Gormenghast.

It's the kind of book that exists only in the mind. It's not likely that one reader's interpretation matches any other interpretation, but the makers of the Gormenghast movie (ten years ago now!) managed to match my interpretation of the characters so perfectly that.. I believe the technical word is "spooky."

Even if you've never head of Mervyn Peake or Titus Groan, character names like Dr. Prunesquallor, Nannie Slag, Cora and Clarice Groan, Barquentine and Lady Fuchsia (and of course Steerpike) all must trigger some sort of impression in the mind. Added to this were things such as:

° Christopher Lee was an acquaintance of the author of the books, Mervyn Peake.

° Lady Gertrude's white crow was - at the time anyway - the only known white crow in the world.

° Author Mervyn Peake's granddaughters appear as extras in the movie.

Couple that with the knowledge that Mervyn Peake was slowly going utterly bonkers as he wrote the last volume of the trilogy and the books create a definite impression in the mind. Personal to me is the fact that another favourite author of the time (Robert Heinlein) was also becoming stranger and stranger in a strange land (a fact which became very obvious in his writings at the time) and Gormenghast became not so much a novel as an amazing experience.

In my mind, the movie captured all I expected and much that I didn't. Not my favourite movie, not better than the book, but as good as the book and that's high praise from me.

I just ordered the 1925 'Lost World' silent movie (93 minute version). I'll let you know if it's better than the book.

Even the awful SciFi Channel series is better than the book!

Surely not?

Sorry to any fans, but the book is turgid at best.

There are some wonderfully awful versions of The Lost World out there, especially because of their abysmal dinosaurs.

The book "A Clockwork Orange" is stunning, but the film takes the essence and delivers something incredible.

20+ years later, I still have nightmares from that movie. Thanks for reminding me of it.

(please note the sarcasm...)

Wasn't the Glasgow underground train also referred to as the Clockwork Orange on account of the livery?

<Suggests VM avoid Glasgow>

And on account of being circular.

Honestly, I didn't understand the Orange movie at all, other than it showed how horrible people can be to one another. I doubt I will make it to the other side of the pond again, but if I should, I'll avoid Glasgow. No need to have nightmares while on vacation.

I can't think of any movie that was better than the book, but that may be due to my reluctance to see a movie after I've read the book. I really don't like knowing the end of the story even before I've begun watching. Harry Potter being an exception, but it shows the other reason I don't like seeing the movie after reading the book. They leave so much out, and they change things!

I know that's "artistic license" or whatever, but the movie series changed Hermione's character - made her more decisive and confident - and took away some of my favorite lines from the book. Really irritating. So I'm back to my usual behavior of ignoring the movie.

Sometimes, though, if I find out a movie I like is based on a book, I'll read the book to see if it's better. Usually it is.

Fight Club

Frankenstein

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Enid Blyton?

'Notes on a Scandal'- film ending better than book, I think.

The Shawshank Redemption.

Hitchcock's The Thirty nine Steps prompted me to read John Buchan's original. It is the worst book that I have ever read; possibly the worst book ever published

Now, there's thread we ought to have

I actually quite enjoyed the 39 steps. Not quality literature granted but not bad filler.

Dear Cannibal Rabbit, re 39 steps you're probably a boy.

E'en so the film was much better than the book, and funny to boot.