Focus on Reading 2.0 -Question 1 of 2023

[Joanne]

I realized today that this wonderful conversation stater that BnB began has long been ignored. Anyway I have had a question bubbling in my head the last few weeks. I suggest that no one let their questions boil over and we restart -so here goes what has been bothering made me curious.

It use to be, not really that long ago, that if a book was offered a movie/TV contact for their book it was a big thing! Now I see books being scooped up like popcorn! I think is is because of all the viewing platforms that are available these days.

What have you watched, did you think it was true to the book? What are you anticipating?

[Meli]

I would agree... I think studios and streaming services are able to snatch up the rights fairly easily, and perhaps it's affordable to do so even if you have no immediate intent to start filming.

I haven't watched any adaptations recently. I was interested in Pachinko, but I don't have that streaming service (apple?) and Daisy Jones and The Six is out, but I am not super motivated, just mildly curious.

The series adaptation I am most looking forward to is The Sympathizer. I think that will be HBO, so when that is out I intend to sign up immediately!

[Robin P]

Yes, with the success of Game of Thrones/Station 11/Bridgertons and many more, it's an easy way to get new scripts. In the "old" days of 3 channels, most shows were developed by separate writers. A lot of them were only a half-hour long, and they rarely had continuing stories, unless somebody had a baby and you saw the kid grow up. Hourlong shows tended to be dramas, westerns, crime, with a new story each time. Roots was the first "mini-series" (in the late '70's) and of course it also came from a book.

[Cora]

My son and I have been watching the Shadow and Bone series. It has been a long time since I read the first book in Shadow and Bone, so I wouldn't notice too many changes in details for that story line. The biggest change is they put in a story line with the characters from The Six of Crows books, which definitely did not show up in the original series.

[Holly R W]

My husband and I had started the series based upon "Daisy Jones and the Six." It's not holding my interest - I don't like it as well as the book. It turns out that Elvis Presley's granddaughter is playing Daisy.

I'm interested in whether others here have been watching it and what you think of it.

[Meli]

Holly R W wrote: "My husband and I had started the series based upon "Daisy Jones and the Six." It's not holding my interest - I don't like it as well as the book. It turns out that Elvis Presley's granddaughter is ..."

I am very curious about the adaptation of Daisy Jones And The Six, but I can't watch (view spoiler)[Daisy and whats-his-face flirt all the time despite him being married with child and then pretending not to be romantically / sexually interested in Daisy only to end up with her after his wife's death! 😒😡 (hide spoiler)]Even though I know that's silly because it is essentially the entire conceit of the book.

[Holly R W]

Meli wrote: "Holly R W wrote: "My husband and I had started the series based upon "Daisy Jones and the Six." It's not holding my interest - I don't like it as well as the book. It turns out that Elvis Presley's..."

Meli, you might want to tune in to "Daisy Jones" and watch a few episodes to see what you think. Other than that, there are so many good shows and series to watch - you have your pick.

I read your spoiler and I don't think you're being silly at all.

[Meli]

Holly R W wrote: "I read your spoiler and I don't think you're being silly at all."

Haha, OK, good!
The posters keep popping up on my Goodreads banner and it's 🤮

I am interested in how they did the music.
I watched a couple videos and it looked like they did a good job in that respect.

[Holly R W]

Meli wrote: "Holly R W wrote: "I read your spoiler and I don't think you're being silly at all."

Haha, OK, good!
The posters keep popping up on my Goodreads banner and it's 🤮

I am interested in how they did ..."


I'll be interested in your opinion.

Regarding your spoiler, I did not interpret the novel in the same way. (view spoiler)[I agree that Billy and Daisy did their share of flirting with each other, but I don't think they ended up with each other after Camilla's death. (hide spoiler)]

[Theresa]

I watch almost no series any more. In fact I don't seem to watch much except old favorite movies and my favorite reality shows - which primarily are food competitions!

In fact, that last 3 series that I was dedicated to watching were Game of Thrones (loved loved loved - thought it a great adaptation of the series, capable of standing on its own apart from the books), Mad Men (Loved loved loved - thought it strong to the end) and Downton Abbey - found it trailed off into absurdity in the last 2 seasons - and only continued watching mostly for Maggie Smith.

I haven't even tuned into House of Dragon!

I did tune into Bridgerton - lasted only partway through first season then started the books which I liked much better. Also started watching the Netflix adaptation of a favorite contemporary series - Virgin River by Robyn Carr but didn't even finish the season - it was fine but it didn't grab me to keep watching it -- although I expect I will at some point fully watch it as it is perfect for certain moods. I thought it was a really good adaptation of the books, modernizing them and bringing to the forefront a few characters that I don't even remember as being in the book which add storylines.

