The Rings of Power are not the great success that they expected on Prime Video, but The Lord of the Rings still has a strong pull. This is demonstrated by the fact that Warner Bros. is producing new movies of The Lord of the Rings and it doesn’t take long for a new adaptation to be announced. That’s why it shouldn’t surprise us that the holy grail of Tolkien adaptations is always on everyone’s mind. A work that everyone wants to possess, but no one can touch: The Silmarillion. A child that does not want anyone to touch the work of […]
The Rings of Power are not the great success that was expected on Prime Video, but The Lord of the Rings still has a strong appeal. This is evidenced by Warner Bros. producing new films of The Lord of the Rings, and it doesn’t take long for a new adaptation to be announced.
That’s why it shouldn’t surprise us that the holy grail of Tolkien adaptations is always on everyone’s mind. A work that everyone wants to possess, but no one can touch: The Silmarillion.
A son who does not want his father’s work to be touched
The reason for this is that the Tolkien Society has been adamant for years: they will not allow it to be adapted. It is a work that is too particular, too complex, and they do not see it as suitable for adaptation. Something that could well change in the future.
According to Peter Jackson, director of the original The Lord of the Rings films, “there are many more writings by Tolkien that would be great to turn into movies, edited and published later by Christopher, but he simply did not allow any… the mere idea of a film adaptation.”
But the important thing is that “Christopher passed away not long ago, well, about two or three years ago —he left us in 2020—, and the younger Tolkiens, this new generation that now leads the heritage,are much more open to talking“.
Among those texts that he did not allow the idea of adapting is the Silmarillion. In fact, Christopher was a well-known detractor of the work that Jackson did in the films, even declaring that they had destroyed the books and disrespected his father’s work. Something that has made the possibility of new adaptations difficult over the years.
This does not mean that we are close to seeing a movie of The Silmarillion. Not even that it is in development. But it does mean that there is now a possibility that, in the future, we may see a movie of the author’s most mythical and complex book. If the Tolkien Society decides that it is a good idea.
Tonight, HBO presents the premiere of IT: Welcome to Derry, a new series inspired by the work of Stephen King. This project has been developed by Argentine brothers Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who have a solid track record in the horror genre, especially for their successful film adaptation of It. A novel more relevant today than at the time of its release. During the premiere event, the Muschietti siblings shared their thoughts on the relevance of the horror genre in everyday life and its connection to King’s work. According to them, horror does not […]
Tonight, HBO presents the premiere of IT: Welcome to Derry, a new series inspired by the work of Stephen King. This project has been developed by Argentine brothers Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who have a solid track record in the horror genre, especially for their successful film adaptation of It.
A novel more relevant today than at the time of its release
During the premiere event, the Muschietti siblings shared their thoughts on the relevance of the horror genre in everyday life and its connection to King’s work. According to them, horror is not just a means of entertainment, but it can also serve as a mirror of human experiences and fears, thus connecting with the audience on a deeper level.
Together with the Muschiettis, Jason Fuchs has played a crucial role in the development of the series, bringing his expertise in storytelling and scriptwriting. Fuchs, known for his work on films like Wonder Woman, has joined forces with Brad Caleb Kane, who serves as the showrunner. Kane is responsible for overseeing the production and ensuring that the creative vision of the team is maintained throughout the series.
Andy Muschietti is set to direct several episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry, which promises a continuity in the visual style and atmosphere that defined the previous films. “This series will allow fans to explore unknown aspects of the Derry universe,” Andy commented, suggesting that there is much more to King’s narrative than what has already been presented on the big screen.
With a mix of eagerness and expectations, IT: Welcome to Derry promises not only to expand Stephen King’s legacy but also to offer viewers a new and terrifying look at the fears that dwell in every corner of the human being.
