Great topic. And thanks, Ann, for being honest about the Percy Jackson movie. I’ve tried myself to watch movies that were made based on books, and I also always make it a point to read the book before watching the movie. But now I’m a little scared, I have to admit. The books that are made into movies are typically very good, and there’s always that extra level of connection that as readers, we have with the characters, that’s just a little more difficult to have on the big screen. But it’s always good to know that the movies are drawing people to reading the books. =)

Great topic. And thanks, Ann, for being honest about the Percy Jackson movie. I’ve tried myself to watch movies that were made based on books, and I also always make it a point to read the book before watching the movie. But now I’m a little scared, I have to admit. The books that are made into movies are typically very good, and there’s always that extra level of connection that as readers, we have with the characters, that’s just a little more difficult to have on the big screen. But it’s always good to know that the movies are drawing people to reading the books. =)

Interestingly, I’ve come away from a similar discussion about books vs movies on another group as it relates to Storm Front (by Jim Butcher; narrated by James Marsters) and the one and only season of The Dresden Files (starring Paul Blackthorne,) which was based on the aforementioned novel. Even though Harry Dresden (the protag of Storm Front) is dark-haired, I persist in imagining him as Spike, the bleach-blond vampire (played by James Marsters) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and; Bob has an older English personae as wonderfully played by Terrence Mann in the TV series even though, in the book, he is nothing more than a wisp (and with no discernible accent!) Have I been polluted by the visual medium? Perhaps, but I like to think of my imagination, the ultimate collater of all the information taken in, as having been enriched.

I’m one of those people who actually enjoys seeing movies based on books. Sometimes it’s akin to having another voice in on a discussion of the book (e.g. the adaptations of Pride and Prejudice (by Jane Austen) for the big screen.) Other times a film can provide some additional information that, no matter how good a book is, is made clear as a visual (e.g. a green armlet from The Mysterious Case at Styles (by Agatha Christie) or how a ship works in Master and Commander (by Patrick O’Brian.)) There’s even a movie which I consider far superior to the book: Blade Runner (directed by Scott Ridley; starring Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer,) based on the book, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (by Philip K. Dick!) Books and films each have their unique strengths and limitations.

Interestingly, I’ve come away from a similar discussion about books vs movies on another group as it relates to Storm Front (by Jim Butcher; narrated by James Marsters) and the one and only season of The Dresden Files (starring Paul Blackthorne,) which was based on the aforementioned novel. Even though Harry Dresden (the protag of Storm Front) is dark-haired, I persist in imagining him as Spike, the bleach-blond vampire (played by James Marsters) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and; Bob has an older English personae as wonderfully played by Terrence Mann in the TV series even though, in the book, he is nothing more than a wisp (and with no discernible accent!) Have I been polluted by the visual medium? Perhaps, but I like to think of my imagination, the ultimate collater of all the information taken in, as having been enriched.

I’m one of those people who actually enjoys seeing movies based on books. Sometimes it’s akin to having another voice in on a discussion of the book (e.g. the adaptations of Pride and Prejudice (by Jane Austen) for the big screen.) Other times a film can provide some additional information that, no matter how good a book is, is made clear as a visual (e.g. a green armlet from The Mysterious Case at Styles (by Agatha Christie) or how a ship works in Master and Commander (by Patrick O’Brian.)) There’s even a movie which I consider far superior to the book: Blade Runner (directed by Scott Ridley; starring Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer,) based on the book, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (by Philip K. Dick!) Books and films each have their unique strengths and limitations.

Ann and Michael,
Since I’ve begun reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Atlantic Union, I’ve been mesmerized by both. That hasn’t happened to me in a long time. Therefore, I’m afraid to take any more of your recommendations for fear that no one in my life will see or hear from me because I’ll be reading, reading, reading.

Thank you, I think.

Ann and Michael,
Since I’ve begun reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Atlantic Union, I’ve been mesmerized by both. That hasn’t happened to me in a long time. Therefore, I’m afraid to take any more of your recommendations for fear that no one in my life will see or hear from me because I’ll be reading, reading, reading.

Thank you, I think.

Tee hee, then I guess we’ve done our job well!
I can think of worse things than to be reading, reading, reading. Let your friends and family catch you between turns of the page, communicate by leaving post it notes in place of your bookmark, or ambush you in the shower (possibly one of the only places not conducive to reading).

Thanks!

Tee hee, then I guess we’ve done our job well!
I can think of worse things than to be reading, reading, reading. Let your friends and family catch you between turns of the page, communicate by leaving post it notes in place of your bookmark, or ambush you in the shower (possibly one of the only places not conducive to reading).

Thanks!

There’s certainly room for both, and I think it’s a great exercise to see how books differ from movies. Obviously the need to cut a book to make a reasonable-length movie drives much of the adaptation, and sometimes that makes the storyline tighter and more effective.

There’s certainly room for both, and I think it’s a great exercise to see how books differ from movies. Obviously the need to cut a book to make a reasonable-length movie drives much of the adaptation, and sometimes that makes the storyline tighter and more effective.

