The Song, book #87

When it come to reading novelizations, I am always filled with a bit of trepidation.  Most that I have read were written AFTER the movie came out and the author tries to fill in some back story but it is just poorly done.  Or there are ones that take the script and just "make it" a story, but that proves very hard to read.   

So, when we mixed things up this summer for Book Club we decided to read this book then watch the movie.  This time it was a complete flip!  I knew if Chris Fabry wrote it, it would be good.  All he writes is good.  And, I was not disappointed.  This book could be a stand alone, not even have the movie made, and it would be a hit.  

Then we watched the movie, and thought, "Hunh?"  Yes, I know when they take a book and make it a movie they have to chop out about half of it.  (Well, except Holes, the only book-made-to-movie EVER that follows right along and doesn't miss a beat!)  Yes, I guessed as I was reading what would be missing, but a lot more was missing than I thought.  And, well, maybe it was from after reading the detailed book .... but the acting was not that good.  I have been so encouraged by excellent Christian films lately that I thought this one might be a good one, but I was not overly impressed.  Again, maybe because the book was so good that a movie could not keep up.  

Overall it was a good story, and I felt the frustration on both sides.  It made me think about all these singer/performers who make it bigger than they ever thought they would ... they get what they wanted then realize it may be not what they really wanted at all .....

Jed King's life has been shaped and scarred by the songs and mistakes of his famous father. He wants to sing his own song, but the words and melody are elusive. Jed’s dreams of a successful music career seem out of reach . . . until he meets Rose.  Inspired by his love for the vineyard owner’s daughter, Jed pens a new song― a song with such emotional power and longing that it catapults him into stardom. But with this life of fame comes temptation, the same temptation that lured his father so many years ago and now threatens to unravel his marriage. The pull of “The Song” takes Jed and Rose on a journey that will force them to deal with failure, the pain of loss, and the desire to be who God created them to be. Together they will test the limits of the promise that love is the power that heals. Lyrical and deeply honest, The Song asks hard questions of love and forgiveness. When even the wisest of men is a fool for love, can true love persevere?   (picture and description from amazon)

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa