Oh no! My favourite book has been made into a movie!
One of the most common things one hears from a book lover when you mention the release of a big blockbuster movie is: “I’ve read the book, the movie is not quite as enjoyable“. That is when you discover that there actually was a book from which the movie is based on. The thing is, the release of a movie is often backed by a commercially successful campaign, clips being released, pictures available online, posters on magazines and newspapers, radio advertisements and more.
As a fervent reader, the process of loving a book is quite slow and ever-growing. Just like the best wine, it takes a while to gather the pleasure of learning more about characters, see the plot unfolding, feel love for the hero and hate for the villain and we find ourselves projecting into a world the author has set for us. It is through the words and the lines that we unpack the emotions the author has carefully and willingly left in there for us to open and taste. It’s a process, that’s what it is.
A movie, on the other hand, offers instant gratification. First and foremost, it all starts and ends in a couple of hours: pleasure comes with the actors and actresses’ acting, the soundtrack, the colours, the lights, the scenery and after all it’s just a personal perspective. The director’s. With a book, the elaboration does take place in the reader’s mind, and despite the whole plot being set in paper, there’s still some sort of active participation, and a full involvement in the process of enjoying a book.
As one watches a movie, a more passive approach is required. It’s a take on something we had already pictured in our minds. This is probably why the reader never fully accepts to have their book turned into a movie! They might even enjoy it, but why would they ever give up a world that has been created through their mind and favour it over someone else’s interpretation?
Moreover, there’s also a business related reason. The reader often feels that their favourite novel has been exploited, depleted, exploited, sponsored, torn, reversed, adapted to the great machine of commerce. Sometimes, certain books are difficult to understand, and they require the reader to establish a special empathy with the author. None of this occurs for the movie, which in its attempts to be accessible to all, looks for and finds a language that in many occasions turns away from the sophisticated words of the original novel to become a visible disposable plot.
On the other hand, when a book is made into a movie, a renewed interest is taken towards the original book, sometimes turning it into a best-seller. It’s a shame some books are underrated or overlooked until they hit the big screen, but at least they’re discovered and brought back under the spotlight for the book lovers to enjoy.
At the cost of looking snob, the reader always defends their favourite novel when it’s turned into a movie. There’s always curiosity to see how a director sees the novel and how the world reacts to it, but never ask the reader to choose a movie over a book, as it’s quite rare to find someone saying “I liked the movie more than the book“. It really is.
24 Comments on “Oh no! My favourite book has been made into a movie!”
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A great post. For me they are two different things and yes, readers almost always prefer the book over the film. I think films are a good thing provided they don’t put people off from picking up the book. I can say with all honesty, if anyone wants to make a film out of my novel I wouldn’t mind in the slightest
Whoever says they never imagined their novel turning into a movie is a liar
I did that too. Probably, as a writer, it is such an achievement to see such big interest and to see your idea developing and expanding onto new fields.
But, still there are things one might not like in the translation from paper to screen!
This is very true but I think I would still manage to live with it!
Depends on how things would develop! Let’s say the director only wants to ‘take inspiration’ from your novel. They would then make it into something you find barely related to your book and you’d start seeing it as a big mistake! I know I would
I appreciate that but who owns it? Can an author refuse permission or is it down to the publisher? I don’t know this.
Uhm! I’m also unaware of this. What I meant is that a writer has to be careful with their rights to their work. They might be swept away by the mirage of popularity but it could be a problem in the long run!
And I daresay an agent and a publisher will not be too happy if they see a film deal slipping away because of author’s issues
I’d love to be in this position 
I think there can be great value to cinematic interpretations of books, though I agree that the book is always better. For example, I think Peter Jackson’s vision of Lord of the Rings was incredible despite several liberties taken with the story. I also loved Michael Basset’s version of Robert E. Howard’s Solomon Kane. There is something about seeing a beloved character or story come to life on screen that can be inspirational!
Yes, this is true. It would be a non-sense to brand a movie adaptation as ‘bad’ in comparison to a book without watching it first!
