Literary Adaptations

Posted on | February 21, 2010 | 27 Comments

2010 appears to be the year for books on-the-big-screen. The forthcoming Oscars have highlighted a number of recently made literary adaptations: An Education; Precious (based on the novel, Push); A Single Man; The Lovely Bones; The Last Station; Bright Star; Julie & Julia; Coraline; Fantastic Mr Fox; The Princess and the Frog. That’s only the ones the Oscars have chosen to recognise but there has also been the release of the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and there are also the forthcoming adaptations of Alice in Wonderland; Shutter Island; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and let us not forget the latest and future installments of the Harry Potter and Twilight franchises.

I wonder why there is such a sudden influx of big-screen adaptations lately; the concept itself isn’t new but so many at once is interesting. Yesterday in a bookshop I noticed that they are using the apparent popularity of the literary adaptation to their advantage and had a large display (two bookcases) of books to film. I have viewed a number over the years, some better than others and few as good (and certainly not better) than the book themselves and then there are others that are as stunning visually as the story is in prose. Over the last year or two I have become a little lax in my viewing of literary adaptations and have a little pile of DVDs to watch or seek out. I have been intending to catch up on the ones I have waiting along with a number of the ones appearing in a multiplex an arthouse cinema on limited release near you. I intend to incorporate these viewings into a regular (most likely monthly) blog feature as I am almost as much of a cinephile as I am a bibliophile and would enjoy the opportunity to combine my two interests.

I more often or not (I have only ever made one or two exceptions) read a book before watching the film and the majority of the films I have lined up to see are all ones that I have read previously. Do you have any recommendations for me to add to my long list of adaptations to see or ones that I should avoid? I am more than willing to re-watch and discuss my favourites along the way as well as throw in a few guest-post surprises but do you have any suggestions of things you would like to see in this new feature? Are literary adaptations something that you enjoy watching and reading about?

*In regards to the photograph accompanying this post, I tend to avoid film tie-in covers where possible but these are a few that I own and am not averse to. Besides, two of them came from the publisher, another free in a glossy magazine many years ago and another that is even older with a dust-jacket that is preferably to the non-film cover beneath, so I couldn’t afford to be fussy!

Category: Bookish Chat
Tags: Adaptations

Comments

27 Responses to “Literary Adaptations”

Verity
February 21st, 2010 @ 6:54 pm

I went to see A Single Man today and left halfway through which I’ve never done in a film. What a waste of time and money. Would be intereste to see if the book goes places any more or tries to be as arty. But I’m not sure I can bear to.

The only film adaption I’d wholeheartedly recommend is the original Channel 4 Brideshead Revisited. It is perfect and so faithful to the book.
Sue Harrison daisyduck123
February 21st, 2010 @ 6:56 pm

I hope I am in the right place now? My favourite fairy tale is Red Riding Hood, but the Roald Dahl version. It has a twist in the tale !
Cannot remember it all offhand but when Red is confronted by the wolf…it’s all done in rhyme……Red stands there, her eyelid flickers, she pulls a pistol from her knickers…….and at the end Wolf ends up as a fur coat. My granddaughter thought this was hilarious !
Suzanne
February 21st, 2010 @ 7:49 pm

The Lovely Bones is a good film, but they messed with the timeline of the book — if you don’t read the book first some things may seem weird in the movie.
Paperback Reader
February 21st, 2010 @ 7:56 pm

Verity, I’m sorry that A Single Man was such a disappointing experience; I’ve really been looking forward to it. As you will see from my review when I post it, I really enjoyed the book but it is quite “arty” in itself.

The Jeremy Irons Brideshead Revisited adaptation is my mum’s favourite and I fully intend to watch it once I have read the book.

Hi Sue, if you are entering my Angela Carter give-away then, no, you’re not in the right place. You will find the Angela Carter post in my archives or by following the links that you came across on Twitter. I must seek out the Roald Dahl take on Red Riding Hood.
Paperback Reader
February 21st, 2010 @ 7:58 pm

Hi Suzanne, thanks for commenting. I have seen The Lovely Bones and for the most part I enjoyed it but it has been several years since I read the book
kimbofo
February 21st, 2010 @ 8:01 pm

I very rarely bother watching a film if I’ve read the book, as the adaptations are always so terribly disappointing.

