2011: A Look Back

This time last year, I decided to set up a little blog. A place for me to jot down what I thought of books and films I'd been enjoying. One year on, and the site is far more successful than I could have imagined and has turned into a place not just for my ramblings, but for everyone to share their opinions and debate to their heart's content! So as 2011 draws to a close, here are my favourite things from this past year.

What have your book and film highlights been in 2011? As always, comment away! Enjoy xxx

FILMS
2011 has been an impressive year at the cinema with massive hits from comic books to classics and brilliantly original screenplays. But it all started out with The King's Speech and Black Swan back in January - two completely different films that were both staggeringly good to watch. Later in the year, there were some more arty, occasionally darker films to marvel at rather than enjoy. The violence in Tyrannosaur - Paddy Considine's directorial debut - was intense but entirely overshadowed by the phenomenal performance given by Olivia Colman. Tilda Swinton also gave a quietly torturing performance in the bloodstained We Need to Talk About Kevin.

ADAPTATIONS
We Need to Talk About Kevin was one of the biggest adaptations of the year - but not the only one. There was also One Day, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Help and the final Harry Potter instalment - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two. While The Help and We Need to Talk About Kevin did brilliant jobs with their original source text, it was the final Harry Potter that stood out and for all the wrong reasons. The team behind the final film opted for 3D spectacle over plot and lost all the fitting ends to the beloved characters. It was a sorry end to an incredible series.

BOOKS
While 2011 was the year I managed to read The Help and We Need to Talk About Kevin - two incredible books - the book of the year has to be Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton. It held its own, even given the high standards set by Lupton's staggeringly brilliant debut Sister back in 2010. It was a lot to live up to but Lupton managed to prove just how talented she is with her second book. I look forward to book number three...
Though released a few years ago, 2011 was also the year I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, a brilliant piece of young adult fiction set in a dystopian future. The book has been made into a film for release in 2012 and I am hugely excited to see it on the big screen.
A piece of quality non-fiction came out in 2011 in Dani's Story by Bernie and Diane Lierow. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once and looks at the struggle the Lierows had in adopting Dani, a young girl who had been removed from her family home due to severe negligence.

INTERVIEWS
In the last year, I have had the great pleasure of chatting to some brilliant people in the world of film and book, but the highlights have to be getting to pose my questions to two brilliant authors - Rosamund Lupton and John Grisham. Getting to hear Real Steel director Shawn Levy and star of Fright Night David Tennant talk about their films at Empire Big Screen Weekend was also brilliant fun.

FUN
Sometimes, films and books get overlooked because they are silly and not to be taken seriously - though this does not make them bad. For pure unadulterated enjoyment, highlights have to include the Hugh Jackman robot film Real Steel and hilarious romp My Sweet Saga by Brett Sills. Marvel film Thor was also suprisingly entertaining and saw newcomer Chris Hemsworth pull off arrogant, funny and charming with apparent ease. Kristen Wiig also proved her worth by starring in and writing the massive hit Bridesmaids which mixed gross-out comedy, humour, touching sentimentality and heartbreaking sadness with class. But the clear winner by a mile was the JJ Abrams/Steven Spielberg summer hit Super 8, which had me hooked from start to finish. It was an adrenaline fuelled ride with incredible young stars, amazing effects and a dark and twisted storyline to match.

Top Five Books of 2011

It's that time of year folks! The weather is getting colder, the silly animal hats are coming out, the Christmas shopping has begun, the lights are going up on Oxford Street, the cheesy adverts have started on TV, and people have started to debate what to buy for each of their friends and family and how they are going to fit into those tight trousers after just a few too many mince pies.

But one of the images most synonymous with the holiday season is that of you getting all curled up in that new jumper grandma bought you, by a warm fire (or more often than not - a radiator!) with a hot chocolate and tucking into a great book.

So as we reach the end of 2011, I wanted to share with you my favourite reads from this year. Admittedly, not all of these five were released this year but they were still new to me so I'm allowing it!

What have you enjoyed reading in 2011? Let me know in the comments below... and seasons greetings!

 

5. Dani's Story by Diane and Bernie Lierow with Kay West 

A gripping, heartwarming and horrifying non-fiction must-read about a severely neglected young girl who finds hope with a new family.

