Boy, Victorious...you sure have opened up a Pandora's Box; trust me, I've been through this.

You'll get alot of recommendations to READ the book, that it has details and insight to parts & characters that you wouldn't know otherwise, and that's probably true. Not having read the book, and reading on this board about some of those 'specifics' I can tell you that you certainly wouldn't be wasting your time by reading it, but can still fully appreciate the films if you don't.
So, if you love to read anyway, might as well go ahead & give it a whirl.....!!!

Apple