How much am I missing out if I play this without reading the book?

[meme man]

Should I go and read it first? How similar are the stories?

[Flelark]

Originally posted by Le Man:

Should I go and read it first? How similar are the stories?

You can either read it before, after, or not at all. Save for a few references, the game is completely independant from the book.

[RFM9]

I just read it this morning, Oh, my god, it is way too short. very good story, but probably the shortest published novel ever written.
There is little to know to be honest. If you know the premise, there is not much more than that, which is a pity really.

[Um, Actually]

There's a few key differences between the novel and the game. Primary example, Benny isn't hung like a horse and isn't a mindless rapist in the game and Ellen doesn't have an endless sexual appetite that beats out other biological/psychological/sociological needs.