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The Book Was Better: The Triumphs and Travesties of Book to Film Adaptation
- GenresFilmNonfiction
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 1, 2026
About the author
Louise Willder
3 books6 followersLouise Willder (Gravesend, 1972) es escritora y redactora publicitaria británica. Por más de veinticinco años ha escrito textos de contracubierta para más de cinco mil libros, que van desde ensayos clásicos hasta novelas posmodernas.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Louise Willder, The Book Was Better The Triumphs and Travesties of Book to Film Adaptation, Oneworld Publications, October 2026.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
So often heard, so often demonstrating a misunderstanding of the role and mode of the two different performances…and sometimes so right! Louise Wilder covers these attitudes towards books and their film versions in this thoroughly engaging book. She expresses her opinions forthrightly, sometimes bolstering them with analysis; at others leaving the reader to disagree, or sigh with relief that someone sees it their way without holding forth about how making a film is different from writing a book, both are valid, etc. As I am so often in the holding forth camp it was rather refreshing to read an opinion so strongly held that such arguments are totally pointless. But there is more. Sometimes Louise Wilder has determined that the film is better than the book! And at others, that both are awful. What an exhilarating read this makes The Book Was Better The Triumphs and Travesties of Book to Film Adaptation.
The introduction raises the question of ownership Does the book belong to …the author? the readers? the scriptwriters? the director? the actors? With the controversy over costuming, exemplified by the recent iteration of Wuthering Heights the question could even be asked as to whether a book belongs to the costume designer. Chapter headings provide some clues to the dimensions covered in the book: They Made Jane Austen for Dummies; They Destroyed My Childhood…; They Sexed It Up!..; Did They Actually Read the Book?...; They Sanitised it…; They Ruined the Ending…; Faithless and Fabulous…; From Short to Mighty…; The Book Was Not Better…; Dreams on Screen…; Happy Like Murderers…; Stories About Stories…; Misery: Writers Go to Hollywood; Perfect Book, Perfect Film…; Silly Book, Silly Film…;The Unfilmables…: The Unwatchables…; A Bonus Christmas Special. I have omitted the film titles that appear after the statement in the title – readers of this review might want to add their own. Some are surprises; others are not. Many will capture a reader’s attention and foster a rethink of even strongly held opinions.
I thoroughly enjoyed fulminating against opinions I considered mistaken, agreeing unrestrainedly with those that supported my views, and pondering on others, some books and films of which I had neither read nor seen. The Book Was Better The Triumphs and Travesties of Book to Film Adaptation is a great deal of fun to read. However, it also provides a thoughtful analysis of a phenomenon that creates so much debate.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
So often heard, so often demonstrating a misunderstanding of the role and mode of the two different performances…and sometimes so right! Louise Wilder covers these attitudes towards books and their film versions in this thoroughly engaging book. She expresses her opinions forthrightly, sometimes bolstering them with analysis; at others leaving the reader to disagree, or sigh with relief that someone sees it their way without holding forth about how making a film is different from writing a book, both are valid, etc. As I am so often in the holding forth camp it was rather refreshing to read an opinion so strongly held that such arguments are totally pointless. But there is more. Sometimes Louise Wilder has determined that the film is better than the book! And at others, that both are awful. What an exhilarating read this makes The Book Was Better The Triumphs and Travesties of Book to Film Adaptation.
The introduction raises the question of ownership Does the book belong to …the author? the readers? the scriptwriters? the director? the actors? With the controversy over costuming, exemplified by the recent iteration of Wuthering Heights the question could even be asked as to whether a book belongs to the costume designer. Chapter headings provide some clues to the dimensions covered in the book: They Made Jane Austen for Dummies; They Destroyed My Childhood…; They Sexed It Up!..; Did They Actually Read the Book?...; They Sanitised it…; They Ruined the Ending…; Faithless and Fabulous…; From Short to Mighty…; The Book Was Not Better…; Dreams on Screen…; Happy Like Murderers…; Stories About Stories…; Misery: Writers Go to Hollywood; Perfect Book, Perfect Film…; Silly Book, Silly Film…;The Unfilmables…: The Unwatchables…; A Bonus Christmas Special. I have omitted the film titles that appear after the statement in the title – readers of this review might want to add their own. Some are surprises; others are not. Many will capture a reader’s attention and foster a rethink of even strongly held opinions.
