Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 15/07: Short story or movie, which one do you prefer?
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 08, 2007, 12:26:29 pm ---Pynchon and McCarthy are two of my favourite authors! Do you like them too? The Crying of Lot 49 is awesome, and it has a female protagonist. I have read nearly all of McCarthy's books, except for No Country for Old Men, which I'm just starting. I love the way he does dialogue.
Salmon Rushdie said that his primary audience is women.
--- End quote ---
FRiend, I should spend more time book-clubbing with you! No, I haven't read Pynchon, McCarthy or Rushdie. But your enthusiasm is inspirational. Sometimes I need to force myself to go outside my fictional comfort zone.
--- Quote --- In fact, women read more serious fiction than men do.
--- End quote ---
Yes, I have read this many places, from reliable sources. I agree, Amanda, that this whole enterprise can be a slippery slope. But this seems to be one genderalization that is true.
Front-Ranger:
He, he, you know that term "book lust"? Well, that describes me when I get my hands on a good book!!
brokeplex:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 08, 2007, 11:18:54 am ---
The only conclusions I can gather from all this is that people are all different and defy generalization!
I guess I would say that the number of words is less important than what they add up to. Some writers are better with less or more. Some readers are better with less or more.
--- End quote ---
Yes, I like what you said! I agree that people "defy generalization". I really resist being lumped into any group and being pre-judged as to my content and my heart.
Let's Defy Generalization!
Kd5000:
I liked the movie better. It fleshed out the characters moreso. It does make for an even stronger short story. Jack Twist is even more tragic in the movie. His character in the short story wasn't as sympathetic for some reason. Maybe something about him saying "I didn't want no kid," something to that effect.
I mean, if BBM had never been made into a movie, I don't know how much an impression the short story would had on me. Of course, many movies fall short of the novel/short story they are based on. This one didn't.
By the way, I avoided reading the short story until I had seen the film. I had heard it was a tradegy and I thought, I don't wanta know what happens. And if's too sad, then I won't see the movie.
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 08, 2007, 08:27:55 pm ---He, he, you know that term "book lust"? Well, that describes me when I get my hands on a good book!!
--- End quote ---
:) Me too! Have you heard about the book called Book Lust by Nancy Pearl? It's essentially about how to go about finding books to read to suit a particular mood and about recommendations, etc. My Mom has it and thinks it's fun. My Mom actually has a fairly large collection of books about books... or books about reading, which are often really interesting books! ;D 8)
Sorry to have strayed off-topic...
To get back on track... While I still contend that personally I prefer the movie, it's fascinating to think about how knowledge and appreciation of the story informs an understanding of the film. When I watch the film sometimes I find myself filling in certain details... or reacting to characters based on things I know about them only from the story. For example, my reaction to Old Man Twist at the end of the movie is hugely informed by what I know about that character from the story. Etc.
And vice versa now too... my impressions of the movie always are with me when I read the story and details that are included only in the film wind up impacting my reactions to the story.
Thinking about how the film and story interact in positive ways, might be its own interesting discussion.
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