I know we all love banging on about how the book is so much better than the film/TV show, and let’s be honest, that is often the case, but that’s not to say there isn’t merit in both. To be honest with you, as someone who at least has to consider the possibility of what my work would be like if made into a film (unlikely), or TV series (more likely), I think the best way to view it is the ‘multiverse’ perspective. As in, the books are one version of a world, and the TV or film is another version. That way, you can appreciate you’re seeing something that’s probably very different but equally entertaining in its own right. And it might not be change for change’s sake either, some things just work better in a book than on screen, etc. My point is, don’t’ get over-heated if your favourite book gets turned into something you consider to be lesser – the book is still there and nobody can take that away from you.
And FYI – if you’re looking for the perfect example of something that bucks the ‘book is always better’ trend, then look no further than LA Confidential. One of my all-time favourite films and it is, in my opinion, superior to the book. The book is a sprawling narrative that stretches over years – the screenwriters took it, boiled it down to the essential components of incredible characters, a magnificent setting and some fantastic narrative elements and reassembled it into a taut thriller where actors were given incredible characters to bring to life. Jeez, just writing that means I’m now going to go watch it for the 18th time.
In the meantime, here are some more recent books on screen I’ve been enjoying.
Slow Horses – Mick Herron
I’ve banged this drum several times but I’m going to do it again – the Slow Horses/Slough House series of book is incredible and the TV show on Apple is a) wonderful in its own right and b) remarkably close to the source material overall. You can’t go wrong with either or indeed both versions.
Will Trent
Wonderwife and I started watching this series based on the Karin Slaughter books pretty much on a whim. I’d say it’s our best-ever random scrolling find. It’s wonderfully written and for an old school police procedural written for network television, it is sensational. The second series in particular puts it head and shoulders above any crime series I’ve watched in recent years. I’m excited to read the books to see how that compares. Let me know if you’re a fan.
The Day of The Jackal
This is that rare triple-whammy – book, film and now TV. I read the book years ago and really enjoyed it, as well as the film and it looks like the TV series is achieving the hat trick. Wonderwife and I are five episodes in, and it is an interesting watch – so much so that we’re resisting going full binge to spread out the enjoyment.
Everything involving Dennis Lehane
First and foremost, Dennis Lehane is a magnificent writer and his books, often with him heavily involved, typically make wonderful films. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s remarkable how many people don’t know his name given the exceptional work he’s associated with. And he even spans genres. Mystic River, Gone, Baby, Gone, Shutter Island and Live by Night are all films based on his novels, but I came to his work by a different path. Back in my standup days, I’d often have to travel up and down the country for gigs and on a Friday that meant going through horrendous traffic. In an effort to maintain my sanity, I often tried to drive as close to my gig really early in the day and then go to the cinema. Great in theory, but in practice I mostly ended up missing the show I was aiming for and having a nap in a services’ car park. Once though, after inevitably missing what I wanted to see, I took a chance on a movie called ‘The Drop’ starring Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini. I know nothing about it, but hey, I like popcorn. Anyway, it’s a wonderful film – an absolute gem, and I was delighted to find out it was based on a short story by, you guessed it, some guy called Dennis Lehane. From there, I think I’ve read everything he’s written and seen all the films based on his work. Live by Night is decent but doesn’t live up to the potential of the incredible source material, Mystic River was Oscar bait for a reason, and Shutter Island is a wonderfully creepy delight but if I was to direct you in one direction – for me the book and film of Gone, Baby, Gone are right up there as possibly the strongest two-punch combo on this list. Genuinely sensational work in both forms and while I regularly criticise the over-emphasis of the ‘twisty twist, you’ll never see coming’ in both books and films, let’s just say this is the one example of when it is absolutely worth it and a genuine gasp moment.
The Watch
Remember how I said not to get too overheated if your favourite books get turned into something you don’t like? Well, forget I said that. The Watch was a disastrous attempt to bring my favourite collection of Sir Terry Pratchett’s books to the screen. How bad was it? Every Facebook group I’m in dedicated to STP fandom has literally banned discussion of it because it just ends up being a long series of angry rants from incredibly angry fans. I try to keep these things in perspective, but honestly, from the one whole episode I almost managed to sut through, it was bad. It even had some outstanding actors in it, but it was a fundamental misunderstanding and disrespect to the source material. My point it – DO NOT WATCH THE WATCH – but absolutely do read the City Watch books. Men at Arms is the first one. Night Watch is my favourite ever Sir Terry Pratchett book, but none of them, or indeed any of the great man’s work, is ever less than a delightful read.