The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

5.2 - Blockbuster Books
There are many highly anticipated films that will be hitting the theaters this summer (i.e. Eclipse, Toy Story 3, The A-Team, Eat Pray Love and many others)...For this task read a book that relates to the film you are most looking forward to seeing this summer (EXAMPLE: For Eat Pray Love you could read the book that is the basis for the film Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia or another travel memoir such as Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven.) (You do not actually have to see the film to get credit for this task.)

If you need suggestions OR have suggestions for books to read for this task post them here.

Would this work as a travel memoir?

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World

It seems like a good tie-in to Eat Pray Love since she was searching for happiness in a way as well.

Does anyone know of a link to a list of films due to be released this summer?

I found this one. 2010 Movies

It's the whole year and maybe not all of them, but there is a good deal under June through Aug.

thanks julia

No problem, Alice. :)

I'm most looking forward to Despicable Me. Will a book about orphans work? The movie is about a super-villain who wants to steal the moon, and the three orphan girls who try to convince him otherwise.

Thanks!

Amanda

Amanda wrote: "I'm most looking forward to Despicable Me. Will a book about orphans work? The movie is about a super-villain who wants to steal the moon, and the three orphan girls who try to convince him otherwi..."
If you can somehow work in a thief in the story that would be good... oh and there are actually a couple of kids books I found with the plot of stealing the moon in it Moonbeam on a Cat's Ear & Moon Magic: Stories from Asia.

I'm really excited about the A-Team. Can I read a military themed book like Jarhead?

Cynthia wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I'm most looking forward to Despicable Me. Will a book about orphans work? The movie is about a super-villain who wants to steal the moon, and the three orphan girls who try to convi..."

Oliver Twist is about orphans and thieves. I'm not sure about David Copperfield - I know it's about orphans, but don't know if there's thievery. Not that you necessarily want to read Dickens, lol, but I do. :o)

Does the movie have to premiere during the summer months?

And if yes, can I use 'Sex and the City 2', which does not premiere here until June 3rd even though it opens sooner in the US?

Cynthia wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I'm most looking forward to Despicable Me. Will a book about orphans work? The movie is about a super-villain who wants to steal the moon, and the three orphan girls who try to convi..."

Thanks, Cynthia! My library has Moon Magic, so I might just read that. Of course, Cait's suggestion of Oliver Twist is promising, too (thanks, Cait!) They both have their merits, since Moon Magic is closer to the actual plot, but Oliver Twist is actually over 100 pages.

Amanda R. in Louisville

Emu wrote: "Does the movie have to premiere during the summer months?

And if yes, can I use 'Sex and the City 2', which does not premiere here until June 3rd even though it opens sooner in the US?"
As long as the movie is still in the "regular" i.e. not reduced price theaters this summer you can use it.

Felina wrote: "I'm really excited about the A-Team. Can I read a military themed book like Jarhead?"

Yes

I'm really excited about Toy Story 3... what books could I read?

I think you missed my question about The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World.

Would that work for Eat, Pray, Love? I explain why in the first post after yours.

Thanks!

If I'm wanting to read something along the lines of Eclipse, would any of these work?
Blue Bloods
Vampire Academy
Dead Until Dark (vampires & humans, plus there's mind-reading)
Linger (werewolves & human relationships)
Blood and Chocolate (werewolves & human relationships)

Wow, so many of those movies look good!

I'm so excited for Inception (crossing my fingers that hubby's leave date falls within it's release date so we can see it). For this movie could I read What Dreams May Come?

For Hereafter (Clint Eastwood! Matt Damon!), I'm assuming I could read a book about ghosts or the supernatural, such as A Stir of Echoes, The Haunting of Hill House, or The Seance. Would this be correct?

Cynthia wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I'm most looking forward to Despicable Me. Will a book about orphans work? The movie is about a super-villain who wants to steal the moon, and the three orphan girls who try to convi..."

