Okay. I’ve managed to live through shoulder surgery. I’m finally over the adverse effects of the anesthesia. But the darn shoulder still hurts when I move wrong!
I thought I was so smart. In the last two years I have lived through six hurricanes, four evacuations from my home and weeks without electricity. We’ve moved, my husband had a brush with cancer and my beloved pet cat developed a drawn-out fatal disease. Yet through it all, I survived. I took everyone to their doctors, packed up in a hurry and unpacked with efficiency. I kept up with my deadlines and I managed to continue on with my TBR pile.
Chin up and keep going. It was what my mother would have done.
Then on April 21, I went in for minor day surgery on my shoulder. Yikes! I couldn’t do anything much for ten days. Now, I know when people say they ‘couldn’t do anything’ we all nod and smile. Right. Been there. But I’m talking about not even being able to read! That’s never happened to me before in my lifetime. Maybe I couldn’t work, or clean my house, or make dinner in the past, but I have never not been able to read. Reading has always been my escape mechanism. Not reading felt like a kind of eerie death.
Not being able to work was one thing. My work is my pleasure. I love creating stories and developing new characters. However, a couple of weeks away from that is more like a vacation than a real hardship. The time away gives me a chance to regenerate. And the part about not being able to clean house, well, you all probably feel the same as I do about that. But not being able to read because of pain and medication — Holy Moly! It felt like torture.
I tried listening to audio books (books on cd) but I kept falling asleep. I did watch some movies on video which was nice for a while. But I soon discovered that I much prefer to imagine what the characters in a book look like rather than to be face to face with some director’s version.
It got me to thinking about other books I’ve read that were later turned into movies. And the ones that are soon to be made into movies. The first one I remember that really bugged me was The Godfather. The version in my head was much more gruesome and scary than the one that ended up on the screen. There’s another one coming up soon, the Di Vinci Code. Will that be better? Worse? Will the characters all look right?
What movies from books have you seen that were real disappointments? Or were some of the movies you liked actually better than the books? I still need to find some movies to watch on rough days. Anyone have any suggestions? I’ll draw names late tonight from the comments and give away two sets of my first two Night Guardian books, SHADOW FORCE and SHADOW WATCH.
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Sorry to hear about your shoulder. I can’t imagine what it’s like to not to be able to read. I hope it heals fast. I like the movie version of The Notebook as well as the book. Maybe even a little more. If you haven’t seen this one, I think it’s worth watching. It’s an amazing love story. It is both uplifting and sad at times so if your in a blue mood, don’t watch it. Wait until you having a semi good day. Sometimes, I just watch the happy parts and fast forward through others. haha!
by KimW
on May 4th, 2006 at 6:37 am
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I love the movies: “Man From Snowy River” and “Return to Snowy River” . I believe they’re based on the Australian poem ” Clancy’s Ride”. The movies show the rugged highlands /Outback of Australia…breathtaking! A beautiful muscial score, creative cinematology and wonderful actors : Kirk Douglas, Tom Burlington…to name a few. A really quirky movie is “Harold and Maude”. A 20 yr old boy and a 80 yr old woman develope a relationship after they meet while attending various funerals. It’s funny, sad and a bit wierd. It has a great musical score of Cat Stevens hits.
Books into movies
I loved Tolkien’s Ring Trilogy when I read it in college and I also enjoyed the movie trilogy. I also read C S Lewis’s Narnia series and loved “Narnia” the movie. I also love the Disney version of the children’s stories…Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast etc… I don’t go to movies very often….can’t think of a book to movie that I didn’tlike.
by Laurie G
on May 4th, 2006 at 6:54 am
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The Notebook is my daughter’s favorite book and movie and was a big hit with all her friends. I enjoyed The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants which I wasn’t sure about because I thought it was a kids’ movie but it was well done. My teenage daughter and I watched it together and my mother also watched it and enjoyed it.
by Maureen
on May 4th, 2006 at 6:55 am
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Hi, hope you recover fast from your surgery.
