Strengths and Weaknesses – Book Adaptation Analysis
You are a project manager for the creative department at the online TV channel FlickBox. Your company has decided to
start making film or series adaptations of popular books. You have been told to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses
of the following 6 books and then decide on a plan of action for each one. For quick reference for your computer files,
you need to find 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses for each of the volumes. Write the 4 adjectives in the boxes describing
the book and then debate with your colleagues as to which of the books would make a good film or TV series.
Strengths or neutral
addictive amusing atmospheric bawdy
beguiling biographical captivating charming
cryptic dark dramatic enlightening engrossing
entertaining factual goofy gripping handy
historical light-hearted mystical mysterious
practical revealing riveting thought-provoking
tongue-in-cheek unputdownable useful witty
Which Way? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A love story that doesn’t take the genre
too seriously, this delightful romp through
early 19th century Brighton has been a
bestseller for the best part of a year.
Although some have accused the writer of
copying Jane Austin, many have said that the wit and
humour is clearly more republican than regency, given the
way the Royal family is treated in the storyline. A tale of a
young servant and how he captures the heart of a duchess
and then marries her to the delight of his family, and to the
horror of hers, is brilliantly told. And while it may be a tad
unrealistic, it certainly lifts the corners of the mouth.
No Room for Losers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This book was written 35 years ago about
the conservative politician, Patrick Robson,
but his family and friends have held up
publication through the courts for all this
time because of the explosive revelations about his private
life. However, although the rumours of corruption and
numerous affairs may appear to be true, with plenty of
witnesses on record testifying to the validity of these claims,
when you look at the state of modern politics, it all seems
rather tame. Yes, he took bribes, but who didn’t at that point
in history? Yes, he had lovers, but is that really important? The
question is, five years after his death, do we really care?
Bertie the Butler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A light-hearted sex comedy about a
handsome butler who works for a
wealthy widow and how her friends are
always trying to steal him away from her.
Choc-a-block with sexual innuendo, this book has become
a bestseller among young women and the writer is already
in talks with his publisher to write a sequel. The critics may
hate the book, complaining that it borders on sexist, but
the sales figures speak for themselves. There are fan
conventions where people can dress up as characters from
the book and there is a thriving stripping-butler service
that has become popular at hen nights just recently.
Weaknesses
absurd boring biased cheesy coarse
confusing controversial dated dull gloomy
heavy-going humdrum improbable longwinded
messy monotonous obscene obvious odd
offensive old-fashioned pessimistic predictable
politically incorrect prejudiced routine silly
smutty tacky tasteless unfair vulgar
The Sleeping Detective. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Private detective, Ben Shovel, is unlike any
other detective you are likely to meet. A
quiet man who is never nervous and,
because of a psychological condition,
never scared, he has an unsettling
personality. He is constantly underestimated by his foes and
people don’t know just how much he knows until he is ready
to make his move. This is a slow-moving book but with
plenty of atmosphere. For those that like loud and obvious
characters, it could be rather tedious. For those that like the
old fashioned world of noir with psychotic villains and dames,
that doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s the perfect book.
Tidy House, Tidy Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Written by a retired Irish housewife and
infused with a kind of spiritual approach
to housekeeping, this book has become
quite a surprise in the publishing world.
Although some people have taken offense at some
assumptions made by the author on modern relationships,
the tone of the book is, for the most part, rather innocent
and refreshingly helpful. However, there is an element of the
authoritarian, Irish matriarch underlying the text, although
some would argue that this is part of its charm. Suitable for
single people and young families alike, this minimalist
approach to housekeeping is an unexpected bestseller.
The World and Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A popular science book that looks at the
natural world and its relationship with the
human race. Full of little-known facts, this
book has become very popular with young
and old alike. The BBC were in talks with
the writer to do a documentary series
based on the book but the talks fell through due to “artistic
differences.” Some critics have questioned some of the
evidence in the book and have accused the writer of
“popular alarmism” and exaggeration. However, some
environmental groups say that the book doesn’t go far
enough in its warnings.
iSLCollective.com
 You work for the creative department of the online TV service, FlickBox. You
have just read the reviews of some books that are being considered for
adaptation by your company. You need to sit down with other department
heads and decide which books should be adapted for TV. Read the personality
cards provided and debate according to the personality you have chosen.

