BACK COVER BLURB: Relive the magic of ITV's best loved drama series starring Martin Clunes.
Doc Martin arrives in the picture postcard fishing village of Portwenn, Cornwall. Once a high-flying London surgeon, his suddenly developed blood phobia means he has to take a job in a local practice.
But while the Doc’s medical skills are second to none, his bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired. He immediately starts infuriating the locals, none more so than school teacher Louisa Glasson...
FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter 1}: Dr Martin Ellingham squeezed into his seat: facing the direction of travel, with a table.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 191}: 'Really?' Martin felt a wobble of strangeness at this ordinary dinner party conversation he was having, trapped in a madman's shack. And, presumably he was about to have dinner with an imaginary squirrel.
SOURCE: Ex-library stock.
MY THOUGHTS: Raise your hands all of you who have read a book adapted for tv/the big screen.
1...2...3.... I thought so, pretty much all of you.
Now raise your hand if you have watched a tv series only for that series to be adapted, sorry 'relived' as the synopsis tells us, as a book.
Hmm, as I thought. Not nearly as many.
As far as I can remember the first time I've come across a book that came after the adaptation. Whilst I'm open to the fact that it could work, in my opinion it didn't here.
Perhaps too big a fan of the series. Try as I might
I simply couldn't get Martin Clunes as ITV's Doc Martin out of my head and I'm afraid the Doc Martin on the page though quintessentially Doc Martin was, at the same time, quite different. Not something that can easily be explained but not nearly as, well, as gruff, as socially awkward, as lovable as the Doc Martin on the screen, I suppose I'd sum Sam North's version up as being a slightly tampered version.
Not the only thing to have suffered. Having reconciled myself to the fact that not only weren't the characters exactly like they were on the screen but, rather oddly, on paper the author somehow failed to bring them fully to life (perhaps due to their tv personas being so good?). A cold, miserable day in what is my corner of England (despite it being summer) I was at least hoping to capture some sense of Cornwall but alas this sense of place was to be denied me as well.
I guess an OK read. Probably a better one if you haven't seen the tv production. However if like me you have, be prepared to see the characters in a slightly different light whilst essentially reliving the incidents that occurred in the first series.
11 comments:
I immediately had to find out more, after seeing your teaser about Doc Martin. I love that show, and I'm almost finished watching it....but I guess I'll skip this book, as it seems like a pale version of the series.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I'm still trying to name a TV show that has subsequently been turned into a book/books. I feel like I should know of one, but can't come up with anything.
I've not seen this show and I'm not sure i would enjoy the book, either. I almost don't like for a book cover to provide me with a photo since I like to imagine on my own what someone looks like from the written description.
(and I keep thinking of 'Doc Marten' boots)
hmm...did Supernatural the tv show come first or the books? I need to research!
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts, Tracy. I hope you're having a good week.
I have actually read books BASED on tv shows. I can see how it might not work for everyone, but the one I can remember reading was based on the show Psych and I thought the author did a good job. :)
When I was younger I read a few books based on television shows. There is an enormous library of books based on the the Star Trek series. Obviously, this is very different from that type of story.
For the reasons that you mentioned, I think that that this kind of book often falls short.
Oh this is another series I've never seen, but my friend's Mum is a big fan so I'll have to tell her about this so she can pass it on. It's always strange getting book adaptations after they debut on the screen. The only similar ones I've read have been a couple of the Doctor Who books, which are OK, but as it looks to be similar here, maybe not as fun as the original show! Great review though Tracy. - Tasha
Relived? Hm... I don't think I have with a tv show... with a movie I have though. :) I can say that sometimes the book isn't better but like you, I did enjoy the different perspective. :)
I don't think I have ever read a book that came after the adaptation. Interesting! I have seen a few episodes of the show. I enjoyed your honest review.
Ah too bad it's just ok in the end
That was always the fear I had of reading the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER stories (for example). I enjoyed the show but was hesitant to check out the spin off books... an awkward adjustment for a bookworm.
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