I do have a list though of series on various cable prime networks that I to watch some day. When I find myself watching tv again. For some reason I just don't want to be tied up with an ongoing series, and I'm not into binge watching. I am also really sensitive to watching series adapted from favorite books -- I need some series time between reading them and then seeing an adaptation -- long enough for the series to be judged on its own.

Other books/series I know have cable series adaptations that I want to check out include Sullivan's Crossing by Robyn Carr, Jack Ryan based on the Tom Clancy books, House of Dragon and LOTR. Might be a few others - Queen's Gambit - that's a series not a single movie? Oh and Shadow & Bone caught my eye though I have not read the books. Yet.

For the record, Daisy Jones & the Six does not appeal to me AT ALL and I wish those advertising banners would just disappear off GR! The more I see them the less I want to watch it. Which of course is the exact opposite effect they want to create.

[Joanne]

The only book to TV I watched was Game of Thrones. I enjoyed that.
Did record it when I had free week-ends watched as I got them.

I have to admit, I have not watched much TV since pandemic, and I am thinking of cutting the cable, not worth the high cost and my daughter plans to install, Roku or something else similar for me. So am interested in what is out there.

[Meli]

Holly R W wrote: "Regarding your spoiler, I did not interpret the novel in the same way."

I don't think it was explicit... but (view spoiler)[if I remember correctly they reconnect at the end and it is implied they will give romance a shot. And he's widowed and she is single, right? So it's like things finally aligned for them. Since the whole book is basically a will-they-won't-they story I felt like that was the implication. (hide spoiler)]

[Meli]

Theresa wrote: "For the record, Daisy Jones & the Six does not appeal to me AT ALL and I wish those advertising banners would just disappear off GR! The more I see them the less I want to watch it."

SAAAAAAAAAAMMMEE!!!
It legit gives me the creeps and this may be why I retroactively assigned an ending to the book that wasn't there? Or it really was open to interpretation? I don't know what is real anymore 🤣😂

[Robin P]

I enjoy Sanditon on PBS though I think 3 seasons is stretching it out, they really only needed 1-2 more episodes in the first season to wrap it up. I also like Bridgerton even though it's quite different from the books. I will probably watch Pachinko eventually and Station Eleven. But I also don't watch a lot of TV, I have too much reading to do! We have one TV and my husband isn't really interested in most of the things I watch but he will wander in and ask questions about what's going on in the middle of it!

[Meli]

@Robin P - I wanted to watch Station Eleven too, then I just kinda forgot about it.

That is the problem with so much content, you can only consume so much and there is such constant turnover and output it is easy to forget about some of these.

[Theresa]

Meli wrote: "@Robin P - I wanted to watch Station Eleven too, then I just kinda forgot about it.

That is the problem with so much content, you can only consume so much and there is such constant turnover and ..."

Excellent point, Meli!

One more comment: it cracks me up when I hear my much younger friends reference 'my shows'. Why? When I was growing up, my mother and her friends used 'my shows' to mean the afternoon soaps they all watched every day. Friends of mine who watched soaps sometimes did the same. It never was used to reference anything but soaps and was a touch derogative as this was shallow 'lesser' daytime tv. Now the phrase references all these series we have been talking about plus ones like West Wing, Sopranos, etc. I find it funny how it has evolved to a more guilty pleasure type viewing and even more highbrow than an addictive shallow time waster.

[NancyJ]

Meli wrote: "@Robin P - I wanted to watch Station Eleven too, then I just kinda forgot about it.

That is the problem with so much content, you can only consume so much and there is such constant turnover and ..."

I loved the book, but I completely forget StationEleven was a show. I was a TV Junkie all my life, but since a concussion, I can’t stand it most days.

[Meli]

NancyJ wrote: "I loved the book, but I completely forget StationEleven was a show. I was a TV Junkie all my life, but since a concussion, I can’t stand it most days."

According to Lithub, it is better than the book!

As long as your concussion doesn't mess with your reading :-O

[Joanne]

Theresa wrote: "Meli wrote: "@Robin P - I wanted to watch Station Eleven too, then I just kinda forgot about it.

That is the problem with so much content, you can only consume so much and there is such constant ..."

HAHA ! My mother and neighbors all had "my shows too"

[Theresa]

Joanne wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Meli wrote: "@Robin P - I wanted to watch Station Eleven too, then I just kinda forgot about it.

That is the problem with so much content, you can only consume so much and there i..."

Of course they did! Same generation.