Time Travelers Wife - the movie or the book?
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
October 12, 2009 11:22am CST
I want to either read or watch whichever is best... what is your conclusion? I often read the book and then see the movie and they are so totally different it is almost like two different stories (like Gone WIth the Wind) however sometimes they are both good.
I read Nights in Rodanthe and was spell bound with the book.. read it in 3 hours without putting it down. Saw the movie and was disgusted that they trashed that amazing story the way they did. If I hadn't read the book, I wouldn't have had hardly a cluse what was going on in the movie.
I have heard the book of Time Travelers Wife was really good and then not much later the movie came out...so if you have read and seen... which is the best?
And one other question...what does the husband "do" when he goes back in time.. other than meet his wife and wait for their time? Or maybe the question should be "why" does he go back in time to the times slots he goes to?
2 people like this
8 responses
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
12 Oct 09
As Yet,I've only read the book,so can't yet say which I'd prefer,as the Movie has yet to be released in a cinema near Me..But I think I will probably go and see it when it does..From what I've read of the Movie's reviews online,the Movie does not follow the book very closely,with various plot threads cut out..this seems to be a common thing with movie adaptations..and they do stress it is an "Adaptation" for the screen..They've gone with what seems to them to be the best way to put the story core up there on the big screen,but this might not be an approach favoured by those who hold the source material dear..I enjoyed reading the book,so hope to enjoy the Movie..maybe I'll jump back to this narrative once I'm in a time when I've seen the Movie!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Oct 09
Yeah, I'd like to know what you think of the movie. I am waiting till it comes out on DVD at Blockbuster! But I want the book in the meantime to read first. I just have seen/read so many that were so different. Like I mentioned Nights in Rodanthe and Gone With the Wind... the books were so much better. But then I just got the box set of North and South (PAtrick Swazye was main character) for them mini series aired back in the 80's - that mini series is SOOOO GOOOODDDD. Those characters were so real and life like and the situation was related very well for both sides. I heard later that it was from a book by John Jakes... and heard alot of big descrepancies...like Orry lost an arm, not disabled his leg... things like that. I don't want to read the book as the movie was so great...I'm good with it! But others.. the movie was not as good as the book, or left so many parts out that they seemed almost non-related (did you know Scarlett had 4 children? One by every husband?) I will get the book and start there. Thanks for your thoughts
@shibakat (27)
• United States
13 Oct 09
I have found that books are almost always, if not always, superior to movies. I have not seen the Time Traveler's Wife, but the book was incredible, and I would definitely recommend that you read it. To answer your questions, the husband jumps through time, not just backwards, and he doesn't choose when he jumps or what time he jumps to...it just kind of happens. It's been a while since I have read the book, but I believe that a majority of the jumps do have to do with his interactions with either his wife as she is in the future or in the past. It is, after all, supposed to be a book about his wife. Whether you decide to watch the movie or not, I do hope that you read the book.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Oct 09
After all the comments here.. I definatly will read the book first... and only maybe rent the movie when is comes to BLockbuster! A movie can only tell you 1,1/2 hours worth of character info and events... but hte book can give you hours on end! I will be getting the book this weekend. Hopefully I can find it reasonably priced! Thanks for you thoughts. I look forward to reading it! And I too, think that most often the book is better than the movie!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
11 Nov 09
I got the book for $10... and started to the first few chapters... but my problem is first finding time to read.. but then when I do.. I don't switch "mind gears" that fast.. apparently. I often have to go back and check the dates that are stated at the beginning of each chapter.. calculate the ages and do a "is this before or after last chatper in time?" thing. I think that if I had more continous time, I'd do better. but for now.. I'll read the best I can..and for $10.. I know I'll get my money out of it as I know I will read it again!!!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Oct 09
It came on in movie form this past summer...end of July I think or about that time. That is the first I heard of it...someone here mentioned it and since I like time travel themes, I was going to see the movie, but then heard it was from a book and most often the book is better than the movie becuase of exactly as you say.. the imagination.... I get bored really quick with movies! I am going to get the book this weekend. I have not heard a single word about how the movie "was". Thanks for your thoughts
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
13 Oct 09
Usually the book is a lot better than the movie. If it comes to a choice you should go for the book. That's where the story was most likely created in the first place and there is a lot more room in a book to tell a story. Most movies made from books are really abreviations of the same story with alterations.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Oct 09
I tend to agree with you there. Books are usually better as they have the "time" to make things special and matter to the reader. Movies are 1,1/2 hours only! And then half the time it isn't about the story, it is about who headlines in the movie. I'm going to get the book. Thanks for your thoughts.
