Books or films?
Many people believe that the book is fast becoming an endangered species. It is an indisputable fact that most people spend more time watching films than they do reading books. They prefer to seat in front of a screen and watch a story unfold before their eyes than read.
Watching a film nowadays can be an intense experience indeed. Multi-million-dollar productions dazzle viewers with spectacular special effects, breathtaking scenery and outstanding soundtracks. Moreover, it is now no longer necessary to go to the cinema to fully appreciate a film. With the introduction of home cinemas and DVDs, home viewing has improved to such an extent that it has reached a standard which was, until very recently, available only in cinemas. However, the fact remains that watching a film is a passive experience; there is no place for imagination.
Reading a book, on the other hand is a much more demanding experience. Without the help of sound and images available to those who watch films, readers must use their imagination to create their own images of the story. In this way, they are not influenced by actors’ performances, or by the directors’ decisions. Furthermore, books are more convenient than films. Readers are restricted neither by time nor by location.
As a pastime, reading may be less popular than watching a film, but that does not mean that it does not have as much to offer. Personally, I would not replace the satisfaction of reading the last page of a book with any film ending.