Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Has anyone found it to be a good idea to read the book after already viewing a movie adaptation of it?

I am thinking about listening to the audio of Olive Kitteridge after watching the HBO miniseries of the same name and being very impressed with the story and characters.
I am hoping that reading the book after seeing the film isn't going to be difficult. Has anyone else read or watched it?

I haven't read the book or seen the miniseries, although I would like to do both.

I have done both -- book before movie and movie before book -- and I'm not sure I have a preference. As you know, the Northeast branch of the M/T Reading Friends group has seen plenty of movies of books we've read... Gone Girl, Jack Reacher (based on One Shot), The Drop, The Hunger Games .... to name a few recent ones. They were fun, we could pick apart the differences and complain or rave about the casting. Doing the reverse -- seeing the movie first -- doesn't bother me as much as I thought it might (the spoiler aspect), as the movies usually cut out so many side stories to fit the content into two hours that it's like reading a new book, except I know the punchline already, which surprisingly doesn't bother me.

But, now that I'm thinking it through, I probably do have a slight preference for reading the book first. But, I wouldn't let having seen the movie stop you from reading Olive Kitteridge. It will be interesting to see if you have Frances McDormand in your head as the main character as you read.

I am one who prefers to read the book first. I recall while reading The Book Thief that it suddenly appeared on Xfinity for rent. I waffled a bit but then thought I should stick to the book. Once done I did go back and see the film and realized that the book was so much better, however, it helped to explain some of the things that the movie script either left out or didn't expand on. Like Carol has said, it is also a fun trip to critique the screenplay, and judge whether the casting was way off or spot on. It would depend on the genre for me, I think. If there is a huge twist that would completely spoil a book for me if I saw it in a movie, the book wins as a first go to hands down.

Happy New Year, Ann! One of my goals this year is to hang around goodreads now that I am back to reading again!

Maria: That is a great goal! I am glad you are able to squeeze in more reading and hope you will find more Goodreads time!

The Book Thief is a good example of the book being (read) best before the movie. I was watching the start of the movie the other night and thought about how much clearer the book was at depicting what happened in the beginning.

Ann wrote: "Has anyone found it to be a good idea to read the book after already viewing a movie adaptation of it?

I am thinking about listening to the audio of Olive Kitteridge after watching ..."

i tend to read the book before seeing a movie. usually the book is better, but not always.

If I thought the book was badly paced or overwritten, the movie will usually cure that problem and will be better than the book. I can think of several better movies. Usually, the book is better. There is a third category of the movie being different, but just as good as the book in its own way. I can think of a number of those.

I have never minded reading a book after seeing a movie, though I usually do it the other way. In either case, it gives a richer experience.
With The Hobbit, I did both, having read the book a couple times in the past, I reread it after the movie, just as I reread Lord of the Rings when that was done.

I am eager to read the book Olive Kitteridge, I'll let you know what I think. thanks for sharing your thoughts about your experiences, I usually try to read the book first, though sometimes that isn't possible (so many movies adapted from books!) or I don't realize it going in.. I am hoping for reading it too to add to the rich experience of watching the Olive Kitteridge miniseries. I was disappointed last night that Frances McDormand didn't win the Golden Globe she was nominated for playing Olive.

Yes, Ann, I was surprised that Frances McDormand lost to a relative newcomer. I've never seen The Affair.

I'm on the read the book before the movie bench. If I do the reverse then it will like flaut in our stars the book sits there not getting read but I really want to read it. My idea I already know the story.