Really bad novels are ofen made into movies. Good novels are too complicated to convert to film, but the bad ones don't have as much.
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Of Mice and Men, I couldn't read beyond first few pages. Finished reading The Pillars of the Earth yesterday and I resent this, one of the most 'successful' books in recent years.
The first time i tried to read Grapes Of Wrath i gave up after the turtle business :D second time i plowed through and now it's one of my favourite books :P
I agree about 'On Chesil Beach', though I should admit that I haven't actually read the entire thing. I read a few chapters and just found it immensely annoying. I might give it another go to be fair. I keep buying McEwan's books but I don't know why, as I really don't think I like the guy as an author. Everyone else is always so full of praises for him, but his style just irks me.
Perhaps the turtle was trying to beat the chicken to the other side.
If it was symbolic it was rather obscure. I think it was intended to help set the scene of the landscape, but I think that could have been accomplished without describing the turtles every single footstep going across the road.
It has been a while since I read the book, but I remember after reading the scene I just thought to myself, what the heck? And there was no point in the book in which I suddenly felt like the turtle was of any significance.
I remember puzzling over this as well but I think it is foreshadowing of the trying journey the family is to take in order to carry on their existence. Just like the turtle, they endure many hardships to cross (the country) against all odds (however cliche that might sound). They survive many obstacles put in their way not only by nature but also by men (like the turtle).
This is one of my favorite novels. :D