There are movies and TV series remakes, but it cannot replicate the same gratifying experience of reading a novel.
Novel Reading. Photo from readbreatherelax.com
There are fast-reading gifted people, and there are those who consciously reads fast to keep the upbeat pace of finishing books. I’m neither of them, because I take my time in the feast of a read.
Quality novels are ingenious. It’s one my best chosen creative work of all. It’s meticulous, containing both reason and emotion while nobility uncompromising. I like it more when I invest emotions with the characters, and I appreciate the intricate characters buildup and story conflicts and surprises.
From writer’s hardwork of first drafts, then to editing phase, only to be critiqued and reduced by agents, more by editors, until it was in its prestige for publishing. This game is a damn miraculous progress. I appreciate the hard work and persistence of authors.
I devour Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, Michael Crichton’s Next, Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, even Homer’s The Iliad. But I always go back to my home genre, Young Adult.
J.K. Rowling, thanks for your share of story.
What novels are your favorites?
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Although the movie helps visualize the whole imagery of the movie, the experience of reading novel the novel itself can never replace the experience of watching the movie. And its good there are more young adult books now, to promote reading within a younger generation. It’s all too amazing on how these can induce creativity and thinking to people!
Sometimes too, personal visualization of the book differs from that of the movie (or is it just me? haha). Yeah, it’s good how young adult books can craze up teens, so they get to read more and appreciate literature more. Thanks for visiting Ceelyn!
I honestly don’t know what I like right now. Currently some old philosophy by Will Durant, George Bush’s book, 20,000 leaugues Under the Sea and Eragon.
Oh yeah Eragon. You know I put that book in my ‘next reading’ list; but up to now I haven’t even have a copy 🙂 Thanks for reminding me, whats your rating?
probably a 7, kind of formulaic.
Alright. I get bored with formulaic.. Maybe when I ran out of good books to read, thanks!
i read to enjoy, but sometimes i read so quickly because the book is so good, that before i know it several pages have been turned
We all have that experience, don’t we? Time is also another thing; I check the time and it’s 3 in the morning. I thought to myself, “at some point you’d have to sleep, you know”. What’s the latest ‘good’ book you’ve read?
My age and upbringing give me away. For wonderful storytelling, Charles Dickens. For acute observation of the society she lived in, Jane Austin. For making time do what she wanted it to do, Patricia McKillip. For prodigiously detailed writing and story tension, Robin Hobbs. For delightful books about the Celts in outer space, Patricia Kennealy Morrison and the chance to go anywhere in the galaxy, Dan Simmons. Lastly to join the first permanent colonists to the planet Mars, and appreciated what that could mean, Kim Stanley Robinson. There are thousands more, but these books help me move out and experience other times and places, and observe the people living those lives. Read on, best thing you can do. Kristin
Hi Kristin 🙂 How many books have you read? I have a feeling it’ll be a library, which is cool! I’m checking Robin Hobbs right now, I just love story tension very much. Any recommendation?
I just finished a powerful YA novel, Sold, by Patricia McCormick (author of CUT), about the current sex-slave industry.
Is it nonfiction? I haven’t read anything of sorts, would that be good for starters? 🙂
Actually a novel based on true events. From her website: Told in a series of haunting vignettes, Sold is a harrowing account of a sexual slavery. Alternating lyrical imagery with precise detail, McCormick gives voice to the terror and bewilderment of a young girl robbed of her childhood but who finds the strength to triumph.
I think it’s very difficult to make a move that follows a book completely – because in a book you read the minds and the thoughts, but I still think a film can be good even if it’s not exactly to the book. Must say that the 3 Swedish films made from Stieg Larsson’s trilogy – was very close to the books. Hollywood always want to make the film and the screenplay more glamours then the books too. There isn’t much that can beat a good read.
TRUE! And I still watch films that are based on books. Actually, I prefer films based on books because then I know there’s a good story, not just pure “Hollywood”. Sometimes movies are all about money and box office
So do I … so long as Hollywood not put too much Hollywood into it. Of course it’s – all about money …
Thank you for this blog, one person whose books i have read and have liked everyone of them is Douglas Kennedy. recently one of his novels Woman in the fifth – has been made into a film and although i am excited I am also worried to watch it as I have never ever found a film as good as the book e.g one day i recently read, cant bring myself to watch the film..
