CPL's Book a Week Challenge discussion

What makes a good adaptation? Is it a scene by scene interpretation? Is it keeping to the heart of the story? Can a good adaptation change the trappings of the story but still keep the plot?

I used to think a good adaptation was one that was a scene by scene interpretation. Give me the visual version of the book, but do not change anything. I'm a little more open now. I think as long as it retains the heart of the story, a good adaptation can be a bit more loose. For example, parts of the Lord of the Rings movie were changed from the book. Most of these changes though helped the story or added to it and didn't feel inconsistent.

Tell us what you think makes a good adaptation!

I like an adaption to follow the main premise & not make big changes. I’m okay with small changes though.

Ingrid wrote: "I like an adaption to follow the main premise & not make big changes. I’m okay with small changes though."

I can understand that. It's hard watching something where the writer or director has taken large liberties with the material.

I don't care how they adapt it - sometimes what you read - while in black in white - is interpreted differently by whomever is reading it. Personally, I will not read a book if I have watched the movie/television adaptation first. This is because it was only two hours of my time to be disappointed in a movie that does not live up to my expectations from the book - whereas it takes 6+ hours to read a novel sometimes and usually disappointment sets in within the first 4 chapters if I watched the movie adaptation first.

I hope I made sense in that... LOL - I feel like I was rambling :)

Jennifer wrote: "I don't care how they adapt it - sometimes what you read - while in black in white - is interpreted differently by whomever is reading it. Personally, I will not read a book if I have watched the m..."
It made sense, if there is a book adaptation out and I have not read the book, I try to read the book before I see the movie. Very rarely will I read the book after I have seen the movie.