Today we welcome Alison Stone to Book Club Friday. After years of conferences, critique groups and writing, Alison achieved her dream of becoming a published author. Random Acts and Too Close to Homeare currently available with a third novel being released in June. Learn more about Alison at her website and blog.
Alison is offering a copy of Too Close to Home to one of our readers who posts a comment to the blog. -- AP
Books on the Big Screen
It seems that every time someone learns I’m a writer, they smile and make a comment about how cool it would be if they made one of my books into a movie. Yes, I agree, it would be cool. Very cool. I’m not picky. It doesn’t have to be a major motion picture; I’d settle for a Lifetime Movie. Tell me, who hasn’t hunkered down on a chilly Sunday afternoon and gotten lost in some fantastic Lifetime Movie where the diabolical nanny methodically tries to drive the mother crazy so she can take her place? But then again, I write suspense, so this is right up my alley.
However, in my experience, I rarely enjoy watching a movie that has been adapted from a book I’ve read. The movie never compares. In a book, I’m able to get inside the head of the point-of view characters. This is lost to some degree in the movie because it’s a different medium. Another reason I don’t enjoy the movie as much as the book is because I already know what happens. Instead of getting lost in the story, I’m anticipating what happens next and comparing it to the book every step of the way. I turned off The Lovely Bones, adapted from Alice Sebold’s fantastic novel (I read it twice) because I was too familiar with the story. The movie bored me.
And have you ever been annoyed when the movie changes the ending of your favorite book? I’m thinking of Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper. However I think the real reason I didn’t like this movie is because I had a headache after it was over. It’s a real tear-jerker.
There are exceptions, however. Kathryn Stockett’s The Help jumps to mind. I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and the movie. Emma Stone was fantastic as Eugenia aka “Skeeter.” I loved seeing 1960s Jackson, Mississippi come to life. It’s hard to imagine this was a way of life in the not-so-distant past. I was able to get lost in the story. And I think that’s what both books and movies are supposed to be about. Getting lost in the story.
Do you enjoy watching movie adaptations of books? What were some of your favorites? Or least favorite? I’m giving away an eBook copy (from Amazon or Barnes & Noble/US) of my latest romantic suspense, Too Close to Home, to one commenter.
Too Close to Home
They say you can never go home. If you do, better watch your back.
Ten years ago, after her father’s gruesome death was ruled a suicide, Kathryn McNabb left her hometown, vowing never to return. And never to let anything—business or personal—break her heart.
Now an overachieving manufacturing engineer, she thrives on order, control and solitude. But an unexpected inheritance makes her the co-owner of the company her father founded, forcing her to face the ghosts of her past. Including Ben Nowak, childhood friend, secret crush, and son of the man who ruined her father.
Ben hadn’t planned on returning home, either, but with his own father’s death it falls to him to continue the family legacy. When he learns Kathryn plans to sell the plant out from under him, his quest takes on new urgency—Midport Industries is the main source of jobs in town.
Butting heads strike sparks of attraction that entangle business and pleasure into a hopeless knot. And someone is watching. Someone with a darker reason to prevent the deal from going through. Someone desperate enough to kill…
Warning: Beware of the shadows, disgruntled employees, and childhood crushes all grown up.
Thanks for joining us today, Alison! Readers, if you’d like the chance to win a copy of Too Close to Home, post a comment. Don’t forget to either include your email address or check back on Sunday to see if you’re the winner. Too many winners are forgetting to do this, and we can’t send you your book if we can’t get in touch with you! -- AP
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