Monday, November 17, 2008

book to tv (or movie)

Every writer dreams of selling the tv or movie rights to their book. When I first started writing Bite Me! I imagined HBO picking it up as their first edgy teen vampire show. Too bad fellow Arkansan Charlaine Harris beat me to it.

I happen to be addicted to TRUE BLOOD, the HBO series based on Charlaine's Sookie Stackhouse books. I'm sad because next week is the last episode of the season. And now I'm fighting the urge to read the books.

But not for the reason you think.

I've heard from several people who've read the books, that they don't like the show. I adore the show and I don't want anything to change that. (I will say, I'm tired of Bill the Vampire though and ready for Sookie to hook up with that hot blond vamp, Eric. I've been told to read book 5 for that...so I might just have to go there....)

As a writer, my desire not to read the books disappoints me. I would want people who watch and love Bite Me! to run out and buy my books. (I mean, DUH!) so why am I so resistant to purchase/read Harris's books?

I dunno. Because I love to be surprised, I guess. It's very rare that I love a movie/tv show more than the book. And if I read the books, I'll probably stop watching the show. And I don't want to do that.

What about you guys? Can y'all enjoy a movie/tv series after you've read and loved the book? Or are you so die hard about the books that you can't enjoy the show with all the 'creative licenses' the directors take?

And do you think I should suck it up and read the books? Or just sit back and enjoy the show?

12 comments:

  1. I say kick back and enjoy the show. Why wreck a good thing? There will be time enough to read the books when the show is cancelled.

    People complain about Bones too, but I've read all the Kathy Reichs books and I'm fine with it. She explains the differences by saying the tv shows are stories prior to the books.

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  2. Anonymous11:32 AM

    I love both the books and the show, but it helps that I read Dead Until Dark, which this 1st season of True Blood is based on, a few years ago. I recognize that changes were made, and I'm OK with most of them, but I'm blessed in that I read Dead Until Dark long enough ago that I forgot some of the details (like who the killer was). Once this season is over, read that first book and then see if you want to continue reading them.

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  3. Anonymous12:06 PM

    It depends. I've loved some adaptations and hated others. So I say go ahead and enjoy the series, then read the books when it's over, like Barbara said.

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  4. Suck it up and read the books. You'll really enjoy them.

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  5. I have avoided reading the books because of the Elvis thing but now I'm removing Elvis from my trilogy I may go get them. I DID skim the first one ages ago and put it back.

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  6. Honestly, I almost always watch the tv/movie version of something first, if I have any choice about it. Just because the book is nearly always better, and I figure why not give myself the best shot at enjoying both to the hilt? I can't say that I've watched a lot of tv that was made from a book series, though. I know Sex & the City was, but it was made from basically a single book and therefore went into original territory so fast, it hardly counts. What other shows fit the bill?

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  7. Anonymous3:07 PM

    Usually the book is so much better than the movie, so if I read the book first and love it, then I'm always disappointed in the movie. But I read (really skimmed) Dead Until Dark after I started watching the series, and I enjoyed it. I think it enhanced the series, not took away from it.

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  8. Anonymous3:30 PM

    I can't wait, but am a little leery about "Confessions of a Shopaholic" coming out in February. I rabidly love the books (minus "Shopaholic and Sister"); Becky really stepped off the page to me.

    I did see a preview (unfortunately playing silently on a small TV screen by the popcorn counter at a movie theater) the last time I went out to see a movie, and was relieved to see Isla Fisher acting all Becky Bloomwood-ish, but also saw in the coming soon credits that the screenplay was a combo of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan." So I'm curious as to how they managed to blend the books together.

    It also doesn't help that I get the jokes about the movie having a Jerry Bruckheimer connection. :D "What? Is Nicholas Cage and going to drop in and rescue Becky from Alcatraz?"

    That said though... I finally watched P.S. I Love You a few months ago. (Read the book first a couple years ago). Absolutely loved the movie; it really did the book justice! :)

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  9. I agree with what others have said--enjoy the series. Then read the books. My manpanion just bought me one of the books in the series the other day...I'm just getting started in it!

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  10. Anonymous6:41 PM

    Yeah, Stephanie, "Shopaholic and Sister" sucked.

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  11. I didn't care for the book. Same with "Sex and the City" and ugh "The Princess Bride". Loved the show and the movie--hated the boosks.

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  12. I already have my tickets to see TWILIGHT on Friday night! Can't wait!!! = )

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