*It’s conversation thread time! The idea? Reply with your opinion and converse with fellow readers and writers in the comments.
The other day, my fiancée asked me the title question. My answer surprised me.
“The Notebook,” I said.
Of all the books I’ve read? Despite all my high-minded literary training? The Notebook?
“Book or movie?” she said.
“Either or. But probably the book. That shit hits hard.”
She agreed, because doesn’t it? And isn’t Allie beautiful? And does anything top the “What, Do, You, Want”scene? I guess, when prompted by that question, my mind went to the work of art that had the most memorable impact on my emotions, not the one that inspired the newest ideas or the weirdest thoughts. I cried reading both the book and watching the movie. It’s a beautiful story, that’s true anytime I read or watch it, but that first time was special.
So, without further ado, if you could experience a book and/or movie for the first time again, what would it be? Why?
This is a hard one, Matt! When I lived in the city I'd go by myself to the movies in the afternoon. And often, go back to see the same movie multiple times. I miss that.
Hmm...as a child, the book "Little Women."
More recent is one that I've tried desperately to find/to buy: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." It's only on Netflix. The movie. I never read the book. Maybe I should. Such a sweet story for writers and readers alike.
This conversation is awesome, and I've now got long list of more stuff to check out.
As I was reading through, another book popped into my head: The Alchemist. The first time I read it, I was truly transported into that magical, desert landscape. I never wanted to leave. I did read the book a second time, later one, but the effect wasn't as intense. Funny how some artistic experiences only seem to carry one payload of emotion -- or maybe its us: having already had that part of our brain/emotions "lit up," it stays on and so the effect is different.
I was an impressionable kid when I first watched it and identified so much with the children. The social injustices portrayed in the story formed the beliefs and worldview that I still have today. The fact that some people want to ban this book tells us how important it is to our culture and history.
The English Patient. Honestly, both the book and the movie are just amazing, though different from each other.
I do believe it is the perfect adaptation to a perfect novel, in the fact that it does not attempt to tell the novel page by page, which is nearly impossible to do.
One book would be "a thousand splendid suns" by Khalid Hosseini. I love it so much that after finishing it i immediately started to reread it again. if you haven't read it yet please do, its a whole experience.
The Denzel Washington movie, Fallen. I saw it in college at that movie theaters, back when you’d just show up and see whatever was playing. I had no idea what it was about. And it terrified me! But also, introduced me to the majesty of The Rolling Stones.
I’m currently rereading Crime and Punishment. Before this I read Dost’s prison memoir, Notes of a Dead House. No movies lately but my girlfriend got me to finally watch Black Mirror. Not bad, I must admit. Terrifyingly believable.
The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen was the first chapter book I ever read in elementary school. I choose that one because it was my first, and that was so fulfilling for me. I remember thinking I didn’t want to read any more books because, how could anything be as good as that one?🤣 I still have that reaction to every book I read LOL.
Stieg Larsson's The Millennium Trilogy in one sitting. I was engrossed with the books the first time I read them and to date will insist they're the most entertaining fiction I've ever read. When I finished the trilogy was the first and only time in my life I felt the French word "désœuvré" literally.
Great question Matt. As I've gotten older I find it harder and harder to re-envision those states of openness that I once inhabited. I do remember a book that impacted me extraordinarily though in my college years. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenece. The psychological, spiritual, philosophical journey that Pirsig took us on was unparalleled in my experience up to that point. The ramifications of that book stayed with me for years. It is one of the very few books that I was compelled to reread. In more recent times, maybe 15 years ago, Murakami's Wind-up Bird Chronicle was similarly impactful. But . . . which book (or movie) would I LIKE to reexperience with a "beginner's" mind?? That will require some additional ruminations. I'll have to get back to you Matt.
2001 A Space Oddysey "Open the podbay door Hal." With so much going on with AI these days, this is almost prophetic, amazing given when it was written!
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is my go to book and the movie was fine too. Another one is Madam Bovary by Gustav Flaubert but I have yet to watch the movie.
