>>The UPS guy was just by to deliver a copy of "Bright Lights, Big City" by Jay McInerney, which I ordered on a whim this week to reread. ($2.68 used from Amazon -- can't beat it with a stick). The cover photo is of Michael J. Fox in the movie version, which was in my opinion dreck. It got me thinking it might be a fun, non-combative thread to list books that were better than the movies made from them, and the other way around.
>>
>>Two starters --
>>
>>"Bright Lights, Big City" by Jay McInerney -- book better
>>"The Godfather" by Mario Puzo -- movie better
>
>Friday Night Lights -- book better (side note: I knew Buzz Bissinger slightly in college. He was an editor of the Daily Pennsylvanian when I was a freshman and doing a little bit of writing for the paper.)
>
>Harry Potter books -- books better (disclaimer: I haven't yet seen the more recent movies)
>

I thought the FNL TV show was critically acclaimed. But I haven't seen it, or read the book, so can't say any more than that.

Book better -- "The Black Dahlia"

Movie better -- "Goodfellas"