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After having read The 100 by Kass Morgan, I was so excited to hear that The CW already had a TV version of the story on the way. The plot of the book is really intricate with so many different characters doing different things at different times and yet somehow all the stories are interwoven and connected. That is one of the things I loved most about the book and I sincerely hope that the new television drama sticks to that as much as possible.

So the story is that 97 years ago, the Earth was hit by radiation so strong that it wiped out the entire human race. That is, apart from the 12 space stations that happened to be floating above the Earth at the time. These 12 stations joined forces to create 'The Arc' and what is left of humanity has been living on the Arc since then. The problem is, the Arc is dying. They are rapidly running out of resources and so those in charge make the decision to send one hundred teenage 'criminals' down to Earth to test conditions out. These one hundreds teenagers are not really criminals, they have all been caught for some sort of petty 'crime' but laws are extremely strict given how delicate the situation of humanity is. So these one hundred teenagers are bundled onto a small spaceship and thrown down to Earth with no idea of what to expect.

So my first impressions of this new series...

Given that I've read the book, I obviously had expectations and a vague understanding of what I thought the plot would entail. Had I not had this advantage I think I may have been sorely confused during the first few minutes of the pilot episode. I felt that explanations and character introductions were very rushed and I found it hard to keep up with who was who and who knew who and for what reason etc. Once things had settled down a bit it was easier to distinguish which characters were going to be the protagonists but they still didn't fit together all that nicely. I'm going to assume that this is all just part of the story's development and that the things that have been rushed will be elaborated as the series progresses.

As for actors, there isn't anyone spectacularly talented. That probably sounds rather harsh but that's not to say that the acting isn't good, I'm just saying that it's nothing noteworthy. Most of the actors aren't particularly well known American actors, sure, I've seen a few faces before but for a lot of them this appears to be their 'big break' into television drama. I wouldn't say that there are any particularly noticeable hunks, though I can tell which characters are supposed to be the 'good looking' ones. A lot of people will probably disagree but that's just my opinion. The girls, however, are all beautiful, which is perhaps a little unrealistic given that they've been in a sort of 'prison' for years, but hey that's television for you.

For fans of the book, I'd say that although the basic framework of the television show is based on Kass Morgan's story, the plot line of the two isn't all that similar. The end of the pilot episode is similar to the end of the first book so clearly the story of the book is merely a platform from which the television series has sprung. The character Glass and her story appears to have been removed from the dramatised version so unless if she's going to spring up later, I'd say that we won't be seeing her. This is disappointing as I loved Glass' story and it was nice to see some action happening on the ship. It seems as though there will be a subplot detailing the goings on of the adults on the ship, but this takes a backseat from the drama unfolding on Earth.

All in all, this wasn't the best debut to a television series that I've ever seen but I've still got high hopes. I believe that series one of The 100 has been booked for 13 episodes so it's not all that long and hopefully it will continue after that. So far, the story and the new world is still being set up but the foundation for exciting plot developments has already been laid down. This is a unique story that I hasn't really been explored before and the CW usually has good shows so I'd recommend getting stuck into this new series!

Check out the trailer below:

Showcase Sunday #36.

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea

. Its aim is to showcase your newest books and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. If you'd like to join, click here.

For review:

The 100 by Kass Morgan

Yay! I've finally gotten my hands on a copy of The 100 by Kass Morgan. I'm really looking forward to the television series of this book which is coming out later this year on The CW. I love the sorts of shows that are aired on The CW so I'm hoping that both the book and the television series live up to my expectations! Anyone else read this? What did yo think? Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for the review copy.

Bought:

World War Z by Max Brooks

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

You can't read this book by Nick Cohen

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

I bought half of these from the Shakespeare and Company book store in Paris which was a-mazing (but seriously overpriced). When you buy a book from them they stamp your book with their very own Shakespeare and Company stamp which is oh so cool. I've finally got my own paperback of The Perks of Being a Wallflower! I just loved the cover of this one so I couldn't resist getting a paperback. I've seen Where'd You Go Bernadette on so many other blogs but from reading the synopsis I don't really see what the fuss is about. However, I do trust my fellow bloggers so I'm adding this to my TBR pile! I watched World War Z, a thoroughly awful movie, but I have been assured that the book is much, much better so I'll give it a shot. You can't read this book by Nick Cohen is a non-fiction book about whether we truly have the freedom of speech/thought etc on the Internet or whether the government is still censoring lots of things. The Teleportation Accident just has a really cool cover so I bought it, but I've also seen some pretty good reviews of it. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir is on my university reading list (but in French, of course), but I bought the English version anyways (slacking, I know).

Boulle's Jewels by Francis Boulle

The Burial at Thebes by Seamus Heaney

When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I picked up these four books (and 16 other French books) at the charity this week and what a bargain! I bought 20 books for £11.50, though I'm pretty sure the checkout assistant made a mistake because I know these books are priced at £1 each minimum. I'm not complaining though! I've finally got my hands on Delirium by Lauren Oliver which many people are obsessed with. I also saw Boulle's Jewels by Francis Boulle on the shelf and as a Made In Chelsea fan, I couldn't resist. When God Was A Rabbit is something that people my age were reading several years ago but the cover is cute so I picked it up anyways. Then I saw a cool copy of The Burial at Thebes translated by Seamus Heaney, a poet who I studied in great detail at school so I thought hey, why not.

Gifted:

The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad

Notebook by Penguin Library

I volunteered at Penguin UK's 'Wreck This' Event, in order to promote Kerri Smith's Wreck This Journal, and so they gifted me two books from their Penguin English Library Collection! I've never heard of The Secret Agent before but I know Conrad's work is highly regarded so I'm hoping that'll be book. The notebook will added to the massive pile of stationery that I've accumulated this summer, but I'm sure it'll all come in handy at University!

Giveaways:

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What did everyone else get this week? Leave me the link to your showcase below!!

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Showcase Sunday #49

First Impressions: The 100 (The CW)

BOOK REVIEW: The 100 by Kass Morgan

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