I used to read the books before I watched the TV show or movie, but the older I get, the less time it seems I have to keep up with both. So, more often now, I find myself seeing the adaptation before reading the book. Here’s why that might be the better choice.
Get an Image of the Setting and Characters
Most readers prefer to come up with a picture in their head of what they think the story’s setting looks like or what the characters look like. If you’re like me, though, seeing the visual adaptation first is incredibly helpful. I’m not the type of person who can picture the book’s details clearly in my mind; I need a blueprint, and I know I’m not the only one.
Seeing the adaptation can be especially useful for those with aphantasia, a condition in which a person cannot conjure a picture in their mind’s eye. Watching the movie or television show before reading the book can help these readers get a clearer vision of what they’re reading.
Consume More Content in Less Time
I know, I know, watching the movie or TV show before reading the book, or without ever reading the book, is a total cop-out. But think about people who just don’t have the time to sit and read a 400+ page book. You might counter with audiobooks, but remember not all audiobooks are created equal.
Chances are if the book has been adapted, it will have an audiobook to accompany it, but that doesn’t mean the narrator does it justice. Not to mention, there are some people who don’t have the focus to listen to audiobooks. That’s when movies and TV shows come into play. They make it easier to consume a story with an added visual, and it takes less time to do so than reading a full novel.
Make it Easier to Follow Characters’ Family Trees
We all know which books I’m talking about. The intricate, complex worlds filled with generations of characters whose stories converge somewhere along the way. I admit I watched seasons one and two of Game of Thrones before I ever picked up the first book in the series. I’m glad I did. As soon as I delved into the first A Song of Ice and Fire book, my head began to spin trying to keep track of who was who. Without my knowledge of the characters and their stories from the HBO show, I would have been so lost.
Watching a movie or television adaptation before reading its source material helps you appreciate the novel more. It puts faces to the names, so you have a foundation for the ever-growing character list, letting you spend more time enjoying the story and less time trying to remember who the heck that one guy was three chapters back.
@gameofthronesCover photo by @cosyfaerie
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