Stop Doing This to Me

There is so much about the book industry that I don't know, but I wish I knew more. I would jump on the opportunity to become a book editor or someone involved with marketing and reviewing books. What a life! Unfortunately, I think I might be in a geographically poor location for this type of work. But second to doing voiceovers, working with books and publishing may be a dream job for me.

So as many of you may have noticed, I have been tearing through books lately, devouring just about anything I can get my hands on (aside from The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo. This book may hold the record for longest time spent on Chapter One). Well, I have an overwhelming list of what I want to read, and I have been collecting a backlog, which is great.

Except.

Every time I get a book in mind, it seems like a movie is coming out faster than I can read it. And typically, I prefer (as I think most readers do) to read the book first, so I form my own images (Mad Eye Moody as Haymitch anyone?). But when they even go so far as to just cast in advance, it all gets mucked up. And with each movie I see, it seems there are five more previews for books I was about to read that are already coming out on the big screen.

Really. How does Hollywood even find out about these titles so quickly? Are publishing companies just pitching films in advance of books even being printed? Is that how it goes now? Or am I looking in the wrong place to find my future "to reads" and I need to look elsewhere?

If I could ask just one favor, it's for the movie producers of the world to just please take a little bit of time before rushing off to film. Let us readers savor the moment and have our chance to bask in the sun.

Or, maybe, that's the point. Not so many people read anymore and maybe they know it. I shudder at the thought.

Braaaiiiinnnfood: What books do you think I should read? Hopefully ones without movies.

Totally Awesome

So I have mentioned my desire for a Sunshine Zombies logo to a few friends, and Echo decided to take a stab at it for me today. I think he wants me to be clear that this is just something he was playing around with. It just makes me smile. Not quite what I was looking for but hey, it was made for me. And that's awesome. Thanks a ton, Echo. Rawr.

Preparing Our Youth

In honor of Mother's Day, I'll share a quick story about my little girl who, by the way, turns four in two days! Anyhoo, I have a zombie shirt that I wear to bed at night (because honestly, what good zombie lover doesn't?) and she woke me up one Saturday morning. Usual ritual. She climbs into bed and asks to watch a movie in my room, and I sorta doze off while she enjoys the morning with Blues Clues and the like.

At any rate, on this particular morning, she decided to tell me that she liked my shirt. So, of course, I asked her. "Do you know what this is?" Her response wasn't simple. It was full of inflection, and your typical imaginary voice, and she reaches out her arms in a grasping motion and goes "It's a zooommmbbbbiiiiieeee."

This mom is so proud. Not to mention, ask my girl "What does the zombie say" and she goes "ahhhhh..... brainnnnsss...."

Hopefully, with any luck at all, my little bean is prepared for the zombie apocalypse. At any rate, she's probably in better shape than most four-year-olds.

All this reminds me of one of my favorite videos. It's been around for awhile, but you should check it out if you haven't already. These are important matters. In the words of Madeye Moody... "Constant Vigilance!"

So all you parents, please check this out. For the children. Are Video Games Adequately Preparing Our Children for the Post-Apocalyptic Future?

Oh, and Happy Mother's Day.

Please Don't

So as some of you may have noticed from the sidebar, I've been reading The Hunger Games trilogy and I absolutely love it. In my mind, it's a good mix of a 1984 vibe with some of my absolute favorite, His Dark Materials trilogy feel blended in. The characters are strong and well-written, and the story does a great job of keeping me involved and emotionally attached. Suspension of disbelief is strong in these books.

Well as most fans know, they are making a movie of the first Hunger Games book now, and I'm worried. The actors seem somewhat unknown and the story is so visual with vivid settings and great character development, I'm just afraid they are going to rush through it in the film and ruin it. And nothing upsets me more than when filmmakers actually kill interest in a fabulous book series by creating an inferior film franchise.

Of course, knowing me my first and foremost example of this is The Golden Compass movie. Everyone I try to talk to about His Dark Materials trilogy has absolutely zero interest in reading it because of the poor, poor offering for the big screen. Everyone says, "Nah, I saw the movie, not really into it." But ... it's not like that craptastic movie! Those books are amazing and I think everyone reading this blog right now should go read them. You won't be disappointed.

Don't believe me about this? Another example is the absolutely disgusting Eragon movie. What a waste of a great story. Though honestly, those books are so detailed, it may have been a bit impossible to get it right on screen at all. Who knows. I just wish some brilliant director would give both books another theatrical chance. Probably not for awhile though.

And please, please don't ruin The Hunger Games with the movie. The story doesn't deserve this! Just do it right.

Then, please make a decent film version of Neverwhere or American Gods. Then all will be right with the world.