I went back and forth on this a bit, because Mr. Marion's kind of outrageous meltdown re: YA lit left me with a very bad taste in my mouth. But you know what? I really liked this book. And I am totally going to see the movie. What do you think? Zombies, anyone?
As ever, begin as you mean to go on. And so here are my most anticipated titles of 2024: And no covers on these yet, but I'm looking forward to them every bit as much: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 8 by Beth Brower Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan Skybriar by Talia Hibbert Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell Father Material by Alexis Hall The Duke at Hazard by K.J. Charles Hell's Belle's book four by Sarah MacLean What titles are on your list?
The more and more I see the trailer, the more I like it (and the song that plays when R sees Julie for the first time).
ReplyDeleteI was a little nervous bc it seems like the trailer focuses heavily on the comic elements but whatever, it's a movie and it can't ALWAYS be serious right? the book did have its funny moments. I love the end where Nora's like interrogating him and she's like "you could be 20. or like a teenager. you have one of those faces." LOL.
LOVE "With a Girl Like You," Sandy.
DeleteYeah, they definitely played up the comedy and romance in the trailer, but it just looks too fun to miss.
I didn't really like the book and I didn't know this guy had a big YA meltdown? Links? I just can't keep up with all the people being wrong on the internet these days.
ReplyDeleteYeah, he put his foot so far down his throat it came out the other end. You can read a good rundown here.
DeleteI went back and forth as well and decided not to post the trailer. But that doesn't mean I won't be seeing the movie. I loved Warm Bodies too much. That meltdown makes me hesitate to promote any of his future projects/books though... That bad taste is awfully fresh right now.
ReplyDeleteAmy (and for anyone else interested), here is the link.
The thing is that we as readers have to be able to separate the author from the work. If I refused to read books by authors I disagreed with on some level, I have no doubt my shelves would be sadly depleted. Thankfully, they're separate entities and I am free to deplore his comments and still assert that he wrote a fine novel.
DeleteAlso. I <3 Nicholas Hoult. :)
Nicolas Hoult is a real draw from me on this one. Before I saw the trailer, I would have said I didn't want to see this (I haven't read the book), but now I totally want to!
ReplyDeleteWe are one on this issue, Lenore.
DeleteLenore: You're definitly missing out if you don't pick up Warm Bodies. I think the movie experience will be very different from the book, it looks like to much of a comedy from the trailer. Lovely book and Marion has an excellent language!
ReplyDeleteIt does look like it will be a touch funnier, though I bet the trailer more so than the film itself.
DeleteI have to see this movie, I loved the book! I'm a bit afraid that the production company has sacrificed much of what I loved to capture the Twilight audience to make more money.
ReplyDeleteMarion's statement was not a wise one, but that doesn't affect his work in my opinion. One of my favorite novels of all time is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, that doesn't mean that I share his world view on things :)
Wasn't it good? The writing evoked a very emotional response in me, for which I give it all credit.
DeleteAgreed re: authors and their books. They are happily not one and the same.
I haven't read the book and don't know if I will after that meltdown by the author (maybe I'll pick it up at the library one day..). The movie looks great and I like Nicolas Hoult!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to get past author meltdowns. It really is. I'm happy I read it first because it really is good stuff.
DeleteLove Nicholas Hoult.
I saw this posted by the Entertainment Weekly tumblr with the caption, "Are sexy zombies the new sexy vampires?" and though I'm constantly trying to be less bitter, I couldn't help but enjoy thinking about how much Isaac Marion must hate comparisons like that one. And then I watched the trailer and felt appropriately annoyed that it looks good—like, not enough that I'll plan on seeing it in the theatres, but good enough that I'm sure I'll watch it eventually.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that it's important to separate author from book, but there are limits. The obvious first one that comes to mind is that I wouldn't touch any books written by an author known to be racist or known to be sexist. Marion's issue is certainly more blurry than that, and...I honestly don't know how I feel about it.
