Haley Rose answers “Is it better to read this before or after...”

Andy asked this question about Annihilation (Southern Reach, #1):

Is it better to read this before or after the film adaptation?

Haley Rose I read this book after the film. I honestly only saw the film because it had Natalie Portman and Oscar Issac in it and the director is amazing. I won'…moreI read this book after the film. I honestly only saw the film because it had Natalie Portman and Oscar Issac in it and the director is amazing. I won't give any spoilers, but the film blew my mind and was fantastically bizarre and wonderful and beautiful. I learned that it was based on the book and promptly bought the whole series.

I've only read annihilation so far. It has much more differences than similarities to the film for sure. While they both portray this odd, unnatural, alien land, they do so in vastly different ways. The book seems like a more objective and scientific portrayal of area X (called the Shimmer in the movie.)

That being said, I think you could read the book before or after the film and still get the same result, seeing as they are so different. Definitely do both though! They are both such a trip.(less)

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