Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret book and movie

I can't count how many times I've read this book. I honestly have some lines and scenes memorized to the point where it feels like they're mine, not something I read. I read it hundreds of times as a kid and a few times as an adult. This time, I wanted to read it after watching the movie. I felt like the movie stayed true to the book, but wanted to check that theory.

Read as a kid over and over: Clearly I loved it or I wouldn't have re-read it so often, because I always brought home a stack of books from the library and could have picked anything. I had my own copy too (pretty sure it fell apart years ago), with what I think is still the best cover for the book:

Re-read September 2016: Another book I read a lot as a kid and wanted to re-read for Banned Books Week. This one also seemed a little flat, but I still loved it and think kids these days would still love it, even though it’s pretty dated. 

Re-read December 2019: I’m re-reading my Judy Blume books because I’m taking her Masterclass and she references them sometimes. She was one of my favorite authors as a child so I vividly remember most of her books and storylines, but it’s always fun to revisit old favorites. I apparently lost my childhood copy of Margaret, so the one I own now is an updated one. I remember the pads with hooks and a belt, so it was nice to read this newer version where she simply peeled off the paper and stuck the pad to her underpants. It’s the small things! I loved reading about how things “used to be”, but I do think that updating the books will make them more appealing to young readers and will give this type of book staying power.

Re-read 9/23/2025: I read this countless times as a kid and several times as an adult and always love it. Blume effortlessly captures the tween voice. I re-read it this time because I’d just watched the movie and thought it stayed pretty true to the book, but wanted to check myself. It really did! I think it’s one of the best book-to-movie I’ve seen. 

***

Basically every scene from the book is in the movie, which makes me love it. I understand sometimes you need to take liberties to make a book work as a movie, but I love that this one didn't. Margaret's "speaking" to God felt a bit over-acted in places though; I preferred it when it was a voiceover of her conversation instead of watching her say it in real-time. All the actors were perfectly cast. 

I wonder if the mom being more of a character searching for fulfillment was a nod to the realization that most people watching this movie were probably the mother's age, remembering how this book changed their lives when they were preteens, so they wanted it to be interesting on that level, too? The mother's painting is mentioned in the book, and the father definitely has a background role in both, so I feel like it wasn't much of a change to bring the mother a bit more to the forefront. And it was Rachel McAdams so who could complain?

All the Bright Places: Book and Movie

It's no secret I love comparing books to their movie or TV versions, so when I saw there was a movie of All the Bright Places on Netflix, I wanted to re-read the book and watch the movie to compare them. I read the book when it came out, but didn't remember much of it, so I knew I would need to refresh my memory. 

Originally read May 2015 (and originally rated 5 stars): This writing in this book is so matter-of-fact that you don’t think you’ll get emotionally involved, but you will. It’s not fluffy and beautiful; it’s real. Niven brings attention to mental disorders, abuse, depression, the lack of need of labels and the vast need for compassion — all without hitting you over the head with the message. Finch and Violet seem like real high school seniors, meaning you don’t love them all the time and you don’t understand them most of the time. But it works. This is an amazing book, highly recommended. It will inspire you to get out and wander your state to learn more about it — and yourself.

Re-read September 2025: This was a re-read for me because I want to watch the movie on Netflix but didn’t remember enough. I remembered loving it in 2015 - 5 stars, rave review, the works. But re-reading it now, after the ways the country has changed since then, raising a son and seeing how Finch acts with Violet, being so pushy… It didn’t sit right with me. I know it’s not the point of the book but the way he kept going after her, making comments about wanting to kiss her and all that, really rubbed me the wrong way. Is it supposed to be ok because of his mental illness? Or because she eventually gave in and fell in love with him? I don’t think so. I see him as manipulative and pulling her into his orbit just to leave and fuck her up even more. Sure, he’s depressed and trying to feel things, but I just can’t stomach it in the current climate.

That said, the writing is beautiful, and knowing why Niven wrote it is really interesting and explains a lot about how Finch is portrayed, in my opinion.

