Movie Adaptation: Room (2015)

It was during the times of oscar when I heard about the book. Inspired by true events it was bone chilling to even think that a crime like this could take place somewhere in the world. Woman being kept captive and birthing child in just a room. After a lot of delay I finally purchased a kindle copy of the book. 

The Book 

A child of five is the narrator in the book. He is used to a room. He does not realise the existence of the world outside. The slow introduction to the world begins when his mother shows him a fallen leaf from the tree and an air plane in the sky. The slowly progresses when both the mother and son manage to escape the captivity. What follows is the visits to the clinic and grandmother's. The story loses interest and pace after the great escape. I started disliking the book halfway through. 

The childish narration did not reveal much about what happened while in the captivity. I was completely disappointed by the book. It did not live up to my expectations at all. 

The Movie 

The movie is a package of good acting and great direction. The movie is an adaptation. Most of the parts are same as the book but few things are changed which only make the movie better.

While the book is from a claustrophobic perspective of the child, the movie covers all the dimensions. The family support and what goes on inside the mind of the victim is well describes. This is the version I like best of the story since I missed it completely in the book. 

The actors are just brilliant. Especially the child. The transformation is incredible. 

Overall 

This is one of the few occasions where I enjoyed the book more than I enjoyed the book. Regrettably so, since i waited to read the book before I watched the movie.

Movie Adaptation: Cinderella (2015)

Cinderella has been the most known and beloved fairy tale of all times. It is the magic of the godmother and the kind heart of the Cinderella that fills the book with fantasy. The evil step mother is also a part of the tale. An important part. When there is no evil, goodness is not exposed. The movie version of Cinderella is for the first time letting the evil side explain their side of story.

The book 

Cinderella is a beautiful girl who lives with her stepmother and three step sisters. She is as beautiful as she is kind. Forbidden by her stepmother, Cinderella is upset to not go to the ball held in the honor of the prince. That's when the fairy godmother enters and lives are changed with magic. It is simple and sweet story of a girl finding love and her happily ever after. 

The movie 

Disney's Cinderella is a lot different from the book. The Cinderella story has been given a lot of depth. Here Cinderella is a girl who loves her mother but loses her to a terminal disease. She is asked by her mother to always have courage and be kind. Those were the last words. 

When few years later Cinderella finds out that her father is in love, she promises him to be kind to the new family too. 

The story picks up the pace from here. The step mother is not evil in the beginning, just a little insecure. More so because of the relationship that Cinderella and her father share. It can be noticed at the nigh she throws a party and overhears Cinderella and her father talking about her. 

Cate Blanchett is ever so graceful in the evil stepmother's character. The step sisters here are child like but they too have got dimensions. The magical elements in the story is what carries you to the dreamland. The carriage and beautiful clothes are elaborate, better than the imagination. The beautiful transition of 

I loved the entire movie but of all the depth of Cinderella as the character is inspiring. The Cinderella here does not intend to go to the ball to charm the prince. She wants to go there to meet her friend. And till the end she remains kind. Like she promised her mother. 

This is a movie definitely worth watching. It is one of the best Fairy tales converted into a very charming movie. 

Overall 

The fairy tale is the classic and the movie is a unforgettable work of art. Both are worth reading and watching time and again.

Movie Adaptation: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Ransom Riggs has acquired a special place in the world of young adult and fantasy writing. Marginally different from Harry Potter and Hobbit, his series, Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children is a series that every fantasy reader loves. This book is a journey of a boy who came to realize that his life is more extraordinary than he ever thought it would be. The series has everything from time travel to magic, only here it's known as peculiarity.

I entered the movie room crossing my fingers 'let the movie not spoil the series for me', but I was pleasantly surprised by how different it was from the book still so magnificent.

The book 

The book is everything a fantasy reader wants. Young adult protagonist going strong through the pages, self realization, and time travel. The book is 352 pages of trill and magic. If nothing else, the photographs make the story all the more lively. It's definitely one of the best books I have read off-late.

