Find the Next Good Book with Social Site Goodreads

Image taken from flickr. Photograph by Stewart Butterfield.

Looking for the next good book to read? There are so many books out there, sometimes it can be a pain finding the "right" one.  Even a book that is "objectively" good, or considered to be good by the critics or by the majority, might not be a book that you personally are interested in reading. The social site Goodreads keeps the personal factor in mind by giving users the opportunity to see what their friends are reading.

Goodreads provides recommendations based on books you've liked in the past.  You can rate books you've read, and their algorithm will bring up a list of similar books. You can also build a queue for yourself by adding books to your "to read" list and update your status with a "currently reading" list, where you can even keep track of the progress you've made on that book (or books, if you read more than one at a time).

Of course, that's just part of Goodreads. As I mentioned, it's a social site. It allows you to connect with your friends to compare what you've read. You can review and recommend books, and you can ask for recommendations from others.  When you compare your library to a friend's, a section at the bottom allows you to view other books your friend has read that are not in your library. When you're looking at a book, the site will automatically show your friends' reviews first.  You can also form book clubs.

Sadly there is one aspect of the site that sounded teasingly exciting, but was ultimately discontinued last fall: Book Swap.  Under this now-defunct section, you could list the books that you own, and then, if you wanted, you could also mark them as "want to swap." Through this interface, users could exchange books. It sounded like a really promising feature, so I was disappointed to learn that it was discontinued.

I only just started using Goodreads last night, so I haven't had a chance to fully explore everything yet. That said, I'm obviously really excited about it and eager to see how well it performs in recommending good books. Also, you should friend me so I can expand my network!

Pick the Winners of the 84th Academy Awards

From predictions to complaints, the blogosphere is buzzing with the announcement of the 84th Academy Award nominations.  Some are disappointed at the absence of their favorite films; others are eager to cast their predictions. Whether you're a film connoisseur or just an average moviegoer, no doubt you have your own predictions. 

While waiting for the award ceremony, why not cast your own vote on who will win?

Every year, my boyfriend and I hold a small, friendly competition to see who will make the most correct predictions. Last year, the winner accurately predicted thirteen of the winners. Think you can beat that?  Fill out the survey below and tell us who you think will take home an Oscar this year.

(Having trouble viewing the form below? Click here.)

How Orson Scott Card is Cheating Himself

Today I remembered that Orson Scott Card's latest installment of his Enderverse series was due to come out soon. I confirmed by a quick glance on the front page of his website that Shadows in Flight did indeed come out yesterday, January 17.  I eagerly searched the Nook library in hopes that I would quickly and easily get my hands on the book and get back into the story.

Sadly, I could not find it.

Curious, I returned to his website, but saw no obvious announcements about any sort of publishing news, other than a picture declaring that the novel would be released on the 17. This picture was not clickable either and therefore failed to provide any meaningful information.

An exploration into the forums did however bring some light to the quickly darkening situation. Apparently, the eBook isn't being released today or any time soon.

As a reader, I find this disappointing. I have yet to decide how badly I want the book, and if there is space on my already overflowing bookcases for a physical copy of the book.

As a member of internet-obsessed social media generation, I find this, quite blatantly, stupid.

Today, many readers--especially younger ones, for whom Card seems to write--prefer to read on some type or eReader, whether it's a Kindle or Nook or some other device. To avoid this area where so much of the market gravitates shows a severe lack of media and marketing savvy.

And that's only where Card's mistakes begin.

His website, Hatrack River, is out-of-date and does little to provide readers with useful information. A well organized website can help further his brand, and a better online presence could substantially grow the already sizeable following he seems to have. At a time when one of his most popular books is being made into a movie, he needs to be prepared to greet new fans with a well functioning website.

He also denounces fanfiction by claiming that it deprives him of money he deserves as his livelihood. Now, I can agree that every writer deserves to get paid for his or her hard work. But the catch here is that fanfiction can act as a promotional tool. Maybe it sounds farfetched, but let me explain.

I first started participating on the internet in 2000 after reading Harry Potter. I wanted more. I loved the books and my appetite for more was insatiable. What was going to happen? When would Ron and Hermione get together? I found fellow fans on the internet who loved the books as much as I did. I started reading fanfiction. People even wrote essays on a variety of subjects. The Harry Potter Lexicon was created. Then MuggleNet. The network of Harry Potter resources was there to constantly act as a resource for those long years between book releases and movie releases. Essentially, they kept the embers sparked and fueled a worldwide obsession for Harry Potter during long waits.

Without fanfiction, and the subsequent community that sprung out of that, I don't know that Harry Potter would be as big as it is. Big, sure, but not as big.