Brandon Sanderson, recognized for his unparalleled creative productivity, has new literary projects scheduled that extend until 2030. Among the most anticipated titles are Spectral Blood, as well as sequels to his works Elantris and Warbreaker, which promise to significantly expand the rich narrative of the Cosmere, his interconnected literary universe. New literary content, at least, until 2030 Fans can expect an explosive amount of content, including both novels and short stories. In fact, Spectral Blood, which has been in development for two decades, is expected to be a darker and more mysterious work, marked by a profound change in […]
Brandon Sanderson, known for his unmatched creative productivity, has new literary projects scheduled until 2030. Among the most anticipated titles are Spectral Blood, as well as sequels to his works Elantris and Warbreaker, which promise to significantly expand the rich narrative of the Cosmere, his interconnected literary universe.
New literary content, at least, until 2030
Fans can expect an explosive amount of content, including both novels and short stories. In fact, Sangre Espectral, which has been in development for two decades, is expected to be a darker and more mysterious work, marked by a profound change in its narrative style. This title will open a new trilogy that aims to capture the attention of both followers of its established sagas and new readers.
Sanderson is also preparing to continue the stories of Elantris and Warbreaker. In particular, fans of Elantris can look forward to the release of two new books starting in 2029, with Nightblood, the sequel to Warbreaker, scheduled for 2030. Additionally, work is underway on a new dimension of Arena Blanca, originally a graphic novel, which further delves into the elements of the Cosmere.
Despite this fruitful production, the film adaptations of the Mistborn saga face multiple challenges. Sanderson has stated that the complexity of his stories and the expectations of fans make it difficult to bring his world to the big screen without compromising its essence. Additionally, he believes that an “unlimited budget” would be necessary to achieve a faithful adaptation, which makes him reluctant to accept offers that do not meet his high standards.
With these updates, Sanderson’s followers not only have reasons to celebrate, but they must also prepare for a future full of exciting reads, making sure to have reinforced shelves for an upcoming avalanche of titles.
Who can resist having a novel dedicated by that person who has given you so many hours of joy? Aim, because here are all those who will sit in a booth at the Book Fair today to make your book unique.
There are few plans as great on a Monday in May in Madrid as heading to Retiro Park with a stack of books on your back, getting lost in the pages, and waiting for your favorite authors to sign them. Who can resist having a novel dedicated by the person who has brought you so many hours of joy? Take note, because here are all the authors who will be sitting in a booth at the Book Fair today, making your book truly unique.
If you’re on Twitter, you’ve probably come across one of Pedro’s architecture threads under the hashtag #LaBrasaTorrijos. They are fascinating, incredible, and, best of all, unique and different. His ability to communicate is captivating, which is why he has already released three books in three consecutive years: ‘Improbable Territories,’ the children’s book ‘Atlas de lugares extraordinarios para descubrir el mundo,’ and his first thriller, ‘La tormenta de cristal.’ Few can resist being captivated by Torrijos’ storytelling.
Juan Pedro Aparicio
A great figure in our literature, winner of the 2012 Castilla y León Prize for Literature and the Nadal Prize in 1988. His works include ‘Retratos de Ambigú,’ one of the fundamental classics of Spanish literature, as well as ‘El origen del mono,’ ‘El año del francés,’ and ‘Tristeza de lo finito.’ If you’ve never delved into his novels, now is the time to discover his direct and captivating narrative style.
Ilu Ros
Entering the world of Ilu, an illustrator and author, means entering a world of Spanish grandmothers, strong women who reshaped history, or revisiting the history of Federico García Lorca. Her works include ‘Hey Sky, I’m on my way,’ ‘Cosas nuestras,’ and ‘Federico.’ In addition, you can admire her incredible and highly personal illustrations in a compilation of ‘La casa de Bernarda Alba,’ ‘Bodas de sangre,’ and ‘Yerma’ published by Lumen, which won the award for Best Edited Book in Spain in 2022. There’s no excuse not to explore her works.
Izara Batres
Batres combines poetry with Cortázar throughout time. The author has participated in literature festivals around the world, taking our literature as high (and far) as possible. Along the way, she has published collections such as ‘Avenidas del tiempo,’ ‘Tríptico,’ and ‘Sin red.’ She has also written several journalistic essays, and you can find her in various anthologies where you can get a glimpse of what it means to be a poet in a world without poetry.