Dont count me in for this giveaway, as I won one of those books last time.
But, Message In a Bottle was a great book, movie big letdown even tho Kevin Costner and Paul Newman were in it. I cried hysterically with the book, only a few sniffles with the movie. But than the book is always better than the movie for some reason.
by Pat
on May 4th, 2006 at 7:32 am
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Hi Linda,
I hope that you get well soon. It’s pure hell not being able to read.
My favorite book made into a movie is Lord of the Rings. My biggest letdown was the sequel to Gone with the wind.
by Danny
on May 4th, 2006 at 7:51 am
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Forget, don’t enter me in the giveaway. I won the book last time:mrgreen:
by Danny
on May 4th, 2006 at 7:52 am
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I’ve heard lots of differing opinions on the Notebook movie, KimW. Maybe everyone should fast forward through the sad parts. 
I guess I’ll give it a try.
Oh, Laurie G., I totally forgot about Tolkien! Of course I read him in high school and loved them! Also loved the movies! They were done so well! My sister brought me the Narnia movie this weekend and we liked it too. I’ll have to look for the Snowy River movies. I don’t go to the movies often either. That’s why I appreciate all the advice!
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! I’ve heard great things about it Maureen, but I think that’s one where I’ll have to read the book first.
Hey, Pat! I won’t put you in the drawing. But did you have a chance to read the book? Thanks for the good wishes. I’m getting better every day! Message in a Bottle. Hmm. I wasn’t crazy about the book. Probably because of all the tears. Maybe I should try the movie. I agree that I usually think the book is better than the movie, though.
Has anyone read the Divinci Code yet? I saw yesterday where Dan Brown says the movie is ‘just like’ the book. I guess we’ll see.
by Linda Conrad
on May 4th, 2006 at 8:00 am
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Oh, Danny, the sequel to Gone with The Wind! I refused to even try the book, let alone the movie. There’s just something about messing with a classic.
Oh that reminds me, did anyone see the newest Pride and Prejudice movie? I haven’t yet, but I did like one of the ones done of it over the last few years.
by Linda Conrad
on May 4th, 2006 at 8:05 am
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Oops, forgot to mention that if you’ve already have won both my newest books, I’d be glad to send any of my backlist - your choice. And I’ll throw in a taste of Godiva! Does that change your mind? 
Oh, I just thought of the Harry Potter books. I loved both books and movies! They tried so hard to keep the movies true to the books. Everyone think so?
by Linda Conrad
on May 4th, 2006 at 8:22 am
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Hi! I wish you a speedy recovery from your shoulder surgery.
I have seen the newest Pride and Prejudice movie. I really enjoyed it. For me, the actors really captured the essence of the characters.
One movie that I saw recently that I expected to be much better was The Aviator. It just didn’t do it for me. Since it was nominated for awards I guess I was expecting it to be over the top.
I agree that the Lord of the Rings trilogy were great movies and I enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia movie as well.
by Crystal B.
on May 4th, 2006 at 8:22 am
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I hope you are feeling better, too. I hate being sick and I can’t imagine not being able to read! I think the book is always better than the movie. Gone With the Wind is my favorite book and they did do a pretty good job with the movie but there is nothing better than reading the book. I wouldn’t read the sequel either because I knew I would be disappointed. I almost never see the movie after I’ve read the book because I know I wouldn’t be happy with it.
by Carol
on May 4th, 2006 at 8:48 am
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How about TV-series that are based on books? I just love Wycliffe (W. J. Bailey’s books) and Midsomer Murders (Caroline Graham’s books). I have actually liked both TV-series more than the books.
by Minna
on May 4th, 2006 at 9:31 am
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Hi Linda! Wishing you a quick and good recovery.
