Link Up With My Bookshelf

For my blogging friends, new and existing, I have now included Linky as a means to follow this blog.  If you are a WordPress blog, you know that as of March GFC (Google Friend Connect) sponsored by Google will no longer be available to blogs that are not Google Blogger.  Therefore, to make following me and this blog easier, I have included a Linky follower section on the right hand side panel.  You can sign up with Linky at www.linkytools.com to set up Linky for your blog.  Once you are in the system, you can follow any blogs of your choice that are Linky capable.

Best Selling Author Jeffrey Zaslow Dead at 53

Author Jeffrey Zaslow was a columnist with the Wall Street Journal and author and co-author of a few books, one of which I am currently reading, The Magic Room.  He passed away February 10, 2012 in a car accident wherein he reportedly lost control of his vehicle on a snowy highway in northern Michigan and collided with a truck.  Jeffrey Zaslow is survived by his wife, Sherry Margolis; three daughters, and his parents.  You may read the complete article from the Wall Street Journal here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203646004577215574045345682.html

We Bought a Zoo - books to movies

Directed by Cameron Crowe; starring Matt Damon (Benjamin Mee), Scarlet Johansson (Kelly Foster - the head zoo keeper), Thomas Church (Benjamin's brother), Colin Ford (Dylan), and Maggie Elizabeth Jones (Rosie).

We Bought A Zoo, which premiered in theatres December 2011, is based on the book of the same title written by Benjamin Mee.  We Bought a Zoo is based on the real life story of the Mees who, in the movie, desperately needed a change after Benjamin's wife Katherine, died of cancer, leaving him with a son and daughter to care for.  In the movie, son Dylan is 14 and the daughter, Rosie is 7. Each is coping in a different manner, but it is Dylan's frequent school suspensions and his disturbing art work that convinces father, Benjamin, to seek another place to give everyone a fresh start.  Thus, when real estate hunting, the home they find and Benjamin falls in love with is actually on zoo property.

Different obstacles become apparent, both human and animal, but Benjamin is not a quitter and we, the viewer, admire his tenacity.  His family needs this dream and he is determined to see it to fruition.  The funny thing is, as life goes, those things that seem like obstacles, often are the very things that help us heal.

There is a lovely scene that is so endearing, the scene of Rosie all tucked in bed, literally buried beneath all her stuffed toys and the father/daughter talk that follows about capturing Mommy's spirit and keeping her in your heart, all of which Dylan hears while standing outside the door, tears running down his cheeks, to match my own.  Yes, this is a bit of a tear jerker for the sentimental of heart.  You just have to love this little girl who, with her sweet innocent childlike affectation, announces at the hardware store, "We bought a zoo!"  Her enthusiasm is contagious!  

The entire film is a scenic treat, complete with rolling hills, a grizzly, tigers and wildlife in abundance.  Though the original story is in England, the movie version is in Southern California, United States, which I thought at first would be a deterrence for me, but the setting is perfectly chosen and conducive to Rosemoor Wildlife Park (Dartmoor Zoological Park)  Quoted from the Dartmoor Zoological Park site: "Set in 33 acres of beautiful woodland with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, Dartmoor Zoo is a unique, family owned zoo with a fantastic collection of animals including the widest variety of big cats in the south west of England.

Formerly known as Dartmoor Wildlife Park, the zoo was purchased by the Mee family and following major refurbishment work, reopened in July 2007 as Dartmoor Zoological Park. The story of those early days can be found here. It was also captured in the BBC documentary, Ben's Zoo and in Benjamin Mee's book, We Bought a Zoo which has been published in over 20 countries. In the Hollywood adaptation of We Bought A Zoo, Dartmoor Zoological Park becomes, "Rosemoor Wildlife Park" set in California."

Great quote from the movie:

Benjamin Mee: "You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."

Screen Rant reviewed this movie and included a viewer poll that of 735 voters, 53% gave it a five star review, 33% a four-star rating! I concur! We Bought a Zoo is a buyer for your DVD/blu-ray collection.  (Releases April 3, 2012 in the USA)

*note: In the memoir, Katherine dies a few months before the zoo opening, after her brain cancer returns.  By this time, the family have already been making strides to reopen the wildlife sanctuary in the English countryside.  

The memoir, We Bought a Zoo, was published by Doubleday Canada (trade paperback ISBN 978-0385666213).  We Bought a Zoo is available in bookstores near you, at Amazon.ca, Barnes & Noble, Indigo.ca (in both trade paperback and hardcover ISBN  978-0385666213).  Also available as an audio book and an ebook.

Lauren Oliver Discusses Pandemonium (Releases in 10 days!!)

According to Harper Collins Facebook page, Pandemonium will release in 10 days!!!  Who's excited now?

Let's Play Tag....(a Just For Fun visit with other book bloggers)

I was just tagged by Reading With My Eyes Shut!  (It's nice to be on someone's radar!)  This should be fun and a great way to hop around to other book bloggers' sites and get to know them better.   To participate, one must do the following:

THE RULES

1. You must post the rules.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged.
3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them!

