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When the movie came first….
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There have been a few occasions where our children have seen the movie first of a book that is on the reading lists. For us it has been BBC Pollyanna, The Secret Garden and Treasures of the Snow.
I’m wondering if the movie has somewhat “ruined” the book for them and am debating not putting these on their reading lists.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Kim
My DH and I just had a discussion about which should be done first, the book or the movie. We disagreed on it. He thought it was best to watch the movie/play first since the book contains more details and motivations behind the character’s actions. He also thought by reading the book first, they would be disappointed in the movie/play. By watching it first, there will still be quite a bit added to the story that wasn’t in the movie, but onlyh in the book. I thought this was an interesting perspective.
The topic came up because there is a play I want to take the kids to (based on a book). I was debating interrupting our Narnia read alouds so we could read the other book before watching the play…he thought we should read the book after the play and the kids would be more interested in it.
I prefer books first to have our own images of what the author intended. Movie images are so powerful that it can be hard to form your own afterwards. In fact, I refused to see the Narnia movies because I don’t want my images disturbed! The book is always better IMO and if we only get one or the other, I’ll choose the book. Different strokes for different folks.
Actually, I’m fine with them being disappointed in a movie. I’d really rather have them reach for the book again and again than the other way around.
That being said, there have been a few occasions where we have seen a movie first, sometimes having watched it when they were younger or “before CM.” I still put those books on their reading lists because I really want them to experience that piece of literature.
I prefer books first too-but I wouldn’t necessarily toss the books off the list if they’ve seen the movie. This has happened on occasion with my son, but I ended up being surprised that he read the books anyway, because he was sparked by the movie-and because he knows movies don’t always include everything and wanted to see what the book had that the movie didn’t.
My preference would definitely be books first, too, but I will keep them on our reading lists and see how it goes.
I actually enjoy listening to my kids watch a movie after reading a book and discussing how they would have done it all differently – hard to compare to the imagination.
Kim
I say book then movie if you are able. But if they already saw the movie, deff still read the unabridged book. There is usually so much more in the book.
I agree that book first is best. It allows you to form your own images and if the the movie is disappointing afterwards, to me it just reinforces the idea of reading!
That said, I think that sometimes the movie can provide interest in a book that wouldn’t be there – especially for struggling readers. I know, for instance, that I wasn’t interested in reading Harry Potter until I saw the movie. A friend of minehas a rule that their kids can’t watch a movie until they read the book – and it wouldn’t work here as my kids struggle with reading….
My girls are young, but they saw One Hundred One DAlmations before we read it aloud. So, I made a Venn diagram and as we talked about the similarities and differences. Then I had my oldest write a little bit about which she liked better and why.
I think reading the book first is ideal — but since we don’t live in bubbles, not always possible.
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