Victor Hugo's Les Miserables with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway has hit the big screen. Charles Dickens' Great Expectations with Helena Bonham Carter will start screening soon. There is a buzz about these movies and they will draw an audience and perhaps make Hollywood and the actors quite a bit of money. But it made me wonder about the actual books and how many people will have read or will read these books. Do people today simply prefer to watch the movie than read the book? Is there anything wrong with this?
Why does it seem like classic novels are only read by the elderly, reading groups, classes, students and writers? Most people who work and lead busy lives want to read great novels but don't seem to make time for them. It is that they are no longer relevant or enjoyable? Has our idea of what is a great novel changed?
We'd rather be couch potatoes watching reality television than curl up with a book. It's work to read, we spend all day using our brain and we want to switch off, it takes too long, what's the point, you'll read when you are on holiday - the litany of excuses goes on. But then we don't mind playing with ipads and surfing the internet. Do we just want snapshots and postcards rather than big long trips exploring the world of make believe?
I find that I do like to watch certain actors and actresses. They take a story and bring it to life, colouring my imagination with the interpretation and vision of others. I have read Great Expectations, but sadly never finished Les Miserable, though I tried many years ago. Dickens is brilliant and creates character and story like no other. There is a reason why he has stood the test of time. Les Miserables, the musical, is loved by many and continues to be produced by theatre companies year after year. It was one of my favourites for a long time.
We have so much to choose from and we don't choose to appreciate the written word as much any more and we don't choose to encourage greatness in our literature today. It doesn't bring instant rewards and it doesn't provide immediate gratification.
I admit that I watch too much television. I can't help it. I love all creative mediums and I get quick fixes hearing what script writers have come up with, little stories and learning new things. But I did google the other day whether watching too much television is bad. I read that television doesn't relax you like music because you become invested in the character.It's true. The essence of any good story in any medium - be it television, movies or books is conflict. It is this tension that keeps people staying to find out what happens.
Perhaps it is also the fact that we use multiple senses when we watch television - audio and visual so it takes more out of us and we do feel like we become more involved.
What place does Dickens and Hugo have for us in the future? Will it continue to be classrooms and the big screen?. Are we seeing the death of the novel with ebooks and thus they are just another diversion which we might happen upon and never again revisit given the multitude of material out there? Have we lost our way with quantity rather than quality? Should we audit quality and ensure that it maintains a firm place for the generations to come?
I hope they do continue to be recognised for their greatness and that the novels are appreciated for the language, structure, creativity and story. The movies never are as good as the books. Project Gutenberg provides many classics for free, so please download a copy and invest your precious time in the rewarding experience of reading. You may be amazed at the result.
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