Hour 9 Mini Challenge: Cast your Book
Hello fellow readers and welcome to the 9th hour of the Readathon! We are really excited to be hosting our very first mini challenge. For those of you new to our blog, we hope you take the chance to check it out and if you like what you see follow us here, twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!
As book lovers, we know that the book is always better than the movie and we’ve probably all been baffled at some of Hollywood’s choices when it comes to casting our favorite book characters (um, Demi Moore as Hester in the Scarlet letter anyone??). Well now it’s up to you to correct Hollywood’s mistakes. We’re calling all armchair casting directors and asking you to list who you would cast for your book.
The challenge: Tell us (in the comments section of this post) which book you are currently reading and give us your casting choices for the book’s main characters. Tell us who you cast, for what role, and why they fit the role. If you are reading a book that has already been made into a movie, re-cast it with different actors. We will randomly select a winner from among all entries.
Want to step up your game? Post a photo of your casting choice(s) on twitter or instagram with the hashtag #castyourbook.
The prize: Your choice of $15 Amazon or Book Depository gift certificate and a $15 gift card to AMC. Please note that if the winner is an international (outside the US) reader then the prize will be a $30 Amazon gift card since AMC gift cards are only redeemable at movie theaters in the U.S. I’ll contact the winner within a few hours of the close of the mini challenge.
We can’t wait to see what you all come up with for your casting decisions. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading for the rest of the day!
Winner: And the randomly selected winner for this challenge is…Stormi Johnson. Congrats! I will be contacting you over email to arrange your prize.
jenp27
Nicole Del Sesto
The Reader's Room 
I am currently reading The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet .. it has been made into a movie already but I would totally cast Jacob Tremblay to play Tecumseh!!
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I’m reading “Wolf Prey” by Nina West. I’d cast Lauren Ambrose and Jensen Ackles as leads!
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I’m currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Wilde, and I’d cast Eddie Redmayne as Dorian Gray and Leonardo DiCaprio as Lord Henry Wotton.
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I love Eddie Redmayne!
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Um. Eddie Redmayne would be great as Dorian Gray!
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I picked Eddie Redmayne too, for a similar part (but not with a portrait).
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I’m currently reading All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. For Violet, I would love to see Olivia Cooke play her. I think she would be able to play her fun, quirky side, as well as the moody, troubled side really well. For the role of Finch, I’d choose Josh Hutcherson (he might be a tad too old…). He doesn’t fit the role physically (Finch is tall and gangly, while Josh is on the shorter side…) but I feel like he would be able to pull off all of the different sides of Finch, from his outgoing, crazy side, to his quiet, serious side.
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I’m reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt!
Theo: James Franco
Hobie: Sir Ian McKellen (a girl can dream)
Kitsey: Britt Robertson
Boris: Dominic Monaghan
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I’ve barely started Huntress by Malinda Lo, so I don’t have a good idea of the characters yet, but for now I cast Jessica Henwick and Jacqueline Joe as the two MC’s
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I’m reading Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal. I would cast Jena Malone as Jane, the protagonist, because Jane reminds me of Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice (2005), played by Malone, and also because I really like Jena Malone. XD I would cast Lily James as Jane’s Sister, Melody, who is very pretty but sort of a drama queen. I would cast Oscar Isaac as Mr. Dunkirk who is charming and nice to everyone. I’m not sure who I would cast as Mr. Vincent…..maybe Matthias Schoenaerts?
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I just finished Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead and here are some of my casting choices:
John Ames: Dennis Hopper (mostly because he looks like I imagine John would if you add 10 or 15 years to him)
Lila Ames: Amy Adams (sweet, kind, can give off a motherly vibe)
Ames son: Freddie Highmore, when he was [obviously] younger (he just looks like the innocent child I imagine the Ames son to be)
Jack Boughton: James Franco (is charming but can come off as cunning or insincere)
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I’ve only just begun “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Towles but I can think of only one man to play the lead character — a 6’3″ aristocrat with a love of finer things and a conspiratorial gleam in his eye. Liev Schreiber! It doesn’t hurt that he’s one of my fave actors, too. 😊
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I debated adding that book to my TBR for the readathon. I hope you’re liking it
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I’m reading a book called “mrtvacima ulaz zabranjen”. I don’t think it has been transtalted to english. The title would mean something like “entrance prohibited to the dead” and is a crime-comedy.
