Book vs. Movie: Rebecca

Whenever a movie is made of a favorite book I'm always torn. I'm so excited that I'll get to see my favorite story acted out but on the other hand what if it's terrible? It would ruin the experience! Many times the movie will divert from the original storyline and sometimes it's tolerable and sometimes it's terrible. I would say that just about every time the book is better than the movie. But, a side by side comparison will also show the movie is not so bad. 

 

This is one of my favorite stories and a favorite movie as well. The novel was released in 1938 and in 1940 Alfred Hitchcock adapted it to the big screen. The movie won two Academy Awards, one of which was Best Picture. 

This is the story of the unnamed narrator, a young girl in the service of the odious Mrs. Van Hopper. While the two are in Monte Carlo the narrator meets the mysterious Maxim de Winter. Rumors abound over the secretive aristocrat who lost his wife in a sailing accident. After only a few weeks Maxim proposes marriage and the narrator goes to live with him at his Cornwall manor, Manderly. There the new Mrs. De Winter receives a chilly welcome at best from the residents of Manderly; her greatest advesary lies in the frightening Mrs. Danvers, the former companion and confidante of the late Rebecca De Winter.

Was the first Mrs. De Winter a perfect wife and socialite, a paragon of virtues who managed to make every one like her? Worse, is Maxim still in love with her?

Or...was she evil, distant, and up to something sinister that still lingers at Manderly even after her death.

Thrilling both psychologically and physically, the only difference between the movie and book was one alteration of the events. The Hollywood Production Code had requirements that demanded that change of the event, but the ending remains somewhat the same.  

Hitchcock adapted the film wonderfully, Joan Fontaine is the perfect second Mrs. De Winter. It's hard to live up to the shadow of the first wife, especially when no one will say anything about her.

Nonfiction Niceties

Fiction is my first love, but sometimes when a subject is just too good to stick to one genre, I have to read the real background. Case in point being my love of history; sometimes I'd rather read the history book discussing a time period rather than a historical fiction novel based on the time period. So begins a nice little side series of some well-written nonfiction books!

What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew
by Daniel Pool

Have you ever wondered how to play whist? Ever thought about the difference between a Hall and a Park? Ever wondered what the difference was between a lawyer and a solicitor? And of course: Oxford or Cambridge?

For those fans of Austen, Brontë, Dickens, Trollope, and Gaskell, this book will explain any references you may not have gotten the first time around.
It covers every aspect of English life, from the government to society to economics. 
One of the best aspects of this book is the continuous references to popular 19th century books like The Eustace Diamonds, Emma, Jane Eyre, Can You Forgive Her?, and many others. It will explain the hallmark of a true lady or gentleman (the fact that they did not have to work for a living), what made certain trades acceptable (the fact that you did not accept money directly for services rendered), and how to address a Duke or Earl and what happened when you gambled away all of your property. It will explain currency, the smallest being the half farthing and the largest being the 1,000 pound note; holidays, the first of the year being Twelfth Night on January 5 and the last being Boxing Day,the first weekday after Christmas.

Also helpful is a large glossary with frequently used terms and phrases used in the books that are no longer used in today's society. For example; an abigail was a lady's maid, a bathing machine was a large covered wagon pulled by a horse in the water, and a boxseat is what the coachman driving your carriage would sit on.

Easy to read, divided into convenient sections and at times humorous, the book is an interesting supplementary read to whatever English literature you might be reading at the time.  



If you liked this then you will like: Governess: The Lives and Times of the Real Jane Eyres by Ruth Brandon

Spotlight on a Series

The Wheel of Time
By Robert Jordan

I first began reading this series about four years ago, I read the first four books but then left off. Not because I wasn't interested, but the books are big and enormously complex so I was slower reading them than other books. I picked them up again a year ago and got to book seven I believe, but then had to leave off again. 
The author, his real name is James Rigney and he is also well known for the Conan the Barbarian stories, died in 2007 before he could complete the series. Another author, Brandon Sanderson finished the series (books 12-14) using Jordan's notes and plans; the last book is due out in 2012. This brings it to a total of 14 books with a prequel to the first book published by Jordan three years before he died. 
The list:

0. New Spring -2004
1. The Eye of the World -1990
2. The Great Hunt -1990
3. The Dragon Reborn -1991
4. The Shadow Rising -1992
5. The Fires of Heaven -1993
6. Lord of Chaos -1994
7. A Crown of Swords 1996
8. The Path of Daggers -1998
9. Winter's Heart -2000
10. Crossroads of Twilight -2003
11. Knife of Dreams -2005
12. The Gathering Storm -2009
13. Towers of Midnight -2010
14. A Memory of Light -Due 2012    

The story is highly detailed and it would take a lot of time and space to highlight every aspect. The basic premise is good vs. evil. Rand is the Dragon Reborn, that is a savior that will prevent  the imprisoned Dark One from destroying the Wheel of Time. Rand discovers he has magic powers, only in his world only women, called Aes Sedai, are able to use their power without going mad. That is what happened to the last Dragon, his power drove him insane and he killed everybody he loved while fighting the Dark One. Rand is just a farm boy one day, the next both the savior and potential destroyer of the world. Because, if he goes mad before he defeats the Dark One he himself will destroy everyone.

The series draws greatly on mythology and duality of people and forces, evident influences of Buddhism and Daosim. Rand's world has all manner of creatures and people, both good and bad, in it. The immense thought and cultivation that went into the series is awe-inspiring. Universal Pictures bought the rights and supposedly, The Eye of the World is in development for release in 2011. 

For fans of fantasy, or even sci-fi, this series is perfect. Of course, most books of this nature have similar themes of good vs. evil, frightening creatures, magic, and political and social schemes in societies where it is perfectly normal to kill someone in your way(just as long as you're discreet). 

Enjoy! 

The best summary can be found here. 

Just Watched...

Red Eye 
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Brian Cox

Rating: PG-13

Score: 4/4

I don't usually give out a full score, I go a half point below it because I don't really think a movie could be absolutely perfect.  But I love this movie so much that I think it should be a full grade.


Lisa is the manager of a luxury hotel in Miami. When the movie begins she is on her way back to Miami from Dallas where she attended the funeral of her grandmother. Unfortunately she has to catch the red eye, because of the weather the flight has been delayed. 
While waiting for the plane she meets a handsome stranger named Jackson. We see the attraction between the two as they chat in the airport and finally discover they are actually sitting next to each other on the plane. But then it all goes wrong. 
Jackson reveals that his goal is actually to eliminate a political figure who is staying at Lisa's hotel. Jackson can use Lisa's authority to put the target in a room that can be easily accessed by the assassins. Jackson's leverage over Lisa? Her father's life. 
Lisa must find a way to save her father and the politician...oh and escape the man in the seat next to her.


It's chilling without being uncomfortable. It's edge-of-your-seat thrilling without wanting to hide under the blankets. It's the perfect combination! By far the best of the movie is Cillian Murphy as Jackson Ripner. Right after he tells Lisa what he will do she stands up in her seat on the plane. There is a perfect shot looking down at him and his chilling eyes; they're cold and emotionless and his raspy voice will make you believe he means what he threatens.