Not Logged in.
Book Jacket

Circling the Sun


An intoxicatingly vivid portrait of colonial Kenya and its privileged ...
Summary and Reviews
Excerpt
Reading Guide
Author Biography

Movie vs book

Created: 08/30/16

Replies: 15

Posted Aug. 30, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Hulananni

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 52

Movie vs book

"Out of Africa" (the movie) is based on Dinesen's book of the same name. If you've seen the movie how did that affect your reading of the novel?


Posted Aug. 31, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lindac

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 28

RE: Movie vs book

Although I often love seeing movies made from books I like, they almost always disappoint in some way. The ability to visualize rich text is so much better than what the movie comes up with! I felt Paula McLain's descriptions of settings, as well as characters and actions, created a very strong visual for me.


Posted Sep. 01, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
judyh

Join Date: 01/26/16

Posts: 20

RE: Movie vs book

I saw the movie "Out of Africa" a few times before reading "Circling the Sun." I couldn't help but see and hear Robert Redford when reading this book. Fortunately I really liked Robert Redford as Denys Hatton in the movie so seeing and hearing him while reading this book was not a problem. I rewatched "Out of Africa" after reading "Circling the Sun" and came to the conclusion that it was not a love story after all, at least not a story about a loving romance. This book pointed out to me that Denys Finch Hatton was not admirable in his dealings with women who loved him.


Posted Sep. 01, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
nancyn

Join Date: 05/12/16

Posts: 27

RE: Movie vs book

I loved McLain's writing. She writes with passion and clarity about Africa. I could visualize the beauty of the country from her descriptions. Perhaps influenced by having seen the movie, her characters are well developed. Am I remembering that the character of Beryl was not in the movie, "Out of Africa?"


Posted Sep. 01, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
donnac's Gravatar
donnac

Join Date: 03/26/14

Posts: 139

RE: Movie vs book

I tried watching the movie Out of Africa some time ago and could not get into it. Now that read Circling the Sun I think I will give it another go.


Posted Sep. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lorrainep

Join Date: 07/13/16

Posts: 26

RE: Movie vs book

Nancny, I've done a little googling and one source says that the character Felicity in Out of Africa is modeled on Beryl. Will have to rewatch movie


Posted Sep. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Hulananni

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 52

RE: Movie vs book

I've watched the movie numerous times and I don't see the connection with Beryl and Felicity, Felicity was shy and hesitant and that's not how Beryl appear(s.ed) to be.


Posted Sep. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: Movie vs book

I seem to remember reading, either in Circling The Sun or West With the Night, a comment from Beryl saying that Karen did not include any mention of her in her memoir - I think she put it along the lines of it being Karen's revenge - to write her story the way she wanted and thus write Beryl out of it. In which case, as Out of Africa, the film, is based on Karen's book, it would not seem surprising that Beryl would not be included.


Posted Sep. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Hulananni

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 52

RE: Movie vs book

Having seen the movie BEFORE reading Circling the Sun I was surprised at the difference between the two re Beryl's part in Karen's life.


Posted Sep. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Hulananni

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 52

RE: Movie vs book

Having read "curcling the Sun" and having seen Out Of Africa numerous times I decided to read Out if Africa as written byDinesen. Couldn't get through it for some reason.


Posted Sep. 06, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
debrav

Join Date: 08/16/11

Posts: 30

RE: Movie vs book

Love the movie -- It has been quite a few years and probably need to watch it again. Frankly, I don't remember Beryl from the movie.


Posted Sep. 08, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliaa

Join Date: 12/03/11

Posts: 276

RE: Movie vs book

I haven't seen the movie for a good many years, so it did not affect my reading of this novel. In Judith Thurmond's biography of Isak Dinesen (Karen), Beryl gets only three scant mentions, so even that did not influence my reading of this novel.


Posted Sep. 15, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Sharlene

Join Date: 04/10/13

Posts: 78

RE: Movie vs book

I saw the movie Out of Africa years ago and love it enough to read Dinesen's book. Reading this book brought all of the beautiful scenery back to me vividly.


Posted Sep. 21, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
annar

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 114

RE: Movie vs book

Recently I watched "Out Of Africa" again. It is a beautiful movie. I did find it interesting that Beryl is not mentioned in the movie. After researching both Karen Blixson and Paula McLain's books, I read that a character in the movie name Felicity was based on Beryl. She is referred to as "very much a tomboy."
Why would Blixson have Beryl in her book when she knew Beryl and Denys were having an affair?


Posted Sep. 21, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Sharlene

Join Date: 04/10/13

Posts: 78

RE: Movie vs book

Did she know they were having an affair? I don't think that was ever clear as they were always friendly when they met.


Posted Oct. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jeanniet

Join Date: 06/20/13

Posts: 27

RE: Movie vs book

Yes, I think Karen knew. It would be very difficult to hide the feelings that Beryl had for Denys.


Reply

Please login to post a response.