Book Vs Movie Podcast

It’s African American History Month and the Margos are eager to start with Toni Morrison’s 1987 widely-acclaimed novel Beloved which was turned into a movie with the help of Oprah Winfrey in 1998. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction but the movie seems to have faded from memory. We try to figure out why that is the case.

We needed a break here from the intense and decided to dip back into the YA novel waters with the lovely first installment (of five!) of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants from author Ann Brashares and what a delight it is! In this episode, the Margos talk about the main plot points in the book with the characters of Lena Kaligaris, Tibby Rollins, Bridget Creeland and Carmen Lowell and their unique friendship. It’s such a sweet, loving tale--we can’t stop gushing about it!

Did you not know that Shrek was a book first? Well, it certainly was and the Margos are so excited to talk about the interesting beginnings of the 1990 children’s book by author/illustrator William Steig. The movie, directed by Andrew Adamson, (we talked a bit about him in our "Chronicles of Narnia" episode) stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow became a smash and produced two sequels. 

Are you ready for a little 1940s weepy? The Margos sure are as they talk about the novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society that was started by Mary Ann Shaffer who brought on her niece Annie Barrows to help her finish when she became ill. Shaffer spent some time fogged in at the airport on the island of Guernsey which is located by the English Channel.

The Margos travel to Narnia and back to bring you the story about fascinating author C.S. Lewis and his classic children’s tales that make up The Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis, an Irishman who attended schools in England, went from being an avowed atheist to a proponent of Christianity and he used his stories based on Pevensie children as the basis of having people understanding the power of God. 

Ciao! The Margos wanted to go back a few decades in time and take in the sumptuousness of Italy in the 1950s with one of the most brilliant and evil fictional characters of all time--Tom Ripley.  The Talented Mr. Ripley was first released in 1955 and had themes of homosexuality, classism, and the main character who was somehow enjoyable despite his murderous deeds. (He appears in five “Ripley” novels between 1955-1991.

It’s our last new episode of the year and the Margos had to celebrate with one of our most requested titles ever--The Polar Express from author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg.  have a listen! Happy Holidays!

“No man is a failure who has friends.” The Margos wanted to fit in one more holiday movie this year and what better way to celebrate than with the number one weepie of all time--It’s a Wonderful Life? (Yes, it was based on a short story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern and you can read it for yourself in under 15 minutes.)

The Margos continue their holiday celebrations with the all-time classic "A Christmas Carol"  by Charles Dickens. There have been hundreds of adaptations on the theme of Scrooge and is ultimate salvation but only one features stop-motion animation and Jim Carey so we pair the discussion with Disney's A Christmas Carol directed by Book Vs Movie favorite Robert Zemeckis.

The Margos have more holiday spirit than Luther & Nora Krank, the main characters of the John Grisham novel Skipping Christmas. Luther & Nora normally go all out during the holidays in equal zeal with their neighbors who seem to think Christmas celebrations are THE most important thing in the world.  (One Margo liked the book more than the other!)

It’s hard to believe but the classic action film Die Hard was released 30 years ago and the Margos wrapping firehoses around our waists and jumping for joy.  (But is it a Christmas movie? We answer that!) Plus, we talk about the thrilling book it is based on!

The Margos remake one of the first shows they recorded together as a duo--The Help. The 2009 novel was a surprise hit for first-time author Kathryn Stockett who draws inspiration from her life growing up Jackson, Mississippi. Stockett went to the University of Alabama and graduated with a degree in English and Creative Writing. After living in New York City for several years working on magazine marketing, she decided to write her book after the September 11th attacks. 

The Margos tackle true crime in this episode that features Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood which was a sensation when it was first published in 1966 and started a new genre called the “non-fiction novel.” Capote first read about the Clutter family murders in early December 1959 in a small section of the New York Times.

The Margos are both Elton John fanatics, so when the Book Vs Movie Podcast Group on Facebook came up with the idea to cover John’s #1 New York Times bestseller Me and pair it with the hit film directed by Dexter Fletcher (Eddie the Eagle, Bohemian Rhapsody) we immediately put on our platform shoes and bold glasses and got to work. (You see, we are always game to do a thing called the Crocodile Rock!) 

In this ep, Margo D. talks with Juliette Miranda of the amazing Unwriteable Rant podcast and we have a grand old time imbibing our refreshments (Margo enjoys a nice wine out of a can!) while each discussing one our favorite King short stories.