General Chat

My sister and I are keen readers however our partners are not. We think that reading a book allows you to use your own imagination and that a good book is worth taking time over (unless you cant put it down). Where as they cant see the point in wasting so much time when you get the JIST OF IT from a two hour film. Seems there arent many who like a good book nowadays, what do you think are you a BOOK WORM or a FILM JUNKIE

Hi Samantha, I'd count myself as a bookworm but I do love films too. What I don't usually enjoy is seeing a film after I've read the book. I think it's nearly always a let down and the characters are never quite as you imagined them. A couple of exceptions were Misery by Stephen King, but then Kathy Bates is one of my favourite actresses, and The Darling Buds of May series, I thought the tv prog was almost as good as the books. Christine

Films are good for stimulation of the senses but usually are shot full of mistakes and continuity errors, even documentaries. However, books are more carefully edited and produced with essential adustments in later editions and contain all the knowledge in the world, going back centuries. Stick to non-fiction if you need the truth - its more exciting than fiction and can be more mind-boggling. So often do I sit through a film only to think afterwards "Why on earth did I watch that rubbish?" Len

I love stephen king (and other authors too) Misery is one of my favourites,and like yourself i ALMOST always prefer the book to the film, I have just started reading richard bachman books when i can find them there were 5 novels -richard was stephen kings pseudonym. have you read any good books lately?

Hi len I must admit that i have done the very same thing usually late at night (that is until i discovered genes ). You are certainly right about the flaws in films and i am not knocking them there are some great films,but give me a good book with a great plot any day.

Hi Samantha, the last book I finished was The Runaway by Martina Cole, quite gritty. Depends on the mood I'm in who I'll read. Favourites include Diane Gabaldon, Maeve Binchy, Iain Crichton Smith and James Helman. Just started a James Herbert. My son is another bookworm but his tastes are totally different to mine Robert Anton Wilson and Douglas Copeland, can't get into them at all. Christine

hi samantha,i think a good book,will beat a good film.....ime a little biassed,as a friend of mine,susan hill,has written many good novels,her...woman in black...was so good the stage production,is in its 20th year in london. mind magic,by betty shine...does my bum look big in this...bridget jones diary,i couldnt put them down,until i finished...but my favourite author is ..alexander kent..his historical sea faring novels are amazing. having said all that,ime a paid up member of the...only fools and horses fan club..........bryan.

hi sam i love reading books, when its made into a film there always semm to be bits missing, though i do enjoy some of the films,that have transpired through a book sandra

If I am going to see a film, I always like to read the book first. In the vast majority of cases the book is better. The first two Harry Potter films were great, and ALMOST as good as the books. The third book, The Prisoner of Azkaban, is the best so far, but I don't think the film does it justice. Probably the only exception in my view is The Shawshank Redemption. The Stephen King book (Rita Heyworth and the Shawshank Redemption) was great, but the film is absolutely fabulous!!

Books, books, and more books, flirt with them, tease them, argue and question them, but never ignore them. For within their pages can lie the biggest adventure, the most heart -rending tale of bravery, rip roaring comedy, a poignant love story.They will transform and inform, true friends that can be picked up at leisure, discarded on a whim, but will always entertain. Install a love of reading in your children , for you feed their soul as well as their imagination.

Suzy, I was just going to mention Shawshank!! Another good one (lot of Stephen King freaks on this site!!!) is the Green Mile - the actors are just perfect for their parts. I am a complete read-aholic, right down to working in a library - my dream job! Have currently got 3 books on the go, plus a pile of magazines. I am fussy about films, particularly if I have read the book first. Sometimes the two things bear hardly any relation to each other - another Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) example is The Running Man, a good film but nothing like the book! Maz. XX

Hi Samantha, When we were growing up there was no television so I was very lucky as my Mum started me off with the classics "Ann of Green Gables" "Little Woman" "Treasure Island" to name but a few. Unfortunately, neither of my boys are interested in books and don't miss a single new movie. Hubby and I both love reading and now that it is summer we spend the weekends reading outdoors. If the movie is good we wait for it to get to the video store. Personally, I will never watch a movie of a book that I have read as it lands up hacked to pieces and the storyline changed. Lindy;-))

Terri, that was beautifully worded! I can't imagine a life without books and we are both avid readers with a broad range of interests. Neither of us can go into a bookshop and just buy ONE book! We never stop learning and books are, for me, the main gateway. I do enjoy films but, in the vast majority of cases, find that the book is more enjoyable. One noted exception - 'Jaws'!

Its books for me, without a doubt. I just love reading and have done since I was a child. I agree with you Terri on passing this on to children. My son Joe, who is 5 and has been at school since september has always loved looking at books and having them read to him. It has given him a great basis for learning to read. His enthusiasm for the bookcase in his bedroom is brilliant and he tries to read every book. It has obviously worked as he is one of the better readers in his class, but more important ...he loves it.

Allie, yes it's nice to see children sitting reading a book insteading of playing computer games. I was always buying my children books when they were younger. The Ladybird series was one of their favourites. My children were all members of the local library too.