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Joan Wilder #1
Romancing the Stone
Joan Wilder is a lonely New York romance novelist who receives a treasure map mailed to her by her recently-murdered brother-in-law. On her way to Cartagena, Colombia Joan ends up in the jungle but is saved by American bird exporter Jack T. Colton. For getting her to Cartagena, Joan promises to pay Jack $375.
261 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 29, 2015
Romancing the Stone was one of my favorite childhood movies. This book is a novelization of the screenplay, not an original book that the movie is based off of.
There are lots of similarities with plot, dialogue, and characters. Naturally I kept picturing the actors from the movie playing their parts here. I've seen this flick so many times I have most of the dialogue memorized. There were a few small changes, though, especially in the second half and toward the fight.
I love Joan. The author painted her as a shy, awkward woman who hated public appearances, felt cut off from men because of a horrible love affair gone wrong in her youth, and as someone who hid from life, living through her stories. With Jack, the character was given an interesting backstory to explain some of his restlessness. It added more to the story. The movie didn't lack without knowing it, but in book form it was further fleshed out and made more sense.
I also get more of the story with the sister, Elaine's, husband. I never fully caught on before. I think the movie didn't care to explain too much since it wasn't as relevant to the present plot situation.
There is a deeper sense of melodramatic romance at the end than it showed in the movie, but it works okay considering it's supposed to be a romance book. Humor is as strong in page form as it is written. Overall the movie is the winner - just can't stylize the magic the same secondhand - but it's still a worthy book if you're a fan of the film.
There are lots of similarities with plot, dialogue, and characters. Naturally I kept picturing the actors from the movie playing their parts here. I've seen this flick so many times I have most of the dialogue memorized. There were a few small changes, though, especially in the second half and toward the fight.
I love Joan. The author painted her as a shy, awkward woman who hated public appearances, felt cut off from men because of a horrible love affair gone wrong in her youth, and as someone who hid from life, living through her stories. With Jack, the character was given an interesting backstory to explain some of his restlessness. It added more to the story. The movie didn't lack without knowing it, but in book form it was further fleshed out and made more sense.
I also get more of the story with the sister, Elaine's, husband. I never fully caught on before. I think the movie didn't care to explain too much since it wasn't as relevant to the present plot situation.
There is a deeper sense of melodramatic romance at the end than it showed in the movie, but it works okay considering it's supposed to be a romance book. Humor is as strong in page form as it is written. Overall the movie is the winner - just can't stylize the magic the same secondhand - but it's still a worthy book if you're a fan of the film.
November 20, 2024
I have been obsessed with the movie Romancing the Stone since I first saw it in the 80s and am forever on a quest to find romance books that have the same feel of humor and adventure and treasure. Welp, you can't get much closer to that than a novelization of the literal movie.
Joan Wilder does sadly not exist in real life, but ghostwriter Catherine Lanigan does a decent job of fleshing out the movie and giving backstory to Joan and Jack Colter. Hilariously, she has Jack working as a finance bro before he flees to Colombia to enter the rare-bird business.
The book is full of marvelous 80s detail, from IBM Selectric typewriter and Vivarin to American Express travelers checks.
It is really hard to tell if this is a good book or not, because I found it hard to separate it from the movie. But 3.5 feels right. It was fine! The writing was fine, it was funny in places, it was thrilling in others, and I love how there was so much joy and laughter in the sex scenes.
The slightly discordant note was how hard and how fast she has them falling in love. Literally, they were internally rhapsodizing about how in love they are after they'd only known each other three days. Jack even says Joan has changed the way he thinks about everything, including himself. I wish Lanigan had held off on that stuff for longer and just had them gradually liking and then fancying each other until nearer the end.
But a fun read for fans of the movie.
Joan Wilder does sadly not exist in real life, but ghostwriter Catherine Lanigan does a decent job of fleshing out the movie and giving backstory to Joan and Jack Colter. Hilariously, she has Jack working as a finance bro before he flees to Colombia to enter the rare-bird business.
The book is full of marvelous 80s detail, from IBM Selectric typewriter and Vivarin to American Express travelers checks.
