WARNING: THIS POST WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE NOVEL “UPROOTED.” IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK AND WISH TO DO SO, DO NOT CONTINUE READING THIS POST.
So after finally finishing Naomi Novik’s excellent fantasy novel, Uprooted, I decided to do more research on her via her website. I was thrilled to discover she’s written several other books that I will greedily dive into as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
While perusing her page, I also discovered some interesting news regarding Uprooted.
Novik proudly announced Warner Brothers will be making a movie based on the novel.
My reaction to this news:
It may seem weird that I’m resistant to the idea of an Uprooted movie, especially because I enjoyed the book so much.
But here’s the thing, regardless of how well-written a book is, some novels just aren’t meant to be translated into a visual medium.
The Lovely Bones was one book, and I believe Uprooted is another.
“But Rachael,” you say, “Uprooted was full of beautiful imagery and action-packed scenes. Surely you can’t be suggesting Uprooted wouldn’t look gorgeous on the big screen!”
The imagery was one of the most appealing aspects of this book. However, what also made the book so vibrant and powerful were the metaphors and descriptions.
All of which would work for the book only.
It’s not nearly as impactful if we’re just being flashed CGI imagery we’ve seen a million times. I want to be able to feel what the characters are feelings like I can in the book.
The way Novik describes magic is so much more personal than any other writer I’ve come across. It’s not just a bunch of fancy made-up words, it’s part of a person’s essence. It’s an individual language that can transcend conventional understanding. It’s an experience.
This entire book is an experience.
To strip away all of that depth and detail to just a visual?
It’ll be like a fantasy version of The Happening.
Well….okay…not that bad.
Still.
Freaking CGI tree-people. I don’t think I will be able to take that seriously.
Especially since it will likely be morphed into an “OMG save the trees!” message.
To be fair, the book did that to a certain extent but…it was complicated, okay?
Thinking of the cinematic portrayal of the relationship between The Dragon and Agnieszka fills me with terror as well.
Especially because their relationship isn’t entirely conventional. Yeah, they smash and they clearly like each other, but it was never really a “for sure” thing between the two of them.
Hollywood will turn it into an all out bleeding-heart kissing-in-the-rain romance that involves a lot of soaked through clothes and sex.
Let’s face it, the movies do subtlety as well as Edward Scissorhands knits sweaters.
Again, I say, CGI tree-people.
How many books must that accursed industry claim?!
The Crooked Pen 
I know this post is from a few years ago, but I just have to say I couldn’t agree more. Uprooted, like many books, is perfect as a book. Turning it into a movie will lose so much of the story. Movie’s ways of showing us the inner struggles just don’t compare with what a book can do. Plus you are totally right that Hollywood would totally ruin the attraction between the Dragon and Agnieszka. My only wish is that if books like Uprooted have to be turned into “movies” then why does it always have to be 2-3 hour long Hollywood productions where 80% of the details are ditched because there is no way to fit it all in? Why not make an 8 to 13 part Netflix or Amazon mini-series where they give themselves the time to develop the characters and the story properly. Yeah, I know there is more money in the blockbuster movie approach. If the producers really appreciated the book instead of their profit margins, we’d be given something better than a hacked up movie.
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I agree! I think I would be more willing to give a Netflix series a chance considering it is better at pacing and character development. I still don’t want it to turn visual, but if it must I’d prefer for it to be a show rather than a blockbuster movie.
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