This year there are numerous books represented at the Oscars for various awards. Some are true stories and some are fiction. Action and science fiction were not overlooked in the nominations.

A History of Violence - Based on a graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke published in 2004 by Vertigo. In a blink of an eye Tom McKenna, restaurateur, becomes a local and national hero when he overpowers a few ruthless killers who made the mistake of stopping in his diner for a little trouble. Unfortunately, this draws attention to faraway mobsters who have been looking for him for the last twenty years. A History of Violence has one nomination for an Actor in a Supporting Role, William Hurt, who portrays one of the mobsters looking for revenge. Viggo is overlooked again. You may also remember Hurt played in an excellent rendition of Rochester in a Jane Eyre adaptation.

Purchase A History of Violence book from Amazon.com.
Purchase A History of Violence movie from Amazon.com.

Official website for the movie A History of Violence.

War of the Worlds - Loosely adapted from a book first published by H.G. Wells in 1898 about an alien invasion. In Steven Spielberg's adaptation the Ferrier family struggles to survive amidst chaos, destruction, death and the possible end to life on earth as they no it. This extreme visual stars Tom Cruise, the amazing Dakota Fanning with a brief voice cameo by Morgan Freeman. War of the Worlds is nominated for sound and visual effects.

Purchase War of the Worlds book from Amazon.com.
Purchase War of the Worlds movie from Amazon.com.

Official website for the movie War of the Worlds.

Books at the Oscars:
~ Drama
~ Children's

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M. E. Wood lives in Eastern Ontario, Canada. If you are going to find this eclectic reader and writer anywhere it is probably at her computer. For more information visit her official website.