Guest Blogger: Amber from Amberkatze Reviews

I would love to welcome Amber from Amberkatze’s Book blog – a truly fantastic site that is part of the reason LE is still here today – to the floor. Amber was one of the first blogger friends I made when I first launched LE and she was a fountain of information and still is. Today, Amber is here to talk about which came first – the book or the movie/television series, so I will leave you in her excellent hands.

Which came first?

The book or the movie/TV Series?

I remember reading Twilight and halfway through the book ordering New Moon. I have been an avid Sookie fan since I stumbled upon one of her books in a second hand store. While I never read the Vampire Diaries I have known of them since they were released three years ago. Tanya Huff’s Blood Books were one of the first paranormal books I read and enjoyed. The Dresden Files are still a favourite of mine. What have all these got in common? They have made their way from the book to the screen.

It has happened before. It is nothing new. However it has finally reached the paranormal genre and it doesn’t look like it is going to stop. Those books you have been following for years, the series you tried to introduce yours friends to and the novels you had to spend a lot of money on because they weren’t available in your local bookstore/library, are now on screen. You rejoice, you watch and you are happy the author finally got the fame and recognition they deserve but then your friends, family and the general public come along and ruin it.

The example here are the friends and family. Our nearest and dearest have been avoiding your interest in the paranormal for years. The wise cracks about reading another blood sucking novel are getting extremely boring. You have tried to introduce them to the genre by lending or gifting them books that may appeal to them because they are more mystery or romance orientated. However the gifts are gathering dust somewhere while the books you lent to them come back with a ‘I just couldn’t get into it’. Another words, ‘I kept it for a few weeks so it looks like I attempted it but I didn’t even read the back of the book’. Then it happens.

A drink with friends, you arrive late, they are already chatting intensely about something. They greet you and say they are just discussing a movie they went to see on the weekend. You listen intently as they talk about the film and how amazing it was, how the lead guy was so cute, that part two is coming soon and that they really need to go watch it again. You finally manage to ask what film. ‘Twilight of course!’ is the answer and you finally feel like you belong! You know all about Twilight! You have read the books and you secretly went to see the preview showing on your own two weeks ago ! Yay! Your friends have been turned!

So you casually mention the books. They look at you as if you are crazy. Then the problems begin. The same problems you get with anyone you meet who didn’t read the books first. You have to put up with them talking about the film and not being interested in the books. The ‘fans’ who only read the books because they just happened to see the films and now think they know everything. It is frustrating and annoying. Twilight is everywhere you go and suddenly the books have lost their special touch.

It is happening to me constantly and I am sure I am not the only Paranormal book lover out there who has the same problem. Reading about True Blood I often come across articles dissecting the story lines, annoyed about certain things happened, moaning about the new person on the show because they don’t like them and so on. Cut to me wanting to scream ‘Read the books and you will bloody understand why!’. Do they think that the makers of the series just decided that was the way things were going to go? Sure True Blood is only based on the books by Charlaine Harris but there is a huge amount of stuff from the books in there. Maybe these people should spend some more time reading and less time watching TV?

Now it seems that Paranormal is cool. Blood Ties, Moonlight and The Dresden Files may have been axed but they paved the way for the next batch of supernaturals who have made it to the big screen and been give prime time TV slots. What will be next? Do we want more? Should the books stay books? While I will always jump for joy when I see a book/series I love coming to life on screen I know I will eventually be left with the feeling of sadness. Why? Because despite my attempts to share my paranormal book world with others it took some special effects and well known apparently good looking actors to actually make them interested. That special book I got lost in is no longer a lovely memory but a gossip magazine cover.

So, that all said, who can’t wait for the next episode of True Blood and Eclipse?

_______________________________________________________

Contest Time!

Amber is offering up this freakingly amazing prize:

  • Mage in Black by Jaye Wells
  • The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
  • an ARC copy of Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison
  • an ARC copy of Werewolf Smackdown by Mario Acevedo
  • Stacey Kay cap with Undead Much? Logo
  • 4 Harry Dresden badges
  • Strangely Beautiful badge
  • ‘What’s your sin’ armband (from Stacia Kane)
  • Jeanne Stein pen
  • Various bookmarks, postcards, leaflets and cover flats (as seen in photo)  at least one of them is signed by the author…may add more!

Is this not a great collection of bookish things?  Everyone has three chances to get their name in the drawing.

  1. For leaving a comment here, answering the question: Who is your favorite paranormal television show and/or movie?;
  2. For leaving a comment at Amberkatze’s Book Blog, answering this question: Who is your favorite paranormal character? (A direct link will be included in the comments); and
  3. For sharing Amber’s stop at Literary Escapism on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it, share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your answer.

The contest is open internationally since Amber is over in Austria (this will mean a slight delay for any US winner, but that just means it’s our turn to wait for prizes like international winners usually do *grin*).

Amber will also offer a second prize – three books, her choice, from the books she have read in the last month – if there are over 100 entries between LE and Amberkatze (not counting entries for sharing the contest).  So spread the word!

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

25 Comments

  1. I’m not really into True Blood – I prefer the books. Most of my friends and family read so they tend to have read the books before the movies or TV shows come out. Of course then they sit and pick apart what they changed from the book.

  2. Great post Amber. My favorite paranormal TV shows are Buffy and True Blood. My favorite paranormal movies are the Underworld series and the Resident Evil series. Thanks for the contest!

