Jurassic Park: A Novel

I have read many books that were made into films, including many that underwent many changes in characters, plot points, and the like. This scenario is unique in that I have been a fan of the film for more than 20 years before reading the book. Despite the many changes made from the novel when worked into a screenplay, and my mind's tendency to focus on these differences rather than just enjoy what I was reading, I still enjoyed this novel. I would recommend this novel to any fan of the film.

I've loved the movie all my life, so I figured it was about time that I got around to reading the inspiration, this novel. I have to admit the first 80 or so pages dragged on to me, but once I got to the interesting parts [the island and the animals, and oh god, the science], I was hooked. Nothing at all like the movie, but both are wonderful in their own ways. I enjoy written word almost more than movies, sometimes, because it's fun to picture the things happening in your own head. I understand budget restrictions on movies, but the movie doesn't include half of what the book does. There are more dinosaurs, more people... Definitely recommended!

Things turn out much differently in the novel than in the movie; definitely worth a read for avid JP fans. The action scenes are well choreographed, and the dinosaurs can easily be visualized thanks to the author's writing style. Lots of jumping around from one POV to the next, but I didn't get whiplash. The ending is somewhat unresolved, but I can forgive it as the author was clearly leaving room for a continuation of the mythos. A solid, fun, and mildly educational read.