What are you reading?

[jekylljuice]

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

I'm now about 2/3 of the way through. Brilliant stuff, it surpasses Northern Lights, I'd say, whilst taking the storyline in a highly intriguing and completely unexpected direction.

Actually, it's painfully obvious by now where the adaptation of The Golden Compass went wrong, for not only did they rearrange a huge portion of the original narrative (clumsily, I might add), but they omitted quite possibly the most powerful and dramatic scene, which takes place at the end of the book. They...er...I...grrrr...I have no idea how they expect to handle things if they're intending to go on and adapt the Subtle Knife.

Well, don't let the Spectres bite.

[AerostarMonk]

Originally Posted by jekylljuice

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

I'm now about 2/3 of the way through. Brilliant stuff, it surpasses Northern Lights, I'd say, whilst taking the storyline in a highly intriguing and completely unexpected direction.

Actually, it's painfully obvious by now where the adaptation of The Golden Compass went wrong, for not only did they rearrange a huge portion of the original narrative (clumsily, I might add), but they omitted quite possibly the most powerful and dramatic scene, which takes place at the end of the book. They...er...I...grrrr...I have no idea how they expect to handle things if they're intending to go on and adapt the Subtle Knife.

Well, don't let the Spectres bite.

They filmed the last part of the book. The studio cut it out for fear of turning off audiences cut it out. What's funny is had they actually had left well enough alone and let Chris Weitz go with his original vision the movie probably would've been quite successful And don't worry, you'll never see anything adapted from His Dark Materials on the big screen again. Flop doesn't even begin to cover how much New Line lost from this venture.

For what it's worth I still think they were better with a failed first movie than a franchise that pissed off a ton of people by movie 3.

[the beninator!!]

i'm just starting les miserables

[some guy you dont know]

i just finished touching spirit bear. I didnt really get the ending, but it was still kinda cool.

[jekylljuice]

I'm now about half way through the Amber Spyglass, the last in the Dark Materials trilogy. Thus far, I'm finding it nothing less than an enjoyable continuation of the previous two novels, though I suppose there's still time for Mr. Pullman to spring a few unpleasant surprises on me.

Originally Posted by AerostarMonk

They filmed the last part of the book. The studio cut it out for fear of turning off audiences cut it out. What's funny is had they actually had left well enough alone and let Chris Weitz go with his original vision the movie probably would've been quite successful.

Yeah, I recently saw the trailer for the Golden Compass again, and I noticed that it contained a few brief glimpses of the excised climax. For what it's worth, my sympathies for the adaptation have increased in some fields. At least they did a good enough job with the casting.

From what I can make out, TGC did reasonably well overseas, so it's still up in the air as to whether further adaptations will be considered viable. Weitz claims that if it goes ahead, he hopes to restore the deleted conclusion and plans to be a lot less compromising with the remaining novels.

[Diamond Duchess]

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Another English thing I've been assigned (read:forced) to read for my English class. It's not that I don't appreciate, or like Shakespeare in any matter; It's just that I don't understand most of his language. It's confusing. Iambic pentameter is strange, it is.

Anyway, I'm into Act 3, Scene 3 in this play. Right now, I don't think it's too bad; it's suspensful, witty and kinda engaging. It's somewhat puzzling, is all.

[Imaginary Light]

Aah, I love Hamlet! My English teacher senior year was so good at teaching us Shakespeare that everyone in the room actually understood the play - and it's good. Your teacher should have you watch the movie as well; it's fantastic and a lot more entertaining than just reading a play

[Diamond Duchess]

Originally Posted by Imaginary Light

Aah, I love Hamlet! My English teacher senior year was so good at teaching us Shakespeare that everyone in the room actually understood the play - and it's good. Your teacher should have you watch the movie as well; it's fantastic and a lot more entertaining than just reading a play

Actually, we happen to be watching a movie version of the play along with the text. Funny you should mention that.

[Pawbah]

Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer. I dislike this book, but not enough to stop reading it.

[Imaginary Light]

Originally Posted by Diamond Duchess

Actually, we happen to be watching a movie version of the play along with the text. Funny you should mention that.

Pardon my curiosity, but which version do you happen to be watching? My class watched the version starring Mel Gibson and Helena Bonham Cater, but I know there's a version with Kate Winslet somewhere out there as well.

And to keep this post on topic...I'm currently reading Oliver Twist for my Literature of London and Dublin course. Great book, but any enjoyment I could possibly get out of reading such a fantastic story becomes buried, seeing as I have to finish the whole book, start to finish, by Wednesday, and I have much to do in the next couple of days that I may not finish it by then.