Oscars! Spoilers ahead!

I adore the Oscars. My inner mean girl gets unleashed during the preshow, and while the awards themselves are fairly blah, someone will usually do something amusing. One trend I dislike, however, is the increased book adaptations.

Books made into films usually drive me insane. Baby Merry loved the BBC adaptations of the Narnia books, which clearly set too high a standard. (Sidenote: this led to me volunteering at big family get together to take the darling little relations to see the new Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. I'd like to say much fun was had by all, but children today totally lack imagination. Ungrateful little brats complained about the CGI animals. I would have loved those animals! Instead my generation had to suffer through people in dreadful giant beaver costumes!) Even when the director really tries, it's hard to capture the original. For example, Atonement is one of my absolute favorite books, and I approached the film with misgivings. Plus why is Keira Knightley THE period piece British actress? Nothing against here, but could we not branch out a bit. KK rant aside, what I loved about the book (and um, what won it the Booker) was the gorgeous writing. So if what makes the book stand out doesn't transfer to the screen? What's the point? Also, the marketing as a love story bothered me--did everyone fail to notice the title, which makes it quite clear that this is Briony's story?

I feel the same way about The Reader. Fantastic book and was excited to learn it was being a movie. Unfortunately it's become a love story which I feel both a) totally misses the point of the book and b) shows a great deal about attitudes towards gender. Imagine if the genders were reversed and this was a fifteen year old GIRL in a relationship with someone old enough to be her father. I was pleasantly surprised by the movie, as one of the final scenes was all but beating the audience over the head with what a negative impact this 'great romance' had upon the boy. So my problem here is less what's shown on screen, but the marketing which takes it out of context. I'm a little disturbed by the branding of such an unequal relationship as a great love story. Upon further examination, I see that the acceptance of gender roles (male teenager plus older woman = hot, not abuse) as opposed to the more nuanced treatment in the novel that really annoys me. However, I'm not sure if this is a case of lost in translation from page to screen. Should the director have made more of an effort to hammer home this point? How does this relate Thoughts?

Yet another best picture based upon a book is the wonderful Slumdog Millionaire. I loved the film (disclaimer: poverty tourism = bad. I am perfectly aware that the entirety of India is not a slum and that America has major problems with poverty as well. I recommend reading up on poverty in Appalachia for a real eye opener). However, I haven't read the book yet. To the best of my knowledge, the book is only based loosely upon the novel, more of an overarching concept than a true adaptation. Totally different category, IMHO though it does bring to mind questions about the dearth of creativity in moviemaking. So as soon as I can get my hands on a copy and find time to read, I'll report back with my fascinating thoughts.

Conclusion? Hollywood, hire me before making any books I love into movies. And also? Don't cast the amazing Kate Winslet as a character who is supposed to be rather solid. Your bookworm female audience will thank you.