The movie

The movie is quite different from the book. Those who look for the story from the book in the movie are going to be disappointed. So better let go and enjoy the movie. The Cairholm island is as beautiful as it was described in the book. That's a relief for those who were disappointed to find out that it's a fictional place. The movie brings the place to life. The scenes in the ship are completely breath-taking. The characterization is stunning, but Miss Peregrines (Eva Green) takes the cake away. I loved the scene before the capture, where she still commands like a Queen knowing her authority, almost making the hollow stutter and stammer. It was funny. Also, it clears the image of Miss Peregrines being a powerless bird. She may be getting captured but she is not weak. 

Jacob (Asa Butterfield) has been continuously running from the reality but it catches up to him. Different from the book, it felt quite natural. You are not going to be calm and composed when you realize you can see monsters and start slaying them immediately, would you? 

Just having read the first book in the series maybe the ending killed the sequel (just maybe). But I will keep you posted while I read on. 

Overall 

I enjoyed every minute of the movie as much as I enjoyed every page of the book. The book is beautiful and movie -stunning. So go ahead and let your guards down & watch the movie. It is not going to disappoint you.

The day I became a bird by Ingrid Chabbert, Illustrated by Guridi

I have not read many picture books as such but my recent stumbling upon an illustrated fairy tale has piqued my interest in picture books. These books are not only read for their story but also for the pictures/illustrations they contain inside. I decided to review the book just for its beautiful cover but what it contains inside is even more promising.

It was his first day at school and he fell in love. 'The day I became a bird' had me since the beginning.

Cover page

The cover page consists of a sketch of a bird with large eyes and slender feet. The title 'the day I became a bird' holds a place on top right corner of the book making the bird on the cover the focus. The back cover too has a tiny bird sitting on the football which is meaningful to the story. The book itself is a well thought out product. The story begins with the boy wanting to turn into a bird and ends with the two characters uniting. The illustrations are suggestive and not smothering. The colors are kept visually subtle. The typography compliments the illustrations. 

One of he best covers I have come across this year. 

Characters 

It is a story of a boy who falls in love with a girl on the first day of his school. He is very simple and creative. The innocence in the character makes him even more appealing. His thoughts, as put across by the author, are lyrical. He also possesses the goodness of appreciating a person for her kindness which is a sweet trait. 

Coming to her lovely lady, Sylvia is a girl obsessed with birds. 

'There are birds on her pants and dresses.

She wears bird barrettes in her hair. 

She draws birds in her notebooks and folders. 

And when she speaks her voice sounds like a birdsong.' 

Content 

The story is of a schoolboy who falls in love on his first day of school and craves for attention of his girl. During the course of time he understands her interest in birds and starts seeing them differently. All for the love he possesses for her. 

It is a story of recognizing the love you posses for a person and putting efforts in understanding her likes and dislikes. The book also gives a message of kindness and internal beauty. It is a beautiful, innocent story told with some great messages.The story and the illustrations compliment each other. The story is as much in the words as it is in the sketches.

Language 

The language is quite simple. Author possesses an innocence in the narration. It is also lyrical at times when the boy describes the girl. The entire narrative is lingering sweet.

Good points 

The cover page is beautiful. One of the best I have seen this year. The characters are quite innovative and the portrayal, simplistic. The content is short and sweet, flavor added by the author with narration. 

Bad points 

The story ended quick. A sweet story like this leaves you wishing there was more. 

Overall 

This book is a good product. The story can be read over and over again.

Who do I recommend this to? 

This book is for those who like to read beautiful books. Those who appreciate short and sweet stories are also going to love this one.

Quotable quotes

I don't want to take my costume off - I am a bird.

The worst is when it rains. I smell like wet dog. 

My toy cars, soccer and all the rest don't seem important.

And i don't look at birds the same way I did before.

Book Trailer

I received an ARC of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. The review is my own, entirely uninfluenced. 

