A plethora of books have crossed over onto the big screen, Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games, Perks of Being a Wallflower… I’ve seen the movies, but have I read the books? No.
It’s not that I don’t read. It’s just that I don’t read the kind of stuff that makes it to film — usually.
Eons ago, back when I handed in term papers that were pounded out on a typewriter, I laughed my way through a book titled Oh, God written by Avery Corman. I thought it was brilliant. When the book became a movie I took it as a personal compliment. I So Smart 🙂
One book after the other, I devoured Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. There was no way I would have missed seeing Interview with the Vampire — with or without Tom Cruise.
During Pride Week a few years back, I found a book by André Aciman titled Call Me By Your Name. A powerfully personal story told with subtlety and skill, Call Me By Your Name is now a stunningly beautiful movie.
Did you read it? Yes. Yes, I did. 🙂
Hi, Aimer – Although I love reading, I haven’t read any of the books that you have mentioned above (and the only film that I’ve seen from your list is “Oh God”). Often when I read a book and then see the movie, I walk away so disappointed. “A Walk in the Woods” is one of my all-time favourite books — the movie is a real let-down. Same with “The Cat in the Hat”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Where the Wild Things Are” (favourite books that I used to read to my son). Thank you for the recommendation on “Call Me By Your Name”, it is now on my list.
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It’s difficult for a movie to portray all the nuances of a book. Plus, no two people visualize a book in the same way. So, yes, I’ve often walked away from a movie thinking the book was better. Not so with “Call Me By Your Name.” The camera practically embraces Oliver, so that the audience sees him through Elio’s eyes. If you see the movie or read the book, whichever, let me know what you think 🙂
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Many years ago, I read Ordinary People and loved it. When the movie came out, I refused to see it because I feared the screenplay could not match the book. When I finally did see the movie a decade later, I discovered the movie was actually as good or better than the book. I guess you just never know how well a book will translate into a movie.
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Yes, it’s a crap shoot. Reading is such a personal thing, we all relate to a book differently, directors included 🙂 It may be better to see the movie first and then read the book, but I only did that once. A 1992 movie, “The Lover” left me with questions, turned out the book didn’t answer them either 🙂
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It’s such a joy when You read the book and the movie lives up to it! And even knowing it would not, could not possibly in any way, live up to the book….I had to see ‘Interview With the Vampire’ as well. I’m such an Anne Rice freak. I’ve read her books a couple of times each. 🤣 It would be sooooo fun to see someone do a GREAT job of filming one of her books. My favorite book to film, I think (3 sips into my first cuppa), is Fahrenheit 451….the original film. No idea about the new one. But I was stunned that they not only followed it so well….the FEEEELLLLLL of the book was there. Wow! Maybe Your site is my coffee today! Thanks for waking me up in such a fun way! Cheers!!! 🙂
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That’s the best when the movie gets the FEEL of the book.
Happy to be your coffee 🙂
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😄
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I’m like you and have seen few movies that were from books that I’ve read. Off hand I can’t think of one. I read The English Patient *after* having seen the movie and think the movie did well to cover as much territory as it did. I kind of dread the idea of All the Light We Cannot See being made into a movie but expect it will be at some point. It’s just so beautiful as a book and I worry much of the subtle beauty would be washed out.
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Yes, that’s the dilemma. We want to see the story we love on the big screen, but we don’t want it ruined 🙂
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Man, did I go through an Anne Rice phase… I read everything in the Vampire Chronicles up to Armand. Though I think I read Armand after I saw the film.
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Me too 🙂 I’m not sure when I quit, either Armand or Merrick. I saw both movies, Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned.
Still like the Lords of the Night 🙂
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What is your next recommendation though?
Jp
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LOL! Not “Phantom Thread” !
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Personally, I feel that reading a book is better than watching a movie on the same book. Be it The Twilight series or Harry Potter, I always enjoyed the books more than the movie.
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Yes, you can interact with a book. There is always some of you in what you read because your mind interprets the words… not so much of that in a movie.
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Exactly my point!
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I did manage to read Interview with a Vampire and I liked it better than the film. Happy Pride Month! 🙂
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There were so many years between the book and the movie
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Okay, hit I the send button too soon…
What I was trying to say was that I saw the movie so many years after I read the book, that it might not be a fair comparison. And I was really into Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas at the time so…
Happy Pride, Rob 🙂
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