Recent comments in /f/books

arctictrav t1_je1minu wrote

Reply to comment by Eviejo2020 in Post book depression by bertiewoooster

Also, it's a con either way.

I was somewhat relieved when I finished Life and Times of Michael K because it's consistently harrowing, with not a single pleasant thing taking place. But flashes from the book kept coming back even when I started another nook immediately. It's a brilliant book, BTW.

2

prustage t1_je1mfc4 wrote

Always read the book first. You get more of the story, more detail and get to create your own images in your head. Then you can compare this with the film version and note the differences. It rarely works the other way round. Once you have seen an actor playing a role it is hard to get that out of your head when you are reading the book.

1

Deliriums_Fish t1_je1md51 wrote

It really doesn't matter, just know there may be some differences one way or the other. For some people, watching an adaptation first can be really helpful in their understanding of the text itself.

Many prefer to read the book first, but I notice that sometimes people do that just so they can feel some sense of superiority over those who haven't read the book or didn't read the book first (full disclosure, I have been that person and still sometimes am, but I realize it's a dick move and it doesn't really matter in the long run.) Take in a story whenever and however you want to take it in!

2

Jack-Campin t1_je1kk42 wrote

I would suggest the political novels of Rex Warner, written in the runup to WW2: The Wild Goose Chase, The Professor, and The Aerodrome. He was something like a British Kafka, or what Orwell might have been if he'd had more flair and imagination. There are less than 100 ratings for all these books together, and the first (my fave) gets no reviews and 7 ratings, mostly poor. It won't take much googling to show you how little use Goodreads is for books like this.

1

tauntonlake t1_je1jzqc wrote

I prefer to read the book first.

I get insights into the movie plot, that isn't often covered on film...

for example, American Gods on Starz, is awful, IF you haven't read the book first.

I mentally fill in a LOT of the gaps in the screenwriting, that would have just been a big WTF is going on here now ? :D

never mind how badly Starz deviated from the book .. off the rails ... but that's another story ....

2