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

'Gender matters everywhere in the world. And I would like today to ask that we should begin to dream about the plan for a different world. A fairer world. A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to start: we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently.' The book is an adaptation of a TED talk given by the author some time back. She is a men loving, make up wearing, fun and happy feminist. The author has compiled her thoughts on feminism in this short book. It is short but definitely differentiates feminists from pseudo feminists. 

Cover 

The cover art is very simple. It is some pattern with the name and title of the book displayed in bold. This is a good cover to be kept in the shelf. 

Content 

The book contains the talk given by the author on TED. The author touches all the topics which lead to feminism. The need of it today and lack of it ages ago. She also talks about how men have become the standard by which even women are judged. The author throughout makes it clear that men and women are two different genders. But to associate one gender to a chore is unfair. She says,'what if, in raising children, we focus on ability instead of gender? What if we focus on Interest instead of gender?' 

There is also an argument of calling for human rights rather than feminism since feminism is also human right. The author asserts the importance of specificity in the subject. 

Largely the author demands social change from men and women alike. The text is rich in logic and facts. The everyday behavior is well spoken in the talk by the author.

Language 

The language is very clean and to the point. The author does not like beating around the bush and it very evident in the text. There is also a direct addressing of the issues in the book which clears most of the stigma attached to the word 'feminists'. 

Good points 

The book is a great text in feminism. The author has addressed the issue head on. It is rich in observation. It is also a short read on the subject, for those who like to keep to the point. 

Bad points 

The book read more like a talk than a work of literature. It is from a talk on TED but even some change in text was expected. 

Overall 

The book is an excellent read on feminism. Must read for those who are interested in the subject.

Whom do I recommend this to 

This book is for those who want to learn about feminism but also want to be saved from false opportunistic voices. It is a great short read for those who like to keep things short and to the point.

Quotable quotes 

So I decided I would now be a Happy African Feminist Who Does Not Hate Men. At some point I was a Happy African Feminist Who Does Not Hate Men And Who Likes To Wear Lip Gloss And High Heels For Herself And Not For Men. 

Our society teaches a woman of certain age who is unmarried to see it as a deep personal failure. While a man at a certain age who is unmarried has not quite come around to making his pick. 

Some people ask, 'why the word feminist? Why not just say you as a believer in human rights, or something like that?' Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general- but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. 

For centuries, the world decided human beings into two groups and then proceeded to exclude and oppress one group. It is only fair that the solution to the problem should acknowledge that. 

Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture. 

Feminist: a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. 

My own definition of a feminist is a man or a woman who says,'Yes there's a problem with gender as it is today and we must fix it, do better.

MOVIE ADAPTATION II The DUFF II

  

”The DUFF“ is a book I read after I watched the trailer of the movie. The trailer was cute and the female lead seemed like she had substance. This was the reason I decided to pick up the book and read before watching the movie.

The book

The book was not what I expected. I assumed it to be an exceptional young adult romance, looking at the reviews from other bloggers. But it was a massive disappointment. Every scene in the book was meaningless. The paragraphs felt like they were forcibly put there. The romance seemed shallow. The author tried to compensate for all these with some quirky dialogues here and there, but that too got predictable at one point. I could not wait to finish the book!

The movie

The movie started out well. The female lead was quirky and always kept me on my foot. The male lead was someone I disliked the most! His characterization was also little skewed I felt. I mean how could he have been a player if he was a pet to the most famous girl in the school? The two friends of Bianca had little part to play in the movie. They were just sprinkled there to make the screen look pretty. Again a shallow characterization.

It has also spoilt Toby Tucker for me. He was probably the only sweet person in the entire book!

In the end, it isn’t about popularity or even getting the guy. It is about understanding that no matter what label is thrown your way, only you can define yourself.

Who wins?

Overall the movie was really shallow. If you want to watch the female lead please go ahead and watch it. I found myself regretting over wasting my time over the movie halfway.

The book is something I would not recommend to anyone who takes reading seriously. It is that bad.