Winston Groom - Forrest Gump

Made famous from the movie, the book is a more realistic look at a fantastic character. For one thing Tom Hanks is _not_ Gump. Gump is 6'6" tall and 240lbs of muscle. He is an idiot, but drinks beer and smokes dope. I don't recall his musical and mathematical talent mentioned in the movie either

His relationship with Jennie is more intimate and complex, with Jennie more 'within reach' than the movie portrays. Interestingly, Jennie would have married Gump except for his cheating at professional wrestling.

Lieutenant Dan is also quite different, less torn up and angry by the war than he is a lost soul. A college professor, he is not 4th generation soldier torn up because he didn't die on the battlefield like his ancestors.

Many scenes in common, by far more that is different. His band in Boston, space mission, time in New Guinea with the cannibals, and the pro wrestling circuit are all facets that are not in the movie.

Fun read, good to see the book was fuller than the movie. Interesting to see Gump as less of a saint, 'specially with the coon and jigaboo talk about blacks. Note also that Bubba the shrimper was white, and Gump had no black friends. He is not a racist though.