Over the past decade or so, I've come back around to reading more books. I tried audiobooks, but found I could never fully pay attention to the words being narrated. There is nothing quite like reading a well-crafted sentence by an author. I recently read and finished "The Peregrine" by JA Baker and that is a book that NEEDS to be read. The writing and descriptions had me entirely focused and imaging what the author Baker was seeing at the time. Awesome book.
Wow, I haven’t thought of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater in years! I was in Boy Scouts in the 70s, and I recall going on camping trips carrying a small transistor radio. We would huddle around the radio’s 2” speaker, hanging on every word of that week’s show. Many of our parents and leaders grew up before TV, so I think it amused them to see us get so excited about listening to spoken word programs on the radio.
I stopped watching TV in the 60s. Drawing and making art proved more meaningful... and books. The first five years of our marriage Susie and I did not have a TV. Even when we got one, it was a tiny B&W and we only watched a couple shows (McLaughlin Report once a week and Monty Python).
I do believe movies have their place. However, it is a different medium and a different means of telling a story that should not (cannot) attempt to be just like the book.
I'm in the same camp, Kent. I've been wondering why because I used to love losing myself in a movie, and now I seldom see them and prefer to lose myself in a good book. I've come up with a semi-theory (I guess we can have those once in a while). I think this preference shift has occurred because of social media. We read so much more online these days, and yet that reading happens on a screen--words framed in what used to be a place for visual stories. I have zero data to support that, of course. Thanks for the post.
The written word automatically conjures up an audio scene or memory in your mind. Sounds just don’t evoke the same level of response. Like you I might have a different opinion when my vision goes.
The written word is a unique art form. Like movies, television, and audio. I love good movies and television series. However, I haven't gotten into audiobooks. I can't stay focused on them like I can with a movie. If I were one of those poor, unfortunate souls who have a long commute to work, I would probably try them.
Oddly, I struggle with novels recently. Once I get started, I don't want to stop reading, but it is a huge hurdle for me to start one.
I feel huge relief, reading this, because friends frequently suggest podcasts I 'should' listen too but I simply don't want to... I have sometimes wondered if I am missing out but I am happier wandering through forests of written words, and always prefer the book to the movie!
I agree with you that "the book" is ALWAYS better than THE MOVIE. But there are films that are perfect in their own right. I'm thinking of a lot of old British movies,Ealing + such. Also I find THE MUSICAL is better than THE MOVIE. I know when "jukebox" musicals first came out they were held in contempt by serious critics (who!) but some are REALLY good. The David Essex one shoehorns all his hits into a coherent storyline very cleverly. The Bob Marley one is excellent. Etc. And the musical version of "the film" is never an exact transposition. Usually a lot better. Mary Poppins on stage veers significantly from The Disney film but more true to P.Travers original. And I'm cock a hoop because I'm going to see Back To The Future (again) at The Adelphi Theatre,The Strand London later this month. If you're in London,don't miss it. What a show! It WORKS.
I dig it all. I love movies, grew up in Hollywood and while I find it increasingly hard to find some good ones they are magic. I'm with you on a good book - would rather not see that movie. Radio sure, music not talk radio. Podcasts sure, a few. Sometimes nice to listen at 2X speed ;) My kids sometimes want me to listen to one. I'm nurturing my reading habit back. Years of brain training on screens has made me reactive. The writing helps.
One thing we've totally dumped is broadcast TV. Holdup Kent - didn't you recommend the Beppo SNL skit today? that was funny!
I watch SNL clips on YouTube on Sundays. It’s part of the small bit if TV I do watch. I also watch DVDs of old shows, Christine & I watched all of Northern Exposure and now we are watching the really campy 1960s Batman.
I can't stay focused on a podcast either, my mind wanders. I need to have my eyes engaged with the image of words on paper. But I did used to enjoy that radio program, mystery theater.
I read because I can make mental pictures. Conjure them myself at my own pace.
That's one of the many many many reasons.
Also it doesn't snapchat itself away.....
