What’s The Best Way To Experience A Story?

I love reading books and I love going to the movies, but I’ve noticed a pattern. Movies generally have a specific interpretation of things and then present them definitively and clearly.  If anything is ambiguous or mysterious, it is done so intentionally. But with many books, it seems a lot is open to interpretation and the reader’s personal imagination.  So which is the best way to experience a story?

Almost everyone universally tends to say:  “the book was better” when comparing a book that they read and then seeing the movie version. I often see movies that are based on books without reading the books. I have nothing to compare it to except other movies and the merits of the film.

There is always an ongoing debate:  books vs. movies.  Both are entertaining and informative mediums, and both are needed to get a perspective on history, visions of the future, and an interpretation of today’s society.

Just as we encourage young kids to read along while listening to an audiobook, should we encourage people to see movies based on books they’ve read?  And what of plays, especially ones based on books? It’s a wonderful thing to have so many art forms to express and experience stories and ideas.

What we don’t typically see is the book coming after a movie or play – unless the book becomes something new, like a sequel to the movie.

There are some innovative book approaches to popular movies or TV.  Sometimes books continue the stories of a TV show long after the show expired.  In other cases, books supplement a movie or book, filling in aspects of a story that people still hunger to know.

I would love to see a day where all types of media honor the same story, where there’s a book out, TV show, movie, cartoon, play, comic book, concert, and other types of entertainment – each telling some version of the same thing.

Books are always a key part of any conversation.  The media writes about books. It interviews authors and quote them as experts.  Mass media uses books to craft its own materials, such as films and TV shows.  And books influence other books and authors.  But though it seems things begin with a book, books must, keep up with the world and the entertainment industry.  It’s a symbiotic relationship, where one influences the other.  There’s a synergy amongst all forms of media and communications.  

I’m so happy so many books lead the way and that society embraces books.  

This is how it should always be.

2016 Book Marketing & Book Publicity Toolkit

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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2016