While I’m loving the show, I thought I’d read the original series of books that it is based on. I just finished the first one last night. My conclusion: meh.
The first book loosely tracks the plotline of the show’s first season, but—and here’s the problem—it is far more simple. The show has much more depth, characterization, plot, and, well, just about everything else. I hate to say it, but the TV show is far better than the original book.
This seems to illustrate some comparative strengths in the media. A TV series is just better able to devote more time and attention to its subject than is a (very short) novel. Of course, the book could have been written better, but it wasn’t. The genius of the show producers is that they took pretty mediocre materials that nevertheless contained a kernel of genius and built up that kernel into something fantastic.
This also seems like an opportune moment to mention that I think TV is sometimes better suited to various types of storytelling. For instance, imagine what the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith movie could have been as a TV series. There would have been ample opportunity to explore themes and characters, and to make the fall of the Jedi a slower, more intriguing experience. But they went with a quick two-plus-hour movie. Sad.
On another note, I made myself an omelet for breakfast, and used some leftover ratatouille from dinner last night. It was awesome—I highly recommend it.
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