***

The movie... Wow. It cut so many details, so much story. I'm not sure I could have followed it if I hadn't read the book first. I don't think it stands on its own. Finch's suicide seemed completely random in the movie, in my opinion. And I do still think that, even in a visual form, they could have conveyed some of the interiority from the book. 

They cut Finch's mom and dad to just mentions instead of showing the characters. I think this is fine overall, and the mom definitely could have been cut from the book as well, but the dad's scenes seemed really important. The movie completely cuts out the little sister. Like with the mom - I think this works. I don't think she added anything to the book except another person Finch left behind, so the movie doesn't suffer for that.

As I mentioned, I think you need to have read the book to get anything from this movie. So many scenes were cut or rushed, but there were two waaaaaay too long scenes of people dancing in a field. It didn't convey anything to me when it was Finch and Violet or when it was Violet with Finch's friends later. It was just trying too hard to make you feel the moment when those precious seconds could have been used for literally any other scene that was cut from the book.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. Going in, this one felt too familiar, like maybe I had read it and DNF before? But I couldn’t find proof of that, so I figured it just seemed similar to other YA true crime/cold case/podcast type books. I stuck with it and got completely obsessed. I thought one of the murderers was incredibly obvious and was surprised they weren’t a suspect all along, but the other took me by surprise. The ending was perfect and definitely made me eager to read the rest of the series.

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson. Second books usually feel like a placeholder between the first and third of a trilogy but this one held its own. I thought it was a really good mystery and I love how it pulled in some details from the first book that hadn’t even registered for me. For a teenager solving crimes the police can’t (or won’t), I feel like this is realistically written, especially considering emotions Pip feels after all she’s been through.

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson. I thought this was a really satisfying end. The first third or even half maybe was VERY repetitive with what Pip was thinking and feeling regarding her trauma. I get that what happened is major and will change a person but for the sake of fiction, I think it could have been cut and handled better. It felt like Jackson was trying to meet word count with those sections. However, how Pip evolved feels really natural and I think the ending was just right.

The show was a slog for me to get through. I'll be honest and say movies are really hard for me to focus on. I usually wander away, either physically or mentally, about 30 minutes in. But shows, somehow, are easier for me to focus on. That wasn't the case here, though. Maybe because I'd already read the book and really enjoyed it, so I knew the story and the suspense didn't work on me?

Also, while I thought all the actors were just-right picks for the characters, Pip seemed a bit young in her actions on the show. In many scenes, it seemed like she was just bumbling along, stumbling upon things rather than following clues and leads like she did in the book.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

 

I know it’s a classic. I know it’s widely considered one of the greatest detective novels of all time. But I avoided The Murder of Roger Ackroyd for years for one simple reason: I have a deep, abiding hatred for poorly executed unreliable narrators.

Ever since slogging through The Girl on the Train, where the unreliability felt more like a gimmick than a craft, I’ve been wary of books that pull the rug out from under the reader without earning it. So when I heard that Christie’s 1926 novel used that same device, revolutionary at the time but widely (and poorly, IMO) mimicked since, I hesitated. I assumed it would frustrate me. I assumed I’d see the trick coming and roll my eyes.

I was wrong.

Even going into Roger Ackroyd fully aware of its infamous twist, I found myself completely absorbed. Agatha Christie doesn’t use the unreliable narrator as a twist for the sake of shock. She builds a meticulously crafted mystery around it, planting clues with such elegance and restraint that the final reveal feels both astonishing and inevitable. The brilliance lies in how fair the novel is: the truth is there all along, hidden in plain sight. Unlike more modern thrillers that often blur the line between withholding and deceiving, Christie invites the reader to play detective alongside Poirot, and she respects our intelligence every step of the way.

The narrator, Dr. James Sheppard, is deceptively ordinary, his voice understated and self-effacing. Christie’s mastery is in how she uses that ordinariness to lull the reader into a false sense of security. When the truth clicks into place, it doesn’t feel like betrayal—it feels like revelation.

Yes, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a classic. But it’s also a masterclass in narrative control, subtle misdirection, and genre-defining innovation. If, like me, you’ve been burned by unreliable narrators before, don’t let that stop you from reading this one. Christie didn’t just do it first—she did it best.

