Which is better, the book or the movie?

With so many movies based on books in theatres right now, it got me thinking about this question.  It used to be, without hesitation, I would say the book was better. Immersing yourself in a book for hours and days, couldn’t compare with a two-hour movie. But these days, I’m not so sure.

Sure, technology and special effects allow movies to capture more details which helps to bring the stories to life. And creating mini-series or multiple movies allows a more complete version of the book or series to be told. But there is something more.

There can be a range of emotions you feel when you finish a really good book – disappointment that it’s over, warmth about a good story, satisfaction or happiness with how it ended (or maybe not!). Sometimes, you just want it all to continue – the movie version can be a way to extend the connection to the characters and story.

Instead of comparing the book to the movie, these days I look at them as complementary. I can’t wait to get re-absorbed in Girl on the Train, see the interpretation of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and relive the story of Inferno.  And sometimes, I pick up on connections that I hadn’t noticed or remembered when reading.

Don’t get me wrong, there are still some disappointments, but overall it provides an opportunity to prolong my experience with the characters I got attached to.

The SD&G County Library’s collection is full of both books and movies based on books. Borrow both today and let us know what you think!

For more information about the SD&G County Library, please contact Susan Wallwork, Communications & Marketing Librarian at swallwork@sdglibrary.ca or (613) 936 – 8777 ext. 226.