Gabriel Thibodeau

theparisreview:

scribnerbooks:

Thoughts? Do you agree?

This also brings up a further question: do you even need to see the film after reading the book?

Stories are stories. People deserve to enjoy them however they please. Is the book often better than the film? Yes, of course. Is your capacity to enjoy the film diminished if you haven’t read the (probably) superior book? No, not at all. In fact, often the opposite proves true (less chance of disappointment, etc. etc.).

Likewise with the reading. Harry Potter isn’t any less enjoyable with Daniel Radcliffe’s mug bouncing around your head. Sooner or later, the story takes over, because it’s more powerful than Dan’s face. (Sorry, Dan’s face.)

It’s a trade-off, really. The film is often the viewer’s gateway to the book; the book is often the reader’s gateway to the film. Watch/Read. Read/Watch. Stories are stories. Tell them, live them, love them, and debate about something more pressing, like how to more quickly spur the next season of Game of Thrones. (No, really. Is anybody working on that?)