I wanted to keep that momentum going and check out more versions of the story, so I checked out a screen adaptation.

In this feature-length episode of Agatha Christie’s Poirot (Season 7, Episode 1), Detective Hercule Poirot (David Suchet, the best Poirot, no argument) is drawn out of retirement to the quiet English village of King's Abbot after the sudden death of Mrs. Ferrars, who was suspected of poisoning her husband. When her fiancé, the wealthy Roger Ackroyd, is found murdered shortly afterward, the village is thrown into turmoil.

Poirot carefully investigates the secrets and lies of the Ackroyd household and their neighbors. As tensions rise and suspicions multiply, Poirot’s keen intellect uncovers shocking truths hidden beneath the surface of this seemingly peaceful community. The story culminates in a stunning and unforgettable twist that challenges everything the audience thought they knew. I think the adaptation remains faithful to the novel’s intricate plotting and suspenseful atmosphere, though there were some minor changes I noticed at the beginning, probably to make things more enticing on screen without the need for written explanation.

- - -

After enjoying Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd—both the novel itself and the masterful David Suchet TV adaptation—I was intrigued to dive into Pierre Bayard’s Who Killed Roger Ackroyd? This book takes a daring, unconventional approach, re-examining the classic mystery and proposing an alternative solution to one of literature’s most famous whodunits.

Bayard’s work isn’t a straightforward sequel or a typical mystery novel. It's a playful and intellectual literary investigation that challenges the “official” narrative that Dr. Sheppard is the culprit, The author argues, through close textual analysis and imaginative interpretation, that Christie’s story leaves room for another, perhaps even more surprising, answer.

What makes Bayard’s book compelling is how it dialogues with both the original novel and adaptations like the David Suchet episode—works that have defined the mystery’s place in popular culture. While Christie’s novel and the TV version build tension toward that unforgettable twist, Bayard invites readers to reconsider their assumptions and engage more deeply with the text. His work highlights the fluid nature of storytelling and how mysteries can live beyond their original telling.

For fans of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd who want to explore beyond the classic detective story and delve into literary theory and alternative readings, Bayard’s book is a thought-provoking companion piece. It adds a fresh dimension to a mystery that has captivated readers and viewers for nearly a century.

Forever... by Judy Blume (Book + Show)

Forever... by Judy Blume

There are some stories that imprint on you long before you understood why. For me, Forever... by Judy Blume is one of those books. I first checked it out of the library when I was about nine (seriously) and practically wore out that copy by the time I was twelve. I always felt so clever getting it from the library—surely the librarians had no clue what this was really about!

Re-reading it as an adult, first in 2020 while taking Judy Blume's MasterClass, and again in July 2025 in anticipation of watching the Netflix adaptation, was both nostalgic and surprisingly fresh.

Honestly? It holds up. Even more than that—I love it more now, reading it as a grown woman and a parent. There's something powerful about how Blume writes a teenage love story with such clarity and compassion. It's tender, it's honest, and it doesn't moralize. Kath and Michael fall in love. They have sex. They break up. No one gets pregnant. No one dies. And life goes on.

I can remember countless (dated) books of teens having sex and having a baby, being forced to marry, etc. (Thinking of you, Mr and Mrs Bo Jo Jones.) While I do think it's important for teens to know possible consequences, I don't think only focusing on those negative outcomes in stories helps anyone. For that, Forever... was—and still is—refreshing. It allows its main character to explore sex and heartbreak without shame. That message felt radical when I was young, and it still feels rare today.

There is SO MUCH to see in every second of this show. I loved watching the pictures change during the opening credits of each episode.

 

I watched the Netflix adaptation after re-reading the book, and while it stays emotionally true to the original, it definitely updates and reshapes the story for a 2025 audience.

What Stayed the Same:

• Michael's signature mole on his cheek is still there (thank you, casting!). That's one thing that I remembered from the book over all these years, even before re-reading.
  
  

• The cozy New Year's Eve party and fondue scene made it into the show and felt like a direct lift from the book—nostalgic and warm.
  
  

What Changed:

• In the book, Kath and Michael meet for the first time at the party, but in the show, Keisha and Justin already know each other from childhood.
  
