Why I Like to Read
- Maria P Frino
- Sep 17
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 20
Why I Like to Read: And Why the Book is Always Better
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Reading is a passion of mine. I believe the book is always better. The extra details that books provide enrich the journey of the characters. A screen adaptation often lacks the depth that a book can convey. The visual imagery in books captivates my imagination, even though it's not a visual medium. I know saying the book is always better is a bold statement, but keep reading, and I'm sure you will agree with me.
Genres I Enjoy
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I read many genres, but there are two I avoid: horror and erotic fiction. While many readers enjoy these genres, they don't appeal to me. I prefer a good hearty drama, adventure, romance, or fantasy—especially the book version. These genres entertain me for days, if not weeks.
The Joy of Reading
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Reading brings me immense joy. The characters often stay with me long after I finish their stories. A life without books is inconceivable to me. However, I also enjoy watching movies and series adapted from stories I have read. As an author, I find it interesting to see how scriptwriters treat the story. Unfortunately, many adaptations fail to do the book justice. I empathize with anyone involved in adapting a popular book. Fans can be brutal if a production doesn't meet their expectations.
Three Adaptations Where the Book Was Better
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Here are three of my favorite books by some of my favorite authors that were adapted into series or movies by Netflix. I will explain why I believe the book is always better and why I love to read.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Published in 2012, I recently re-read Me Before You after finding a copy in a local street library. How good are those little libraries? So many treasures to be found! Afterward, I re-watched the movie, released in 2016, starring Sam Claflin as William Traynor and Emilia Clarke as Louisa Clark. I realized how much of the story was left out. Yes, Louisa, or Lou as everyone knew her, was hired as William's carer due to his wheelchair. However, a significant part of her backstory was omitted. The movie fails to provide a deeper reason for why she accepted the job.
A few other changes were made for the movie, but they didn't alter the story significantly. The author tackled tough subjects, but unfortunately, the movie didn't convey them all. Some themes were brushed aside with the 'rom-com' trope, which would have suited a more light-hearted movie but not this one. While there is a love angle in the book, it is supported by serious topics that should have been included in the script.
The book version of Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is definitely better than the movie adaptation. Read it to discover so much more about the two leads and how their parents and siblings fit into their lives.
One Day by David Nicholls
One Day was adapted into a movie in 2011. The book, released in 2009, received much critical acclaim, and David Nicholls was awarded the 2010 Galaxy Book of the Year Award. He was also named Author of the Year at the 2014 National Book Awards.
The movie starred Anne Hathaway as Emma Morley and Jim Sturgess as Dexter Mayhew. It received mixed reviews, further supporting the notion that the book is better. The story follows two college graduates who meet and spend a platonic night together on the eve of their graduation. They agree to remain friends for the next 20 years, despite the sparks between them. Eventually, they marry.
While the movie left me feeling okay, I wasn't satisfied that it told the whole story. In 2024, Netflix released a series starring Ambika Mod as Emma and Leo Woodall as Dexter. For me, these actors were closer to how I envisioned the characters when I read the book. This story is an emotional roller coaster, which likely explains why it received two adaptations.
Even though the series redeemed the story on screen, the book was definitely better. It evokes every emotion, and the characters' lives linger with you after reading.
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is a well-known American author who has written many novels since the 90s. She published Firefly Lane in 2008, and it remained on the New York Times Bestseller List for 28 weeks. The book explores a lifelong friendship between characters Tallulah 'Tully' Hart and Kate Mularkey. It resonated with many readers and was named Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, and the Wall Street Journal.
Books by this author are often scrutinized, but not always positively. She knows how to tug at readers' heartstrings, which can be both a strength and a weakness. Some critics find her stories contrived.
The Netflix series of Firefly Lane aired for two seasons—February 2021 and April 2023—with Katherine Heigl as Tully Hart and Sarah Chalke as Kate Mularkey. Kate's husband, Johnny Ryan, was played by Ben Lawson, an Australian actor. Although his character in the book was not Australian, the producers allowed Ben to keep his accent. This change didn't affect the story negatively, but I question why an American actor wasn't chosen instead. Regardless, I enjoyed Ben Lawson's portrayal.
The friendship explores the trope of motherhood versus career, a well-trodden theme. The 'party girl' and 'dorky girl' becoming unlikely friends is also effectively portrayed in the book, though not as much in the series. The series seemed to emphasize co-dependency, which I didn't feel was present in the book.
There are many differences between the series and the book, including the addition of characters like Tully's love interests. What annoyed me most about the series was that Kate and Johnny only had one child, Marah. What happened to her siblings, the twin boys? Perhaps they were omitted to allow more space for the leads. Additionally, Tully was never pregnant in the book, and there was no divorce between Kate and Johnny; they remained together despite their challenges. And let's not even discuss the ending—who actually died in the book?
I understand that producers and scriptwriters change stories for dramatic purposes, but in this case, the book was far superior. I believed in the characters more while reading.
Is the Book Always Better?
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In many cases, yes. As a reader, I may be biased, but as an author, I know how much more of the story I can add to the book. Screen adaptations, especially movies, can only convey so much of the story in a limited timeframe. With a series, there is more room to stay true to the book's storyline. However, as seen with Firefly Lane, a series can allow for more changes if that is what the producers desire. As a standalone, the series was okay, but when compared to the book, it's a whole different story.
Another thing that frustrates me as a reader and author is when producers change the ending of a book to suit the adaptation. Why? When a story has a satisfying ending, why alter it? This is another point of contention for fans, as the author should choose the ending, not the producers.
What Other Adaptations Have Been Less Than Perfect?
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Not all readers were happy with the Harry Potter movies, especially in The Prisoner of *Azkaban when the robes were replaced with ordinary jeans and hoodies. While this didn't detract from the story, fans were displeased. This was just one of many alterations made to fit the movie medium.
Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings are two more epic adaptations that divided audiences.
What annoys you about adaptations? Do you have examples of a book where the screen version just didn't work?
Want to Discuss Topics Like This at Book Events?
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Happy reading,
Maria P Frino
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