| In the Book |
In the Movie |
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Louden's mother had health problems due to her long delay in getting a hysterectomy. When she finally did so and her health improved, she started a new life with another man, divorcing Louden's dad. Louden stayed on good terms with his mom, he sees and talks to her at times. |
Louden's mother left the family for another man. Louden is bitter about the divorce. He doesn't like to talk about her. |
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The book takes place mostly in 1976-77. Louden is 17-18 years old. The present day setting of the book spans two weeks with numerous flashbacks. |
It is set in the present day of 1985. The actor portraying him is older (26) when the movie was made.
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At the start of the book Carla has been living with Louden and his dad for over a year. She has a job and is staying in Spokane long term. Carla is 19 years old when she moves in. |
Louden and his dad meet Carla at the beginning of the movie. She is older.
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Carla bought a car from the dealer Louden's dad works for, it was a lemon. Louden's dad assaulted the salesman and was later sued. He then borrowed money to open up his own Honda dealership in the Spokane area which he still owns in the present. |
Louden's dad is looking for a job after being fired for assaulting the salesman.
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Carla left her home in Chicago after she lost her new born baby. She was still lactating when she moved into the Swain home. Louden's dad loaned her money for minor surgery. |
Nothing about these events. |
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Carla is in a stable, loving, long term relationship with Louden. He is always kind to her. |
Carla is only staying with the Swains until her car is fixed and she can move on to San Francisco. He tries to force himself on her one time, Carla hits him in the face.
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Louden is 5'11” and is trying to get down to his wrestling weight of 147 pounds. He usually weighs about 190 pounds in the off season. |
Louden is over 6 feet tall and trying to reduce his weight from the 190 pound class to 168 pounds. |
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Louden wants to wrestle Gary Shute, the best 147 pound class wrestler in the state. Shute is a bit shorter and has a similar build.
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Louden wants to wrestle Brian Shute, the best 168 pound class wrestler in the state. Shute has a much heavier build than Louden.
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Louden and Shute are friendly towards each other. Louden has seen Shute wrestling in person and on film. |
Shute is not friendly and tries to intimidate Louden. Louden attends a meet and is shocked at how soundly Shute defeats his opponent.
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Louden's English teacher is white and enjoys dating/sleeping with students. Louden respects but is a bit afraid of him as he once saw Tanneran cold cock a drunk with a wine bottle. |
The English teacher is black and well liked by Louden. Louden gets jealous when he sees Carla on a date with Tanneran.
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Carla dates several other men after moving in with the Swain's. She doesn't sleep with any of them, Louden is her first lover after she lost her baby. |
Carla is seen out with various other men/couples prior to sleeping with Louden. |
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Otto's father is abusive. Kuch has a good relationship with his dad. Kuch has no plans after graduation. |
Kuch's dad is abusive. Kuch plans to join the Navy after graduation.
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Kuch enjoys motorcycle racing and competes. |
Kuch doesn't race motorcycles. |
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A fat gay hotel guest shows Louden porn and tries to make a move on him several times. |
The gay hotel guest is slim, practices Tai Chi and only makes one move on Louden.
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Elmo the cook is black and a former boxer. |
Elmo is white. No former occupation shown. |
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Louden gets nose bleeds due to injuries on the mat. He has had blood vessels cauterized a few times. The coach thinks Louden might be losing some strength as a result of his weight loss. |
The nose bleeds are implied to be a result of his weight loss. Louden is getting weaker as shown by his losing an arm wrestling match with Elmo.
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On the trip to visit Louden's grandfather, Louden and Carla camp near the road at night. Carla and Louden have sex for the first time in the tent. Louden keeps a Luger pistol handy for self-defense. When he accidentally hits a doe with the truck, Carla is cut on the arm when she tries to pet it. Louden kills the injured doe with the pistol. |
Louden and Carla have sex for the sex time in a field near the grandfather's house. Nothing about a deer or carrying a pistol. |
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The wrestling coach (Rata) is Japanese. |
The coach is white.
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Louden's dad has a girlfriend. |
No girlfriend. |
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Carla, Louden's dad, his girlfriend, his mother and her new husband are at the match to watch him wrestle Shute. |
Louden's dad, grandfather and Emlo are with Carla to watch the meet.
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The book ends with Louden and Shute shaking hands on the mat prior to wrestling. Louden feels the power of Grand Coulee dam running through him as the match is about to start. |
Louden pins Shute to win. |