Category: books
Women’s Ministry
…and the Shofar Blew, a novel
As you all know, I don’t write book reviews as such. But, I would like to tell you about this book that I just finished reading. In some ways I read it twice, maybe three times in the one sitting. That is, I read the beginning. I read some of the chapters in the middle. Then I read the last chapter. Then I read the whole book right through. I pick up a lot more when I do that. And, so, I think I can fill you in with my thoughts now that I’ve had a day to think on it.
Marly Recommends Books – New Blog ideas
I’m going to start a monthly/weekly/whenever book recommendation post. So here’s the first one.
Only the best YA series ever written, by Australian author, John Marsden.
The Tomorrow Series (seven books) is about a group of teenagers who go camping one holidays and return to find that they have been invaded by another country.
The books pose the question of what would you do if something like this happened to you? And how would a bunch of ordinary every day Aussie kids survive in a war/invasion.
Told from the point of view of Ellie Linton this series is powerful and moving and asks the hard questions whilst staying true to what these teens would be going through normally with puberty and feelings and everything else.
I’ve read the series so many times I’m surprised I don’t know it off by heart. Definitely one I recommend, wholeheartedly.
(I read these for the first time in the late 90s/early noughties when I was in my early teens and then read them again over the ensuing years and when they put out the movie several years ago for the first book, I was so excited and the film didn’t disappoint)
Tomorrow When The War Began
I have to say it.
John Marsden revolutionised teen novels. Tomorrow When the War Began has to have been the best book I ever read in high school. The whole series is amazing. A strong female narrator, a teenager no less. Great characters, real, young, feisty, fun, serious, and an amazing notion. What if Australia was invaded?
What would you do?
The books kept me riveted, I couldn’t put them down. I can’t count the number of times I read and re-read the first three books.
What intrigued me was the fact that the main character was a female, considering John Marsden is a guy.
The character Homer Yannos must be my first literary crush. I always had a thing for him lol.
And now comes the main point of this.
I went and saw the movie and I have to say out of all the book-to-movie adaptations TWTWB is the best of the lot that I’ve seen.
They stayed true to the book, changing only minor details [giving the kids webcams, laptops, mobile phones and changing one scene having Chris and Robyn involved with the blowing up of Cobblers, but it kind of fit with the dynamics so I didn’t mind that so much – oh and Flip wasn’t a basset hound…lol].
I cried when Corrie got shot…even though I knew it was going to happen.
There was some priceless clips as well, like Kevin’s face while Chris was talking about finding out what was going on. Chris the way they characterised him was absolutely hilarious.
I could go on, but I’d be gushing. Overall an amazing effort. Some of the acting wasn’t perfect, but I think for all of them it was the first time doing a major motion picture. And it was a perfect feel.
I loved Deniz as Homer, even though he wasn’t exactly how I pictured him in the books. Too good looking. But, hey, it’s a movie. Literary license, eh?
The soundtrack was good. Steer by Missy Higgins was a good opening track.
So overall, I give this movie two thumbs up. 😀 And a great big smile. I’d definitely watch it again :D.
Tomorrow When The War Began
I have to say it.
John Marsden revolutionised teen novels. Tomorrow When the War Began has to have been the best book I ever read in high school. The whole series is amazing. A strong female narrator, a teenager no less. Great characters, real, young, feisty, fun, serious, and an amazing notion. What if Australia was invaded?
What would you do?
The books kept me riveted, I couldn’t put them down. I can’t count the number of times I read and re-read the first three books.
What intrigued me was the fact that the main character was a female, considering John Marsden is a guy.
The character Homer Yannos must be my first literary crush. I always had a thing for him lol.
And now comes the main point of this.
I went and saw the movie and I have to say out of all the book-to-movie adaptations TWTWB is the best of the lot that I’ve seen.
They stayed true to the book, changing only minor details [giving the kids webcams, laptops, mobile phones and changing one scene having Chris and Robyn involved with the blowing up of Cobblers, but it kind of fit with the dynamics so I didn’t mind that so much – oh and Flip wasn’t a basset hound…lol].
I cried when Corrie got shot…even though I knew it was going to happen.
There was some priceless clips as well, like Kevin’s face while Chris was talking about finding out what was going on. Chris the way they characterised him was absolutely hilarious.
I could go on, but I’d be gushing. Overall an amazing effort. Some of the acting wasn’t perfect, but I think for all of them it was the first time doing a major motion picture. And it was a perfect feel.
I loved Deniz as Homer, even though he wasn’t exactly how I pictured him in the books. Too good looking. But, hey, it’s a movie. Literary license, eh?
The soundtrack was good. Steer by Missy Higgins was a good opening track.
So overall, I give this movie two thumbs up. 😀 And a great big smile. I’d definitely watch it again :D.
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