes to a house in the middle of nowhere to settle the estate but finds the place is haunted by its former inhabitant and she isn't ready for him to leave. The mere sight of THAT rocking chair in the trailer sends chills up my spine.
If you're looking for something a bit more light-hearted then fairytales are incredibly popular this year with not one but two fairytales being turned into not two but three films. Jack and the Beanstalk has become “Jack the Giant Killer” with Nicholas Hoult starring as Jack. The film also stars Ewan McGregor, Ian McShane and Bill Nighy.
If Jack isn't your cup of tea though, there are two adaptations of Snow White to choose from. Firstly, there is the more comedic look at the classic tale in Mirror Mirror: The Untold Adventures of Snow White which sees Julia Roberts as the evil Queen and Lily Collins as Snow White.
If you like your fairytales a little darker though then check out Snow White and the Huntsman which stars Charlize Theron as the Queen, Kristen Stewart as Snow White and Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman who doesn't just spare the life of Snow White but teaches her how to fight.
The Hunger Games may be a newly popular franchise with great cinematic potential but there was one Young Adult book series in recent years that claimed the hearts of millions of lovestruck teens the world over. 2012 will bring The Twilight Saga, written by Stephenie Meyer, to a close with The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part Two at the end of the year. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and co return to finally face down the Volturi and start the most modern of modern family lives.
Other adaptations in 2012 include The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy which stars Keira Knightley and Jude Law and the prequel to The Lord of the Rings - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, written originally by JRR Tolkien and starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins.
Posted by Kirsty in Alternative Thursday, Amanda Keats, Movies | Permalink
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REVIEWED BY AMANDA KEATS
In the heart of Ireland, a new eco-village, Cloonsheeda, is being built. In the lead-up to the village festival, the women of Cloonsheeda will take a look at their lives and conquer what has been holding them back for years.
Continue reading "Review - The Goddess Village by Nuala Woulfe" »
Posted by Kirsty in 6/10, Amanda Keats, Reviews | Permalink
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We know a few of our readers aspire to work in the publishing industry, and for that reason thought you might like to read this fabulous article by our contibutor, Amanda Keats.
In it, she talks about the ups and downs of being a publishing intern at a time when the economic environment is so unstable.
Do have a read, it's really good. And if any of you have publishing intern experiences to share, tell us about them in the comments. Because we are nosy like that...
Posted by Kirsty in Amanda Keats, Publishing | Permalink
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REVIEWED BY AMANDA KEATS
Posted by Kirsty in 6/10, Amanda Keats, Reviews | Permalink
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REVIEWED BY AMANDA KEATS
My Sweet Saga opens with Brandon arrested and on a plane with a police escort, in a lot of pain and bleeding. He takes us back to how he got to be in this situation...
Brandon is trapped in an engagement he doesn't want, to the controlling and neurotic Clarissa, with in-laws who can't stand him, an MIA mother and a wealthy joke of a father who hasn't called in months. But Brandon is quite content being miserable. That is until his father calls out of the blue and casually requests his presence at a dinner in Sweden. He's lost a bet with a man from Sweden and must now treat him to dinner in his home country. For reasons unknown to Brandon, the man has requested his presence. All Brandon has to do is show up. Unfortunately for his dad, Brandon doesn't have a great relationship with his father and has absolutely no desire to accompany him half-way across the world for dinner... until he mentions the idea to fiancée Clarissa. Clarissa is horrified that Brandon would even contemplate flying off to Sweden so soon before the wedding and forbids him - yes forbids him. You can imagine what he does next...
Posted by Kirsty in 2011, 9/10, Amanda Keats, Reviews | Permalink
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