It's Just Ann

Chapter 2 - Book Shopping

I've decided to get this day off. I need to read this book before the script is ready and according to what Teru told me this morning, the script writers are almost done so tomorrow we should go over it. If I don't read the book for tomorrow then I won't be able to provide a proper input and I'll just accept whatever they do without knowing exactly what they should do. I want a good adaptation of the book.

As a fan of films, I'm aware of the disappointment that fans of the original stories normally feel. It's really hard to please an audience that loves books and the story written there and it is impossible to take a book to the big screen without modifications. A good film of a book, as it is, would be hours and hours just to be accurate. Besides, normally films are about seeing and books get inside the character's minds so it's deeper and more complex. It is not very pleasing to watch a film that is being narrated the whole time; you need to leave the audience to make their own judgment and guessing, especially for those who have not read the book.

Books need to be adapted to fit a timeframe that is limited yet they need to have the essence. Fans of the stories want exactly what they read but that is not possible. That is why it is said that the book is always better, of course it is. Books have no timeframe limit, you can spend hours, days, weeks with it. Books have resources that films cannot make use of.

Nevertheless, I want to produce a film that the readers of the story can feel satisfied with instead of cheated. I want to produce a good adaptation of a great book because I'm sure it must be an amazing one, otherwise Father wouldn't have picked it for a new project.

So that is why I want to read this book, carefully, even if I have to skip all my meals. I'll finish it today, then I'll know what to expect when I read the script.

I follow the directions Sol gave me until I find this bookshop. It's a nice and small one, in an old building and with a lovely display. I notice the Harry Potter books are on the best display and it looks amazing. I've watched all the films, of course, and loved them, but I've never read the books. Maybe I should, they look so lovely there.

I think having books is something beautiful. Sometimes I see pictures of shelves and I wish to have books just to put them in display like that.

Maybe I should consider reading more. Well, I certainly have. And I'll ask advice here on how to organise them. The person in charge even puts things like a little broom or a snitch to decorate the books and it looks amazing. I love it.

So I walk inside knowing why Sol likes this bookshop. I can feel the love for books and the care with which someone must look after them, dusting them and tidying them up.

When I walk inside I find a girl, probably around my age, with long blond curly hair. A feather duster in one hand, a book in the other. She was reading and absentmindedly dusting the shelves with oh so many books. I watch her as I approach, slowly, trying to see what she is reading so focused. I think it's an anatomy book. It's large and it looks heavy, but apparently she's stronger than she looks.

I see her mouthing a word, maybe a complicated one that she has trouble memorising or even pronouncing. I'm sure there are parts in our bodies that were made to challenge our tongues.

"Ugh, I give up!" she mumbles. "Fucking sternocleiwhateveryournameis!" she curses next and I chuckle, alerting her of my presence. She drops the duster and snaps the book closed as she turns around to face me with a bright smile. "I'm so sorry about that, I didn't hear you coming in. I'm so sorry," she apologies, her cheeks blushed and I wave my hand from side to side to dismiss her concern.

"It's okay, no worries. I'm used to startling people. I apparently move too quietly," I say and her expression relaxes, her smile becoming friendlier. "Maybe some ancestor was a ninja or something," I say and she chuckles this time. I smile at her, taking a step closer and she does the same. I notice her eyes are green.