Lots to say on this post, but I promise you I’ll keep the pace swift. First off, a wrap-up of this my fourth year of blogging. I’m always amused to see what words people use to come to Ripple Effects. So, here are some of them over this past year.
Search Engine Terms
- modern day insane asylum
- stranger than fiction free will or predestination
- Vermeer skulls
- how many hunting license were sold before and after the movie Bambi
- Toronto International Film Festival social impact
- culture and imperialism in Mansfield Park
- Shawshank Redemption sewer pipe
- Hemingway beaten up by Canadian authors
- what value in life if not together
- how to get in touch with Diane Keaton
Give you a feel of what Ripple Effects is all about, right? Yes, it’s a mixed bag of ruminations on books and films, where crawling through a sewer pipe could be noted as an existential quest, and always, a lookout for the minutest ripples of current culture… while maintaining humor and sanity doing all that. And, if you know how to get in touch with Diane Keaton, do let me know.
Most Popular Post
Slowly heading towards half a million views, this turtle does not intend to win any races, but is glad just the same to see some posts maintaining their popularity. This is the all time most popular post:
Memorable Movie Love Quotes which I compiled and posted for Valentine’s Day 2008. I sure hope that the 24,000 views in 2011 have contributed to some consolidation (and conciliation?) of relationships.
My Personal Best Picks
There are posts people may like, there are also posts that I favour more. Books into films is Arti’s ‘specialty’, and it’s always fun to link the two, albeit I know they are distinctly different art forms. Some of my favorite posts in 2011 are:
- Howards End by E. M. Forster (A book review framed by the movie)
- Midnight In Paris – (A bookish imaginary scenario)
- Can a Movie Adaptation Ever Be As Good As The Book?
- You’ll Never Catch Up
- As sequels to last year’s list: More Upcoming Books Into Movies and Upcoming Books Into Movies — List 3
And that leads me to the coming new year. From my upcoming book to movie lists, I look forward to reading the following titles, as they are in development with their film adaptations:
Books to Read in 2012 (before the film comes out)
- The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
- The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud
- Runaway (short story) by Alice Munro
- Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
- As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Book Challenges in 2012
I’m excited to sign up for two Book Challenges sponsored by CarrieK. at Books And Movies.
2012 Graham Greene Challenge — What better way to delve into books and movies than reading Graham Greene, who had almost all of his works adapted into feature film or TV series. I’ve selected these titles:
- The Quiet American
- The End of the Affair
- Brighton Rock
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2012 Ireland Challenge — I’m to pick four titles, including fiction and non-fiction by Irish writers with setting in Ireland. Now this is uncharted water for me. I’ve John Banville and Anne Enright in my TRB pile which I want to get to, and Deirdre Madden’s book suggested by litlove. I’m open to other recommendations.
- Molly Fox’s Birthday by Deirdre Madden
- The Sea by John Banville
- The Gathering or
- The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
Most Anticipated Books to be Released in 2012
- When I Was a Child I Read Books by Marilynne Robinson
- Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son’s First Son by Anne Lamott
I’ll be reading screenplays too. Selections will likely be driven by spur of the moment, but these I’d like to get hold of:
Screenplays to Read in 2012
- The Descendants (see how Alexander Payne adapts from novel)
- Midnight In Paris (Woody Allen’s always fun to read)
- Young Adult (Screenwriter Diablo Cody’s script after Juno)
Ironically, I find reading and blogging feed my procrastination. Finishing a book or a blog post is usually the best reason to delay, pulling me away from ‘real’ writing… I still have a screenplay half finished. 2012 looks like a good year to get that done.
And then of course…
The Awards Season 2012
- Golden Globes – Jan. 15
- SAG Awards (Screen Actors Guild) – Jan. 29
- BAFTA Awards (British Academy) – Feb. 12
- WGA Awards (Writers Guild) – Feb. 19
- Independent Spirit Awards – Feb. 25
- The 84th Academy Awards – Feb. 26
As we edge towards the end of the year, my thanks to all who have visited, and those who have stirred up ripples by leaving their thoughts. The pond is all yours.
Best Wishes to All for a Wonderful 2012!
Happy New Year!
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Ripple Effects 
I’m so glad you’re joining me for the Ireland and Graham Greene Challenges! If you’re looking for more suggestions for the Ireland challenge, stay tuned – I’ll be posting a list of all the Irish titles reviewed in the past three years of Ireland Challenges. The post should go up sometime next week. 🙂
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I look forward to both Challenges and your recommendation list, Carrie. Have a Happy New Year!
Arti
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I liked the way you summed up 2011 and got me thinking about 2012. Enjoy the Marriage Plot; I thought it was pretty good.
Happy New Year as well.