As to why so many adaptations are occurring right now? Probably because Hollywood is so lacking in creativity that it’s just a helluva lot easier and cheaper for them to go for something that’s already been written. It’s the way of the world really. Sadly, original creativity has been so devalued that no one wants to pay for new ideas any more — this is so apparent right across the board whether it be music, literature or the media.
Paperback Reader
February 21st, 2010 @ 8:07 pm

Kim, I’ve been lucky recently and watched some great adaptations: Dangerous Liaisons pops to mind immediately and Revolutionary Road last year.
The lack of creativity/more cynical viewpoint occurred to me too; there is so much recycling occurring at the moment especially in the film industry and in literature.
Claire (The Captive Reader)
February 21st, 2010 @ 8:16 pm

I’m always very anxious about watching film adaptations of favourite books. I usually need to disassociate the book from the movie in order to enjoy it. Some adaptations are wonderful (The Princess Bride comes to mind as an almost word-perfect book-to-film example) but I mostly find myself disappointed. And the dramatic revisions that sometimes take place – always with my most favourite stories! The 2005 Pride & Prejudice still upsets me with its terribly strange proposal scene. And poor Elizabeth Gaskell, has there ever been a faithfully filmed version of any of her novels? I enjoyed the miniseries versions of North and South and Wives and Daughters, but neither had endings true to the novels.
kiss a cloud
February 21st, 2010 @ 9:55 pm

I’m not a big fan of adapted films, mostly because I try to read the book first and end up being disappointed by the movie. Although I did love The Lord of the Rings so very much. My children, too, are amazed when I tell them their favourite movies were based on books, e.g Treasure Planet, Zathura. My 7-year-old reader asked for the complete Narnia books after I told him the first one gives away how the wardrobe became a magic portal.

About the movie tie-in covers, I know we all loathe them but years from now, when they’re vintage-y, might become covetable. So maybe it’s wise to hang on to them? Lol.
Becky from Page Turners
February 21st, 2010 @ 10:17 pm

Usually books are so much better than the movies, but there are some I really like. I actually like The Princess Bride movie better than the book (I reviwed The Princess Bride this week). Lord of the Rings was an amazing adaptation of the books I thought. Bridehead revisted was good as well. The Time Travellers Wife was ok, and Im not brave eough to watch the Lovely Bones, I’m too scared it will ruin the book.

Does anyone ever find that watching a bad film adaptation of the book can ruin the book just a little bit for you?
anothercookiecrumbles
February 21st, 2010 @ 11:42 pm

I would strongly recommend Love Story. It is a bit of a tear-jerker though, and one of those very few movies that seems identical to the book.

I really want to see Alice In Wonderland.
Liz1564
February 22nd, 2010 @ 2:08 am

(I came here via VMC Librarything and Verity.)

One of the best adaptions I have ever seen was Peter Brook’s Lord of the Flies filmed in black and white. Very faithful to the book and, therefore, devastating.

The latest version was absolutely awful. Girls on the island! Changed the dynamics entirely.
Lenore
February 22nd, 2010 @ 10:41 am

I used to always read the book before I saw a movie that was a literary adaptation, but it’s more like half/half these days.

For example, I watched The Reader and Revolutionary Road without having read the books first…and I probably don’t want to read those now. But I was glad I read Little Children before seeing the movie. (All three titles I had at the top of my head starred Kate Winslet…wierd!)
Paperback Reader
February 22nd, 2010 @ 11:30 am

Claire (The Captive Reader), I refuse to watch the 2005 Pride & Prejudice but that’s because I don’t think that the 1995 BBC adaptation can be at all surpassed! Some adaptations really work for me but I understand the fear that a beloved book will be hacked to pieces on film.

Claire (Kiss a Cloud), I’m a huge fan of the LoTR films too! I do think that the movie tie-in covers will become collector’s items and I can’t resist a book cover with Mr Darcy on the front!

Becky, I must read and watch The Princess Bride now that both you and Claire recommend it. My saving grace with The Lovely Bones was that it has been seven years since I read the book so it is not fresh in my mind.
I do think that a bad adaptation can taint a good book in one’s mind.

anothercookie, reading/watching Love Story has been on my radar of things to do since reading your thoughts on Erich Segal.
I’m very excited about Alice in Wonderland and hope to book tickets to see it this week for opening week.

Hi Liz, thanks for following Verity’s link over and commenting.
I did love Lord of the Flies by William Golding and must seek out the original adaptation. The new one, though, I will avoid; adding girls to the mix would completely change the dynamic, I agree!

Lenore, I watched Revolutionary Road without having read the novel; I read The Reader seeing as a copy had sat on my shelf for a decade and I wanted to read it before seeing the film… to date I haven’t watched it! KAte Winslet is one of my favourite actresses so I plan on seeing The Reader soon.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
February 22nd, 2010 @ 12:32 pm

I think there have always been lots of literary adaptations, but we are just more aware of them now. I am always surprised to discover that so many of the books I’ve read have actually been made into a film too.

I didn’t realise there was a film version of the Virgin Suicides – I’m going to have to read the book and then get the DVD out – thanks for pointing it out!
Bloomsbury Bell
February 22nd, 2010 @ 12:42 pm

If a film is a literary adaptation I always try to read the book first – I did this with A Painted Veil and loved the book and then was disappointed by the film which often happens. If I don’t read the book first, my mind is full of hollywood stars rather than characters generated purely by my imagination.
And I hate book covers that are ads for the film – I never buy books with film posters on the front. It ruins them somehow.
Paperback Reader
February 22nd, 2010 @ 6:57 pm

Jackie, I would say that there has been a definite increase in literary adaptations over the last couple of years; I’ve always been aware of them and there are so many this year. Like you though I am sometimes surprised to discover an adaptation of a book I have read, especially older ones.
I personally love both the book and film of The Virgin Suicides; the film was Sofia Coppola’s directing debut.

