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Is it worth it to read Big Little Lies if I already saw the show on HBO?

Is it worth it to read Big Little Lies if I already saw the show on HBO?

Holly #questionnaire

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149 Answers

Diane

Definitely. A lot was left out on the HBO series, and the book is much better.

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Kayla

Totally agree. I read the book first and did not enjoy show as much as I had hoped.

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Melissa

The best scene was left out of the TV show. And the characters had more depth in the book. Reese’s character was completely different in the book

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Madeline

I think it might not be. It’s a great book, but part of that was seeing what went down at the parents night revealed.

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Michele

As always… the book was better

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Karen

Yes!

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Josie

I read it after and still thoroughly enjoyed it!

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Sheri

It’s a good book. ?

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Merla

Definitely. Book is so much better

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Sara

Yes

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Jessica

Definitely! The book is far better.

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Betsye

Yes! So much more detail.

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Deborah

Yes book is even better

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Karen

Yes!

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Emily

I really enjoyed that book but didn’t see the show. I heard they did a good job with it so I don’t think you’re missing anything. My favorite of her books is What Alice Forgot.

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Betsey

OR read one of her others. I’ve read 2 others and liked them a lot!

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Nancy

Definitely!! And you’ll be surprised by some major differences. I read it to clear up a couple things I didn’t think really came across in the mini series (was hoping for some clarification)and was I surprised by several things. Enjoy!!

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Kristy

It is

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Amy

Yes, love her books

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Emily

Yes! I saw the show first. Book is even better. Reese’s character’s storyline changed.

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Melissa

For the worse… Apparently Reese found her boring in the book.

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Belinda

Yes

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Beckie

I have always found the books are always much better then the movie…

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Carrie

It is such a good book!

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Paula

The book is better!

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Joyce

Absolutely

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Julie

There are enough differences that I’d say “yes.”

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Mimi

Absolutely!

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Jennifer

Yes, well written, more detailed

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Jacqueline

Yes.

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Leslie

No

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Stacey

Read that for our local book club. I liked the book. Haven’t seen the show.

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Deborah

Yes, the Hbo show had a lot of differences and I liked the book more.

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Beth

Yes!

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Cindy

Loved the book, didn’t care for the hbo series….

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Susan

Yes , you should read the book. It is better.

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Mary

Yes. Book is better.

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Jennifer

Yes, book so much better

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Lisa

Yes!!

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Elaine

Yes. Read her other books also

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Freda

Oh my goodness YES!

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Nancy

Yes. Book is way better!

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Darla

Yes. I love her writing. Boy! I also love the show…really love the soundtrack, as well.

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Amy

YES book is far better

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Beverly

Very

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Frances

Yes

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Ellen

Absolutely

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Melyssa

Yes! Please read the book. The series totally butchered the story.

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HollyQuestion author

Thanks! I should have read the book first, but once I knew the ending I was wondering if I should just move on to the next book on my list. I’ll check it out now!

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Linda

As excellent as the TV show was…the book has more events and more detail; per the usual. I think you’d enjoy the book…

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Martha

I loved the book and I really enjoyed the show. You will know who did it, so you’ll lose the suspense. However, there are major differences. Give it a shot!

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Laura

Yes. The book is much much better, in my opinion, and really different.

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Patty

OMG! YES:)

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Julia

Book is much better.

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Priscilla

Yes. It gives you a fuller picture.

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HollyQuestion author

Cool, thanks everyone!

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Ellen

Liked the series but book is better!

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Lisa

It is rare that I say this, but I liked the HBO series better. Yes, the author can write, but her stories get on my nerves. I have read two of them, and each time I have vowed not to read another. I understand literary devices, etc., but this writer drops information but holds me hostage for the remainder of the book. That said, maybe I liked the HBO series because I read the book first. I will never know. Just adding another POV. Thanks.

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Vicki

Absolutely!!!!

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Tracy

Yes

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Amy

They definitely gave the book the HBO treatment. Extra steam and storylines. Especially, for Reese Witherspoon’s character. I liked both, but for me the book is always better.

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Kristin

Yes, I don’t remember an affair in the book. Did I miss that?

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Amy

@Kristin Nope, Reese was a producer on the show maybe she wanted more to her story.?

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Kristin

@Amy Liane did write the screenplay for this season and season 1. I really hope they don’t mess up Little Fires Everywhere.

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Amy

I’m looking forward to see what they do with Sharp Objects and I Know This Much is True.

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Shane

Eh. Liked the show read the book after. Hard to read, not very literary, or my genre.

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Kristin

Liane Moriarity has to write a second season script for Big Little Lies. I think that is why she added to the story a little in the first season. She needed a story to build on for S2.

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Tressa

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator does a great job.

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Sharyn

It is set in Australia. Say no more

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Tammy

Yes. It’s still a good book and the book is almost always better. It was for me in this case.

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Jacqueline

The author wrote the screenplay? Isn’t that odd

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Lisa

All of Liane Moriarty’s books are amazing! I especially loved “Three Wishes,” and “The Husband’s Secret.”

