Chapter Adventure Reading Challenges discussion

The Motif (theme) for June is ...

“No Biz Like Show Biz”

Read a book in which the character(s) is involved in some aspect of the entertainment industry OR read a book that has been turned into a tv show or movie.

Share with us! Which book did you read and what did you think of it

Ugh - sorry I'm putting this in here - as a warning not to read?

Challenge Complete: “No Biz Like Show Biz”

Read a book in which the character(s) is involved in some aspect of the entertainment industry OR read a book that has been turned into a tv show or movie.

Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

Like many other readers Low Men in Yellow Coats was my favorite story. I loved the relationship between Bobby and Ted, the older man who moves into the building where Bobby and his mother live, and the slightly supernatural element that plays a huge part in both their lives.

Bobby’s relationship with Carol, his friend, or “girlfriend,” also adds much to the story. It’s their first love, both lovely and heartbreaking.

I enjoyed the book, but I know I would have enjoyed it more if the focus had remained on Bobby Garfield, Carol Gerber, and Ted Brautigan. Instead, three of the stories focus on other people; Hearts in Atlantis, in fact, focuses on people they mostly didn’t know (Carol has a small part in it, but doesn’t really do much.) I never did get what was going on. It was hard to imagine so many boys throwing away their college scholarships over a card game.

Both Blind Willie and Why We’re in Vietnam brings things closer to home, but still don’t have the magic of the first story. Even Heavenly Shades… isn’t all I would have hoped for.

So, basically, the four stars are because of the first story, which would have earned five if it had been a stand-alone. I would have loved more about Bobby, Ted, and Carol; what their lives were, and what they would become.

Hearts In Atlantis: 2001
Director: Scott Hicks
Writers: Stephen King,William Goldman
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis

I'm going to be proactive and post the book I'm reading this month, since I got so behind on posting this year.

Christy by Catherine Marshall

This is a reread, and when I'm done I'll be rewatching the TV series with my husband (who is a Little House on the Prairie fan) and has never seen it. I think he'll like it, since he also enjoys When Calls the Heart (and he used to play in a speed metal band!). I don't typically reread books, but I think this one will be worth it!

• The Princess Bride - William Goldman
- Fantasy/Adventure/Romance/YA
- Finished: June 12th
- 3 stars on Goodreads.
I need to preface this review with the caveat that the reason I’ve given it 3 stars is because William Goldman is a sexist, racist, fat-phobic asshole. And this isn’t because I’m some sensitive soul - I’m not usually one to hunt for deeper meaning or agendas where there are none. He truly doesn’t even try to hide that fact that he’s a terrible human being in the 2 introductions he writes for this anniversary edition. He writes them as if his views are natural, and perfectly fine. Even given that his whole persona in the book is mostly fake (he had 2 daughters in real life, not a son). I almost tossed the book in the trash before even getting to the actual story.
Examples:
1. He seriously considers cheating on his wife. The only reason he doesn’t, is he gets interrupted by a phone call.
2. He makes fun of his own (fictional) son for being overweight, and treats him badly in general because of it.
3. He uses racist stereotypes/slurs
a) (not verbatim) He says if his son were “painted yellow” he’d be unbeatable on the school sumo team
b) He uses the term “spick” at one point in reference to Inigo.
It’s truly a shame, because the story itself, and the whole S. Morgenstern gimmick easily deserves 5 stars. And there’s a whole bunch of great stuff that’s not included in the movie. But I swear, every time William Goldman intrudes into the story writing as “himself”, I cringed.

I actually chose 2 books for June.

1. The Martian by Andy Weir. I originally wanted to read this book during the STEM month, but it was on hold at the library, and I decided to read a different book for that challenge (Moneyball by Michael Lewis). So, when The Martian came available, I chose it for June. Yes, it the movie with Matt Damon. It is a narration of Mark Watney's solitary experience on Mars after he was abandoned and left for dead. For the most part, the movie follows the book pretty close. If they ever make an audio book with Matt Damon narrating, I will totally buy it! Highly recommend if you like the movie, space, technical scientific stuff.

2. Wonder by R J Palacio. Again, I've seen the movie and always wanted to read the book. I decided to read it for this challenge, and found out there were 2 more "Wonder books". Not necessarily sequels as they parallel the original book but are by different characters. Auggie and Me tells of 3 different characters and how they interact with Auggie during their time with him. The second is 365 Days of Wonder which is a compilation from their English teacher of all his favorite precepts. During the school year, each month he gives his class a different precept to learn about. Over the years, he's collected hundreds of them and compiled them into one book, one precept for each day of the year. I also recommend this book.

Playing catch up today…
I read Rebecca by Daphne De Maurer
I have been wanting to get to this classic for some time, so fit nicely in this theme. So glad I finally got to read it, was a great novel!
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...