For the title role of a confused reporter that had dead men left at his door, which gets him accused of murder, i would coose Steve Carell.
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Reading Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass bk3) at the moment
For Celaena I think Emma Ishta (Stitchers) not only does she look the part, but she can do vulnerable & lethal.
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I’m reading Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood. I’d cast Anthony Hopkins as Felix and Kevin Spacey as Tony. Bonus Claire Danes as Anne-Marie.
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I am really looking forward to reading it. Do you like it so far?
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Anthony Hopkins is exactly who I imagined as Felix!
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Samira Wiley, who played Poussey on Orange is the New Black, would play Lauren in my Parable of the Sower. If she is now too old, I could only hope she has a look alike little sister. I haven’t read enough of the book yet to finish casting.
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I just finished “The Rector of Justin” by Louis Auchincloss. Here is my casting:
Francis Prescott: Jim Broadbent
Harriet Prescott: Imelda Staunton
Cordelia Prescott Turnbull: Emma Stone
Brian Aspinwall: Eddie Redmayne
Horace Havistock: Derek Jacobi
Eliza Dean: Keira Knightley
David Griscam: Alec Baldwin
Jules Griscom: James Franco
Duncan Moore: Daniel Day-Lewis
Charlie Strong: Daniel Radcliffe
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I’m currently reading “Sea of Stars” by Amy A. Bartol. I would cast Jennifer Lawrence as Kricket because I just love J-Law and she would be perfect for this character. As Trey I would cast Channing Tatum. And then as Kyon….Josh Holloway. I think that the screen might explode with beautiful people. I wouldn’t be mad! 😉
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Currently reading Daughter of Smoke & Bone and if I could cast Karou… hmmm…
I think Rooney Mara would make a good choice for Karou (idk why but the way she’s described is giving me Lisbeth Salander vibes)… my fiance says he would cast Natalie Dormer for Karou instead.
What do you all think?
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My answer
https://www.instagram.com/p/BL4OFeEhIbe/
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I am currently reading “The Tavern on Maple Street” by Sharon Owens. The main characters are the owners of the tavern – a 40-something couple named Jack and Lily. This book would, actually, make a very good movie. There is a large cast of patrons and employees that would make interesting movie roles.
In my fantasy movie, Jack and Lily would be played by Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. In the more modern version, the couple would be played by Harry Connick, Jr. and Nicole Kidman. Grace and Nicole are both “hauntingly beautiful”, as Lily is described. And Cary and Harry are the handsome leading man who never seem aware of his good looks.
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Just about to start Arcana Rising by Kresley Cole and thinking of Ian Somerhalder for Death, Claire Holt for The Huntress, Evie should be Jennifer Lawrence, and Joseph Morgan as Jackson.
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Posted on instagram! But definitely Emma Stone for Emma in Home for Peculiar Children
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I just finished Slade House by David Mitchell. Here is my cast list:
Norah Grayer: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Jonah Grayer: Jake Gyllenhaal
Nathan Bishop: David Mazouz
Gordon Edmonds: Ray Liotta
Sally Timms: Taissa Farmiga
Freya Timms: Vera Farmiga
Iris Marinus-Fenby: Halle Berry
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I love David Mitchell so happy to see someone cast one of his books. I like your choices!
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Thanks
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which brings to mind one of Hollywood’s more “creative” casting choices, Tom Hanks as a character who I pictured as a young teen in Cloud Atlas
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I did not like that casting decision at all. I didn’t picture a you teen but I did picture someone much younger. I hated the movie
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I’m currently reading Illuminae, and I would cast Zendaya as Kady Grant, Jake T. Austin as Ezra Mason, and Nick Blood as David Torrence
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Basically, it’s about how I’m picturing the characters in my head.