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Amy

I agree! I discovered her, when I watched the first episode of BLL and saw it was based on a book. I binge read the book so I could watch the rest of the series. I have since read all her books and she has become one of my favorite authors. I think The Last Anniversary is my favorite.

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Lisa

Book is better!

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Jennifer

Yep, for sure

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Whitney

I’m struggling to finish this, I’m about halfway through it.

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Ellie

Have to get to the end – pulls a lot together

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Whitney

@Ellie that’s what I’m hoping!! It just bounces around so much. If you were to ask me any of the characters names right now I can tell you Jane and Ziggy and Madeline.

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Ellie

@Whitney I thought the same thing but pressed on. I had to know what really happened that night.

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Whitney

@Ellie that’s the driving force!! Right now I’m at the point where it could be anyone.

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Ellie

@Whitney And you will have that feeling for most of the book. Let me know what you think at the end.

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Whitney

@Ellie I will!

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Nicole

Yes

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AnnMarie

OMG Yes. They left out a big part of the story in the show.

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Michele

Absolutely

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Suzi

Yes – the book has so much more plot and character development.

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Kristina

the ending is 10x better. the show finale sucked so bad, i’m not going to watch season two.

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April

Why not do both? And really enjoy the art form –

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Diane

Absolutely!

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Jacqueline

I always think it’s better to read a book after you see the movie because you get more out of it, and books are always better. If you see the movie after you read the book, there’s always disappointment.

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Laura

Liked the book much better even though the series was well made and acted. I think they are different enough to justify reading the book.

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Alicia

Yes, I enjoyed the show, but it does differ from the book.

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Brooke

Yes!

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Becky

The book is so good.

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Belinda

yes so much better

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Cynthia

Yes the book is much better and different. Loved the book.

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Sara

Definitely

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Gina

I personally did not like the book but LOVED the show.

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Donna

I’m with Gina, book was so-so. I almost didn’t watch the miniseries, but so glad I did. Love the miniseries.

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Nancy

I really enjoyed the book—but saw the miniseries first. I thought the book answered many questions I was left with after watching the show. I liked them both ?

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Sera

??? I did not know it was a book! ??. I hv notvwatched the show, but have wanted to.. is the book as good as the show?

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Emily

Yes, even better, and she has many books

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Amy

If you plan on watching the show I suggest you read the book first. Both are very good.

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Zhuo

Go for it.

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Lynn

It’s better than the show

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Virginia

I agree…and the ending is far better than the show!

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Julie

If I remember correctly, there was more to Reese Witherspoon’s character that I don’t remember in the book. I did not like her as much in the HBO version. Maybe that change would help develop season 2.

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Janice

Yes

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Pat

Yes

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Susan

Yes! I loved both in different ways.

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Chris

I just finished The Husband’s Secret this morning. I am awed at the specific and precise details in her narrative that draw the characters so clearly and sharply. It’s hard to put thoughts and feelings and moods into words, and she does it so well! I found the same thing in BLL.

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Chrissy

Yes

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Elaine

Yes! I thought the idea of a second season was pointless until I read the book. Now I feel like the possibilities are endless for how the story can branch out!

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Cecily

No

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Cindi

Book is much better

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Aimee

I think yes.

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Pat

The book was really good. I just couldn’t get into the HBO version. Read the book!

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Trisha

The show is so much better than the book!

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Judy

Probably not

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Gretchen

The series leaves out about the last 15% of the book and important information about Bonnie, so definitely.

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Nancy

Yes. The book is much better.

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Jewel

There are so many books to read out there. I didn’t find this one wonderful, but thought the series was good. I’d read another book in your to read pile unless you end up feeling strongly about this one? Or maybe listen to the audio book during your commutes?

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Katy

Yes, the book is so much better and very different.

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Emily

Yes the book is good

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Bunny

Yes,book always better

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Maureen

No

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Carol

I was so disappointed by this, I can’t imagine wanting to read it, or anything else by the author.

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Jamila

The book is really good! I thought the show was well done too, but there a few differences. So probably if you are someone who doesn’t reread books skip it since you basically know the story. If you do enjoy reading stories you know then I would recommend it!

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Elizabeth

I liked the book and hated the movie on HBO.

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Prudence

Yes.

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Sarah

100%. I never had the cable channel in the UK that it was on, so I read the book, then when it came on to Netflix I watched the show. The book is so good.

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Stephanie

The answer to should I read the book is always yes.

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Julie

YES! It was a good adaptation, but the book has some other story lines and details.

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Dee

No.. I saw the show first and really liked it. Didn’t enjoy the book that much afterwards. Too many other good things to read instead.

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Pam

Yes

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Tammy

Yup

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Traci

Yes. It was so good.

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Barbara

The book is so much better

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Marianne

I agree if that’s possible, I loved both.

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Etta

Yes!

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Joey

Absolutely

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Pam

Most definitely!!!

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Wendy

Yes, book is much better( as per usual)!

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Susan

Oh yes!

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Patty

Yes

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Stephanie

Yes

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Sheri

Haha. It really takes place in a suburb of Sydney Australia. Loved it. Love Australia.

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Leisha

@Holly hey lady! Didn’t know you were in this group too! ?

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HollyQuestion author

Hey!! Great minds think alike 🙂

1
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