Mo Hayder I really like as her writing is fantastic and always draws me in – although i have to work myself up to it because she scares the hell out of me!
nothing better on a rainy day, well any day really, than losing yourself in a good book. I too am like you in that i do not want to speed read something that has taken so much time and thought to put together, also I find I miss vital bits as my brain is digesting slower than my eyes!
I’ll have to check out Mo Hayder! I’m into scary stuff, weird haha. Is it paranormal scary or scary because it’s reality kind of thing?
Yeah, I care about the vital bits. I think we have very similar reading habits 😀
Hi, i think we do 🙂
Mo Hayder is a kind of reality scary, its mostly centred around a crime, quite good to start from the first book as it follows the main detective Jack, but not essential, more in need of a strong stomach its not jumpy – although i have also picked up the true story of the South Shields poltegeist! bracing myslef for that one also – i think that will be a bit jumpy,,,, I wonder what Im doing to myself really???
anyhow I like Mo Hayder as has a really good plot
if you do read any would be good to hear your thoughts…
For sure! Will get back to you 😀
I can’t bring myself to watch One Day either. no. 1 i have the characters in mind already and i don’t want to feel like Hollywood is choosing for me; 2. i heard hathoway’s accent sometimes borders an irish. eek!
exactly – couldnt agree more,,, thats the problem with films, they can be good if you havent read the book, if you have then you have a picture of what the character looks like and then hollywood go and blow that out the water, irish oh dear 😦 in the book she is a northern lass so why not have an english girl take the part?
if i ever weaken i will let you know how i get on
Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief is one of my favourites, and my very well be my favourite favourite. He really is brilliant at metaphor, and every re-read reveals something different…
This post expanded my reading list – which is good because I’d be reading bigtime. If that’s your favorite, it’s worth checking out. Thanks for sharing!
I couldn’t agree more a well written book can sweep one to the most interesting of places, bring one into a great state of suspence.
Thanks Theodora 🙂 Reading is like experiencing, isn’t it? We experience the created or real world by the author, and the stories in it.
Yes! A well-written book. Some of my favorites are “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy, “East of Eden” by Steinbeck, “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin, and “Always Coming Home” by Ursula LeGuin
Thanks for sharing again 😀 Sadly, don’t know any of those but I just started reading like 5 years ago. I know, what a late start but I’m catching up. Let me continue with your favorites!
There are only a few movies that I think are as good as the books from which they came. I like the Jason Bourne movies and definitely think they have the same feel as the Ludlum books. Although our whole family had to agree not to be TOO picky when seeing Lord of the Rings (my husband is a huge LOTR aficionado) and there were plenty of things that “weren’t like the book”, we all agreed that the spirit of the movies was the same as that of the book (although what was done to Faramir was egregious!!)
One movie I liked even better than the book(s) was “The Scarlet Pimpernel” (1982 version) with Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen. We love that movie!
My s-i-l recently told me about a cable channel that shows European versions of various mysteries. I don’t plan to watch. I prefer to let Commissario Guido Brunetti and others like him remain alive in my mind in the way I imagine, not the way someone else does.
I was very much impressed by the LOTR Movie series! A lot may agree with me with this – if you haven’t read the books, you’ll be amazed by the movie; but if you read the book then watched the movie, there’ll be a lot of expectations and sorts.
I read slowly! I do it on purpose. If I come to a passage that is so well written or conveys so much I slow down on purpose. I want to take it in. Sometimes it is so good, I have to go back to the start of the passage and read it slowly – slower – again! Your blog is very fresh, very cute btw! Enjoy everything! 🙂
Ooh, thanks! Very kind words 🙂 I sometimes re-read passages too! Especially when I can relate or it holds the truth. Reading is not race right? We read at best comfortable pace for us
Unfortunately – at least in comparison to what others here read – I’m more into us fighting the bad guys; Navy SEALS vs. the terrorists. Although Vince Flynn, David Baldacci and Lee Child books are great. Since I started actually keeping track a few years ago, I’m up to 260 books read.
Hey Mr. Miller, why say unfortunately? You rock!!
