Come Back Another Day...

...not you, I mean the rain. You should come back every day! I love a good stay-in-and-read-rain, but after a couple of days I miss the sun and our patrons. Surely, such poor weather can't keep you guys away from us?

According to our numbers (and the empty building) the rain can and has driven everyone home. I don't blame you, but let it be known that SAPL staff need some visitors or we will declare ourselves hermits and invest in a medium-sized cave.

An actual hermit cave located in New England. I believe it's on the market now.

All jokes aside, there is nothing new to report in our little library world. Books come in and books go out. Speaking of books, I've read a few lately and watched the movies. 

I know this is a heated subject: movie vs. book, actors vs. book characters. How dare Hollywood taint our pristine books by re-making them into half-decent films! I have a friend who refuses to watch the Harry Potter movies because she thinks they will be absolute rubbish when compared to the book. I have to admit, most movies can't hold a flame to our favorite reads. There is always that favorite scene that the screen writers left out or the actors come no where close to how we envisioned the characters. 

It's difficult to watch book-based films. I do it though. Recently, I've been watching the movies before reading the books. Please, withhold your utter disdain and disappointed looks for a few minutes while I explain why. 

I know from experience that movies can never match the book. So, why be disappointed in the movie when you can use it to pique your interest?

Before two months ago I had no interest in reading Cassandra Clare's The Mortals Instruments Series. Why would my 20-something self be interested in some teen fantasy? Then I watched, The City of Bones and I thought...can the books be anything like this movie? 

I have now read the prequel series The Infernal Devices and am on book five of The Mortal Instruments Series. I am suprised to be enjoying them so much and I never would have picked them up had it not been for the half-decent film which just barely followed the book. That's right film makers, you didn't get it right again.

Last week, I finally buckled down and watched I Am Number Four which is based on a book by Pittacus Lore in the popular series the Lorien Legacies. I have never read the books (which helped me get through the movie no doubt). Can you guess what's on my summer reading list? The movie wasn't great, but I've seen worse. It always seems like the actors forget to develop the characters and the movie makes up for the lack of development with explosives. I watched and craved more information. What were these characters really like in the book? How does Four grow as a person? How does his relationships with humans change and evolve? Did anyone else think of Superman as they watched this film? 

Well, I won't find these answers in the movie. So it's to the shelves for me and perhaps the next time you see a book-based film coming out, instead of groaning about its undeniable rubbishness compared to the book, think about those who haven't read the book and might be give it a try based on the movie.

The movies that encouraged me to give the books a shot.

Well, it's stopped raining. Did the door just chime? 

Let's hope the sun comes out and you guys come to visit.

Yours in fairly-decent-movies and great reads, 

Sarah

Current Read: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Current Mood: Rain, rain stop chasing my patrons away.

Current position: Curled up under a blanket.