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A review by penguinna
Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Before you see the rating and close this review, let me tell you that I love, love, love the movie. It is one of my all-time favorite movies, and needless to say, I was incredibly excited to read this book!
However, this book should not exist. And I mean that literally: the book was written AFTER the movie, not the other way around, as we’re used to! And that’s its biggest issue.
In movies, we expect not to know the thoughts and feelings of the characters. We observe them from a distance, guessing their motives, much like we do with people in real life. In books, it’s the opposite: we’re used to seeing the inner dialogues of the characters, understanding their motivations, and enjoying vivid descriptions of their mixed emotions.
But this book is just like a movie: it simply describes what is happening on screen. No thoughts, no feelings, no rich descriptions.
The vibrant spirit of the boys and Mr. Keating's inspiring passion in the movie fade into lifeless, two-dimensional characters on the page. The book feels rushed and dull, and, more than that, you feel no connection to the characters.
I cried my eyes out watching the movie, and it stayed with me for a year. But I felt nothing when reading the book.
My advice: don’t read it. Ever. But if you haven’t seen Dead Poets Society yet, watch it as soon as possible. It’s absolutely perfect for a gloomy autumn mood.
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
However, this book should not exist. And I mean that literally: the book was written AFTER the movie, not the other way around, as we’re used to! And that’s its biggest issue.
In movies, we expect not to know the thoughts and feelings of the characters. We observe them from a distance, guessing their motives, much like we do with people in real life. In books, it’s the opposite: we’re used to seeing the inner dialogues of the characters, understanding their motivations, and enjoying vivid descriptions of their mixed emotions.
But this book is just like a movie: it simply describes what is happening on screen. No thoughts, no feelings, no rich descriptions.
The vibrant spirit of the boys and Mr. Keating's inspiring passion in the movie fade into lifeless, two-dimensional characters on the page. The book feels rushed and dull, and, more than that, you feel no connection to the characters.
I cried my eyes out watching the movie, and it stayed with me for a year. But I felt nothing when reading the book.
My advice: don’t read it. Ever. But if you haven’t seen Dead Poets Society yet, watch it as soon as possible. It’s absolutely perfect for a gloomy autumn mood.
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books