Water for elephants

Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen

 As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate travelling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
Remember the movie with our trailer, read an excerpt and download book club notes

great_expectations

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

“Great Expectations” is at once a superbly constructed novel of spellbinding mastery and a profound examination of moral values. Here, some of Dickens's most memorable characters come to play their part in a story whose title itself reflects the deep irony that shaped Dickens's searching reappraisal of the Victorian middle class.
Begin an incredible adventure with Pip out on the misty marshes

Watch the movie trailer and read a free excerpt

The Lovely Bones

by Alice Sebold

Lovely bones

On her way home from school on a snowy December day in 1973, 14-year-old Susie Salmon ("like the fish") is lured into a makeshift underground den in a cornfield and brutally raped and murdered, the latest victim of a serial killer--the man she knew as her neighbor, Mr. Harvey.

Alice Sebold's haunting and heartbreaking debut novel, The Lovely Bones, unfolds from heaven, where "life is a perpetual yesterday" and where Susie narrates and keeps watch over her grieving family and friends, as well as her brazen killer and the sad detective working on her case.

Though sentimental at times, The Lovely Bones is a moving exploration of loss and mourning that ultimately puts its faith in the living and that is made even more powerful by a cast of convincing characters. Sebold orchestrates a big finish, and though things tend to wrap up a little too well for everyone in the end, one can only imagine (or hope) that heaven is indeed a place filled with such happy endings. --Brad Thomas => http://bit.ly/15FAEt6

The move will breathe new life into the adaptation of the Neil Gaiman children's book.

The Graveyard Book is coming back to life.

Disney’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman's acclaimed 2008 kids novel was being developed as a stop-motion project to be directed by Henry Selick. It even had an October 2013 release date. But the project was put six feet under last summer when the studio and Selick parted ways over scheduling and development.
In a new twist, Graveyard now has been reconfigured as a live-action movie, and sources say Ron Howard is in negotiations to direct. => http://bit.ly/TLiCnO

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public – well, five members of the public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka himself. For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true. And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two Wonka's Whipple–Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights – even though his impoverished family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper! The very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Augustus Gloop, steps through the factory gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory and its mysterious owner are true. What they find is that the gossip can't compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same again. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, another unforgettable masterpiece from the legendary Roald Dahl, never fails to delight, thrill, and utterly captivate.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a book that stands the test of time. Roald Dahl's story continues to capture the attention and imaginations of children today, as it did when it was first published in 1964.  Children relate to Charlie Bucket who is an ordinary boy.  The story is one of good versus evil, where the antagonists are not monsters but naughty children, who get their just desserts in the end.  There is magic.  There is imagination.  There is chocolate.  And in the end, good behaviour is rewarded.     All of this makes Charlie and the Chocolaty factory an ideal book to study, since it has already engaged the children's interest.  There are a myriad of things you can do, using this book in the classroom to build children's skills across a range of curriculum areas.  Click here to access more than 100 activities involving comprehension, character studies, craft activities, maths, ESL, music, social science, art, science.  There are puzzles, games, word searches, worksheets and more...=>  http://bit.ly/XOUHDY

 

He saved Harry's skin in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," and now Padfoot is in need of his own savior.

As pointed out by the Sunday Express (via the Daily Mail), the German Shepherd that played Sirius Black's animagus (or, animal form) is up for adoption in Britain, as his owner, stuntman Paul Thompson, can no longer take care of him. => http://huff.to/rawymq

Lionsgate has just rolled out the second phase in its new viral campaign for the upcoming film, The Hunger Games.

The studio launched the first teaser trailer for the film — which is based on a trilogy of books — at the MTV VMAs on Sunday. At the end of the trailer was a hashtag: #whatsmydistrict. This hashtag led intrepid Twitter users on a chase to find a hidden website. More here => http://on.mash.to/n3c5TT

More about the book and the exciting movie poster here => http://bit.ly/n0MdUE

Here’s a treat for all of you who cannot wait for the last installment of the Harry Potter saga – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – the latest trailer for the movie is out.
The trailer is possibly the scariest, most haunting one yet, as we get to see a lot of the pivotal moments of the movie and the final battle between the little wizard and his arch-enemy Voldemort.


The Lincoln Lawyer

Michael Connelly

The acclaimed thriller from the award-winning No.1 bestselling author - adapted into a major film for spring 2011
For defence attorney Mickey Haller, the clock is always ticking. Operating out of the back of a Lincoln car, and with two ex-wives and dozens of guilty clients, he can't afford to miss a trick.

more here = the trailer of the movie => http://bit.ly/iFwJ8Z

Finally we will get to to see the movie that has been made of the old favourite "There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake". It is showing at the St Kilda Film Festival on 28th May. You an have a sneek peak at the trailer here => http://bit.ly/jjjXT0