Devon Book Club discussion

Books coming to our cinema screens in 2015. From 50 Shades of Grey to Jungle Book, a re-make of Frankenstein (centred on Igor, played by Daniel Radcliffe), A Thousand Splendid Suns and my personal favourite Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - a raft of books transferred to the big screen will be released next year.

Do books translate well to screen? Which ones have worked and which have flopped for you

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Have to say The Hobbit is a total disaster for anyone who actually likes the book, probably great if you're just looking for exciting adventures with a bit of magic thrown in.

Ley wrote: "Have to say The Hobbit is a total disaster for anyone who actually likes the book, probably great if you're just looking for exciting adventures with a bit of magic thrown in."

Going to see the final episode after Xmas but I know what you mean. I actually think that LOTR turned out OK (though missed loads of course) but not so sure that the Hobbit has worked as well

It seems a shame that so much had to be missed from LOTR and then so much nonsense added on to the Hobbit.

Ley wrote: "It seems a shame that so much had to be missed from LOTR and then so much nonsense added on to the Hobbit."

Agree that but I will still go and see it - saw all the other 5 each Xmas

I'll probably see it, even if only on DVD, just to say I've seen it.

Going to The Hobbit tomorrow! Then later in the month The Testament of Youth before going to a talk about making it. Wish there was time to read the book first.

Sue wrote: "Going to The Hobbit tomorrow! Then later in the month The Testament of Youth before going to a talk about making it. Wish there was time to read the book first."

Saw the Hobbit yeste4rday and enjoyed it. Hope you do too

I disagree! The LOTR screen adaptation is one of the best I've ever seen. The attention to detail us excellent and I can't imagine that Tolkien wouldn't have been proud of it (I'm a huge Tolkien fan). The film crew showed their love and knowledge of the books in the LOTR trilogy and, I think, we're entitled to be more creative with The Hobbit films. Of course there was less to cram into them, it was written for children and lacked the depth of the LOTR books. The film team made up for this by adding history from other notes by Tolkien. A few bits they added that were completely new also worked, eg Tauriel's character as the films were otherwise lacking in meaningful female presence. I'm only sad that the films have now come to an end. If you want to see directors butchering an excellent book series, read and watch Game of Thrones. The Tolkien adaptations simply do not compare.

Greenleaf wrote: "I disagree! The LOTR screen adaptation is one of the best I've ever seen. The attention to detail us excellent and I can't imagine that Tolkien wouldn't have been proud of it (I'm a huge Tolkien fa..."

Excellent - love a bit of controversy. I also enjoyed the LOTR trology more than the Hobbit (whcih I also enjoyed though). I think they could have probably edited the Hobbit into two parts but suspect that commercial pressures extended it.

Was the Hobbit written for children? Hadn't realised that, though it is obviously much simpler and less dark than LOTR.

All in all, I think the film -makers did a pretty good job

I think I've said this elsewhere: I generally avoid film adaptations of fiction, especially when they are of works that I adore.
Partly, I hate having an image of an actor burned into my memory, and displacing the character-image that I'd created for myself. I also find films too superficial: not that they omit 'what happens' type details (the worst adaptations are often the ones that cram in all the info), but that they don't understand or develop the most important themes. Obviously, the idea of 'most important themes' is often a personal interpretation, but I generally find my favourite books allow for multiple interpretations. One of the joys of Reading Group is that we usually have such very different takes on themes, characters and form, whereas too many films are just flat.

DrMama wrote: "I think I've said this elsewhere: I generally avoid film adaptations of fiction, especially when they are of works that I adore.
Partly, I hate having an image of an actor burned into my memory, ..."

As ever, such a personal thing. I agree that books dont recreate the picture you have in your head but sometimes they can complement them. I loved the New Zealand landscape in the Tolkien films and, actually, most characters (perhaps because they are fantastical) worked for me without spoiling the book.

I did enjoy LOTR on film - the only character I wasn't so keen on was Aragorn (it was the hair, not at all how I'd pictured it.)

One adaptation which I thought was excellent was One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Jack Nicholson portrayed his character so brilliantly, and the rest of the cast were good too. I particularly felt the ending was better focussed, with the poignancy of Chiefy's role. And the music really added to it.

Lynne wrote: "I loved the Hobbit as a teenager and didn't want to spoil the memory by seeing the film so we went to see Ridley Scott's Exodus 3D on 27/12/14 instead.

Am apprehensive about the release of the fil..."

Hi Lynne,
You have made me realise that, not only am I not so bothered about adaptations if I read the book after seeing the film (although there is always the problem of Bathsheba always being Julie Christie in my head), I also don't remember enough detail (to be too upset about) if I read the books a long time ago. I wasn't too discumbobulated about LOTR, partly because it was so many decades since I'd read the books that I couldn't remember details, but also because I could not recall what 'my' Aragorn looked like. In fact (Susanne!) one of the main reasons for me to watch was Vigo Mortensen's Aragorn (is that sexist?).
Thanks for the info about Ubik. I've enjoyed reading Philip K Dick in the past, and always meant to try more, so I could see this film and then try the novel.