Thanks, Cynthia! My library has Moon Magic, so I might just read that. Of course, Cait's suggestion of Oliver Twist is promising, too (thanks, Cait!) They both have their merits, since Moon Magic is closer to the actual plot, but Oliver Twist is actually over 100 pages.

Amanda R. in Louisville

If you're in the mood for sci-fi, you could read Next by Michael Crichton for the movie Splice. I just finished it and it was a great read.

Alice wrote: "Does anyone know of a link to a list of films due to be released this summer?"


Box Office Mojo is a great site and keeps a pretty good list, too.
http://boxofficemojo.com/schedule/

Cait wrote: "Wow, so many of those movies look good!

I'm so excited for Inception (crossing my fingers that hubby's leave date falls within it's release date so we can see it). For this movie could I read [bo..."
For inception I think some sort of technology needs to be a part of it...the other choices would be closer.

Liz wrote: "If I'm wanting to read something along the lines of Eclipse, would any of these work?
[book:Blue Bloods|872333]
Vampire Academy
Dead Until Dark (vampires & humans, pl..."
anything along the vampire/werewolf line is fine

Nicole wrote: "I think you missed my question about The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World.

Would that work for Eat, Pray, Love? I explain why in the first..."

its fine

I always seem like most likely to get skipped... is there a category for this? Anyways... still looking for a book related in some way to Toy Story 3... I also know that Grown Ups a Billy Madison production comes out this summer. Does anyone know any books that would be related to it?

For those of you who enjoy Twilight, Stephanie Meyers has a new novella (over 200 pgs though) coming out related to Eclipse (we all know how much she likes to try out different perspectives): The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

It is actually going to be available for free online as well as being published.

I was planning on reading that when it came out & totally forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder! Now I need to figure out where to put Linger, since it won't work here anymore.

Sarah wrote: "I always seem like most likely to get skipped... is there a category for this? Anyways... still looking for a book related in some way to Toy Story 3... I also know that Grown Ups a Billy Madison p..."


Sarah-I hope someone has some books we can read for Toy Story 3! I tried to find something, but didn't have any luck!

for toy story 3, what about something else where the toys come to life, like The Indian in the Cupboard or Pinocchio or The Meanest Doll in the World

I am sure there are more.

For Eclipse, can I use The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer?

Sandra wrote: "For Eclipse, can I use The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer?"

Yes

the indian in the cupboard is a great book. The author, Lynne Reid Banks, was my favourite author when I was in my mid to late teens. I'm going to reread her The L Shaped Room for the reread task.

I'm planning on Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman to tie in with 'Despicable Me.' I believe there are several books in the 'super-villain' sub-genre that will probably work as well.

If I wanted to read a book related to The Karate Kid, would it have to be related to the plot or can it just be about Karate/Kung fu/Martial Arts?

I found some books on Marmaduke. :)

would the velveteen rabbit work for Toy Story 3?

Tracey wrote: "would the velveteen rabbit work for Toy Story 3?"
Yes

Denise wrote: "If I wanted to read a book related to The Karate Kid, would it have to be related to the plot or can it just be about Karate/Kung fu/Martial Arts?"

Martial Arts is good...if it has a kid learning it that would be preferable.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead is coming out in June. The synopsis says "Julian Marsh is an out of work ladies' man who lands a job directing a bizarre adaptation of Hamlet. After casting his best friend and his ex-girlfriend in the show, Julian finds himself in the middle of a two thousand year old conspiracy that explains the connection between Shakespeare, the Holy Grail and some seriously sexy vampires."

It doesn't seem to have much to do with Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, the book it's named after, but I thought I'd ask if I could read it just in case =).

Rebecca wrote: "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead is coming out in June. The synopsis says "Julian Marsh is an out of work ladies' man who lands a job directing a bizarre adaptation of Hamlet. After casting ..."

yes

OoOooh!! And I have R&G Are Dead on my TBR! YAY! I can finally read it!!

