For her Oprah’s Book Club 2.0, Winfrey has selected Cynthia Bond’s novel “Ruby.” The first new selection in over a year, Ruby is also the club’s first paperback selection.
Harpo Films also announced it has optioned the film and television rights to Ruby. The previous selections were “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd, “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie” by Ayana Mathis, and “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed.
HOLLYWOOD’S TOP AUTHORS
It is a golden age for book writers in Hollywood.
Take the holiday season’s movies and awards contenders. The most anticipated are adapted: Laura Hillenbrand’s (No. 10) Unbroken, Suzanne Collins’ (No. 12) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part I, Cheryl Strayed’s Wild (scripted by No. 19 Nick Hornby) and the third installment of The Hobbit.
Authors are exerting more clout than ever, from Gillian Flynn (No. 7) scripting her Gone Girl adaptation to EL James’ (No. 4) close involvement in Fifty Shades of Grey. Still others have had a profound influence on Hollywood’s tastes, with everyone wanting to make the next Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin (No. 3). And then there’s J.K. Rowling (No. 1): No single creator has had so much influence on a megafranchise since George Lucas and the original Star Wars trilogy. Authors are taking advantage of new outlets as well, with James Patterson (No. 8) developing his YA series Maximum Ride for YouTube and Stephen King’s (No. 2) 11/22/63 being adapted for Hulu.
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A slew of sensational books are heading to the big screen this year. Here’s what to look for during the second half of 2014.
The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard Morais will delight culinary enthusiasts with its delicious French setting. Not only does it star Helen Mirren, but it’s produced by Oprah AND Steven Spielberg. Lois Lowry’s The Giver is finally screen bound, with Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep and Taylor Swift. Comedy lovers, Jonathan Tropper’s “This is Where I leave you” is the tale of a guy forced to sit shiva with his astoundingly dysfunctional family. With Jason Bateman and Tina Fey, we’re gonna love it. 2 Gillian Flynn titles are cineplex bound. Dark Places starring Charlize Theron, and Gone Girl with Ben Affleck. December will showcase …Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl? Hmmm….the jury’s out.
Know before you go. Get the literary 411 on my show The Book Report.
The Book Report with Elaine Charles 