Now here's a lovely little bit of book-lovers' news: BBC One is filming a new adaptation of Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes.
If you've never read Ballet Shoes, go find a copy, curl up and give yourself a couple of hours...you're in for a wonderful treat. The novel, published in 1937, is about three adopted girls who become sisters in a very unconventional English family. The girls all train as dancers, though each has a different talent/passion (and only one of them, the youngest, is really "meant" to be a dancer).
I grew up reading our public library's copy of Ballet Shoes to tatters. I loved Pauline, Petrova (especially Petrova!) and Posy Fossil, the sisters of the story, and entering their world was always a wonderful experience. Though I've read several other Streatfeild books, and they're all enjoyable, in my opinion Ballet Shoes is by far the best.
I now own a paperback copy with illustrations by Diane Goode (who also did new cover illustrations for some of the Betsy-Tacy books some years back, and is the writer/illustrator of several picture books the sweet girl loves). About two years ago, I ran across a video of a BBC film adaptation of the book done a number of years ago -- and was not impressed.
So I'm very excited about this one. It's got quite a cast list! Among other things, I think it will be fun to see Emma Watson (Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter films) play Pauline. I can easily picture her in the role.
3 comments:
Never heard of this one, but it definitely sounds like another one to check out!
Oh it's great! You'd like it a lot, I think.
One of the things I'm planning to do this fall is write up a list of some of my favorite female characters in fiction (I think I'm going to do longer posts here, then pull it together into something more concise to post on Epinions) and Petrova will definitely be on it. Actually all the sisters are wonderful, but she's my favorite.
One reason I love the movie "You've Got Mail" despite the totally unrealistic ending (you know, where Meg Ryan, without batting an eyelash, completely forgives Tom Hanks for ruining her life and shutting down her children's bookstore) is because the Meg Ryan character actually talks about both the Betsy-Tacy books and the Noel Streatfeild books during different scenes in the movie. Love it!
Oooh, now that you mention it then, I have heard of it! I can just see her getting all teary-eyed over it... Hehe, yeah, she probably should have pulled a Hermione and threatened him with the Muggle equivalent of setting a flock of enchanted birds on him. But that's Hollywood for ya, and I love that that movie too! :)
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