It is really hard to tell if this is a good book or not, because I found it hard to separate it from the movie. But 3.5 feels right. It was fine! The writing was fine, it was funny in places, it was thrilling in others, and I love how there was so much joy and laughter in the sex scenes.
The slightly discordant note was how hard and how fast she has them falling in love. Literally, they were internally rhapsodizing about how in love they are after they'd only known each other three days. Jack even says Joan has changed the way he thinks about everything, including himself. I wish Lanigan had held off on that stuff for longer and just had them gradually liking and then fancying each other until nearer the end.
But a fun read for fans of the movie.
May 26, 2011
Update: Re-read the book March 7, 2011 and my rating stays the same.
If you enjoyed the movie, chances are you'll enjoy the book. Though it has been a long time since I read the book (decades) and my tastes have changed, I still recently enjoyed the movie starring Michael Douglas Kathleen Turner. An excellent movie, and one that my ex-husband balked at watching back in the day. I asked him to give it a 1/2 hour and then set the stop watch. Low and behold, the 1/2 hour mark came exactly where the hillside gave way, they slide down the muddy slope, and Michael landed with his face right between Kathleen’s legs. LOL. My ex (still a good friend) wanted to see the rest of the movie. :-)
If you enjoyed the movie, chances are you'll enjoy the book. Though it has been a long time since I read the book (decades) and my tastes have changed, I still recently enjoyed the movie starring Michael Douglas Kathleen Turner. An excellent movie, and one that my ex-husband balked at watching back in the day. I asked him to give it a 1/2 hour and then set the stop watch. Low and behold, the 1/2 hour mark came exactly where the hillside gave way, they slide down the muddy slope, and Michael landed with his face right between Kathleen’s legs. LOL. My ex (still a good friend) wanted to see the rest of the movie. :-)
July 18, 2020
What a enjoyable read, the storyline as loneliness, adventure, betrayal, love, treasure hunting all embedded in its storyline. A author who writes award winning books, believes that she will never meet Mr Right, but on an adventure in a foreign country to find a Jewel, in order to save her sister she meets by chance the man that would become the man of her dreams. A well written book, nice book cover, no editorial errors, fantastic storyline, really non stop action/adventure, A sort of Indiana Jones, adventure, the story is very exciting throughout. and it is clear to understand why this book was turned into a movie. Well worth reading.
February 19, 2022
This romance is a novelization of the "Romancing the Stone" screenplay. Although I don't normally read movie novelizations, I was drawn to this one by the cover painting (plus, I did like the movie). The book is mostly true to the movie (to the best of my recollection - it's been a little while since I watched it). It does include substantial additional backstory for Joan and Jack, as well as Elaine, Eduardo, and Angelina. I enjoyed it as a whole, but I thought the action scenes in the last part of the story were written kinda sloppily, especially near the end.
In the back of the book is a letter from author Catherine Lanigan, as well as a letter to Catherine from film star Michael Douglas.
Speaking of Douglas, the cover painting is interesting because the hero looks just like him, but the heroine doesn't look much like Kathleen Turner.
There is also a novelization of the sequel, The Jewel of the Nile, but I didn't really like that movie so I doubt I'll try to read it.
In the back of the book is a letter from author Catherine Lanigan, as well as a letter to Catherine from film star Michael Douglas.
Speaking of Douglas, the cover painting is interesting because the hero looks just like him, but the heroine doesn't look much like Kathleen Turner.
There is also a novelization of the sequel, The Jewel of the Nile, but I didn't really like that movie so I doubt I'll try to read it.
December 17, 2019
I wanted to read this book for a long time, being a huge fan of the movie back in the day. For the most part I found it really enjoyable. The author gave more of a back story to the main characters which, for the most part, rang true for the choices they made later in the book. It was exciting, romantic, atmospheric and added more depth to the movie quite well.
This being said, I found that Joan was written as a timid dish rag who didn't have the balls to do anything. I didn't get this impression of her personality from the movie. And I thought these little paragraphs describing their personalities were inserted in the most awkward places in the story. It almost felt like - oh, here's a new character so now I must write something about their back story and it didn't flow.
Still, I'd recommend anyone read this if you like the movie.
This being said, I found that Joan was written as a timid dish rag who didn't have the balls to do anything. I didn't get this impression of her personality from the movie. And I thought these little paragraphs describing their personalities were inserted in the most awkward places in the story. It almost felt like - oh, here's a new character so now I must write something about their back story and it didn't flow.
