Shelf Control
hosted by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies
Shelf
Control is all about the books we want to read — and already own!
Consider this a variation of a Wishing & Waiting post… but looking
at books already available, and in most cases, sitting right there on
our shelves and e-readers.
The 39 Steps by John BuchanSynopsis (via Goodreads):
Richard Hannay’s boredom with London society is soon relieved when the resourceful engineer from South Africa is caught up in a web of secret codes, spies, and murder on the eve of WWI. When a neighbor is killed in his flat, Richard, suspected, decodes the journal, runs to the wilds of his native Scotland in disguises and local dialects, evades Germans and officials.
How I got it:
Bought the series in e-book
When I got it:
February, maybe March
Why I want to read it:
A British spy/intrigue novel, first published in 1915. It was adapted into a play, a Hitchcock film, and, most recently, a miniseries on BBC (which is really, really good).
I discovered this because a local theater house put on a production of the play. It was hilarious. First of all, they had about 50 roles being played by four actors and a minimal amount of props. (The bi-plane they made out of a trunk and two ladders was phenomenal, but the slow-motion fight scene atop the train was even better.) So while both the play and the original Hitchcock film are more thriller/comedies, the recent adaptation from BBC was a straight up thriller; much more what I expected the Hitchcock version to be like.
Therefore, I was left with the question of: What kind of story was it originally?
All of these different versions were explored with a friend of mine, so it seemed only fitting we each pick up copies of the book (the entire series, actually) and experience it together.
I just haven't read the book yet. :P
This is the next read on my list -I've already promised, since I was supposed to have it read back in Feb/March- so I'll certainly let all ya'll know!
What book do you own that you need to finally just read already?
