[ebooktalk] Re: Televising books.
- From: "CJ & AA MAY" <chrisalis.may@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:46:34 +0100
I'm inclined to agree with you, David. In fact, sometimes it is quite
refreshing not to like the character!
Alison
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of David Russell
Sent: 29 April 2013 16:52
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Televising books.
I do not really understand those of you who have to like their characters?
As long as they are realistic, they can be likeable or not, good or bad, so
the only problem I have is when characters do nothing for me at all, i.e. I
just don't care what happens to them.
I liked the TV Morse and the Morse in the books although they were rather
different. On TV he was a grumpy old man, but he did sometimes show a
softer side. In the books he was a little smug, but he had his good points.
The young Morse in "endeavour" was nothing like Morse in character for me.
They just thought that if he liked opera, and refused to buy his round down
the pub, that was enough. There was much more to Morse than that.
David
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Tar Barrels
Sent: 29 April 2013 16:20
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Televising books.
Voldi how lovely to see you hear. And you've obviously been speaking with
Clare because we had a similar conversation last week.
I don't need to like or dislike my characters, but in general I'm not fond
of extremes. However, if I'm struggling with a book, then a lack of sympathy
for the character may make the difference to carrying on with it or letting
it go I didn't find the tv Morse at all cosy, and used to love it as a
series - mainly because of John Thaw. Also, shocking though it may be, I
don't mind swearing as long as it's in keeping with the character. However,
I do object to unrealistic sex scenes - let the author live out their
fantasies elsewhere!
June.
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:eboow
ktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Voldi Gailans
Sent: 29 April 2013 08:49
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Televising books.
Hi Elaine,
I remember being quite shocked at how awful Morse could be in the books
after having seen the TV series. I thought though that maybe the TV image
of Morse is just a bit too cosy and isn't it rather more realistic to have
a flawed man rather than an all-seeing, all knowing, nice cuddly inspector
in charge? I don't really know how he looked on screen of course. The
book's original must give the author more interesting plotting possibilities
if he has a less cosy chief inspector. How do we all feel about liking our
main characters? Does it spoil a book if we don't like the characters and
particularly the main one? When I was growing up I liked to have my heros
and felt very let down if they didn't act as I thought they should. My
perception is that characters in modern books have got nastier and a part of
me does yearn for the nicer gentler characters, but perhaps now I do like to
see a balance and I like the characters to have both light and shade in
their personalities - if they are too horrible then I lose interest in them
and the book as a whole.
Best wishes,
Voldi
At 01:04 27/04/2013, you wrote:
>I haven't seen the "Young Morse" series and will not do so.
>Morse was one of the few times when I loved the series but didn't enjoy
>Colin Dexter's original at all. Morse was rather more crude and in the
>books and less likeable.
>
>Chris has just begun watching some of the Ngaio Marsh series and says
>Br'er Fox isn't as good onscreen as in the books; I love Ngaio Marsh
>but have yet to see the series; since we have just bought the DVDs
>there is
no hurry.
>
>Now as you go to bed, here in Upside Down Land I am about to go into my
>garden.
>
>Elaine
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of David Russell
>Sent: Saturday, 27 April 2013 8:20 AM
>To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Televising books.
>
>Yes, occasionally televised books work very well, but very often
>characters on tv are nothing like my imagination of the book
>equivalent. Reginald Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe was fairly good in
>characterisation, but Pascoe had to lose his wife on tv whereas she
>stayed
married to him in the books.
>Elizabeth George did not have much luck with her Inspector Lynley series.
>His wife was killed on tv and in the books, but in a completely
>different way. Inspector Morse was generally faithful to the books,
>but the young Morse series is really dreadful. It does not work for me
>at
all.
>
>
>David
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of Elaine Harris (Rivendell)
>Sent: 26 April 2013 22:23
>To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [ebooktalk] Televising books.
>
>David,
>
>In her semi-autobiography, a sort of "Year in the life of", P. D. James
>talks about how televising of books is such a minefield. She says they
>often insert a car-chase where none was to be found and seem to delight
>in changing some details for the sake of it.
>(I can check the details of the book if anyone is interested.)
>
>Often I try to separate my impressions of a book from the televised
>version as so often they diverge beyond recognition, which is sad. The
>Ruth Rendell "Inspector Wexford" series came pretty close to getting it
right.
>
>I won't even watch the later Miss Marple Series; Dame Agatha wouldn't
>approve of the bedroom scenes and Joan Hickson got the character of
>Jane just right.
>
>Elaine
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of David Russell
>Sent: Saturday, 27 April 2013 1:37 AM
>To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [ebooktalk] scanning books
>
>Hi all
>
>As those of you who know me will already be aware, I do spend some time
>scanning books. I usually do this if there is something I particularly
>wish to read, and it is not available elsewhere.
>
>Just out of interest, I thought I would tell you about my current scan.
>It is a Maggie O'Farrell book called "Instructions for a heatwave". I
>cannot tell you much about it as I only brought it home from the
>library today, but if anyone wants the book once it is scanned, I can
>either attach it to an email and forward to the list, or send it to
individuals who request it.
>
>Trish may be interested to know that I found a Dorothy Koomson book
>which has not, so far as I know, been made available. I will tell you
>more about that when I put it on the scanner.
>
>Talking of Dorothy Koomson reminds me that I was amazed to learn from
>her Woman's Hour interview that, in the TV version of "The Ice Cream
>Girls", they have changed the murderer. Why should anyone want to do that?
>
>Koomson did sound like the kind of lady you could sit down with and
>have a cup of tea. Rather homely and definitely the mothering type.
>
>
>David
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