@liquorice (3887)
•
12 Oct 09
Well I'm glad you asked this because I want to know too! My husband had the book a while ago, and I was going to read it but then he lent it to somebody else!! 
So I'm thinking that maybe I should just see the film (not that I really ever have the chance to go out, but if I did...)
But like you, I'm wondering whether the film will be as good as the book's meant to be. I love reading a book and building up my own idea of what the characters are like, but then often when you see the film your mental pictures are completely shattered. And, like you say, the stories can sometimes be very different too. So I don't want to do both.
Maybe one day we'll get the book back and I'll read it. 
So I'm thinking that maybe I should just see the film (not that I really ever have the chance to go out, but if I did...)
But like you, I'm wondering whether the film will be as good as the book's meant to be. I love reading a book and building up my own idea of what the characters are like, but then often when you see the film your mental pictures are completely shattered. And, like you say, the stories can sometimes be very different too. So I don't want to do both.
Maybe one day we'll get the book back and I'll read it. 1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Oct 09
You know, I think that is so true... we do build the characters in our minds and they are great or crappy, but when we see them on the screen... often it is hard to put the character we know with the face on the screen... often it isn't even about the character anymore.. but the actor on the screen. Frankly, Richard Gere was not who I'd a picked for the part in Nights in Rodanthe! Not sure who, but not him! I don't think he played the part the way I think the book meant the character to be. I will get the book and start there. At worst.. the book will just have more in it than the movie.. but hopefully they don't trash the main characters. I have not heard a single word about the movie or how it did, since I saw the previews of it on TV. Thanks for your thoughts.
1 person likes this
@liquorice (3887)
•
15 Oct 09
Yes, after we've read the book the characters on screen can never really match the ones we have in our heads! I don't know the film you mentioned with Richard Gere, but I can definitely relate. I've seen a few films that have completely different endings to the books, some that are set in different countries, and some where they completely transformed central characters.
However, it doesn't always spoil the film if you've read the book already. One of my favourite films, Hi Fidelity, was set in London in the original book by Nick Hornby. Then the film came out and the story was displaced to Chicago! I still loved both the film and the book versions. Mainly because the characters seemed to fit, even if they might not have been exactly how I pictured them, and I love the actors John Cusack and Jack Black, who played the main characters.
@ramos13192 (142)
• United States
12 Oct 09
Well I watched the movie with my girlfriend and she read the book after because she really liked the movie. And now shes obsessed with the book lol. But I thought it was a good movie but I haven't read the book so I can't really tell you which is better. My girlfriend thinks they are both "awsome" if that helps.lol
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Oct 09
I think it is one where the book is so much better than the movie.. that seems to be the general concensus. Frankly, most probably are as they have more "time" with a book to tell the story.. a movie only gets 1,1/2 horus! Thanks for your comments
@coolcat123 (4387)
• India
13 Oct 09
I always prefer the movie than reading the book. Its becos my brain rests and I dont want to use it while watching a movie. Its a short cut or rather easier way to understand the movie or the story of the movie.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Oct 09
I know what you mean about using the brain! I don't like watching most of the prime time dramas.. first cause they are mostly nothing but about s*e*x and violance and second... they are to much "work". You have to follow so closely, not miss a single second, and make sure you don't blink or you will miss something! That is to much work to enjoy the show! A book... you can re-read whether it is a favorite part or just to make sure you get complete thought. I will be getting the book first and wait till the movie comes out on DVD at Blockbuster! Thanks for your thoughts
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
13 Oct 09
I've been waiting for the movie to be released on dvd. I had no idea there was a book. I will probably go look for it now. However in this instance I would assume the movie would be better because of the subject. It would follow that the special affects would be spectacular. I guess we will wait and see.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Oct 09
I only heard about it cause someone mentioned the movie and I enjoy time travel stories. I will wait till it is rentable at Blockbuster to see it. I will get the book first. Thanks for your thoughts
