Guest Blogger #2: Why I prefer to watch the movie first

Today Annie from MamaDweeb.com is stopping by. I was thrilled when she agreed to do a guest post here at Crazy Book Slut, and what an awesome topic she picked. Can't wait to hear where other's lie on this topic! Come on give the comment love to Annie and head over to her fantastic blog, you won't be sorry!

Why I prefer to watch the movie first:

Reading is my first love. I remember being a very young girl - 7 or 8 years old - and running away to a quiet room in my grandparent's house with my Laura Ingalls Wilder book, ready for another adventure in the big woods. As I grew older I began to fall in love with words. Poetry attracted me in my melodramatic pre teen years and you could find me holed away in a room, pen in hand as I tried to express the longings of my soul. (Told you I was melodramatic!) Every day in high school I had a thick novel in my backpack, ready to read when the moment was free enough.

Naturally as I started to become interested in movies not of the Disney genre I started with those based on books. After my first few experiences with them (I think "Sara Plain and Tall" was one of my first) I vowed to always watch the movie before reading the book.

So why do I prefer to watch the movie first? If I love books so much, shouldn't I want that primarily over any visual presentation?

Cause the books are better, and for me the movie always ruin it. There has only been a selective few movies that followed even the basic plot line of the book it was based on, and this infuriates me. Take "The Count of Monte Cristo" for example. From the middle of that movie on it is night and day different from the book. The ending is entirely different - the only similarities are the names of the characters. If I read the book first (as I did here) I become disgusted at the movie makers and the magic of my book is shattered.

However, if I watch the movie first I set myself up for a mystery of sorts. I already know that the two will deviate from one another and when I have the movie fresh in my mind it is exciting for me to read through the book and discover how it really happened. What did the author originally intend?

Another benefit of watching the movie first is the visual aspect. I struggle with imagining how characters look and what they are wearing as I read. Sometimes I even have to put the book down and google the time period to get an idea before I can move on. I am a very visual person and love to see the book act out in my mind. If I watch the movie first I have the costumes and characters already depicted. That is one aspect of the movies that has not let me down yet - the costumes and the scenery. And there have been some breathtaking ones - "Pride and Prejudice" being a superb example!

I will forever watch the movie first. What about you? I know I am in the minority here, so why do you prefer to read the book before watching the movie?

Annie

Dying to hear everyone's thoughts on this. I have always been a book first than movie, but Annie brings up some awesome points!

Until next time...
Happy Reading!

Guest Blogger #1: Kim from Mentally Inked

Crazy book Slut is jumping abord the Guest Blogger express. Thought it would be fun to bring you all a fresh face.

The first guest blogger I would like you to meet is Kim from Mentally Inked. She is a gal I love chit chatting with and we do this a lot over at Twitter! She has spunk! Read what she has to say about one of her fave authors. Show her some love in the comments and than head over to Mentally Inked and continue with the love.

The floor is yours Kim, take it away.....

Ever since I was a kid, I've loved to read! I'd sit & get nothing done until that book was finished, which I'm sure my parents loved.

As an adult, I still love to read, & still don't get anything done until I'm finished with whatever book I'm reading, which I'm sure my hubby loves.

I'm one of those people who needs a happy ending in her stories. I really enjoy books that can make me laugh. Here are a few of those books, they are filled with humor, & sarcasm, & love. You can't forget the love.

Have y'all heard of a "little" author named Jennifer Crusie? If not, then you definitely need to check her out. While I may not love all of her books (I hate saying that aloud, so I'm happy I'm typing!), she's written some pretty great ones, books I've read several times. And you have got to appreciate an author that throws an ugly dog or cat into most (if not all) of her books!

Agnes & the Hitman-Come on, a cook named Angry Agnes, who hits people w/skillets (I've fantasized about doing this-several times!)? How many stories do you know have flamingos, secret rooms, backwoods gangs, hit men & a wedding in the making where everything that can, will go wrong? All that & more in one story! How can you not love it??? I must find my copy & read it again!

Bet Me-Not everyone was meant to be a size 0 & it doesn't mean you can't get the beautiful boy! And everyone knows that all diet & no bread makes us mean girls! I adore this book! I love the attitude, the shoes, the diet coke-w/diet rum, the donuts, the Chicken Marsala (this book makes me crave it!), everything!

Welcome to Temptation-A con artist's kids, women that spout movie quotes when nervous, a yummy widower mayor, an in process porn movie, a small town, mysterious deaths, etc. It's true that while you may truly love your family, they will make you crazy! I've read this book many times & still love it.

Faking It-You should read Welcome to Temptation first, as this book has some of the same characters. It's not mandatory, but I think it'll help you understand some of the characters a little better. This is a story has got painting forgers, thieves, a con artist, a woman w/a split personality (I don't know about you, but I'd love to be able to put on a wig & be someone else a few days a week), pineapple orange muffins, animal-painted furniture, women that, in my head, look kinda like Betty Boop, a pool-hustling, sexy nerd w/horn-rimmed glasses & more!

I know I'm so super-convincing that you're gonna run out & get these, but don't forget about her other books!

Until next time...
Happy Reading!