Sunday, August 19, 2007

A Cult Classic and the Book



Another book I haven't read but when I came across it I had to buy it. I can remember coming across my aunt's copy of the soundtrack to the movie in an old stack of records. The cover was the black and white image of a young Dustin Hoffman with Anne Bancroft's leg stretched across the picture. I've always loved Simon and Garfunkel and some of my favorite songs are from the original soundtrack; The Sound of Silence, Scarborugh Fair, and Mrs. Robinson.

I didn't like the movie the first time I saw it. At first I thought maybe it was a generational thing, maybe you had to have lived that time and been young when it first came out for it to hit the emotional cord. But seeing it again a few years later, older and sadly much wiser, it hit a spot that resonated. It's a classic but I didn't even realize it was a book until I found this copy, a book club edition from 1963, in a junk store.


Have any of you read the book? Could this be one case in which the movie is just as good, or dare I say, better?

9 comments:

NouveauBlogger said...

Never read the book, but saw the movie. It was ok. Like you, I think I'm unclear why its such a cult classic. Harold & Maude was better.

Have you read Summer of '42? I thought that was the greatest as a teen.

Katie said...

The movie was sad! Sure he comes and breaks up her wedding and they ride off on a bus together... but did it last? what happens after that?

I haven't read Summer of '42. I'll have to look it up on amazon. What did you like so much about it?

NouveauBlogger said...

That I don't know.

Re: S of '42 -- Its been a million years since I read it, but it struck a chord with me as a "coming of age" teen and it stuck withe me. I don't know how I'd feel about it now. I suppose I should re-read it.

Katie said...

Be prepared if you re-read it that it might not feel the same. I've read books that I loved as a teenager and re-reading them wondered why I liked them so much. I guess it has to do with where you are in life when you read something.

KAYLEE said...

YES I HAVE :P

Delecta said...

I have never read this book.
Just the songs are enough for me.
I guess I don't really get it.

Angela/SciFiChick said...

OT: I read Twilight this past weekend & loved it! Thanks for the recommendation!

NouveauBlogger said...

I suspect that would TOTALLY be the case for me, Katie.

Katie said...

SciFiChick, I'm so glad!!!! :)