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Book Club - by Suhaili

Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb


I recently reviewed the final part of the Farseer trilogy on this blog. For anyone who's stumbled across this and is unfamiliar with Robin Hobb's brilliant Farsser trilogy, I apologise for the obscure and self-indulgent nature of today's blog. Anyway, before I continue, here are links to reviews of the three books in the trilogy...

Assassin's Apprentice
Royal Assassin
Assassin's Quest

Anyway, after reviewing the last of these books I got thinking about how cool it would be to see a faithful film adaptation of the trilogy. I spoke with my flatmate Marko a bit about it and we bandied about some actors we'd like to see cast in the main roles. Here's my dream cast...

Fitz - I'm at a loss as to who I would cast as the main character. As the trilogy charts roughly ten years of his life it would be neccessary to use two seperate actors (most likely) or to film the three books over a long amount of time (which probably wouldn't work as it's essential that the Fool doesn't really age throughout the three books). Anyway, I think an unknown would be best suited to playing Fitz.

Burrich - Ray Winstone would be perfect for this role. He might be getting a little too old now but hey, it's my dream cast so back off!

Chade - John Hurt would match this role to a T as well. Hurt has the craggy features, rasping voice and that prematurely aged looked about him. He also excels at playing characters like Chade; enigmatic rogues who exist on the fringes of society.

The Fool - I can't picture anyone as the Fool except for a young Paul McGann. McGann is too old now, so I don't know. An unknown would probably be the best bet, and someone fairly androgynous.

Prince Verity - Jonathan Frakes. Yes, Riker from 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'. I realise this is the weakest and most b-grade link in my cast, but for some reason when I read the books I couldn't get the image of Frakes out of my head. George Clooney would be a more classy choice, and he'd suit it too, but I think I'd go with my gut feeling and give Frakes a shot.

Prince Regal - Jude Law. Law is a great actor and I'd love to see him play this preening, villainous character.

Molly - I'd cast Zooey Deschanel, cause she's cute and a good actress too.

Kettricken - I'm stuck for Kettricken. Don't know who I'd get to play her.

Kettle - Likewise for Kettle from the third book, some old and famous lady no doubt.

Will - Haley Joel Osment is about the right age now to play this underestimated, sleepy-eyed nemesis of Fitz.

King Shrewd - Peter O'Toole would make a great old frail and wiley king. But if he died before the books could be filmed (which is likely, he looked like he was going to die right there and then when he didn't win the Oscar this year) I'd cast Patrick McGoohan, who could bring some cunning and uncertainty to the role.

Galen - Daniel Day-Lewis would play the hell out of this treacherous dog. I doubt he'd accept the role though, but as this is all make-believe I guess that hardly matters!

Have you read these books? Who would you cast?
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The Costa Book Awards

March 17th 2007 23:59
Tenderness of Wolves
The winner of the Costa Book prize for 2006


Previously known as the Whitbread Award, this award was taken over by a different sponsor and has been re-named accordingly. The Costa Book Awards are awarded in five categories – Best Novel, Best First Novel, Best Children’s Book, Best Poetry and Best Biography – and are eligible to be won by United Kingdom-based authors. Below are the Best Novel winners, which are less genre-specific than most literary-awards (and hence, less snobby!)…

‘How Far Can You Go’ – David Lodge (1980)
‘A Good Man in Africa’ – William Boyd (1981)
‘On the Black Hill’ – Bruce Chatwin (1982)
‘Flying to Nowhere’ – John Fuller (1983)
‘A Parish of Rich Women’ – James Buchan (1984)
‘Elegies’ – Douglas Dunn (1985)
‘An Artist of the Floating World’ – Kazuo Ishiguro (1986)
‘Under the Eye of the Clock’ – Christopher Nolan (1987)
‘The Comforts of Madness’ – Paul Sayer (1988)
‘Coleridge: Early Visions’ – Richard Holmes (1989)
‘Hopeful Monsters’ – Nicholas Mosley (1990)
‘A Life of Picasso’ – John Richardson (1991)
‘Swing Hammer Swing!’ – Jeff Torrington (1992)
‘Theory of War’ – Joan Brady (1993)
‘Felicia’s Journey’ – William Trevor (1994)
‘The Moor’s Last Sigh’ – Salman Rushdie (1996)
‘Tales From Ovid – Ted Hughes (1997)
‘Birthday Letters’ – Ted Hughes (1998)
‘Beowulf’ – Seamus Heaney (1999)
‘English Passengers’ – Matthew Kneale (2000)
‘The Amber Spyglass’ – Philip Pullman (2001)
‘Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self’ – Claire Tomalin (2002)
‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ – Mark Haddon (2003)
‘Small Island’ – Andrea Levy (2004)
‘Matisse The Master’ – Hilary Spurling (2005)
‘The Tenderness of Wolves’ – Stef Penney (2006)
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Severus Snape


Someone asked me this question the other day and it got me thinking. I couldn't answer it straight away as there are so many great characters...

