I have trouble finding time to read fiction right now (i’m a college student) so i’ve taken to listening to books on tape/cd while i’m trying to fall asleep. I’ve been meaning to read Sahara since i saw the movie at the drive-in and finally got the book on tape. First off, i hate it when they abridge books, and this book was abridged, which i had guessed because there were only two tapes but didn’t know for certain until the book was over (it wasn’t on the package, it wasn’t in the spiel at the beginning, only the one at the end). Secondly, the action is the book is fine (though typically unrealistic like most action movies today, i like this genre) but the dialog stinks. Cussler knows how to write a good adventure story i guess but the exposition is not handled well. Several things are just corny.

Overall, i like the movie a lot better. This is one time where i think that the changes from the book made sense and made the story better. Zahn is a better Giordino than the one in the book who just doesn’t have the same depth. Cruz’ character is not really that much like the female lead in the book (her name escapes me at the moment) but she made a good performance and, once again, i can understand the changes. I like the casting of Matthew McConaughey and William H. Macy but they also aren’t exactly like their characters. Anyways, it was an interesting contrast but i think i’ll stick to the dvd.

Incidentally, i found it odd that the Lincoln subplot was totally left out of the film.