I've never read the book or seen the 1981 miniseries, but I saw the trailer for the 2008 movie and was intrigued.  The trailer was pretty poorly done IMO (why on earth did they play dramatic thriller music for the score?) but I'm a sucker for period pieces so I'll probably see it.  But I might want to read it before so if the movie sucks I'll have the original to compare it too.  Anyone read the original?  Is it any good?

I've only read one Waugh book, (Helena) but have heard very good things about Brideshead Revisited

I love Evelyn Waugh! Brideshead is one of his most accessible, too. I love it. It's quite a sad story, though the sadness is more to do with the dying of an era rather than personal tragedies in the characters. Even though Sebastian is a fairly tragic character you spend most of the book cheering him on in his rebellion rather than feeling sorry for him about it.

It's beautifully nostalgic, well written, and very easy to read, for something of that period. I say go for it!

I am reading Briedeshead Revisited right now. It's pretty good. Some of it I find humerous just because life is so different now compared to the era he's writing about. But I wanted to let anybody who's interested know, I have a copy available for paperbackswap. I've posted it and they have the ISBN info wrong so it doesn't come up with a cover. I noticed that it's a wishlisted book but my copy is available if anybody wants it. The movie looks good, I can't wait to see it. I barely remember the mini series fromt he 80's so I am looking forward to the film.

Excellent book. The MPT minseries was really good. No way it's going to fit adequately into a feature length movie.

Please note that my posted book Brideshead beknighted is NOT a sequel. When people order it, I accept, then feel obliged to PM them with this message:

"I will be happy to send you this book, but I want to make sure you realize that the title refers to the Brideshead/England of the novels, but does not continue the story. It is a book that collects a number of AUBERON Waugh's essays and articles, mainly from the Spectator. It is good, satirical, and amusing. The book itself is in excellent shape, first American edition, with a remainder remark.

"I just didn't want you to get excited that it was a sequel and be disappointed.

"Feel free to cancel. "

I saw the movie yesterday. I haven't read the book; nor had my mother, who I saw it with, but I believe she'd seen the miniseries. We both enjoyed the movie-- Ben Whishaw was a very good Sebastian, and Matthew Goode (Charles) and Hayley Atwell (Julia) were great as well. Emma Thompson and Michael Gambon did very well (though Gambon didn't have much screentime overall). I'm interested in reading the book; I'd like to see what was left out or skimmed over.

One complaint was that the movie sort of skipped over pivotal events-- deaths and marriages were just sort of mentioned in dialogue rather than shown onscreen.

I'm reading the book now. So far I really like it. At first it was a little slow to pick up, but once Charles gets involved with Sebastian it's really picked up. Really not what I thought it would be. But I do like it. I can see it becoming a "classic" 50 years from now. I love the style of writing and the different ideas that come up.

I also read the back of the book and it said that it was humerous. I'm just now getting into what I would call humerous. not laugh out loud funny but I have caught myself smiling on several occasions. It's almost like the movies that you find funny because of really great "one liners". So far all that I have read is great, but those certain points really stand out. I think I will read other books by Waugh after this one.

Can't wait to see the movie!

This is one of my favorite books, and I loved the PBS miniseries.  They took it from the book almost word for word.  I can't go to see the movie because I know I'll just get angry.  Why try to redo something that was done perfectly the first time?