Movie – Page 6 – Book Journey

This afternoon I was able to see the movie version of Jodi Piccoult’s My Sisters Keeper (see my 2006 review of the book here)

I was excited to see it as this was my first Jodi Piccoult read that knocked my socks off at what an amazing author she is. I was also, as with any book to movie… a little cautious. We tend to love our books and can take changes a bit personally.

The movie… I really enjoyed it. I found it heart achingly beautiful and if not for having read the book previously I probably would have come out of the theater feeling blissfully satisfied. Without giving too much away, I will just point a couple things that didn’t need to change (book to movie) but did…

1. The brother character of Jesse was deeply troubled in the book and with due cause as all the families attention went continuously to the care of Kate. In the movie they touch on this slightly, but make him more of a caring and overwhelmed brother.

2. Of course the changing of the ending. I actually only heard that it was different yesterday from a friend. And yes, it was a different ending and while it worked, I believe the book ending is far better.

I was curious as to what Jodi Piccoult thought of this rather big change to her book so I looked on line and found this statement written by her:

TO ALL MY FABULOUS FANS WHO’VE SEEN THE MOVIE:

“Yes, I know the ending is different. Yes, I know some of you are very upset. I didn’t change it. The author has no control over the movie, and it was hard for me to accept too. However, there’s a great deal in the movie that I think is great, and I enjoyed watching it – and I hope you did too. Please don’t email me asking me why I changed the ending, or “let” Hollywood do that – it wasn’t something I had any control over.” ~ Jodi Piccoult

Final thoughts: The movie captured the story line well, I had many of the same emotions as I had when I first read the book – from at first disliking the mother and finding her impossibly cruel, to moving toward compassion when you start to see the bigger picture of a mothers heart. I cried like a baby through many parts of the movie. I think seeing it was more emotional for me than reading it.

Now this one looks like fun! Thank you to Anna Balasi and Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to review this book as well as offer 5 copies for giveaway!

Julie & Julia, the bestselling memoir that’s “irresistible….A kind of Bridget Jones meets The French Chef” (Philadelphia Inquirer), is now a major motion picture. Julie Powell, nearing thirty and trapped in a dead-end secretarial job, resolves to reclaim her life by cooking in the span of a single year, every one of the 524 recipes in Julia Child’s legendary Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Her unexpected reward: not just a newfound respect for calves’ livers and aspic, but a new life-lived with gusto. The film version is written and directed by Nora Ephron and stars Amy Adams as Julie and Meryl Streep as Julia.

1. Post here with a comment of what the worst job you ever had was.

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Contest will run through July 15th. The winners are chosen by using random.com. I will post the 5 winners here as well as email you for your mailing information. The books will come from the publisher. Please US entries only and no po boxes.

Thanks as always for stopping by!