Over the past decade or so, I've come back around to reading more books. I tried audiobooks, but found I could never fully pay attention to the words being narrated. There is nothing quite like reading a well-crafted sentence by an author. I recently read and finished "The Peregrine" by JA Baker and that is a book that NEEDS to be read. The writing and descriptions had me entirely focused and imaging what the author Baker was seeing at the time. Awesome book.
Wow, I haven’t thought of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater in years! I was in Boy Scouts in the 70s, and I recall going on camping trips carrying a small transistor radio. We would huddle around the radio’s 2” speaker, hanging on every word of that week’s show. Many of our parents and leaders grew up before TV, so I think it amused them to see us get so excited about listening to spoken word programs on the radio.
I stopped watching TV in the 60s. Drawing and making art proved more meaningful... and books. The first five years of our marriage Susie and I did not have a TV. Even when we got one, it was a tiny B&W and we only watched a couple shows (McLaughlin Report once a week and Monty Python).
I do believe movies have their place. However, it is a different medium and a different means of telling a story that should not (cannot) attempt to be just like the book.
I'm in the same camp, Kent. I've been wondering why because I used to love losing myself in a movie, and now I seldom see them and prefer to lose myself in a good book. I've come up with a semi-theory (I guess we can have those once in a while). I think this preference shift has occurred because of social media. We read so much more online these days, and yet that reading happens on a screen--words framed in what used to be a place for visual stories. I have zero data to support that, of course. Thanks for the post.
The written word automatically conjures up an audio scene or memory in your mind. Sounds just don’t evoke the same level of response. Like you I might have a different opinion when my vision goes.
I read for the same reasons. Radio Mystery theater.. can't say I remember it exactly. I do remember Firesign Theater - Nick Danger!
The written word is a unique art form. Like movies, television, and audio. I love good movies and television series. However, I haven't gotten into audiobooks. I can't stay focused on them like I can with a movie. If I were one of those poor, unfortunate souls who have a long commute to work, I would probably try them.
Oddly, I struggle with novels recently. Once I get started, I don't want to stop reading, but it is a huge hurdle for me to start one.
I feel huge relief, reading this, because friends frequently suggest podcasts I 'should' listen too but I simply don't want to... I have sometimes wondered if I am missing out but I am happier wandering through forests of written words, and always prefer the book to the movie!
I agree with you that "the book" is ALWAYS better than THE MOVIE. But there are films that are perfect in their own right. I'm thinking of a lot of old British movies,Ealing + such. Also I find THE MUSICAL is better than THE MOVIE. I know when "jukebox" musicals first came out they were held in contempt by serious critics (who!) but some are REALLY good. The David Essex one shoehorns all his hits into a coherent storyline very cleverly. The Bob Marley one is excellent. Etc. And the musical version of "the film" is never an exact transposition. Usually a lot better. Mary Poppins on stage veers significantly from The Disney film but more true to P.Travers original. And I'm cock a hoop because I'm going to see Back To The Future (again) at The Adelphi Theatre,The Strand London later this month. If you're in London,don't miss it. What a show! It WORKS.
I dig it all. I love movies, grew up in Hollywood and while I find it increasingly hard to find some good ones they are magic. I'm with you on a good book - would rather not see that movie. Radio sure, music not talk radio. Podcasts sure, a few. Sometimes nice to listen at 2X speed ;) My kids sometimes want me to listen to one. I'm nurturing my reading habit back. Years of brain training on screens has made me reactive. The writing helps.
One thing we've totally dumped is broadcast TV. Holdup Kent - didn't you recommend the Beppo SNL skit today? that was funny!
I watch SNL clips on YouTube on Sundays. It’s part of the small bit if TV I do watch. I also watch DVDs of old shows, Christine & I watched all of Northern Exposure and now we are watching the really campy 1960s Batman.
I can't stay focused on a podcast either, my mind wanders. I need to have my eyes engaged with the image of words on paper. But I did used to enjoy that radio program, mystery theater.
Agree.