Books vs. Movies: Enola

The movie added more depth to the book and gave us time to appreciate the characters, and I got to understand the mother’s reasons for leaving her.

I don’t have a favorite book. I have always wondered how some people could pick one book and say, ‘It is my favorite. ‘

How?

I have a million and one books I consider a favorite, and I keep adding to the list daily. However, if a fictional character is being mentioned anywhere around me and can get me talking, it would be Sherlock Holmes.

If there is anything written about him, you can be sure I have read it, I’m reading it, or it is on my reading list. It was with great joy I welcomed the announcement of the Enola Holmes movie.

Enola is the sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. Obviously, she isn’t Canon but still another Holmes to gush about. I eagerly await the movie’s release.

I went into the book with an open mind, and I came out with mixed feelings. I sincerely enjoyed the movie; however, her interactions with Sherlock and Mycroft left me feeling uncomfortable.

The Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes I know would never have acted in that way. They definitely would have caught her before she even made a move.

It kept bothering me, and being an ardent believer that movies always cut out the good parts of the book, I decided to read the book.

The book was a shocker, and this time, it was the other way; I love the interactions between her and her brothers, but I am still in disbelief as to what happened after. After what happened in the treehouse, everything went sideways.

The first thing was how she escaped. I had always argued that how she escaped in the movie was surreal. Let’s even say (highly unlikely) Sherlock was distracted by another case and wasn’t putting her in mind, but Mycroft?

No, no, no!

The same man that can solve a case with only facts wouldn’t have anticipated that she was going to flee on the same day too? Come on!!! (rolls eyes to heaven)

The way Book Enola Holmes planned her escape made sense, and I agree it would have worked that way, but the movie Enola’s escape-no way!!

In the movie, the Marquess was way older, he with the help of Enola escaped been kidnapped on the train, something that never happened in the book, the fighting scenes were way cooler, and the feminist angle was well treated here. It was enlarged and showed how women were restricted from progressive pursuits.

The movie added more depth to the book and gave us time to appreciate the characters, and I got to understand the mother’s reasons for leaving her. The mastermind behind the kidnapping was also changed, which was a pleasant surprise. I don’t like movies doing that with book adaptations, but this was well tied in.

The way she was caught in the book compared to the movie was sad and since I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone, let’s just say I prefer the movie version.

If it were possible, I would just add the book interaction with her brothers to the movie, and it would have been perfect. The Sherlock I know wouldn’t have acted that way. He is too much of a sociopath for that.

Verdict – If you want to be surprised, read the book first, then watch the movie. If you watched the movie first and you were uncomfortable as I was with the interaction with her brothers, read the book to get clarity.

Watch the movie first, then read the book. Book gets three ⭐ and the movie four ⭐.