There's been a change in literature and film recently, one I am really welcoming. We are seeing women in much more complex roles. Gender disparities are being challenged and the story lines on offer go beyond that of your standard rom-com. I despise that term by the way, I'm just applying it for the sake of this post. Gillian Flynn is one of the game-changers writing about multifaceted women but she has a challenger in the form of Paula Hawkins, author of last year's bestseller and beach/pass copies to all your friends read, The Girl on the Train. 

I only got around to reading this book last month but I intentionally waited so it was fresh before I saw the film. I devoured this book, not quite as quickly as I did Gone Girl thanks to assignments and things but still fast nonetheless. It tells the story of Rachel, an alcoholic separated from her husband yet still fixated on him and her former married life. Each day she catches the train and observes her old life and that of the people she doesn't know. After the disappearance of a local woman and Rachel's lack of recollection from the night of her last sighting, she begins to wonder if she was involved. I will leave that summary there, lest I ruin it for anybody. I absolutely raced through this book. It had such a varied list of suspects, given the book shifted through three different voices and while I did come close to the final outcome, I had many other theories that were competing. One thing that did bother me a little bit was the changing perspectives. I think Rachel's point of view works best in the book but otherwise I really enjoyed this one. 

Now on to the movie, I was lucky enough to attend a preview screening for this before it was released and I was excited. Not only for the film but also because Emily Blunt, one of my all-time favourite actresses was in it. The key difference between the book and the film was that the book was set in New York. Honestly I don't feel like it makes a huge difference really. Otherwise this adaptation was extremely faithful to the book and any changes made only served to enhance the plot. Unlike the book, I feel like the three intertwining stories of Megan, Anna and Rachel all play out much better on screen. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I was still tense watching it and felt edgy in places. I really, really loved the movie though. Emily Blunt is amazing as Rachel. She's such a versatile actress anyway but she really shines in this movie. Fingers crossed she gets the recognition for it come awards season. 

Now for the fun part, NZ readers, I have one double pass to give away to see The Girl on the Train* and one which I am giving away on my Instagram. To enter, you just need to tell me your favourite book to film adaptation in the comments below. This giveaway will close next Thursday the 20th of October and I will contact the winners later that day to arrange posting the passes to you. For additional entries, fill in the Rafflecopter box below and comment over on Instagram too. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

*Double passes supplied by Trigger World. This giveaway is in no way sponsored and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It must have been about a year or so ago that the announcements of Saving Mr Banks, a film chronicling the story of PL Travers and Walt Disney during the pre-production phases of Mary Poppins was made. Suffice to say I was quite excited about this film. It combines three of my favourite things; Emma Thompson, Disney and Mary Poppins. When I got around to seeing this in the cinema I was not disappointed and to be honest I had very high expectations. This film is brilliant and the story within a story was not what I expected at all. It really changes your perspective on Mary Poppins and her humble beginnings.

Saving Mr Banks takes place in two different time periods. The first is set in Australia in the early 1900s with a young PL Travers and her family. It centres around her childhood and you see where some of her early inspirations for Mary Poppins originated and where her imagination and creativity stem from. The second takes place around 1960-61 in Los Angeles. PL Travers was flown in by Disney where she attended a series of meetings with the Mary Poppins creative team and Disney himself. It was not only an opportunity for Disney to hopefully secure the rights to the film, but also for Travers to offer creative input to the scripting, songwriting and even in some cases the casting. 

Having a movie within a movie can often work against films but in this case it really works in its favour. This seems to be because the blending of the two stories is done so seamlessly. There are also subtleties you'll notice between the two time periods and the final film which are all really cleverly done. For instance, PL Travers' character arrives in Los Angeles with a floral carpet bag, Mary Poppins has a carpet bag in the Disney film and then her Aunt back in Australia arrives at their homestead with a carpet bag as well. Minor plot points are introduced in the Los Angeles scenes which are then expanded upon in the backstory set in Australia as well. 

In case it wasn't obvious I think this film is brilliant on many levels. The casting is fantastic firstly. Emma Thompson is amazing as PL Travers. While she's playing such a cold woman she brings a lightness to the role which makes you really connect with the character more. Colin Farrell as PL Travers' father in the childhood story was fantastic as well. The script is really well written also. You will laugh, you will cry, and you'll definitely change the way you next watch Mary Poppins. Side note-If you're prone to getting a bit teary in films, wear waterproof mascara before seeing this and pack some tissues. You will thank me later.

Saving Mr Banks is still playing in some countries overseas but if you're in New Zealand it opens this Thursday.