We're an Open Book
BAS is taking part in the In My Mailbox meme started by The Story Siren. Each week bloggers post books that have arrived in their mailbox, picked up from the bookstore or purchased. Here are some books I’m getting ready to read
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – I just got this one in the mail from Albiris
Extras by Scott Westerfeld – Grabbed this one from the used book store, can’t wait to finish the trilogy. I’m currently reading Specials.
Readit1st is a new campaign that encourages people to read books before seeing the movie versions. I have taken the pledge, but that got me thinking–while anyone can make a list of books better than movie adaptations, I decided to make a list of movies as good as (if not better) than the original book.
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Ah, film tie-ins. Those wonderful (read: sarcasm ) things movie companies come up with to make even more money than they already have. Film tie-ins often come in the form of video games and collectible toys, but now we are seeing more movie tie-in book covers. You bought Breaking Dawn two years ago , right ? Well, You don’t own the one with Rpatz face on it !That’ll be $10.
I kind of have a love/hate relationship with tie-in covers. Mostly though, I hate them. They don’t serve much of a purpose except to make you buy the book again. Let’s take a look at the good, bad and ugly of tie in covers.
Better than the original
I like this cover. In fact, when I bought the book, I chose it over the original. The design of the tie-in seems to have become somewhat of an icon for Lauren Weisberger. All of her book covers are now released with a similar heel design, she even uses the heel motif on her website.
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| Original American Cover |
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| Movie Tie-in Cover |
The Good
Some tie-ins know how to blend the best of both worlds. They will just take elements of the original and work it together with the film tie-in. Both of these tie-ins used similar coloring and positioning as the original.
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| Original Cover |
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| Movie Tie-in cover |
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| Original Cover |
Don’t Look Now
This may just be a coincidence,but I was in the bookstore and I noticed when it comes to romantic themed novel tie-ins,they pretty much follow the same position;look deep into each others eyes and don’t look into the 4th wall. Usually this is done when it is a ‘celebrity romance’ they are trying to push. I think the reason they use this position is to draw our attention to the couple but, it was funny to me all the tie-ins follow this. Also, notice none of the original covers even have faces on them.
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| Movie Tie-in Cover |
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| Original Cover |
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| Original Cover |
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| Movie Tie-in cover |
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| Original Cover |
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| Movie Tie-in Cover |
Look Who is in This Book . . . Not, Really.
Some tie-ins just shamelessly put the actor front and center. A little shelf candy for your home library. I don’t know what Charlie St. Cloud is about but, ooh Zefron !
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| Original Cover |
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| Movie Tie-in |
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| Movie Tie-in |
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| Original Cover |
This is not my childhood
I find it really bizarre when suddenly the books of your childhood get the film tie-in cover. The Narnia covers of my childhood were the 1994 HarperCollins by Leo and Diane Dillon. You know, the purple and white ones. I mean okay, I admit . . . I do own the Prince Caspian with Ben Barnes on the cover.
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| Original Book Cover |
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| Movie Tie-in |
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| 1994 HarperCollins Cover |
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| Movie Tie-in |
Harry Potter
And then there are series like Harry Potter and it’s film tie- in covers. Oh wait . . . Harry Potter don’t play that. There are no film tie-in covers for Harry Potter because they don’t need them. I mean, okay I will admit as far as merchandising tie-ins Harry Potter does seem have everything else. Still, I’d rather eat a bag of Beritie Botts Every Flavor Jellybean than buy a book I already have because Daniel Radcliffe is on the cover.
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Written By Kat
Wall Street Journal has created a list of 9 upcoming books that might be (but probably won’t be) the next Harry Potter. A few of these books look like they might have merit and may end up on my book list. Here are our thoughts
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