Some words are used more than once.

at by back forward on over to together through

Fill in the gaps in the sentences below with the most appropriate prepositions.
Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

Memo
To: Creative Department Heads
From: Holly Wood
Date: 04/07/19
Re: FlickBox Adaptation Plans

Dear Team,

As you already know, we have been asked ________ consider six books that could be adapted for TV
for transmission on our channel this year. I am sure you have already looked ________ the reviews penned
_______ our project manager and had time to consider this question. As a consequence of budgetary
restrictions, we can only move ________ on two of these books. As such, I would like you to debate the validity
of each book carefully before you arrive _______ any conclusions.

Therefore, I would like you all to get ________ in meeting room one next Monday morning and share
your views as a team. Please do not hold _______! Everybody’s opinion is valued and we will not proceed until
everybody is agreed _______ which of the two books we will be adapting.

If any of you have the time, I would really appreciate it if you could go __________ the books that
have been selected so that you have a deeper insight and are able to furnish us with a much more informed
decision on this matter.

Warmest regards

Holly Wood

iSLCollective.com
You are an executive at FlickBox. You love the
book about the politician, Patrick Robson. You
don’t think the book paints him in a bad light,
at all. In fact, you thought it was rather
sympathetic. You believe that this book would
make a wonderful documentary film. As far as
you are concerned, the other books look a
little boring, although you would like to read
“The World and Us.” You always prefer factual
books.
You are an executive at FlickBox. You love
all romance novels. You even liked the
novel about the butler because you could
see it becoming a successful romantic
comedy series. You are not too
enthusiastic about documentaries
although, if you had to choose, you would
prefer them to be about the environment.
You like self-help books and you like the
look of “Tidy House, Tidy Mind.”
You are an executive at FlickBox. You
have read all of these books except
the one about the politician and “The
World and Us.” You especially liked
the detective novel, “The Sleeping
Detective.” You think this would make
a great TV series. You think that the
factual TV documentaries that are on
TV nowadays are too depressing.
You are an executive at FlickBox. You
hate anything to do with politics. As far
as you are concerned there is just too
much of it on TV. You think politics is
depressing and is bad for people. You
favour novels are escapist fantasies. You
like comedy, too. You think that the
book about the butler sounds promising.
You are an executive at FlickBox. You
love the book “Which Way,” and think a
period drama would be a great success.
You also like the sound of the book
“Bertie the Butler.” You haven’t had a
chance to read it yet but many of your
friends have said it is very funny and
quite original. You don’t like politics or
shows based on that subject.
You are an executive at FlickBox. You are
related to the politician, Patrick Robson,
and although you have never agreed with
his politics, you had a good relationship
with him and thought he was a nice man.
You think a documentary about his private
life would be unfair. You love detective
novels and although you haven’t read
“The Sleeping Detective,” you think it
looks very promising.
You are an executive at FlickBox. You love
the book about tidying the house. You
have read it a couple of times and now
your house has been transformed. Your
house is always tidy yet you don’t spend
so much time cleaning as you used to
thanks to that wonderful book. To you,
“Tidy House, Tidy Mind,” is a kind of Bible.
You think a series based on this would
make a fortune.
You are an executive at FlickBox. You don’t
really like detective novels or TV shows. You
think they are unoriginal and there is just too
much of this kind of think on TV. You used to
be in the police a few years ago and the job
was very different to the way it is portrayed
on television. You are very interested in the
environment and think the documentary
based on the book “The World and Us,” would
be a good option.
iSLCollective.com
 Extra cards

You are an executive at FlickBox and you You are an executive at FlickBox and a big
hate the TV show, fan of

Answers

Memo
To: Creative Department Heads
From: Holly Wood
Date: 04/07/19
Re: FlickBox Adaptation Plans

Dear Team,

As you already know, we have been asked to consider six books that could be adapted for TV for
transmission on our channel this year. I am sure you have already looked over/at the reviews penned by our
project manager and had time to consider this question. As a consequence of budgetary restrictions, we can
only move forward on two of these books. As such, I would like you to debate the validity of each book
carefully before you arrive at any conclusions.

Therefore, I would like you all to get together in meeting room one next Monday morning and share
your views as a team. Please do not hold back! Everybody’s opinion is valued and we will not proceed until
everybody is agreed on which of the two books we will be adapting.

If any of you have the time, I would really appreciate it if you could go through/over the books that
have been selected so that you have a deeper insight and are able to furnish us with a much more informed
decision on this matter.

Warmest regards

Holly Wood

iSLCollective.com