ROB'S BOOK CLUB

I little while ago I posted a recommendation for a book called Jennifer Government by Max Barry. In the post I also mentioned that I loved Da Vinci Code and the other Dan Brown books as well. Since that post, I've lent out my Max Barry books left and right and still have a waiting list! I've lent out Dan Brown books and heard of people going out and buying those on their own! I'm toying with the idea of some kind of book-reading club, because it's really fun to hear back from people about books I like. I'll keep you posted.
Meanwhile, I finished reading Max Barry's first book, Syrup and think it's easily as good as Jennifer Government, but in a slightly different way. Syrup is a smaller book that satirizes the people who work in marketing, while Jennifer Government paints its satire with a much broader brush, taking on the capitalist system and America's epirilistic world-view. Max's third book is called Company and is due out in 2005.

As I've mentioned, I thought both of Barry's books would make exciting films, but that there's a fundamental problem with both. They name-drop too many huge companies and have them doing unsavory things. I have a hard time believing that Coke would approve its name and logos to be used in a film that depicts them being so unlikeable. That said, I've read that Syrup WAS optioned for a film, but the deadline passed and no script was produced. Jennifer Government was also optioned by none other than Section 8 Films, which is owned by renowned filmmakers George Clooney and Steven Soderburgh. This is very exciting. In addition, I read that the option for this film was in danger of running out, too, but Section 8 renewed the option for another 18 months. This shows a real interest in getting this made. Keep your eyes open!

Ain't-It-Cool News ran a story on this a while ago and opened a message board for it. Here it is: http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=13772