If you have not read the book, I think it would be hard to follow...too many important details left out, and some that were added that did not happen in the book (which was very annoying). I definitely prefer the book to the movie. I realise it is a long book and they can't put every detail into the movie, but it seemed like they just tried too hard to make everything fit...these books just aren't the type of book that can be crammed into a 2 and a half hour movie.