Trying to Read First, then See the Movie

As I stated in my last post, I'd read "One for the Money" before seeing the just-released film based on this book.  I just began reading the "Hunger Games" books, beginning the first one last night.  I got the books for Christmas and have been wanting to read this series for some time now.  Last weekend at the cinema during "One for the Money" was a preview for  the upcoming film based on the first book.

I've been guilty too often of not reading the book before seeing the movie.   In some cases, I was not aware of the book, and just went to the movie.  I kind of got out of reading mode until a few years ago, and now I find myself wanting to read a book once I hear about the upcoming movie based on the book.  I actually heard about the "Hunger Games" books first after overhearing two others customer at Target one day. I asked them about this series and they said it was good.  Then sometime later, I learned via Twitter, about the upcoming movie.  In 2008, I saw the trailer for "Marley and Me," and knew I wanted to see it.  I did not get around to seeing it in the theater, and then I learned about the book, and found it for sale at work.   The movie had already been in my Netflix queue for sometime when I began reading the book, and I got the DVD more than month later.   The first "Twilight" film adaption had already come out before I began reading the series,  and I did not watch it until I'd finished the books.

A few times recently, I  saw a movie without reading the book, but in each case it was because I did not have time and I had not planned seeing the movie on my own.   During a recent visit from some relatives, we decided to go to movie and they wanted to see "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."   This was the only movie they were interested in seeing and so as not to feel left out, I went along.   And  at the end of last year, one of my meetup.com  groups had planned on going to see "New Year's Eve" one night, only to find it wasn't playing until after 10PM that night.  Some of us had met earlier at a restaurant, and did not wait until then to go to the movies until then.  They then looked to see what was playing at 7PM, and decided on seeing "The Descendants."   Not wanting to go home early, I went to this one as well.  I had not planned on seeing either of these, at least not right away.

But at least I will have finished "Hunger Games" before seeing the film, which comes out at the end of March.   And I plan to read the next two books right afterward.

I know that wanting to read a book because of an upcoming movie adaptation is kind of a weird reason, but with so many books being adapted as motion pictures, is the only thing that will encourage reading them?  And why must books covers be revised with actors from the film just before its released, such as these?

More posts on books to movie will follow.  

Reading the "Stephanie Plum" Books

Today I saw "One for the Money."  I'd read the book just a while ago, and am in the process of reading the entire "Stephanie Plum" series of books.  I've  been borrowing most of them from the library, except for one that did not have as a printed book.  I found a used copy for 50 cents at a thrift store of that particular one.  Another of the book was also not available as a print book, but as an audiobook (as was the above-mentioned book).  I'd never listened to an audiobook, and since this seemed to be the only option I had to read this one book without buying it, I got the audiobook.  It was only three discs and I was able to listen to it all on one Sunday afternoon.  I saw that several of these books are available in audio format at my town's library so I may check out some of the other that way, if I feel I have the patience and time to listen to one again.

Yesterday I finished the eighth book and went to find the next book in the sequence.  Along with 18 (to date) numbered novels, the character is also featured in four holiday-themed novellas, the first of which, "Visions of Sugar Plums," was published after the eighth book, "Hard Eight."   Unfortunately, the library did not have copy for "Sugar Plums," so I asked them if they could do an interlibrary loan.  Since this process can take up to two weeks, I'm trying to decide if want to take a break and read some other stuff I'd been planning to read, such as the "Hunger Games" books, which I have been planning to read for some time now. I got these for Christmas and want to read them before the movie comes out in March.  Oddly enough a trailer for the "Hunger Games" movie was shown before "One for the Money,"  and a "Hunger Games" poster was hanging in the theater lobby.  I've been trying lately to read the book first, but don't always get to do.  There were a few recent movies I saw that were based on a book I haven't read and a while a go I read some books I can see being made into films. But enough about for now (I plan to write about that in another blogpost).

Since I don't know if and when they will get the book at the library, I'm hesitant to start another series of books just now in case they get the book from another library in less than two weeks.  I have all the "Hunger Games" books and want to be able to read them all right after the other.  Same with the books "Shoe Addicts Anonymous" and its sequel "Secrets of a Shoe Addict." I already have these two as well.  I will be hard to give up either of these so quickly if  the "Sugar Plums" book comes to the library in less than two weeks, since I will have have it for three weeks.  But I will decide what  to do.

