I would read the book first because then you’ll see the differences and stuff. The book is definitely better (of course) because it has more details and you can really dive into it. The movie is pretty good, but it’s nothing compared to the book. I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading it because it’s very touching and also pretty funny.
Thank you. Yes, when a [written] story has been dramatized in some way (movie, play, musical etc) I typically will read the book first, if I can get a copy of it, which is not always possible. I will use the public library or borrow a copy from friends, because I don't want to spend money on something I may not like.
As a last resort I will get a copy from a second hand bookseller, the cheapest copy available.
Whether I will see the dramatization upon finishing the book is not necessarily determined by my like** or dislike of the story.
Other factors come into plays, such as who directed it, the music , the actors etc.
But I do want to know the original story, good or bad, before seeing the movie.
There have been maybe a dozen times where I saw the movie prior to reading the story on which it was based because:
(1) I did not know there was a book,
(2) I could not acquire the book,
(3) It was written in a foreign language and no translated version was available,
(4) The story was written in an era that the English was too archaic [for me] to understand (which is almost like #3 😄)
**If I DO like the book I will buy a good copy of it (second hand if possible)🙂