Shows that are better than the books?!

[@zedxx]

Silo is a very good adaptation. The underlying themes in the books are competently expressed in the show. Visually stylish too.

[@Tookish_Fool19]

I recently finished watching Shōgun and was blown away. I am highly intrigued to see how the book holds up.

[@spookysteph]

I think Sharp Objects is another example of this. I thought the book was good but I feel that the show was able add more depth to the characters and themes of the story. Great video!

[@andrewstratton2970]

I enjoyed both the book and show for Normal People, but I found the nuance that the show brought to the emotions allowed Connell and Marianne to develop outside of what we’re directly being told. That’s also a testament to Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, of course, and their immense talent. I appreciated that the show let me figure out what those two were thinking and feeling, rather than tell me as the book did.

[@pamelatarajcak5634]

I love the Expanse as a TV series better than the books for two words only. More Avasarala! I mean, the book series only really had her in one book, that magnetic, older female character wasted in one book! We ge her ALL the time in the series, and the series only benefits by more of her character.

[@annier3813]

Avasarala was the highlight of the show. My only complaint is that I thought it was a bit weird that we never saw anyone but her wear interesting outfits. Why weren’t her peers dressed up

[@ting_dom]

Oh now that’s an interesting note. I’ve stalled on the reading a bit so didn’t know she disappeared but I did like her character throughout the show

[@jasonbromley]

I couldn’t agree more on StationEleven! The show was phenomenal, the book just ok. But I loved a couple of her others: Sea of Tranquility and The Glass Hotel.

[@joshgilbert5885]

I'm currently doing a re-read of Dexter now, and Michael C Hall just elevates the character in ways the books cannot touch.

[@AmandaPettit-z7y]

Black Cake turned out to be better as a show for me. They took their time with character development and the interpersonal relationships.

[@gentledragons6170]

This is interesting. Generally I avoid ever watching the movie or tv show adaptations of my favorite books out of fear that I will be disappointed. Maybe I should give a couple of the tv shows a chance based on this video. 😅

[@ting_dom]

I didn’t make it far into Foundation tv series bc while I’m not a huge fan of the books bc lack of real characters, the ideas are so big, and for the show they basically used the ideas as distant background for a soap opera. I may try again at some point but my impression is they lost the good part in trying to compensate for what was not present

[@heidi6281]

Michael I just signed up to your sicko book bindery. Maybe you can do a short explaining what book bindery is? I thought it was going to be an alternative to Patreon?

[@KistReadsBooks]

Yeah it's basically a bookish version of Patreon, like I'll have an exclusive review up there Tues or Wed, and a book contest next week, plus you unlock all the channels in the Sickos Discord (where the book clubs are).. and welcome!

[@Garrison_Sisk]

Loved The Man in the High Castle. Great book in my opinion and I loved the show. Burn Gorman is a highly underrated actor. Loved him in Turn: Washington’s Spies. Great video!

[@cj1986x]

It IS a great novel: when it was written it was radical transitional novel in PDK's evolution as a writer and a harbinger of SF's Second Wave, but if readers go into PDK needing X, Y and Z from a SF book, PDK will almost always disappoint, especially after his left his pulp era (and this novel is that exit). I often describe his work as PDK inviting readers into his head rather than to giving them what they expect from SF, and if you aren't open to that, his work is just going to a bad experience. But also, this is a problem I see with contemporary criticisms of older SF a lot: people complaining about what isn't in the text, per their own preferences and expectations of the genre, or of fiction reading in general, rather than contending with what is there. You see the same problem with contemporary readers and classic lit (and as a big Shakespeare geek, I deal with this a lot with Shakespeare as well). But what do you do with that? It's tiring and disappointing.

[@spacemonkey340]

I loved both The Man in the High Castle book and TV series. I think John Smith is one of the best TV characters of all time for me. I am going to have to finally watch Station Eleven if you think the show is better. It was my top read of 2024.

[@retepoteil]

I just found your channel. I like your quick recommendations and gonna check them out. Instant sub

[@RobJbooks]

I’ve only read the first book so far, but I thought the Last Kingdom TV show was a bit better than the first book

[@CompanyLaPtop]

This will be a hot take, but Shogun.

[@KistReadsBooks]

Some of the Sickos were discussing that in our Discord, might not be as hot as you think

[@Disembowelingthepages]

I badly want to read Wool purely to compare it to the Silo. I really like the show!

[@KistReadsBooks]

That one was so close for me I decided not to include it, tough call

[@derekkestner2458]

If you thought Man in the High Castle was a bad book, and it was not great, a better WWII alternate history book of the Nazis winning is Fatherland by Robert Harris. Such a great alternate history book

[@senzubean31]

It’s a movie but The Book Thief adaptation was waaaaay better than the book.

[@SteveScott-d3u]

I just finished watching Conclave. Do you have any good rec's on the Catholic Church? The closest that I can remember you getting to the subject was The Templars by Dan Jones

[@heidi6281]

I loved the tv show The Man in the High Castle & True Blood is great up until Season 5 then it jumps the shark… I think the second season was sub par too but overall so good!

[@megolas91]

Great list, several new things to add to my watch list, and a couple for the TBR (Station Eleven!) Thank you!

[@KistReadsBooks]

You're welcome, enjoy!

[@acquiredtargett6015]

As written, Foundation is not a book that can ever be made into tv/film. Bookstore manager? I knew i liked you for a reason

[@PlaYErPiaNO76]

The Shining movie is better than the novel in my opinion

[@jasonolexa]

The Magicians, big time.

[@KistReadsBooks]

I've heard that!

[@toryevanss4512]

I really disliked that book, but thought it had great potential - guess I should check out the show!

[@Dasha-pv1xk]

Definitely gotta disagree with True Blood. The show is great seasons 1-4 because it adapted the first 4 books and then the show stopped adapting books and the ratings died and so did the show because it lost what it actually used to be.

[@KistReadsBooks]

To that point though did you think books 1-4 were great?

[@toryevanss4512]

Philip K Dick was such a mess! His writing was garbage but his ideas were awesome, I'd say all film/tv adaptations of his work exceed the source material. Often by a wide margin.

[@PreacherReads]

Shawshank short story is just as good as the movie….how dare you sir how dare you

[@chaseclary9295]

Dark Matter. Good book but the show was unquestionably better.

[@cristina507-m7p]

I hated both lol

[@iRyanMal]

Dexter

[@iRyanMal]

Oh my bad you said that too 😂

[@KistReadsBooks]

Haha you're good! 🤝

[@PreacherReads]

I actually liked the Dexter books….crap 🤣

[@KistReadsBooks]

My bad haha

[@CrypticTranscendence]

Not a show but The Hobbit movies are better than the book, especially in relation to the characters

[@charlespickard3014]

The Hobbit movies were a real disappointment. Not horrible by any means but the Book was such an amazing read. They didn't need 3 movies to tell that Story 1 or 2 would of been fine. The movies were a cash grab to make into 3.

[@CrypticTranscendence]

@@charlespickard3014 respectfully disagree. Everything outside of the meeting with the skin changer was done better in the movies, especially the handling of Thorin