Tagged: nicholas sparks

Mar 31

The Last Song (movie)

          Today I went to see The Last Song.  Having read the book, and completely loved it, I was very excited for this movie.  It was great.  I would definitely recommend it to everyone.

         The part that made me most excited for the movie was that Nicholas Sparks actually wrote the screenplay.  I’ve loved all the movies based on his books.  I had a feeling though that this one would be even more emotional because it would be closer to the actual feeling of the book.  Obviously, there were not identical but they were very close.   And yes, I was right, this movie made me cry more than any of the other ones. 

          All the actors did an amazing job.  The little boy was absolutely perfect.  He was exactly how I imagined him in the book.  Same story with all the characters actually.  When Sparks wrote The Last Song, the movie, he already knew Miley Cyrus would play the main character so obviously he wrote the part to fit her.  Every other character was cast perfect though.  Blaze was dead on.  Everyone did great, even Cyrus.

          Speaking of Cyrus,  here is the original post I wrote about her and The Last Song.

http://www.heatherfinley.net/2009/09/10/sparks-new-book-written-with-miley-in-mind/

          I seriously should have given her more credit then I did at the time.  I take back everything I said.  Hannah Montana might not be a show I care to watch still but she was absolutely brillant as Ronnie in The Last Song.  Even before this movie, I finally gave her music a chance and honestly, I love the songs.  Fly on the Wall is so catchy.   She is a talented girl and I feel bad for not giving her a chance to begin with.  After seeing her in this movie, I would love to see her do more roles.

          Overall, The Last Song gets an A+, two thumbs up, five stars, whatever you want to call the top rating from me.  I would even venture to say this is my favorite movie based on a Spark’s novel.  Dear John was great too if you haven’t seen that.  Worth checking out.

          The next Spark’s novel to be converted to film are going to be The Lucky Ones and True Believer. It is not listed yet whether or not Spark’s will be involved in the screenplay. I certainly hope so.  Can’t wait to see these movies!

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Posted in thoughts on movies

Jan 21

I am not Angelina Jolie

          Writing has become more and more of a focus for me lately.  I started getting into a new book I was writting but now have decided to focus back on editting the one I finished already.  I’ve been away from it for a while so it feels good to look at it again.  It is like that cliche, looking at it with new eyes.

          At this point, I’m starting to get very excited.  I just finished editting the first five chapters. I am extremely happy with them.  It is funny because all of the sudden I am wanting other people to read it.  Today was the first time since I started that I had that feeling.  There was one line I editted that I just sat back and said, wow, I can’t wait for someone else to read that.  It was such a good feeling.  Pride in your work is important no matter what you do and I feel like in this case it is saying that things are falling into place. 

          I also had a huge realization.  I am not Angelina Jolie nor am I John Green or Kathy Reichs.  I am never going to write something that I think is as life changing as Notes from my Travels, as well written as Paper Towns, or as interesting of a read as Deja Dead.  That is fine.

            But the catch is, none of those writers are going to ever tell the story of Natalia Rizzello like I am.  Plain and simple, they can’t tell the story I am writing like I can.  Absolutely nothing against them but it is true.  It is the same of most books and authors out there.  Like Nicholas Sparks could never write a Harry Potter book as well as J.K. Rowlings even though obviously he is a great author. 

          I’m not trying to say I think I’m this absolutely amazing author or anything but I do honestly feel that I’m doing justice to the story I am telling.

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Posted in Writing Updates

Sep 11

Like mother, like daughter

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090908/ap_en_ce/us_traveling_with_pomegranates

          Guess this is one way to follow in your mother’s shoes.  This is actually a really cool idea if you ask me.  Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair, and her daughter Ann Kidd Taylor have wrote a book together.  It is a memior which captures both Kidd moving into middle age and Taylor growing up into young adulthood.

          First off, I think this will be a very interesting juxtaposition.  There is points in everyone’s life that are big adjectments so seeing two genrations of a family going through them will be interesting.  I also really like that they are mentioning how Kidd wrote her books.  As a writer trying to become a published author I find that all very interesting.  One of my very favorite memiors is Two Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas and Micah Sparks.  It was about a trip they took together but also a lot about their lives growing up.  It told a lot about the inspiration behind all of Sparks books.  I was so interesting.  Even my dad, who had never read anything by Sparks, liked it because it was such a good story of two brothers growing up.

          The book is also set to take place in a variety of countries.  I don’t know about anyone else but I would love to travel the world so I find books a way to do that since I don’t have the money to do it in real life.   The book Atlas of a Human Heart by Ariel Gore is usually found under travel memior and I love that look too.  Check out Gore if you haven’t.  She spoke to one of my classes and teaches a writing workshop in Portland.  I’m dying to take it but haven’t had the chance to yet.

          Do you like memiors?  Have you read any of Kidds other work?

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Posted in News/Current Issues

Sep 10

Spark’s new book written with Miley in mind

It is true. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090903/ap_on_en_ot/us_books_q_a_nicholas_sparks

          Yesterday marked the release of Nicholas Spark’s newest novel, The Last Song.   Being a long time Sparks fan, I was excited and picked up the book and started reading hour later.  I started out with the Acknowledgements.  Much to my surprise they included this…

          “The Cyrus family deserves my thanks not only for welcoming me into their home, but for all they’ve done with the film.  And a special thanks goes to Miley, who chose Ronnie’s name. As soon as I heard it, I knew it was perfect!”

