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Rose's avatar

I’m a SS Patron of SBL, have heard your name and role in the podcast. Listening to you and now reading your contributions here is a delight.

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Chrissie Whitley's avatar

Thank you so much, Rose! Glad to have you here.

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LeAnne Hale's avatar

The Godfather and The Silence of the Lambs are the two that immediately come to my mind. There may be others but hands down in these cases the movies are perfection.

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Beatrice Mulligan's avatar

Do you know if there are any Edith Wharton novel to film adaptations?

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Chrissie Whitley's avatar

There are several for The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, but I’m not familiar with any other than Martin Scorsese’s 1993 adaptation of The Age of Innocence. I know it’s sort of well regarded, or was at the time, but I didn’t love that it. I think I’ve rated it a 6/10. Though admittedly it’s been years since I watched it or read the book. We’re due for a gorgeous adaptation of a Wharton novel. (And Willa Cather!)

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Beatrice Mulligan's avatar

Thanks Chrissie.

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Chrissie Whitley's avatar

There’s also one for Ethan Frome, with Liam Neeson and Patricia Arquette (odd pairing) from 1993, but it’s not rated too high either.

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Rita Egan's avatar

I sure will

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Rita Egan's avatar

I love this. I was way too young when I read The Godfather ( my parents weren't for challenging my reading choices) and I don't have good memories of that book, but have watched and rewatched all the movies. Delighted to see Atonement in there, it's probably in my Top 5 of all time, and I totally agree with everything you say about the movie.

You've made me want to seek out the 2015 Howard's End. I have dusty memories of an old (probably BBC) tv series, but again, I was probably too young to appreciate it.

I'm really enjoying your essays every week. You always give me something to think about.

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Chrissie Whitley's avatar

Thank you, Rita! And I love that you prefer the movies over the novel, The Godfather. I fully support this, and I am already making my list of another book-to-screen essay where I talk about adaptations that are better (in whatever way) than the books. "The book was better" is not always the case.

I really do encourage you to go watch Howards End — it was from Starz and I just outright bought it on Amazon Prime so I can dip into it whenever I want. Hayley Atwell as Margaret Schlegel is absolutely perfect and Macfayden is so interesting as Henry Wilcox...very different from his Mr. Darcy but just as good.

I'd love for you to report back if you get around to it!

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