"It's nothing like the book"

fiveub · 30 Mar 2009 at 21:45

Does that phrase actually originate from anywhere? Or is it just a common saying?

N9ne · 30 Mar 2009 at 21:46

If the film is nothing like the book, then the saying would also work in reverse: "It's nothing like the film". I don't think it has any particular origin but is rather a result of many more films being made out of books.

fiveub · 30 Mar 2009 at 21:50

Yeah, I think it is related to adaptations, because people normally change the novel to a stage play, or a film, and such other things.

Dracata · 30 Mar 2009 at 21:57

Films are usually made from books (it's rare to happen vice versa). The books are usually popular (Or popular enough for a film version to be made, at least) meaning that they will have a large fan base. More often than not, the film is not a very fair reproduction of the book, or the film will have only taken a few major points from the book, and gone off on a tangent.

It's usually because of this that people will say "It's nothing like the book".

InvaderGIR · 30 Mar 2009 at 21:58

I use the term for Haynes car manuals too...as the book is full of lies!

KiTBoH · 30 Mar 2009 at 21:59

InvaderGIR said:
I use the term for Haynes car manuals too...as the book is full of lies!

brought the bible to mind

DominicStar · 30 Mar 2009 at 22:24

KiTBoH said:
brought the bible to mind

Six posts in to a thread before that came up

Vonhelmet · 30 Mar 2009 at 22:30

That's at both the OP for a fairly silly question, and for the absurdly tangential grab at an opportunity to **** off a religion.

V4NT0M · 30 Mar 2009 at 22:46

"It's nothing like the book" originates from people saying "It's nothing like the book" about films that were originally books.

...

sarutobi · 30 Mar 2009 at 22:56

Skyfall said:
"It's nothing like the book" originates from people saying "It's nothing like the book" about films that were originally books.

...

titchard · 30 Mar 2009 at 23:27

I can't believe you asked this question OP.

You'll be asking what people mean when they say "This is the best thing since sliced bread!" next.

Rich

Edinho · 30 Mar 2009 at 23:54

5UB said:
Does that phrase actually originate from anywhere? Or is it just a common saying?

What kind of ****ing question is this?

I have another question. I watch a film and I said "It was crap". I wonder where this originated from?

tbqfh I dont even know why im bothering replying. :confused:

Tefal · 30 Mar 2009 at 23:55

films have to hack out huge portions of ther contents of a book to make it 3 hours or less so it's never "like the book" because it has to be cut so much.

dowie · 31 Mar 2009 at 12:27

Sometimes said when the film genuinely isn't like the book.

Other times, when the book isn't a best seller before the film comes out, it will be said by people in an act of snobbery attempting to advertise the fact that they have read the book.