The worst movie based on a book I have seen is Ordeal by Innocence, which was a terrible free adaptation of an Agatha Christie book. I am a big fan of AC , and any time I saw a movie from one of her novels I was there, and this one was one of my favorites by her. Well, this movie is awful, and it hardly seems the same story. The movie is so different from the book, including very important plot changes and characters that only has in common the name with the originals, that it hardly resembles the original story. It even was boring! Not to mention any suspense at all. And it has a good cast, it could have been at least a decent adaptation, so I was terribly disapointed.
Movies I love, the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It’s perfect! I also liked a lot The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco, and even if simplified a lot of the book, it kept the essence of it.
by Julia
on May 4th, 2006 at 9:53 am
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Linda,
I should have done the same with the sequel with Gone with the wind. It’s a huge disappointment.
I haven’t seen the new version of Pride & Prejudice, but I heard good things about the movie
by Danny
on May 4th, 2006 at 10:01 am
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Well, non-romance, but I loved the book Relic by Preston/Child and the movie was sooooooooo incredibly bad.
by Nicole
on May 4th, 2006 at 10:10 am
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One movie that I definitely liked better than the book was A Walk to Remember. It is also by Nicholas Sparks (of The Notebook) and it is definitley a tearjerker. I think I’m too much of a cynic for the plot, the main female character is just too perfect and too good (morally) to be true. But I actually kind of liked the movie. Mandy Moore actually pulls off the wholesome goodness act without being irritating.
I loved the Narnia books when I was a kid and definitely had low expectations for the movie. But I ended up being pleasantly suprised. I loved it! I always love when movies either live up to your expectations or exceed them.
by Lauren G
on May 4th, 2006 at 10:33 am
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So sorry to hear about your shoulder. I would be miserable if I could not read as that is also my time to escape.
My romantic movie recommendations would be : Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Little Women starring Winona Ryder, Sense and Sensibility starring Hugh Grant. Mansfield Park starring Embeth Davidtz. These were all really good if you have not seen them. I heard the latest Pride and Prejudice was also excellent. I just bought it but have not had a chance to read it.
If you choose my name I already won Shadow Force. I read it and loved it. I would love to win Shadow Watch, the second in the series. I have not been able to get out and buy it because I have been so sick in my pregnancy. Now that I have started my second trimester the nausea and constant fatigue should be easing up like I did in my first pregnancy. Anyway, if you do pick my name I would love to have a copy of Shadow Watch but you are welcome to offer the shadow Force copy to a third winner. That way someone else could enjoy it and get hooked like I am.:smile:
by Cherie Japp
on May 4th, 2006 at 10:42 am
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Love Harry Potter, books & movies also Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. I’m with everyone else when it comes to the sequel with Gone with the wind. It was a huge disappointment. I haven’t had the chance to see the Pride and Prejudice movie but would very much like to. I’ve heard its very good.
by Tammy G.
on May 4th, 2006 at 10:51 am
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Little Women and The Notebook are good. In the non-romance department, Hannibal by Thomas Harris was a terrific read but awful movie but I can watch The Silence of the Lambs repeatedly.
I know how you feel about not being able to read. I was unable to read for almost a year when I was in the hospital and rehab center after a car accident. Hope you heal quickly!
by Susan
on May 4th, 2006 at 11:13 am
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I hope you get to feeling better.
I find that I tend to see movies and then read the books. I did that with “Big Fish,” “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” and the Harry Potter books. All of which are good movies and books!
I also did this with my very first romance. I saw the tv movie “Rose Hill” with a pre-Alias Jennifer Garner and decided to read the book it was based on: For the Roses by Julie Garwood. I didn’t realize that it was a romance novel because the movie gave no indication of this, but I enjoyed the book a great deal. The only similarities between the book and the movie were the characters’ names and gender. The story was completely changed. They added characters and changed others. I wouldn’t say that I was disappointed in either the book or movie though because I enjoyed both a great deal. But after reading the book, I just wish the movie could have incorporated more of the book into it and made it a romantic movie. The movie did lead me to read a romance though and I am now hooked.
