Uncertain whether I’d seen the movie, I picked up book 39 at a Library Used Book Sale, read it quickly and watched the movie the night I finished the book. This one is unique in that the book is based on the movie rather than the usual – movie being based on book.
Book 39:
Dead Poets Society
by N.H. Kleinbaum, based on the motion picture written by Tom Schulman
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
1988
Synopsis According to Mandi:
Without spoilers, Dead Poets Society is about a group of boys at Welton Academy and the way their lives get significantly more interesting when their new English professor, Mr. Keating arrives. Mr. Keating challenges the boys to “suck the marrow out of life”, a concept their conservative, single-minded school has never taught before. The boys excitedly look to the challenge and begin to view their education, their relationships and their lives differently.
Favorite Quote(s):
“‘Not a cynic, my boy,’ McAllister said knowingly. ‘A realist! Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams, and I’ll show you a happy man!’”
-N.H. Kleinbaum, Dead Poets Society
Awards (based upon my brief research):
None found.
Pages:
166
My Overall Rating:
4 – I loved this story. It’s a timeless tale, full of little nuggets of inspiration. It quickly pulled me in and had me rooting for the Dead Poets Society. I was moved to tears twice and was surprised that such a short, little book could have that effect on me.
For the record, since I read/watched them so close together, I can say the book and movie are, at times, word-for-word. I was impressed, however, that the other could capture the scenery so well from the movie as, when watching the movie, it was largely what I’d imagined while reading the book. I really don’t think you can go wrong either reading the book or watching the movie.
Also, the price sticker on my copy of the book has the price in Yen. And I found a receipt in the book that is very clearly in Japanese. I wish I could go where this book has gone.