Still, I'd recommend anyone read this if you like the movie.
January 8, 2024
This was a GREAT adaptation of the movie that not only added to the story, but took on a lot of the aspects of a romance adventure novel which the main character is the author of. Really well done.
February 9, 2018
I had so much fun reading this book. I never knew it existed until the hardback minus the dust jacket caught my eye. Romancing the stone! I love that movie, I wonder if it’s really the movie wait what! The author is Joan Wilder! De Joan Wilder!!!!! LOL love the movie adored the much more fleshed out book. Bought Jewel of the Nile from Amazon to read next!!
February 11, 2021
What a fun read! A book that is based off a movie. Who ever heard of this? I have no idea where I picked up this gem. But I am sure glad I did. Cheesy, campy, jungle adventure romance. What's not to love. Not to mention the writer actually used the word "wontonness", I couldn't stop giggling. Can't wait to watch the movie!
July 15, 2013
So the hubby bought me "Romancing The Stone" by Joan Wilder (hee-heee!!!) from Half Price Books knowing how much I love the movie starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. I had no idea they had written a book based on one of my all-time favorite films and couldn't wait to read it! Unfortunately, the book did not meet my expectations. It was just really weird, to be honest. The real author, Catherine Lanigan, was the completely wrong person to write this book. In all honesty, I thought she was (not to be disrespectful or ageist, but) an old woman, for the way she turned a phrase was very antiquated. (Those of you who've read this book will understand the humor in that sentence.)
Ms. Lanigan created a backstory for Joan, Jack and Elaine, which one would think would be great. Not so much. The only one I enjoyed and bought into was Elaine's. It was nice to know a little more about how she and her dead husband got mixed up in this mess in the first place. However, the explanation as to why Joan was so mousy didn't ring true and Jack's backstory was just plain creepy. Jack in love with a 98-year-old grandmother?! WHAT?!?! I would buy that he respected her. Admired her. Revered her. Even loved her. But to have him be IN love with her?! Ew!!! (Another reason I thought Ms. Lanigan was old. Michael Douglas in his heyday was pretty hot. I thought she might have fancied herself the grandmother and was doing a bit of fantasizing. LOL!) Unfortunately, Ms. Lanigan also omitted a lot of the humor that was inherent in the movie and changed some of the scenes that defined the characters, all of which just left me feeling blah.
Bottom line...Skip the book, watch the movie. You'll be happy you did.
Ms. Lanigan created a backstory for Joan, Jack and Elaine, which one would think would be great. Not so much. The only one I enjoyed and bought into was Elaine's. It was nice to know a little more about how she and her dead husband got mixed up in this mess in the first place. However, the explanation as to why Joan was so mousy didn't ring true and Jack's backstory was just plain creepy. Jack in love with a 98-year-old grandmother?! WHAT?!?! I would buy that he respected her. Admired her. Revered her. Even loved her. But to have him be IN love with her?! Ew!!! (Another reason I thought Ms. Lanigan was old. Michael Douglas in his heyday was pretty hot. I thought she might have fancied herself the grandmother and was doing a bit of fantasizing. LOL!) Unfortunately, Ms. Lanigan also omitted a lot of the humor that was inherent in the movie and changed some of the scenes that defined the characters, all of which just left me feeling blah.
Bottom line...Skip the book, watch the movie. You'll be happy you did.
October 21, 2014
Any fan of both romance and comedy should read this book. Romancing the Stone was initially written as a screen play and while it was being filmed, was adapted into a novel by Catherine Lanigan. Romancing the Stone is a romance that makes fun of romance by sticking with strong clichés and stereotypes. Because of this, it is often used as an example when learning to plot a romance novel.
In the story, Joan Wilder is a reclusive, anti-social romance novelist who lives in New York City. Joan's older sister, Elaine, lives in Columbia, but when her husband turns up dead and she tries to flee, she winds up getting kidnapped and held for ransom in exchange for an old treasure map. Just before his death, Elaine's husband mailed the map to Joan, who must now bring it back to free her sister. Elaine's kidnappers are not the only ones after the map, and Joan finds herself running for her life through the Colombian jungle with the help of an American adventurer, Jack Colton. Despite the desperate circumstances, Joan finds herself falling for Jack.
