Linger

Recently, I put up my fantasy cast for Shiver, the first book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater. When I did, I completely forgot to mention that this book series was suggested to me by a reader! My sister recommended these to me, but Megan from Megan Moments also suggested these books. Megan also is the person who encouraged me to keep reading when I wasn't sure I wanted to, so thanks, Megan for the suggestions!

Like every sequel, there are new characters to contend with, but Linger, the second book in this series, offers up some really, really heavy personalities to contend with. The first is Cole St. Clair, a volunteer wolf who is trying to escape his life as the lead singer of the uber-popular rock band Narkotika (commence singing "Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous" now). He's described as being tall, broad and incredibly strong. He's also got some substance abuse problems, and of course, all the ego and swagger that comes with being a rock star. This guy, Michael Pitt, isn't quite as handsome as I pictured, but he certainly has the dirty rock star vibe down pat:

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But, if you're dead set on the "handsome" part of this character (which, something tells me this will be the most important part of the casting choice when the time comes), I suggest somebody more like Taylor Kitsch. In fact, can I just suggest Taylor Kitsch for any part that will require being half naked/ mostly naked for the rest of forever? Thanks.

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Along with Cole comes Victor. Victor is Cole's best friend and the drummer for their band. He's got the same substance problems Cole does, but he's more angry than he is self-loathing. He's skinnier and less impressive in general. Jackson Rathbone could do it... so long as they stick to the book and don't give Victor too many lines. But, just for looking handsome and strung out? Rathbone's the man.

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And, really, Grace's parents appear for the first time in Shiver, but they're around so little that I forgot about them completely. So, I'll cast them here. Grace's dad, Mr. Brisbane, is a corporate suit who works insane hours and ignores his daughter in the name of money and status. He's gruff and uncaring, and I pictured somebody like Mark Valley.

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Grace's mother is an artist who ignores her daughter- but flirts with her boyfriend- in the name of artistic expression. She leaves town for entire days to sell her generic and abstract art and offers in a not-so-appropriate way to paint a portrait of Sam. I thought of her as a free spirit; somebody naturally beautiful, and somebody who would look at home in bare feet with a pencil holding her hair back, you know? Like Elisabeth Shue.

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Please post your ideas in the comments- whether you agree with me or not!
You can read my review of Linger on GoodReads.com

Shiver

I just finished reading Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, and I have to say, honestly, I am underwhelmed. It was fun, certainly, but it really felt like Twilight 2.0 the whole time. So, if you enjoyed reading the Twilight series (and I know a lot more of you did than will admit to it) then you will likely enjoy this, too. It's a quick, fun, romantic, electric read. Except when she interrupts a very romantic exchange of eye contact and meaningful words with the phrase "copping a feel." Jarring, to say the least. 

Grace is the female half of our leading couple. She's the typical girl in these urban-fantasy stories: smart, independent, book nerd and cute with absentee parents. (Bella? Is that you?) These are tough choices. In reality, she could very well be played by an unknown. But, it's a big enough project with a big enough part to draw in somebody well known. The commercial success of Twilight has perked up the ears of many young actresses, and I wager that casting these urban fantasy stories will be much more successful in the future. I'm gonna go ahead and throw my hat in with Stiefvater's choice (well, her second choice) of Rachel Hurd-Wood. Any girl who has gone toe-to-toe with both Alan Rickman and Jason Isaacs is a-OK with me.

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Sam is the other half of this leading couple, and I'm gonna go ahead and spill the beans right now: he's a werewolf. I know, I know. SPOILER! Ah! But, honestly, these are the Wolves of Mercy Falls books. Obviously. Here's the problem with these urban fantasy leading men: they are impossible. Take Sam; he has floppy black hair, yellow eyes, pale skin, a crooked nose that "no girl could ever pull off" and wolf-like movements. Sounds gorgeous? Apparently it is. It works in my head. Inside my imagination, he's beautiful, but nobody who fits that bill  is actually handsome. So, we do the best we can. We look for a young man with dark hair, emotionally fathomless eyes and a haunted, penetrating look about him. I like this kid: Aaron Johnson. He spends a lot of time smiling, but when he's not putting on the cheery face, he looks just right.

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Olivia is Grace's best friend, a photographer who is as obsessed with the wolves as Grace is. I like Vanessa Hudgens.

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Jack is a young man with a terrible, terrible temper who gets bit and is in the process of becoming a werewolf throughout the story. Somebody a little older who can look intimidating, like Kelly Blatz. 

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Next is Isabel, Jack's sister, and a girl who gets all wrapped up in this wolf world far more than she wants to. She's the typical spoiled, rich girl with perfect clothes, hair, face, body and car. She's also just as catty and shallow as those characters generally are. I saw Alyson Michalka in my head right from the start and never looked back.

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Beck is Sam's father figure. He's much older- closer to fifty than anything else. He's described as being strong and masculine; he's the Alpha of the pack when the pack is human. He's also got a shady backstory of sorts, yet you feel that he cares about these younger wolves more than you might expect. Bruce Willis is the first and only face that came to mind when Beck was human.

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Please post your ideas in the comments- whether you agree with me or not!