  3. I tend to take an “Eh, who cares?” approach to that nonsense. I mean, what have I lost, really? I still have my book, and the story I enjoy. I can even discuss the story with those who haven’t read it, then show how smart I am: “Well, in the book they explained that. See…” So my friends don’t read. Sucks to be them.

    It doesn’t matter, really. In the long term, everything evens out. The 1981 Dune film is a mess, but thirty years later the novels are still considered science-fiction classics.

  4. You remind me of my sister and True Blood. I read the entire series of books before I ever watched an episode of True Blood. My sister has been watching True Blood since it started and hasn’t read one of the books. When I mentioned to her a couple of weeks ago “Hey, I saw this was supposed to be the episode where Alcide was introduced” the day after she watched it (I don’t have HBO), her comment was “Who?” I replied with “Werewolf.” She said “Oh, yeah.”

    My hubby was the same way with Twilight. He sat down in the middle of the movie, kept asking “why this?” and “why that?” and all I could say was “In the book….” He left after only a few minutes. I don’t think the movie made as much sense to someone who didn’t read the book as it would be to someone who did.

    But I’m almost to the end of season 2 of True Blood and even though it varies a little from the books, I LOVE IT! I’m actually wondering what I’m going to do when I finish. I’ll be lost and lonely….well, me and my huge TBR pile of books!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

  5. Hi Amber,
    So glad to find a new site and to see you here. I love your blog and have been following for awhile now. :)
    As to the question, I love TrueBlood and Sunday has become my fave day of the week. I read the books first and met Charlaine Harris before she made the decision to go with Alan Ball. It was a blast knowing about it before most people and asking her questions about the series. Like was Quinn more Mr. Clean or Vin Diesel…It was Vin Diesel and it made it all the better! I think by reading the books first you know the characters better, you already have your faves and when that doesn’t exactly come across through the movie/tv show you feel cheated sometimes. I think most people that only watch the show are saying Eric is their fave based on looks, if you read the books you were already in love with Eric! And Pam, I mean in the books she has a bigger part and she is strong on her own. Not till this season can we see Pam as a strong woman and a very big part of the story. Glad they did that. Jason didn’t seem quite such a dunce in the books, he had his faults but the show protrays him much worse. But you wouldn’t know that unless you read the books first. So I totally agree with you.
    I got several of my friends into books of the paranormal and erotica genre, Yeah and we love sharing books and finding new authors. I got lucky I think after reading your blog. :)
    Great questions and ooo the prizes are lovely!

  6. My absolute favorite paranormal show ever is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If I have to pick out of those currently on the air, then I’m going for Supernatural. I’m a Dean girl! :-)

  7. I have to admit my favorite is Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel although I loved the Dresden Files (short as it was). I have to agree about the frustration of enjoying the books more than the movie/series. My favorite Stephanie Meyer’s book is The Host but whenever I mention it to people who are talking about Twilight I always get a “What? You mean she wrote other books?” It kills me every time!

  8. My favorite paranormal show ever is Kindred The Embraced. It was on in the late 90’s. My favorite paranormal movie is Underworld.
    Great giveaway!

  9. What a great article. One of my all time favorite series that turned into a TV show is The Vampire Daries. I actually read it back when it was very first published in 1991 and completely fell in love. I then read it several times over the years and of course had to read it again when the 5th book came out last year. I was so excited that after 18 years LJ Smith decided to continue Elena, Stephan and Damon’s story! Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed in the book. Regardless I still couldn’t wait for the TV show to come out.

    I have to admit that I was incredibly disappointed in the show once it first came out. It’s as if they took a few character names, the premise of Vampires and a few other small things and then threw away the rest of the story. Elena no longer has blond hair, a little sister and a best friend named Meredith…she now has dark brown hair, a younger brother and Meredith doesn’t exist. I could go on and on about the differences. LOL Despite this I still liked the show and realized that in order to keep watching I had to separate the book series from the tv series…look at them as two completely different things. Otherwise it was going to drive me nuts. LOL

    I also watch and love True Blood, Dexter, Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars…all books, but none of them I’ve read.

  10. Though not books, I’m a Buffy girl, through and through. Having said that, I am also guilty of having Supernatural marathons. I am dying for the Vampire Diaries to come to DVD, even though I didn’t get into the books at all. The Sookie books were also a bust for me and I couldn’t maintain enthusiam for the show either.

    The ultimate for me though, are the Harry Potter books and movies. Like Lisa, I had to separate the books from the movies or else I should run mad. (mumblemumble talking shrunken heads mumble that freakin’ dragon mumblemumble)

    I remember reading last week that the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead is being optioned. I’m quite excited by that.

  11. I have to admit, I’m not watching any of the current crop of paranormal TV shows – I’d rather read – but my all time favorite TV show is Buffy. At the time, I didn’t read paranormals at all (I guess I was getting my fix through Buffy and later Angel). But I know that it paved the way for my current love of UF.

  12. Great post! I must admit, I almost never like the movie version of books I’ve enjoyed as much as the books themselves. I really like getting to visualize the characters for myself, and many of the books I like give lots of insight into the character’s thoughts that would be difficult to do in film or TV. Usually I still enjoy the films and TV shows, just not as much as the books.

    As for your question, I’m going to be very unoriginal and say Buffy. But I also have a soft spot for the ’90s TV series “Forever Knight”; not sure how well it would hold up now, but I loved it back in the day.

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

Comments are closed.