Romancing the Stone is a pretty quick read. It does not go into tedious detail, and the story is pretty linear, with the exception of a few flashbacks so the reader can become more acquainted and familiar with the the characters Joan, Jack, and Elaine. The story is told from an omniscient third person point of view that freely floats between the characters in a given scene. When reading this style, I found it helpful knowing that the novel was adapted directly from the movie script. I also highly recommend reading the book and watching the movie close together. Since the book was written before the movie was finished, there were changes made to the movie script that are not seen in the book. I enjoyed both the book and the movie.
In the story, Joan Wilder is a reclusive, anti-social romance novelist who lives in New York City. Joan's older sister, Elaine, lives in Columbia, but when her husband turns up dead and she tries to flee, she winds up getting kidnapped and held for ransom in exchange for an old treasure map. Just before his death, Elaine's husband mailed the map to Joan, who must now bring it back to free her sister. Elaine's kidnappers are not the only ones after the map, and Joan finds herself running for her life through the Colombian jungle with the help of an American adventurer, Jack Colton. Despite the desperate circumstances, Joan finds herself falling for Jack.
Romancing the Stone is a pretty quick read. It does not go into tedious detail, and the story is pretty linear, with the exception of a few flashbacks so the reader can become more acquainted and familiar with the the characters Joan, Jack, and Elaine. The story is told from an omniscient third person point of view that freely floats between the characters in a given scene. When reading this style, I found it helpful knowing that the novel was adapted directly from the movie script. I also highly recommend reading the book and watching the movie close together. Since the book was written before the movie was finished, there were changes made to the movie script that are not seen in the book. I enjoyed both the book and the movie.
April 13, 2020
This is such a strange read... I love the film, think it does well at parodying romantic action novels while at the same time being romantic and filled with action.
The good points - there are deleted scenes in here (good for film fans!), there's some nice character backstory, and the plot is just as good and silly as the film version. It's an easy, breezy read, and a page turner. Best of all it's 'written' by Joan Wilder herself.
The bad points - well, it's dated in style, and sometimes downright inappropriate. I mean, there's weird 'rape' stuff in here, and Jack is a bit weird. I didn't mind his subplot about being in love with a woman in her nineties - hey, why not? - but he seems to fondle Joan or stare at her boobs when she's vulnerable and that ain't cool Jack, that ain't cool. Also the novel within a novel at the start doesn't make sense at all (it's like a short story explaining everything, not a last chapter, as it should be).
What's really weird is that it's Joan who is constantly being described physically, not Jack. Is that standard for 80s romance? I mean, why do I care how sensual Joan is, how big her boobs are, or what her terrible 80s designer clothes are like? What about him? WHAT ABOUT HIM?!
Anyway, can't talk now, I'm off to watch Romancing The Stone again and track down the Jewel of the Nile novelisation.
The good points - there are deleted scenes in here (good for film fans!), there's some nice character backstory, and the plot is just as good and silly as the film version. It's an easy, breezy read, and a page turner. Best of all it's 'written' by Joan Wilder herself.
The bad points - well, it's dated in style, and sometimes downright inappropriate. I mean, there's weird 'rape' stuff in here, and Jack is a bit weird. I didn't mind his subplot about being in love with a woman in her nineties - hey, why not? - but he seems to fondle Joan or stare at her boobs when she's vulnerable and that ain't cool Jack, that ain't cool. Also the novel within a novel at the start doesn't make sense at all (it's like a short story explaining everything, not a last chapter, as it should be).
What's really weird is that it's Joan who is constantly being described physically, not Jack. Is that standard for 80s romance? I mean, why do I care how sensual Joan is, how big her boobs are, or what her terrible 80s designer clothes are like? What about him? WHAT ABOUT HIM?!
Anyway, can't talk now, I'm off to watch Romancing The Stone again and track down the Jewel of the Nile novelisation.
