Low_Revenue_3521 t1_iye17e0 wrote
Reply to comment by BrilliantApricot1223 in Are the divergent series appropriate for a 14-years old? by [deleted]
We have the same rule. It's partly based on so many dreadful adaptations of books, partly as a way of encouraging slightly reluctant readers to try something different, and partly because I feel that if possible you should try the original before trying adaptations/versions/retellings.
My kids have adapted the rule to say "you have to experience the original first", so if the film or TV series came first, that's what you go for first.
Its not a hard and fast rule, I don't micromanage their reading, but my eldest was delighted when she accidentally followed the rule with Romeo and Juliet/West Side Story/These Violet Delights.
BrilliantApricot1223 t1_iye23ca wrote
That's interesting! I'm just curious because I've discovered so many things by watching something, then reading the book afterwards. I think it's a great way to discover something new.
For example, I didn't read Handmaid's Tale until after the show. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not, but I love the show, so I went ahead and read the book.
I think it's a good way to explore something you're not comfortable with without diving too far in.
My daughter is only 15 months old, so I haven't come across this kind of issue yet, but I've already started considering how to approach these things.
avolordo t1_iye5rq7 wrote
Doing it in reverse is great too! I never would have read through Neil Gaiman without watching Good Omens or blowing through GoT after the first season because I didn’t want it to end. Reading requires more time, patience, and imagination than a movie or show so anything that will motivate a child to read wins. I found that bribing with the movie after the book helped and also severely limiting screen time while young so that it was more of a reward when it was earned.
BrilliantApricot1223 t1_iye6376 wrote
That's absolutely fair! I was just curious as to your reasoning, because honestly, I've never heard that rule before.
You're right, whatever gets someone reading is the winner, in my opinion, be it movie first, or book first!
avolordo t1_iye3t3s wrote
We felt the same way. Movies cut so much out of the books. We also wanted to encourage reading over screen time. If she wanted to watch a movie she had to read a book and she only got one movie a week of screen time m until she was in middle school.
We were more strict when she was younger and have loosened it up a lot. She also was pretty sensitive to scary/suspenseful scenes so knowing what will happen from reading it first helped temper her fearful reaction a little.
At 16 she is a major bookworm and has an incredibly creative mind. For more adult content like Game of Thrones I would absolutely still make her read first. Either way, she loves critiquing movie adaptations now and we have a lot of fun conversations about good and bad scenes, casting, set, what we’d change and how etc.
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