Inherent Vice
by Thomas Pynchon
Paul Thomas Anderson wrote and is directing this adaptation of Thomas Pynchon‘s novel with Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role.
Here’s the book synopsis:
Part noir, part psychedelic romp, all Thomas Pynchon–private eye Doc Sportello surfaces, occasionally, out of a marijuana haze to watch the end of an era.
It’s been awhile since Doc Sportello has seen his ex-girlfriend. Suddenly out of nowhere she shows up with a story about a plot to kidnap a billionaire land developer whom she just happens to be in love with. It’s the tail end of the psychedelic sixties in L.A., and Doc knows that “love” is another one of those words going around at the moment, like “trip” or “groovy,” except this one usually leads to trouble.
In this lively yarn, Thomas Pynchon, working in an unaccustomed genre, provides a classic illustration of the principle that if you can remember the sixties, you weren’t there… or… if you were there, then you… or, wait, is it…
Labor Day
by Joyce Maynard
I’m sorry to say I’ve already seen Jason Reitman‘s sappy adaptation of Joyce Maynard’s novel and in my review compared it to something I’d expect from a Nicholas Sparks adaptation. If you’re a fan of the book perhaps you’ll disagree.
Here’s the book synopsis:
With the end of summer closing in and a steamy Labor Day weekend looming in the town of Holton Mills, New Hampshire, thirteen-year-old Henry–lonely, friendless, not too good at sports–spends most of his time watching television, reading, and daydreaming about the soft skin and budding bodies of his female classmates. For company Henry has his long-divorced mother, Adele–a onetime dancer whose summer project was to teach him how to foxtrot; his hamster, Joe; and awkward Saturday-night outings to Friendly’s with his estranged father and new stepfamily. As much as he tries, Henry knows that even with his jokes and his “Husband for a Day” coupon, he still can’t make his emotionally fragile mother happy. Adele has a secret that makes it hard for her to leave their house, and seems to possess an irreparably broken heart.
But all that changes on the Thursday before Labor Day, when a mysterious bleeding man named Frank approaches Henry and asks for a hand. Over the next five days, Henry will learn some of life’s most valuable lessons: how to throw a baseball, the secret to perfect piecrust, the breathless pain of jealousy, the power of betrayal, and the importance of putting others–especially those we love–above ourselves. And the knowledge that real love is worth waiting for.
In a manner evoking Ian McEwan’s Atonement and Nick Hornby’s About a Boy, acclaimed author Joyce Maynard weaves a beautiful, poignant tale of love, sex, adolescence, and devastating treachery as seen through the eyes of a young teenage boy–and the man he later becomes–looking back at an unexpected encounter that begins one single long, hot, life-altering weekend.
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A Long Way Down
by Nick Hornby
Starring Aaron Paul and Rosamund Pike, A Long Way Down is the latest adaptation of a Nick Hornby (About a Boy) novel, which centers on four people who meet on New Year’s Eve and form a surrogate family to help one another weather the difficulties of their lives.
Here’s the book synopsis:
In his fourth novel, New York Times-bestselling author Nick Hornby mines the hearts and psyches of four lost souls who connect just when they’ve reached the end of the line.
Meet Martin, JJ, Jess, and Maureen. Four people who come together on New Year’s Eve: a former TV talk show host, a musician, a teenage girl, and a mother. Three are British, one is American. They encounter one another on the roof of Topper’s House, a London destination famous as the last stop for those ready to end their lives.
In four distinct and riveting first-person voices, Nick Hornby tells a story of four individuals confronting the limits of choice, circumstance, and their own mortality. This is a tale of connections made and missed, punishing regrets, and the grace of second chances.
Intense, hilarious, provocative, and moving, A Long Way Down is a novel about suicide that is, surprisingly, full of life.
The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Here’s another one of 2014’s young adult adaptations yet again bringing to life a post-apocalyptic world where kids have to do things and as you can see from the book synopsis below, comparisons to The Hunger Games and Divergent will be made.
Here’s the book synopsis:
The first book in the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series–The Maze Runner is a modern classic, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade–a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up–the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)
by Suzanne Collins
Speaking of The Hunger Games, the first part of the final book in Suzanne Collins’ series arrives and for my money’s worth, this was the best book of the three and showed Collins had no concerns with the traditional “happy” ending.
Here’s the book synopsis:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.
The Monuments Men
by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter
George Clooney‘s new film skipped the awards season and will arrive this February as the historical tale has been given a bit of a comedic jolt in its adaptation and hopefully it will entertain.
Here’s the book synopsis:
At the same time Adolf Hitler was attempting to take over the western world, his armies were methodically seeking and hoarding the finest art treasures in Europe. The Fuehrer had begun cataloguing the art he planned to collect as well as the art he would destroy: “degenerate” works he despised.
In a race against time, behind enemy lines, often unarmed, a special force of American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the Momuments Men, risked their lives scouring Europe to prevent the destruction of thousands of years of culture.
Focusing on the eleven-month period between D-Day and V-E Day, this fascinating account follows six Monuments Men and their impossible mission to save the world’s great art from the Nazis.