July 6, 2012
My hubby and I watched the movie one night - well he watched and I slept through most of it. I would occaisionally wake up and wonder what the heck was so funny but just couldn't rouse myself to stay awake and watch it. But ...a year or so later I saw the book at a used book store and decided I should read it to see what hubby thought was so funny. I laughed so hard through the whole book and thoroughly enjoyed it so much that I had to go out and rent the movie again so I could watch it. Loved it!!!
September 6, 2015
This is a tie in for the movie of the same name. There's a lot in the book that the movie doesn't show you and it was interesting to see the added depth to the characters of Jack and Joan. For example, we learn about Jack's background before Joan found him in Columbia and what drove him to make his way in that environment. We see so much more of Joan's evolution from mousy author to confident woman. It definitely was a bit of an action adventure story, with a side dish of romance! While it was on the shorter side, I enjoyed it, and am looking forward to the sequel!
April 5, 2011
สนุกดีค่ะ ตามสไตล์หนังแอคชั่นของฮอลีวูดเลยล่ะ ตามล่ากันในป่า ตื่นเต้น+มีมุขตลกค่ะ ถ้าหนังออกฉายคงจะดูอีกเพราะคิดว่าคงจะสนุกค่ะ
ตอนอ่านก็นึกหน้าแคทรีน เทอร์เนอร์ไม่ออก นึกออกแต่ไมเคิล ดักลาส กับแดนนี่ เดอวีโต ที่เล่นหนังเรื่องนี้สมัยก่อน เลยเสริจหาหนังตัวอย่างมาดู คิดว่าเวอร์ชั่นเก่าน่าดูเหมือนกันค่ะ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WokoWH... อิอิ
ตอนอ่านก็นึกหน้าแคทรีน เทอร์เนอร์ไม่ออก นึกออกแต่ไมเคิล ดักลาส กับแดนนี่ เดอวีโต ที่เล่นหนังเรื่องนี้สมัยก่อน เลยเสริจหาหนังตัวอย่างมาดู คิดว่าเวอร์ชั่นเก่าน่าดูเหมือนกันค่ะ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WokoWH... อิอิ
March 22, 2020
Shy, introverted women are the best
Much like Far And Away by Sonja Massie, this is one of my favourite novelizations. I never knew it existed for quite sometime after seeing the film originally, but I had found it recently and I really did enjoy it.
The cover shows that this is “written” by Joan Wilder, who is the lead character in the film, played by Kathleen Turner. However it was actually written by Catherine Lanigan, from the title page (writing as Joan Wilder). It is 261 pages, and there’s quite a lot of detail, particularly background information, that was not in the final film.
The beginning of the film is quite different. We have the usual intro with Angelina and her beloved Jesse meeting and there’s more about how they met and how they became to be lovers - much better than the almost faceless images we see in the film. We don’t have the cringey scene where Joan is crying as she finished writing the book, thank goodness.
Catherine has also delved quite a lot into how Joan became the shy, introverted woman we meet in the film. She explores the relationship with her sister Elaine, how her parents death affected her and the loss of her virginity - I found this a rather odd inclusion, particularly as she was disappointed at how quickly it was over. But then it seemed to allow her to imagine the better sex scenes for her books, even though she’s not very experienced.
We also find a lot more about Jack - his parents are still alive, and he comes from an almost Wall Street background, before we discover him in the South American jungle. He’s had his heart broken, and has a whole backstory with a 97-year-old woman - purely platonic!
The story is pretty much expanded upon throughout the book - a few of the scenes read exactly as they do on the screen, but there’s a lot more of Jack looking at Joan, after they first meet and thinking about her full breasts and her long legs. This didn’t quite come across on the film, until later on for me, although the chemistry was definitely sparking off the screen between Michael and Kathleen (they had to have got together off screen). There’s also a scene that I don’t remember from the film, shortly after the mudslide, where Joan is naked in the water, staring up at the sky and Jack is watching her.
Action sequences in novelizations normally annoy me, as they don’t have the same effect as they do on the film, but for this, Catherine has really captured the action sequences and during the chase scene in the car, it really is page turning. The chapters are short as well (there’s 30 chapters) so it really is a page turner. It can also be read as a stand-alone novel, if you haven’t seen the film.
The cover leans very much towards the Mills & Boon/Avon covers and the back cover has a similar image. But it does encapsulate the film for me.
