the book that becomes a movie

15 years ago

Between "The Help," "One Day" and "Sarah's Key," (and probably more), there are a lot of books coming out as movies this fall.

And those 3 are all on my to-be-read list.

Are you someone who will always read the book first, then go back and rent the movie? Or will you strike the book off your TBR list, to make room for another, and just go see the movie?

I'm not sure what's more annoying: Having read the book and then being acutely aware of the changes that the movie director made, or having seen the movie first, and then when you read the book, the mental images are already "directed" for you because you can't put aside the visuals from the movie?

For me, I think the books are staying on the TBR list.

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Comments (6)

junek-2009
15 years ago
I am with you, I always read the book first, and very rarely follow up with the movie.
The exception for me should arrive by mail very soon, the movie "Rachel Rachel" I purchased online after reading the "Jest of God" by Margaret Laurence.

I think that it is impossible to capture all on the screen that is contained in any novel.

One of my favourite books is "Love In The Time Of Cholera" I believe that the movie was a big bomb!!! A shame for I am sure that most movie goers would not bother reading the book.
sheriz6
15 years ago
I also read the book first, though there are some books that I know I won't get to and might just see the movie instead. Sarah's Key would probably fall into that category for me -- lots of good buzz about the book, but probably not something I'd rush out to read myself. Plus I really like the lead actress, Kristen Scott Thomas.

I'm waiting for HBO's Game of Thrones to come out on DVD, and I hope to finish at least the first two books in the series before I watch. I wouldn't see that without having read the books first.
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kathy9norcal
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I usually read the book first and if I loved it, go to the movie with some trepidation. A perfect movie for me was The Road. It was exactly as I pictured.
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carolyn_ky
15 years ago
I saw an early run of The Help and thought it followed the book quite closely. Of course, there were some things left out, but I really liked the movie. The theater was full, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. For some reason, my church got two tickets for the showing, and the church secretary asked me to go with her. We had discussed the book earlier.
ccrdmrbks
15 years ago
If I read and loved the book, I do not see the movie-with the exception of the Harry Potters.
I was underwhelmed by The Help but think it will make a better movie than book. I liked the story, just thought it was very poorly written, and the cast of the movie is outstanding.
annpan
15 years ago
Seeing a movie or TV adaptation of a book has sometimes encouraged me to read the book to get better insights. Not everything can be brought out in a movie either. A TV adaptation with a string of episodes is so much better at telling an involved story, too, e.g.Charles Dickens long and well populated books.
Some books have been halved for the movie adaptation,such as "A Town Like Alice" and "Captain from Castile".These books have surprised me by having a later story. The movie of "A Circle of Friends" by Maeve Binchy left out some of my favourite book characters.
I did read "The Godfather" before I saw the movie as I was given the book and I was glad I had because it explained significant things that I would not have noticed otherwise.

the book that becomes a movie

Comments (6)

junek-2009

sheriz6

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