The Stephanie Plum books in order are (from this link):

One For The Money

Two For The Dough

Three To Get Deadly

The Last Peep

Four To Score

High Five

Hot Six

Seven Up

Hard Eight

Visions Of Sugar Plums

To The Nines

Ten Big Ones

Eleven On Top

Twelve Sharp

Plum Lovin'

Lean Mean Thirteen

Plum Lucky

Fearless Fourteen

Plum Spooky

Finger Lickin' Fifteen

Sizzling Sixteen

Smokin' Seventeen

Explosive Eighteen

Quiz: What Office Supply Are You?

You Are a Red Pen

You have an eagle eye for detail, and this often means you end up finding mistakes in people's work. You may seem quick to criticize or correct, but you think accuracy and truth is important. You like to be involved in every project. You feel like you put the polishing touch on things. You would make a good editor, detective, or accountant. When facts matter, you're the person to call on.

What Office Supply Are You?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

Quiz: What Donut Are You?

You Are a Boston Creme Donut

You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you. But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft. You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily. You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and you pout if it's sold out.

What Donut Are You?

Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet

Funny thing is that I've never had one of these donuts. I always eat ones with holes, if I ever eat any at all. which isn't very often.  When I do eat any donuts, I like the ones with sprinkled with sugar o glazed, or sometimes those with colored sprinkles.

Lane Bryant for Bra Shopping

The Lane Bryant store in Gilroy, California.  I shot this
from the parking lot while sitting in my car.

Something I've been hesitant to write about on my blog.  I often dread clothes shopping because it can take up to hours to find things that fit.  I especially dread having to buy new bras, something I'd been putting off for months but finally got around to this past Monday.

I don't want to get into too much detail, but even though I'm not plus sized, I need larger size bras (TMI?) And that rules out several shopping options.  No Victoria's Secret.  I never understood why they are so popular when they only cater to smaller sizes. And just going downtown to Kmart or Target either isn't an option either.  So I decided to try at some store that carries plus-size women's clothing, even though I won't be able to wear the outer clothes, just possibly the intimates.  I already knew about the Lane Bryant store in the town where I work.  I saw on their website that he "buy two, get two free" bra sale was on. However, it ended this Monday, so a trip to LB after work that day was in order.

My shopping bag from LB, at home.

So when I entered the store,  I asked the sales lady for a sizing (again, I'm not going into any detail here) and then she showed me what was available.  As I'd suspected, I was in the store for nearly two hours.  But it wasn't because nothing fit or that I didn't find anything I liked.  Neither of those were true. I found many that fit and that I liked (well some I didn't like, and decided against).  But I found quite a few I did like, so deciding which four to buy was difficult.  But eventually I made my decision and headed to the register to check out.  Everything went well, and I saved over $70 dollars (along with the sale,  I got 25% for spending over $50).  I was satisfied with my purchase.  Surprisingly, I did not get asked to apply for their credit card, which I would  have said no to.  But they did ask if I wished to receive email coupons, and I said yes to that.  It's just email.  I do plan to go to LB when I next need new intimates.

I'd also planned to go Barnes and Noble (next to LB) that day to use the gift card I got for Christmas and it use an email coupon I'd gotten (it expired that day). I just barely made it into the bookstore to find something I'd been waiting to get, as I was exhausted from my Lane Bryant trip.  I didn't make it to get a soda at Bevmo however, even though I was thirsty.  And no looking at the Salvation Army. Two hours in one store is bound to make me too exhausted to look anywhere else when I have to be up early the following morning.  It was nearly three when I got home.

I just signed onto Yelp and wrote a  review for Lane Bryant in Gilroy, CA, the first person to review the store.   My reviews page is here.

Quiz: The Orchid Test

You Are Balanced and Wise

You are a big fan of all things in moderation. You avoid extremes. You are a colorful and fun person, but you always make sure not to go too wild. You are bold and carefree, but you also have a more sensitive side to you. You are more fragile than you look. You may be outgoing and outrageous, but you're just as breakable as everyone else.

The Orchid Test

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

Friday the 13th

Yes, that's today's date.  I'm not superstitious, and nothing bad has ever happened to me on one of these dates.  But just for the record, there  are two more such dates this year, in April and July.  This is a leap year that began on a Sunday and will end on Monday (a non-leap year begins and end on the same day of the week).  This leap year last occurred in 1984.  The last common year with three Friday the 13ths was 2009, and the next such year will be 2015.

Again, I'm not superstitious, but as always be careful tonight, whatever you're doing!