BEA IN THREE WEEKS!!!!!!!

BEA is happening in just THREE WEEKS and I couldn’t be more excited about it if I actually lived in NYC. Which I do.

Actually, we at Paper Lantern Lit are all excited about BEA, but for me this is my first year attending so I’m SUPER pumped! I had the chance to go last year as a student, but I ended up having to work and missed it. THIS year I took all my convention weeks for the summer off far in advance and will be attending Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on the show floor and Friday as a part of the Book Blogger Convention, to help me be better at sharing awesomeness with you.

As part of my pre-gaming for BEA (I can’t wait any longer!) I’ve been checking out this list of high profile children’s and YA books that will be getting the BEA star treatment. Personally I’m excited for Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: Things About Me based on the video, which is 100% adorable.

I’m also stoked for a peek at Goliath, book three of Scott Westerfeld’s steampunk trilogy. I’ve already devoured Leviathan, and Behemoth. Then again, I’m a steampunk cosplayer so I guess I’m a little biased.

Finally, not to be totally promotional, but I really want a better peek at Lauren Oliver’s Liesl & Po. Yes, I know I work with her, but this only makes it worse because I’ve seen some small glimpses of the work in progress and I’m impatient! (Hint, Lauren!)

What books are you looking to check out at BEA this year? Who else is anywhere near as excited as I am?!

-Beth

My Affair with Water for Elephants

I’m going to be honest. This is a book that EVERYONE told me I needed to read…that I still never got around to reading. We’ve had a coy but agonizingly slow flirtation, and have never actually committed to one another. But with this movie coming out, I think I better make up my mind and bring it back to my place.

Maybe it’s the epic-sounding music in the background, maybe it’s that I’m a sucker for circuses, and maybe it’s Robert Pattison (because he played Cedric Diggory, people!) but I want to see this and I am going to read the book before I do.

For those of you who have read the book already, tell me: how faithful do you think the film will be to the movie? How do you think the trailer looks? Will you go see it? Will you go see it with me? It comes out April 22, but it’s never too soon to plan.

-Beth

Fairy Tale Treats

There are a slew of upcoming fairy tale inspired movies coming out soon and we here at PLL are wondering if it’s the newest trend or just a passing fad. Personally, I am all for it. I adore fairy tale retellings. I can count at least five versions of Cinderella, two of Beauty and the Beast, three of Alice in Wonderland, an alternate version of The Little Mermaid, and at least two versions of Sleeping Beauty on my bookshelf just right now. I’m a bit of a fairy tale nerd.

So needless to say, I’m pretty excited about these two upcoming films. First, Red Riding Hood. Some of my friends are turned off because they only see Amanda Seyfreid as “the dumb chick from Mean Girls,” but I think her work in Mamma Mia! and Letters to Juliet redeem her for predicting the weather with her boobs. Plus, I’m of the firm belief that you have to be pretty smart to play someone that dumb. My only concern for the film is the definite-Twilight influence, between the “supernatural love triangle” and the Dashboard Confessional-esque soundtrack in the trailer. But I’m always up for a dark fairy tale, as long as they don’t forsake the story for the teen angst. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think!

Second, we have Beastly. I know this is out already, but I haven’t gotten to the movie theater. I am dying to see it. Now there are many, many reasons that this film might be swoon-worthy. First, can we talk about how creepy MK Olsen is as the witch? Love seeing childhood stars coming into their own. Second, we have the very fine Alex Pettyfer playing the Beast, and still managing to look sexy in his tattooed/scarred state. Third, NPH. I don’t really need to explain that one do I? And finally, the always adorable Vanessa Hudgens as Beauty. Full confession: I’m one of those people who is always disappointed when the Beast turns back into the prince at the end. Of course, it’s a given that he’ll go back to being handsome at the end. At least, I’m pretty sure they won’t waste Pettyfer’s pretty face. Have you seen it? Was it good? If you haven’t seen it, do you think they’ll break tradition and give me my wish? If you have, don’t spoil it, please!

So. What do you think? Are fairy tale retellings the next pop culture craze, or am I swooning alone?

-Beth