The Book is Better Than the TV Movie
349327
Having been a long-time fan of The Thorn Birds mini-series on TV, I finally got around to reading the book.  And am I very glad I did.  McCullough's prose provides readers with an incredible amount of background of both Australia and the characters that no movie could ever match.  The book delves into the minds of many of the main characters, giving readers a better sense of their inner-selves, what makes each of them tick. Perhaps the best insight focuses on Father Ralph de Bricassart and Meggie Cleary.  Ralph's battle between loving God and Meggie is explored in a manner that makes his anguish truly believable.  Likewise, Meggie's anger at God for withholding from her the men sho loves most is detailed in a way that readers can identify with her plight, too. Information of the true character of hardened, undemonstrative Fiona Cleary, Meggie's mother, is trickled into the plot throughout the entire book.  Meggie's children, Justine and Dane, allow the plot to progress to it's expected, bittersweet ending.  The Drogheda sheep station is another important character, providing the characters a stable home they can always come back to.  Which they all do, time and again.  A strong cast of secondary characters adds to the real-life quality of this sad tale. This book is a true modern classic and a must read for anyone who loves lengthy, well-written historical fiction.
4637088
Watched the movie, then ordered the book an  the book is so o much better!!!
1830777
"The book is better than the movie", folks will say.  Usually, that sentiment is correct, but there are exceptions.  TTC is one.  Many of us know the basic plot from high school, about the brave man that takes another guy's place on the guillotine.  There is a wonderful storyline here but book and movie follow two very different paths.  The 1935 MGM classic is more direct than the Charles Dickens opus.  Ronald Colman carried the two hour movie, which considerably condensed the written work. And that is the heart of the matter.  Dickens takes too many pages-and too many chapters (all in the flowery language of the era) to spin his tale. In fact, this reader would have been hard pressed to follow the plot without the benefit of having seen the screen version. There is no doubt Dickens is a great author, but his style can also grate the less than (very!) patient reader. By pleasant coincidence, this reviewer can offer one other example of screen superiority. That would be "The Prisoner of Zenda", which also starred Mr. Colman- with a wonderful supporting cast including Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Madleine Carroll, David Niven and C. Aubrey Smith.  There is a positive aspect to the Gillen D"Arcy Wood version of TTC: The introduction and footnotes are superior.  This reviewer actually read and enjoyed them, but doing so adds to the time investment of perusing the printed word. This observer concluded his review of the movie by stating it was so good he was buying the book. The verdict is in: For entertainment appeal, the 1935 MGM movie is clearly superior.
519692
As the saying goes "the book was better than the movie."  In this case, the few small details missing from the movie are explained  well in the book.
3999562
The book, THE MIST, was better than the movie.

It was an enjoyable easy read.
3640603
The book, as is usual, is better...in a way.  The movie had some slight changes but not so much that I was disappointed.  But the book is very good.
1162204
Better than the movie, and I have watched that twice.
But, the movie only gets 4 stars.
A very good read.
424737
I like it and it delves into some things the movie didn't go in to. I usually like the book better than the movie but not this time - the movie is definitely better.
1760056
As compared to the movie, this one has a lot more details and book is still better than the movie
1671733
was made into a series for television, the book is much more intriguing and the story line richer and more intense.
3150504
I loved this book. I actually saw the made-for-TV movie before I read this. There are some variations between the film and the book. I'm not sure which is better though. Once I started reading this book I had a hard time putting it down.
500601
I thinnk I liked the book better, but the movie was entertaining as well.
3978545
This was one of those rare instances where the movie might be better than the book. It is a great true story though.
917383
They always say the book is better than the movie - so read this book before it becomes a hit movie !
4007260
I saw the movie based on the book years ago, but the book is much better. Ambler's writing is terse, colorful and often humorous. And the settings, in Greece, Turkey, France and the Balkans, pre-WWII, are memorable.
1862212
I started reading this after I saw the series on Netflix. I  almost always like books better than film adaptations, but in this case I have to say I liked the tv series better. The book is still really good and contains Douglas Adams quirkiness, so its definitely worth reading
1747600
Book is MUCH better than the movie, I was not impressed with the movie at all, but then my book club read this book and I love it.