There are some books that I have read before seeing the movie. For example, Little Women, Jane Eyre, and other classics, as well as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Oh, and I won Shadow Watch last time, but don’t have Shadow Force.
by Jennifer Y.
on May 4th, 2006 at 11:29 am
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People keep telling me to read The Princess Bride. I haven’t found a copy yet, however, it is a wonderfully quirky romantic film.
Other off beat film is Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder for a fun and nuanced performance. Loved the Roald Dahl book too.
Sometimes, you just have to access your inner child.
by little lamb lost
on May 4th, 2006 at 11:55 am
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Okay Crystal B, I’ll try the new Pride and Prejudice and definitely skip the Aviator!
I’m with you on books being just all around better, Carol
Oh I hadn’t heard of Carolyn Graham’s books being made into TV movies, Minna. Maybe I’ll try to find them.
Julia, you love AC too? I’ve read every one of hers. Think I’ll skip seeing that movie though. Nothing worst than a bad adaptation of a favorite author.
I read the Relic, Nicole. But I guess I’ll skip the movie. Thanks for the warning.
I didn’t read A Walk to Remember. Maybe I’ll try the movie. And I forgot all about Mansfield Park. Thanks, Cherie!
I have one more Harry Potter book to read, but it will have to wait now. Glad you liked the movies too, Tammy G.
Ohmygosh, Susan! Not reading for a whole year! I can’t even imagine. Glad you’re better now!
Another movie I forgot! Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I’ll definitely try to find that one, Jennifer Y. I never saw Rose Hill either, but I sure did love the books!
by Linda Conrad
on May 4th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
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Sending you happy healing thoughts, Linda!
Movies that I think are better than the book - Bridget Jones’s Diary, X-Men (comic book LOL), A Beautiful Mind
Movies that I think are a disappointment - Catch Me If You Can (they exaggerated the things that happened), Pay It Forward
Movies and books I love equally well - Harry Potter, LOTR, Chronicles of Narnia
Movie recommendations - The Negotiator, Love Actually, Frequency, Legally Blonde, Sense & Sensibility, The Winslow Boy, Gosford Park, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
by Jenny
on May 4th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
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Adding my wishes for a speedy recovery from here on out.
Favorite movie adaptations of good books? Hands down, “Like Water for Chocolate” (Laura Esquivel adapted her book and her husband directed, would that be considered cheating?).
A very close second is “Sense and Sensibility” as adapted by Emma Thompson–it’s not close to the letter but boy! the spirit of the book shines brightly in that movie.
I agree that the Harry Potter movies keep very close to the books, but I will always sigh over the absence of Peeves the Poltergeist *chuckling*
Julia, I am also a big Agatha Christie’s fan. Each time a movie or tv adaptation of one of her books come out, I wait with bated breath to see whether to cringe or cheer. For me, best cast and adaptation goes to “Murder in the Orient Express” (big hair not withstanding). Oh, and I definitely agree with you on “The Name of the Rose”–and the casting didn’t hurt there either.
Little lamb lost, “The Princess Bride” is just about *the* most quotable movie ever–almost every line of dialogue, in fact–and the book (written after the movie’s success) is simply hilarious.
For movies I’ve liked better than the books, I’ll go with “The Hunt for Red October” because I find Tom Clancy’s descriptions a ah… *tad* to verbose–slowing the book to a crawl. Often. I also enjoyed immensely both of the “Bourne” movies with Matt Damon (I was afraid the sequel wouldn’t live up to the first one and was greatly gratified that it does, very well in fact).
Lauren G, I haven’t ever been able to finish any of Nicholas Sparks’ books *ducking* but I really liked “A Walk to Remember” and for the same reasons you did: Many Moore pulled it off. The character is GOOD but still real enough to be angry and show it (I laughed when she shuts the door on Dominic Wiest’s face *chuckling*)
by azteclady
on May 4th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
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I had surgery on my shoulder many years ago. All I remember wanting to do is sleep. I hope the healing is quick for you.