My friend’s son loved the Percy Jackson movie and wanted to read the books, but insisted on reading book #2 in the series because he’d already seen the movie of #1. And then he was confused, because he didn’t quite “get” everything that was happening and who some of the characters were. I wonder if this is going to be a common experience.

My friend’s son loved the Percy Jackson movie and wanted to read the books, but insisted on reading book #2 in the series because he’d already seen the movie of #1. And then he was confused, because he didn’t quite “get” everything that was happening and who some of the characters were. I wonder if this is going to be a common experience.

My family and I are big fans of the Percy Jackson series, having listened to several of the books on audio during family road trips. My two sons were very excited to hear about the movie. My younger son’s 6th grade Social Studies class is going to see the movie tomorrow, as they’ve been studying Ancient cultures, including Greek Gods.

My older son, 15, an avid reader, insisted on re-reading the books before he saw the movie. He was sick last week and read the first 3 books over again! Now he wants to read the last two AND see the movie. I just posted my review of The Lightning Thief at my blog.

We generally enjoy movies made from favorite books, and there have certainly been plenty of them lately! With the kids, we’ve enjoyed Inkheart (the first of a wonderful trilogy), The Spiderwick Chronicles, and The Seeker: the Dark is Rising. My husband and I have enjoyed The Soloist, The Reader, and The Kite Runner (those last two were very faithful to the books).

Great topic! I enjoyed the podcast – we’re all excited to hear Rick Riordan has a new series coming out, just in time for this summer’s road trip!

Sue

My family and I are big fans of the Percy Jackson series, having listened to several of the books on audio during family road trips. My two sons were very excited to hear about the movie. My younger son’s 6th grade Social Studies class is going to see the movie tomorrow, as they’ve been studying Ancient cultures, including Greek Gods.

My older son, 15, an avid reader, insisted on re-reading the books before he saw the movie. He was sick last week and read the first 3 books over again! Now he wants to read the last two AND see the movie. I just posted my review of The Lightning Thief at my blog.

We generally enjoy movies made from favorite books, and there have certainly been plenty of them lately! With the kids, we’ve enjoyed Inkheart (the first of a wonderful trilogy), The Spiderwick Chronicles, and The Seeker: the Dark is Rising. My husband and I have enjoyed The Soloist, The Reader, and The Kite Runner (those last two were very faithful to the books).

Great topic! I enjoyed the podcast – we’re all excited to hear Rick Riordan has a new series coming out, just in time for this summer’s road trip!

Sue

Hi Ann & Michael,

I really love your podcast so much, I’ve written a review of it here: http://desertbookchick.com/?p=328

You’ll note that I’ve quoted a post where you give all the different ways in which people can join in the BOTNS community. I hope this is ok!

Anyway, thanks so much for your hard work and I hope you know that you’ve given me something to look forward to every Monday morning!

Amanda

Hi Ann & Michael,

I really love your podcast so much, I’ve written a review of it here: http://desertbookchick.com/?p=328

You’ll note that I’ve quoted a post where you give all the different ways in which people can join in the BOTNS community. I hope this is ok!

Anyway, thanks so much for your hard work and I hope you know that you’ve given me something to look forward to every Monday morning!

Amanda

Hi Ann & Michael,
I love your blog and podcast! I am a really big Percy Jackson fan, I wrote about it on my blog. Please visit my blog and comment!

Hi Ann & Michael,
I love your blog and podcast! I am a really big Percy Jackson fan, I wrote about it on my blog. Please visit my blog and comment!

As somebody who has seen quite a few movies based on books (haven’t read all of them), I come away with the fact that they are adaptations of the book and will take certain elements over others, despite what some people will say of the movie. This particularly happens with the Harry Potter crowd, who love to talk about what wasn’t included in a movie, especially Order of the Phoenix, which left out a lot of what was in the book, which was crucial to the final book in the series. Its also interesting to see what various adaptations will do versus others and what they do and don’t include in the movie/mini-series.

While the movie doesn’t need to interpret the book exactly, the movie does have to have the elements of the story in the adaptation. I know fans of the books maybe rebuffed by this, but the fact is that unless you have a 5 or 6 hour time frame for the movie, you aren’t going to get most of the book in the movie, no matter what fans of the book may say and you aren’t going to please everybody with the interpretation of the novel.

As somebody who has seen quite a few movies based on books (haven’t read all of them), I come away with the fact that they are adaptations of the book and will take certain elements over others, despite what some people will say of the movie. This particularly happens with the Harry Potter crowd, who love to talk about what wasn’t included in a movie, especially Order of the Phoenix, which left out a lot of what was in the book, which was crucial to the final book in the series. Its also interesting to see what various adaptations will do versus others and what they do and don’t include in the movie/mini-series.

While the movie doesn’t need to interpret the book exactly, the movie does have to have the elements of the story in the adaptation. I know fans of the books maybe rebuffed by this, but the fact is that unless you have a 5 or 6 hour time frame for the movie, you aren’t going to get most of the book in the movie, no matter what fans of the book may say and you aren’t going to please everybody with the interpretation of the novel.