Bucks County Free Library: Is The Book Always Better Than The Movie?

Newtown PA

01 June, 2022

11:54 PM

Description

Press release from the Bucks County Free Library: May 19, 2022 Book or movie? Those of us who relish the title of "avid reader" might consider it no choice at all – clearly, the book is always better! But what about those of us who love them both equally? Asking us to choose whether we prefer the book or the movie is impossible! So that's exactly what I asked my colleagues at the Yardley-Makefield branch. I asked if they typically prefer the book vs. the film and to tell me about book-to-film adaptations that were surprising or prompted a second look at a book or movie. After some in-depth discussions, here's what I learned. You only need Google "is the book better than the movie" to see the overwhelming preference for Team Book. The books we love invite our imaginations to flourish, crafting new worlds and putting ourselves in the fictional shoes of characters who are drastically different from ourselves. We create the visuals and imagine the characters as we read, investing in the journey. Our favorite books are in and of themselves mini movies each time we read them – noticing something new or gaining a deeper perspective over time. Here are some books that are generally preferred to their cinematic counterparts. As readers, we love our favorites for a reason, and no two readers will share the same reason. And so, when a beloved piece of literature is adapted into a new medium (film, TV series, or stage production), there's bound to be disappointment when their interpretation of the source material differs from that of the readership. There are times, however, when another medium (whether film, TV, or theatrical presentation) enhances the original source material and creates a finished product more beloved than the novelization. These films are generally thought of as better than their books. There are those golden instances when the film is as good as (and as beloved as) the book. Take for example J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings books and films. In an informal survey of Yardley-Makefield branch staff, we rated both formats as equally excellent. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins also rated high on our "favorite book to film adaptation" list. Others include… Sometimes, you might read a book because you loved the movie. Here are some of the books my colleagues read (or want to read) because they enjoyed the film. This press release was produced by the Bucks County Free Library. The views expressed here are the author's own.