Any book ideas for the A-Team movie? I'm stumped

you can try military books :)

Since Eat, Pray, Love is coming out this summer and its based on a book by Elizabeth Gilbert, would I be able to read Gilbert's latest book (Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage)?
It's related, sort of, but maybe not closely enough.
Thanks!

Any suggestions for The Last Airbender?

El - You have a TOOOOON of options. Using wikipedia, check out the section on Cultural Influences for the Last Airbender: Influences

The manipulation of the classic elements could open the fantasy/superhero genres. Fighting styles open kung fu stories. And chakras could open meditation books.

Off the top of my head for fantasy, Mercedes Lackey has an entire series devoted to the manipulation of the classic elements. Book One is The Fire Rose. But a lot of old school fantasy has classic elemental manipulation.

Asho, you could read any book about a woman who restarts life following a divorce by moving/traveling. I'm sure there's a couple of books on that.

From a blog:
1) The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert, a 2002 finalist for the National Book Award, is by the same author as Eat, Pray, Love. It is the true story of Eustace Conway, who moved to the Appalachian Mountains when he was a teenager. Based on several reviews, it seems to have the same humor characteristic of Eat, Pray, Love.

2) A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Like Eat, Pray, Love, this is a work of travel writing that is incredibly fun to read. It is the hilarious tale of Bryson's exploits as he hikes the Appalachian Trail with an old college friend. In addition, Bryson has written many other humorous books about his travels.

3) The Best American Travel Writing 2006, edited by Tim Cahill, is a collection of several stories about travel. If you liked the focus on travel in Eat, Pray, Love, you might also enjoy the travel writers found in this collection.

4) Another great book you might try is The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. In this book, Pollan examines the relationship between plants and humans. The Botany of Desire is structured around four different plants and how they reflect human desires, just as Eat, Pray, Love is structured around three different places and how they spur self-discovery.

5) Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz is a wild and fun travel narrative focusing on Horwitz's adventures sailing on a recreation of Captain's Cook's ship. Like Eat, Pray, Love it is well written and a lot of fun to read.

...but if you like Christian nonfiction and Jane Austen, you might like to read A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith

Will Neuromancer by William Gibson work for the movie Inception?

Katie wrote: "Will Neuromancer by William Gibson work for the movie Inception?"
I don't really see the connection other than technology.

Asho wrote: "Since Eat, Pray, Love is coming out this summer and its based on a book by Elizabeth Gilbert, would I be able to read Gilbert's latest book (Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage)?
It's re..."

I would accept that.

I'd like to read The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett, would that work with either Knight and Day or The Killers? Both are books about couples involved in adventure and mystery.

Tanja wrote: "El - You have a TOOOOON of options. Using wikipedia, check out the section on Cultural Influences for the Last Airbender: Influences

The manipulation of the classic elements could open the fanta..."

A great series that uses manipulation of the elements is Jim Butcher Codex Alera series. The first book is Furies of Calderon I am going to use the last book in this series for this task

Any ideas for The Expendables or The Other Guys? I'm thinking of using I Am Not a Cop!: A Novel for The Other Guys.

I haven't been to the movies since 2007, when we went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! Looking at the link for the Last Airbender, it appears to have groups that are Fire - Water - Earth - Air. So .... would Robin McKinley's series "Tales of the Elemental Spirits" work? I've already read Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits , which was excellent; and I have Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits here in the house. Additionally, there are many novels based on the Fire - Water - Earth - Air separation ( The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey that I read for the Winter Challenge comes to mind.) Would any novel based on the Fire - Water - Earth - Air separation work for this task because of the Last Airbender? Thanks!

Other Fire/Water/EArth/Air books include the Tamora Pierce two related series, The Circle of Magic .(Sandry's Book, .Briar's Book, Tris's Book,.Daja's Book) and The Circle Opens(Street Magic,Magic Steps, Cold Fire, Shatterglass)