This one isn't a moan; it's more of an explanation.
Here's the thing: I'm a reader.
More than that: I'm an annoying reader.
This often means I'm (voluntarily) left behind whilst others rave about the latest great thing they've watched. I have a 'must watch after I've read' list overflowing with classics that I'm still to see.
[Examples of stuff I'm yet to see because I haven't got round to reading the book yet: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Outlander, Gone Girl, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Fight Club, The 100, Life of Pi, The Shining, Fear and Loathing.... Don't bother telling me how I've missed out on some of the greatest cinematic moments of all time; I am well aware.]
Okay so I realise how pretentious I sound but you have to believe me when I say that I don't do this to, as most people assume, brag to others ("yeah, it's okay but it's not as good as the book"). It's not a case of me wanting to be able to patronise others about how much better the book was. It's simply my personal preference.
 |
| Basically my friend. |
Re-reading a book is one of my greatest pleasures, akin to putting on your favourite film. You know exactly what's going to happen, but that's half the joy. You see things you've never noticed before; you get new perspectives of characters; you can laugh and cry at the same parts all over again.
My friend simply cannot do this and, though it confuses the living shit out of me, it's her choice.
Mine (as well as reading books over and over again) is to always read the book before watching the adaptation.
You see, I am not a particularly creative person; I can't make something new without some form of stimulus or inspiration (hence no fiction writing, just moaning about something someone else has created).
But, when I read, I transform. My imagination comes to life. The images in my head that are conjured up from a few well placed metaphors are inexplicable. It's such a personal experience, reading a book. My interpretation of a character or a setting or a relationship may be completely different to yours. And that's okay.
This all changes if I watch an adaptation before reading the book. My lack of creativity and imagination without stimulus means that the images I see are forever tied to that person or place...
e.g. Once I see this version of Harry,
I won't be able to create my own idea of this person. ^This one will always be there.
I'm aware this is not a big deal (I think for most people, whether they'd read the book first or not, Daniel Radcliffe IS Harry Potter) but I just don't want to do this to myself. I want to have my own vision. I want to keep this one creative thing my mind is capable of.
In my mind, watching the adaptation before reading the source material is like reading fan fiction having never read what it's based on. The person(s) making the film or TV show is(are) simply creating their version, their interpretation.
My Sherlock Holmes is neither Robert Downey Jr. nor Benedict Cumberbatch. That's okay, though. When I watch either version, I can see what both actors bring to the role. I can understand the choices the writers made with the dialogue. I get why the director made the creative choices they did.
I've accepted that no one will ever be able to perfectly emulate the weird and wonderful version of the story that I have in my head. I don't want them to try.
I just like to build that image before I see someone else's ideas.
I will then, 99.9% of the time, think that the book is better.
I will share this opinion with you, should you ask. If you don't, I won't.
Because you should know that it's better, anyway. Duh.
So why am I bothering to tell you all of this?
This hasn't felt very moany at all.
Well, my next project is about an adaptation.
A dead famous one.
And I'm not best pleased with it.
Whenever I rant about it to others irl, their standard argument is that I'm just annoyed that the adaptation isn't like the book and I wanted to make it clear that that is not why I'm moaning about it.
Trust me. I have plenty of other points to make.
Another post is on its way this weekend.
*self five for staying on track with the blog posts*
Mine (as well as reading books over and over again) is to always read the book before watching the adaptation.
You see, I am not a particularly creative person; I can't make something new without some form of stimulus or inspiration (hence no fiction writing, just moaning about something someone else has created).
But, when I read, I transform. My imagination comes to life. The images in my head that are conjured up from a few well placed metaphors are inexplicable. It's such a personal experience, reading a book. My interpretation of a character or a setting or a relationship may be completely different to yours. And that's okay.
This all changes if I watch an adaptation before reading the book. My lack of creativity and imagination without stimulus means that the images I see are forever tied to that person or place...
e.g. Once I see this version of Harry,
he is all I see when reading the book.
I'm aware this is not a big deal (I think for most people, whether they'd read the book first or not, Daniel Radcliffe IS Harry Potter) but I just don't want to do this to myself. I want to have my own vision. I want to keep this one creative thing my mind is capable of.
 |
| Legit me when I try to be creative without help. |
My Sherlock Holmes is neither Robert Downey Jr. nor Benedict Cumberbatch. That's okay, though. When I watch either version, I can see what both actors bring to the role. I can understand the choices the writers made with the dialogue. I get why the director made the creative choices they did.
I've accepted that no one will ever be able to perfectly emulate the weird and wonderful version of the story that I have in my head. I don't want them to try.
I just like to build that image before I see someone else's ideas.
I will then, 99.9% of the time, think that the book is better.
I will share this opinion with you, should you ask. If you don't, I won't.
Because you should know that it's better, anyway. Duh.
So why am I bothering to tell you all of this?
This hasn't felt very moany at all.
Well, my next project is about an adaptation.
A dead famous one.
And I'm not best pleased with it.
Whenever I rant about it to others irl, their standard argument is that I'm just annoyed that the adaptation isn't like the book and I wanted to make it clear that that is not why I'm moaning about it.
Trust me. I have plenty of other points to make.
Another post is on its way this weekend.
*self five for staying on track with the blog posts*
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