What is your opinion of TV shows based on books?

Movies based on books is an old concept, but a lot of TV shows are being made which are based on books nowadays. I'll be honest, I watch some of the shows and have never read the books (and actually, I hadn't even HEARD of some of the books until the shows came out lol) What do you think?



Examples:

The Vampire Diaries (based on L.J. Smith's books)

Game of Thrones

True Blood

Pillars of the Earth

Legend of the Seeker (based on Sword of Truth books)What is your opinion of TV shows based on books?
meh, it's like movies in a way - some are really good and some are bad.



For myself, I've read The Southern Vampire Mysteries before it was made into True Blood. And while True Blood stays true to the essence of the books, there's a lot that they changed to fit in a TV series format. (love the tv series btw) 鈾?br>


Same with Game of Thrones. I read the first book years ago, and now I'm re-reading the series because the TV series is so awesome. I'm finding the differences that were made between the show and the books, but that doesn't make me love the show any less.





Legend of the Seeker, however, I never got into watching the show for some reason. I loooove the books, but I just couldn't bring myself to watch the show. I think I was afraid, because I have yet to see a TV series adapt "magic" convincingly and not be cheesy. Maybe someday I'll watch it online or something. :S
I'm enjoying Game of Thrones, and have bought the first book as a result.

I watched ten minutes of True Blood, sniggered, and turned it off. I won't be bothering with the books.

I enjoyed Legend of the Seeker, but it's rather generic fantasy, so I've read plenty of books like it. I haven't bought these, but I might.

Two other series which I've started with on TV and then moved onto the books have been the Dresden Files and Blood Ties.

Edit: And I can't believe I forgot Bones, though all the TV show and the books really have in common is the character's name and job.What is your opinion of TV shows based on books?
I think as long as it's a decent show, it can't be bad.



It's funny, because the Sookie Stackhouse books are my favourite series now, and the Vampire Diaries books were my favourite series when I was a teen. . .



Though I originally ADORED True Blood, the more it changed, the harder I found to watch it. I still think it's an awesome show, but I haven't been able to finish watching it yet. :S



I just started watching Vampire Diaries, and I think it's great. I haven't got far enough along that it's TOO different (some odd changes, but still), so I'm still enjoying it.



So in general: I think TV shows from books are good, because it brings focus to good stories. Though if it's one of my favourite stories, I may have trouble watching it if it's too different.
I'm fine with it. It's like movies, things are going to be different, it's expected. I just try to remember that it's too different creative things. A book is always going to be different from a movie/TV show, even if the difference is tiny.



I read the first Sookie Stackhouse book, and I watched the first couple of episodes of True Blood but I could just never get into it. Or the books. Not really my thing, I guess *ducks for cover*



As for the Vampire Diaries, I read the first book (a while ago) and I religiously watch the TV show. I don't compare the two, I could care less. I just love watching the characters come to life each week.



I also checked out Pretty Little Liars, but I had never read the books prior.



They seem to be doing good, though.What is your opinion of TV shows based on books?
I think in itself it's a fine thing, though I haven't seen a heck of a lot of my books turned into shows. But I have always loved the idea of putting things into new forms of media. It's fun to see how it turns out; even if the result isn't ideal, it's always interesting.
Bones, based on the series of books by Kathy Reichs and the Rizolli and Isles books by Tess Gerritson are very good. I admit the books and shows are very different from each other.



Answer mine, please. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;鈥?/a>
Pretty little liars is awsome and its based of a book but they add a little more to the show makeing it unpredicatable, and all animes are based off of manga and there the best things onearth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goosebumps_鈥?/a>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Goo鈥?/a>
well most of them are good bcos it means that the story is more or less the best seller. but I hate it when film director changes the plot which mostly making it sucks