I have started re-reading books that have a current movie connection or have recently been made into a movie. It started with “Midnight in Paris,” the Woody Allen movie – great fun, time travel that takes us back to the days of Hemingway, Gertrude Stein Fitzgerald and other expats in Paris in the 20s. Hemingway wrote about this time in “A Movable Feast,” his last book published three years after his death.
I went back and read “A Movable Feast,” then on to other earlier Hemingway books I hadn’t read in decades, “The Sun Also Rises” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” I was stunned by the writing, as I was not, of course, at 16 when I first read these books. I do remember liking them but for vastly different reasons. The story of the young adults in another time and place informed part of my growing up, I think.
This time I just stood still in awe at the sentences and the way the story was constructed, the place descriptions – all those thing that now I admire and look for in a good novel. I am not sure I have read anything written recently that comes close – maybe “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich.
This book/movie connection is satisfying in so many ways. I love seeing characters brought to life — I look forward to Leonardo deCaprio as “The Great Gatsby.” I am reading this book right now. I first read it and saw a movie version decades ago. I remember the story, BUT I did not appreciate the writing. Once again stunned by the careful crafting of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story as it unfolds. What is on the surface belies what lies under.
I do not need to read the book first — some people think that’s important. I know the story already – I am immune to any spoiler. The pure pleasure of the movie is seeing the characters portrayed, the visuals of people and the settings – always did love the movies. And the book – re-read just to admire the excellent writing and be surprised by what I missed before.
Recently Bob and I watched the old movie with Robert Duvall “The Great Santini” – now I must get the book from the library and read it – I did not read this Pat Conroy book years ago – but I have read The Prince of Tides and others he has written since.