Bee's Mini Graphic Novel Collection | Graphic Novels

Whilst my graphic novel collection isn't as established as Luke's, it's comprised of two beauties that I thought I'd share with your fine selves on this rainy Sunday afternoon. If you're a graphic novel novice like myself, I highly recommend picking up these two to ease yourself in lightly. With beautiful stories and stunning artwork to boot, it's a bit of a no brainer!

the new ghost by rob hunter (2011)

A beautifully rendered, literally haunting tale of the afterlife, The New Ghost follows a spectral entity on his first day at work: dark, gentle, poetic, and heart-warming all at once, it is an atmospheric tale to dash the conventions of comics and leave you thirsty for more...

Luke gifted me this little graphic comic after I spotted it on Nobrow and I absolutely fell in love with it. I think the concept is absolutely brilliant, and it lends itself so well to its graphic form. Whilst this comic is quite small, it certainly packs a punch story-wise as it evolves into a heartwarming tale over the space of a few pages. The art style is also ridiculously beautiful. I mean, just look at those colours! The perfect comic to ease you in nicely, and a beautiful addition to any bookcase. 

the gigantic beard that was evil by stephen collins (2013)

On the buttoned-down island of Here, all is well. By which we mean: orderly, neat, contained and, moreover, beardless. Or at least it is until one famous day, when Dave, bald but for a single hair, finds himself assailed by a terrifying unstoppable monster! Where did it come from? How should the islanders deal with it? And what, more importantly, are they going to do with Dave? 

I really enjoyed everything about this graphic novel, from its monochrome art style to its references to Eternal Flame by The Bangles. The title alone is pretty fantastic, I think you'll agree. The Gigantic Beard is hugely accessible, and I think it's a pretty good staple for any collection whether you're an esteemed graphic novel collector or a complete n00b. It also makes a pretty perfect gift for the pogonophile in your life. 

NOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN bee's mini collection, TELL US...

• Do you own any graphic novels? Which ones?

• Which ones should I get my hands on next? 

Leave your answers in the comments below, or tweet us @tftcblog. We'll see you on Wednesday. P.S If you'd like to see more about graphic novels, check out Luke's Read, To Read, Want post. 

with regards, THE FINER THINGS CLUB.

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Submarine, Blade Runner and Fantastic Mr Fox | Book vs. Film Adaptations

We've all been there before, it's announced that the rights to your favourite book have been sold and its big screen graduation is imminent. You sit for months, albeit impatiently, praying that they've done your favourite characters justice and praying that they've left in your favourite piece of dialogue. Flash forward a year or so to the fateful release day. You storm into your local cinema and locate your screen, with a bag bursting with popcorn and sweets, full of hope and excitement. However, you haven't even met the bottom of your popcorn box before it's made blatantly obvious that your favourite book, that book you couldn't put down and told everyone to read but knew they wouldn't because they'd 'rather just watch the film when it comes out instead', has been butchered. You cry for months to non-readers, swearing on your cat's life that the book is so much better and that they would see if they only gave it a chance. However, it's too late. No one is going to let you recommend a film to them ever again, let alone read that book that you hold so dear. 

We thought we'd share some book to film adaptations with you, and let you know what medium we thought came out tops. Leave some of your book to movie horror stories in the comments below and we will get round to consoling you! 

SUBMARINE VS. SUBMARINE
film | book 

B: I read Submarine back in 2013 and fell in love with it from the first page. Seriously. It's one of my favourite reads, ever. It was ridiculously funny. It was dark. It  was clever. It was really refreshing. Honestly, I hadn't laughed out loud at a book like that before and I haven't since. Oliver is an absolutely fantastic protagonist, and he frequently takes the story to places you didn't think it would go. Dunthorne's prose is also pretty much spot on throughout. The film, however, was just okay. There's no denying that it is shot beautifully because it really bloody is. It's like a hipster's wet dream with a liquid gold soundtrack to boot, and I'll be generous and give it a few points because it did tinker with the one thing that I didn't quite like in the book. However, for me, it just felt empty. I think Craig Roberts did a good job when it came to playing Tate, but I much preferred his character on the page. The film honed in on Oliver's relationship with Jordanna when it should have been exploring relationships as a whole, whether it's the relationship between Tate's parents or the relationship between Oliver and his coming of age, and all the hilarious observations that come with it. I wouldn't say don't watch the film but I would say read the book first because, in my opinion, it's a million times better. 

verdict: the book is better!  

