I adore this story. It has always been my favorite Ghibli movie since it came out, when I was 10. The music, the backgrounds, the clothes omg 😭 It also leads my "I rather watch the movie" list. 

Among others in my list are Emma (2020), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and Jurassic Park (1990).

I don't think the movies are necessarily superior or better than the source material, simply because without it, they wouldn't exist! But sometimes that cinematography just ties everything together in a way the book couldn't ❤️