Top Ten Tuesday: 10 debut authors whose sophomore novels we're looking forward to

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is 10 debut authors whose sophomore novels we're looking forward to or Top Ten Sophomore Novels That We Loved Just As Much If Not More Than The Author's Debut. I decided to do both because I couldn't come up with ten books in one category. 

7 debut authors whose sophomore novels I'm looking forward to: 

1. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

I really liked Cruel Beauty! I'm waiting for Crimson Bound to come out in paperback but I'm considering buying it in hardback after all! Read my review of Cruel Beauty here!

2. The Duff by Kody Keplinger

I really liked this book, it is one of the best books I read last year! Read my review here!

3. The Martian by Andy Weir

This is easily one of my favourite books this year! You can find my review here!

4. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

I really liked this fantasy novel, I own the second book but I haven't found the time to read it yet. You can find my review of The Lies of Locke Lamora here!

5. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

 

6. Carrie by Stephen King

You can find my review here.

7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

3 Sophomore Novels That Were Better Than The Author's Debut 

1. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

All the books in this series just get better and better! Winter is also my most anticipated book of the year, and I can't believe I don't have to wait much longer till it's released! Read my series review here.

2. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

The first book in this trilogy was okay, not great but okay. The second book was way better and the third book was the best! Read my review of the trilogy here!

3. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me didn't impress me much, I only continued the trilogy because I owned all the books already. I did like the other books way more, so that's why I decided to put Unravel Me on this list. Find my series review here!

Which books are on your list? Don't hesitate to leave a comment!

Movie Adaptation Comparison: Carrie (1976) and Carrie (2013)

Carrie (1976)

Director: Brian De Palma
Stars: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, John Travolta

Nominated for two Oscars:

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Sissy Spacek 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Piper Laurie 

Imdb.com rating: 7,4

-- Imdb.com description --


Okay, let's start with the 1976 version of Carrie. I read that the more recent one, more accurately adapted the book. However, when I started the 1976 version, I didn't think there were so many changes. That is until the last 30 minutes or so. Still, there are a lot of movie adaptations that less accurately adapt to screen. From the moment Sue Snell shows up at the prom, things start to move away from the book. All the major plot points are in the movie however and I didn't have many problems with the changes they made, which is unusual for me.

I didn't consult Imdb.com prior to watching Carrie so I didn't know the movie had been nominated for two Oscars. I can definitely see why. Sissy Spacek was an incredible Carrie! I couldn't take my eyes off her! I thought her portrayal of Carrie was very accurate. And then there is Carrie's mother, of course. Played by Piper Laurie. She was absolutely frightening!

The whole movie portrayed Stephen King's dark atmosphere very well. At this point, I haven't watch the more recent adaptation yet, but I can already wholeheartedly recommend the 1976 version!



Carrie (2013)

Director: Kimberly Peirce

Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort, Judy Greer

Imdb.com rating: 6,0

-- Imdb.com description --








Okay, I've now watched both movies in a row. I'm now going to review both by comparing them to each other as well as to the original book by Stephen King. Read my review of the book here.

The first adaptation can feel dated to a young film lover. I too, felt that the special effects at times left to be desired. However, after seeing the recent adaptation, that version doesn't have the greatest special effects either (especially at the prom), true, these effects are more modern, so I would probably choose the second film for the special effects.

In Carrie (2013) more time was spend on exploring dialogues and motives of the other characters, like Sue Snell and Billy Nolan, which I enjoyed. Furthermore, what I really did like about the 2013 version is the fact that Carrie cares about what happened to Tommy. In both the 1976 version and the book this does not happen. This is actually what I disliked about the book, so I'm happy to see it in the movie after all.

Surprisingly, there were a lot of parallels between the two movies in the scenes that weren't in the book. It seems that the 2013 version used both the book and the 1976 movie as inspirations. Drawing elements from both of them. All the changes in the first film (which I didn't like) can be found in the second film as well, which was rather disappointing. Remember I mentioned Sue Snell showing up at prom while she didn't in the book? Well, suddenly she showed up in the second film as well, and it went in exactly the same way as the 1976 version. To be honest, after that, the whole ending was mostly the same as the first movie, even down to the details. Some elements from the book did make it there, but it was mixed with some new (and stupid) material. I don't really get why they would follow the first movie more than the actual book. If you're going to adapt a book why would you keep the same changes in the movie as the first one did? What is the point, then, of the remake?