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? VS. BLADE RUNNER
film | book 

L: It was like I had never seen the film before when I sat down and watched Blade Runner again after reading Philip K. Dick's classic sci-fi novel, and Blade Runner source material, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Admittedly, I hadn't seen the film in a few years, but I'm sure I appreciated a lot of the elements more this time around. When you're reading the book, you naturally look out for key characters, key plot lines and settings and, as a result, I found myself taking in a lot more of the film as I looked out for these things. I love Ridley Scott's interpretation as it's really fascinating and really weird, but I think it's done so well that you can easily separate the two and appreciate them as sci-fi classics in their own right. Don't get me wrong, there were a few things from the book that I would have liked to have made the cut such as the weird mood devices and the interest in, and difference between, artificial and real animals. Where's the electric sheep?! Aside from this though, I loved the film and I'll never get tired of seeing 1980's sci-fi interpretations of the future. Where's my flying car?! 

verdict: the book and the film are equally as good! 

fantastic mr fox vs. fantastic mr fox
film | book 

B: This is one of those rare occurrences where the adaptation works in harmony with the source material. The book is my favourite Dahl because it's so fun and inventive, and the film also happens to be one of my favourite Anderson films too. Anderson's adaptation captures the charm of Dahl's classic but also gives it a new lease of life with the introduction of new characters, settings and situations. There's nothing that I don't like about it, from the fantastic voice acting to the perfect character development. A perfect book and a perfect film. I have nothing but good things to say about them both.

L: Now this adaptation is a lot different from the one I experienced with Blade Runner because you can clearly see the core of the book throughout the film, despite the additions. However, whilst fleshing out the book, these additions also complemented the original ideas entirely. For example, there was one part of the film, concerning the tactics the farmers used to try and flush the foxes out of their den that I was sure I had read in the book, as it just seemed to fit in with Dahl's style so well. I also thought it was pretty awesome to have Clooney and Streep voicing Mr and Mrs Fox, and it was a masterstroke by Mr Anderson to add a curious opossum. I like the length of the book, it's one of the things that make it such an awesome children's tale, but I'm glad more was added to the film, turning it into a story that everyone in the family can enjoy. On a final note, I guess I just have to emphasize how awesome the animation is too, and how much I enjoyed the hilarious moments that remind you that you are watching wild animals.

verdict:
b: the book and the film are equally as good!
l: the film edges it slightly! 

NOW THAT YOU know what we think, TELL US...

• What books have been adapted really well, in your opinion?

• What books have been adapted terribly, in your opinion? 
• Would you like to see more posts like this in the future? 

Leave your answers in the comments below, or tweet us @tftcblog. We'll see you on Wednesday.

with regards, THE FINER THINGS CLUB.

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10 Books Luke Needs to Read in 2014 | Books

A week ago, Luke picked out 10 movies that he thought I should watch in 2014. As you may know, Luke wants to read more widely this year, so I thought it was only fair that I was allowed to compile a list of 10 books that I think he should read in 2014. All of these books are from my bookcase so he'll be able to pick them up whenever he so wishes - some I have read, some I have yet to. Feel free to leave some book suggestions in the comments below and let us know what you think of these reads.  



1984 by george orwell
isbn: 014118776X | pages: 355

'Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, Winston Smith skillfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party. Yet, he inwardly rebels against the totalitarian world...(and) discovers the true price of freedom is betrayal'

B: As you may know, I picked up a copy of 1984 for Luke during our recent charity shop challenge, and I also featured it in my 2014 TBR over on Vivatramp. 1984 is a modern classic, and I think it's important for Luke to read literature that has inspired a lot of the films that he watches and the video games he plays. Everyone and their cat has read this novel, and I'm hoping that 2014 is the year that Luke and I team up and read it together. I'm a little embarrassed that I haven't already done so! 

L: It really is about time I got round to reading 1984, especially since so many of the films and books that I have enjoyed have taken so much inspiration from its musings on society. Whether its the Capitol and the state of Panem within the Hunger Games series, or a slightly skewed Guy Fawkes in V for Vendetta, there is no doubt that 1984 has had a huge influence on the modern science-fiction genre as we know it today. 



the knife of never letting go by patrick ness
isbn: 1406320757 | pages: 479

'Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown. But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets. Or are there? ...Prentisstown has been lying to him. And now he's going to have to run...' 

B:  I love love love this series! I've just finished the second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy and I find them incredibly addictive. I think Luke will really enjoy this novel - it's quick, action packed and the premise is absolutely spot on. The character development is also absolutely perfect! I'll be very surprised if Luke reads this and doesn't want to carry on with the trilogy! It's hugely addictive and I'd recommend it to everyone, particularly those that may be experiencing a bit of a reading slump!

