My Oxford Year
Yesterday, I had thoughts of perhaps going to see the film adaptation of Hamnet, which is getting very good reviews. I enjoyed but did not love the book, but I am considering rereading it. However, I woke up with a head cold and decided to take it easy instead. I skipped my weights and my walk, and did a simple yoga for sick recovery stretch instead. I wrote out a few Christmas Cards, then decided to watch the film adaptation of My Oxford Year, a romantic tragedy written by Julia Whelan, which I read (and enjoyed) last year.
Anna (named Ella in the book) is spending a year abroad at Oxford, studying poetry. She has a job lined up in New York (Finance – it was Politics in DC in the book), but she is taking some time first to fulfill this dream of hers. There is a specific professor that she really wants to work with, and it has taken her a lot of effort to get herself there and in that class. The first day of school, the Professor tells the class that she isn’t going to teach them after all, she has gotten a promotion and does not have time. Instead, one of her teaching assistants, Jamie, will be their instructor. Jamie, the annoying, handsome, and charming man who accidentally ruined Anna’s blouse on her first evening in Oxford. Sparks fly, but not the good kind. Of course, this is a romance, so they’re going to fall in love. And it’s a tragedy, so things are going to go wrong.
Whelan wrote her novel based on the screenplay that eventually became the movie, so it’s a little confusing to know who to blame for the film’s shortcomings. Some of the emotional heft of the novel is stripped from the movie, and it seems to brush the surface in a lot of places where the novel had complexity and depth. Did Whelan add the heft? Was it originally in the screenplay and then removed? I don’t know. I liked (didn’t love) the book, and the movie was fine for a day spent on the sofa with a head cold. But the book was better. If you find yourself wanting a romantic film to watch, give it a try, it’s on Netflix.
24 Comments
Nicole MacPherson
We started that movie and then turned it off. I can’t remember why exactly, I think we watched 30 mins or so before abandoning.
J
I think that’s fair. I may have done so had I not enjoyed the book, and had I not been sick.
AC
You tricked me into reading a book/review review, which I normally skip. ?
J
Sneaky of me!
StephLove
I really loved Hamnet (book) but it hooked me immediately, so you may not have different results on a re-read.
J
I think I was anticipating events instead of letting them happen on their own time. Now that I know the pacing better, I might enjoy the writing more.
Sam
Yeah, I may skip this one. I was hoping it would be good!
J
It’s fine if you get a cold!
Alexandra
For the most part I enjoyed the movie for what it was, but felt, as you said, like the heart of the emotion was missing. However, after reading your post, I just might order the book as it sounds like it has a lot more going for it.
J
I hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it! I listened to the audiobook, and enjoyed that.
Margaret
I liked “Hamnet” the book, especially the ending but didn’t love it enough to see the film. I’m very interested in “Rental Family” but John also has a cold so we won’t be going to the movies in the near future. Get well soon!
J
Thanks Margaret! I haven’t heard of Rental Family, I will need to check that out.
Allison McCaskill
You know, I KNOW the way your blog comes up in my blogroll, and yet I am constantly forgetting how the format works and thinking that you are talking about YOUR actual Oxford year, rather than a book or movie CALLED My Oxford Year. It is rather funny. I was also confused as hell when your card showed up because I didn’t know your last name but kind of forgot that I don’t know your last name, so I didn’t just think “oh, it’s a Julie, what Julie do I know where I don’t know her last name”. Wow, I sound like a blithering idiot. I’m not even sick, just very tired.
J
I’ve gotten mail like this before! The first time I got mail from Birchie and Suzanne, I thought, huh? Because I didn’t know their real names. I should have signed your card with a ‘J from Thinking About’, which I have done in the past.
ernie
The little girls and I saw a shirt at the mall yesterday with the words: THE BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER. Sounds like this applies here. It’s too bad. Hope you feel better.
J
OMG, awesome! I remember my daughter saying that to me when she was little, and I was SO PROUD.
Suzanne
Like Allison, I clicked on your blog and thought, Ooooh I didn’t know Julie spent a year at Oxford!
The whole movie based on a book based on a screenplay thing seems really odd to me, but I guess one goes along with however the writing happens.
Sorry to hear you have been under the weather. It does seem like it’s that time of year. Yuck.
J
Yeah, I don’t know about the process on this one. Where were the changes made? Why?
Jenny
Ha ha… like Allison, when I saw the title of this post I thought “Julie spend a year at Oxford? The things I don’t know about people!” Oh… the movie, lol.
J
Everyone thinks I spent a year at Oxford! I wish!
PocoBrat
Sorry you have a head cold, I hope you feel better…. and I hope you like Hamnet when you get around to it.
I haven’t read the book, but I watched this movie! I was hooked by the title, and charmed by how many things the movie got right (I spent many years in Oxford, lol). I mean, it’s easy to get the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race right as it’s a big deal, but things like getting dressed in sub fusc at the beginning of the year to “matriculate”? That was nice and nerdy.
Lots of overlap between our Hulu and Netflix watching lately, I love it :)!
J
You had Oxford YearS, nice! I shall imagine us watching TV together with a hot cup of tea.
Karen meg
The trailer for this was good, but the movie itself a bit meh. I liked the actor though I think he was in Bridgerton ( something about the accent ;)… I can see how the book might be better. I am looking forward to Hamnet too, it’s got great reviews. So sorry about your cold, I’m the same ugh… the head cold travelled to my throat and the cough is utmost annoying! Hope you feel better soon!
J
Bah, yeah, it’s turned into a crappy cough. I hate it.