Books ---> Movies

As the saying goes, "The book is always better than the movie." It's hard to disagree with that, though I feel like in recent years, a larger percentage of movies are based on books, as opposed to being original screenplays, so we're facing this dilemma more and more.

Earlier today I saw the trailer for BEL CANTO and I was very torn; this is a book that I loved when I read it, but I'm not sure how I feel about the trailer. Now, Renee Fleming's voice is used in place of Julianne Moore's singing voice, so that helps a little bit (though also kinda weird, no?) It got me thinking about all the movies I've seen over the years that were based on books I loved and how I felt about them...

There are a couple films that I almost stood up in the theater and yelled "that's not how it is in the book!" because I was so bothered by it: THE KITE RUNNER, GONE GIRL and THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY spring to mind. And don't even get me started on THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN being set in New York instead of London -- while starring a British actress! <insert eye roll>

I remember reading and loving THE BOOK THIEF (side note: the audiobook version is what got me hooked on Audible; the narrator is amazing!) but when I saw the movie was coming out, I absolutely refused to see it. I didn't want this beautiful book to be ruined for me. One night, I decided to take a chance and watch it on HBO... and I was completely blown away - not only by how well done the movie was, but by how beautiful it was and how they had captured everything I felt when I read it and then laid it out there on the screen; it was like watching my own thoughts play out in front of me!

Another one that I thought was very well done and stayed true to the book was THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG. I did see that one in the theater, and I honestly felt like I was turning the pages of the book as the movie went along; it stayed very true to the story.

And then there are things like the HUNGER GAMES and the DIVERGENT trilogies; I loved all of these books, and actually looked forward to the movies because they would be so interesting to see come to life. They didn't disappoint.

More recently, BIG LITTLE LIES. I couldn't WAIT for this! I loved the book. I remember finding an advance copy at Strand a couple months before it came out (and feeling like I'd just gotten the golden ticket to Willie Wonka's chocolate factory - I carried that book everywhere with me, afraid to not have it within my view.) I absolutely LOVED this book - it was everything I hoped it would be and I couldn't put it down. I remember getting to (what I considered) "the twist" and when I read that one line, I literally dropped the book on the floor and walked in circles around my living room, saying "NO NO NO NO NO!" (I really don't try to overthink when I read; I don't want to figure anything out - I love being surprised by twists and turns. In fact, sometimes I'll put my hand over the page so I don't accidentally read a few lines ahead and ruin it for myself!) So when HBO announced they were turning this into a series (and then when I heard who was cast), I was ALL IN! And it did not disappoint. There were a few things that were added that I wasn't in love with, but overall, I think it stayed true to the story. And I wasn't even bothered that it was set in California instead of Australia!

It seems to be the new thing in book groups to talk about who everyone would cast in their favorite book - I love joining in those discussions, too. But I still go back and forth about the whole thing; part of me wishes Hollywood would just write their own stories, but another part of me remains curious to see how close they can come to matching what I have in my head. Of course, there's always the risk of it being ruined for me if they screw it up... but curiosity almost always gets the best of me and I find myself in the theater.