When a movie comes out my first impression is of loss of my imaginary world of the book and it is mostly ruined.
This is a hard one, Matt! When I lived in the city I'd go by myself to the movies in the afternoon. And often, go back to see the same movie multiple times. I miss that.
Hmm...as a child, the book "Little Women."
More recent is one that I've tried desperately to find/to buy: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." It's only on Netflix. The movie. I never read the book. Maybe I should. Such a sweet story for writers and readers alike.
This conversation is awesome, and I've now got long list of more stuff to check out.
As I was reading through, another book popped into my head: The Alchemist. The first time I read it, I was truly transported into that magical, desert landscape. I never wanted to leave. I did read the book a second time, later one, but the effect wasn't as intense. Funny how some artistic experiences only seem to carry one payload of emotion -- or maybe its us: having already had that part of our brain/emotions "lit up," it stays on and so the effect is different.
Omg...To Kill a Mockingbird...movie AND book.
I was an impressionable kid when I first watched it and identified so much with the children. The social injustices portrayed in the story formed the beliefs and worldview that I still have today. The fact that some people want to ban this book tells us how important it is to our culture and history.
Beaches - profoundly moving movie on live and friendship!❤️
The English Patient. Honestly, both the book and the movie are just amazing, though different from each other.
I do believe it is the perfect adaptation to a perfect novel, in the fact that it does not attempt to tell the novel page by page, which is nearly impossible to do.
Movie: Fight Club
Book: Zen in the art of archery.
P.s.: Why that book? Since it reminds me that, in my life path, "I need to wait to learn properly" ;)
https://livmkk.substack.com/p/learning-means-becoming-worse
One book would be "a thousand splendid suns" by Khalid Hosseini. I love it so much that after finishing it i immediately started to reread it again. if you haven't read it yet please do, its a whole experience.
The Denzel Washington movie, Fallen. I saw it in college at that movie theaters, back when you’d just show up and see whatever was playing. I had no idea what it was about. And it terrified me! But also, introduced me to the majesty of The Rolling Stones.
I’m currently rereading Crime and Punishment. Before this I read Dost’s prison memoir, Notes of a Dead House. No movies lately but my girlfriend got me to finally watch Black Mirror. Not bad, I must admit. Terrifyingly believable.
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen was the first chapter book I ever read in elementary school. I choose that one because it was my first, and that was so fulfilling for me. I remember thinking I didn’t want to read any more books because, how could anything be as good as that one?🤣 I still have that reaction to every book I read LOL.
Great question! Probably an Agatha Christie mystery because once you know the ending, the book/movie is forever changed.
The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye. I was 19 the first time I read it. Unforgettable.
Stieg Larsson's The Millennium Trilogy in one sitting. I was engrossed with the books the first time I read them and to date will insist they're the most entertaining fiction I've ever read. When I finished the trilogy was the first and only time in my life I felt the French word "désœuvré" literally.
Les Miserables
Gone Girl. It's not my #1 book or movie even in its subgenre, but boy was that a fun twist. I would absolutely love to relive that surprise.
Great question Matt. As I've gotten older I find it harder and harder to re-envision those states of openness that I once inhabited. I do remember a book that impacted me extraordinarily though in my college years. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenece. The psychological, spiritual, philosophical journey that Pirsig took us on was unparalleled in my experience up to that point. The ramifications of that book stayed with me for years. It is one of the very few books that I was compelled to reread. In more recent times, maybe 15 years ago, Murakami's Wind-up Bird Chronicle was similarly impactful. But . . . which book (or movie) would I LIKE to reexperience with a "beginner's" mind?? That will require some additional ruminations. I'll have to get back to you Matt.
2001 A Space Oddysey "Open the podbay door Hal." With so much going on with AI these days, this is almost prophetic, amazing given when it was written!
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is my go to book and the movie was fine too. Another one is Madam Bovary by Gustav Flaubert but I have yet to watch the movie.
When a movie comes out my first impression is of loss of my imaginary world of the book and it is mostly ruined.