From a young age, I loved stories, and I loved the way my brain was engaged by being a participant in the created worlds of both movies and books. I have a love of cinematic stories and the connection I feel with others through them, so the Chabon essay resonated with me. I also have a deep love of books and a firm belief in the positive aspects of reading in a person’s life, so the Thayer essay also resonated with me, except for one thing; Thayer insisted that while the role of books and reading was important and uplifting, the role of cinema and television was entirely irrelevant and should be shunned from a person’s life. How could these two writer’s views, both of which I had liked, be in conflict? For me, they weren’t. The essays I read reaffirmed my understanding that stories told, in both cinema and writing, are worth experiencing and both can offer insight, connection, and empathy.
Movies are a favorite family activity that bring us together. We watch Elf and Home Alone while doing puzzles at Christmas-time. We go to the theater for the new Marvel movies and discuss them long afterwards. We watch inspiring “based on a true story” movies and find inspiration in all movies. And of course, every once in a while, we commit 12 hours over a week to watch the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition. Whenever we watch something, We find ways to bond as a family, and even new things to discuss because of what we watched. I find myself moved by the characters, even drawn to tears when I feel I now understand a new perspective and empathy that I can bring to my real life.
I have read a lot of books in my day. I find myself interested in a wide variety of books: Religious, Fantasy, Drama, Self-Help, Educational, Science Fiction, to name a few. I’ve read the Lord of the Rings. I’ve read books on finance, relationships, and honor. I’ve read of great conflicts between good and evil, both in scripture and in fantasy, and I find many parallels and insights between the two. These many books shape my connection to the world around me, just as the world shapes my understanding of the books I read. When I was asked to draw a picture representing me, I wanted to draw a stack of books and the earth, side by side, with arrows pointing to each other. This represents the impact books have had in my life.
A common statement that I find myself saying with others when discussing movies is, “Yeah, the book was better.” In response (to myself), I say: Ok, but better in what way? The book does a great job of giving you a direct line of insight into the minds of the characters. It describes places and events in detail that you then get to expand upon in your own mind. It gives you more time to connect with the characters and the themes of the story. The movie, on the other hand, does a great job of telling a story that can be experienced with a group, and on a whim. It takes less time and still offers many of the insights that are found in the book, and even some different ones. It lets us view literally from a perspective we don’t have. Books and movies deserve to be together. They expand on each other in meaningful ways, and each provides new contexts with which to understand people and life in general.
You may realize by now that my enthusiasm for books and movies is not limited to books and movies. I find intense joy in all the experiences of my life, in entertainment, quality time with family and friends, time outdoors, traveling, talking, learning, and even writing. It’s who I am, but without both books and movies, I would not be who I am, and that would be the worst crime. Books and movies connect me to others. They connect me to screenwriters and authors. They connect me to family, friends, and fandoms. They connect me to nature and to God. Books and movies both deserve a slot in My Entertainment Library.
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