Books2Movies Club discussion

The 2006 movie 'The Prestige' directed by Christopher Nolan was a real smash hit. However I'm surprised by the fact that not so many people went out and read the book because of the movie. The book is great in a different way!

Has anyone else read The Prestige or seen the film? Did you like them?

Actually I've bought the book exactly because of the movie :) It still gathers dust on my shelf though. But I like your review of it, hopefully it'll get me to read the book soon :)

I did not know it was a book! Definitely must add that to my collection. I LOVED the movie, thought it was brilliant. What was that other movie that came out right afterwards, the Illusionist? I felt bad, because if I had seen it first, it would have been much more impressive, but because it came after, it just felt like a not-as-good Prestige. I need to go watch it again now...

Faith wrote: "I didn't realize it was a book either! Going on my to-read list :) loved the movie, excited for the book!"

I would be more than delighted if it would be one day picked for a book of the month so to practically force me to read it rather sooner than later :)

Alana wrote: "I did not know it was a book! Definitely must add that to my collection. I LOVED the movie, thought it was brilliant. What was that other movie that came out right afterwards, the Illusionist?..."

I liked The Illusionist too, story wasn't that complex as Prestige, but still was clever enough to impress me.

Exactly, there are so many good ones out there to read, but I have a feeling I would just devour that one.

O, The Illusionist wasn't bad, I just think it's timing wasn't great. I was so stunned by how magnificent The Prestige was that the Illusionist was almost anti-climactic. I think if I'd seen them in the opposite order I would have liked it much better.

Speaking of which, is the Illusionist a book?

Alana wrote: "Speaking of which, is the Illusionist a book?"

Interesting, I just went to check that :) It is based on the short story, Eisenheim the Illusionist by Steven Millhauser, first published in Esquire, seems praised as one of his best stories. It can be found in his The Barnum Museum and We Others. It is also in this various authors' short stories collection, The Literary Ghost: Great Contemporary Ghost Stories. Worth noting for one of our future quickies ;)

Ok, that's why I couldn't find it in a search. You are so resourceful :)

Yes, I was setting myself up to watch the Prestige at last early last year and I found out through Goodreads that it was a book. I picked it up and fell in love with the richeness of writing, description and perspective. The story is similar but different to the equally good film and uses a clever technique of first person perspective in a diary to give an unreliable narration to keep you wondering what the secret o the story is.