Big Driver

This novella was from Stephen King's "Full Dark, No Stars". This was a collection of 4 stories. Two of them I felt were among Stephen King's best work, and 2 of them among his worst. This story, "Big Driver", I felt was excellent. I really cheered for the main character, who sought violent revenge on her raper/attacker, who turned out to have help from his mother. When she accidentally kills his brother, she then later finds out that he was in on the crimes too. (she was not the first woman he had raped and left for dead)

The TV movie version was very good, especially for a made-for-TV film. It covered all the major points, and left us feeling satisfied. All that was missing was a cameo by Stephen King. Maria Bello was excellent in the starring role.

Shutter Island

This book definitely held my attention. I could tell there was a twist coming. I wasn't 100% on what would happen, but I was fairly certain the main character was not completely sane. I actually enjoyed the ending of the movie more. There was a more definitive answer: surgery. And his last line seemed to indicate that was okay. He would hold on to his delusion to the end, even though lobotomy === death. Last line: "Which would be worse - to live as a monster? Or to die as a good man?"

Clash of Kings (Game of Thrones #2)

This book is the basis for the second season of Game of Thrones. Unlike the first season, there were several variations from the book. A love interest was introduced for both Robb and Jon. This was not in the book at all. I'm sure the producers of the TV series felt romance was lacking (and I believe that they are correct). Also, Daenerys' dragons are stolen in the TV series, which does not happen at all in the book. They also lock Xaro in the vault and steal his money, also missing from the novel.

I think all of these changes helped to make the second season absolutely excellent, just like the first season.

Love Story

This was a super-short book. It was all-plot. I guess it had something religious to say, because that seemed to be one of the only somewhat-detours from the plot. When she tells him that she does not believe in Heaven, it seems like maybe we are supposed to feel even more upset about her early death. In the book, he hugs his father at the end, and cries to him. I don't know why they wouldn't end the movie the same way.

The constant repetition in the movie of "Jenny's Theme" really got old. Also, I actually hate the saying "Love means never having to say you're sorry."

Ender's Game

I did not care for this book. It was depressing. I enjoyed some of the effects of the movie, and I love Harrison Ford. But the forlornness that Ender felt in the book, the isolation that was one of the main themes, was never touched on in the film.