)
But there is some sort of danger in doing so, as the most recurring criticism from reader is probably that of having details or even scenes missing from the movie, suggesting not only that the book is a more complete source for the same story, but as I stated, it is a process, a gained knowledge which cannot compare with that of being spectator of a movie.
The reader chooses deliberately to investigate the plot and feels lots more involved than with the movie.
Besides, at the cinema the movie cannot be stopped. When reading a book, you can take pauses to think about what you’ve just read, comment on it, etc… (though this can be done with movies only with a dvd, but it still seems uncommon to stop a dvd playing now and then to think about what one has just watched
Luv the title and the post. Sometimes the movie version is abysmal. But I confess I cannot resist the adaptation of a favorite book. Sometimes it sends me back for a re-read.
Thanks! It’s great knowing movie adaptations can also suggest the reader to go back to their book!
I liked the film of Atonement better than the book…well I fell asleep halfway through the movie, but liked the first half and pretty much roundly hated the book.
It’s widely reckoned that the second part of the movie is very very slow and you can tell. I’m guessing it was the intention of the director, as the male character struggles to survive the war!
There were very few movies that I have watched after I had already read the book. One though was Memoirs of a Geisha. I must have read the book a dozen times. I suppose if you’ve never read the book the movie was good. During the film I kept saying to myself…”that’s not how it goes….nope, they got that wrong….” etc. After that I decided not to see the film if I’d already read the book. I guess for me, when I read, it’s like a movie in my head. The characters become “real” to me-they invoke emotions and memories. I see all the scenery so clearly. The film is never like what I imagined and I suppose that is what makes it so disappointing for me. But that’s just me, I guess.
Believe me, it’s not just you! The “it wasn’t like that at all in the book” comment is classic!
Definitely not you being a snob, but simply truth!
The joy reading are those intimate moments when you’re creating and evolving the characters, plot lines and scenery in your mind. It’s your vision, and your vision alone.
Then along comes the movie pretty much destroys all of that….
And thanks for liking my post by the way
You’re welcome!
Yes, you’re right. It’s a world in the reader’s mind!! And as I’ve commented before, writers do fantasise about their characters being played by actors. But let me say this: it’s a tricky game! I’d be happier to know my novel is being published, rather than knowing it’s being published but also has an adaptation coming. We all know the writer usually has little power to choose the cast or how scenes are shot. Cause that’s another job and there’s a director bringing your world to life, but they’ll do it their own way. :\
All too true. I’m in publishing, so know a bit about the struggles of authors and adaptations (unless your JK Rowling of course lol) Susan Hill recently made a comment that she was ‘excited’ that her book ‘The Woman in Black’ was doing so well in theatres, but bottom line is, she wasn’t making any money off it. Though, now that I think about it, not sure if it was a tad cheeky of her to make that comment, considering it will probably pay off in the long run by people going out and purchasing the book after staring at Daniel Radcliff for two hours. But there that is….
Exactly! Another problem I need to highlight here is how the movie often overshadows the book in terms of popularity, as in when one had no idea there was a book before the movie! In fact, I did not know ‘The Woman In Black’ was a book before the movie came out!!!
I always belive that the written word of a story is much better than a visual presentation of a story. The author of the story writes the story, but the reader has their own way of imagining the story to life. With a movie, the director or what every parties are involved in making the movie, interpret the book and show it to moviegoers, in which less imagination by the watchers is involved.
You’re right. Movies are more versatile and can convey a message with scenes, colours, etc, whereas a novel can be more exhaustive in terms of details.
I shoud confront these types of arts with paintings aswell, the debate would be infinite
I agree with Frances. Books give readers the freedom of using their own imagination which tends to make the whole story more interesting to them as they visualize things in a manner that They want it to be. And there’s always the matter of compression with movies. The plot needs to cut short in a film. This usually leads to those little enjoyable parts of the story getting cut out from the movie.
And thanks for visiting my blog
You’re welcome! I’m always siding with readers, although I respect and enjoy the form of art that movies are. When two different types of art collide, the debate could go on forever
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