Here's the thing... I don't mind if you are going to add to a story taking from an author's collection of works, but when you make significant changes like... oh say, a minor character who dies in the beginning of the book doesn't actually die at all in the television show but in fact goes on to become a major character ... that's a pretty significant change! Can you still call it the same story? Should they have changed the title to something else, at least? Is it still Little Women if Beth doesn't die? (Sorry if that just ruined Little Women for anyone, but really, doesn't everyone know Beth dies?)
Or what about a supporting character in the book who doesn't die at all in the book who ends up dying in childbirth during the movie? Maybe that's not as bad. I don't know.
One thing I will say is that the humor in the book Cranford is so subtle but so hilarious. And the television adaptation definitely caught the flavor of the world of Cranford, even if it didn't get the plots right.
A friend asked if she should read or watch first. Here is my opinion: read Wives & Daughters then watch. Watch North & South, then read. Cranford? It doesn't really matter.
This winter I borrowed "Cranford" and "Return to Cranford" DVD's from our local public library and fell in love with these characters. I have yet to read the books, but from the extra features on the DVD's learned that the movies had altered the books in several areas including characters. I still plan to read these books one day soon!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! Lovely photo!
I remember watching North and South years ago and LOVING it! Never thought to read the book though. May just have to do it and try out the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your opinion of the reading/ watching order. I had watched both Cranford series before but Hubby had not, so we're watching them now. I had read the book beforehand, and he wants to read the book when we're finished watching. It'll be interesting to see if we have differing opinions of the book.
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