Being fans of books you would think that when we hear the word adaptation uttered, we would suddenly get giddy with excitement, right? No. Most book-lovers, myself included, cringe and the most prominent thought that enters the mind? I really hope they don’t ruin that story. We have all been there when our beloved stories and characters have been massacred. For me it happened when I was still a kid and had fallen in love with Phillip Pullman’s series His Dark Material. I was barely containable when I found out that they were making it into a movie, and my childlike excitement got a hard reality check. The movie was terrible, and left little Book Steff feeling very disappointed.
Okay, so maybe they aren’t all that bad, and maybe the younger me was just feeling bitter about one of my childhood favourite book being turned into a mess. Truth is, it can be done well. We all know that. Harry Potter for example is a book series I loved as a kid, and I adored all the movies. In fact, I religiously went to the cinema every time a new one released, but the difference? It was true to the feel of Hogwarts, the cast was spot on, and everything I visually needed from it was given to me. The problem I mainly have with adaptations, no it isn’t the subtle changes of character developement or plot, it is that most don’t achieve the correct sense of feeling I get when I read the book. There isn’t that immersive feeling when you sink into the pages of a new world, and it can be done!…Hello Game of Thrones anyone?
I suppose I’m ranting a bit and I must confess it may or may not have something to do with the fact Netflix are adapting Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher series this year. Might be something to do with that…maybe…okay a lot to do with that. I’m scared people! I’m terrified they are going to ruin such a magical world, and amazing characters. I am open to changes, but I need to feel as though I am in that world, surrounded by all the wonders and chaos etc. I need it to have a sense of itself in there.
How do you feel when movies/ TV series come from your favourite books? Are you apprehensive, and a pent up ball of nerves like me? Or are you excited at the prospect of what could be? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear what you think.
Book Steff's Bookish Blog 
I get really nervous when my favorites get adapted! One that I’m actually looking forward to is Greta Gerwig’s Little Women adaptation that stars herself, Emma Watson and Saoirse Ronan, all of whom I think make perfect March sisters!
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Yeah, I’m the same! Oh I didn’t know about that line up; that should be interesting 😍!
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I hope it lives up to all of the hype I have built in my head! 😂
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Thats the problem I face too. If I love a book then I build up want I want from the adaptation, and if it doesn’t deleiver get upset 😫😂😂
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Same!! I absolutely hated The Lovely Bones adaptation but I’ve seen a lot of people who’ve read the book like it, so I’m not sure what i missed lol
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I havent watched the movie so I can’t comment on that one 😂! But I do always find it funny when others love an adaptation that I don’t 😂
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I actually get SUPER excited whenever a book I love gets an adaptation announcement, but it’s usually when the cast starts getting announced that I start feeling more confident or more wary about how it’s going to turn out! If the cast are people that I like or can see being a good fit for the character then I’ll be more sure of my excitement 🙂
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I’m just always so nervous now 😫😂! I have major trust issues with adaptations 😂😂! But yes, I’ll get more excited too if I think the cast is on point 👌💜
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Good point! It’s weird how it works: Harry Potter was a fantastic book-to-screen adaption, but then you get ones that ruin it, like The Northern Lights. I’m so happy that it’s being made into a TV series; fingers crossed this one will be better!
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We can only hope 😭😭😂
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I always look forward to adaptations of books I like, but I am also a bit wary that it won’t be very good. Like you I love the Harry Potter films. 🙂
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Yeah, I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s exciting that the author is getting recognition for a world I love, but on the other hand it’s just so damn scary 😭😂😂
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After the trainwreck that was the Percy Jackson movies, I just immediately get wary of adaptations. I don’t trust them.
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I have to admit I thought they were terrible too 😭
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Honestly, I really don’t care much about adaptations? I’m happy for the publicity the author and the book is gonna get, but otherwise I’m fine with never witnessing the adaptation. They can be good or bad but my primary domain is books and nothing can change that 😂 (but i really hope the grishavwrse tv adaptation is good)
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I have to admit there are load of adaptations I dont get around to. Mostly because I don’t do a lot of tv or movies in general. I’m just too busy for it 😂! And in my spare time, I’d rather read, but I do make exceptions when it’s a book I’m really keen tonsee adapted 🤗
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