One of the few cases where the movie is better. Though there are some changes made in the film that almost seem to be an inside joke with those who have read the book.

Joan's complaints about her husband and men in general, while entirely warrented and not anything I disagree with, are incredibly repetitive. Almost shallow in a strange way. 

Her complaints about other women are just downright hateful. The internalized misogyny is frustrating, especially since it goes almost entirely unexamined. 

There is an utterly bizarre disdain for Finland, its people, and its culture, that goes throughout the book. 

The prose is largely good. It is sometimes beautiful. At other times it is very try-hard. 

It wasn't a particularly enjoyable read, though it wasn't really bad either. As I said at the beginning, the film is probably the best way to experience this story