Thursday, September 2, 2010

"Booking Through Thursday"


Film To Paper? September 2, 2010

btt button
Even though it’s usually a mistake (grin) … do movies made out of books make you want to read the original?
If I know a movie is based on a book, I like to read the book before I watch the movie. This means I may not see the movie for months. An example is the Nicholas Sparks movie The Last Song, when it came to the theaters I hadn't read the book yet, so passed going to the movie. I have since read the book. Therefore, this week while shopping I noticed the movie is out on DVD, so bought it and will be watching it some evening.


This can also work in the other direction. An example: I read the book The Painted House by John Grisham and because I hated the book so much when the movie came out based on that book, there is no way you can get me to watch that movie. I guess I should watch the movie to see if it was as boring as the book. However, I guess I will never know.


Another reason I like to read the book first, the books are always so much better than the movies. 


How about you, do you like to read the books first, or see the movie first?

6 comments:

  1. I usually like to try to read the book first, too. Doesn't always turn out that way, though.

    Haven't read Grisham's Painted House, but a lot of people seem to feel the same way you feel about it. Guess he should stick to legal thrillers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm the same way. I read the book first if possible.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am in total agreement with you.
    CMash

    ReplyDelete
  4. It depends. I usually try to read the book first so I can create my own pictures in my head. But for some books written several centuries ago like Dickens or Austen, I think that viewing the film actually enhances the reading experience for me.
    I will rarely read a book after seeing the film with current material. For example, I wasn't finished with the 2nd book in the Millennium series, The Girl Who Played With Fire, when we went to the movie. I didn't go back and finish the book even though I was well into it prior to viewing.
    -Anne
    http://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for visiting my blog. What was it that you didn't like about bridge? The rules sound so daunting.
    -Anne
    http://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sometimes I don't even know it was based on a book, so I see the film first and discover there was a book. This happened to me with 'Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café' by Fannie Flagg. I loved the film, saw that it was from a book, bought the book, loved it and bought every other book she had written!

    Most of the time I will see the film first and then find the book. So far, it's always worked out. I am a bit afraid that if I do it the other way round, the film will be a disappointment, because of the images I already have in my head about the people and places.

    ReplyDelete