What I'm saying is that these internet communities help keep the passion for a writer's story alive. Without them, fans would quickly move on the next story, and lose interest in following a long series. Its about keeping the hype alive. And that is something Card fails to do when he doesn't release an eBook version or denounces the value of fanfiction or fails to maintain a good website.

Newsflash Mr. Card, these times they are a-changin', and it's time to wise up and adapt.

Movie Adaptation Does Justice to Dragon Tattoo Novel

Critics are raving about director David Fincher and praising Rooney Mara's portrayal of Lisbeth Salander, but with any book adaptation, the main question is: how well does the movie represent the plot, characters and themes of the book?

Over the years, many movies have failed to translate a novelist's writing, whether it's in the minute details or the overall plot. Die hard fans of the Harry Potter series or The Lord of the Rings might nitpick over cut scenes and missing characters; meanwhile, fans of the science fiction book Starship Troopers roll their eyes and lament the shift of the book's entire message from "why soldiers fight" to "war is bad."  So where on the spectrum does Fincher's adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo lie?

First, before the spoilers get out of hand:

Will I be able to follow the movie if I haven't read the book?

Having read the book before the movie, this is not something I can answer, but I turned to my boyfriend, who stipulates the movie is enjoyable without the context of the book. Yes, he was able to follow the movie; however, the sheer volume of material was at times overwhelming.  The pacing was particularly quick in the beginning, and in the whirlwind of character introductions, it was sometimes jarring as to what was going on. As the movie continued and pulled the threads together, everything made sense.  Ultimately, he would have liked to see more investigation scenes, more about the town's reaction to Mikael's presence, and more about the Wennerstrom scandal for which Mikael was sentenced to several months of jail at the beginning.

Before proceeding, take caution: spoilers follow.

The Opening

In analyzing the overall closeness of the movie to the book, a look at the beginning might seem foreboding.  While the opening scene depicting Henrik Vanger's reaction to the arrival of that mysterious flower seems taken almost word for word from the book, the proceeding title sequence seems like a leap in the opposite direction. In a montage reminiscent of James Bond movies, Fincher kicks off the story with flashes of Lisbeth in splashes of ink which morph into a dragon.  Let us be clear: Mikael Blomkvist, though played Daniel Craig, is no James Bond.  It was a curious addition to the movie, and one that doesn't seem to fit (although I suspect we might see it in the sequels).

Accuracy

Aside from the out-of-place opening, the rest of the movie stayed true to the plot of the book.  As with any book adaptation, several scenes and subplots were cut, but in the case of Dragon Tattoo, it was for the better and did service to the overall story.  In the book, these scenes did not seem to serve much function in the first place. For example, Blomkvist's affair with Cynthia, which fades off awkwardly in the book, doesn't seem to have any effect on the outcome of the novel. So, ultimately, Fincher did for the story what the book's editor, for some reason, cut not: he trimmed the fat, cut to the chase and got to the heart of the story.

Music and Sound

Sound is something that a book just can't do.  Unlike with a screenplay, there aren't written words to say what kind of music should be used in the movie.  So the music and sound departments have to make decisions about what type of music stays true to the theme, message and tone of the book.

The job of the sound department is a difficult job, if you ask me, and one that the crew of Dragon Tattoo pulled off fantastically.  The music sets the mood and subtly adds more to what's being displayed on the screen.  I doubt most people are aware of just what music and sound can do for a scene, but I was struck particularly by the effectiveness a specific technique: a buzzing, flitting sound that is heard during the rape scene.  The sound just gets under your skin; it's agitating and makes your skin crawl.

Shock Factor

When a scene as caustic as the rape of Lisbeth Salander appears in a novel, it's interesting to see how it will appear in a movie. I wasn't sure if it would be cut or censored in America, where everyone is touchy and easily offended. After Bjurman first handcuffs her, the camera pans out through the door and fades to black. The impression I got was that the scene was about to cut to later -- they had censored it and would only imply what happened.  But no.  It immediately cut back to the bedroom and showed everything.

I'm not sure what the logic behind this fade out fake out was -- perhaps it makes the scene all that more shocking to think we're "getting away" from it, and then showing it in all its disturbing, graphic intensity.  For the purpose and message of the entire Millennium series, I think they did it right. It's horrible. It's harder to watch than to read. With a book, you can censor it in your head. With a movie, when the camera not only shows a scene in complete clarity, but in fact directs you and forces you to look (okay, unless you turn away or close your eyes), you can't escape it.  The running theme of the Millennium series is the horrible injustice done to Lisbeth Salander, and this scene represents all of that in one horrible act.  It sets the scene not only for the rest of the movie (which follows the investigation of brutal, graphic murders), but for the rest of the series.

