Little Women and The Miniaturist - books or TV first?

[ChessieFL]

I recorded both of these over Christmas. I also have both books although haven’t ever read them. Should I read the books before watching the TV adaptations, or watch TV first? Will one put me off the other?

I read miniaturist a couple of years ago. I thought the Tv was better than the book. Which is usually not the case.

I little women I read as a kid a long time ago. I didn’t think the drama was that amazing mainly because I didn’t think their amaerican accents were good.

Little women - books - forget about the TV thing, it was not that good.

Miniaturist - either way round... agree with PP the TV adaptation was good for this one.

I've only read The Miniaturist and have to admit I hated the book. Not watched the TV programme as a result.

However, I would normally say always read the book first.

Neither. For the Miniaturist, if you read MN Book Club, nobody liked the book!

DH and I found the adaptation nice to look at but ultimately really boring. We nearly gave up on it which was disappointing because the first 10 minutes were 'wow, how amazing is this'.

Little Women - am not sure how much the book would speak to you if you don't read it as a child. I could barely remember the book but could remember not liking it that much. We thought the TV adaptation was OK but nothing happens in the first episode, it's v v slow but I understand book lovers hate it.

I would say read the book first - so you get the full story not the dramatised (and oft) abridged version.

Agree though that The Miniaturist was not the best read ever, although having seen Jessie Burton discuss it at a book festival, I have this vague recollection that she implied there might be a sequel at some point?

The most recent adaptation of Little Women grew on me. The problem with such a well-loved novel (and one that's been dramatised many times over) is that most of us will have quite a fixed view of the characters and even the drama version we favour. I've always loved the 1949 version with Elizabeth Taylor who 'nailed' Amy for me.

Thanks - normally I would always read the books before watching a tv or film adaptation and did plan to do so here, but DH is nagging me to clear them off the sky planner! Maybe I’ll watch The Miniaturist but try and read Little Women first.

Little women is a great book but haven’t read it since I was a teen.

The minituarist was terrible, seriously don’t understand why
It was adapted for TV.