This week, Booking Through Thursday asks: Name one book that you hope never, ever, ever gets made into a movie (no matter how good that movie might be).
This is so hard. There are so many stories that are so perfectly written that they should never, ever be dismantled at the hands of crazy screenwriters. I remember coming across a conversation (and unfortunately I don't remember exactly whose blog it was on, sorry if it was you but my memory sometimes leaves something to be desired) about how so many books seem to be written to be screenplays originally and I don't like that. There are just some books that should remain books. Books can be more complicated than movies as they're allowed to use words to describe something that may not be totally apparent visually. I like that a lot.
One book that automatically comes to mind is "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I think it would lose a lot of the power of the book if it became a movie. I would hate to see that. I think the appearance of Death as the narrator in a movie would really cheapen the whole experience.
So what say you? What book would you hate to see turned into a movie?
Great pick. I loved The Book Thief and would not want to see it turned into a movie. The writing in it was so beautiful a movie could not capture it.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Book Thief. It was on my top ten list of books to be made into movies but only if it was done correctly. Despite it being on my list I don't see how it could and I think I wouldn't go and see the it if it was. It's such a sad book and the moments where death narrated were funny. I think it would be difficult to convey that well.
ReplyDeleteI always thought using books was a little like cheating and lacked imagination on part of the film industry. It feels like more and more they rely on books or CGI action. Could be just me though.
Yeah, Book Thief wouldn't be a great choice for a movie.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine:
http://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com/2011/05/booking-through-thursday.html
I agree with you. A film can lose so much of what the book is about.
ReplyDeleteWhat if they did the Book Thief animated... I could see Miyazake taking a crack at it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, here's my answer:
I haven't read The Book Thief but I agree there are books that are hard to turn into movies.
ReplyDeleteOoooh second time today someone has said The Book Thief it's definitely getting bumped up my tbr pile.
ReplyDeleteSally.
http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/05/booking-through-thursday-16.html
I agree, it's hard to find the right director and the right cast to transmit the atmosphere of the book...
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I agree with you concerning words. I love words more than I do images, and I suppose that's why I have problems with books being turned into films. Something is bound to be left out, or turned into something new.
ReplyDelete@Anne Yes, some parts of The Book Thief almost seem like poetry and I don't think it could be recreated on film.
ReplyDelete@Karen No, I think you're onto something. I remember reading a blog or an article recently that talked about how so many books that come out seem like ready-made movies. I don't like it! Movies should be movies and books should be books!
ReplyDelete@elizabethwillse.com You know, I could actually see that. His films are just a little off kilter (in a good way) already that I could see him doing it justice!
ReplyDelete@DawnTreader Agreed!
ReplyDelete@Sally You should definitely read it! It's such a unique book. Let me know how you like it :)
ReplyDelete@FBT I also think that a lot of times the stories lose some meaning when they become movies as well.
ReplyDelete