All in all, the first movie is obviously the best, even though it might feel a bit dated. I feel the story works better in the 1976 version. The recent version is a modern update of the story but feels less real to me than the first one. The first movie portrayed the atmosphere of the story so well, the second one wasn't even half as good. And to be honest, nobody will ever best Sissy Spacek's performance as Carrie. She was so believable. Chloë Grace Moretz didn't even come close to be a competitor, even a minor one. I can really believe, Spacek's character is the victim of abuse and bullying, but I have a harder time believing that of Chloë Grace Moretz's portrayal. And to me, her Carrie looks too much like the movie star.

Carrie (2013) attempts to give Stephen King's story a modern update, however, it doesn't work for me. By giving it a modern update, it loses a lot of its believability and spookiness. I'm mean, it's hard to believe that Carrie would not have been educated at school about menstruation, I can understand that her mom would not have told her because she is a religious nut, but I fail to understand how things like would never have been discussed in school. Also, adding social media and cell phones didn't really work for me. I would have liked it better if the recent film was set in the same time period as the book and the 1976 film. But since the second film draws so much on the previous film, it probably would have ended up as the same movie entirely.

So, if you're still reading this after all this rambling, here is my verdict: the book of course is the best, followed closely by Carrie (1976) and lastly, (far behind the others) is the 2013 version of Carrie. The Imdb.com ratings for both movies are correct. I will add though, that lately if I watch a movie adaptation of a book I've read, I don't enjoy the film as much. This was not true in this case. If you don't want to read the book, I recommend the 1976 version of Carrie! You won't regret it!

Carrie by Stephen King

Carrie knew she should not use the terrifying power she possessed... But one night at her senior prom, Carrie was scorned and humiliated just one time too many, and in a fit of uncontrollable fury she turned her clandestine game into a weapon of horror and destruction...

-- Goodreads.com description --

This book was a loan from one of my friends and the perfect Halloween read. I actually never read something creepy just because it's Halloween and I actually liked the experience! I have some other books on my Halloween tbr, as you can see in my Halloween themed Top Ten Tuesday list, but since I need to return this book to my friend, I decided to pick this one. Another reason is the fact that it was a short and quick read.

Now, I knew quite a lot about the storyline already, although I never even watched either of the movies. However, I still found this book very enjoyable. I loved the various perspectives on Carrie's story and the various mediums through which it was told, like newspaper clippings, parts from a diary form a survivor, police interrogations, academic paper, etc. This was an unique way of storytelling which I absolutely enjoyed. This was my first Stephen King book, and although I've heard so much about this author and his books already, I still didn't really know what to expect.

I did know that Carrie would be bullied till her breaking point, but I didn't realize how hard it would be to read about the bullying and abuse from her fellow students and even her mother. I actually believe, that if she had had a different mother, things would have gone completely different. 

Still, I struggled to read about the horrible things done to Carrie. I do feel, that this book offers the ultimate revenge. Carrie takes revenge on everyone who bullied and abused her in quite an epic way. Of course, this is not the way you should resolve your problems but I can really empathize with Carrie, but also with the other characters. Even at some level with Carrie's mom.

Minor spoiler: What bothered me though, was that Tommy seemed to genuinely enjoy taking Carrie to the prom but when the bucket hit his head, Carrie didn't even check to see if he was ok. She took revenge on everyone but I do believe Tommy did not deserve it. She should have shown even the smallest concern towards him. But I guess she was in shock and in some way I can understand that.

I think this is a perfect book to start reading Stephen King's books. It is short and quite well known. I also believe this might have been the first book he published. 

All in all, I really liked this book and ultimately, I give Carrie 4 out of 5 stars. In the future I'm probably going to pick up more of his books but I'm not sure which ones yet. If you have any recommendations, let me know in the comments down below!