Which Comes First - the Movie or the Book?

Recently, I finished reading the book The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham. I consciously chose to read the book before seeing the movie so that while reading, I would be able to create my own mind’s images, uninfluenced by Hollywood.

Usually I find that I prefer a book to its movie adaptation. At times after reading a book, I have prepared to watch, with great anticipation, its movie version, only to be disappointed because the focus had been changed, details left out, or literary characters had been “beautified” by Hollywood for the screen, as was Nobu Toshikazu in Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha. That said, I have enjoyed well done movie adaptations of books and additionally I have been inspired to read books because I have seen a movie, as was the case with Schindler’s List.

What are your thoughts? What books were you inspired to read, or conversely, decided not to read, after seeing its movie counterpart? Are there any books you would like to see made into a movie?

Be sure to come into the library and visit our display of books (all of which can be checked out) that have been made into movies.