Sirius Black is way cool. Ron always entertains me. Dumbledore and McGonagall both have their moments, and Mundungus is great too. But I think when it comes down to it I'd have to say my favourite character is Professor Snape.

Every time I read a Harry Potter book I find myself just thinking, 'Hurry up and get to the next Snape bit!' He always keeps me glued to the page, and no matter what he says or does I'm still never 100% sure about him. Is he good or bad? Where do his allegiances really lie? Well, the exciting thing is - we'll finally get some kind of answer when the final Harry Potter book is released this June.

So, anyway, who's your favourite Harry Potter character?
Do you think Snape is good or bad?
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tintin blue lotus


This is only marginally book-related (comics), but I love Tintin so much that I think I'll put this piece of news up here anywhere.

It looks like Steven Spielberg is finally making a live-action Tintin film. I remember reading a couple of years ago that he currently owned the rights but wasn't intending to do anything with them yet... but, well, it looks like the time has come!

For anyone who's been away for the last 80 years, Tintin is a world famous Belgian comic by gifted artist and storyteller, Herge. The comics detail the adventures of a morally-upstanding boy-journalist who travels all over the world with his dog, Snowy. The stories are a mix of political satire and heart-stopping adventure with a big wallop of old-fashioned derring do and a great cast of supporting characters.

It should be noted that Spielberg might just be acting as producer, it's his company, Dreamworks, that will be making the film - a director is yet to be announced. I don't think Spielberg will direct himself as he tends to only make HUGE movies these days and I can't really see a Tintin film being a blockbuster along the lines of War of the Worlds. Here's hoping Spielberg doesn't cast Tom Hanks as Tintin either!

The good news is that Herge Studios (set up back in 1950 to help the author of Tintin put his comic serials together) is involved and has already started pre-production. The film is scheduled for release in 2009. It's yet to be decided or announced which particular Tintin adventure will be adapted for film.

So... Tintin fans reading this... what Tintin adventure would you like to see on the big screen?
And who should play Tintin? Or (if the story is one that involves him) who should play Captain Haddock?

Personally, I'd love to see 'The Blue Lotus' but unfortunately I don't think it will happen because it's connected to another adventure, 'The Cigars of the Pharoahs'. Others I'd like to see include 'The Crab with the Golden Claws' and 'The Broken Ear'.

As for Tintin, if this was made ten years ago then I think Jude Law would've been good, but I have no idea who I'd cast now. Maybe Leonardo DiCaprio? He has that boyish look about him, and he's been proving himself to be a pretty great actor lately... maybe he's too old as well though.
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New books in March and Beyond

March 9th 2007 08:31
Carrying on from yesterday's post, here are some more new releases and a forthcoming release.

The Widow and her Hero

[ Click here to read more ]
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New books in March

March 8th 2007 08:10
Well, there have been a lot of new books coming out lately, and a few more on the horizon too. I thought I'd talk a little bit about some of them over today and tomorrow.

lady friday

[ Click here to read more ]
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Pullitzer Prize for Fiction

March 6th 2007 10:29
march by geraldine brooks


I'm kind of snowed under a bit lately with stuff, haven't really had much of a chance to read any books. Anyway, I figure I might as well put up another list of Prize-winning novels - better than not putting anything up at all, ay


[ Click here to read more ]
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Elizabeth Jolley dies

March 3rd 2007 10:20
Elizabeth Jolley
Elizabeth Jolley (1923-2007)


I'm not really all that familiar with her work, but I thought I'd report this anyway (albeit belatedly), as she made quite a dent on Australia's literary scene in her time


[ Click here to read more ]
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Working in bookstores, and being around books all day, and always thinking about books because of this blog, and trying to find time to read books... it all adds up to books on the brain. So it's only natural that, despite having close to fifty unread books currently sitting on my shelf, I would be drawn to a few other books I've spotted lately. I can't help myself. Here are some tempting tomes I've been eyeing off and hoping to read soon...

Wasp Factory

[ Click here to read more ]
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New Up & Coming Books

February 27th 2007 04:08
Tolkein


The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkein
[ Click here to read more ]
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Films Based on Books

February 24th 2007 08:47
I'm going to do something a bit different today. I'm going to talk about (and link to reviews of) some films that have been based on novels.

Little Children

[ Click here to read more ]
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Commonwealth Writers Prize

February 22nd 2007 03:40
The Carpathians


Just a quick post today, thought I'd put up a list of the Commonwealth Writers Prize winners. There's a few good books in the list, so I'd say it's pretty reputable guide if you're looking for some decent literature to read


[ Click here to read more ]
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Some upcoming releases

February 20th 2007 00:12
Here are three books that should be coming to our shores in the next couple of months.


[ Click here to read more ]
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rrrrrrrrrraaaa

February 14th 2007 00:40
ar ara r ara
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