MovieChat Forums > A Love Song for Bobby Long (2005) Discussion > The Novel and the Movie *spoilers*

The Novel and the Movie spoilers

posted 17 years ago by JBenceGrasse
5 replies | jump to latest

I watched this movie a few months ago and loved it. I loved all the characters and all the actors, especially Gabriel Macht. There was something about this movie and I really felt it didn’t get all the attention it deserved. The end was maybe a little too contrived, but all in all a wonderful movie.

I decided to read the novel it was based on, “Off Magazine Street”. I was surprised at the differences! Names were changed, such as Pursy and Lawson’s characters, and some characters like Lorraine and Georgiana had completely different storylines in the book. In the movie Lawson and Bobby convince themselves that they are helping Pursy so that she will move on and leave them to be in the house. In the book their stated motives are far from that. The one thing that remained was the fact that despite their best efforts to convince themselves otherwise, their intentions in helping Pursy/Hanna become more honorable then they would care to admit.

The message and heart of the movie and novel are the same.

The book was wonderful too, by the way. I couldn’t put it down; I finished it in two days.

I would love to hear opinions from others who have both read the book and watched the movie.

[–] pluto142003-1 17 years ago

I have never been able to find what the movie was based on, but now I know. Thankx! I loved the movie and was wondering if you could give me pointers on where to find the book you described. Who is the author? When I've read the book, I would love to discuss it with someone!

[–] JBenceGrasse 16 years ago

I found it at the local library. I'm sure amazon carries it though. The author is Ronald Everett Capps.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pluto142003-1 16 years ago

I've not been back in forever. Thanks much for the info JBenceGrasse! I'll look for it when I get on amazon.com and at my own local library.

[–] tonyridge506 11 years ago

Given the standard sentiment “the book was better than the film” I couldn’t wait to dig into On Magazine Street. If A Love Song For Bobby Long quickly rocketed to the number one spot on my list of favorites, the book would surely have to be a revelation. I was sorely disappointed.

The difference between the characters in the film and the characters in the book is the difference between lost and gone. When you’re lost, you simply don’t have no clue how to right yourself when life has given you a sucker punch or two. When you’re gone, you’ve wallowed in your misery enough to earn your invisibility. The characters in the film I would move in with and be lost with...for a time. The characters in the book I would continue to walk past and happily respect their invisibility.

The film is a more tender treatment of the story where the book is woefully crass. I found the book so insulting to the male gender I’ve taken to writing my own short story in a similar vein...with sensitivity.

I will forever testify that Shainee Gabel is a certified genius. She took a sow’s ear and turned it into a silk purse. The movie shines thanks to the many facets her creative touch forged into the story into. I’m anxiously awaiting her next offering.