June 9th, 2013 / Author: Joanne P
Only very rarely will I watch a movie of a book that I have read, because I am all too often disappointed.
BUT, I read The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald so long ago that the intricate details of the novel had become slightly hazy,
AND, my friend had received some free tickets to see the latest from Baz Luhrmann!
We saw it in standard cinema mode – it was too early in the day for us (and our stomachs) to watch it in 3D.
What did I think?
Leonardo DiCaprio made the perfect Jay Gatsby (lots of faraway dreamy looks) and I think Tobey Maguire suited the geeky Nick Carraway. Carey Mulligan was good as Daisy, but I think many other female actresses could have played that helpless female part equally well.
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June 8th, 2013 / Author: Joanne P
I recently read and enjoyed immensely the debut novel from Anthony Marra, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena (read my review).
I reviewed this wonderful piece of literature as part of the promotion of its US release on 7 May 2013 by Hogarth via TLC Book Tours and then it was released in the UK etc a week later with quite different cover art.
US and UK
While I really like the haunting and ghostly feel of the US cover and its graduated pastel colours, I do think it breaks the general rule of book covers. The white title font would be quite difficult for some people to read.
The title is easier to read on the UK (but still not simple, being on the vertical) and instead of tapping into the haunting feel of the novel, this one evokes the more brutal aspects of war with the bold black and white lines and the symbolic wounded bird.
If pushed, I think I’d choose the UK cover, but it’s a close call for me…
Which cover do you prefer?
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June 8th, 2013 / Author: Joanne P
June 3rd, 2013 / Author: Joanne P
Thanks to TLC Book Tours and Hogarth, I have a paperback copy of Anthony Marra’s recently released novel A Constellation of Vital Phenomena to giveaway to one lucky US/Canadian reader.
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June 3rd, 2013 / Author: Joanne P
Today Booklover Book Reviews is hosting the TLC Book Tour for A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra.
Synopsis
In the final days of December 2004, in a small rural village in Chechnya, eight-year-old Havaa hides in the woods when her father is abducted by Russian forces. Fearing for her life, she flees with their neighbor Akhmed–a failed physician–to the bombed-out hospital, where Sonja, the one remaining doctor, treats a steady stream of wounded rebels and refugees and mourns her missing sister. Over the course of five dramatic days, Akhmed and Sonja reach back into their pasts to unravel the intricate mystery of coincidence, betrayal, and forgiveness that unexpectedly binds them and decides their fate.
With The English Patient’s dramatic sweep and The Tiger’s Wife’s expert sense of place, Marra gives us a searing debut about the transcendent power of love in wartime, and how it can cause us to become greater than we ever thought possible. (Amazon)
BOOK REVIEW
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena deserves the adoration it has quickly garnered. It is stunning for many reasons, not least that it is the first published novel from author Anthony Marra, still in his twenties. The only recent parallel that comes to mind is the maturity of Jennifer duBois’ debut A Partial History of Lost Causes.
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June 3rd, 2013 / Author: Joanne P
Here are the books that arrived in my mailbox over the last few weeks:
Click on the pictures for book details
I received a review copy of A Beautiful Truth by Colin McAdam courtesy of Soho Press in anticipation of their hardback US release of this title in September 2013. Aussie readers (and ebook converts) can get your hands on a copy earlier from other publishers with regional rights if you’re interested. This sounds very moving – cannot wait.
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June 1st, 2013 / Author: Joanne P