L: Admittedly, I know very little about the author Patrick Ness and his work, but what I do know is that Bee is a massive fan, and this can only be a good thing! I did a sneaky bit of research and discovered that THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING go has actually won a number of awards, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize,  so I think this will be one of the first on this list that I read. After all, I am basically just a big kid.  




the wind in the willows by kenneth grahame
isbn:0143106643 | pages: 176 

'Meek little Mole, willful Ratty, Badger the perennial bachelor, and petulant toad - emblematic archetypes of eccentricity, folly, and friendship. The Wind in the Willows is a timeless tale of animal cunning and human camaraderie' 

B: This is one of my favourite books of all time! It's ethereal, it's enaging, it's powerful, it's nostalgic. I think it's pretty beautiful but, then again, I have been obsessed with this tale since I was a child. I would watch the VHS all the bloody time before playing the pretty snazzy board game of the film. I was cool, I know. If you're ever feeling a bit low, wack on the 1995 movie version (feat. Rik Mayall), and you'll soon feel better about life! I think Luke may regret reading this because, as soon as he has, I'm going to bore him to death with one-sided conversations about Toad's monomania, the class struggle between the animals and Ratty's spirituality. I think everyone should read this book at least once because, to me, it's a 5 star read! 

L: This will be a nice book to fit in between all the science-fiction and fantasy tales that I seem to limit myself to. It'll also be nice to reacquaint myself with Mr Toad and Ratty - characters that I have only had the pleasure of meeting, on various television screens, in cartoon form a long time ago. I'll probably start reading it in between the Song Of Ice and Fire series as a pick me up when George R.R. Martin no doubt finds some other kind of misery to write about, and subsequently get me down! 




submarine by joe dunthorne
isbn: 0241955157 | pages: 290 

'Meet Oliver Tate, fifteen years old. Convinced that his father is depressed...and his mother is having an affair with her capoeira teacher, he embarks on a hilariously misguided campaign to bring the family back together. Meanwhile, he is also trying to lose his virginity to his pyromaniac girlfriend Jordana. Will Oliver succeed...?'

B:I have really fond memories of reading this book last year. I had just had some surgery and I needed a bit of a pick me up because I was stuck indoors, and boy did this book deliver! I found it to be piss-your-pants hilarious in parts, and the character development was fantastic. Oliver Tate comes out with some brilliant lines, and I think Luke will really warm to him as a protagonist. A really great read and another of my favourites.

L: Bee has spoken very highly of SUBMARINE and, to be honest, the constant bursts of laughter I witnessed while she was reading it tell me a lot! The premise sounds bizarrely hilarious. Whenever I wanted to watch the film, Bee stopped me because she wanted to read the book first, and it's probably about time that I get round to reading it now. I'm quite curious as to how they're going to fit a submarine into this tale...



A MONSTER CALLS BY PATRICK NESS
ISBN: 1406339342 | PAGES: 215

'The monster showed up after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments...This monster is something different...And it wants the most dangerous thing of all...the truth'

B:THIS BOOK! OH GOD, THIS BOOK! I am so glad that 2013 was the year I discovered the genius that is Patrick Ness. This book was the first novel that I read by him and it was heart-wrenchingly beautiful. The story is so well-crafted, the character development so well done, and the plot so overwhelmingly emotional. I cried, and cried, and cried some more, before tweeting Ness to say thank you. He replied with his thanks. It was a beautiful, messy and hyper-emotional five minutes. Jim Kay's illustrations are also absolutely amazing so make sure you pick up the illustrated version as you'll be missing out otherwise. This book is another of my favourites and one that I would recommend to everyone! TW though as it deals with cancer. 

L: This novel seems to be another critically acclaimed piece that has so many 'winner' statements on its front cover you'd think Charlie Sheen had a hand in the doodling. Controversial celebrities aside, this is the second Patrick Ness novel that Bee has put on my to-read list and, again, I've heard very good things about this one. I think its time I started reading it, so I can hopefully tell people good things about this book myself.



neverwhere by neil gaiman
isbn: 0755322800 | pages:  384

'Under the streets of London there's a place most people could never even dream of...the city of the people who have fallen between the cracks. Richard Mayhew is going to find out more than enough about this other London. A single act of kindness catapults him...into a world that is at once eerily familiar and utterly bizarre'

B: I've included this book for a couple of reasons. The first being that I think Luke will really enjoy this book. The second being that I think Luke, as an aspiring writer, could really benefit from seeing how Gaiman crafts his fantastical world. I felt a little let down towards the end of the book but I think the vast amount of detail that Gaiman put in made it a really interesting read, nonetheless. 