There is an author’s note from Catherine at the back and also a note from Michael Douglas to “Cathy” included, to thank her for writing the book.
If you want a good action book, with some hefty chemistry/romance thrown into the characters, I would highly recommend this as one of the better novelizations out there. It isn’t quite as barebones as some of them, and definitely worth reading, if you love the film.
Much like Far And Away by Sonja Massie, this is one of my favourite novelizations. I never knew it existed for quite sometime after seeing the film originally, but I had found it recently and I really did enjoy it.
The cover shows that this is “written” by Joan Wilder, who is the lead character in the film, played by Kathleen Turner. However it was actually written by Catherine Lanigan, from the title page (writing as Joan Wilder). It is 261 pages, and there’s quite a lot of detail, particularly background information, that was not in the final film.
The beginning of the film is quite different. We have the usual intro with Angelina and her beloved Jesse meeting and there’s more about how they met and how they became to be lovers - much better than the almost faceless images we see in the film. We don’t have the cringey scene where Joan is crying as she finished writing the book, thank goodness.
Catherine has also delved quite a lot into how Joan became the shy, introverted woman we meet in the film. She explores the relationship with her sister Elaine, how her parents death affected her and the loss of her virginity - I found this a rather odd inclusion, particularly as she was disappointed at how quickly it was over. But then it seemed to allow her to imagine the better sex scenes for her books, even though she’s not very experienced.
We also find a lot more about Jack - his parents are still alive, and he comes from an almost Wall Street background, before we discover him in the South American jungle. He’s had his heart broken, and has a whole backstory with a 97-year-old woman - purely platonic!
The story is pretty much expanded upon throughout the book - a few of the scenes read exactly as they do on the screen, but there’s a lot more of Jack looking at Joan, after they first meet and thinking about her full breasts and her long legs. This didn’t quite come across on the film, until later on for me, although the chemistry was definitely sparking off the screen between Michael and Kathleen (they had to have got together off screen). There’s also a scene that I don’t remember from the film, shortly after the mudslide, where Joan is naked in the water, staring up at the sky and Jack is watching her.
Action sequences in novelizations normally annoy me, as they don’t have the same effect as they do on the film, but for this, Catherine has really captured the action sequences and during the chase scene in the car, it really is page turning. The chapters are short as well (there’s 30 chapters) so it really is a page turner. It can also be read as a stand-alone novel, if you haven’t seen the film.
The cover leans very much towards the Mills & Boon/Avon covers and the back cover has a similar image. But it does encapsulate the film for me.
There is an author’s note from Catherine at the back and also a note from Michael Douglas to “Cathy” included, to thank her for writing the book.
If you want a good action book, with some hefty chemistry/romance thrown into the characters, I would highly recommend this as one of the better novelizations out there. It isn’t quite as barebones as some of them, and definitely worth reading, if you love the film.
April 10, 2020
I love the movie so I had high hopes for this book. Although I did enjoy it ( I read it in one sitting) it was just so poorly written. There are way too many exclamation marks! The author also has a bad habit of reusing the same word in consecutive sentences which really annoyed me for some reason.
Also, I didn't buy the backstory of Jack. A stockbroker? Really?
It was well paced however and I did have fun, but it's quite x rated in places which I did not expect
Also, I didn't buy the backstory of Jack. A stockbroker? Really?
It was well paced however and I did have fun, but it's quite x rated in places which I did not expect
July 4, 2022
Sympa... mais pas non plus un coup de coeur.
J'ai grandi avec le film, donc j'étais curieuse de lire le roman. Malheureusement l'histoire a vieilli, et la dynamique entre les deux personnages principaux fait tiquer par moments, avec trop de clichés et pas assez de connivence entre eux. En fait, il manque l'alchimie des acteurs pour que l'histoire tienne vraiment.
J'ai grandi avec le film, donc j'étais curieuse de lire le roman. Malheureusement l'histoire a vieilli, et la dynamique entre les deux personnages principaux fait tiquer par moments, avec trop de clichés et pas assez de connivence entre eux. En fait, il manque l'alchimie des acteurs pour que l'histoire tienne vraiment.
