Is the Book Always Better Than the Movie?

Aslan, don't you just
want one of your own?  I do.

This week I've (the Big Sister) been listening to the complete collection of Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.  When I started listening to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe I remembered the movie, so we went to the library and borrowed a copy. 


I watched it once before when I was a little kid and it scared me, but this time I knew what was going to happen.  There were a few animated faces that were freaky, The White Witch's creatures, Mom fast forwarded those parts.  In the beginning it shows the war which wasn't in the book at all, that scared me more than the Witch's army --it was modern war and there were bombs, not the swords and spears and swashbuckling that I am into.  In fact, the battle scene was my favorite, you could tell it was animated-- even though there were cyclops, ogres and freaky faced creatures, no scary dark dreams last night.


I thought the movie The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe couldn't be as good as the book but it turned out better than I expected.  After reading the book and watching the movie this week I am left with a feeling of glee and wishing I was lived in Narnia. 


An interesting fact: C.S. Lewis wrote the books for his God-daughter Lucy.  If you want to read more, get a copy and read the letter from C.S. Lewis to Lucy -- it is just before the Cast of Characters List.  Another interesting fact:  C.S stands for Clive Staples!

Don't be like George Washington

We are in the middle of solving a little mystery:  The Case of the Three Missing Books.  The Mom remembers putting them into the "library bag", the Little Sister was a witness, the Big Sister and the Dad remember returning them to the library.  But somehow, these books have... disappeared.  


The investigation began with an all out search and then we contacted the three library branches involved because we Interlibrary Loan.  An Interlibrary Loan is when one library borrows a book from another and then loans it out to a patron.  We use this service all the time, it is a great resource, just one of the reasons  we are carefully examining the path of the missing books.   Many phone calls later, coupled with kind library staff searching the stacks for us, still no books.  The next step involves a few different options.

We will not, however, be like George Washington and just let it go. You see, our first president George Washington himself forgot to return a book and that book amassed fines that would approximate $300,000.   The unreturned book, "The Law of Nations", was nowhere to be found (click here to read an article and see a photo of the book.) As the story goes 221 years later the staff at Mount Vernon wanted to maintain George's reputation as a good library patron and replaced the book for a mere $12,000.  A deal compared to the fines!

I hereby absolve George Washington and his representatives for any overdue library fees incurred," said Charles Berry, the New York Society Library's chairman of the board of trustees, during a ceremony in the stately Members' Room.  (click here to read the full article in the NY Daily News.)

While we have not solved The Case of the Three Missing Books we have learned a valuable lesson:  when a library book is lost call the library, you'll find that the folks who work at the library are happy to help and work with you to find a solution.  And while there are no ceremonies for folks who decide to work with the library to find or replace lost books, it feels much better than watching the overdue fines multiply!


Take a Challenge, sign up for Weekly Challenge Delivery, follow us on Twitter, tell us where you are from or share your thoughts on the project.  The Books for Walls Project loves your participation so tell us your stories and help us get out in the world --thank you!

If I Could Live in a Book Challenge

photo credit: NASA

While following the journey of the Space Shuttle Atlantis (landing today at 8:48am)  we had a number of discussions about whether we would like to be an astronaut, if we could live within their story.  Just look at that picture,  could you ride into that adventure? 

In honor of the STS-132 Mission we give you the If I Could Live in a Book Challenge, tell us about a book that you would like to be in, that you would like to experience, temporarily of course --whether fiction or non-fiction!

Please use the following format for your comment:

Title of Book, Author, and why you would like to live in this book.

7 out of 7 We made it to all of them!

With a visit from an island off the coast of Africa... we made it to all of the Continents!

Grand Beach Anse, Seychelles photo credit

Another goal met!  A red dot appeared on what looks like the archipelago of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa.  Since our Clustr map didn't list Seychelles, we had to guess.  Since there are no other islands in the area we feel pretty confident.  Now we want to plan a visit  -- it looks amazing, click here to read the Seychelles Nation Newspaper and get the basics from the BBC click here.


We had to guess about the red dot out in the Indian Ocean which prompted us to want to learn --directly from our readers-- where you are from.  So please tell us where you are from, click here!