          My first reaction was ‘what the hell?’  Immediantly I got online and found out the whole story.  Turns out the Sparks and Cyrus are represented by the same people.   Most sources I found said Cyrus decided she wanted to do a movie similar to A Walk to Remember so her people actually got ahold of Sparks and asked him to write a movie for Cyrus.  He first wrote the screenplay then went back and wrote the novel.

          Where to start with my thoughts on this.   First off, I’m not particular excited about seeing Cyrus doing the movie.  Every interview I have seen her in she comes across as unprofessional and completely rude to be frank.  Sure she has a big audience but I think her appeal is only the young generations.  I don’t feel like anyone above maybe sixteen is going to care very much about seeing a movie with her.

          I also feel a little unsettled that she requested the movie be made with her in mind.  Sometimes writers have someone in mind but for the person to request it.  Does that seem off to anyone else? Like something a spoiled brat would demand?

          However, I am trying to trust Spark’s decision.  He has always made great book in my mind.  This is his first screenplay as far as I could find (thank you IMDB) but I would like to think that will help the movie be better. 

          I know some people might say, well look at Mandy Moore.  She was just a pop singer before A Walk to Remember and she did an absolutely amazing job in that role.  I would like to point out she had also done The Princess Diaries before that.  I did think she did a great job at being the mean girl in it. Cyrus has obviously done acting with Hannah Montana but has anyone actually watched that?  Let me admit first off, I kind of enjoy Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny with a Chance.  I  think they are both cute shows. Sometimes Hannah Montana comes on afterwards.  I get about one minute in and can’t watch anymore. Cyrus is overacting so much in it that it drives me insane.  I hope she doesn’t so the same to this role.

          Speaking of Wizards, why could Selena Gomez be in this movie?  I feel like she would have done a great job.  She is actually a fairly decent actress from what I have seen.  I noticed What The Buck on YouTube said the same thing about her.  I think she could do great in a role outside of the Disney realm.  Plus she can sing.  The same goes for Demi Lovato.  I can’t comment much on her acting since Sonny isn’t the deepest of roles but that girl can definately sing.  I would say she is the best out of all the singer-actress-disney girls right now.  I full on love both her albums.

          Actually, if I had to choose someone to fill this role, based on the 50 or so pages I have read so far, I would pick Alexa Vega.  Did anyone else see her in Repo? She can sing for sure. Also she fits the moody teen rebel image much better than I think Cyrus ever could.  I would also think that Ellen Page could pull it off well.

          I’m sure no matter what I will see the movie though.  I’ve loved the other ones based on his books.  I absolutely can’t wait for Dear John.  I cried so much reading it.   You could not have picked more perfect main characters. Amanda Seyfried is going to make a perfect Savanna.  She is such an upcoming star that this will be great for her career.  Same goes for Channing Tatum.  Him covered in tattoos as the tough guy is going to be so hot.  He is exactly how I pictured John.

          What do you think about Sparks writing a book and movie for Cyrus?  Will you read the book?  Will you see the movie?

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Posted in News/Current Issues

Jul 14

Meyer dominates the Top Seller List

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-01-14-top-100-titles_N.htm

 

          Love her or hate her, Stephanie Meyer has done something no other author has ever done.  She took the top four slots in the Top Sellers of 2008 list.  Another article on the same site stated that one in every five books sold between Thanksgiving and the end of the year was written by her.  That is completely insane.

          I know there is lots of people online saying that Twilight is the worse book they have ever read.  I have a few points to make on that.  First of all, I think it says a lot to have so many people read your books.  If she was such a horrible writer, people would not have read past the first book.  Even if the story behind the book is amazing, if an author is horrible, it will not be a best seller.  People obviously read all the book to make them all top the list.  I think it take a certain talent to write a book that so many people want to go out and read.

          I would also like to draw people’s attention to the audience that the books were originally aimed at.   It is written as a young adult series.  Being a romance series, I would say it is target more towards girls.  So what other series are targeted at teenage girls?  Gossip Girl? A-List?  Is it that much of a stretch to say that the Twilight saga is better quality writing than those series?  I honestly would say it is just as good as the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books.  Actually honestly I thought two of the four Pants books were just okay (the middle two).  I wasn’t much of a New Moon fan but I enjoyed the other three Twilight books quite a bit.  I do think it was a little weird that she changed writing styles for Breaking Dawn but I got over it. 

          The Host however I thought was a great piece of writing.   I loved it so much.  Meyer stated that this book was written for an adult sci-fi audience and I believe that she did a good job of upping the reading level.  There were many underlying themes in The Host.  It said so much about the human race and was written from such an interesting perspective.  I did in fact cry at the end of it because I thought it gave such a beautiful testiment to the hope and will of people.

          I was also quite happy to see Nicholas Sparks have so many books appearing on the list as well.  He is a very talented writer as well.  There was a few others on the list I’d read as well.  I see that Dewey made it pretty high on the list.  I keep almost buying it but am scared to.  I feel like it might cause me lasting emotional damage.  I am a huge cat person and cry when anything happens to cats in books or movies.  I have a sick feeling the book will end with the cat passing away and I seriously don’t know if I would ever recover from it.  This is kind of like how I own Marley and Me but haven’t been brave enough to read it yet. The movie made me cry a lot.

          So what do you think about Stephanie Meyer?  Are you a Twilight lover or hater?  Was there any other books on the list that you read and love or hated?

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Posted in News/Current Issues

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