I read maybe one or two of the books back in the 1980's, and I definitely like the TV series better. I don't remember a whole lot about the books because after all, the 1980's was a long time ago, longer than I care to think about. The female characters seem stronger in the TV show, probably because of the changing times. Anyway, I'm enjoying the show, can't wait to see season two.
shareThe books do not follow along with the show at all. Even the book When Calls the Heart wasn't the same.
Enjoy the series!
It's good to dream
I love the television show. Are the books still worth reading?
shareI got through two books, and I believe there are six in the series. I didn't care for Jack in the books (or Wyn as he's called). In the TV show, Jack sacrifices his dream job to be with Elizabeth, something his book version didn't do IIRC. It's like in Janette Oke's books, wives sacrificed for their husbands, not the other way around. I just can't imagine expecting my significant other to leave his loved ones and spend long periods of time living in solitude, which is what happened in the books. The books are more patriarchal.
shareRuby, that is how it was back then. Look at the late 1800s during the wagon train. People left those they loved never knowing if they would see them again. Most likely they wouldn't.
The Bible says we leave our family to join as one with our spouse. Love is sacrifice.
I know missionaries and those in the service who do the same.
So as a wife Elizabeth agreed to marry into this hardship.
But early in the book she willing leaves her family to teach. She is already doing just that when she meets her husband.
It's devotion and one reason I love the books. I surely don't think I could do it but God can.
I realize that was the way things were back then, doesn't make it right that one spouse does all the sacrificing. I would never ask my spouse to leave his loved ones and live in isolation while I was gone much of the time. Yes, the books are more realistic, but the TV version has me liking Jack better. Jack's sacrifice in the TV series was a lot less harsh than Elizabeth's in the books. I'd think the government would assign those isolated posts to single mounties anyway.
shareI read the books for the first time about 10yrs ago and reread then once a year or so. I love the books.
I admit I was disappointed that the movie and TV series are nothing like the books. The books place Elizabeth in a very poor town early on. She is tested for sure. She later married a Canadian Mountie. His work takes him even farther into the unknown. That is why I love the books.
They move to an Indian villager where she is all alone. One of my favorite parts is where the Indian women kindly ask her to join them berry picking. She can't understand them all but she goes along. They quickly fill their baskets and she start to fill hers too. Over time she bonds with the women.
I highly recommend the books. They talk of her isolation and how she survives. She shares her faith with those around her. She also teaches Indian kids or tries to teach them.
All the books are wonderful.
I have only seen about 4 episodes of the show. We canceled cable so I'm glad season one is on Netflix. So I'm going to give the show a chance even though it is different from the books. I hope you all give the books a chance even though it is different from the show.
I just started watching the show on Netflix last week. The books are WAAAAAAAY better! I read the books over 10 years ago, and I still enjoy reading them when I can. Elizabeth on the show is not supposed to be the same Elizabeth as in the book though. But I would enjoy the show better if Elizabeth would act more like the book version. She's annoying on the show.
shareOne of the problems with the books vs show is that this show is not based on Janette Oke's original books in her When Calls The Heart aka Canadian West series but a companion/continuation of the story in the books titled Where Courage Calls & Where Trust Lies. These two books follow the life of another Elizabeth Thatcher (a cousin although they call the original Elizabeth aunt). The new Elizabeth is NOT the daughter of original Elizabeth's brother Johnathan but actually the daughter of original Elizabeth's uncle, brother to her father. Hopefully that all makes sense.
New Elizabeth decides to follow in her cousins footsteps and thus we have the current story this tv series is based on. It is a bit confusing because in both books (When Calls The Heart & When Courage Calls) the main character is named Elizabeth, they both have a younger more vivacious & daring sister named Julie and they both leave home despite their family's protest to become teachers for small towns & both fall in love with Mounties!
While I do agree, they do not completely follow the story of the books (When Courage Calls & Where Trust Lies) I do think they have captured the essence of the characters and the various situations that occur in the books.
I'm really enjoying the series. It's always hard to watch (and I'm sure make) a TV show or movie from a book or series of books that people love. I've been a huge fan of Janette Oke since middle school and was so excited to see these books turned into a series. I was a bit disappointed with the Love Comes Softly movies and the major changes they made that seemed completely unnecessary!