Missing Factoids

There is one important aspects of the books which emphasizes their theme that were missing in the movie: the facts that appeared on the first page of each "Part" in the novel. These facts provided insight to the violence and abuse that occurs in Sweden, and nail home the message of how scarily often these abuses occur.  They also help set up the context of the second book, which touches on sex trafficking and the victimization of women.  I am not sure how these factoids could have been incorporated into the movie, but I wish that the director, producer and editors could have figured it out.  I think they are the extra touch that push the message of the story over the edge.

Casting

Casting can have more of an effect than satisfying the imaginations of readers. The play Peter Pan exemplifies this concept -- the same actor plays Hook that plays the father. What role this has in Peter Pan is, I'm sure, the subject of many student essays.

While the actress who played Harriet was not Rooney Mara, who portrayed Lisbeth, she did look strikingly similar to Lisbeth. I feel it was a poignant casting decision to make because it's easy to draw parallels between Lisbeth and Harriet, and the book strives to show the difference between how the two handle their situations.  Yes, Harriet uses violence to free herself from the abuse of her father, but when she discovers she has escaped the frying pan only to fall into the fire, she flees.  I don't blame her -- but Lisbeth vehemently does, pointing out that Harriet could have prevented the murders her brother committed.  In the end, we see that Lisbeth must make an eerily similar choice with regards to her own father and half-brother.

Ultimately, the movie maintained the feel, tone and theme of the book.  The strength of the book -- the characters -- was reflected accurately by the phenomenal performances of Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig.  It is a well made movie that carries a heavy message and bears the burden respectably.

The World is Beautiful, So Get Off Your Couch and See It

Mashable posted this link posted a link to this video in their article here, and like they say in their post, it makes me want to pack my bags and go see the world. Unfortunately, I can't just get up and leave (lack of money, feelings of responsibility and obligation, and of course my dog prevent me from doing so).  But the thrill of discovering a new place, the excitement of standing somewhere you've never stood before that's halfway around the world, is a feeling you can't get anywhere else.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: What to Watch For

Photograph by Jean-Baptiste Mondino
via WMagazine

Earlier today, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo made headlines once again with its new "Chasing Salander" app.  The book and movie have taken the world by storm; everyone is talking about it.

Interestingly, I haven't heard much talk about the serious issues that the books bring up--particularly the instances of rape and abuse.  What happens to Lisbeth is horrifying, yet people talk more about her eccentricity, not her problems.  In fact, in the new app "Chasing Salander," the game player takes on the role of a man bent on finding Salander to kill her.  I found this disturbingly odd, considering that the app is being released by the publishers of Stieg Larsson's hit books.  It seems to distract from the main purpose of the trilogy, which I believe centers on women's rights and the victimization of women.  This is really emphasized by the original Swedish title of the novel: Män som hatar kvinnor, or Men Who Hate Women.

In what I consider an objective view of the books, I don't think they are anything amazing from a literary standpoint.  (At least the English translation) is not particularly compelling prose wise.  The language is straightforward and often boring, and the series was in need of a much more discerning editor.  Had it been polished better, I think it could have stood out as an artistic piece and as an important commentary on our times, on top of being the best selling mystery series that it is. 

No doubt part of the reason it was published as it is has something to do with the writer's untimely death.  Stieg Larsson, the man who wrote about the girl with the dragon tattoo, was a Swedish journalist and editor of the magazine Expo.  Much of his work was geared towards combating the growth of right wing extremism--not surprising considering the content of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the background of the Vanger family in that novel.  In all honesty, he kind of reminds me of his main protagonist, Mikael Blomkvist.

The main arc of the trilogy is Lisbeth Salander's story: the legal chains that limit her freedom, the injustice that the legal system carried out against her and the ultimate journey she undertakes--with Blomkvist's help--to find freedom.  The story is not about how she is a "freak," but rather the opposite.  Is she weird? Sure. But her friends rally around her.  So why is it that that's what people talk about when they bring up the movie?

Over the past few weeks, moviegoers have written raving reviews about Rooney Mara's performance, about David Fincher's direction, but they aren't focusing on the content.  Sometimes when we talk about movies, it can be easy to get swept away in "How well did the actors perform?" "Was the screenplay well written?"  "What about the cinematography?"  But we can't forget the most important thing in story telling: the story.  They aren't talking about what happens.  So we must ask ourselves--are we getting the message?

For more coverage of Stieg Larsson's novel, check out my review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.