I thoroughly enjoyed fulminating against opinions I considered mistaken, agreeing unrestrainedly with those that supported my views, and pondering on others, some books and films of which I had neither read nor seen. The Book Was Better The Triumphs and Travesties of Book to Film Adaptation is a great deal of fun to read. However, it also provides a thoughtful analysis of a phenomenon that creates so much debate.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review appeared on my blog - https://nsfordwriter.com - on 12th September 2026.
Book / film comparisons are one of my favourite obsessions, so I enjoyed this entertaining dive into the subject. I've spent many, many hours reading books, watching the film adaptations, and writing about them in a long-running series of 'film of the book' blog posts and in a collection of essays I published, which makes me the ideal reader for this book.
With an irreverent, opinionated and friendly writing tone, the author explores films from a variety of genres, illustrating her points with quotes from authors, critics, producers and film dialogue. The book did seem a little on the short side, with many films given passing mentions and throwaway comments, so I would have liked it to be more detailed. It was an interesting read which discussed topics such as why Austen is adapted so often, whether certain books are really 'unfilmable' and the social values of the past which affected the adaptations. I did not always agree with the opinions; for example, I don't care that the Scouring of the Shire wasn't in the LOTR films and I think the book of The Exorcist was better than the film. Mostly I did agree; the Netflix version of Persuasion is dreadful, most adaptations of children's books aren't satisfactory, Daphne du Maurier's stories make great films, and Bram Stoker's Dracula is indeed terrible.
I was unfamiliar with some of the books and films, but it was sometimes interesting to learn about them even if I'll never read or watch them. I even learned of some films which few people realise were based on books. There was a last chapter on Christmas films, which I skimmed over because it wasn't exactly seasonal when I read it in July! In a book such as this one, the books and films examined are personal preference, so I appreciated that the author chose the material she had the strongest feelings about. This means that many famous great film adaptations, and many bad ones, do not get a mention. In summary, if you're a 'film of the book' obsessive, you'll enjoy this!
Book / film comparisons are one of my favourite obsessions, so I enjoyed this entertaining dive into the subject. I've spent many, many hours reading books, watching the film adaptations, and writing about them in a long-running series of 'film of the book' blog posts and in a collection of essays I published, which makes me the ideal reader for this book.
With an irreverent, opinionated and friendly writing tone, the author explores films from a variety of genres, illustrating her points with quotes from authors, critics, producers and film dialogue. The book did seem a little on the short side, with many films given passing mentions and throwaway comments, so I would have liked it to be more detailed. It was an interesting read which discussed topics such as why Austen is adapted so often, whether certain books are really 'unfilmable' and the social values of the past which affected the adaptations. I did not always agree with the opinions; for example, I don't care that the Scouring of the Shire wasn't in the LOTR films and I think the book of The Exorcist was better than the film. Mostly I did agree; the Netflix version of Persuasion is dreadful, most adaptations of children's books aren't satisfactory, Daphne du Maurier's stories make great films, and Bram Stoker's Dracula is indeed terrible.
I was unfamiliar with some of the books and films, but it was sometimes interesting to learn about them even if I'll never read or watch them. I even learned of some films which few people realise were based on books. There was a last chapter on Christmas films, which I skimmed over because it wasn't exactly seasonal when I read it in July! In a book such as this one, the books and films examined are personal preference, so I appreciated that the author chose the material she had the strongest feelings about. This means that many famous great film adaptations, and many bad ones, do not get a mention. In summary, if you're a 'film of the book' obsessive, you'll enjoy this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Yes... it's this old chestnut of a debate again! Well.. it's not, it's one persons opinion, most of which I happen to agree with, but not all... As she says herself, everyone has their own interpretation of a book, and if yours happens to match the filmmakers you'll have a better time watching their endeavours than if it differs wildly...
I have watched many films I have also previously read the book it was based on, with mixed feelings. I have also watched many films which I didn't even know were books, and then gone on to read the book - again mixed results. Princess Bride is much better as a film. Sleepers book and film are both brilliant. But, oh my days, there are those whose films I thought were ok to good, until I read the book, Silver Linings Playbook I am looking at you. Although, that said, I would never have found the book had it not been for the film, and if I never found the book, I would have never found the author who has gone on to be one of my favourite authors... so...
But throughout reading this book, I agreed, I disagreed, and there were also a lot of times I had nothing to base any feelings on cos I had never read the book, or watched the film, or on many occasions done neither. But I thought that all the arguments she made about every book/film mentioned were carefully thought out and well presented. I also liked the addition of the mini-series chapter!