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Diane,
I’m waiting for my copy of The Marriage Plot on hold at the public library… just checked, I’m now 191. Do you think a film adaptation might work?
Arti
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Great post! I should do this too. I had no idea that Midnight’s Children will soon be a film. I’ve been meaning to read that but can’t seem to get around to it. Maybe because my first and only experience with Rushdie was such a disaster (Ground Beneath Her Feet). Do you want to do a read-a-long?
I’ll definitely sign up for the Books and Movies Challenge. I’m doing a best movie list too for 2011 so do drop by my blog for that.
I loved Midnight in Paris!
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Mrs. B,
I was at the Toronto Film Festival when Salman Rushdie and director Deepa Mehta had a session on the adaptation. Unfortunately I couldn’t get hold of a ticket. I admit I haven’t read any Rushdie, and as a matter of fact, I was a few pages into the book Midnight’s Children and decided I’d read something else. However, a read-a-long sounds like a good idea, if you can bear with the pace of a very slow reader. Let me know when you’d like to do this. 😉
As for Midnight In Paris, looks like Woody Allen is back to his former humorous and ingenious self. I hope he can deliver a few more films like this in the coming years.
Happy Reading!
Arti
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I hope you do get to Enright’s Forgotten Waltz. I loved that book. It sounds like you have lovely plans for 2012! Don’t forget Downton Abbey starting again in early January. 😉
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Oh yes, Bellezza, thanks for the reminder about Downton Abbey! It has been a long wait. Thanks to your review, Forgotten Waltz will likely be my choice over The Gathering. I mean, just the title is appealing enough. 😉 All best wishes for 2012, and Happy Reading in the New Year!
Arti
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Hi Arti,
Great! Contact me on Twitter and we can plan a read-a-long. Actually any of the books you mentioned that will soon be movies would be interesting. Maybe we can choose the first based on the release date.
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Phew, what a round up Arti. I’ve read a couple of those books that are coming out in film – the Rushdie and the Messud – but whether I remember them well enough, particularly the Rushdie which I read many many years ago, to assess them against their adaptations would be a moot point. I love the idea of the Graham Greene challenge.
I do love checking out the search engine terms. I have had so many hits on my blog this year on various questions about Red Dog: does red dog die in the movie, does the dog die in red dog, red dog does the dog die, does the red dog die. Really, it’s a dog movie. What do they expect? And then, just for a change of pace, comes this one: did red dog really go to japan. Red Dog was probably Australia’s top movie last year … it was certainly my top hit!
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WG,
LOL! I’ve to admit I haven’t seen any Red Dog here in my part of the world. But I can imagine the dog has quite a following! These Search Engine Terms can be hilarious, as you can see from my list. But I can understand too why certain words lead to my posts.
And about the book into film, you know my view. I’m taking them as separate entities, different art forms. So I’ve learned not so much checking on the ‘loyalty’ issue, but the interpretation and perspective of the form. I so look forward to all the challenges coming up. Hope you have a wonderful New Year, and more good reads in 2012!
Arti
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I love your niche with books to film. And the very best wishes on finishing your screenplay; I had no idea!
Happy New Year, and here’s to another year together in these pages!
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Ruth,
Thanks for your long-time visits and encouraging comments. As for the screenplay, I started that in a screenwriting course a couple years back. Hope 2012 is the year it gets finished. 😉
Arti
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I love the way this post looks backwards and forwards at once! Particularly interested in the books you’ve highlighted for 2012 – I’d love to read more Anne Lamott. And your challenges look great. I’ll be very interested to see what you decide to read in the end for the Irish writing one – I know very few Irish writers myself and think it’s something I should rectify. I’ve just recalled that Sebastian Barry is Irish, and his novel The Secret Scripture is one I’ve been meaning to read for ages. Have a wonderful 2012, Arti, and I look forward to hearing about all the things that interest you as you come across them.
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litlove,
Anne Lamott’s should be interesting. Her son’s only 19 when he becomes a father. Also, you may like to read Marilynne Robinson’s new book too. Have you read Gilead, or any of her other books? I love her new book title: When I was a Child I Read Books. Hope 2012 bring you joy and satisfying reads!
Arti
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Those search engine terms cracked me up! And congrats on four years of blogging. I think your Ireland Challenge needs some James Joyce. Ulysses maybe? 😉 All the best to you in 2012 Arti!
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Stefanie,
Yeah… check yours. I’m going to make this an annual tally, search engine terms. And yes, I think Joyce is a good choice, but Ulysses may be a bit too arduous a quest. Maybe A Portrait of the Artist… since rereads are allowed, and it’s been a long time since I read it in college.
Have a wonderful 2012 yourself!