Naomi, sometimes it is hard to separate that Hollywood face with the character on the page and even if I haven’t watched the film yet I often imagine the actor involved.
We bibliophiles seem to mainly despise the film tie-in covers! I do like some of them but go out of my way to buy the non-film cover wherever possible.
Sharon (Bookpusher)
February 22nd, 2010 @ 10:06 pm

Sorry I am late commenting but I had to say I also avoid movie covers and have noticed the seeming increase in both adaptations of novels and the rehashing of old movies or tv, there is a sense that Hollywood is a bit culturally bankrupt at the moment, perhaps they are not willing to take risks with an unknown script writer on something new.
There have been some good adaptations the 90s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and the earlier BBC adaptation of Brideshead. I was not impressed with the recent film version of Brideshead. I recently re-watched Bright Young Things the film based on Vile Bodies and I really liked that adaptation. I also recently watched the film version of Dorian Gray and I absolutely hated it, the literary teen really liked it, although she too prefered the book. Normally I would always read a book before seeing a film but I have found movie versions can be great for getting kids into books.
Stujallen
February 22nd, 2010 @ 10:46 pm

there does seem a few more than normal ,i m looking forward to the new burton take on alice should be different .
Kals
February 23rd, 2010 @ 5:05 am

I’ll try and read A Single Man. It sounds very interesting though I’m not sure the book is available in India. I haven’t seen it anywhere, yet.

I have an award for you!
http://atpemberley.blogspot.com/2010/02/awards-updates.html
Paperback Reader
February 23rd, 2010 @ 11:31 am

Sharon, you can comment whenever you like! I’m pleased that you’re joining in the discussion. Perhaps it’s not that Hollywood are morally bankrupt but are economising during a recession by not commissioning original writing; they are definitely recycling where they can.
The 1995 BBC adaptation of P&P is a cherished favourite of mine and I actually re-watched it for the millionth time last week.
I agree that movie versions can be great for getting teens (or children) into books and I do the same with my younger sister.

Stu, I can’t wait for the Burton Alice in Wonderland! It looks even wackier than the text, if possible. Odeon have boycotted it however so it may be a little more difficult/costlier to see it. Grrr.

Kals, do you use The Book Depository? It is free shipping worldwide. I highly recommend A Single Man and shall be reviewing it at some point although was preferably waiting until I had seen the film.
Thanks for the award!
Annabel (gaskella)
February 23rd, 2010 @ 11:44 am

I saw The Reader recently and really enjoyed it. It is unusual for me to see the film first – and in this case, I don’t feel much need to read the book.

I can really recommend the film of Fantastic Mr Fox though! The stop-motion was lovely, George Clooney was fab, and my daughter adored this film over all the other ones we’ve seen recently.
Paperback Reader
February 23rd, 2010 @ 12:10 pm

Annabel, I must see the film; the book left an impression on me and I had been wanting to read it for so long.

I will definitely be watching Fantastic Mr Fox soon! My boyfriend and I had intended to see it at the cinema but didn’t manage to.
Simon T
February 23rd, 2010 @ 4:50 pm

My favourites are also my two favourite films – The Hours and I Capture the Castle. Neither as good as their respective books, but both still brilliant.
Paperback Reader
February 23rd, 2010 @ 6:13 pm

Simon, two great adaptations and I love both books! I have been meaning to re-watch The Hours after recent blog discussion; I haven’t seen it since its release in 2003 and yet it still resonates. I was concerned about I Capture the Castle because it is one of my favourite books but it is a lovely film and Bill Nighy and Tara Fitzgerald are perfectly cast as James and Topaz Mortmain (as well, of course, as Romola Garai as Cassandra).
Mark David
February 25th, 2010 @ 7:48 am

I’m very curious about the movies The Last Station and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, even though I haven’t read both books.

One adaptation that I enjoyed almost as much as the book is Atonement. Have you read that novel by Ian McEwan? It’s my favorite

By the way, do you know that Murakami’s Norwegian Wood is being made into a movie? I’ve read it online quite some time ago. I’m also anticipating the adaptation of Waiting by Ha Jin. I hear Zhang Ziyi will be starring in the movie
Paperback Reader
February 25th, 2010 @ 8:59 am

Mark David I’ll probably watch both of those without having read the books; the books don’t interest me much but, at least with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, I’d like to see what all the fuss is about.
I have read Atonement but not seen the film; I enjoyed some parts of the book more than others but didn’t love it. I’ll see the adaptation at some point now they hype has died down!
I did NOT know about Norwegian Wood – thank you!
I must finally read the book.
I like Zhang Ziyi too.