Reading the book or seeing the movie first?
With Hollywood producing more and more movies based on books I often find myself wondering: Do I read the book or watch the movie first?
In both cases you want to be able to be surprised when you read/watch the story for the first time because its less fun to know what’s going to happen when you know the storyline. But a choice has to be made, comparisions will take place, and some form of disappointment will arise. Its inevitable. Normally, I base my choice on would I rather compare the movie to the book or the book to the movie.
For the most part I see the movie then read the book. I have found often times that doing it in this order helps me picture characters and actions better. Other times I find it will help breathe new life into a book I put down because it was dull (The Devil Wears Prada and Nanny Diaries come to mind) or too long (Vaniety Fair anyone??) . But every now and then I will find the reverse. I cannot stand to watch the Harry Potter movies. I loved the books and built my characters around my interpretations and those did not match the movie at all. Maybe because it was movie 1? I really don’t know though. I’m praying Confessions of a Shopaholic does not go that way. I love the book and I can’t wait for the movie. I’m hoping both will be good like P.S. I Love You. Only time will tell with a Feb 2009 projected release 
Until then I think I’ll try reading the Other Boleyn Girl until it comes to Netflix.
I prefer to read the books first, but after I do that I am almost always disappointed by the movie. It just seems that my brain pictures it differently than the producer of the movie. Glad to hear about Shopaholic becoming a movie though. That should be great.
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