King's 'Eyes of the Dragon' Book to Movie Alert

A book by Stephen King that hasn't been turned into a movie?  Yes, the 1987 book The Eyes of the Dragon holds this rare distinction, but not for long.  Syfy is adapting this early work of King's into a made-for-TV movie or miniseries.  This stand-alone book tells the story of an evil magician's plot to control a kingdom.  Click here for the full report from Entertainment Weekly's "Inside TV" column, and don't forget to beat the rush by reading (or re-reading) this book now.

Grisham's 'Firm' on NBC

NBC is launching a new drama starring Josh Lucas based on John Grisham's bestselling 1991 legal thriller The Firm.  More of a sequel than a retelling, the TV series picks up years after main character Mitch McDeere breaks free from his former employer, a mob-controlled law firm.  Visit this article from Entertainment Weekly's "Inside TV" for trailers from the new show.

"Good Christian Bitches" controversial debut novel

New author Kim Gatlin sure hasn't shied away from controversy with her debut novel, titled Good Christian Bitches.  In this new book, newly divorced Amanda Vaughn returns to her Texas hometown, where she is targeted by a malicious group of holier-than-thou Christian women who see the rich, single, and sweet-natured Amanda as a rival.  When the so-called Christians start attacking Amanda's children, the usually gentle Amanda has had enough.  Unsurprisingly, this book has already drawn fire from Christian watchdog groups, but the premise has at least one fan: television network ABC.  The book has already been optioned as a TV series pilot, and is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about new releases this season.  Reserve it today!

New Miniseries Stephen King's Bag of Bones

Master of horror Stephen King is having one of his books turned into a miniseries.  Deadline reports that King's book Bag of Bones will be released as a 4-hour, 2-night special on A&E.  The publisher describes Bag of Bones as "a tale of grief and lost love's enduring bonds, of haunting secrets of the past, and of an innocent child caught in a terrible crossfire."  In the story, a grieving widower returns to the lakeside getaway he once shared with his wife, and finds the town under the control of a powerful, vindictive millionaire.  Nothing is quite as it seems; read the book and/or watch the forthcoming miniseries to find out more!

New TV Series: The Magicians

Did you enjoy Lev Grossman's The Magicians or is recently-released sequel, The Magician King?  You're not alone; in fact, the books have achieved such popularity that Fox has bought the rights and plans to produce a television series.  Deadline reports that the writers of the forthcoming show will be none other than the ones who penned the blockbuster movie X-Men: First Class. In the story, Quentin Coldwater graduates from a secret, exclusive college of magic in upstate New York and finds that a fictional land from a series of childhood fantasy novels is real, but is more darker and dangerous than he could have imagined.  If you haven't yet treated yourself to this humorous portal fantasy described as "at once psychologically piercing and magnificently absorbing," then reserve The Magicians today!  

Mommy-Track Mysteries coming soon to a TV near you

Another book series is making the jump from print to television, according to this article from Deadline.  Ayelet Waldman's much-loved mysteries feature a prosecutor turned stay-at-home mom who still dabbles in crime-busting as a private investigator.  Titles in this lighthearted mystery series include Nursery Crimes, A Playdate with Death, and Death Gets a Time-Out; check one out from your community library today!

Big Dead Place: Antarctic Memoir Inspires New TV Series

Ever wonder what it would be like to live on Earth's coldest, driest, most inhospitable continent?  If so, you might have already read the 2005 memoir Big Dead Place: Inside the Strange and Menacing World of Antarctica, in which author Nicholas Johnson shares his experiences living and working at McMurdo Research Station, one of the few human outposts in that frozen land.  Now, Deadline reports that Johnson's thrilling true story is being turned into a comedic drama by HBO, with James Gandolfini as the producer and possibly the star.  Interested?  Request your copy today!

Stupid and Contagious

For all of you who've ever rocked out to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," the book Stupid and Contagious, whose title pays homage to this classic rock anthem, might be worth reading.  This romantic comedy of a novel tells the story of two hate-at-first-sight neighbors who embark on a zany mission to meet the founder of Starbucks.  Published in 2006, this book is now back in the spotlight, literally; Deadline reports that NBC plans to produce "Stupid and Contagious" as a half-hour sitcom series.

