Tags
Book to Movie, Books, Learning, Library Services, Literacy, Mystery, Reading, Thriller
Let me answer that for you, read THEN watch. Hands down, this is always the best way. I know there may be some out there who disagree, but this is my personal preference.
Being a reader, I’ve always read books before seeing the movies. If I happened to watch a movie before reading the book, then I just didn’t read the book. Simple as that. I don’t know why I did things this way, I just did. Once I saw the movie, I would have no desire to read the book. However, if I read a book, and then saw that a movie was coming out about it, I usually couldn’t wait to see it.
This last year though, the universe conspired to force me to watch a movie, then read the book. A very frustrating experience. My mom’s birthday is in November, and each year my sister and I take her on an overnight shopping trip. This year everyone was broke, and mom opted to spend the day at the movie theater instead of shop. We happily complied. Since it was her birthday we let her pick the movies, and one of those movies was Gone Girl.
We watched it. We spoke to several people who also watched it. Most of the people I talked to hated it, mostly because of the ending. (Don’t worry, I don’t like to include spoilers, and I won’t.) This included my mom and sister. I found it fascinating (those of you who know the story…no judging). However, I was a little put out, because I knew I still had to read it. Gone Girl was the January book pick for my local book club.
It was SUPER hard, but I did make myself read it. I enjoyed it, but I also know that I enjoyed it a lot less than I would have. You see, I kept trying to figure out when the next part, or twist in the story would occur. I kept looking for how Flynn would portray something from the movie in the book (she is one of those rare authors that gets to work on the screen play based off her book).
If I had not seen the movie first, I know that I would have felt everything more strongly during my read. Also, it would have been 18 thousand times more exciting. Lastly, I could have created my own picture of Nick and Amy in my head. Instead, all I saw was Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. Which is fine I guess. In they end, they fit the characters well.
This is a very well written novel. It has twists and turns and crazy psychological stuff going on, just the type of book that I love! But I feel that my reading experience was diminished because I kept comparing it to, and visualizing the movie. I didn’t realize just how much I like to do my own visualizing. I like to create the characters in my head and paint the setting with my own brush and colors.
Why don’t I feel this way about movies when I watch them after I read the book? I’m a huge movie fan as well. I think it’s because I already know the original story, so I’m not missing anything if it gets cut, or left out of the movie. I also enjoy comparing my vision to that of someone elses. I can then decide which version I like best. Or, I can decide that both have their merits. Either way, I’m already familiar with the WHOLE story, and they can’t change or takeaway any of the pictures I’ve already created in my head. Of course, this could all be rubbish and some psychologist could come by and give me a completely different reading on this particular issue of mine.
Either way, always read before you watch…
Dust off the Bookshelf 
Haha, this post was cool! I have yet to watch or read Gone Girl (and yeah, want to read it before I watch it). For me I’ve always loved visualising the characters for myself and the whole descriptions as well so watching the movie before tends to take that aspect away. Also considering that movies and books are different mediums it’s not surprising that I don’t mind either way – but I have to say…words are brilliant. And if I can, I will read the book before the movie. It’s why I’m holding out with Gone Girl until I get to the book!
Thank you! Good plan, read first and then watch. Especially a story like Gone Girl. When you have read then watched, I would love to hear you opinion on both!
“This is a very well written novel. It has twists and turns and crazy psychological stuff going on, just the type of book that I love! But I feel that my reading experience was diminished because I kept comparing it to, and visualizing the movie. I didn’t realize just how much I like to do my own visualizing. I like to create the characters in my head and paint the setting with my own brush and colors.”
I could relate to this so much. I like the way I imagine and build up the picture of the characters, and so many of the nuances of the book are lost in movie translations.
That is true. I really didn’t realize how strongly I felt about it until I sat down to write either. It is nice to know that other people feel the same way!
I agree with read before you watch. I try to do that as much as possible. Luckily I did read Gone Girl before I saw the movie. It is a fantastic read, full of twists and turns.
I like what you said about how after you read the book you know the whole story and the movie can’t take away the pictures you’ve created in your head. I need to try to remember that. I sometimes get irritated when movies take liberties with the “real” story or make it more dramatic for the viewers. When I think I really just need to be thankful that I enjoyed the written story that the author worked so hard on and let the irritations go.
Yes! I agree. I remember when I was teaching (8th grade English) and the Harry Potter movies started coming out. I had a few students who were sooo MAD about some of the things that were left out, or changed. We had a talk about how there was no conceivable way a movie could include everything in one of those books. How then should the movie be filmed? What parts, or scenes, from the book are the most important? They had a really hard time with this, but it comes down to the fact that, they already had it all in their heads. They were mad that the film didn’t match, when honestly, I’m not sure it should…
Yes as detailed as some (most) books are, it is just not possible to include everything on the screen.
I agree about reading first but if I somehow watch the movie before then I wouldn’t later read a book only if the movie itself would be really bad
I hadn’t thought about that. If I saw a horrible movie, then found out it had a book, I don’t know if I would read it. Do you have any examples of horrible movies based on books?
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones(2013)
Oooo. I have read the book, and I liked it. I don’t think I’ve seen the film yet. I will check it out…
I liked Life of Pi but for a while have avoided to read the book
That might be a good one for me to try. I’ve not seen the movie or read the book.
I can go either way. I rarely find a movie that is on scale with the book. I saw the Color Purple when it was released in 1985, just read the book back in 2011 or 2012. The movie was a totally different interpretation or perhaps of the times it could not fully explore a component of the book. I have read Gone Girl, but have not seen the movie yet. I am always concerned that the movie version will be a let down of the text.
I just accept that the book will always be better than the movie. I go in with that attitude. This helps me to enjoy the movie for what it is. Like you said, movies just can’t quite capture everything you get from a book.
This is one book that while I could appreciate the skill of the writer, I just didn’t like. Too many unreliable and unlikeable narrators. Haven’t seen the movie yet. I’m waiting for it to be free on tv so if I don’t like it I can turn it off.
But I agree, always read the book first. I would add that the book is almost always better.
Many of the people at my book club felt the same as you do. They just didn’t like the book. They were hard pressed to find a character they liked as well.
I’m with on this. I have to read the book first and then watch the movie. If I watch the movie first the book will not be read. I loved reading Gone Girl, it was brilliantly written and the twist in the book was a huge surprise. I did however feel a bit let down by the ending of the novel and I thought that the movie made more of a mess of the ending.
Yes, the movie ending was even less fulfilling than the book. At least the book you get a little bit more in the way of explanation and perspective regarding the decisions made there. The movie ending just leaves you startled and shocked…
Oh my, I just happen to watch this first as well and I promised to myself to read this but until now I’m not yet starting. But definitely I’ll read this. I also prefer reading first then watching. Actually, once I read something, it’s fine to me not to watch the movie, and vice versa. Haha 😀
I agree. Book first, movie later. Always. I have read Gone Girl, but I haven’t seen the movie. I loved the book. I’m in no rush to see the movie.
It was good, but as always, the book is better.