Luis Luna
And when it comes to poetry, we must talk about one of our most admired authors in the world, the writer of ‘Cuaderno del guardabosque,’ ‘Umbilical’ (“The word abandonment like a dark bird perched on snow under the storm”) or the book-album ‘Almendra.’ He is currently a professor at the School of Writers, has been published in the United States, and is part of so many anthologies that they are countless.
María Couso
With nearly 90,000 followers on Instagram through her account Play.funlearning, María Couso is one of the country’s top advocates for using board games in the classroom and for cognitive development during childhood. She now presents her first book, ‘Cerebro, infancia y juego: Cómo los juegos de mesa cambian el cerebro, after carefully studying them as a learning tool. Getting her signature will be child’s play, so to speak.
Amalia Marugán
We have all read novels about Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie’s detectives, but what about when the detective is the author? Marugán had her own private agency, making her one of the oldest detectives in Spain, and she still collaborates on unsolved cases. ‘Vivir como si ya hubieras muerto’ is her first novel, marked by action, corruption, and murder. Looks like we’ll have to… keep an eye on her.
Martín Caparrós
Bernardo Diaz. 28/09/2021. Madrid. Journalist and writer Martín Caparrós. For ‘The Final Interview’. Photo: Bernardo Díaz.
Argentinian, with a background at The New York Times and El País, winner of the Ortega y Gasset Award and the Herralde Prize… Caparrós is one of the most fascinating individuals you can imagine. He has been a part of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Argentina, served as an editor-in-chief and television commentator, traveled the world, and published novels like ‘La historia’ and ‘Los Living,’ in addition to his famous journalistic chronicles such as ‘Larga distancia’ and ‘La voluntad.’ He is truly a master of the written arts, and now you have the opportunity to get to know him. Don’t miss out on this chance.
Susana García Soto
Not everything has to be about journalism and narrative, right? Every now and then, we need to satisfy our stomachs, and that’s where Susana García Soto’s book comes in. She gained popularity on the Internet with her blog “Piruletas de Jamón” and now she’s publishing her first book of easy, fun recipes that kids will devour. And you can always take advantage of the book signing to get a couple of tips from her. After all, who can resist a sweet treat, right?
Paul Brescia
Brescia was born in Buenos Aires and currently lives in the United States, which allows him to reconstruct and reimagine stories in anthologies such as ‘La derrota de lo real’, ‘Fuera de lugar’, or ‘La apariencia de las cosas’, alongside his work as a columnist, writer, critic, and professor in Tampa. In other words, having him in Madrid for a book signing is a true luxury that you shouldn’t miss out on.
There is much more to read to understand who Prince Charles is, Camilla, why the Coronation is such an important event and, above all, why we should care so much about what happens from now on.
Yes, we have all inevitably thought, when the moment came when Charles III declared himself king of the English, of Joffrey during ‘Song of Ice and Fire‘, George RR Martin’s (for the moment) unfinished saga of novels. However, there is much more to read to understand who Prince Charles is, Camilla, why the Coronation is such an important event and, above all, why we should care so much about what happens from now on. Be careful, because for most of them you will need to know English. Oh, my god!
Tina Brown already told the story of Britain’s most famous family through Lady Di, cutting off at the time of her death. Now she picks up from there and moves on, ending with the passing of Prince Phillip. From dead to dead, wow. The biggest fans of the affairs and troubles inside the palace probably already know everything the essay is going to tell, but for those who don’t, it’s a perfect approach made by a person who isn’t the biggest fan of the Crown, but shares a common enemy with it – Meghan Markle.
‘Coronation: A history of the British Monarchy’, by Roy Strong
Who knows? You may be interested to know all the details about the British Coronations and go beyond the typical Wikipedia article. Keep in mind that the first one for which we have specifics took place on January 6, 1066, when King Harold II rose. His reign lasted eleven months because, well, it was the time to die early. Ah! Tradition has it that he did so because of an arrow in the eye. When it comes to dying, this is one of the best ways.
