Book or Movie?

Each time a new movie comes out that is based on a book, I hear a lot of conversation about the pros and cons of reading the book first versus watching the movie first.  Some people feel that if you read the book first then you get a better understanding of the plot and characters and have more of an opportunity to create the characters in your own mind using your imagination. An obvious downside of this is that you open yourself to disappointment, if the characters in the movie don’t meet your expectations.

Some people prefer to watch the movie first and get an overview of the story and a ready-made perception of the characters and then read the book after to fill in the gaps, although others maintain that the story is often too confusing to follow without reading the book first.

The practical reality of movies is that they need to fit all the action into a certain amount of time and budget, whereas a book can be as long and fantastical as the author decides it should be. So when the screenwriters and directors come to make a book into a movie, they have to be selective about what they put in and what they leave out.  This is a very subjective process and there is often debate that vital elements have been left out of the movie even though they were pivotal in the book.

Whether you read the book first or watch the movie first, I would always suggest that you do take the time to read and enjoy the book complete with its intricate descriptions and scope for imagination. The original story will always be exactly what the writer wants you to perceive so you have a window into his or her thoughts and feelings.  You can spend as much time as you need or want to absorb and enjoy the story and go back and reread favourite, confusing or surprising parts. As much as we all like to spend time socialising with our friends, it is sometimes very refreshing to have some private quality time with a book.

The Lorax

There is no better way to illustrate the plight of our struggling Earth than the message of The Lorax, who speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler, as told by Dr Seuss. When we hear about the greed and closed-mindedness that compels the Once-ler to continue destroying the Truffula trees, it is a sharp reminder for people of all ages to sit up and take note.

There are many books in the library such as Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and The Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davies that show us the urgency with which we need to act, as well as ideas and practical suggestions on how to go about doing this. Every person, whatever their age, needs to find a small way to contribute. Every light we turn off, every bottle or paper we recycle, every tap we shut tight will contribute to us saving the Earth from the same fate as the polluted, grim world we see in The Lorax. And never before has the warning of the book been more relevant than it is today:

"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." -The Lorax

We must always remember that “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.” - Marshall McLuhan

To listen to a beautifully dramatised and illustrated reading of The Lorax by Dr Seuss go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNnXEDUb_zw

Here are some fun bookmarks for you to make and enjoy:

http://www.origami-resource-center.com/books-and-bookmarks.html

http://nheilke.com/blog/2011/02/corner-page-bookmarks-3/

Please remember to come and show me what you have made.
Have fun!