   

 

4. My Sweet Saga by Brett Sills 

A hilarious American romp with a brilliantly flawed male lead who will take you across the world on his crazy antics and snorting with laughter throughout.

  
 

3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

A look at 1960s America amidst the race riots and what it was like for the black maids to work for a white family.

  
 

2. Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton

The follow up book by incredibly talented author Rosamund Lupton looks at the aftermath of a school fire with emotional and heart-wrenching honesty. Combines crime thriller with family drama brilliantly, and even adds a ghostly twist. 

 

1. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Schriver
A masterpiece of modern literature which, through a series of letters written to her absent husband, explores life for Eva after her teenage son is put in jail for killing his classmates. 

  
 

DONATE AND WIN: 2 FAB SIGNED BOOKS

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

In trying to come up with a new and exciting way to raise money for Cancer Research UK in addition to my running this year's Race for Life it occurred to me that if I could get a publisher to donate a cool signed book then people could bid their donations and win it! And thanks to the fabulous people at Ebury Press and Little, Brown, I now have TWO amazing books to offer the person with the highest donation for this life-changing charity... and they're both SIGNED BY THE AUTHORS :)

BOOK 1:
SIGNED COPY OF
AFTERWARDS by Rosamund Lupton

There is a fire and they are in There. They are in there . . .

Black smoke stains a summer blue sky. A school is on fire. And one mother, Grace, sees the smoke and runs. She knows her teenage daughter Jenny is inside. She runs into the burning building to rescue her.

Afterwards, Grace must find the identity of the arsonist and protect her family from the person who's still intent on destroying them. Afterwards, she must fight the limits of her physical strength and discover the limitlessness of love.

This is the new book from Richard and Judy approved author Rosamund Lupton, author of Sister. It's a gripping read from start to finish.
Thanks to the lovely folks over at Little, Brown for this one.


BOOK 2:
SIGNED COPY OF
The Best Friends' Guide to Life
 by Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton

What makes a great friend? Has Facebook ruined dating? What's the secret to effortless style?

'Hello! This is a book written by proper best friends - us! - who have been hanging out together for over ten years. We thought that if we shared some of our own experiences and views on friendship, relationships, leaving home, studying or starting a new job, then it might help you on your own journey.

Inside you'll find loads of stories - some funny, some sad, and some that make us cringe with embarrassment - as well as tips and advice on things like dating and looking good. We've included our best photos from over the years (even the dodgy ones!) and drawings that Fearne has done especially.

Let's face it, life isn't easy at times so we hope that this book will make you laugh, entertain you, but most of all that it might be a bit like talking to your very best friend.'

So tweet me (@filmvsbook) the amount you would like to donate with the hashtag #bookforlife and follow its progress. For those not on Twitter, leave a comment at the bottom of this post with the amount you want to bid. The person who has the highest donation bid at midday on Sunday 17th July 2011 will be sent the book as soon as possible after the deadline.  Please donate at the page below.

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/keatswomen

(UK entrants only please!)

Little Eva xx

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

Do you need to have a sister to enjoy this book? No.  Does it help?  Yes.  

Twenty-something career woman Bea has just been told that her younger sister Tess has been missing for a few days, so she flies back from her house in New York to help with the search.  But when everyone around her - family, friends and police - are convinced that there is nothing suspicious in her sister's disappearance, Bea is convinced otherwise and begins to question everyone she can to find out what really happened to her little sister, not knowing where her investigations will eventually lead...

Lupton's style of writing in this book is incredibly compelling as it starts immediately as a letter from Bea to Tess and continues in this vein throughout.  It has been a long time since I have read a book this gripping, where each twist and turn is surprising. The characters are so brilliantly detailed that each one is relatable. As the plot begins to unravel, the complex but tightly wound relationship between Bea and Tess is put under close scrutiny - as she explains early on to the investigating policeman - "You asked me if we were close, not if I understood her." 

Secrets are revealed, including the surfacing of some very dark characters who appear to be likely candidates for harming Tess.. if only Bea can prove it. The ending is pure class and does not disappoint.
You will not be able to put it down!

Expect great things from Lupton in the future. She is one to watch!


*WARNING: I do advise caution if you have recently lost a loved one. It's heart-wrenching stuff.*


Rating: 5 out of 5 FOBLEs :) Perfect book! 


LE xx