  

• They kiss on New Year's Eve in the show, which speeds up the emotional stakes right away.
  
  

• The show's version of Keisha is more experienced and confident, sexually and socially.
  
  

• Justin's family is portrayed as more emotionally stable and warm compared to the book, where Michael's parents are pretty absent, but his sister and brother-in-law are somewhat involved.
  
  

• The story is much more modern, with FaceTime calls, ADHD references, and other contemporary updates.
  
  

• Their relationship gets physical more quickly than in the novel, a nod to how teen relationships have changed (or how they're perceived to have changed) over the decades.
  
  

The show is a solid reimagining, but the book still holds a sacred place for me. It captures something timeless about first love—that intoxicating mix of intensity, idealism, and eventual unraveling. And it does so with respect for young people's intelligence and emotional depth. Even re-reading it as an adult, I was blown away by how the book captures those feelings and then, at the end, allows room for heartbreak, acceptance of change, and new beginnings, all at once.

Check out this article where Mara Brock Akil, the producer, shares a lot of her thoughts about the book and also insight into the show's creation. Watch the show for a contemporary spin, but definitely read—or re-read—the book for its quiet, enduring power. Because Forever... is a solid story about growing up, letting go, and realizing that the end of a relationship isn't the end of you.

Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

Divergent

I thought I read this when it came out but I guess there were so many dystopian YA books that I got it mixed up with something else. When someone mentioned it to me recently, I actually was picturing the cover of “Matched” so I guess that’s where I got my wires crossed. I’m glad I got it figured out, though, because I read about 300 pages of this in a day, and then finished it soon after. I really like the story but am hesitant about it devolving into war at the end. I’ll try the second one and see how I like it.

Divergent (film)

I absolutely loved this movie. I thought it stayed really true to the book and pulled me right in. I'm not a huge Shailene Woodley fan (she'll forever be the brat in The Secret Life of the American Teenager to me) but I think she pulled it off.

Insurgent (film)

I got the second book from the library but also got the second movie, so I decided to watch the movie first. I rarely ever do that. I'm a book before movie gal through and through. But I was already feeling kind of "meh" about reading the second book. A friend who had watched all the movies (but not read all the books) suggested I watch the movie and see if it made me want to read the book. It was a decent movie in terms of continuing on from the first, but it wasn't enough to make me want to read the book. Theo James was the best part. So this is as far as I got in the Divergent series, but I don't feel the need to continue on.

Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

This book came onto my radar in October and I've been excitedly waiting for it ever since! Which might have been a bad thing, since my expectations were so high... 

The best part about this book was how well-written the characters were. I felt like I was watching an episode of Golden Girls while I read it. In fact, I stopped reading several times to go watch an episode! I do think the most important part of bringing existing shows/movies/characters to life is nailing their personalities... *Blanche smirk*. And that was done here, so that's very satisfying. If the girls hadn't seemed like themselves, this would have been impossible to get through.

The mystery, however, was very lacking to me. It wasn't compelling. The stakes felt low at the beginning until Dorothy became more of a prime suspect. But her link to the crime felt very weak and it was hard to feel invested. Too much focus was given to the wedding and the St. Olaf traditions as well. While I know there needs to be a B story for a novel, it felt like that was often the main focus and the mystery was just something to hook you in.

By the time the mystery was solved, it was tough to keep up with all the loose ends. They were explained away by the very end, but I don't think it's possible for readers to solve this along with the girls - and solving mysteries with the sleuth is my favorite aspect of cozy mysteries, so that was a disappointment.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to any Golden Girls fan because the characters truly come to life and it's great in that regard. If you're wanting a satisfying cozy mystery, though, I can't promise this will deliver.

Gatsby on Screen

I watched all the Gatsby movies (except the now-lost silent film from 1926) so you don't have to! Just kidding, I'm not a movie reviewer and find it difficult to sit through movies (even though I can sit and read a book in a day, go figure) so I'm often very grumpy and narrow-minded with my interpretations. Still... here they are! Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment!

