My thoughts on the book/upcoming film.

I recently finished this book. I found it randomly at the Dollar Tree in hardback nonetheless (yes, I'm sure that would make the author have a Buster moment). I was very introspective with the whole idea that Buster is a "failed" author with his 2nd book and well Kevin Wilson who wrote book seem to have success with his first book but this one didn't seem to do as well, which is my guess by the book being at the Dollar Tree in the first place. At first was totally "eh" about it and just needed something to read before I mustered up the energy to get another book from my reading list from the library (yes, I am cheap hence the Dollar Tree also being one of my favorite stores). This book was extremely well written IMO and sucked me in. It marketed it's self as more of a drama comedy based on the book summary but brought more drama and depth than cheap laughs.

I was haunted by who misery, pensive and lost the two children were, especially Buster and connected with that feeling so perfectly. This book has a lot of good remarks on society as a well as well as people in specific situations. I begin to dream up this book as a movie and even thought of writing a screenplay which is hard to do as most of this is well written and not shown (ie, the inner workers of the characters minds which is harder to translate specifics without voice over and too much of that can be really cheap and basically telling the audience what to think instead of letting them do it themselves - which would have deeply upset Caleb and Camille Fang). This movie SHOULD be a thoughtful drama with a dash of comedy but overall a short of "coming of age and identity" sort of movie not the comedy I fear it will go with the casting. Which by the way is god awful.

I had imagined give it about 5 maybe 10 years though, that Shia LaBeouf as Buster would have been amazing. He would basically be playing himself (he even has a missing tooth like Buster does) and I think he would have really liked the role if it was given to him.

I guess the "kids" should have been around 35 or something based on the book but I imagined them as late 20's instead. I think it fit way better into the overall story if they were, just my opinion though. I didn't ever imagine actors in the 40's playing those roles though.

I also imagined Annie played by Mia Wasikowska, she has even had a pixie cut just like Annie did and is blonde. She has that perfect balance of cool and distant that I imagined Annie would mixed with a graceful beauty that was alluring to people. She could totally play a trainwreck like Annie was too but also angry/strong but fragile.

The casting of Stephanie pisses me off too. I hope they at least dye her hair red. I mean in the book it made sure to state that she was heavy set. When a character is written so specifically it should be left in but I'm sure they changed it because she was Buster's romantic interest and hollywood is blatantly against seeing "fat" people as attractive or lovable.

I thought Stellan Skarsgård would have made a really good Caleb Fang. He would totally buy into his own art and be charismatic and convincing as this self absorbed arrogant douche bag. He would make that character one almost reluctant to be hated like he did in Nymphomaniac. Which was a big part of this book was that, their parents were awful but they still loved them. Just like in real life.

I'm unsure who I would have casted as Camille, maybe Julianna Moore as she has pretty good chemistry with Mia Wasikowska in that terrible movie The Kids Are All Right. I could see her being hopelessly devoted to Caleb yet still loving and affectionate to her kids. I just don't know if she would have meshed well with Stellan Skarsgard though.

I will probably watch this movie because I really liked the book but don't have much hope it. Tell me who do you think would have make a great cast for this movie.