As you know from my review of this one, it was also the Bill Murray movie that caused me to read it for the first time. However, I loved the book far more than the film (I like the 1946 film version better as well). I also liked that Larry was a more mysterious and sporadic character in the book...the reason the film is so different is that Murray shifted the focus completely. Larry's story is, for me, all the more compelling because his search is seen mainly through the eyes of those around him. I wish Murray would remake it today with himself in the role of Elliott Templeton.