Okay, so I’ve been meaning to do a proper comparison between the “My Sister’s Keeper” movie and the book for ages. I finally got around to it, and let me tell you, it was a journey!
Getting Started
First, I re-read the book. It had been a while, so I wanted a fresh perspective. I grabbed my old, slightly battered copy, made a cup of tea, and settled in. It took me a couple of days, reading whenever I had some free time – on the bus, before bed, that sort of thing.
Diving into the Movie
Once I was done with the book, I fired up the movie. I remembered liking it when it first came out, but I knew there were some major differences. I wanted to watch it with a critical eye, now that I had the book fresh in my mind.
Taking Notes (Lots of Them!)
As I watched, I started jotting down notes. Seriously, my notebook was a mess! I used different colored pens for different characters and plot points. It was organized chaos, really. I just kept pausing the movie to write down my thoughts, comparing scenes, character portrayals, and all that.
- Anna’s attitude: Way bolder in the book!
- The ending: Okay, HUGE difference. Like, completely flipped.
- Jesse’s Storyline: Movie downplays it SO much.
- Campbell and Julia: Relationship feels rushed in the movie.
- Kate. Just, Kate. Hard to do, book vs. movie, the emotion felt very distinct.
Key Differences
It seemed almost a waste to pause the movie to make these notes, when so many great comparrisons and articles exist on the internet. Regardless I pressed on!
The Verdict?
Honestly? After all that, I still love both. But they’re almost like two separate entities. The book is a deep dive into the family’s struggles, with a gut-wrenching ending that really makes you think. The movie, while emotionally powerful, simplifies things and, well, that ending change is a big one. I totally get why they changed it for the film, it’s more conventionally satisfying, I guess. But the book’s ending is just so raw and impactful. I might be crazy but after all of this, I kind of want to re-watch and re-read all over again now.