Most people tend to frown upon military books; especially today when so many are split (or at the very least have strong opinions) on the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and on terrorism in general. Personally, I’m in awe – at times – of our military and special forces.
I’m one of those super fast readers. In fact, I was just thinking about that the other day in relation to how long my blogs are. To me, they’re pretty short, but I am guessing to the average reader, I should do a little more editing! I’m always bummed when I am intrigued by a book because I read so fast, I find myself wanting more when there’s nothing left. I’ve tried to slow myself down, but when I get in a good book, I am just stuck there!
I’m so curious, how can you possibly fast read? Haha. I mean, I suppose you kinda miss some minor details of the story, maybe not?
About blogs, I’ve read from someone that the best number of words that’ll keep the attention of readers in a weblog is about 250-500 words. Reaction? 🙂
I think mine are way over that! I am happy to read blogs that are closer to 700-1,000 words, but I can’t lie, when they are 2,000 words, I give up! LOL I don’t think I miss details, I just get so engrossed in the stories I can’t put them down….
I love young adult lit, historical fiction, creative non fiction, and mystery. Philip Pullman in the young adult lit space is my favourite author.
Young adult right? Is he the man behind the golden compass? That’s a superb job (based on the movie adaptation :))
Young adult it is. 🙂 Oh, please read the books. The movie was good but the books are better.
On my reading list now 😀 Actually, I’m searching for a young adult novelist; because I’ve read most of the famous ones today haha, running out of books to read so this post saved me. Thanks a bunch!
What do you have to say about the Hunger Games trilogy? Or is that a post by itself? You are most welcome! 🙂
I’m among the very first fan of Hunger Games. I did suffered that waiting period between the 2nd and 3rd book haha. The story world is the source of ingenuity, great creation! How about you? I hope you liked it 😉
I admit I heard about the Hunger Games much much earlier but read it only after watching the movie. I love it. Both the movie and the book. However, I prefer #1 to #2 and #3.
Yeah, both the book and movie are nice. For me though, Mockingjay is my #1. I don’t know, maybe the action scenes, maybe the lovelife struggle haha 😀
Mockingjay is the grand finale. It has everything in it. I can see why you like it.
I love reading books and i mean.. Every book it pop up in front of me. from classics to modern literature from S.King books to Young Adults and.. I mean everything. I dont have any problem books becoming movies or turning into TV Shows ( psittt True Blood) The only major problem i have is when books are written to become movies or Tv Shows or whatever.. You know what i mean?
I’m not there yet, I turn down books sometimes if I’m not into the story.. It’s great that you read a variety!
Oh are you talking about star wars books and the like?
Feast of a read – well put! Toni
You’re awesome Toni! Thanks 😀
I read anything I can get my hands on, :).
Even advance physics textbook? HAHA. That’s great
Now I got an idea, thank you! No, I’m not going to tell you… 🙂
I’m afraid I’m one of those fast readers that you mention, but I really can’t help it. Although when the book is really good I try to slow myself down to really enjoy it.
Some of my favorites are White Oleander and Love in the Time of Cholera. I also love Game of Thrones for fantasy. I read The House at Riverton and thought it was a good mystery novel. There are so many! 🙂
Yeah there are soo many. How can we stop reading? Haha
I’m NOT the only adult out there who prefers YA? YAY! James Patterson’s “Witch & Wizard” is a great trilogy. I also LOVE all of Kelley Armstrong’s books (though most aren’t YA) . The Percy Jackson series is also a must read for YA readers (by Rick Riordan). For more of my suggestions since thinking is difficult for me today, check out my recommended reading list!
WOHOOO! I love Rick Riordan and all his series. I’ve read James Patterson’s Maximum Ride, well it was just okay 😉
But Witch & Wizard is a YA series…my nine year old is reading it now. It’s a fun yet political read! Different than any other of his works that I have read
“The Mists of Avalon” by Marrion Zimmer Bradley is my all time favorite–a fantasy full of culture. I always go back to that one.
My favourite novels are ” The kite runner” and “thousand splendid suns” by Khaled Husseni. I also like “The street lawyer” by John Grisham. And yes its true that watching movie is not as good experience as reading a novel. I somehow believe that movies ruin the actual beauty of novels.