Yet another book related question

last month

A respected author writes a highly successful novel set in the present day, featuring ordinary people living plausible lives with no sci-fi, speculative, or contrived elements. Let's say it's a suspense story. The book tops bestseller lists for months and is later adapted into a critically acclaimed, box-office hit film.

You can only "do" one, see the movie or read the book. Not both.

I'd choose the book every time. A well-received novel by a recognized author is enough to interest me on its own. I rarely discuss books with friends, so I don't read them in time to join anticipated conversations simply because it's a topical subject. Heavy media attention tends to make me less interested rather than more. My reading choices are generally driven by personal preference, not popularity or trends.

By necessity, movies based on a book need to extract story elements and leave things out because of limited space within the time constraints of a feature film.

How about you, which would you be more likely to choose?

Featured Answer

KW PNW Z8

last month

last modified: last month

If I could do only one, hands down it’s the book. My imagination and the finite details in the written story cannot be matched by any movie version. Having answered the question asked, I’ll add that often my having read the book determines whether or not I’ll also see a movie made of it. An older example of that is ”The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. I both listened to the audio book & then read the book before I saw the movie. In this particular movie, the actors were able to add detail and flavor that my imagination couldn’t ’see’ because I’ve never lived in the deep south.

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Comments (16)

LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
last month
neither
Elmer J Fudd thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
Offie Myffy
last month
The book.

Based on personal experience with having read books then seen the movie, only one film adaptation was (in my opinion) better than the book: Christine by Stephen King.
Elmer J Fudd thanked Offie Myffy
Elmer J Fudd
Original Author
last month
No entiendo, lonejack. Are you saying you don't go to movies and don't read books?
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
last month
No to movies in theaters and I very rarely read books.
Elmer J Fudd thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
stacey_mb
last month
Definitely read the book first, and perhaps not even see the movie. I was reminded again how difficult it is to translate the complexity of a book into a movie when seeing the film Still Alice. I loved the book which is a portrait of a women experiencing dementia but the movie was pretty tepid in comparison.
Elmer J Fudd thanked stacey_mb
lily316
last month
Probably the book. The thriller book I just read could not have been more riveting in a movie.
Elmer J Fudd thanked lily316
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
last month
Definitely the book. The only movie I have seen that I think was a very good adaptation of the book is To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck. Of course, I thought I would like him to be my father back then and later I thought I should try to be the kind of parent he was in that.
Elmer J Fudd thanked cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
Patriciae
last month
The book. It seems to me movie makers simply use the title and the names of characters and then make the rest up. Creative license and expressing themselves or some such nonsense.
Elmer J Fudd thanked Patriciae
bpath
last month
It depends on the author. I used to read Tom Clancy and saw a few of the movies, and I much preferred the movies. Clancy did a lot of research and included it all in the novels. The movies told the story.

Stacey, interesting about Still Alice. I didn’t read the book but the movie was scary.
Elmer J Fudd thanked bpath
donna_loomis
last month
Book for sure.
Elmer J Fudd thanked donna_loomis
dedtired
last month
Most times, the book, however the movie version of Brooklyn was better than the book.
Elmer J Fudd thanked dedtired
Fun2BHere
last month
The book. I see very few movie adaptations and, to go further, I avoid most serial television shows based on book characters.
Elmer J Fudd thanked Fun2BHere
laceyvail 6A, WV
last month
Always the book. The only movie I ever saw that I liked better than the book was The Secret of Roan Inish. Many of you know that I am a mad fan of Tolkien and have read The Lord of the Rings over 20 times. But I have never seen the movies and don't intend to. When it was on Netflix, I did decide to try it. Twenty minutes into it, I turned it off. However good others thought it was, however much it has been praised, it simply was not Tolkien or his vision.
Elmer J Fudd thanked laceyvail 6A, WV
rob333 (zone 7b)
last month
last modified: last month
The movie version of The Horse Whisperer was far better. I hated the book's ending. That said, I always do both. Heck, I cast my book characters with movie stars when reading it. I hear it in their voices, and picture their faces. I'd be great at casting movies.
Elmer J Fudd thanked rob333 (zone 7b)
Alisande
last month
Definitely the book. That would have been my answer as far back as I can remember, but today I can add that the older I get, the less interested I am in movies. I'm fonder of streaming series, especially ones I get attached to, like Bosch, and hate to see end. I still like books though.
Elmer J Fudd thanked Alisande