Bookseller Mitchell Kaplan of Books & Books has turned a new page: He's getting into the movie 
biz. Along with longtime friend, producer Paula Mazur, Kaplan has optioned the bestselling novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows, who finished the book started by her now-deceased aunt Mary Ann Shaffer.
The novel, told through letters and touching on the experiences on the Guernsey islands during World War II, thoroughly charmed Kaplan.
""The book takes place in an exotic location with a situation hardly anyone knows about, the German occupation of the islands. It has these charming figures from the island as characters, and running through it are two stories of strong women,'' Kaplan says.
Optioning a movie is something he's considered for quite awhile with Mazur, who produced the film Nim's Island.
"Paula and I have been talking for years about finding just the right book, and we found it,'' he says.
So now Mazur's shopping the project around L.A. studios...we'll keep you posted if anybody bites.
wasn't The Others set on the Channel Islands?....apropos of nothing..
Posted by: Patrick | September 03, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Yes, The Others was set there...so is one of Elizabeth George's books, A Place of Hiding.
Posted by: Connie | September 03, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Mitchell seems able to make a success of whatever he aims at. I bet he does well here too. I wish him well.
Posted by: HoCo | September 03, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I love books and books...
Posted by: Patrick | September 03, 2008 at 03:39 PM
I love books and books...
Posted by: Patrick | September 03, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Have you read this book?
Posted by: Amy | September 03, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Not yet...have you?
Posted by: Connie | September 03, 2008 at 05:02 PM
No, but I've put it on my list because I really like epistolary novels.
Posted by: Amy | September 03, 2008 at 05:15 PM
I can't make up my mind about epistolary novels. My first reaction is to kind of wince, but there are good epistolary novels that are extremely well done. I don't know why I have an immediate negative reaction.
Posted by: Connie | September 03, 2008 at 05:21 PM
DEAR MISTER,
IF YOU BECOME A MOVIE OPTIONER I CONGRADULATE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART.I DONT WANT MC CAIN TO WIN BUT I WANT MITCHELL KAPLAN TO MAKE THAT POTATO MOVIE. I THINK PPL THAT HAVE A FAMILY THAT LIVES IN ALASKA WILL DEFINATELY SEE THAT MOVIE. IF U BECOME MOVIE OPTIONER HELP THE KEY GRIPS. IF U BECOME STUDIO EXECUTIVE IT WILL BE BETTER THEN THAT COME MEIRDA HARVEY WEINSTEIN.
SINCERELY,ANONYMOUS
P.S.VOTE FOR MITCHELL KAPLAN!!!! AND MARY ANN SHAFFER!!
Posted by: ceci | September 03, 2008 at 09:04 PM