I probably could have milked a whole post out of this, but I needed a factoid today.
I did something this month that I hadn’t done in over 6 years: after seeing a movie based on a book, I went to the roots and read the book. I read “Push” by Sapphire after seeing “Precious,” and I must say, I actually liked the book better. I don’t agree with the statement, “The book is always better than the movie.” Usually whatever you experience first, you like better, although it was not the case here.
Here’s a small bit of commentary: Sapphire’s novel gives us so much more insight into the fascinating character Precious. Lee Daniels turns her into such a passive figure that we think little is going on inside her head, but in the book, she is quite the opposite. We are able to feel how she feels during some incredibly despicable acts committed against her, and the movie did not quite get those sentiments across.
I heard that the book has more of the rapes in graphic detail. I understand that the book is better than the movie. If the writer, Geoffery Fleischer adapted the book word for word it would not be film-able.