On the one hand, his meltdown about Warm Bodies being marketed as YA crossover is mostly just frustrating and hilarious, and I can certainly understand how other readers are able to compartmentalize between Marion and his book. On the other hand, his meltdown is symptomatic of the general derision consistently directed towards YA, which I do believe is aided and abetted by our cultural willingness to make fun of the things that women, and in particular teenage girls, love—and I don't want to support people who perpetuate that derision.
(And the on the other other hand: Nicholas Hoult and a really well-cut trailer. SIGH.)
Ha! I imagine he's suffering over that one.
DeleteI kind of felt the same way watching the trailer. I agree there is a line, though if you read the book before you know anything of the author that's a different thing. And I find it difficult to turn my back on a book I once loved. For instance, I was entertained by Twilight. The hot mess that is Breaking Dawn didn't change that for better or worse.
I found Marion's comments condescending, symptomatic of a trouble trend, and out of touch in the extreme. I have long felt the same as you regarding the general derision toward YA and books that women in particular love. The question of support is an interesting one. If there is a book I love, I enjoy spreading the word and encouraging people who I think will enjoy it to give it a try and buy it. Monetary support for the author is a pleasant (and important) byproduct of that, though not my first concern. Happily, I don't often run into the problem of having negative feelings toward authors of books I like. I'm not sure if I feel that buying the book for someone who will enjoy it (and thereby supporting the author to a degree) is something to steer clear of in that case or not. I don't feel as though I am promoting the author, but rather the book. I suppose it comes back to there being a line.
I'm enjoying the general in-favor-ness of Nicholas Hoult we have going here.
I've avoided the book because I truly dislike zombies, but the trailer looks fun! I remember really wanting to read Warm Bodies (possibly because of your review), but I've read 2 or 3 YA zombie novels and finally accepted that zombies freak me out. It's possible the zombies I've read about haven't been written well/correctly (?) and I simply haven't read the right the book. (I really want to read Nightshifted, but the love interest is a zombie, isn't he? I just don't think I can get past that.) KarenS
ReplyDeleteHm. It's possible. It was the quiet, ruminative writing that sucked me in. It was so not what I was expecting in a "zombie" novel. But I still don't make a habit of them.
DeleteFor what it's worth, I think you still might enjoy Nightshifted. Edie has . . . complicated romantic issues. And he really is pretty charming (things you never think you'll say...) Either way, I understand you choosing to read or not to read it.
Read anything good lately?
No, Angie, I've hit a big reading slump even though I know there's a lot of good stuff to read. I have several of your recommendations sitting by my bed, but since the move I haven't been able to focus. Hope to focus soon. (I have Raw Blue, Gunmetal Magic, Endgame and Easy to get to!) K
DeleteUgh. I'm sorry. It makes sense with all the upheaval, though. Those are some great ones to have at hand. :)
DeleteI actually went ahead (I've been hesitating for the past couple of months) and made the purchase after watching this trailer on E. Weekly. Warm bodies arrived today and I'm pretty stoked to try it out. Isaac Marion's thoughts on YA aside, I've heard great things about the book. And the trailer? I think it's pretty darn cool:)
ReplyDeleteAhhh. I'm very interested to hear what you think.
DeleteAngie, I am SO excited for this movie. I try hard not to append every mention of it with (*cough* even though the author's a jerk *cough cough*) but it's hard. On the other hand, I have already created a Facebook event page for it, lol. Yes, I know it's 2 months away. I'm THAT excited.
ReplyDeleteLOL. I hear ya. It is hard. But I saw the preview on the big screen the other night and it just looks so fun.
DeleteWhat is the song played at the very beginning of this?
ReplyDeleteIt's "With a Girl Like You" by The Troggs.
DeleteThe bit where he's walking and asking why he can't connect with other people and can't remember his name? I swear 'with a girl like you' is only when he sees the girl..
DeleteOctober by Broken Bells
ReplyDeletewhats the song at the beginning ?
ReplyDelete