SilverWook said:
How does the novel compare to the movie? Is Jar Jar tolerable?
I don't remember much, having not read it since I was fifteen, but I do remember it introduced Anakin right out of the gate in a podrace with Sebulba. There was a bit more explanation of character motivation as well. The best part was that while reading it, I wasn't aware of any bad acting or cringe-worthy accents, so for that alone it's better than the film.