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My book is Five Night’s at Freddy’s: The Silver Eyes by Scott Cawthon and Kira Breed-Wrisley. I would cast Maia Mitchell as Charlie and Colton Haynes as John. They have the looks I believe they should and I think could come across as the characters well. https://www.instagram.com/p/BL4Ok7wDTm3/
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I’m reading nonfiction, so that’s a bit difficult. 😀
Earlier there was The Rest of Us Just Live Here, which would be hysterical with Buffy cast members, though, of course, they’re all too old to play teens. 😀
Hoooow about: as Tyne Daly Babbity Rabbity, Martin Freeman as the King, and Jeremy Irons as the con artist magician? I know Tyne isn’t English, but that’s just who I picture.
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I’m currently reading “X” by Sue Grafton. I would cast Sandra Bullock as Kinsey Millhone, the tough female private detective (she’s older than Kinsey, but is the first person who popped into my mind). Dick Van Dyke would be her 89-year-old neighbor/landlord, and Kathy Bates would be Rosie, owner of the local diner.
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I’m reading the grayson comic from DC comics. It’s a spy thriller and I’d love to see Benedict Cumberbatch play something like that. 🙂 fictionstateofmind@gmail.com
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Oh gosh, I’m super bad at these, because I’m bad at remembering the names of actors and actresses AND I tend to totally disregard the physical descriptions of book characters AND I don’t watch that much TV or many movies.
I just read Throne of Glass, so…
Celaena: I think of Celaena as being very slender and with an intense gaze. I feel like Ksenia Solo, who plays Kenzie in Lost Girl, could totally pull this off… But I almost think she’s too pretty for the part?
Nehemia: I think of Nehemia as someone with and a little bit of spunk and the ability to be just a little stuck-up, but with an underlying ability to be friendly and gentle. I don’t remember what she’s supposed to look like, but I think Vanessa Marano could convey that character.
Kaltain: Kaltain in my head is georgeous and conniving. I’m going to say let’s go back a few years and get Firefly-era Christina Hendrix. She was super conniving in that show!
Dorian: I feel like Dorian is handsome in a slender way, intelligent but with a side of slimeball. Am I the only one who feels that way? Austin Butler plays a really good subtle slimeball.
Chaol: I really like Chaol. He seems sturdy, practical, and maybe a bit closer to the average side appearance-wise. I’m having trouble thinking of anyone for this. 😦
Okay, now that I have spent a half hour trying to come up with my cast, BACK TO READING!
https://101books1001days.wordpress.com/
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you did a great job! much better than I could do
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Currently reading Norwegian Wood
Naoko: Zhang Ziyi
Midori: Jung Ryeo-won
Toru: Harry Shum Jr.
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love that book!
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My Twitter’s private and Instagram’s acting all kinds of crazy for me today, so…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/deweys24hourreadathon/permalink/1144389192307957/
If The El Dorado Adventure were made into a movie, I’d cast Camren Bicondova and Cory Michael Smith (both of Gotham fame) as Vesper Holly and Brinton Garrett. She’s feisty enough to pull off the role and he’s got just the right amount of both trepidation and gumption.
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Currently Reading: Give And Take by Emily Cyr
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I am early on in ‘Arcadia’ by Iain Pears, so the characters are still being established, and there has not been much physical description, but the actress who sprung to my mind for Rosie was Maisie Williams (though I am not sure how enthused she’d be at another fantasy role!), as I think she’d fit the bill as an ordinary teenage English girl who could still be mistaken for a fairy (and a possibly friendly, possibly hostile one, at that) as the character is when she steps in a fantastical world.
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I am reading The Psalmist by James Lilliefors but I am horrible at picking people to pay parts. So just going with people that pop in my head. Pastor Luke Bowers -Stephen Moyer and Amy Hunter – Emma Watson (It’s a Bowers and Hunter Mystery)
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I’m reading Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews. I’d cast Jessica Alba as Nevada Baylor, since Nevada is described as naturally “tan” with dark blonde hair (part-Native American father, mixed-race mother). Alba’s also great in action-y roles. For Mad Rogan, I’d pick Travis Fimmel (the actor behind Viking’s Ragnar Lothbrok) since descriptions of him mostly focus on how arresting his pale blue eyes are! And again, great at action. For Adam Pierce, I’m kind of torn between Ryan Hansen and Dave Franco; they’d be equally good at playing at playing the crazy pretty-boy-playing-tough villain, IMO.