QUESTIONS

1. What was the last book that made you tear up/cry? Laugh out loud? Believe it or not, the last book to make me cry was The Hunger Games (by Suzanne Collins), the part where sweet young Rue dies and Katniss pays a tribute to her with flowers.  It really touched me to read of the humanity amidst the games of life and death.  The last book to make me laugh out loud was Little Princes by Connor Grennan.  I enjoyed his anecdotal remarks, his descriptions of the people, his adventures, and the fact that he never took himself too seriously.
2. What new book are you most excited to read this year?  Oh goodness, there are quite a few!  Pandemonium is one for sure!  It comes out February 28th.  Can't wait!
3. If you could spend the evening with one author, living or dead, who would it be?  Agatha Christie!  It would take someone extra special to knock her off the pedestal I've put her on!  I love the humour she infused the Tommy and Tuppence books with, the twisted plots, the characters of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, the fact that I can never figure out who did the deed.  I haven't read all of her books yet, but I intend to.
4. If you could be reincarnated as one of your favorite characters, who would it be and why? While I don't believe in reincarnation, to think I could come back as a real-life, previously fictional, character is a fascinating thought.  How about Hermione Granger?  She is such a wise and talented young witch! 
5. If you could pick an author to write the story of your life, who would you choose?  Oh that my life were that fascinating! :P  Perhaps Jodi Picoult for her ability to write such heart wrenching scenes, she'd really dramatize those moments of my life and endear me to her readers; but add a happy ending please!
6. What’s your favorite cook book? Betty Crocker.  I have had this cookbook since I purchased it at age sixteen. (believe me, that's a long time)  It is my "go to" recipe book with several favourites inside.
7. Edward v Jace.  Who wins that fight? (Whether or not you like the books or characters, be fair about their attributes!)  Who is Jace?  If we are talking Edward of Twilight, then Edward to win.  No doubt.
8. Dumbledore v Gandalf. Same question.  Both are powerful and wise, thus the decision to choose one over the other is much more difficult.  I would choose Gandalf, though, because The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings were written so long ago and yet they have staying power, thus Gandalf is now as powerful as he was when he was written.  I think Dumbledore (of Harry Potter) will see the same fame and staying power (he is a loveable character), though he did allow himself to be killed and never returned, really, while Gandalf did return to lead the last battle.
9. What is your favorite book to movie adaptation?  Julie and Julia.  I found the movie to be far better than the book and it is still one of my favourite movies!  Meryl Streep plays a wonderfully loveable Julia Child.
10. What book would you want to buy a special edition for?  Anna Sewell's Black Beauty, as it's my favourite childhood book.
11. What, if anything, do you snack on while you’re reading?  Must I say?  Very well, then.  I snack, when I am so inclined, on chocolate.  Usually, though, I have a bottle of water at my side and save my snacking for movies.  (a bad habit, to be sure!)

Who shall I tag?  Included here are some of my favourite bloggers from when I began blogging two years ago and some relatively new.  

Who's Next:

1. Sheila at Book Journey 
2. Tamara at Book Ruckus
3. Amy at Amy's Book Den
4. Jennifer at Crazy for Books
5. Freda at Freda's Voice
6. Mari at Bookworm With a View
7. Misty at The Book Rat
8. Lea at LC's Adventures in Libraryland
9. Miss Remmers at Miss Remmers Review
10. David at The Quivering Pen
11. Meg at A Bookish Affair

My Questions:  (please copy and paste these on your blog when you respond)

1. Who is your favourite author and why?  What is your favourite book(s) written by him/her?
2. When did you begin blogging and why a book blog?
3. If you were to aspire to being a writer, who would you like to be compared to and why?
4. What is your favourite genre?  Please explain.
5. What is your all-time favourite book? Please explain what makes it your favourite.
6. Which book do you feel has had the greatest influence in your life?
7. Which book have you re-read the most?  Explain.
8. If you were stranded on a tropical island, what items would you want with you?  Which book would you want to read?
9. Do you have a favourite spot to read in?  Describe.
10. Do you make reading selections according to your moods?  What influences your reading choices?  
11. E-books or physical books?  Why?

Michael Morpurgo Talks About His Novel War Horse

Join The Hunger Games Read Along....

To join the Hunger Games Read Along, visit:  http://howlingturtle-pdx.blogspot.co.nz/

Canada Reads Something Fierce aka A Winner is Announced!!!

Day 1:  Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat is out

Day 2:  The Tiger by John Vaillant is eliminated

Day 3: On A Cold Road by David Bidini is eliminated

Day 4:  It's between Something Fierce by Carmen Aguirre and The Game by Ken Dryden.....

Carmen Aguirre, author of Something Fierce, interviews with George Stromboulopoulos about terrorism:

To Kill a Mockingbird to be Released in Theatres This February!

To Kill a Mockingbirdo Kill A Mockingbird - Classic Film Series Movie Synopsis

In the critically-acclaimed movie To Kill a Mockingbird, attorney Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck, who won both a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for his work in the movie) decides to defend a black man (Brock Peters) charged with raping a poor white woman.

The bigoted townspeople would rather lynch the accused than try him, and they make life hell for the lawyer, his daughter, Scout (Mary Badham, who received an Academy Award nomination), and his son Jem (Philip Alford).

While Atticus tries the case, his inquisitive children learn a hard and unforgettable lesson in justice, morality, and prejudice, part of which requires overcoming their fear of their mysterious neighbor Boo Radley (Robert Duvall).

Based on the best-selling novel by Harper Lee. (from the Tribute site)

Coming February 15, 2012!!!  Check your local listings for availability and times.

John Grisham's New Novel: Calico Joe due out in April