Sunday 23 September 2012

Book to Movie Comparison: Now Is Good (Before I Die) - Jenny Downham


I absolutely loved Jenny Downham's book Before I Die (which has now been re-released as Now is Good to match the movie title) when I read it last year. You can read my review of the book here for more information but if you haven't read it yet then I'd highly recommend it. The story is a heartbreaking one that definitely requires tissues but at the same time it will make you appreciate the important things and want to make the most of every moment.

Book Covers and Synopsis:


It's really going to happen. They said it would, but this is quicker than anyone thought.

Everyone has to die. We all know it.

With only a few months of life left, sixteen-year-old Tessa knows it better than most.

She's made a list though - ten things she wants to do before she dies. Number one is sex. Starting tonight.

But getting what you want isn't easy. And getting what you want doesn't always give you what you need. And sometimes the most unexpected things become important.

Uplifting, life-affirming, joyous - this extraordinary novel celebrates what it is to be alive by confronting what it's really like to die.

Anyway, as a huge fan of the book I was looking forward to seeing the film adaptation so when Random House offered me the chance to attend a preview last month I couldn't say yes fast enough! Kirsty (from The Overflowing Library) & I set off for London early and spent the day hunting for Wenlock and Mandeville statues (more about that in another blog post next week!) before making our way to the Warner Bros offices to see the film.


I have to say that I think Warner Bros have done a fantastic job with the adaptation of Now is Good. They can never fit as much detail into a movie as there is in a book but I felt they have captured the essence of the story perfectly. Dakota Fanning gives a heartbreaking portrayal of Tessa and I loved Jeremy Irving as Adam. The relationship between Tessa and her father was moving and her younger brother Cal was adorable.

Considering I cried buckets when reading the book I knew the film would be a tearjerker and I'm glad I'd remembered to take plenty of tissues with me. I don't think there was a dry eye in the theatre! My only warning would be for fellow blood phobics out there, if you are the kind of person who faints at the sight of blood then I can warn you when you need to leave the cinema. My blood & needle phobia has caused me to faint many, many times (during blood tests & injections, at the dentist, visiting people in the hospital, when I've had a bad nose bleed, during my first aid course - the list could go on forever!) but I had NEVER fainted at the cinema before!

There was one particular scene where Tessa has a very nasty nose bleed that sent me over the edge and yes I managed to faint in the middle of the film! Luckily Kirsty was the only one who noticed so although I practically frightened the life out of her I didn't completely humiliate myself in front of the entire cinema. One thing about fainting when you're already sat down is that you don't nessecarily fall out of your seat LOL. I thought I was probably the only one who had this problem so I wouldn't have bothered to warn people but Clare from Random House found out that one of the other publicists fainted at exactly the same point during another preview screening so you have been warned!

In spite of the awkward fainting moment and feeling rather traumatised after it happened I did really enjoy the film. I don't think the ending had quite the same impact on me that it would have if I wasn't still recovering though. I did cry but not as much as I think I could have!

Now is Good is in cinemas in the UK now so make sure you book your ticket. In case you haven't already seen it here is the UK trailer:


I'd like to say a massive thank you to Random House & Warner Bros for inviting us to the preview screening - it was definitely a memorable experience!

Shhhh don't tell everyone but Kirsty even got to meet Batman on the way out!

Who was there:
Clare - Random House

8 comments:

  1. I didn't even know this was being made into a movie! Thanks for sharing your review of it. I'll have to see when it is playing in the States.

    Thanks also for the warning about the blood. I'm sorry you fainted! I usually look away from scenes like that but I had a bit of a rough time when watching the birth scene in Breaking Dawn. I felt a little queasy which wasn't fun but at least it was a short time at the end of the movie.

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  2. Hi Christina, I'd definitely recommend the movie to anyone who loved the book (as long as you've not got a blood phobia - although I can tell you when to take a toilet break if you want to skip the worst bit LOL).

    They've done such a good job with the adaptation. I think my main problem was that I wasn't expecting there to be blood, I'd forgotten about that particular scene in the book although I now remember having to skim through that bit when I was reading because it was making me feel ill. I wasn't a big fan of that part of Breaking Dawn either but I knew it was coming so just looked away until a friend told me it was safe to look back! I'm such a wimp with blood LOL

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  3. OHH! I really want to see this, but I couldn't persuade N to see it with me. Probably for the best as it is sure to be a real sobfest.

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  4. @ Clover - this was definitely a sobfest Michelle! It was a very good film though so you should try and watch it at some point :o)

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  5. Can some one tell me the differents between the book and the movie please?

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    1. Hi Shoshanna, the movie is based on the book so the storyline is very similar. I'm sure there are some subtle differences but it was such a long gap between me reading the book & watching the film that I couldn't tell you what they are. It's a really good adaptation though & I think they did a great job of conveying the author's story :-)

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  6. Hi, I'm Diane C. Brown.

    Thanks for details sharing. I am appreciated to read your post.
    I used to be suggested this website via my cousin. I am now not certain whether or not this put up is written by way of him as no one else understand such particular approximately my difficulty. You're amazing! I think my main problem was that I wasn't expecting there to be blood, I'd forgotten about that particular scene in the book although I now remember having to skim through that bit when I was reading because it was making me feel ill. In spite of the awkward fainting moment and feeling rather traumatised after it happened I did really enjoy the film. I don't think the ending had quite the same impact on me that it would have if I wasn't still recovering though. I did cry but not as much as I think I could have!http://onedaytop.com/

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    1. Hi Diane, I had forgotten about that scene from the book too so it totally took me by surprise in the cinema. I don't think I'll ever be able to watch this movie again just because of that scene LOL. It's nice to know we're not the only one to have that problem though isn't it :o)

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