Read Watch & Wine

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, book to movie review

Just Mercy is the story of a young lawyer fighting on the frontlines of a country in thrall to extreme punishments and careless justice. The story shadows world-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson as he recounts his experiences and details the case of a condemned death row prisoners whom he fought to free.

Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting, book to movie review of 1967, 1998 and 2020 versions

John Doolittle is a kind-hearted country physician who keeps goldfish in his pond, rabbits in the pantry, white mice in a piano, and a hedgehog in the cellar. He also has an unusual gift: he can talk to animals — a talent that comes in handy, since he prefers treating animals, rather than humans, as his patients.
One day, a mysterious call summons him to Africa, where a serious epidemic has spread among the monkey population. Of course, the good doctor sets out immediately with some of his best friends.

Sweet Bitter by Stephanie Danler, book to TV series adaptation

Tess is 21 when she packs up her things in her car and moves from Ohio to New York City. Knowing nothing and no one she stumbles her way into a job at a semi-prestigious restaurant as a back waitress. The servers and staff are exceptionally tight-knit and take their jobs extremely seriously and Tess does as well. Tess is also drawn to Jake, one of the bartenders, and Simone, a senior server who takes Tess under her wing and begins to train her palate and teach her about wines so that she might one day be able to become a server.

Initially disliked by the staff they soon warm up to Tess and she joins them in their hedonistic lifestyle. Nevertheless she longs to be included in Simone and Jake's more exclusive circle and comes to learn that they are both from Connecticut, knew each other before the restaurant, and that Simone treats him like family. Tess aggressively pursues Jake but he refrains from sleeping with her which Tess comes to realize is because of Simone. When Simone walks in on Tess licking Jake after he cut himself Simone says she will speak to Jake and he finally begins sleeping with Tess.

Tess is initially happy to be involved with Jake and with Simone. Gradually her closeness to the two turns to bitterness after she discovers that they have matching tattoos neither one will talk about and that Simone raised Jake from the time he was eight. She also loses respect for Simone after realizing that at 37 she is chained to the restaurant. Hers is a specialty whose skills will transfer nowhere, and her beauty is quickly fading.

When the restaurant is closed by the health inspectors Tess goes upstairs to the general manager's office and accidentally discovers that Simone and Jake have planned a one month vacation to France for his birthday without telling her. She gets black out drunk and tries to confront Simone and Jake but they fail to respond to her. The next time she sees them she confronts Simone, mocking her for being irrelevant. She also tries to convince Jake that his relationship with Simone is unhealthy and asks him to quit for her but though he admits he is tempted he ultimately rejects her.

Feeling defeated Tess goes to speak to the general manager, Howard, to convince him to give her one of the prestigious server jobs even though she knows that Simone will try to block her promotion. Howard has sex with her in return for the promotion however it turns out to be a transfer to one of their sister restaurants which Tess refuses. She tells Simone that she instead will try to work at a wine shop and Simone encourages the move.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, book to movie review

A walk to remember is a coming-of-age romantic novel written by Nicholas Sparks, about a guy who falls irrevocably in love with a pretty daughter of the Reverend, who ultimately dies of cancer. The story revolves around the young couple and how Jamie embarks love in Landon. The story is of hope and endless love.

The Giver by Lois Lowry, book to movie adaptation review

he Giver is a 1993 American young adult dystopian novel by Lois Lowry. It is set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. The novel follows a 12-year-old boy named Jonas. The society has taken away pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan that has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of Receiver of Memory, the person who stores all the past memories of the time before Sameness, as there may be times where one must draw upon the wisdom gained from history to aid the community's decision making. Jonas struggles with concepts of all the new emotions and things introduced to him: whether they are inherently good, evil, or in between, and whether it is even possible to have one without the other. The Community lacks any color, memory, climate, or terrain, all in an effort to preserve structure, order, and a true sense of equality beyond personal individuality.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a children's story by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymws verse with illustrations by the author. It follows the Grinch a grumpy, solitary creature who attempts to put an end to Christmas by stealing Christmas-themed items from the homes of the nearby town Whoville on Christmas Eve. Miraculously, the Grinch realizes that Christmas may not all be about money and presents.

