This is one of those books that, when you finish it, you wonder if the good guys actually won. I had seen the film version a couple times before reading this book, but it had been years. So I really felt like I was going in fresh. Let’s just say that the title is a little misleading given that the eponymous character doesn’t really show up until the last couple chapters (his appearance in the prologue notwithstanding). A more appropriate title might be “666 Reasons Why Children Are Creepy as Hell” or something of that nature. I guess history will have to be the judge of which title is better…
After reading the book, I didn’t think there was a possible way to adapt this into a movie. But of course they were going to.
In 2024, the year that I’m writing this and, incidentally, the year that I read this book, I turn 42 years old. Anyone who knows me probably wouldn’t be surprised to learn that I would love to explore the galaxy. Since I’m not an astronaut and because humans haven’t really found a way to get around the galaxy in person within said person’s lifetime, I’m relegated to learning about our galaxy through the wondrous world of photographs. This book, I found, has little in the way of photographs. None, to be precise. So I must rely on this Guide, a towel, and the prose of its author to be my… well… guide.
This film had an uphill battle given how classic the book was. I think that this being the first adaptation (that I could find) since the book’s release 34 years earlier was telling. Also, a made-for-TV movie, or movie of the week, wasn’t what I was expecting.
I’ve heard about this book a lot, but somehow it’s never really made it to my reading list. I suppose that’s because I never really knew what it was about. But recently I was seeing it on a lot of top sci-fi book lists and I thought, hmm, I didn’t know that was sci-fi. I read the back cover blurb and realized this had the potential to be pretty sad. Then my wife told me it was the worst book ever (due to how sad it was). Other people almost came to tears at the mere mention of the title. But was it really so sad? Is it worth the hype? Or am I just a cold-hearted robot? Read on and find out.
This is probably one of the most faithful book-to-film adaptations I’ve seen in a long time. One of the reasons I chose this one to watch is that I love Gary Sinise in about everything I see him in. And then to find out he directed it?! Shut up and push Play already!
I’ve always been interested in reading John Steinbeck. In high school I had the option of reading The Grapes of Wrath or Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. I chose poorly, as the Grail Knight would say. Anyway, I’m wandering through a Maui Friends of the Library bookshop and am browsing through the classics when what to my wandering eyes should appear, but this tiny book. I had no idea this one was so short. And I thought, maybe this would be a good introduction for me to John Steinbeck. But was it, though? Read on and find out…