2013

Over the top. The cinematic swoops, overly bright lighting, and cartoonish sharpness made me think of David LaChapelle photographs, which I know have their fans but just look garish and AI-generated to me.

I think the music was too much and the dancing was so jerky that it should have just gone all out as a musical.

I grew up watching the Robert Redford and Sam Waterston version, so I'm biased, and I also don't like Tobey Maguire or Leonardo DiCaprio, so that furthers my bias, but I just don't like this version. That said, I'm glad it was made since it showed a different take on things, and it brought the book back into the spotlight (more than it being required reading for most high schoolers does). Tobey Maguire as Nick just seems so... empty. He seems like the most clueless, sheltered man ever. I got sick of his blank, dumbfounded stares by the first Gatsby party. I have always been intrigued by Nick as a narrator but this movie makes me hate him and question his intelligence in every way. He's intolerable.

2002

I didn't know what to expect with this interpretation... mostly since it's just 97 minutes, and the previous Gatsby flicks I've seen (1974 and 2013) seem entirely too long. Honestly, I was excited to see how the story would unfold when there was a time constraint.

I think this was actually a good movie. I say actually because, in reading reviews, I see criticism for it not being Gatsby enough and not being hip-hop enough. I can agree with both of those takes, but it was pretty refreshing in my mind. There were some nice liberties taken (I mean, there's a homeowner's association involved!) and a good twist regarding the death at the end that kept me interested.

2000

Janet and I watched this and posted reactions on Bluesky on April 12th. I'd previously seen the first half hour or so... yes, that's all, despite owning the DVD. I can't focus on movies for some reason, even if they do include Paul Rudd. This one was well done and concise and I enjoyed all of the actors, so it became my first place Gatsby version after our watch party.

1974

This is the version I grew up with. I remember watching this and The Natural and developing the biggest crush on Robert Redford - what a dreamboat! I thought Sam Waterston was the best Nick until I saw the Paul Rudd version, but I think they capture the same essence. That said, I can't stand how Mia Farrow acts as Daisy, though I do think she's very Daisy-like. Overall, the movie just seems a bit too long to me, so after seeing the 2000 A&E version, that became my new favorite and this was demoted to second place. Still a solid offering, though.

If I could mix and match them to make my own all-star movie, I would choose:

Joel Edgerton - Tom Buchanan

Mira Sorvino - Daisy Buchanan

Paul Rudd - Nick Carraway

Robert Redford - Jay Gatsby

Elizabeth Debicki - Jordan Baker (a bit Zoey Deschanel though)

Isla Fisher - Myrtle Wilson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

My mom recommended this book after she read it, so I went in not knowing what it was about and didn’t read the blurb to know what to expect. All my mom said was that she liked how the POV jumped around. I’m hit or miss with that type of storytelling, so I kind of wanted to keep my expectations blank beyond knowing that.

I’m not sure if knowing what it was about would have made a difference at all, but I loved this book. The different POVs absolutely worked, and I loved getting to peek into everyone’s mindset. Being able to get into the mother’s head—and her past—kept the story moving more than it would have just “listening” to the recordings. Can’t wait to read the author’s next book - and watch this series on Hulu!

The Wild Robot book series + movie

Well, I did it! After trying to read this book series years ago, then letting it linger on my nightstand for months, I finally finished all three books before seeing the movie! 

The Wild Robot review

The Wild Robot Escapes review

The Wild Robot Protects review

Turns out, the movie really just covers the first book, and not that closely in many ways, but I'm glad to have read them all just because.

The movie was amazing! It was gorgeously animated and really funny in so many parts. The way Roz and Pinktail talked about motherhood and their children cracked me up. But it was also a really emotional movie... to me. Or maybe it was just my current mood and state of mind? Or the fact that I'm a single mom just like Roz? The mother-son stuff was very touching for sure. And the way the animals came together to help each other was just something I needed to see right now for that hope or sense of good in the world.

I would definitely watch this movie again (when it's streaming so I can sob in peace). I really hope they make movies for books two and three as well. Book two is still my favorite, and while the ending of the movie kind of touched on book two in a different way, I think it actually leads to a natural progression to Roz working on a family farm, so I hope they do it!

