Book or film? Which order is best?

[stuartboy]

Apologies if this has appeared before. Even more apologies if it was me who asked before. Lol. Also it's been a while since we had a pole so....

...I can never remember which way round is recommended. I think the concensus is that it is better to use one's imagination when reading a book rather than having the memory of visuals from a film colour your picturing of a book. On the other hand, a reading of a book following seeing the film can allow you to fill in details that the author can put forward that it is impossible to portray in a film.

I have made a point of not seeing any Harry Potter until I finally finish the books. Likewise the same for Lord of The Rings. I did b*y all of these on DVD when they came out so I have that treat to look forward to. The result of this is that I have no idea what Gandalf or Dumbledore look like. Obviously I can't but know what Ron Weasley or Harry look like cos they look like Rupert Grint and Danny Rad!

The incentive for this is the imminance of Hunger Games Bit 2 coming out soon. I b*ght the trilogy of books after enjoying the first film, and read book 1. Should I read book 2 before or after seeing the film in a few weeks?

[chelle1973]

I always prefer reading the books first, however while on holiday i read Filth, after seeing the film a few wks back........i'm quite glad i saw the film first! But of course more details are always in books and you really can get carried away with the character/s.

[Sunny Saver]

Hmm, hard to say, if you do book first, you could sit through the film thinking, this isn't in book. If you do film first, you might think CBA read book now, as I've seen the film.

So you should add another option: either book or film, not both.

[claire]

I normally see film first. As everyone always seems to say film is no where near as good as the book
Then I still enjoy both

[moggers]

Film before book for me, I get too involved with the book and find fault with the film if I have read before.

[canadian_turtle]

I normally read the book first for the simple fact that I read a lot of books and very often nowadays after I've already read them they're turned into a film.

I think it's more advisable the other way around though because 99% of the time the book is better than the film so by reading the book first you're setting yourself up for disappointment when seeing the film. Plus if you see the film first and liked it, reading the book after often provides more details to expand your knowledge on the story.

[stuartboy]

Eep! Seems relatively balanced on either side so far, argument-wise, surprisingly.

[caitlinmorton]

I almost feel like it depends on the particular book/film combo. Sometimes I see a film and then find out there was a book, or there's a book I didn't think I'd like and then seeing the film changes my mind. I look at it on a case by case basis, if that makes sense?

[Beate]

Well sometimes it's film only - I couldn't get into the Cloud Atlas book at all, and as for Great Expectations, I still have to read that either.

[prettyxcool]

I normally read the book first for the simple fact that I read a lot of books and very often nowadays after I've already read them they're turned into a film.

I think it's more advisable the other way around though because 99% of the time the book is better than the film so by reading the book first you're setting yourself up for disappointment when seeing the film. Plus if you see the film first and liked it, reading the book after often provides more details to expand your knowledge on the story.

I agree with c_t. I recently read How I Live Now and the film came out shortly after, which I, of course, had not known before reading the book, and it just kept me from watching the film, as I could not help comparing it. However, if the film came out ages after having read the book, then it is fine for me, as I would not remember it in so much detail, to compare. But given the choice, I like to read the books afterwards, then it helps to explain or expand on parts that I wanted to know more about.