Have you ever checked out a book that a TV or movie was based on.

[Tim]

Rob wrote: "While I liked the movie I strongly disliked the premise that it is "young adult" and no amount of "but you'll understand it better if you read it" is going to sway me to give up a day or two of my life to finding out. "

The film is much "younger" than the book. I think what makes the book "YA" is the age of the players and the relatively straightforward linear narrative. It certainly isn't young in terms of content, or "protecting" the reader from the action or its consequences. I'm not going to say you'll understand it better by reading it. Certainly the book has more tonality, depth and colour compared to the film, but that's almost universally true. I will say though that the book stands on its own merits as a good, well written story, and I don't think you'd be wasting your time on it.

[Rob]

Ah Tim.. I think we've chatted on HG before.

Oh it's not on my "Nah... got too much other stuff to read" list because I think I'll be too old for it. I just don't want to pay for it because I really don't care for the premise (here be kids executing other kids so the adults can have a party) and I'm not sure that reading the book will make me like the premise any more.

I suppose sooner or later I'll have to break down and thumb through it because I've also learned that you are not allowed an opinion on anything until you've read it for yourself, regardless of how many reviews and commentaries you've read or how many people who've read it you've talked to....

But enough about me and my usual axes...

Anyone else try to read the Graphic Novels of The Watchmen and/or V for Vendetta?

[Tim]

I have read the graphic novel for Watchmen, and enjoyed it thoroughly. The key difference is the reveal at the end. The movie is very faithful, but the Black Freighter subplot's removal necessitates this change. Watchmen is rant to be enjoyed as a commentary on Superhero Comics, and it is not gentle. Approach it with tha in mind and be willing to slog through the recollections and memoirs, and it will reward you, albeit in a much different manner than the movie.

Lastly, Watchmen the movie takes special pains to grab scenes directly from the book, and is by far the most faithful adaptation I have ever seen. Decide for yourself if that is really good or really bad...

[Will]

Robert wrote: "Just watched Stardust for the first time, I thought it was great. Worth me now catching up on the book?"

I saw the movie first and then read the book (which was very good and very different on certain key aspects). So, I would encourage you to pick it up.

[Ash]

As it turns out I have no predictive prowess regarding books to film, so most of my books I've seen on TV or film first. The most recent would be Darkly Dreaming Dexter. I have enjoyed all of the Dexter novels so far and am about to jump into Dexter is Delicious.
Although the exception that proves the rule is The Hunger Games which I haven't seen and am reading on audiobook.
I must say that I often enjoy the novelisation of movies, often they include extra scenes and insights that just aren't pertinent or possible to do in a film.

[R.H.]

The movie based on Never Let Me Go pushed so many of my emotional buttons that I could hardly sleep. The next day I read the book hoping its more drawn out pace would calm me down. It worked. The novel was equally devastating, but delivered a more satisfying catharsis. I finished it and went to bed.

[Esther]

R.H. wrote: "The movie based on Never Let Me Go pushed so many of my emotional buttons that I could hardly sleep. The next day I read the book hoping its more drawn out pace would calm me down. It worked. The n..."
I bought that book for my mother while she was in hospital. She always remembers that hospital stay as totally surreal because she was so creeped out by the book.
She said the film was good but nowhere near the book.

[Cass]

Most recently, John Carter. I loved the movie so I wanted to find out what happened. Started at the beginning of the series and really enjoyed it.

[Julio]

I'm from Mexico and in the past it was not so easy to get some books until a movie was made. I read many books not right away after watching the movie but some time later when the book could be bought/borrowed: "Dune", "Silence of the Lambs", "The Fight Club", "Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil", "Harry Potter" and "Jurassic Park"

A few exceptions: "The Hours" pushed me to order and read both "Mrs Dalloway" and "The Hours" novel. Also "The girl with the dragon tatoo" made me buy the Kindle edition.

Other book that are in my to-read list are the Bourne series, "Up in the air", "The descendants" and "No country for old men".

I like the books better in general but I enjoy reading the books afterwards. Is like revisiting a story I know in the general but with more depth and detail (and sometimes with twists!)

[Will]

There are many books I read after watching the movie version in the theater or on television. Here is a shortlist of some of my favorites:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Dune by Frank Herbert
Atonement by Ian McEwan
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
The Running Man by Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
Jurassic Park and The Lost World by Michael Crichton
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

The only two movies I thought were better than the book are Blade Runner and The Running Man.

[EJ]

Sword of truth, game of thrones (which I haven't started yet but I'm going to as soon as I finish some of the other books I'm reading), I am number four, and Dresden files.
The sword of truth series was one that my friend has suggested that I read but I never gave a real chance til I saw the show. I'm buying the final book tomorrow (YAY!!) :)

[Andrew]

Do androids dream of electric sheep was awesome and different enough from blade runner that it wasn't repetitive

Also I read kick ass unfortunately. Good funny movie but the Comics were written terribly