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Currently reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle and I’m visualizing Dan Stevens ala Matthew Crawley as Cousin Charles. Rosamund Pike as Constance. Not sure about Mary Katherine.
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I loved that book! Are you liking it? Nice picks!
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I am!
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I’ve spent 48 minutes of this hour doing this challenge, but it’s definitely my favorite challenge this year!
I’m reading a book where dragons are the protagonists so I had to carefully choose voice actors! It was so hard! I ended up coming up with voice actresses for 3 of the 5 protagonists.
I posted them on twitter:
https://twitter.com/exsixtwosix/status/789925500961554432
https://twitter.com/exsixtwosix/status/789926511822471169
https://twitter.com/exsixtwosix/status/789929973918343168
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I”m glad you had fun. I am having a blast reading all of your casting choices.
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate that, especially because I put so much time and effort into it! ❤
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I’m so bad at casting books! And not just because Hollywood never gets it right, just because I don’t tend to picture actors when I’m reading. I just finished Spy Ski School, a middle grade book with a 13-year-old main characters. With this being a spy series, I would love to see some former James Bond actors cast as the adult leads, however. A younger Pierce Bronson and maybe Sean Connery would be wonderful as Alexander and Cyrus Hale, one of the main character’s father and grandfather.
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I think those are great choices!
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Alaina (my 8 yr old) and I are reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. I would cast James Cromwell as the grandpa, Helen Mirren as the grandma, the voice talent of Josh Gad as Hugo-the goblin. Kendra would be Brit Robertson and Seth would be Seth Rogan’s imaginary son. We are enjoying this fantasy story about two kids who need to rescue their grandparents who are the keepers of all magical creatures.
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This is my cast for Anna Dressed In Blood https://twitter.com/_athousandlives/status/789933675064467457 😊
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Im currently reading Victoria by Daisy Goodwin. This is already a TV series but if I had to cast someone different for victoria I would pick Emma Watson and for Prince Albert i would pick eddie Redmayne (bad spelling) and for lord M i would pick Bennidict Cumberbatch 🙂
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I’m reading This Savage Song and I think Marie Avgeropoulos would be a good actress for Kate
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I have just started the Mudfog Papers by Dickens so far there is only really one main character Nicholas Tulrumble who is promoted to mayor. I would cast Bill Nighly because he is a kind of hapless character, but he would need to grow some facial hair as I picture Tulrumble with a big moustache.
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I’m reading Brown Girl Dreaming and I’d love to see Amandla Stenberg (Rue in Hunger Games) play the lead!
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I’m reading The French Girl’s War, by Herb Williams-Dalgart. I’m picturing Jessie Cave (who played Ron Weasley’s rather obsessive girlfriend Lavender Brown)as the main character Sophie, Cote de Pablo (played Ziva on NCIS) as Colette, David Boreanaz (Seeley Booth from Bones) as Maurice, and Ignacio Serricchio as Etienne.
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I read The Empire if Storms recently and I have the following cast in mind for the main cast
Caleana – Teresa Palmer
Manon – Natalie Dormer
Chaol – Julian Morris
Dorian – Marr Dallas
(I don’t care for Rowan)
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Reading “Back In Black (Black Knight Chronicles #2)” – MC’s are a pair of vampire detectives. I would cast Benedict Cumberbatch as Jimmy Black and Austin Basis as Greg Knight.
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I would cast Dakota Fanning for Zoe in the Darkest Power’s series.
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I am reading a short story collection, so there are a lot of main characters to cast! But seeing as the collection in question is Trigger Warning, all the main male characters should clearly be played by Neil himself, and the main female characters by Amanda Fucking Palmer, and by Gaiman’s daughter, Maddy.
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I just read Gemina by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff, and mentally cast Jennifer Lawrence as Hanna (blonde, blue-eyed princess who could kick serious ass) and, for some STRANGE reason, I headcast Danell Leyva as Nik (Danell is a gymnast, not an actor, so this is absurd.) Great challenge!
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