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franciscawrites

@[email protected]

Author of Middle Grade Mysteries
•All Around 📚 Book Nerd•
I live to build strange worlds out of words.
I have a weakness for mysteries, fantasy, dogs & tacos. 🇲🇽
Rep'd by Michelle Hauck

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kenthompson , to bookstodon
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Emma, by Jane Austen.
You are but one and twenty, a gentleman’s daughter, but fixed on never marrying so that you may care for your hypochondriac father; this, however, does not dissuade you from the disastrous matchmaking you attempt for others, which goes wildly awry, embroiling yourself even, though you are always sensible to the distinction of rank.
4 of 5 library cats 🐈 🐈 🐈 🐈.
@bookstodon

franciscawrites ,
@franciscawrites@mastodon.scot avatar

@kenthompson @bookstodon
While a crowd favorite, from all of her books, this is the one I like the least. I find the idea of Emma toying with a young woman's future out of boredom and entitlement quite unappealing. I know, I know, it all ends well, but still, I can't get over that part.

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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Can you name a film that was adapted not from a novel, but from a short story?
Here's one:

The Illusionist (2006)

@bookstodon

franciscawrites OP ,
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@arratoon @bookstodon
Let's called a long-short story 😉
But, technically, less than 20k words is still a short story and 20k is about 80 pages.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@drawnonglass @HauntedOwlbear @bookstodon
Good motivation to do it, risky move, though. It paid off, probably because he was familiar with writing scripts.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@HauntedOwlbear @bookstodon

Not often are authors asked (or request) to adapt their own works, it's interesting when one does, particularly when the results are as good as in this example. Now, adding to it that he directed the adaptation, well, that's rare.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@peachfront @bookstodon
I was surprised when I learned about this particular example, and rushed to read the story. It's still a short story, even if on the longish side.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@peachfront @bookstodon
Agreed, about Minority Report. About Screamers, I've seen the movie but never read the story. I must remedy that.

franciscawrites OP ,
@franciscawrites@mastodon.scot avatar

@mozz
I knew about, but I thought it was three of his lesser-know stories, not one. Several student-films had been adapted from those stories. Yet, the stories involved aren't particularly good (IMO).

franciscawrites OP ,
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@mozz @bookstodon
Yes, several of the adaptations are far superior to the source material.
What's interesting, or at least that's how it was explained to me, is that the 1-buck rights deal was not for everyone but for cinema students and newcomers, which is the bast part of it, I think.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@dance_along_the_edge @bookstodon
I haven't seen any of the adaptations but The Lottery is quite the story. So subtle and so powerful, it gets under your skin and stays there for long.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@pokitty @peachfront @bookstodon
Oh, thank you!

franciscawrites OP ,
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@arratoon @bookstodon
I haven't read the story. The film, however, it's beautiful. Devastating and hopeful all at once. And the young actor is magnificent.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@gevoel @octothorpe @bookstodon Yes, from Issac Asimov. Sadly, the adaptation goes against everything he stood for.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@alexlubertozzi @bookstodon
You post made me curious about the original novella behind The Thing, so I went looking for it. Now I'm just waiting for it to arrive. Thanks!

franciscawrites OP ,
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@adriano @gevoel @octothorpe @bookstodon
The Foundation Series are full-grown novels not short stories. Regardless, I haven't seen the series but have no doubt Hollywood has done its thing again and turning them into the opposite of what the source material was about.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@janbartosik @adriano @gevoel @octothorpe @bookstodon

This series, any series, could be enjoyable and good even if it goes against the source material. For Asimov adaptations, though, my only reference is the awful Will Smith I, Robot. I Think my judgement is clouded by it. I may give Foundation a change, if it ever crosses my way.

tinadonahuebooks , to bookstodon
@tinadonahuebooks@mastodonbooks.net avatar

Exiles - Cover Reveal - Literary Fiction - Coming of Age - and a Giveaway

https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/2024/05/exiles-cover-reveal-literary-fiction.html

@bookstodon

franciscawrites ,
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@tinadonahuebooks @bookstodon Great cover!

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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This week, I'm reading Four Ways to Forgiveness.

Four sci-fi short stories linked in a longer one. Beautifully written & delightfully subversive.

“Ignorance defends itself savagely, and illiteracy, as I well knew, can be shrewd.”
―Ursula K. Le Guin, Four Ways to Forgiveness

The fabulous fan art was created by Magnolia Potter, you can check more of her awesome art here ⬇️

@bookstodon

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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In 1963, in a bid to settle a conflict with his English teacher, a 16yo student from San Diego sent a 4-question survey to 150 well-known authors or commercial, literary and science fiction.

"Did they consciously plant symbols in their work?" he asked.

Here are many of their wonderful answers, very much worth the read

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2011/12/05/document-the-symbolism-survey/

@bookstodon

franciscawrites OP ,
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@pvonhellermannn @bookstodon @Firlefanz
It is! I enjoyed reading all those answers so much, many authors I love where in the list, and those mimeographed questions and hand-written answers, chef kiss, really. Glad you enjoyed it, too.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@TimWardCam @bookstodon
And he most surely loved doing it.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@swelljoe @bookstodon
😂 So true

franciscawrites OP ,
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@BlueintheSouth @bookstodon
One of the things I nodded my head along, because it was total conformation of what I think about them, was to know that the sci-fi authors were the most cooperative and interested in the survey, like totally into explaining how they write and why.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@BlueintheSouth @bookstodon
Exactly, and also, at the time it wasn't all that common for readers (public) to get in contact like that. If it wasn't at a conference, a read, a presentation readers and authors were quite separated. A testament to the student's perseverance, too.

