SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I find I respond better to fiction that could easily be translated into film/TV.

That is, "scene focused" fiction that plants me in a specific moment in the story as seen through a character's eyes, rather than more discursive narration that moves about the world and various subjects like a disembodied sentient.

My attention tends to wander when reading discursive prose.

This makes it more challenging to appreciate less "visual" stories.

Anyone else find this?

I find the opposite. If something is too filmable, I get annoyed. I want to read the stories that are a best fit for the printed page, that can't be effectively translated to visual. I like language, not just word-play or 'purple prose' but just grace & style & all the things I can't do especially right now....

inner monologue does not translate well to the screen and I like that in books

the only real difference I've found in my reading is that I can now listen to audiobooks as well as read them with my eyes, personally!

I find that I do get uncomfortable if I feel that something has been written with half (or more) of an eye for the screen play. Having said that I have no problem with subsequent transferals of literature to the screen and in some cases have actually preferred the screen version.

I do wonder if the need for fast changing scenes and action are a mainly a difference in generational tastes given the advances of technology.

On the audio book front I have not experimented with it yet. I have listened to a couple of radio plays for the first time in the last year (curtesy of the BBC in the UK) and found it a reasonable experience. I have also noted that a number of goodreads contributors seem to prefer it so I will give audio a try soon (once I've sold my house and moved).

I've actually stopped watching movies, apart from documentaries on the TV. The last time I went to the cinema is like 5 years ago.

Allison wrote: "the only real difference I've found in my reading is that I can now listen to audiobooks as well as read them with my eyes, personally!"

I'm like that, too. Often, I even prefer audiobooks nowadays. But I think that's rather because there are some really fantastic voice actors out there that can add that special something to a narrative. Anything that has a lot of dialect and accents in it for example.

With TV, I think it's the other way around. I guess my reading has messed with my watching tastes. More often than not I find myself drawn to shows that are less action based and more complex and introspective.

For me, I guess, it's like TV series turned me to books in a hard way. The TV series I did bother to follow to the end during the last 10 years I can count on my fingers, and I wouldn't need both hands. Somehow nothing can hold my interest.

Yet my reading count went up astronomically.

That said, I would certainly have a look at TV adaptations of books I've loved, should they occur.

Allison wrote: "the only real difference I've found in my reading is that I can now listen to audiobooks as well as read them with my eyes, personally!"

I tried audiobooks at bedtime and I kept dozing off. Methinks I should give them another go during the day, on a walk, following some caffeine.

CBRetriever wrote: "inner monologue does not translate well to the screen and I like that in books"

True. That's probably the greatest boon of fiction; inner monologue adds another dimension to character. It's more challenging to explore this dimension in film/TV without dialogue (and great acting and directing).

Cheryl wrote: "I find the opposite. If something is too filmable, I get annoyed. I want to read the stories that are a best fit for the printed page, that can't be effectively translated to visual. I like languag..."

I'd like to develop a palate for this sort of fiction. I hope you don't mind me following you on Goodreads to spy on your recommendations...

I'm like that, too. Often, I even prefer au..."

Any SciFi audiobooks you would recommend (with great voice actors)?

E.D. wrote: "I find that I do get uncomfortable if I feel that something has been written with half (or more) of an eye for the screen play. Having said that I have no problem with subsequent transferals of lit..."

Yes, the fast-changing scenes could also be generational. My kids' favourite shows and movies generally have a quicker pace than my childhood favourites (we watched Willow as a family the other day). If this continues, I wonder what the pace of media will be like in two generations...

Gabi wrote: "For me, I guess, it's like TV series turned me to books in a hard way. The TV series I did bother to follow to the end during the last 10 years I can count on my fingers, and I wouldn't need both h..."

Sometimes a character's arc feels a bit too rushed in a two hour film. I do generally prefer TV series to film these days. There is more time/space to explore characters, watch them grow (or the opposite). The beauty of fiction is that it gives characters even more room to breathe.

Tony wrote: "Any SciFi audiobooks you would recommend (with great voice actors)?"

Check out the Best and Worst Audiobooks and Narrators thread for tips!

Tony wrote: "I'm like that, too. Often, I even prefer au..."

Any SciFi audiobooks you would recommend (with great voice actors)?"

The Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Amie Kaufman are excellently narrated, by a whole cast.

I have a deep abiding love for character based fiction and love the slow pace and lyrical prose of authors like Le Guin, Robin Hobb, Hermann Hesse, Toni Morrison. And that’s probably why I like speculative poetry.

That said, I found I am not immune to the effects of writing like Blake Crouch’s in Dark Matter, which I read last year. That is definitely cinematic prose. It was nice as a palate cleanser and was good to really get enthralled and immersed and glued to the book. But I couldn’t read only that.

I love audio books for when I’m doing mundane tasks or walking to and fro (as a form of transportation rather than for the walk in and of itself). But, it can’t be anything that requires much concentration. If I miss something and have to go back or just be confused, then it sort of missing the point. I manage to read an additional book or two each month due to audio books.

Diane wrote: "I have a deep abiding love for character based fiction and love the slow pace and lyrical prose of authors like Le Guin, Robin Hobb, Hermann Hesse, Toni Morrison. And that’s probably why I like spe..."

I love the term "cinematic prose". Some cinematic novels read more like a script, making them a fast-paced fun read.

Having said that, I do find slower paced books more memorable, e.g. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness.

Once I was about a chapter into a popular cinematic novel, only to realise that I had already read it months earlier, and for the life of me I couldn't recall the plot and had to resort to Wikipedia to remind me. It's like the characters and story didn't 'stick' for some reason.

I think that might be because they are meant to be consumed and not mulled over or life changing/mind-blowing.

I find that it’ll mess with me only if I’m looking for something entertaining in the way it is filmed (written) like Goodfellas.

Books are a completely different medium.

one book that was completely different in the film version was The Color Purple. I liked both versions

CBRetriever wrote: "inner monologue does not translate well to the screen and I like that in books"

Yes.

Hans wrote: "Often, I even prefer audiobooks nowadays. But I think that's rather because there are some really fantastic voice actors out there that can add that special something to a narrative. Anything that has a lot of dialect and accents in it for example."

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as narrated by Patrick Fraley is a prime example.

Hans also wrote: "With TV, I think it's the other way around. I guess my reading has messed with my watching tastes. More often than not I find myself drawn to shows that are less action based and more complex and introspective."

Indeed. The more I read, the less enamored of the screen I am. Especially of chase and battle scenes... get to the point already so we have time for character development and plot nuances.

One thing that screen can do to my reading is mess with my imagined look for everything described in the novel.