Book Club Girl - Book Group Recommendations, Reading Group Guides, Audio Book Club Podcasts

Masterpiece's New Emma Gets a Thumbs Up in Today's New York Times

I'm getting very excited for this Sunday's new 3-part adaptation of Emma by Jane Austen. First I took the quiz to see which man of Highbury I would marry (must retake that quiz) and then I read today's wonderful review in the New York Times. As I said earlier this week, I truly love Gwyneth's Emma, but I am definitely checking this one out. Plus, who can resist watching Jane Austen AND twittering? There will be a twitter party during the broadcast! Mrs. Elton would definitely NOT approve (which makes it all the more appealing).

Full ALA Update to Come, in the Meantime, Take the Bachelors of Highbury Quiz!

In celebration of this weekend's airing of a new Emma miniseries, PBS has a Bachelors of Highbury quiz on their site. Take it and see who you would marry. While I was aiming for Mr. Knightley, and looking to avoid Mr. Elton, I somehow ended up with Emma's father! And while I'm quite partial to the Gwyneth Paltrow/Jeremy Northam Emma, this Mr. Knightley doesn't look half bad....

Dickens' Old Curiosity Shop on Masterpiece Sunday Night

The Dickens adaptation juggernaut continues on Sunday May 3rd on PBS with The Old Curiosity Shop starring Derek Jacobi, who is well, one of the greatest actors of our time. Don't believe me? Check out I, Claudius.

Literary Adaptation Smackdown on TV Tonight

I have already blogged about Masterpiece's Little Dorrit beginning tonight, but HBO is also debuting a literary adaptation of note -- the new tv series based on Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose star. Check out the trailer below. Wishing I had HBO now.....

Little Dorrit on Masterpiece Sunday Night Plus a Discount and a Winner!

Little Dorrit, one of Dickens's greatest love stories, premieres this Sunday, March 29th on Masterpiece Classic. Adapted by Andrews Davies, the film stars Matthew Macfayden as Arthur Clennam, Claire Foy as Amy "Little" Dorrit, and Tom Courtenay as her father. Watch an exclusive video interview with Davies and Foy here. Viewers and readers can also chat with Davies and Masterpiece producer Erin Delaney on the B&N Book Club Message Boards for the next two weeks, starting Monday March 30th. Book and film club questions for Little Dorrit are here. Check out the trailer below - look it's Mr. Darcy from the Keira Knightley P&P!

Save Money on the Masterpiece Literary Adaptations You Love!
Now through May 15th, you can save 20% on the Little Dorrit DVD and other products in the PBS store, enter the code MPTLD1 at checkout.

And...We Have a Winner!
Last but not least, the winner of the David Copperfield DVD and Book contest that I ran a few weeks back, is Karen from the great blog Bookin' With Bingo!

Now onto the trailer.....

Watch a Young Daniel Radcliffe in His First Role and Enter to Win the Book & DVD!

Catch Daniel Radcliffe in his first role as David Copperfield on PBS tomorrow night, Sunday March 15th! You can watch a new interview with Radcliffe and Ian McKellen who stars as Mr. Creakle here. And check out the Book & Film Club resources for David Copperfield on the PBS site. In honor of the occasion and thanks to PBS and Penguin Books, I have the David Copperfield DVD and book to give away! Simply post a comment about your favorite PBS literary adaptation and you'll be entered to win. I'll go first: my favorite, which I'm sure is shared by many, is the Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth Pride & Prejudice. I've never looked at a man's white shirt the same way since ;).

 

Oliver Twist Comes to PBS Sunday Night

This Sunday night and next PBS presents a new adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. Hear Timothy Spall (Harry Potter's Peter Pettigrew) talk about his unique take on the villain Fagin in the video here. If you miss part one tomorrow night, you can watch it online on PBS' site. Watch the trailer below and enter to win a set of Dickens books from PBS!

Wuthering Heights Comes to PBS this Sunday, January 18th

On the heels of their acclaimed Tess of the D'urbervilles adaptation, this Sunday PBS brings us  a new adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley. The movie airs in two parts, this Sunday and the 25th. You can watch a beautiful behind-the-scenes video on the PBS website now and learn about the trials and tribulations the cast and crew faced filming on location in the Yorkshire moors. Don't forget to enter to win a copy of Wuthering Heights and Tess as well!

Tess of the D'Urbervilles Comes to PBS this Sunday

Sunday, January 4th brings a new literary adaptation to the season opener of Masterpiece Theater, with the debut of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles. The show will air in two parts, this Sunday and next, and stars Gemma Arterton, last seen in Quantum of Solace, in the title role. If you miss Sunday night's airing, you'll be able to watch it online the following day and for a limited amount of time. You can also chat online with screenwriter David Nicholls on Barnes and Noble.com starting on January 5th. Here is the reading group guide and PBS is also promoting a Book & Film Club on their site, with lots of info and tips on how to start and maintain a club for reading, watching and discussing the classics. What a wonderful way to enjoy all their upcoming shows. Masterpiece's new host is the lovely Laura Linney and I can't wait to watch many great literary works with her intoductions in '09. Following Tess is Wuthering Heights on January 18th and later in the winter, a slate of Dickens adaptations! You can also enter to win a copy of Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Wuthering Heights on the PBS website now. Enjoy the trailer for Tess below.

Jane Austen Winner Announced!

Thanks everyone for your participation in the Jane Austen contest! The random drawing for the winner is completed and BCG reader Kim will be receiving the DVD of the most popular adapation as voted on by all of you -- Pride and Prejudice (no surprise) along with these great Austen inspired books: Darcy's Story, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, Lost in Austen, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen and an advance copy of Cassandra and Jane by guest reviewer Jill Pitkeathley. This was the biggest response we've gotten to a contest so far, so thank you all!

E.M. Forster's A Room with a View on Masterpiece Sunday Night

I recall with such fondness the Helena Bonham Carter and Maggie Smith adaptation of A Room with a View. I think that movie poster was in every other room in my dorm freshman year. It's been a long time since that film and tomorrow night Masterpiece will air a new adaptation of E.M. Forster's classic novel about a young woman's awakening in Italy. Read a bio of Forster here, watch a preview here and see Andrew Davies discuss this film's new ending based on a Forster postscript here. For book clubs (like mine actually) looking to add a classic to the mix, A Room with a View would be a terrific choice.

Zora Neale Hurston on PBS' American Masters

Tonight's American Masters series on PBS examines the life and literature of Zora Neale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God. If you, like me, didn't come to know Hurston's works until college or even later, with Oprah's fine adaptation of the book , please treat yourself to this show to learn more about one of our country's most acclaimed authors. See clips from the show here and check the time it will air on your local PBS station here. Should the show inspire you to read Their Eyes in your book group, here's the reading group guide.