I read the book as a teenager in the 60's and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a lot of insight into young love and adjustments made upon marriage. There was also immense struggle due to poverty and parental disapproval. In the book, Annie was charming, innocent, and immature, as was Carl, though he frequently exhibited male bluster and superiority to hide it. This wasn't Betty Smith's best book, but it evoked the reality of life as a very poor, young, newly married couple.
I actually just re-read the book last week, being in a nostalgic mood during this pandemic. Then tonite I find the movie on TCM and watch it with the book fresh on my mind. What a massive disappointment! It had so little of the book and changed characters and actions so much that it was almost unrecognizable as the same story. Unfortunately, this happens with most books made into movies, so I'm really not surprised.
I actually just re-read the book last week, being in a nostalgic mood during this pandemic. Then tonite I find the movie on TCM and watch it with the book fresh on my mind. What a massive disappointment! It had so little of the book and changed characters and actions so much that it was almost unrecognizable as the same story. Unfortunately, this happens with most books made into movies, so I'm really not surprised.