Welcome Seychelles, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Belgium, Greece, 
Singapore, Thailand, Albania, and India.   Country Count: 31, State Count: 36, Continent Count: 7

The Week's Highlights -the LONG post!

Saturday morning The Mom wakes up a little earlier than usual to put together the Highlights from the week --And this week we had some very cool highlights:

Books in Space!  Well its not a novel, its a notebook that Mission Specialist Piers Sellers has strapped to his leg (far left, his hand is touching the notebook.)  In an interview with CNN he explained that he carries to refer to. Learn more about Piers Sellers, click here.

The Rock and Roll Hall of fame is on the What's Going Up List (click here to read more.)  For a great interview with Garrett Reisman (who we are following!) go to the Rock Hall's Blog, click here.

We also learned that Space has a smell, its smells like electricity --according to the astronauts up there on Mission STS-132 and their daily home videos!

On Monday we offered exclusive photos of the library on Antarctic at Mc Murdo Station --we were pretty happy to learn about the habits of readers on that big cold continent (did you know that Antarctica is a desert?)  Click here for the library photos and exactly how Antarctica is a desert!  And thanks again to Marika, our friend way down there!

This week we introduced The Writer, Tracey Kukla-Aleshire to read more about her and our newest Regular Contributors, click here.  We have more introductions coming --if you want to become a Regular Contributor, email us.

And before you get to the comments, one last thing:  The Dreamer is our go to girl for getting the Books for Walls Project out in the world.  She helped us get motivated to start a Twittering, we took a vote and we all agreed that it could be fun --so follow us https://twitter.com/booksforwalls.

Now, enjoy your comments.  And thank you for being a part of the Books for Walls Project! 

The First Line/Last Line Challenge 

No posts this week click here to add your First Line/Last Line

The Childhood in a Book Challenge  

No posts this week click here to add a book that reminds you of being a child

The Haiku Your Book Challenge  

The Four of Us said...

The Complete Practical Guide to Gardening with Annuals, Bulbs and Perennials 

by Richard Bird and Kathy Brown

today we gardened

inspired in the plant world

this book helped a lot.

The Sisters and the Mom worked on this one... after gardening and catching this years first toad!

To add your Haiku click here

The Share Thy Shakespeare Challenge  

No posts this week click here to add your thoughts on Shakespeare

The Bedtime Story Challenge 

No posts this week click here to help us fall asleep...

The What Are You Reading RIGHT NOW! Challenge

No posts this week click here, tell us what you are reading!

On Ice in Antarctica Challenge 

Kathy Daniels said...

Books to leave for others at the McMurdo Station…hhhhmmm…three come to mind after much pondering.

All Saints by Robert Ellsberg, is my first choice, like jolylynbarrett. A dear Jesuit friend said he gives this treasured book as a Christmas gift. Folks from all faiths, cultures, and ranks are highlighted as “Witnesses for Our Times” with quotes, a brief history and reflection. Truly inspiring reading for meditation as well as learning!

Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson who is a real-life Indiana Jones character with a humanitarian goal in Taliban territory is my second. 

Mortenson’s quest for meaning, mission, as well as adventure might mirror and inspire the McMurdo Crew. The book would be a great read to discuss.

The Oxford Concise English Dictionary with all the amazing word etymologies is my third choice. Great for word comprehension and for those long scrabble games on a snowy winter’s eve. 

Kudos to Marika and the whole McMurdo Crew!

Click here, tell us what book you'd leave in Antarctica!

Yourstory

None here.  Tell us yours, you know you have a good one, click here.

Is the Book Always Better than the Movie?

Anela said...

Harry potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling

I couldnt believe this one! I mean all the other movies were fine but really? It may not be nearly as bad as the LIGHTNING THEIF which I adored the book, but still... There was no lead up for the next movie! I mean the book was great but there were intricate plots tied around that book that made things in the deathly Hallows possible. I love the actors but without a good director everything falls to pieces!!!!

The Big Sister said...

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

I liked the movie a little more than the book --I like Anne Hathaway and she did a good job as the part of Ella. After I watched the movie I read the book and I could tell the movie did a good job catching important parts of the book. I suggest the book and the movie whole-heartedly.

