Coming to a Theater Near You

This is part 5 of my Based on the Book series. First I talked about 4 books that I thought were superior to their movie counterparts.  The following week it was 2 movies that I liked better than the original books.  I also shared a few choices that were too close to call  and wrote a book review.

During February and March, I read three books that are are being released as movies in the theater this year.  I came to very different conclusions about each one!

 

Books I've Read in Anticipation of Movies Coming Out This Year

{All book and movie titles are Amazon affiliate links.}

I had heard great things about The Fault in Our Starsby John Green.  I'm not one to jump on a bandwagon.  In fact, if a book or movie gets a lot of hype, the rebel in me resists reading or watching it. I eventually broke down, though, when I read a synopsis of the plot.

The Fault in Our Stars is the story of two teenagers who meet at a cancer support group and the book follows their emotional friendship and the events of their lives over the portion of a year.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story.  It was authentic without being sappy.  However, it had a moderate amount of language (maybe a PG-13 rating) and many of the characters' beliefs about death and what happens when we die were in opposition to how I believe. 

Now I know why the book got rave reviews, but I had enough reservations that I can't give it my  wholehearted recommendation.

I was excited to begin Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trailby Cheryl Strayed, but I almost quit before the second chapter. I probably should have.

I was fascinated by the story of a woman who set off alone to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (the more rugged West Coast sister to the Appalachian Trail).  It was interesting to read of the people she met and how she survived. I was amazed at how little she ate and the tremendous load she carried, and I was sickly fascinated by the descriptions of her bruises, blisters, and missing toenails.

Now for the downside. The language was horrible (definitely beyond a PG-13 rating). The author's lifestyle choices were morally lacking. The need for a Savior was obvious. I could only recommend this book with a long list of warnings.

Now I can talk about my favorite.  The girls and I read A Bear Called Paddingtonby Michael Bond together.  I had never read Paddington as a child and had no idea what to expect. For some reason, I thought it might be dull,  but I adored it!  I loved the writing style.  I loved the story.  I loved the illustrations. My girls did, too. 

The book follows the story of Paddington, a Peruvian bear who ends up at a train station in England.  It follows his story as the Browns bring him home with them and he settles into life with the family. It is witty and funny but heartwarming, too. 

No warnings or hesitations needed on this one.  It's a gem!

Have you read either of these books?  What did you think? 

Next up in the series I'll talk about some book-movie combos that are worth mentioning but don't fit into any category!