A Dogs Journey by Bruce Cameron, book to movie review

A Dog's Journey is the sequel of A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. The story starts with Buddy a good dog, an old dog from A Dog's Purpose. Buddy thought his purpose in life was completed by loving and caring for Ethan. Ethan was his human in A Dog's Purpose but he died. A year after A Dog's Purpose Hannah has allowed Gloria and her infant child Clarity June (CJ) to stay with her at the farm after the death of Ethan and Hannah's son, Henry. Gloria takes an immediate dislike to Hannah's old Labrador Retriever, Buddy, who feels he has found his purpose, which was to watch over CJ. Numerous incidents occur in which Gloria's negligence endangers Clarity June before Buddy saves her. Gloria blames Buddy for all of them. Hannah suggests that she keep CJ at the farm while Gloria pursues her singing career, enraging Gloria, who leaves with Clarity June. Hannah notices Buddy has a limp and takes him to the vet. A veterinarian diagnoses Buddy with cancer and he is euthanized shortly after.
Buddy wakes up reincarnated as many different dogs until he finds CJ.

Room by Emma Donoghue, book to movie review

Jack lives with his Ma in Room, a secured single-room outbuilding containing a small kitchen, a basic bathroom, a wardrobe, a bed, and a TV set. Because it is all he has ever known, Jack believes that only Room and the things it contains (including himself and Ma) are "real." Ma, unwilling to disappoint Jack with a life she cannot give him, allows Jack to believe that the rest of the world exists only on television. Ma tries her best to keep Jack healthy and happy via both physical and mental exercises, keeping a healthy diet, limiting TV-watching time, and strict body and oral hygiene. The only other person Jack has ever seen is "Old Nick," who visits Room at night while Jack sleeps hidden in a wardrobe. Old Nick brings them food and necessities. Jack is unaware that Old Nick kidnapped Ma when she was 19 years old and has kept her imprisoned for the past seven years. Old Nick regularly rapes Ma; Jack is the product of one such sexual assault.

A week after Jack's fifth birthday, Ma learns Old Nick has been unemployed for the past six months and is in danger of losing his home to foreclosure. Feeling certain that Old Nick would kill them both before letting them free, Ma comes up with a plan to get Jack out of Room by convincing Old Nick that Jack is deathly ill. Jack is unable to conceptualize being outside of Room or interacting with other people, but Ma eventually convinces him to help her. When Old Nick refuses to take Jack to a hospital, Ma then pretends that Jack has died. Old Nick removes Jack, wrapped in a rug, from Room. Jack escapes Old Nick and manages to reach a friendly stranger who contacts the police. In spite of his inability to communicate effectively, Jack describes the route of Room to an officer to free Ma.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, book to movie review

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

 

At thirty-one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier. At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and profound it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle.

A Rage in Harlem/ Five Corner Square/ For Love of Imabelle, by Chester Himes, book to movie adoption (A Rage in Harlem)

This episode is a review of the book A Rage in Harlem aka  Five corner Square aka For Love of Imabelle by Chester Himes and the movie adoption A Rage in Harlem

A Rage in Harlem" is a ripping introduction to Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, patrolling New York City's roughest streets in Chester Himes's groundbreaking Harlem Detectives series. For love of fine, wily Imabelle, hapless Jackson surrenders his life savings to a con man who knows the secret of turning ten-dollar bills into hundreds--and then he steals from his boss, only to lose the stolen money at a craps table. Luckily for him, he can turn to his savvy twin brother, Goldy, who earns a living--disguised as a Sister of Mercy--by selling tickets to Heaven in Harlem. With Goldy on his side, Jackson is ready for payback.