So yeah... this book enlightened me, frustrated me, and tbh didn't actually change any of my previously held views that books and films are different media with different target audiences often only the interpretation of one person. Also, when something that takes you many hours to read is condensed into a sub 2 hour film, something has to give. And if the changes made irk you then yes, the book was indeed better.
I'm now off to see what else she has written... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
I have watched many films I have also previously read the book it was based on, with mixed feelings. I have also watched many films which I didn't even know were books, and then gone on to read the book - again mixed results. Princess Bride is much better as a film. Sleepers book and film are both brilliant. But, oh my days, there are those whose films I thought were ok to good, until I read the book, Silver Linings Playbook I am looking at you. Although, that said, I would never have found the book had it not been for the film, and if I never found the book, I would have never found the author who has gone on to be one of my favourite authors... so...
But throughout reading this book, I agreed, I disagreed, and there were also a lot of times I had nothing to base any feelings on cos I had never read the book, or watched the film, or on many occasions done neither. But I thought that all the arguments she made about every book/film mentioned were carefully thought out and well presented. I also liked the addition of the mini-series chapter!
So yeah... this book enlightened me, frustrated me, and tbh didn't actually change any of my previously held views that books and films are different media with different target audiences often only the interpretation of one person. Also, when something that takes you many hours to read is condensed into a sub 2 hour film, something has to give. And if the changes made irk you then yes, the book was indeed better.
I'm now off to see what else she has written... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
July 30, 2026
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
I am a big fan of both books and films so I was intrigued by the premise of this book. This is a non-fiction book that looks at film adaptations of books. Some good, some bad. The title gives away that in most cases, the author preferred the book. However there are sections related to where the film outdid the book.
I have quite a broad knowledge of films but I really liked that this book introduced me to several I had not heard of before. It gave me some really good ideas for our film club and it was fun to go and look up these titles after reading. The book covers a fair few films, mostly Hollywood made.
I think it’s key to go into this remembering that this is the author’s opinion. There are quotations from other film critics throughout the book to back up where films had been scathingly reviewed. However the author themself does often go into some quite ferocious criticism. This can be quite effusive and I believe this was to be amusing (which is achieved at times), but it also veers into just mean at times too, which I was less keen on. I liked the genuine comparisons between books and their film adaptations. I liked it less when it felt like the author was tearing something to shreds.
It’s an interesting premise, lots of titles covered.
I am a big fan of both books and films so I was intrigued by the premise of this book. This is a non-fiction book that looks at film adaptations of books. Some good, some bad. The title gives away that in most cases, the author preferred the book. However there are sections related to where the film outdid the book.
I have quite a broad knowledge of films but I really liked that this book introduced me to several I had not heard of before. It gave me some really good ideas for our film club and it was fun to go and look up these titles after reading. The book covers a fair few films, mostly Hollywood made.
I think it’s key to go into this remembering that this is the author’s opinion. There are quotations from other film critics throughout the book to back up where films had been scathingly reviewed. However the author themself does often go into some quite ferocious criticism. This can be quite effusive and I believe this was to be amusing (which is achieved at times), but it also veers into just mean at times too, which I was less keen on. I liked the genuine comparisons between books and their film adaptations. I liked it less when it felt like the author was tearing something to shreds.
It’s an interesting premise, lots of titles covered.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Book Was Better by Louise Willder is, as the author admits, a subjective look at film and television adaptations that started off as books.
While there are more than enough truly terrible adaptations out there that could have made this book a complete burial, Willder also looks at successful adaptations from great novels, terrible films from awful books, and rare examples where the film was better than the source material.
Much to my delight, there was a whole chapter that takes a long, hard gaze at the continuing and never-ending hatchet job of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. It was humorous and scathing, with only the brilliant Andrea Arnold version escaping her wrath.
Overall, despite some mildly surprising omissions, this was both humorous and informative, particularly when it cast an eye on old Hollywood.
Recommended.
With thanks to Oneworld Publications for the ARC.
While there are more than enough truly terrible adaptations out there that could have made this book a complete burial, Willder also looks at successful adaptations from great novels, terrible films from awful books, and rare examples where the film was better than the source material.
Much to my delight, there was a whole chapter that takes a long, hard gaze at the continuing and never-ending hatchet job of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. It was humorous and scathing, with only the brilliant Andrea Arnold version escaping her wrath.
Overall, despite some mildly surprising omissions, this was both humorous and informative, particularly when it cast an eye on old Hollywood.
Recommended.
With thanks to Oneworld Publications for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
Rollicking, gossipy and hugely entertaining look at books that got adapted to movies - the good, the bad and the baffling.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews