How visual are you when you read a book?

by

By Lacy Williams

I can still remember being about twelve and realizing that I had visualized Frank and Joe Hardy as opposites when reading (countless) Hardy Boys books.

I was devastated because I liked Joe better and now my vision of him was ruined.

I think that’s why I don’t write in-depth descriptions of my characters. I definitely write the important stuff. Hair color, eye color, etc. But I don’t usually write detailed descriptions of facial features or what they are wearing. As a reader, I like to imagine the characters I read about in my own way. And I think most of my readers are like that too.

But.

I have a long held dream of eventually seeing one of my books made into a movie or TV show. Keep your fingers crossed for me, okay? And I thought it might be fun to dream up the perfect cast for my new book, Heart of Gold, for this blog post.

Sebastian Stan as Tom. Did you see The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+? Sebastian Stan can definitely play a conflicted character, and that’s who hero Tom is. He was raised by two outlaw brothers and has had a very loose relationship with the law. But when he is exposed to Ida and her family, his foundations are shaken. Who is he if he isn’t the outlaw he was raised to be?

A slightly younger, blonde Daisy Ridley as Ida White. I am a huge Star Wars saga fan and Daisy’s portrayal of Rey means she would be a fantastic Ida. Ida is a nurse who just completed her training and after some traumatic events, came home for Christmas to heal. She’s the spunky youngest sister in a big family and can definitely hold her own—but there’s a part of her that is still innocent about men. Not innocent enough to trust Tom. At least not until she sees the real him beneath the arrogant outlaw exterior.

Hugh Jackman as Jonas White (Pa). I loved Hugh Jackman as a father in The Greatest Showman (more so at the beginning and the end of the movie). I could totally see him taking on the fatherly role in this book, both to comfort/support Ida and to offer advice to Tom.

Amy Adams as Penny White (Ma). I love Amy Adams and think she’s versatile enough to play Penny, who might be even more protective of her children than Jonas. And all of Ida’s older brothers. Penny is the heart of the home and one major reason Ida needed the homecoming she gets in this book–there’s nothing quite like the special bond between mother and daughter.

I wish I had the time to dream up a full cast for this book! I didn’t get to imagine Breanna and Seb and Oscar… all my favorites. But I’ve got to get back to the writing cave.

I would love to do a giveaway today. One random winner chosen from the comments will receive a paperback copy of Heart of Gold and a $10 Amazon gift card. Leave a comment and let me know what is your favorite book-to-movie (or TV) adaptation. Or if you are someone who never sees a movie adaptation because you love the books so much, tell me that too.

Thanks for hanging out with me today!

-Lacy

Heart of Gold 

They survived a harrowing near-death experience. Can a poignant family Christmas bring them together?

Ida needs a quiet Christmas at home to rest and find her footing again. But her boisterous family is anything but quiet and things only get worse when her U.S. Marshal brother brings home a prisoner for the holiday-the same outlaw that saved her life.

Tom Seymour discombobulates her. He’s arrogant and unrepentant. But when she’s forced to nurse his injuries, she realizes that his persona is all a facade. The man underneath is wounded and kind and in need of redemption.

But Tom must make a choice between his old life and the chance to make a new one with Ida. Can she trust the man he is becoming or will he betray her?

Click HERE to buy on Amazon

 

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35 thoughts on “How visual are you when you read a book?”

  2. Pride and Prejudice, the one with the dog; of course, my favorite spoof is from Red Dwarf.

    I also liked the Disney Treasure Island and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

  4. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is one of my all-time favorite books, but I was very disappointed with the movie adaption. I thought all the skin and rear nudity unnecessary in the Christian story, and the message of the novel was lost.

    • I love that book by Francine but the Mark of the Lion series is my all time favorite of hers. I didn’t see the movie of this one!

  6. I did like some of LaVyrle Spenser’s. Movies just disappointment me most of the time. However, I read Louis L’Amour books as a teenager and loved all the Sacketts. That tv series didn’t disappoint me. I’m hoping you have success on a movie or series. I love the Wind River Hearts series. Starting with Penny and Jonas’s story! I loved how he adopted all those boys and a baby girl. What a sweetheart he was! I loved reading about all of their stories! Also, I really liked the Counterfeit Cowboy. I kept grinning and laughing on how deeper and deeper he and his “brother” kept things going! And how Jesse and Erin, an unlikely couple, come to love one another. THAT would be a good movie too…Hallmark? I can just see Brecken Merrill playing the part of the younger “brother”. And wouldn’t Matt Barr be a good Jesse? A little rough around the edges, but could have those expressions of disbelief! I’m not sure who Erin would be. No one comes to mind.

    Anyway, I have enjoyed your books and this series! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on who would play the characters in your book! Now, a question for you. Who would play Jonas and Penny?

    • I guess I wasn’t reading or paying attention, that you actually told us who Jonas and Penny would be! (Rolls her eyes)But, that would be two good actors! Ok, I’ll ask another question. Who would play Erin in the Counterfeit Cowboy?

      • Hi Tracy, I’m sorry I didn’t make it over to comment on Friday. I love Erin Krakow and could totally see her as my Erin if she was a tiny bit younger.

  7. I think my favorite book to movie adaptation is the 2004 Phantom of the Opera film. I didn’t grow up in a home reading or discussing classic literature, but was over at a friend’s house and we watched the movie together when it came out. I went out and bought the book after that, and of course found it different but still touching. I read Pride and Prejudice around the same time because the 2005 movie was coming out. I think movies can be helpful in giving an incentive to read a book. I don’t mind different interpretations because it translates different on the screen, and can lead to interesting conversations about the book vs. the movie.

    When I read though, I have a very vague picture of the characters in my mind. I feel like I must be in the minority though. I know people have had some very heated opinions over the actors and actresses chosen for the recent adaption of Colleen Hoover’s novel, despite Hoover herself saying she pictured Blake Lively as the protagonist in her mind.

    • I am like you when I write and read. Very vague idea of the character in my mind. I love the Phantom movie! The only thing better was seeing it live on Broadway over 20 years ago with my hubby.

  8. Book to movie/tv adaptations are sometimes a big success but others a miss. Just thinking of so many from Christy to numerous Tom Clancy films to the more recent Francine Rivers.

    • I have to do spoilers for Nicholas Sparks movies!!! I can’t take the ones with sad endings.

  10. The only movie I remember seeing coming from a book was Ode to Billy Joe (1976). There probably have been more but I can’t think of any right now. The book was better.

  12. Oh my I am so visual when I read. I love it when authors give only the necessary details of the person and I can visualize the rest as I am reading. I have enjoyed When Calls The Heart by Janette Oke movie. My husband was enjoying it so much that he was going to order the books. Fortunately for him I had them all and he could read them before the next section came on. It was really funny, this man of mine who would ist quietly through a show/movie would tell me what was left out and what was extra, talking throughout the whole series. LOL I loved it. I saw some of Virgin River but really became bored with it quickly. When I was much younger I saw a movie Ode to Billy Joe. Oh but I loved it. Found out later it was also in book. Cool. The book was so much better.

    • I also am an avid follower of “When Calls the Heart” and wouldn’t miss an episode, even if they do not pair up as I would like to see them.

      • I’ve loved WCTH but haven’t watched the seasons after Jack… I loved the book SOOO much as a teen. And Lori, I love that your hubby commented on it!!

  13. I have to agree with Nicholas Sparks adaptations as well. ” the Notebook” as well as “Message in a Bottle” .
    They were both tear jerkers for me. My biggest disappointment is the changes made when producing a move after I have read the book and fallen in love with it only to find all is not the same. I know most often this is necessary, but to me it changes too many points in the initial read. Boo hoo.

  14. I like the movies that really stick to the words of a book. One of the best was Gone With The Wind. It is disappointing when a movie takes only the gist of the story then takes liberties with it. Most of the time it fails.

  15. I prefer seeing the book in my head versus a movie… I like letting the authors’ words create the picture… sometimes I will forget it was a book and tell someone about it thinking I saw a really great movie, LOL.

  16. Your post resonated with me as I am an avid reader and visualize the characters and setting This makes the experience so enjoyable. My favorite book to movie version would be Anne of Green Gables with Martin Sheen. I love reading and rarely watch movies but this was so well done and authentic.

    • I love Anne of Green Gables! One of my absolute childhood favorite books and movies.

  17. One of the most disappointing TV movie adaptations of books for me was the PBS series of Tony Hillerman mysteries. Wes Study and Adam Beach were great as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee but the movies didn’t follow the books at all. Since I had already read the books it was very confusing until I decided to accept that even though the titles were the same as the books the movies were not.

  18. The Secret Garden (1993 version)
    A Little Princess (1995 version)
    Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1973)

  19. When I become immersed with the pages of a book I picture the individuals and this makes them come alive for me. The book Rebecca which is a classic and my favorite is exceptional in the 1940 movie. So riveting and captivating.

  20. My absolute favorite has to be Pride and Prejudice, the BBC version with Colin Firth as Darcy. The acting by the various actors and actresses was superb and really made the book come to life for me.

  21. You can tell I was a children’s librarian, the Harry Potter series of films is, I feel, an excellent representation of the books. The characters are pretty much as I had visualized them. There were a few sub-plots that were left out, but the substance of the stories was there.
    Whether an author gives a detailed description of a character or just a cursory one, I always create my own picture of what they look like. Cover depictions are often far from matching the author’s description or what I “see.” It is one reason if a character is on the cover I prefer the style where only the lower part of the face is shown. The eyes tell you so much about the person and I would prefer to get that from what the author tells and shows me about them.

    • My kids have loved the HP movies. After the first two, I preferred the books so much I couldn’t really watch them. But they were good!
      Great point about the covers. I didn’t think of that but it’s a great point.

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