A = Adaptations
"I suppose that is the nature of monument...The monument does not say that this man or that man walked here...The feeling, at least here...and there... it remains the same." Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice
Imagination is the place where your dreams are true. And it's as simple as opening a book and allowing yourself to be drawn into the world between the pages, get lost in that adventure with characters you've only just met...
Or maybe you're not much of a reader. Maybe you seek adventure through television, movies, or videogames. Getting lost in the dream may mean getting lost in the screen.
There is a place where dreamers of all types merge: the adaptations. Admittedly, some adaptations are better than others, others deviating laughably from source material, but literary works are often translated into other forms of media.
Like The Walking Dead... Which started out as a graphic novel (not really my cup of tea) about surviving the zombie apocalypse and turned into a major television franchise complete with slightly less exciting, but still valid, spin-offs, and videogames (not even a little qualified to review the game for you).
Or perhaps High Fantasy is more of what you are into, in which case we can't leave out Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, who created a world so rich that both readers and watchers wanted more than the movies could provide...Making the television show The Rings of Power, a shoe-in for commercial success.
There are visually dramatic adaptations like Life of Pi for those seeking beauty with their thrills. Idealistically romantic notions like Water for Elephants, for those who want to run away to somewhere new. For those craving a little laughter in their lives, maybe you're dying for more Good Omens.
And while Jurassic Park is certainly one of my all-time favorites, still getting chills when I see the arm of the T-Rex stroking the electric fencing, I can't help but wonder, what is your favorite adaptation?
(All links in this blog post redirect you to the corresponding book reviews)
While I usually read non-fiction (NEVER current events-it's much too depressing), I'll occasionally sashay (or is that mosey?) into the fictional world. I prefer the fantastic, usually, or something along the lines of Stephen King. I was very surprised when I received "Game of Thrones" for Christmas one year. I gobbled it up, along with the follow-on books. I'm waiting for Martin's next novel, but one of us will die before it comes out, I fear.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read GoT but not until its complete. I started reading Patrick Rothfuss's trilogy the year book 1got published... he wrote the second book then crapped out. I'll probably never know how it ends.
DeleteYou are so right.
DeleteI usually like the book better than the movie, but Life of Pi (in 3D) was an exception. So good!
ReplyDeleteI agree Life of Pi movie was better than the book. I felt after seeing the movie that the book had taken too long to get to the same destination, lol
DeleteI usually like the book better than the movie, but I loved the "To Kill a Mockingbird" movie.
ReplyDeleteI saw TKAM in high school, i think i was too young then to fully appreciate it. I'd like to see it again now that I'm older and see if it resonates differently this time around.
DeleteI love seeing adaptations being made from the work of my favorite authors. It's 50/50 whether they will live up the written work, but it gets those authors names out there so more people can read their work.
ReplyDeleteI think that might be part of the fun of adaptations, is seeing what changed between book and screen. Amd was it for the better or the worse i agree its a good way to get authors more notoriety.
DeleteI love Water for Elephants. I've read it, own the movies and have seen the off Broadway play. Sometimes I like the books better than the movies and sometimes the other way around. Either way, if the writing speaks to me I want to enjoy it it both formats.
ReplyDeleteI liked Water for Elephants in both movie and book versions, i haven't seen the play. If i enjoy the book i usually see the movie ir vice versa
DeleteOnce I've seen or read the original the adaptations usually disappoint me!
ReplyDeleteThats too bad that happens...its tough when the adaptation doesn't live up to expectations
DeleteI need to see the movie first. Otherwise I'm that pedant that complains about how that's not how the book was. I'm too fried to consider my favorite, although it'll probably be a Jane Austen.
ReplyDeleteI usually go book first then complain about the movie, lol. But you're right the other way around is probably the best way to do it.
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