Can we talk about the 'Harry Potter' audiobooks changing how I see the movies?

I always thought the movies were better than the books because they cut all the slow parts. But I listened to the first audiobook on a road trip last month and hit chapter 14 before I realized how much detail I missed. The scene with Peeves and the poltergeist alone added layers I never knew existed. Now I'm 7 hours in and I actually prefer the book's pacing over the film's rush. Has anyone else had an audiobook completely flip their opinion on an adaptation?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.jesse17d ago

Oh, that's a good point. A buddy of mine had the exact same thing happen with the Lord of the Rings audiobooks. He always thought the movies were the best way to experience the story. He borrowed the Fellowship audiobook for a long drive and the first time Tom Bombadil showed up he had to pull over. He called me that night saying he finally understood what everyone meant about the lost depth. He spent the next two months listening to the rest and now he won't even watch the movies without complaining about what they left out. It really changes how you see the whole world when you hear the full thing.

rosep8717d agoProlific Poster

Yeah, that Tom Bombadil moment is a total game changer. I've had the same thing happen with friends who only knew the movies. If they're just starting audiobooks, I always tell them to try the unabridged version with the narrator who does the voices. It makes a huge difference for how the story flows. Your buddy learned the hard way that the movies really trimmed out the meat of the world. Once you hear it all, it's tough to go back to just the highlights.