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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From the book that made me the rabid sci-fi fan I am.

“To learn which questions are unanswerable, and not to answer them: this skill is most needful in times of stress and darkness.”
―Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness

@bookstodon

franciscawrites OP ,
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@rightsprung @bookstodon
I read it for the first time about 30 years ago, and love every re-read since then.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@amyedge @rightsprung @bookstodon I couldn't put it better. It shifts perspectives.

Lsquare28 , to bookstodon
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“Forward the Foundation”
by Isaac Asimov




@bookstodon https://bookwyrm.social/user/LarryS/generatednote/4023287

franciscawrites ,
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@Lsquare28 @bookstodon
Excellent read!

franciscawrites ,
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@Lsquare28 @bookstodon I'm not sure if you are still reading it or already finished it and rated it/reviewed it. I liked the Foundation Saga even if I don;t have a clear recollection of this one. I hope you enjoy it.

appassionato , to bookstodon
@appassionato@mastodon.social avatar

So Far So Good Final Poems 2014-2018 by Ursula K. Le Guin

"Le Guin's farewell poetry collection, contains all that created her reputation for fiction—sharp insight, restless imagination, humor that is both mordant and humane, and, above all else, that connection to all creation, that 'immense what is'."—New York Journal of Books

@bookstodon

franciscawrites ,
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@appassionato @bookstodon This such a great anthology. The opening poem is one of my favorites.

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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Rereading this classic 'cause I'm in the mood for some good horror.

"They won’t accept reasonable things with their minds but the fantastic things they’ll swallow whole when their emotions are brought into play. Because the emotions have no limits on belief."
―R. Matheson, A Stir of Echoes

What are you reading today?

@bookstodon

franciscawrites OP ,
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@TEG @bookstodon That sound like a great read.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@rpuglisi @bookstodon
He was! Not for nothing Stephen King cites him as a favorite an a source of inspiration.

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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And so it begins...

Welcome to the glamorous process of plotting a new book.

@bookstodon

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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From one of my all time favorite books:

“Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. The road goes upward towards the light; but the laden traveler may never reach the end of it.”
― Ursula K. LeGuin, The Tombs of Atuan.

@bookstodon

franciscawrites OP ,
@franciscawrites@mastodon.scot avatar

@bookstodon
This fantastic mock cover is the creation of Keith Robinson.
https://keithrobinson.co.uk/copy-of-the-tombs-of-atuan

franciscawrites OP ,
@franciscawrites@mastodon.scot avatar

@glauber @bookstodon It's interesting how people reading this book either want Ged to appear asap, or not at all...
I'm in the second group, yet I do appreciate his presence. 😉

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
@franciscawrites@mastodon.scot avatar

Best way to start the week?

Reading a good book, or course.

“At an early age I learned that people make mistakes, and you have to decide if their mistakes are bigger than your love for them.”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

What are you reading this week?

@bookstodon

franciscawrites OP ,
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@bookworks @bookstodon indeed!

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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A Middle Grade mystery for the middle of the week (I can't imagine a better way to spend my morning commute).

"After all, grown-ups always underestimate children. Children never underestimate each other."
―Robin Stevens, Mistletoe and Murder
@bookstodon

hawksquill , to bookstodon
@hawksquill@writing.exchange avatar

My 2024 reading thread is below!

Book 1: On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

5 stars

Stunning art, lovely found family, and a fun sci fi setting, all while managing to strike the perfect balance between cozy and yearning.

@bookstodon

franciscawrites ,
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@hawksquill @bookstodon The cover is certainly striking.

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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As if children's books aren't already losing visibility due to censorship now this...

This year Goodreads has removed all children's books categories from their Goodreads Choice Awards, meaning no more or categories. Worse, Graphic Novel & Poetry, have also been eliminated.

Here you can vote to ask them to bring those categories back:

https://help.goodreads.com/s/suggestions/a0G8V00001thIKIUA2/choice-awards-middle-grade-picture-book-novelinverse-each-a-category

@bookstodon

franciscawrites OP ,
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@TarkabarkaHolgy @bookstodon
This is their explanation... as if they couldn't add 1 category without removing 5. Ridiculous...

franciscawrites OP ,
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@raymccarthy @bookstodon Goodreads is one of the few places where people without an amazon account can still post reviews to a wide audience. While amazon may use the cite to collect info, it still serves a great purpose for many, particularly young readers. It's ok if you don;t want to use it but this is a petition so it continues to be useful for those who need it most.

franciscawrites OP ,
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@GoblinQuester @bookstodon @raymccarthy
I also use it. I use Reedsy, as well.

franciscawrites , to bookstodon
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My child within is in need of a hug and it's Thursday.
Time to read something beautiful. Something meaningful. Something that speaks to the child within.

“And shouldn't home be the place where you are allowed to be yourself, loved as yourself?”
―Kate DiCamillo, The Beatryce Prophecy

@bookstodon

franciscawrites OP ,
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@tsiolkovsky @bookstodon I can only offer a virtual hug, but I'm sending you a big one and I promise not to let go until after you do.

franciscawrites , (edited ) to bookstodon
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One day, you're reading some dark fantasy book, and suddenly you feel seen:

"She talked like a woman who knew more books than people."
―Melissa Albert, The Hazel Wood

@bookstodon

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