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Aug. 5th, 2008 10:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluesilverkdgSo, let's say that I was inclined to start reading the Harry Potter series. Yes, I have finally succumbed to the masses. It only took a few years. Anyway..
Would it be wise to see the movies first, then read the books? Or should I read the books before seeing the movies? Typically, I get very disillusioned when seeing a movie that has been based on a book, especially if it's a book that I like a lot. Stephen King and his array of disappointing movies (Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile not included) springs to mind. I read Interview With the Vampire first, then saw the movie and was massively disappointed. Even Brad Pitt's prettiness couldn't save it, I thought. There are a few other examples, although I'm at a loss to remember them here. I was largely impressed by both the movie and book versions of Grisham's A Time To Kill, although the movie varied widely from the book. Still, they were both darned good.
I recently joined Goodreads, which I'm hoping will prompt me to get back into the habit of reading regularly. I used to devour books, but lately, that's not been the case, and I've gotta admit, I really miss curling up with a good book. Or even a bad book. So, join me there, if you wish, and motivate me to read more.
Back to my original question..Potter People, what might you recommend? I've been hesitant to undertake this series, but after being told by eleven billion people "you'll loooove them!", I guess I sort of feel compelled. At least it will keep me in the house and out of trouble..
In other news, I left a message for my massage therapist about getting in today. Fingers crossed that she has an opening. The back is no better, and I can barely move without screeching in pain. I need to take out trash and do a plethora of other things, but I'm thinking that's not going to happen when I can't even take a deep breath comfortably.
I've taken Flexeril and Darvocet until my head is a total fog and I can barely speak coherently. I've gone through a box and a half of Thermacare pads. Yet it still hurts this much. This just really, really sucks. And I'm craving M&Ms. Why? Probably because I don't have any.
Would it be wise to see the movies first, then read the books? Or should I read the books before seeing the movies? Typically, I get very disillusioned when seeing a movie that has been based on a book, especially if it's a book that I like a lot. Stephen King and his array of disappointing movies (Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile not included) springs to mind. I read Interview With the Vampire first, then saw the movie and was massively disappointed. Even Brad Pitt's prettiness couldn't save it, I thought. There are a few other examples, although I'm at a loss to remember them here. I was largely impressed by both the movie and book versions of Grisham's A Time To Kill, although the movie varied widely from the book. Still, they were both darned good.
I recently joined Goodreads, which I'm hoping will prompt me to get back into the habit of reading regularly. I used to devour books, but lately, that's not been the case, and I've gotta admit, I really miss curling up with a good book. Or even a bad book. So, join me there, if you wish, and motivate me to read more.
Back to my original question..Potter People, what might you recommend? I've been hesitant to undertake this series, but after being told by eleven billion people "you'll loooove them!", I guess I sort of feel compelled. At least it will keep me in the house and out of trouble..
In other news, I left a message for my massage therapist about getting in today. Fingers crossed that she has an opening. The back is no better, and I can barely move without screeching in pain. I need to take out trash and do a plethora of other things, but I'm thinking that's not going to happen when I can't even take a deep breath comfortably.
I've taken Flexeril and Darvocet until my head is a total fog and I can barely speak coherently. I've gone through a box and a half of Thermacare pads. Yet it still hurts this much. This just really, really sucks. And I'm craving M&Ms. Why? Probably because I don't have any.
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Date: 2008-08-05 04:16 pm (UTC)I think one of the reasons that I've not liked movies adapted from books, is because they ARE forced to leave out so much pertinent information in the movies for time and clarity. I've also been disappointed with liberties that filmmakers take in adding things that were not even kind of in the book. So I usually just wind up angry after seeing a movie based on a book that I love. :-P From what I've heard though, the Potter movies are at least comparable to the books, although it sounds like I might be a bit lost just seeing the movies without having the books to go by. So...I'll read the books first.
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Date: 2008-08-05 05:08 pm (UTC)highlight: Ron is very, very afraid of spiders. We get a shot of Harry sitting in his bed after lights out, reading a book or something by wand-light. Ron sits bolt upright in bed from a nightmare and says something like, "The spiders... they want me to tap dance! I don't want to tap dance!" Harry responds dryly, "You tell those spiders, Ron." He nods and lays back down.
Hee. It's not integral to the plot at all, but he's one of my favorite characters, and it was a very cute moment.
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Date: 2008-08-08 01:10 am (UTC)This is why adapting a book to the screen is really an art; The DaVinci Code got slammed, for example, because it was too literal of an adaption. Stuff that works on paper doesn't always work on the screen and knowing what to cut and what to adapt isn't obvious (certainly not to me, anyway :-).
I see you're feeling a bit better; I hope you continue to improve!