Guest Post & Giveaway - Rainbow Rowell - Attachments

I reviewed Rainbow Rowell's debut novel Attachments last year and adored it. (see review here) The softcover is newly released and I'm lucky enough to have a copy to giveaway. I think that Attachments would make a great rom/com movie, so I'm even luckier to have Rainbow stop by with her thoughts on who would star in a movie version.

But first to catch you up if you haven't yet had a chance to read the book. From the publisher, Plume:

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ? "

And now for Rainbow's casting call.....

"It’s tricky to think about casting the book because most actors and actresses are far too beautiful to play my characters. I’d love it if Attachments were made into a movie! There is a producer attached to it, so you never you know . . . maybe someday.

I imagined Lincoln and Beth as maybe the most attractive people in the room – not the most attractive people in the whole world.

Generally, I don’t care if actors look exactly the way characters are described in books – but I do think that whoever played Lincoln would have to be big. That’s such a key part of his personality – the way he feels heavy and clumsy. His gentle giant vibe.

There are two actors I like for Lincoln, and they’re both very different from each other:

Cory Monteith. The guy who plays Finn on Glee. He’s actually the perfect age, 29, and even though he looks pretty on Glee, I think they could dress him down – let his eyebrows go, put him in a pair of cargo pants. Monteith plays a shy guy on Glee, he does a good job of quietly expressing deep feelings. There’s something vulnerable about him. Vulnerability and sincerity are Lincoln’s key characteristics. Also, I like the way Monteith seems a little too big for his body. He walks like a big guy. When he puts on a suit, his proportions seem a little off, like his arms and chest kept growing after the rest of him stopped.

Chris Pratt. Andy from Parks and Recreation. Okay, I know he plays a dufus on Parks and Rec, but Chris Prett looks perfect, I think. Big and exactly the right kind of handsome. Manly. Solid. I always imagined Lincoln as the kind of guy who could look really normal/unnoticeable some days and really adorable others. Which is totally Chris Pratt. And again, very vulnerable and sincere. I think he could rein in the goofiness to play Lincoln.

For Beth, I think the most important characteristic is funny. It would have to be an actress who can be authentically funny. Good-natured. Confident, but not arrogant.

My first choice for Beth would be Kat Dennings, from Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist and Two Broke Girls. SHE IS PERFECT! She’s genuinely hilarious and genuinely genuine. Sometimes when actresses are funny, they come off hard. Closed off. Beth isn’t closed off – she’s funny and smart, but she’s still a romantic. And I just think Kat Dennings could inhabit her, make her seem like the kind of girl you could fall in love with before you ever met her.

I also like Laura Prepon for Beth. Prepon played Donna on That ‘70s Show. She comes off funny and likable and cool. Also, she’s not teeny-tiny. Beth is described as tall with broad shoulders. Laura Prepon is 5-foot-10.

For Jennifer, I like Mindy Kaling  who plays Kelly on The Office. She can be neurotic and bitter, yet still really funny and likable. Actually, I think Mindy Kaling could pull off either Beth or Jennifer – and I’d love to see her star in her own romantic comedy – but I can practically hear her saying Jennifer’s lines. She would plus the whole character."

Great choices Rainbow! Thank you so much for stopping by!

And readers, if you'd like a chance to win a copy of Attachments, simply leave a comment! Ends April 26. Open to US and Canada.