The Club Dumas and the Ninth Gate...

[fajrdrako]

I finished reading The Club Dumas by Arthuro Perez-Reverte, the novel that the Johnny Depp movie The Ninth Gate is based on.

Very interesting. While the movie was faithful to the book in mood and tone and (largely) in action, it had some odd departures and the last section - which in the movie involves a witches' coven and a car chase - seemed to belong to another story.

A few brief comments:
- From beginning to end, I really liked the hero, Corso in both movie and book. Depp depicted him beautifully.
- I also liked Flavio da Ponte and wish he'd been in the movie.
- I loved the writing style but don't know if credit should go to the author or the translator
- There were a few sections when I got bored by technical explanations of, for example, book-binding
- I liked the Girl in both versions, though I felt the book explained her in a much more satisfying manner - not necessarily making everything clear, but at least elucidating what manner of being she was
- I enjoyed the offbeat touches like Corso's fascination with Napoleon and the details of Dumas' life
- I love any novel that is really a book about books

Comments

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

I liked the movie, but never got around to investigating the book. I'll have to do that.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd love to hear what you think of it. I'm still analyzing my reactions; I thought the first half of the book was more interesting than the second half, but I'm not sure why I thought that.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

This sounds fascinating. Now, in addition to wanting to see the movie in its entirety (I've seen only about three scenes of it, but loved them), I want to read the book, too. Thanks!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think you'd enjoy it. It's myterious and well-written; it goes in a lot of directions at once.

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

Thanks to you, I've started reading it again.

it had some odd departures and the last section - which in the movie involves a witches' coven and a car chase - seemed to belong to another story.
Lol. I barely remember the movie at all, but I did think that their plot alterations were cliched and ruined the atmosphere. (also, I thought Corso was too young, but I might have misremembered Corso's book-age, and didn't they ignore the Dumas plotline entirely?)

Although I havn't read the original, I find it hard to believe that the style is entirely that of the translator, although she is clearly very good. Also, his 'Flanders Panel' is very similar in style, and that was translated by another person. (That book, I think, is not as good as the Club Dumas, but it was a good read).

What sections did you like more and did you have a preferance between the two plotlines? I always felt they weren't interwoven as well as I'd have liked, and I didn't like the resolution of either.

btw, can you rec any other books about books?