Someone has rightly said," read the book before the director takes it to slaughter." I have always believed in this adage and in reading the book first than watching a movie based on it.
That doesn't put a question mark on the film director's ability, its just a simple preference.
While reading a book you can use your imagination to the fullest. You become the director of your own film. You imagine the colours, the faces, the scenery. Like whenever I remember 'Gone with the wind' its not the scenes from the movie but my own imagination that comes to mind. You can smell the gardens and aromas of the kitchen described in the book.
Whenever I think of Jhumpa Lahiri's novels I can smell the aromas of bengali curries. In many well-written books you find yourself so immersed in the characters that you can feel their emotions surging through you. There have been several books which have done that to me but foremost on my mind are 'The thousand splendid suns' by Khaled Hosseini, 'Roots by Alex Hailey and now my current reading 'The thorn birds'. They moved me in an inexplicable way.
Books force us to imagine, to construct and plot and produce a narrative. When you read, you have more time to think. Only reading gives you the liberty to push a unique pause button for better comprehension and insight.
Films have their own USP but in context of books turned into films, one should not forget that it is that one person i.e. the director who's imagination you are watching. It cannot match yours. That is the real beauty of books. Your own world, your perspective. Probably that is the reason books are rightly called a 'Brain Workout' and of course not to forget, your 'best friend.'
I remember reading 'Devil wears Prada' years ago while I had just freshly quit being a fashion journalist. It struck a cord with me. I imagined myself in those situations and I cried. It reflected my own life in a certain way and also helped me get a better perspective of things. Watching the movie was just a passing experience, not withstanding the fact that both Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway were brilliant in it.
Another extraordinary example is of Ayn Rand books. As a true fan, you can NEVER imagine the masterpiece 'The Fountainhead' turned into a movie or for that matter any of her books. I would never watch it. I don't want to be robbed off my unique relationship with the book and its characters. I have my own version of Howard Roark clearly etched in my imagination. No one can replace it.
It doesn't happen with all books, you only develop this relationship with certain books. Like I recently read 'The immortals of Meluha,' interesting but I would certainly not be possessive about it. It wont pain me to watch a film based on it.
My initiation to the amazing world of books was by my mother. I have not stopped since. I distinctly remember when I didn't even know how to read I would just keep flipping through books or re-drawing the sketches and pretending to read. One book that stands out in my memory is the famous Russian Fairytales, a staple of every book-loving family. My memories of 'Vasilisa the beautiful' or 'Ivan the wise' or little 'Masha' or the revolving hut of 'Baba Yaga'. They are an integral part of my childhood memories to the extent that I plan to name my children on these characters!
I can go on and on about books and I promise I'll come back with more.
Read books. If you don't already. The real ones not on Kindle! I am kind of a traditionalist when it comes to certain things. Encourage your kids to read, trust me they'll thank you all their lives.
Watch movies, they are a great source of entertainment and knowledge but also give books a chance. You never know it might culminate into a life-long love affair!
P.S. Read this interesting article in the Time magazine for a professional and detailed view.
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