Lincoln Lawyer: Book to Movie...to TV

Fans of Michael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer have already seen that beloved book on the big screen, but now they'll have a chance to see it come to life on screens again... as a television series.  According to this article from Variety, ABC has purchased the rights to a TV drama series adaptation of Connelly's novel.  Watch this blog for future updates...

A Visit from the Goon Squad: Book to TV Alert

First a Pulitzer, next a TV series... Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad is being turned into a television series on HBO, according to this article from Deadline. The book (and the planned TV series) tell interlocking stories across a span of decades centered around Bennie Salazar, an aging ex-punk rocker from San Francisco. Egan's book is available to Mastics-Moriches-Community Library cardholders in multiple formats: print, e-book, CD audiobook, and downloadable audiobook. Reserve a copy by clicking the red check-mark "request" link and entering your cardnumber & PIN/password.

Reader Review: Vampire Diaries Series by L.J. Smith

The Awakening & The Struggle (books 1 & 2) Rating: 3/5 (OK) Review: I enjoyed it. It was a fast read. I had hoped it would be closer to the show, which I love.

The Fury & Dark Reunion (books 3 & 4) Rating: 1/5 (terrible) Review: I didn't really enjoy Book 3, The Fury. It seemed to be going "off" track from what the previous books were. I barely finished Book 4, Dark Renunion. It was a challenge to read. I didn't even relate to the characters anymore, from the first 3 books. I enjoy the show so much more.

Reviewed by: Johanna H.

Song of Ice and Fire: High Fantasy on TV

For many, the genre of high fantasy is defined by a few monumental series, including "Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan, and "The Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. Tomorrow, "The Song of Ice and Fire" premieres as an HBO TV series entitled "Game of Thrones." For readers who need a refresher (or people who are just discovering the series), here's a complete list of the books in chronological order. Be warned, however, that the series does not conclude with book 4; fans have been waiting six years for the next installment with no apparent publication date in sight.




1. A Game of Thrones

The kingdom of the royal Stark family faces its ultimate challenge in the onset of a generation-long winter, the poisonous plots of the rival Lannisters, the emergence of the Neverborn demons, and the arrival of barbarian hordes.

2. A Clash of Kings

Five separate factions vie for control of the realm of the late Lord Eddard Stark, while an ancient form of magic, an everlasting winter, and an unearthly army threaten to return.

3. A Storm of Swords

The Seven Kingdoms are torn by strife as the three surviving contenders for the throne continue their struggle for power, Robb Stark defends his fledgling kingdom from the ravaging Greyjoys, Winterfell lies in ruins and Jon Snow confronts an escalating threat from behind the Wall, and Danerys Stormborn and her dragon allies continue to grow in power.

4. A Feast for Crows

The kingdom exists in a state of perilous equilibrium following the death of a monstrous king, a regent ruling in King's Landing, and few claimants to the Iron Throne, until new conspiracies and alliances begin to erupt in the Seven Kingdoms.

At long last an ending to Edwin Drood

Charles Dickens died before he was able to finish The Mystery of Edwin Drood, but soon fans will be able to experience one possible conclusion. BBC Television has just announced that is is writing and filming its own ending to Edwin Drood as part of its "Year of Books" initiative. The story is about Edwin Drood and his choirmaster uncle, who are both in love with Edwin's fiancee; Edwin disappears under mysterious circumstances that Dickens' death left unclarified. The original, unfinished novel is available to Mastics-Moriches-Shirley cardholders as an ebook or in print through loans with fellow "Live-Brary.com" libraries.

Books to TV

We can all name a few books that have inspired movies, but what about books that inspired TV series? Here are a few suggestions from librarian Genive P.

The Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay

Jeff Lindsay's books inspired the Dexter crime drama about a morally-ambiguous Miami forensics expert who kills criminals who he believes have escaped justice. Check out his latest title, Dexter is Delicious, located at the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley library's new books section.

The Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs

These books by Kathy Reichs are the inspiration for the TV show Bones, featuring a forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent who team up to solve murders using little more than bones as clues. The newest installment in the series is Spider Bones, also available in large print.

And rememember, your community library also has all available seasons of Dexter and Bones in the DVD section, alphabetized by title.