Prince Harry’s ‘In the Shadows
When Harry said he was leaving the royal family to live in the United States with Meghan, many sensed that from then on he was going to dedicate himself to capitalize on his life. And there are few more profitable ways to do it than selling a memoir in which he recounts his drama locked in a golden cage full of riches and very little freedom. If you like the fun but also the more or less amusing jokes, don’t even think about it: the rich also cry.
‘The royal we’ and ‘The heir affair’ by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
These are not two essays, but two fictional novels based on reality that tell the story of Kate, an American girl who ends up dating the crown prince. This alone would ensure thousands of units sold, but the authors also put a lot of love and care into the novel: the only criticism is that at the end they decide to diverge from history to tell pure fiction. Without much surprise, the sequel would not please fans too much.
‘Harmony: A new way of looking at our world’, by the Prince of Wales
Deep down I am very grateful that Felipe VI has never given him the urge to write or that Froilán does not feel like telling his life story, because in the United Kingdom there are plenty of books written by the royal family. As proof, this ‘Harmony’, perpetrated by Carlos, in which he tries to raise awareness about the protection of nature and talks about climate change and other problems of our society. Just from the mouth most qualified to speak: the King of England.
‘Kohinoor,’ by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand
Among so much beautiful history and fairy tales, there is always time for a history lesson. Koh-i-noor is a 108-carat diamond that Queen Victoria appropriated in 1877. Elizabeth II refused to return it, partly because, David Cameron said, if she did, the next step would be for all countries to try to get their possessions back from the British Museum. Which wouldn’t be a bad idea, all things considered. This book tells the story of the diamond, its supposed curse and why Camilla has decided not to wear it in her crown. A gem of a book, wow.
‘Coronation year’, by Jennifer Robson
The Coronation of Charles III has already taken place and will not be talked about for years as much as that of Elizabeth II. This fictional novel is about the residents of a London hotel who come together in an unexpected thriller for the subject matter. 1953, Blue Lion hotel, several people trying to get away with antagonistic goals. Not all will end well (except for the queen, who, spoiler alert, will end up reigning until 2022).
What if we told you that the King of Terror was about to throw everything away?
“Stephen King’s physical appearance does not reflect his tremendous intelligence as a writer.” Years ago, a book about the author introduced this caption that has gone down in history. And that King (also known as Richard Bachman) is one of the most respected and prolific authors in history: to his credit he has 65 novels, more than 200 short stories and some 60 films based on his work, to which we can add a whole host of short films, plays and even musicals. But what if we told you that the King of Horror was on the verge of throwing it all away?
1967. A twenty-year-old Stephen King manages to sell his first short story to the magazine ‘Startling mystery stories’ for 35 dollars. The story, which appeared in issue 6 of the magazine, would never be reprinted in the author’s anthologies or officially translated into Spanish (it was in a fanzine). Little by little, King was selling stories to different media while he combined it with his job as a janitor in a high school and English teacher in another. The good life.
Not that he didn’t try to write novels, of course, but they all inevitably ended up in a drawer after being rejected by different publishers. It happened to him with ‘The Long Walk’ (which would later become one of his best works) and with ‘Sword in the Darkness’, an anti-war story of 150,000 words that, as King later acknowledged, is absolutely unreadable. His wife Tabitha (to whom he has been married since 1971) and he lived in a trailer outside Hermon, Maine, and their situation showed no signs of improving. And yet…
In 1971, our protagonist was cleaning the girls’ restroom at a high school when he came face-to-face with a box of feminine hygiene items and was shocked. It was a different era. Soon after, he remembered an article he had read in ‘Life’ magazine about poltergeist phenomena and telekinetic activity in teenagers. Sound familiar? Stephen King took Tabitha’s typewriter and began to write from the perspective of a high school student: one Carrie White.