Click here and tell us about good movie adaptations!

The Really Really Really Good Book Challenge

The Mom said...

Thank you Big Sister for this fantastic idea --we needed a place to shout from the roof tops about good books! It's a good follow up to The What are you Reading RIGHT NOW challenge too --since my REALLY REALLY REALLY good book is one listed there!

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan and Peter Sis

What got me to pick this book up was the offer of insight into Pablo Neruda's Childhood. Between the simple prose and pointillistic illustrations I was easily swept into Neftali (Neruda's) childhood and found myself seeking out the poetry of nature, noticing the color of the sky, the leaves as they unfold...

While this is a young adult title, it is a balanced book of history, poetry, and inspiration for any age.

jolynbarrett said...

Grandmothers Counsel the World by Carol Schaefer

A few years ago, The Mom recommended this book to me so I picked it up and read it and recommended it and passed it around and bought copies to give people and reread it more than once.

It is a collection of the wisdom of 13 indigenous "grandmothers" - women elders from tribes around the world - who came together, without knowing one another, yet fulfilling an ancient prophecy. As they shared their stories and their insights with one another and with me, I got a profound sense of the underlying unity and community permeating all of creation, and of my participation in and responsibility toward it. Though the focus is, understandably, on the role of woman, this is a message for all of humankind. This is a REALLY REALLY REALLY good book

The Big Sister and The Little Sister said...

The Princess Plot (aka Skogland, in its original German) by Kirsten Boie --we found her website, but its in German, so you might need to translate! (www.kirsten-boie.de) The Sister's have listened to the book on tape, here is what they have to say about it:

The Little Sister likes it because "its kind of adult humor --that I like, in French I think it would be funny. If you like dogs there are dogs. She acts like a princess but she's really not!"

The Big Sister says, "it is exciting, it's REALLY good, it's in a make believe place in modern times. The plot hooks you, you get sucked into it and then all of the sudden its over. And I have to read it again!!"

The Big Sister said...

Wings 

by E. D. Baker

A fairy tale set in modern times about a girl who has always been different and in the book she realizes why. Some of the background is Midsummer Night's Dream characters Titania and Oberon and a whole lot of mythical creatures! I like it so much that as soon as we finished it, I had to read it again --in one day I am already on Chapter 5.

You can read the first chapter here www.edbakerbooks.com/wingsfront.htm

Margie said...

The Three Questions

Jon J. Muth

There are times when I'm having a tough day...that I've found myself in the children's book section of the library or a bookstore and I feel great comfort by letting my eyes wander over the titles. I picked this book up one day and it changed my life! 

It's a book for children and adults and asks three important questions...and the questions are ANSWERED!

I dearly love this book and I love giving it as a gift...to children AND especially adults.

Tracey said...

Family Matters

By Rohinton Mistry

This book is about aging, regrets, compassion, and how at times, despite our sincerest efforts, history can repeat itself. Set in India, Mistry delicatly unfolds this family story in a way that is so touching I didn't want it to end.

The true sign of an amazing book is when you are sad to realize that you only have one chapter left.  Find it at a library near you, click here.

windcatcher said...

There are soooooooo many wonderful books i've read. hmmmm. one i really like:

Walk Two Moons 

by Sharon Creech

in this book the main charecter, Salamancea, notices the little things about people. it involves a wise old woman, an over-reactive freind and Sal's Gram who is always saying huzza,huzza. this book gave me a laugh.  Click here for more.

Anonymous said...

Red Pyramid

Rick Riordan

It was more than awesome! It connects the real world to egyptian mythology(which is my favorite subject) while also using real places real history and just spicing it up. it kept me on my toes the whole book and I can't wait for the next one! It was funny, suspenseful, with things that people can relate to like losing a family member or being separated from a sibling but made them seem like signs for cool things you could never imagine! While also being smpathetic and making them seem real. Rick Riordan never ceases to amaze me!

Click here and tell us about the Really Really Really Good book you are reading

Have a great weekend! 

**We are working on the best way to simply share the site while maintaining our reader's privacy.  For now just share our 

RSS feed:  http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebooksforwallsproject  

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/booksforwalls  

and best of all tell them to come right here: www.booksforwallsproject.org