The movie Sense and Sensibility was wonderful and I felt the book was rather boring.
by Karen G
on May 4th, 2006 at 7:25 pm
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Hope you get better soon. I’m facing knee replacement surgery and am dreading it. Don’t know if you like suspense/romance but Allison Brennan’s books are great.
by Joyce
on May 4th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
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That is very nice of you, Linda. Sure does change my mind. Count me in for the b/l book and chocolate.
Joyce, Good luck with the surgery.
by Pat
on May 4th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
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:cool:Hi!
I must say that I enjoyed the Harry Potter movies and books equally well.
I would like to opt for the backlist book and candy if I win if that is ok.
by Karen
on May 4th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
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Wow, lots of great book and movie ideas here!
Loved the Princess Bride movie, little lamb lost! I could see it again.
You’re the third person to tell me to watch Love Actually, Jenny. Guess I’d better see that one!
I haven’t see any of the Clancy movies, Azteclady, because I don’t care much for his books. But maybe I should?
Karen G, I know what you mean about the sleeping. When does that go away?
Good luck with the knee replacement surgery, Joyce! Wow, I think that’s maybe worse than the shoulder surgery. At least I can walk around.
So many good suggestions! Thank you. Thank you!
by Linda Conrad
on May 4th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
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I just had my husband’s fishing buddy draw numbers for me. He picked number 13, which is Julia. And number 24 which is azteclady!
Congrats you two! Email me with your snail mail addys at: LindaConradBooks@aol.com
Thanks again everyone!
by Linda Conrad
on May 4th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
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Congrats Julia and azteclady!
by Jennifer Y.
on May 4th, 2006 at 11:16 pm
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*waves hand high* I read The Da Vinci Code! Hubby read it a few weeks ago and raved about it. I wanted to read it before the movie came out. I couldn’t put it down and can’t understand all the hoopla that churches are making about it. It’s FICTION people! FICTION!! DH also just finished Angels and Demons, which is a prequel to Da Vinci Code and he said it’s every bit as good.
I loved Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. My mom lives near Savannah and I’ve been to visit. I quit reading Nicholas Sparks after I figured out he kills off somebody in the end. Too many tears for me, though I did watch The Notebook (his best book in my opinion) and cried like a baby.
Worst book to movie transition? Loving Evangeline by Linda Howard. I love, love, love that book and they absolutely butchered it in the movie version. Plot changes, character changes, location changes. Blech! I kept yelling at the tv screen and the DH came down to see what the matter was. 
Hope that shoulder keeps improving, especially since I’m facing that same surgery in the future.
by Marilyn
on May 4th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
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Big congrats to the winners!
by Danny
on May 5th, 2006 at 3:33 am
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Congrats Julia and Azteclady!
by little lamb lost
on May 5th, 2006 at 3:43 am
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Congrats Julia and azteclady!
by Carol
on May 5th, 2006 at 10:19 am
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Congrats ladies.
I’m sorry to hear you had such a rough recovery,especially from anesthesia. I shouldn’t have mentioned my problems before with it. Thank goodness I kept to myself about my brother when he underwent shoulder surgery! He was laid up for awhile too and couldn’t do much at all with his right arm. Needless to say he learned how to take care of bathroom duties with his other arm.:oops: I hope you keep feeling better every day!
About disappointing movies from books I can think of a few from Stephen King,The Stand,IT, and Thinner. Loved Pride and Predjudice, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Arye, and Mansfield Park.
by Dena
on May 5th, 2006 at 10:23 am
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congrats ladies!
by Cherie Japp
on May 5th, 2006 at 10:28 am
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wtg ladies
by KIM H
on May 5th, 2006 at 11:35 am
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Wow, thank you! I never win anything, this is GREAT!
by azteclady
on May 5th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
