It’s Top 10 Tuesday (hosted at The Broke and the Bookish) and the topic is:

Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books

The beginning and endings of book are powerful. If the beginning is bad, readers may put the book down. And a bad ending will leave the reader sad (or at least me). I am so picky about a book ending. I HATE reading an amazing book, only to be shafted at the end. It’s gotta be that perfect balance of cleverness and intrigue. So, what are some that absolutely did it right? Well, here are ten I think deserve that recognition!

So, without further ado…

Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (beginning)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (end)

The Fault in Our Stars (end)

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock (end)

Insurgent (end)

Shatter Me (beginning)

Never Let Me Go (end)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (beginning)

Losing Hope (end)

Shades of Earth (end)

So, that’s it. What about you? What are some of your favorite beginnings and ends?

It’s Top 10 Tuesday (hosted at The Broke and the Bookish) and the topic is:

Top Ten Best/Worst Movie Adaptations

Ahh, yes. Talk to anyone who loves books and 9 times out of ten you will hear these words out of their mouth: “The book was better.” It might be snobbish, be we bibliophile’s call it like we see ’em. And yes, we can’t help but rag on the details that the movie producers never quite get right. There is just an innate magic in a book that can’t always be replicated on the big screen. Or any screen.

So, without further ado…

My Top Ten Favorite/Least Favorite Movie Adaptations

Top Ten Favorite Movie Adaptations

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I actually liked the movie a smidge more than the book *shocked gasps*. I know, I know, but I don’t feel too bad since Stephen Chbosky was responsible for the movie and made it to complete the story. I think the movie does a great job of that.

2. The Hunger Games

This movie was brilliant! It gave me faith in book to movie adaptations. The things left out, changed, and added were done really well and didn’t leave me feeling short changed.

3. The Shining

The book was so much more creepy, but the movie really did a great job of terrifying me and showing the deconstruction of the father’s mental state.

4. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (Part 1 & 2)

I have to admit some of the movies in this series weren’t the best, but these last two were quite magical. My favorite is the last and I could watch it over and over.

5. The Lord of the Rings

This series was so well done! Brilliance doesn’t begin to cover it.

6. Pride and Prejudice

Sigh, dreamy. This is my all time favorite movie.

7. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

I loved the characters, how close it was to the original story, and how Narnia was brought to life.

8. The Virgin Suicides

Disturbing, yes. Brilliant, also yes.

9. The Secret Garden

This was my favorite movie as a kid! I remember this and The Little Princess were two of my favorite books, so I was really excited when the movie came out.

10. Never Let Me Go

This book tore my heart to shreds. And while the movie is different, and many people probably won’t like it, I thought the complexities of the relationships and the minute details made it just as impactful as the book.

Honorable Mention because it is technically a television series

11. Sherlock

Bloody brilliant. If you haven’t watched this show yet, you are truly missing out.

Top Five Least Favorite Movie Adaptations

1. Twilight

Yeah, this movie was not good. Not good at all.

2. Beautiful Creatures

This one kind of breaks my heart, because the casting was actually really great and it would be on the top part of this list if it weren’t for the horrible hack job of the end. Seriously, WHY did they change it so much?

3. My Sister’s Keeper

Another change to the ending that just totally reduced the point of the book. I was incredibly disappointed in that decision.

4. The Cat in the Hat

No. Just no.

5. The Lovely Bones

This book is one of my favorites: it is horrible, beautiful, magical, and brilliant. The movie fell short. Way short.

Honorable Mention:

6. Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone

I know, I know! I just didn’t like this movie. I don’t know why. I actually fell asleep the first time we watched it at home. I just don’t think it lived up to the book. But luckily, things got better in movie 3 and kept raising the bar each time.

And…

Here’s three books I can’t wait to see turned into film!