Movie Tie In Novels

I don’t go to the movies as often as I used too. Prices have just gotten too out of line. At least we have a local theater that has a discount on Tuesday but we may have to wait for a while to see the feature we want to see.

To me, I can create most of the scenes just as well in my mind. With ticket prices in the $10 (or more) range, it’s cheaper to pick up the novelization of the movie and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. This way you can re-read the good parts and save a lot of money on the snacks as well.

Two of the more interesting titles coming out in the next few weeks are The Ghost Writer and Repo Men. Here is a brief look at both of these so you can pick up the books or if you have the cash, spring for the movie.

THE GHOST WRITER, Robert Harris, Gallery Books, $15, 335 pages, ISBN: 9781439190555 is the story of the second “ghost” chosen to write the memoirs of Adam Lang, a controversial former prime minister of England. His memoirs are expected to be a best seller because of the secrets he may choose to reveal.

The first “ghost” died under shocking circumstances and the new writer is not up on politics and is unaware of the secrets that Lang still carries around in his head. Secrets that change the way his service may be remembered. Secrets that may mean more deaths in order to kept his memoirs secret.

Harris has written several other books and has worked for the BBC and The Sunday (London) Times. This is well written and is a wonderful way to pass a couple of hours.

REPO MEN, Eric Garcia, Harper, $7.99, 328 pages, ISBN: 9780061713040 is one of those unusual titles that while deadly serious in its purpose, left me grinning and laughing on occasion. I guess this makes me a little weird (but you already knew that).

Everyone knows that a repoman comes around in the middle of the night and takes your car back when you miss a payment. We also know the normal function of a Credit Union is to make loans and collateral on that loan. REPO MEN gives both of these institutions a twist that makes them businesses with a future with which to be reckoned.

Only thing is that is now the future and when a repoman comes around, he has come to repossess your liver or your kidney or even your heart. The best thing to do is to keep up with your payments, or you will come face to face with the one person who wants possession and won’t take “No” or payment for an answer.

Everything is going fine until one of the Repo Men has to become a customer and then has trouble making his payments. It seems like there’s never enough money to go around and there’s always someone out to take your place.

This is a fun read and takes a job everyone takes for granted and gives it that twist that makes it a tremendous ride.

Pick up the books and enjoy them. And if you have time and some extra cash, check out the movies, too.