Do you read the book first, then see the film, see the film then read the book or is it an either or situation?

[Demented]

The title says it all, just nosey really. I recently read The Beach which I really enjoyed and last night watched the film which I enjoyed as well but spent most of it thinking things like "that never happened in the book", "I didn't imagine him looking quite like that" etc, etc.

Just wondered what the rest of you do, read first then watch, watch first then read or only read or only watch?

book definitely first (shudder at thought of reviews of Captain Correlli's Mandolin, even though haven't seen it. bbbbrrrrrr)

I thought the recent P&P was too chocolate boxy for my liking.

Loved the old film adaptation with Greer Garson as Lizzie and Olivier as a GORGEOUS smouldering Darcy though!

SM - I'm ashamed of you. The film makers put the characters in the wrong period of dress completely, because they liked it better! Perhaps I'm just a bit too sad

don't watch it Marina, but sit here at work silently fuming when they discuss it and how different things were in Victorian times. grrrr again!

I think that on the whole novels cannot be made into succesful films as usually the sheer length of the book means that compromises have to be made, and a well made tv adaptation, as long as its not done over four hours like the recent crap version of The Woman in White, can be fantastic.

I thought that Wives and Daughters was a very good adpatation, didn't see Persuasion.