How is Shoeless Joe different from the highly successful Field of Dreams?

Kinsella's novel has some significant differences than the
film.  The most obvious is that J.D. Salinger is not present.  Terrence Mann is the
author who has become disenchanted with modern life.  It works to an extent, primarily
because James Earl Jones is very skilled in bringing life into an author that never
existed.  Yet, it rings a bit off in that the audience, even one who has never read
Kinsella's work, is expecting Salinger to be present.  At the same time, the presence of
"the oldest living Cub," Eddie Scissons, is not in the film.  His character is
completely removed from the film.  Richard Kinsella, Ray's twin, is also absent in the
film.  This also means that Gypsy, Richard's girlfriend, is also missing.  In terms of
thematic content, I don't think that the film is one that emphasizes religion and the
spiritual dimension that the book does.  The film depicts the judgmental and self-
righteous nature of Annie's parents as more representative of social conformity that
Ray's building of the baseball field and his exploits is poised against.  However, I do
think that the film and book both do a good job of exploring the idea that the link
between father and son is one that can exist through baseball.