L:Now from just reading the small synopsis, I straight away think it would make a brilliant film and I'm going to read it to see if I'm right. I love London! Bee and I have been a couple of times now and I'm going to stick my neck out and say it has got to be one of the most fascinating cities in the world, especially when you mix it in with a bit of fiction. NEVERWHERE sounds fascinating and it's definitely one I'm looking forward to reading. 



brave new world by aldous huxley
isbn: 0060850523 | pages: 259

'In laboratories worldwide, genetic science has brought the human race to perfection...Bernard Marx is unhappy. Harbouring an unnatural desire for solitude...Bernard has an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure...'

B: I have yet to read this book, it's actually featured on my 2014 TBR, but it's another modern classic that I think Luke will really enjoy and take a lot from, both as a reader and a writer. I've heard so many amazing things about this novel so I'm looking forward to reading it with Luke and seeing if it lives up to the hype!

L: I'll be honest with you, after seeing the cover of this book I'm not sure I like where the perfection of the human race has taken us, but hey, who am I to judge? I'm not sure where to begin with this one, both the title of novel and its small summary don't really give me too much to go on, and I'm left with a great many questions and no answers just yet. The need for those answers is urging me to read this novel.



slaughterhouse 5 by kurt vonnegut
isbn: 0385333846 | pages: 275

'Prisoner of war, optometrist, time-traveller - these are the life roles of Billy Pilgrim. (Slaughterhouse 5 is) a miraculously moving, bitter and funny story of innocence faced with apocolypse...'

B:I got a little way in to this book but I need to re-visit it properly and read it in full in 2014. The first chapter was really great so I've got high hopes. I have a feeling that this will be one of my favourite reads of 2014. I hope it's the case for Luke too, because I think it's a book that he can, again, definitely take things from. 

L:Okay, I think SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 had my attention pretty much from the start with the intriguing combination of 'prisoner of war, optometrist and time-traveler'.  I was even more intrigued when I quickly copied and pasted 'optometrist' into my dear friend Google to find out what it actually meant! I plan to find out what Billy Pilgrim has been up to before this year is out, and hopefully it will be as crazy as it sounds.



the time machine by h. g. wells
isbn: 0141199342 | pages: 99 

'A Victorian scientist is propelled into the year AD 802,701, where he is delighted to find that suffering has been replaced by beauty and contentment in the form of the Eloi...But he soon realises that they are simply remnants of a once-great culture - now weak and living in terror of the sinister Morlocks...who threaten his very return' 

B: This was the first bit of proper science fiction that I read, and I think that's pretty fitting seeing as it has pretty much paved the way for every bit of science fiction since its publication! Luke loves his sci-fi so I think this will be a great piece of lit for him to read because it gives him an insight into the beginnings of the genre. I found the ending pretty wonderful and I'm hoping Luke will be inclined to agree!

L: I am really glad Bee has put such a classic on this list! I've been meaning to read it for some time now, and I'm hoping this will finally nudge me between its pages. I really hate to admit it but, yes, I've never read this book (and maybe a lot of you haven't either), and as I profess to have such a love for science fiction, it does make me feel silly! I've seen the film, albeit the forgettable one from 2002, so I think I owe it to myself and Mr Wells to read his novella.  



dr jekyll and mr hyde by robert louis stevenson
isbn: 0141389508 | pages: 111

'Set in a hellish, fog-bound London, the story of outwardly respectable Dr Jekyll, who unleashes his deepest cruelties and most murderous instincts when he is transformed into sinister Edward Hyde, is a Gothic masterpiece and a chilling exploration of humanity's basest capacity for evil'

B: I WAS JEKYLL JEKYLL HYDE, JEKYLL HYDE HYDE, JEKYLL! Ahem, sorry, I just needed to get that out of my system! I bloody love Victorian literature, and I really like this novella. I could bore you all day with the ways in which it represents Victorian concerns of identity and class. However, I won't. I think it's important for Luke to read literature from different eras, particularly reads such as this, and I think he'll get a lot out of reading this novella in particular. I, for one, bloody loved it. You might too!

L: Here we have another classic and another trip back to London - two brilliant reasons for me to pick up this novella! I have seen this tale referenced in many places, and by many people, throughout my life and its just reminded me of this scene from the awesome film that is The Page Master, as it was the first place that I saw this tale referenced. I think once I've read it, I'll see just how many times it has been referenced in modern pop culture unbeknownst to me, and I'm hoping I'll come to understand why it has so easily stood the test of time. 

NOW THAT bee's picked these books, TELL US...

• What do you think of Bee's picks?

• Do you have any recommendations? 

LEAVE US YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW or tweet us using @tftcblog. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to subscribe through Bloglovin and check us out on Twitter. We'll see you on Wednesday! 

with regards, THE FINER THINGS CLUB.

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