Jodi Picoult Books Reading Group. discussion

Ok....so did you watch the movie? What did you think?

My thoughts! The movie wasn't bad but of course it doesn't hold a candle to the book. I didn't think they portrayed the feelings of the family very well. Trixie didn't display the distress and depression that I perceived in the book. Of course they barely touched on the problems caused in the family by Laura's infidelity.

And no one went to Alaska!!! I understand it must be next to impossible to squeeze all of that into a 2 hour movie...but that was such a big part of the book, Trixie running away from it all.

What did you think?

Hi Dara,

I am new to this group.

I had to join after watching The Tenth Circle. I have to agree with you. Of course the movie is never as good as the book in any case. I do think that they did a good job for the most part, but they did leave out so much of the story line. With Trixie cutting herself in the shower and cutting her hair. I was also really looking forward to her journey to Alaska and was let down there. There was only a half hour left to go and I knew that they wouldn't be able to fit that in. They hardly mentioned Alaska at all.

I also thought that they would show more of Daniel's comic book...

I guess I was a little disappointed but I thought it was good for the two hours they had to work with.

Both my husband and I were disappointed with the movie. I read the book a while back and my husband listened to the unabridged version on CD a few months ago. We didn't feel it did justice to any of the themes in the book. It was very surface level (make a point, move on, make a point, move on). However, I understand that is how many movies tend to be and why I usually don't watch movies based on books that I have read but this was a Jodi book, so I couldn't resist! We had plans that we actually cancelled so that we could watch the movie. Guess we shouldn't have..........

I agree with all of you. I just recently finished reading the book, so all the details were still in my head, so I was disappointed with how much was left out, especially Alaska.
I know I shouldnt compare the movie to the book, but like I said...I JUST finished the book, so it was hard not to pick out all the differences.
I also expected Daniel to be "gruffier".
Laura was just what I pictured.
Trixie and Jason's characters in the movie were fine, but I had Jason pictured more muscular.
Overall, I agree with Jaime...it was very surface level.

I am going to watch it again tonight though...I missed the first 10 minutes, and my son kept waking up crying, so I had some interuptions..lol

Surface level...that is a good description of the movie! But what makes Jodi's books so good is her human relationships and they just barely touched on anything, I thought. Like I said in my earlier post, they made very very little of Laura's affair and the impact that had on the family dynamic. And I just didn't think they portrayed the emotion of Trixie as I perceived it in the book. Naturally anyone going thru such a trama would be withdrawn and depressed as Trixie was portrayed in the book. For the most part, in the movie, Trixie didn't display those intense emotions. Also, the whole running away to Alaska thing was, in my opinion, a big part of finding themselves as a family again.

I dont know why I get so into watching some of these movies when I know that movies are always such a disappointment after reading the book.

Surface level...that is a good description of the movie! But what makes Jodi's books so good is her human relationships and they just barely touched on anything, I thought. Like I said in my earlier post, they made very very little of Laura's affair and the impact that had on the family dynamic. And I just didn't think they portrayed the emotion of Trixie as I perceived it in the book. Naturally anyone going thru such a trama would be withdrawn and depressed as Trixie was portrayed in the book. For the most part, in the movie, Trixie didn't display those intense emotions. Also, the whole running away to Alaska thing was, in my opinion, a big part of finding themselves as a family again.

I dont know why I get so into watching some of these movies when I know that movies are always such a disappointment after reading the book.

okey everyone has said what i came here to say so i only will say this ones what the @!#$%^&* happen with that movie the book was so good and the movie ... well you now what i saw today plain truth the movie and it was way better and they left a lot out but still not as much as the tenth circle i think this youst didn't make justice we will see what happen with my sisters keeper if they destroy that one i will be so mad i think i will burn my tv

I'm not sure what to say - disappointed? Yes. Indeed I was - so so sooooooooo much was left out. Even the actor who played Daniel (Ron Eldard) was not at all what he usually is - I'm very familiar with this man's work and this was not even close to the actor I know, that's for sure.

*sigh* My Sister's Keeper?

I always tend to be disappointed in movie adaptations of books. I agree with everyone else who said the movie didn't begin to delve into the feelings of the family, especially Trixie's feelings and what destroyed the family. There was so much left out. So, I did feel let down.

I totally agree-so much was missing and so many things were just kind of mentioned in passing. Not that I'm surprised since I haven't been a fan of the other Lifetime adapatations but it's still a bummer. Did anyone catch the little clip of Jodi at the end? Funny how ordinary she looked when she's always so glammed up on the back of her books. Kind of nice to see but kind of surprising too.

I taped it as I was away from home. You all are making me question whether I want to bother even watching it!!

No, Kathy, watch it - I'd love to hear what you thought of it!

Ok, fine.. you want to chop the book up and leave parts out .. I can deal with that a little. But I refuse to deal with the fact that I didn't FEEL for any of the characters like I did in the book. I expected Trixie to be more distraught..even to show Jason being more upset. They barely showed him at all. I don't know, it was entertaining, but I was too busy wondering where all the heart from the book dissappeared to!

Amen, amen Stephanie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Barbara.. I see I wasn't alone :)

I might be alone here but I thought the book was as good as the movie and that was just eh so-so. The end of the book left me feeling as though she stopped writing and the forgot to come back. Also, throughout the book the only thing I felt for Trixie or her mother was sheer annoyance.

The movie did not rank much higher for me, although I was happy they didn't delve into the Alaska thing since it was the main part of the book that I did not think was essential to the story; in fact I found it down right weird.

While the book was not one of my favorites, I still liked it a lot more than the movie. The characters were just so much more dimensional in the book. I guess that's normal in book vs. movie though! I think that's one of the reasons I don't want to see My Sister's Keeper though. That was my absolute favorite Picoult novel and I don't want to see it ruined in movie form.

Ooo.. Ok I just skipped over all these comments, so sorry if i'm completley off-topic, but i've just started reading it and don't want to risk any spoilers :)
So far I like it.. Not sure how i feel about Trixie, but i really like Daniel, very sweet character.

i haven't seen the movie, but i saw on imdb and the actoress plaing trixing looks nothing like they dicribe in the book. what happened to the read hair and darker complextion?

I think the only actor that I could really see being in any of those roles was Kelly Preston as the mother... the daughter and father were off to me.

the p[erson who played zephyr looked way too old. zephyr is supposed to be 14.

Never read the book or watched the movie.

Is the book and movie good? Been thinking of reading the book and watching the movie