Arti
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Happy New Year, my friend! I do love your book briefs (or not so briefs!) too, as well as your film pieces. Actually, when I come here I like just about everything I see! I must pull together my past reads as I gear up for the 2012 batch! More than once you’ve inspired me — I suspect you will again! Much joy in the new year!
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Jeanie,
Thanks for your kind words. I’ve enjoyed our mutual visits, and all the encouraging comments you leave here in the pond. May 2012 bring you joy and wonderful creative endeavors!
Arti
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Well. This may be the year that I finally involve myself – really! – in one of these challenges. I have four resolutions for the New Year, and one of them is to read a book per week. Since I have to be reading something, I might as well join in some of the fun.
Graham Greene sounds wonderful, especially since I’ve been wanting to re-read Journey Without Maps, his account of Liberia. And I’ve been wanting to do a post about him, too, since one of my favorite memories of West Africa is a few afternoons on the veranda of The City, the hotel Greene made famous and which appears in The Heart of the Matter, thinly disguised as The Bedford. I discovered Lawrence Durrell at The City – I’d better stop now, hadn’t I? 😉
But I will do the Greene challenge. With 52 books to read, maybe I’ll read them all!
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Linda,
That’s a bold commitment! And I’m glad to see you’re all geared up for a year of reading, testing new waters and re-immersing in old ones. I look forward to your review of books, esp. those of GG’s who had placed a lot of his story in other lands. I’d love to hear how your own experience in Africa mash with his setting and characters. Have a wonderful, bright New Year, my friend!
Arti
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Hi Arti, saw your comment on my blog. Why don’t we start with Midnight’s Children? I just read that filming has wrapped up and they plan to release it in late 2012. I’m not sure when the others will be released. I haven’t read any Faulkner either. One thing we can do is read it slowly, as they’ve done in other blogs. Separate the book into a few parts so it doesn’t interfere with our other reading. My email – somethingsdishy@gmail.com
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Mrs. B.,
Midnight’s Children it is then. I’ll email you for further details. Thanks for your suggestion. Have a wonderful year of good reads!
Arti
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So much to comment on here, but mostly just want to say I’m very glad to have discovered your blog. Your posts are so thoughtful, well-written, and informative. The post on The Sense of an Ending lead me to one of my favorite books of the year. Thanks, Arti!
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JoAnn,
Glad about your new discovery too! 🙂 And the feeling is mutual. I look forward to your review of The Sense of an Ending, and your discussions of the questions and issues you may have. Have a Happy New Year, you and your family!
Arti
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Happy New Year to you!! The search engine tally is a crack up.
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And the same to you Amanda! Yes, do check the search engine terms for your blog, great fun! All the best in 2012!
Arti
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I see you already have Molly Fox’s Birthday on your list, which is great. I liked Anne Enright’s The Gathering as well. I also really liked Paul Murray’s Skippy Dies (can’t remember if you read that one). I’m curious to see what you will pick!
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Rebecca,
No I haven’t. I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for all the recommendations!
Arti
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Had a good laugh with your key-words, especially the Bambi one. Can you answer it? Now I’m curious!
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Alex,
Fun, aren’t they. Actually all of the terms are related to some of my posts. I believe I’ve mentioned about Bambi and its social impact 😉 and I did read somewhere that hunting licenses dropped after the movie. So maybe I did write it in one of my posts. Insane asylum could well be related to my Van Gogh posts. But if they want modern ones, then I’ve no idea. Hemingway was beaten in boxing by Canadian writer Morley Callaghan when he was working in Toronto…could well be related to my review of A Moveable Feast and The Paris Wife.
Arti
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Arti, I so look forward to learning more about books and movies with you this year. Best of luck with your challenges (consider Edna O’Brien or Claire Keegan for Ireland)–and especially with your screenplay. That is one I’d like to read!
All my very best.
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ds,
Thank you for your visits in the past year, and your very thoughtful comments always. Thanks for your book suggestions too… I’ll check them out. And yes, let’s continue our mutual visits and share our joy in books and movies. Have a wonderful year!
Arti
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So glad we’ll have Midnight’s Children read before the film comes out; gladder still that you and Mrs. B had the discussion about a group read and let me tag along! Now I only wish that we could see it together…
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Bellezza,
Yes, wouldn’t it be great to attend its premiere together! In lieu of the red carpet, I’d be glad just to get a seat and watch it at the back of a dark theatre. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm in this reading event.
Arti
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Arti, I would recommend Irish writer Sebastian Barry’s ‘The Secret Scripture’ but I suspect that by this time you’ve got plenty on your plate – or your bedside table – already. I would call this a literary novel, but it is also very plot-driven, and I didn’t see the end coming.
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Deborah,
Thanks so much for your recommendations. I’ll definitely check it out.
Arti
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