I saw the movie on Friday. It only opened in NZ on Thursday. I knew the book was in my bookcase and i purchased it probably 20 years ago. However I did not recognise anything. I have read the book since and feel I probably did not finish reading it when purchased as I do not like slow novels and probably gave up after a few pages. I really hated the movie while watching it but thought better of it by the end. Of course Colin Firth was brilliant and rescued it for me. Thinking about it, I much preferred the film but have no wish to see it again and certainly the book can go in my next clean up. And I totally disagree with Kerry. This elderly gent was quite taken by "Kenny" (Nicholas Hoult )in the movie. Oh the dreams of the old.
The main effect on me about which I wrote in my blog was that I felt very wistful at never having had a relationship like Jim and George.
And I was again smitten (probably slightly more realistic but only slightly) by Matthew Goode (Jim) who I liked in the movie of Brideshead Revisited.
Perhaps I missed it but I did not get the feeling in the book that George contemplated suicide which, of course, dominates the film.
I was at university at the time of the story and felt the film reminded me a little of that time when homosexuality was only discussed in psychology books and considered a perversion. I did pride myself on picking up the anachronism when Kenny said "Cool" and "blows my mind" which often amaze me when I read them on IMDb, I am rarely so observant but I guess with a career as a teacher of teenagers I notice the changes in their language over the years.