To the garbage can
The basis of the story, as the author had it in his head, was similar to the beginning of the adaptation that Brian De Palma would later make: a girl starts menstruating in the showers and the rest of her classmates laugh at her. However, after three pages he decided he wasn’t doing it right: he couldn’t put himself in a woman’s point of view and he wouldn’t know how they would react. Also, Carrie didn’t end up liking him as a character because of his lack of emotional connection to her. He balled up the pages, threw them in the trash and went to sleep, thinking that the next day he would still be trapped in that life he didn’t want to have.
It was Tabitha who picked up the pages from the wastebasket the next morning and who convinced him to keep writing for one simple reason: she wanted to know how the story continued. And if her husband didn’t know how to introduce the female perspective, she would give it to him. It didn’t help him to fully understand Carrie, but he finally got it by talking to two students at his high school: one wore the same dress to class all the time because of her family’s poverty and, as a result, was being bullied. The other was growing up in a fervently religious family.
Adding the two together, telekinesis and tampons, he could get down to real writing, even though for him it was a waste of time that would never lead to anything. After 98 pages he finished it and put it in a drawer. He hated it with a passion, although that did not prevent him from reworking it in December 1972 until it became a full-fledged novel. In that novel, Carrie, at the end, destroyed an airplane after it grew horns, but his editor convinced him to change it. For whatever. To the author’s own surprise, Bingo was called: the publisher Doubleday had bought the rights and was willing to publish it.
The cow Carrie
This is what is usually told, but the truth is that he was rejected up to thirty times. Note: Thirty! Not surprisingly, Stephen King has never hidden his absolute hatred for ‘Carrie’, which he describes as clumsy and artless, but that did not stop him from releasing 30,000 copies in 1974 for which he got 2500 dollars at the time (about 15,000 today). Shortly thereafter, New American Library would pay 400,000 for the rights. It didn’t do badly: in its first year it sold a million copies and, after the 1976 movie, it was number one for weeks.
In 1975, taking advantage of the cinematic success that was to come, King published ”Salem’s Lot’ and, soon after, ‘The Shining’ and ‘Cujo’. Since then, rare is the year in which he does not publish at least one novel (or a collection of short stories). ‘Carrie’ had three film adaptations, a terrible film sequel, a musical, an episode of ‘Riverdale’ based on said musical and was on the verge of being spun off as a TV series. For such a supposedly clumsy film, not so bad.
So if you’ve ever felt like throwing everything you were writing into the recycle garbage can, let someone else take a look at it. Hey, maybe your letter to become a millionaire is resting in the trash right now.
Literature has returned to being one of the main hobbies among Generation Z thanks, paradoxically, to TikTok.
You may have read that Generation Z searches on TikTok rather than Google. It’s not true (it was a phrase taken out of context that talked about fashion shopping habits), but it’s getting closer and closer to reality. Maybe some of you think that the influencers on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube or -in extreme cases- the press have the upper hand when it comes to recommending and turning an unknown novel into a hit with the public, but the truth is that this is the merit of TikTok and the booktokers. Don’t you know them yet?
“Addictive and quick to read books“, “Booktok books that I do recommend”, “If you’ve read it, I like you”, “Books in 60 seconds”… No matter how much the cultural establishment has tried to promote reading through campaigns and somewhat outdated comments from authors unknown to young people, the truth is that literature has once again become one of the main hobbies among Generation Z thanks, paradoxically, to TikTok. If this is all Greek to you and you were one of those who believed that TikTok was destroying culture instead of promoting it, don’t worry: we all have a boomer inside us.
Booktokers can sell out copies of books that were released four years earlier, make and break phenomena: publishers have stopped looking at the most brainy websites to focus on influencers who, in just one minute, are able to sell a book to their followers. Novels like ‘It Ends with Us’, ‘The Atlas Six’ or ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ might never have had more commercial trajectory if it weren’t for a teenager who discovered them and quickly made them viral.
