By Ms. Barclay, alegriab@isb.ac.th
Greetings,
As Oscar season begins, a plethora of movies are coming out based on books. Therefore, in my unceasing quest to ensure that people read the book before the movie comes out, I thought I’d devote this week’s picks to the books Hollywood is spending its billions on. All titles are available at the Main Library:
Les Miserables – One of the great novels of French literature and of the 19th century (some would argue the greatest), Victor Hugo’s sweeping epic follows the life of Jean Valjean, a former thief turned mayor and hero whose life experiences allow the reader to ponder issues of redemption, compassion, and the many forms of love. Filled with deeply moving and memorable characters (notably the piteous Fantine and the lovely Cosette), this book deserves the many praises heaped upon it. Admittedly a rather lengthy novel, consider this your golden opportunity to read the book you’ve always meant to read but never got around to actually reading!
Anna Karenina – Another wonderful 19th century classic, Anna Karenina is one of my personal favorites and the book Faulkner called “the best ever written.” Beautifully crafted, this stunning novel explores in sumptuous detail, the destructive passion of its titular character, Anna. A tale of betrayal, infidelity, obsession, sensuality, family, and love, Anna Karenina will sweep you off your feet and plunge you headlong into the scandalous love affair between the married Anna and the handsome Count Vronsky. For those of you interested in history, it is also a larger than life account of Russian society in the second half of the 19th century. Read it…you won’t regret it!
Cloud Atlas – This modern classic by David Mitchell is quite simply one of the best books written in the last 20 years. Indeed, I remember reading it and stopping through midway to think to myself: ‘David Mitchell is a literary genius.’ I still think that’s true. This extraordinary novel defies description – spanning centuries and continents through six intertwining stories that nest within each other. Spectacularly imaginative and thought provoking, it comments on morality, faith, reincarnation and, ultimately, the human condition. (On a side note, although many consider the film to be largely un-filmable, Mitchell has said that he is pleased with the adaptation.)
Life of Pi – While we’re on the topic of un-filmable books, despite having won the Man Booker prize in 2002, Life of Pi went through numerous directors before being picked up by the talented Mr. Ang Lee. If you’ve read the novel you’ll know why…it is the story of a teenage boy who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck at sea. He finds himself in a small lifeboat with a Bengal tiger, a zebra, an orangutan, and a hyena (three of the four animals die in quick succession) and yet somehow manages to survive 227 days at sea. The story of his survival is nothing short of extraordinary and the ending will lead to many, many a conversation!
Silver Linings Playbook – Finally a book about a high school teacher! Unfortunately, the high school teacher in question, Pat, has just been released from a mental health institution having spent a few years in there. As he adjusts to life on the outside, Pat encounters the truly bizarre Tiffany who pursues him while he, in turn, continues to pursue and obsess about his ex-wife. Competitive dancing, tailgate parties, awkward silences, and hilarity ensue as Pat’s path to happiness unfolds. If you’re a sports lover, a romantic, an optimist, or simply in search of a truly uplifting read, this is the book for you.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower – This book quite possibly provides us with one of the most accurate and inspired accounts of what it means to come of age. Told from the perspective of Charlie, a fifteen-year-old freshman, in a series of letters to an unnamed individual, the novel explores all the usual pitfalls of adolescence. What separates this book from all the other coming-of-age stories is the author’s startling ability to bring you back to your own adolescence–the overwhelming nature of crushes, the freedom you felt driving with your friends, the fear of being alone, the deep ache of being misunderstood, and the power of music to say all the things you couldn’t say. Poignant, compelling, and honest, this is a must read.
And now for some lunchtime entertainment, provided below are all the movie trailers for the aforementioned books! But remember, the book is always better!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Happy reading (and watching),
Ms. Barclay