This is not the big screen but I just saw a fleeting mention of a tv adaptation ofJonathan Strange & Mr NorrellI loved this book and it will be interesting to see what they make of it. BBC thankfully.

Ley wrote: "This is not the big screen but I just saw a fleeting mention of a tv adaptation ofJonathan Strange & Mr NorrellI loved this book and it will be interesting to see what they make of it...."

Interesting. Someone was having a discussion about the book a few days ago, over on another strand - I think. I chipped in saying that I had not been able to read it. I made a couple of false starts on it, I think - long time ago - but it just didn't work for me. I might take a look at this. Why did you like the book so much?

Greenleaf wrote: "I disagree! The LOTR screen adaptation is one of the best I've ever seen. The attention to detail us excellent and I can't imagine that Tolkien wouldn't have been proud of it (I'm a huge Tolkien fa..."

Sorry, have to say Tolkien would have been irritated by the unnecesary changes to his story, particularly the stupid change to the end of the first film. I enjoyed most of the LOTR films but as I know the book really well I was annoyed by the changes. (and yes it is one book)
The Hobbit was a story told to his own children I believe.

DrMama wrote: "Ley wrote: "This is not the big screen but I just saw a fleeting mention of a tv adaptation ofJonathan Strange & Mr NorrellI loved this book and it will be interesting to see what they..."

To be honest it's quite a while since I read it, I'm quite fascinated by this kind of stuff, there's a 'things almost seen from the corner of your eye' quality that I also get from Neil Gaiman, it's just my sort of book. Darkish and fantastical.

I went to see Testament of Youth at teh cinema last night. I had not read the book but found the film very moving. I imagine that the book is more intense but I enjoyed the film. I wonder whether anyone else who has seen the film and read the book coudl tell us how they compare?

Ian wrote: "I went to see Testament of Youth at teh cinema last night. I had not read the book but found the film very moving. I imagine that the book is more intense but I enjoyed the film. I w..."

Hi Ian, I'm planning to see it, so I will get back to you asap. It is a while since I read the book, but it is intense (check out her poetry too); though I will probably try to re read the book after seeing the film. If I reread now, knowing me I won't want to see the film. However, I also want to watch the TV series from a few decades (?) ago. I didn't have a telly then, and did not watch, but quite a few people on other book blogs have said that they cannot imagine the film being as good as the series. I suppose it might seem dated, now, but then I still think the John Le Carre 'Smiley' adaptations for TV are wonderful.

DrMama wrote: "Ian wrote: "I went to see Testament of Youth at teh cinema last night. I had not read the book but found the film very moving. I imagine that the book is more intense but I enjoyed t..."

I didn't know she had written poetry too - I will certainly have a look. Thank you. Agree re the Smiley films - though I saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy last year and thought it pretty boring.

I had a look online after yrou pointed me to Vera Brittains poetry and found this, moving poem about the loss of her fiance

Perhaps

Perhaps some day the sun will shine again,
And I shall see that still the skies are blue,
And feel once more I do not live in vain,
Although bereft of You.

Perhaps the golden meadows at my feet
Will make the sunny hours of spring seem gay,
And I shall find the white May-blossoms sweet,
Though You have passed away.

Perhaps the summer woods will shimmer bright,
And crimson roses once again be fair,
And autumn harvest fields a rich delight,
Although You are not there.

But though kind Time may many joys renew,
There is one greatest joy I shall not know
Again, because my heart for loss of You
Was broken, long ago.

Beautiful

Ian wrote: "I had a look online after yrou pointed me to Vera Brittains poetry and found this, moving poem about the loss of her fiance

Perhaps

Perhaps some day the sun will shine again,
And I shall see that..."

Yes, I've got that one too. However, 2 I prefer are 'The Lament of the Demobilised', which is a quite heartfelt but bitter cry against those who did not help in the war ... those who not only got on better because of the absence of those (women?) who had gone to help, but who now jeer at them for throwing away years of their life. It is raw and bitter, but so honest - and conveys her pain in all dimensions as well as the loss of her loved ones. I also like 'To My Brother' where she describes how his death, and his 'battle-wounds are scars upon my heart'. This line features in the title of a collection of women's war poetry Scars Upon My Heart: Women's Poetry and Verse of the First World War buy it! Another good one is The Virago Book Of Women's War Poetry and Verse, as is Because You Died: Poetry and Prose of the First World War and After.

DrMama wrote: "Ian wrote: "I had a look online after yrou pointed me to Vera Brittains poetry and found this, moving poem about the loss of her fiance

Perhaps

Perhaps some day the sun will shine again,
And I sh..."

Thanks Carol - I will follow up on those