The phenomenon of recommending books through videos has been around since the days of booktubers. But since 2016, the change of favorite social network has also brought with it a change in attitudes. It is no longer of interest that you convince me in ten minutes of the goodness of a new young adult novel. Now you have one. If it can be less, even better. Studies are showing that, all over the world, Gen Z took refuge in reading after the pandemic and confinement. With no friends or nights out, TikTok became a key place to have a new hobby, get ideas, recommend and devour page after page. It’s not so strange after all, is it, or don’t you rely on your friends to pick your next book?
Don’t judge TikTok by its front cover
Obviously, this phenomenon has, for publishers, the same problem as any influencer: except for very specific phenomena, it is impossible to know the real phenomenon in sales of the novels that are promoted. They know that they influence, but not how much. It is not a problem: the cost for the company to send a hundred copies is minimal for the result they can obtain.
Some may complain that great literary masterpieces such as ‘Crime and Punishment’ or ‘Don Quixote’ are not represented in this new generation of readers. Frankly, there is no need for that. At TikTok, they know how to encourage reading what they want to read: their opinion leaders keep going, novel after novel, teen saga after teen saga, browsing everything that affects them personally. Maybe that’s why we’ve seen an increase in millennial and Gen Z literature like the fabulous ‘Supersaurus’ or the very punk ‘Taller de chapa y pintura’. You have to give the reader what they want to read.
But it’s not all about recommendations: booktokers are aware that their channels should not just look like simple Teleshops or automatic recommenders, and that’s why they often upload short sketches, identifiable jokes, memes and more, following trends that transcend the community itself. TikTok has a unique language, narrative guidelines that are different from any other social network, and it was not going to be less in the literary recommendation.
Want some names to know where to start? Jot some down: @anne.r.r._@saraar_fer@libroslibroslibroslibros or @andreorowling are just a few to start with. From there, let yourself go: TikTok’s algorithm is chaotic and impulsive and nothing foretells which video will become a hit and which won’t… But it usually gets right what we want to see. And, therefore, what we’re going to read.
Sit back, enjoy and search for #booktokers in the TikTok search engine: You have to know how to adapt to the times!
Recommendations for books and comics you will read everywhere, but… Do you know how to choose the perfect rose?
On April 23, 1917, construction of the Madrid Metro began. On 1925 ‘Don Quixote’ was published in Braille, and in 2005 the first video in history was uploaded to YouTube. And yet, today is remembered and celebrated every year for only one thing: Sant Jordi or, what is the same, the day of the book… And, if you live in Catalonia, the day of the rose. Because recommendations of books and comics you will read everywhere (watch out for ‘Cornelius’, the great masterpiece of 2023), but… Do you know how to choose the perfect rose? Come, we’ll tell you.
You may think “Well, it’s not that hard: I buy a rose, give it as a gift, and that’s it, right?”. But the reality is much more complex. First you must look closely at the stem: if you want your rose to survive, discard those with a thinner and weaker stem. The good ones, the ones that last for years, have a thick and hard stem. Please don’t think dirty.
It is common that in Sant Jordi they try to sneak you roses already worn as freshly cut, but you are going to have enough eye to catch their imperfections. Pinch the place where the petals and the stem meet: if it is weak and you feel watery, it is a flower that has been cut for days. Pay close attention to the firmness at this point: it is essential for a good rose.
The next point is going to cause controversy, but take our advice: when you are about to buy the rose, look at the outer petals… And buy the one with the ugly ones. Yes, yes, we haven’t gone crazy. These ugly petals protect the rest and when the flower opens you can’t see them: Do you want it to arrive home intact? Well, you know the drill. Beauty is literally on the inside.
But what if you want to be original and not fall into the typical roses? You have thousands of options: wooden roses (even with your names engraved on them), ‘Beauty and the Beast’ style or, our favorite, chocolate roses. Because giving roses as a gift is all very well, but eating as a couple brings you together like nothing else, and don’t forget to accompany the flower with a good book. At Softonic we have our own recommendations, but we’re sure you can trust your good taste. Happy turning pages!