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

 

I did it! I finished the series before we go see the movie (later today... probably just in time to catch it in the theaters honestly. I'm a little late to the party with the books and the movie)!

In book one, Roz builds a life on the island as a wild robot, communicating and befriending animals. In book two, she's taken from that life and sent to work on a farm among humans. I felt like that covered two possible worlds really well, and was unsure what book three would be about.

In this book, Roz wants to protect her island from the poison tide before realizing it impacts all ocean wildlife and much of the rest of the natural world as well. I thought that was a really good premise, and important considering everything changing in our natural world and all the impact those somewhat gradual changes are happening.

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

Well, it took me several tries over several years to read the first book, but I finished the second in about two days!

I think part of it was already knowing the characters... and maybe having the ticking clock of seeing the movie in theaters over my head. I've found different things online - it's just the first book, the ending is the same as book two, it covers all three, etc. I didn't know what to believe but also just got incredibly invested in the book and wanted to finish it!

Seeing Roz interact with humans was really interesting, especially as she grew closer to the children. And I liked seeing her in charge of other robots. I always love how she wins over the animals, too, so I felt like there was more action in this book, and more at stake.

I liked it more than the first, but it didn't really end on a cliffhanger like the first one did, so I'm really curious to read the third. Think I can finish it before Friday?

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

I first tried to read The Wild Robot years ago, not long after it came out, because I was working in the public library with children and teens and wanted to stay current.

But I couldn't get into it.

I was sure it was interesting and I loved Peter Brown's picture books, but I didn't know why this wasn't hitting right for me. However, I strongly believe in the right book at the right time, so I figured it just wasn't time for me and I could come back to it later.

I tried another time, maybe four years ago, and it still wasn't drawing me in.

My son read it over the summer and loved it. Then he read the other two books in preparation for seeing the movie (books before movies - teach 'em young!). I was going to do the same, thinking that my love for comparing and contrasting books with their movies would inspire me.

Nope. I started the book in September, read a few chapters (so short! so easy to finish!) and put it down. I read dozens of books before coming back to it, no kidding.

But when I was finally determined to finish it so we could see the movie, I was completely invested! And it wasn't just because I needed to get it done to see the movie. I got into the story and fell in love with Roz and her family and friends.

There's something just so sweet and hopeful about it, everyone coming together... such a stark contrast from our current world, I suppose. And even when bad things happened, Roz was positive and either tried to change things or accepted them. Certainly a timely message, and one I needed to read.

Now I have books two and three waiting for me, and I can't wait to dive in!

You: Books to Shows

You and Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

I've wanted to talk to everyone about You after I binge-watched it on Netflix, but it's hard to find people who have watched it, read it, or both. A friend loaned me the book in October with the disclaimer that she, a fan of psychological thrillers, bought it based on the back cover blurb alone. I'm always excited to have books recommended to me, and I don't judge reading tastes, so I was looking forward to it... and read it in about a day.

As soon as I started reading, I realized the language is pretty brutal and it’s VERY creepy. Overall I couldn't put it down and sought out the follow-up, so what does that say about me?

It was very twisted but I think a lot of the language was over-the-top, and while it didn’t seem out of character for Joe, it could have been taken out and he would come off just as creepy and horrible. Some of the situations in the book seemed like they were there for shock value - or at least the language used to describe them was for shock value. It made me like the story a little less.

But the show polished up the story and took out a lot of the language and scenarios that seemed to be too much. They added some characters, like the little boy, and added some scenes that weren't necessary, but I won't pretend to understand what makes good TV. I'm sure they had reasons for adding in the kid and the abused neighbor and all the drama that brought in.

I think this has been one of my favorite book-to-movie adaptations, because even though I didn't like the book much, I thought the story was interesting, and that was really given room to shine on screen. The writing was what brought down the book, in my opinion, so having a chance to revise the story really made it better.

As I mentioned, I read the sequel and have heard that it will be "season two" of the show, so I'll definitely be tuning in for that!

Did you watch You? Did you read the book before, or after, or not at all? What did you think of the book compared to the show? I love dissecting things like this, so leave your thoughts in the comments!