You speaking about how fidelity isn't the most important aspects of adaptation reminds me of the recent Interview with a Vampire tv adaptation. The show makes MASSIVE changes to the story but truly understands and respects the core of Anne Rice's novel. Understanding a story and having a dialogue with it through adaptation is a much more tricky endeavor than attempting a carbon copy recreation. It's a big swing but when it hits its such an enriching experience.
Same with the Little Fires Everywhere adaption. I listened to an interview with the author and she pointed out how film and tv adaptations open up new perspectives to a story since they tend to be more of a collaborative vision than a book which is usually focused on one author’s perspective.
Thanks for the thoughtful review. I was curious after seeing the trailer for the show, so this solidified its move to the top of the viewing list. I also just put a hold on the book!
I really enjoyed this book a few years back, and I have been interested in the adaptation. Some of the themes you mentioned sound a lot to me like American Born Chinese and that first season adaptation, which was also really great
I read Interior Chinatown a year or more ago and I've been interested to see the show ever since I heard about it, though sceptical as to whether it would be any good or not. Glad to find that it sounds like it is worth watching from your review!
This book passed me by but it sounds great! I've also got conflicting feelings about procedurals so that seems like a cool element. In terms of other adaptations, I've recently become obsessed with Conclave, and I think the film's approach to the book is really interesting.
A really interesting experience I've had with book versus adaptation is having grown up loving the animated film The Last Unicorn and then later as an adult reading the novel by Peter S. Beagle. I think they're both very interesting pieces of art and what the animated movie is able/wanting to adapt of the novel versus what it doesn't is very interesting. I'd be really curious to see what thoughts you end up having on the book in general too - it has a line that is just peculiarly affecting about a background character in one chapter. I remember the line every now and then and just have to sit and think about it (but also I'm a very sentimental person, so, YMMV)
I recently watched a video by the Spinster’s Library on adaptations (particularly Jane Austen but really adaptations generally) and it was about how faithfulness is overrated, and there are other ways to adapt ideas and themes without being anything close to word-for-word, so I recommend that (warning: she is a Netflix Persuasion hater). Anyway, both the book and show sound really good and interesting so thank you for talking about them! Your analyses are always so thoughtful and insightful.
Wow this book sounds right up my alley, as does the show adaptation. (also i am a fellow netflix Persuasion truther and I'm gonna go check out that podcast episode!)
What I want is not text fidelity, it's spirit and feelings fidelity. That's why I don't like Peter Jackson's LOTR (and hate his Hobbit). He's pretty close to text but he didn't see what I've seen in Hobbit culture, I think he did Boromir dirty... I could talk about iot for hours. Meanwhile I just finish the french Cat's Eye show, there's A LOT of liberty taken (It take place in Paris instead of Tokyo) but I felt the same feelings I've felt watching the cartoon as a child. So in that regard it's a perfect adaptation.
Thank you for the reviews, I'll have to check these out! Also 2005 Pride and Prejudice forever, death to all other adaptations! Well, maybe not death. What's a more appropriate alternative? Being snubbed at a public ball?
You speaking about how fidelity isn't the most important aspects of adaptation reminds me of the recent Interview with a Vampire tv adaptation. The show makes MASSIVE changes to the story but truly understands and respects the core of Anne Rice's novel. Understanding a story and having a dialogue with it through adaptation is a much more tricky endeavor than attempting a carbon copy recreation. It's a big swing but when it hits its such an enriching experience.
This. I kept comparing it to HOD and ROP and it's amazing, what they were able to achieve with 1% of the budget! Im so excited for season 3!
Same with the Little Fires Everywhere adaption. I listened to an interview with the author and she pointed out how film and tv adaptations open up new perspectives to a story since they tend to be more of a collaborative vision than a book which is usually focused on one author’s perspective.
I absolutely loved the book- had no idea it was now a series. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!
I just watched one of your videos, and I was looking for the next one I should watch. Lo and behold!
Thanks for the thoughtful review. I was curious after seeing the trailer for the show, so this solidified its move to the top of the viewing list. I also just put a hold on the book!
I really enjoyed this book a few years back, and I have been interested in the adaptation. Some of the themes you mentioned sound a lot to me like American Born Chinese and that first season adaptation, which was also really great
I really liked this review format! just put interior Chinatown on hold at the library
I read Interior Chinatown a year or more ago and I've been interested to see the show ever since I heard about it, though sceptical as to whether it would be any good or not. Glad to find that it sounds like it is worth watching from your review!
I for some reason didn’t really read much in 2020? So I also missed this book. It sounds so interesting!
This book passed me by but it sounds great! I've also got conflicting feelings about procedurals so that seems like a cool element.
In terms of other adaptations, I've recently become obsessed with Conclave, and I think the film's approach to the book is really interesting.
A really interesting experience I've had with book versus adaptation is having grown up loving the animated film The Last Unicorn and then later as an adult reading the novel by Peter S. Beagle. I think they're both very interesting pieces of art and what the animated movie is able/wanting to adapt of the novel versus what it doesn't is very interesting. I'd be really curious to see what thoughts you end up having on the book in general too - it has a line that is just peculiarly affecting about a background character in one chapter. I remember the line every now and then and just have to sit and think about it (but also I'm a very sentimental person, so, YMMV)
I recently watched a video by the Spinster’s Library on adaptations (particularly Jane Austen but really adaptations generally) and it was about how faithfulness is overrated, and there are other ways to adapt ideas and themes without being anything close to word-for-word, so I recommend that (warning: she is a Netflix Persuasion hater).
Anyway, both the book and show sound really good and interesting so thank you for talking about them! Your analyses are always so thoughtful and insightful.
Wow this book sounds right up my alley, as does the show adaptation. (also i am a fellow netflix Persuasion truther and I'm gonna go check out that podcast episode!)
What I want is not text fidelity, it's spirit and feelings fidelity. That's why I don't like Peter Jackson's LOTR (and hate his Hobbit). He's pretty close to text but he didn't see what I've seen in Hobbit culture, I think he did Boromir dirty... I could talk about iot for hours.
Meanwhile I just finish the french Cat's Eye show, there's A LOT of liberty taken (It take place in Paris instead of Tokyo) but I felt the same feelings I've felt watching the cartoon as a child. So in that regard it's a perfect adaptation.
Thank you for the reviews, I'll have to check these out! Also 2005 Pride and Prejudice forever, death to all other adaptations! Well, maybe not death. What's a more appropriate alternative? Being snubbed at a public ball?