April 7, 2023
Look for us covering this on an upcoming Authorized Novelizations Podcast. Listen: http://shorturl.at/lDZ45
This is too long and I did get sort of sick of it by the end. But the first 200 pages or so are really interesting, and this conceit where Lanigan writes as Joan Wilder is much more subtle than I expected, with terrific execution.
This is too long and I did get sort of sick of it by the end. But the first 200 pages or so are really interesting, and this conceit where Lanigan writes as Joan Wilder is much more subtle than I expected, with terrific execution.
March 19, 2021
What a great screen to book adaptation!!! Getting ready to watch the movie for the first time in forever with my book club! Can't wait!!!
The book has a ton more of the sexual tension that you love in the movie!! Love the backstory we get on the characters too!
The book has a ton more of the sexual tension that you love in the movie!! Love the backstory we get on the characters too!
March 20, 2019
I loved watching the movie as a little kid, but finding the book in adulthood was a real treat. Definitely written in the 80s, but a great adventure/romance book.
June 10, 2020
It was just what I was hoping for as an adaptation of a movie I loved. I'm not generally a romance reader, but this was fun and engaging.
June 16, 2020
My teenaged self loved the movie so much, that I needed more. This is when I found out that sometimes they publish the book AFTER the movie!
June 29, 2020
นิยายผจญภัยของนักเขียนท่านนี้เคยสร้างเป็นหนัง เนื้อเรื่องอ่านได้เรื่อยๆ ลุ้นตอนที่โดนคนตามล่า เพราะนางเอกมีแผนที่ใช้หาขุมทรัพย์
November 24, 2020
Lots of fun with many exciting parts. A writer tries to go to Colombia to save her sister. many adventures ensue.
January 17, 2023
The movie was adventure with romance while this book is romance with adventure
June 29, 2025
Bigly!
*** 3 Stars.
*** 3 Stars.
March 17, 2017
This is the book version of the movie. If you enjoyed the movie, the book will be a fun read as well. The story revolves around recluse romance writer Joan Wilder who must fly to Columbia to deliver a treasure map forwarded to her by her brother-in-law, pieces of whose body have been found. She must turn the map over to her sister's kidnappers or her sister will be next. Once in Columbia, a series of humorous mishaps occur.
March 6, 2021
One of my very first romance books which hooked me into the genre for decades to follow.
March 18, 2013
When I checked this book out of the library, I was delighted with its possibilities -- imagine, a romance novel that parodies romance novels! I had dreams of it becoming a key text in my future career as a professor specializing in romance fiction.
I was somewhat disappointed with Romancing the Stone, but only, I think, because my expectations were so high. The novel does parody romance novel conventions, to the point where I laughed out loud more than once, especially in the first few pages, which are an "excerpt" from Joan Wilder's newest novel (the heroine is a romance novelist). Overall, however, Romancing the Stone took itself more seriously than I expected, despite the "this is no romance novel"-type refrains from the heroine. The specific "jungle adventure" romance stereotype is not one I have had much experience with myself.
Taken as a straightforward romance novel, Romancing the Stone is amusing, saved from corny conventionality by funny dialogue and the self-serving attitudes of the hero and heroine. Viewed as a parody of romance, it is interesting and worthy of further study, as well as a way to notice and laugh at the conventions of romance while enjoying them at the same time. I haven't seen the film version, but I imagine it's something like the Indiana Jones movies in style and humour, and I'm hoping to rent it if I can find it.
I was somewhat disappointed with Romancing the Stone, but only, I think, because my expectations were so high. The novel does parody romance novel conventions, to the point where I laughed out loud more than once, especially in the first few pages, which are an "excerpt" from Joan Wilder's newest novel (the heroine is a romance novelist). Overall, however, Romancing the Stone took itself more seriously than I expected, despite the "this is no romance novel"-type refrains from the heroine. The specific "jungle adventure" romance stereotype is not one I have had much experience with myself.
Taken as a straightforward romance novel, Romancing the Stone is amusing, saved from corny conventionality by funny dialogue and the self-serving attitudes of the hero and heroine. Viewed as a parody of romance, it is interesting and worthy of further study, as well as a way to notice and laugh at the conventions of romance while enjoying them at the same time. I haven't seen the film version, but I imagine it's something like the Indiana Jones movies in style and humour, and I'm hoping to rent it if I can find it.
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